Patents Examined by Timothy F. Simone
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Patent number: 7469628Abstract: Device for preparation of a drink from a food substance contained in a capsule (6) comprising a fluid supply unit (5) comprising fluid supply means (50); a capsule holder (4) configured to receive a capsule (6). The capsule holder is removable from the fluid supply unit and can comprise a fluid injector (70) for inserting fluid into the capsule.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2007Date of Patent: December 30, 2008Assignee: Nestec S.A.Inventors: Zenon Ioannis Mandralis, Alfred Yoakim, Jean-Paul Denisart, Jean-Luc Denisart, Hans Peter Pleisch
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Patent number: 7469627Abstract: A coffee maker with combined milling stage and brewing stage is provided. The coffee maker includes a shaft, a brewing basket, a chopping blade and a locking mechanism. The shaft includes a longitudinal axis and is capable of being rotated about the axis. The brewing basket is adapted to receive coffee beans and hot water. The brewing basket includes a sleeve. A portion of the shaft is movably fitted within the sleeve. The brewing basket is capable of being rotated about the axis. The chopping blade is attached to an end of the shaft and positioned within the brewing basket. The locking mechanism is adapted to lock the brewing basket and unlock the brewing basket. When the brewing basket is locked, rotation of the shaft drives the chopping blade to rotate about the axis to mill the coffee beans to produce milled coffee powder.Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 2006Date of Patent: December 30, 2008Inventor: Zhiping Li
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Patent number: 7469631Abstract: Device for cleaning the filter pipes used to extract fruit juice, consisting of a cylindrically shaped tube (1) that runs telescopically through the inside of the filter pipe (2), and some circumferential openings (3) have been made at one end of this interior tube (1) through which previously injected pressurized air is expelled along its entire length. The interior tube (1) includes an air inlet (5) that has been provided at one end, and this air inlet (5) is connected to a surrounding chamber (6) with the same configuration as the interior tube (1) and in turn is connected to the openings (3) that this tube has at its other end for cleaning the filter pipe (2).Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2007Date of Patent: December 30, 2008Assignee: Food Machinery Española, S.A.Inventor: Juan Antonio Sanchez De Leon Rodriguez Roda
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Patent number: 7469629Abstract: A homogenising and kneading mixer comprising a premixer (12) placed upstream from a kneader and at least two kneading screws (20, 21) in turn connected with a vacuum tank (37) feeding final compression screws (44), in which the kneader has a containment cylinder (19a, 19b) and respective kneading screws (20, 21) realised in portions of different diameter, a first portion of smaller diameter (19a, 20a, 21a) arranged at a pasta scrap feeding conduit (25) and a second portion of greater diameter (19b, 20b, 21b) arranged at the premixer (12).Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 2006Date of Patent: December 30, 2008Assignees: FAVA S.p.A., STORCI S.p.A.Inventors: Enrico Fava, Anzio Storci
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Patent number: 7467583Abstract: A compact combined toaster and cooker includes in a single housing a toaster and a cooker that has first and second food-heating locations. The toaster is in most ways conventional, having at least one slot and at least one electrical heating element. The cooker has a separate electrical heating element. The first food-heating location of the cooker is recessed within the housing above the cooker's heating element. This first food-heating location opens upwardly from the housing to receive a cooking pan. The first food-heating location also opens through an opening in a face of the housing. The cooking pan has a handle that projects through this opening. The second food-heating location is within the housing and below the heating element. The second food-heating location receives a warming receptacle through a slot in the wall of the housing. The cooking pan handle is pivotally attached to the pan and locks in either an outwardly extended position or in a downwardly pivoted, contracted storage position.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2007Date of Patent: December 23, 2008Assignee: South Asia InternationalInventor: Raymond Hoi-Tak Lam
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Patent number: 7467584Abstract: The present invention generally provides a roasting machine, which can roast both the food that needs to be rotated upon roasting and the food that does not need to be rotated while roasting. The roasting machine is provided with a housing for supporting and protecting a roasting cab and roasting pipes, a roasting plate for baking and heating various food which does not need to be rotated, roasting pipes for baking and heating various food which needs to be rotated continuously so that they can be uniformly heated, and a drive unit used to drive the roasting pipes to rotate. The roasting machine can be used to bake two kinds of food. As the roasting plate is removable, food which does not need to be rotated can be roasted when the roasting plate is placed over the roasting pipes, and the roasting pipes can be used to heat food which needs to be rotated so as to be heated, such as sausages when the roasting plate is removed.Type: GrantFiled: April 19, 2007Date of Patent: December 23, 2008Assignee: Guangzhou Light Holdings LimitedInventor: Jian Li
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Patent number: 7464638Abstract: A reusable beverage filter such as used in brewing coffee, the filter having an upper portion and a lower portion, a sieve portion between the upper and lower portions, the upper portion having a flexible portion with a plurality of undulations formed therein such that the filter may fit different size brewing baskets.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 2007Date of Patent: December 16, 2008Inventor: Christian Tremblay
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Patent number: 7464639Abstract: An automatic liquid density-regulating device according to this invention is provided, comprising a workbench with a preparation area, a stir area, and a storage area; a controlling mechanism at a side of the workbench and connected with a clipping unit; a powder supply mechanism vertically on the preparation area of workbench, on which a plurality of container units may be provided; a weighing mechanism on the preparation area of workbench and connected to the controlling mechanism; a liquid supply mechanism located on the preparation area of workbench and at a side of the weighing mechanism and connected to the controlling mechanism; an absorption mechanism on the preparation area of workbench and at a side of the weighing mechanism. Thus, the device may flexibly set up the preparation flow and automatically pour powder and cold and hot water (or solvent) for achievement of precise and fast liquid density regulation.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2005Date of Patent: December 16, 2008Assignee: Logic Art Automation Co., Ltd.Inventor: Pang-Chih Juan
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Patent number: 7464636Abstract: The invention relates to a device for the preparation of a coffee-based drink by extracting a dose of ground coffee contained in a capsule (8). Said device comprises a water reservoir (1), a pump (2), a heating body (15) and a water injection element (9) which are successively linked by means of a water supply line(3). The device also comprises the following items disposed in the extension of the water injection element (9): a capsule holder (7) and an outlet (10) for the water-coffee mixture. The capsule holder (7) is adapted in such a way that it can be fixed and manually removed from the device and comprises means for containing a coffee capsule (8) so that pressurized water from the water injection element (9) can flow through the capsule (8) and flow through the outlet (10).Type: GrantFiled: August 3, 2004Date of Patent: December 16, 2008Inventor: Alain Mariller
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Patent number: 7461590Abstract: A system for cooking and then cooling food products by immersion in a heat transfer fluid, consisting of a vessel (200) to contain the heat transfer fluid and a system (500) for homogenization by blowing gas bubbles into the heat transfer fluid from a gas bubble formation system (530). The vessel (200) is closed by a cover (250) leaving a space above the maximum level of the free surface of the heat transfer fluid. Homogenization is accomplished by closed circulation of gas contained in the space above the heat transfer fluid which generates bubbles in the heat transfer fluid.Type: GrantFiled: January 17, 2006Date of Patent: December 9, 2008Assignee: Armor Inox SAInventors: Olivier Marquet, Bernard Cadoret
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Patent number: 7461584Abstract: A device for the production of beverages by infusing a substance that is to be infused and which is contained in disposable packaging, includes: an infusion chamber having a configuration which can vary between an open position and a closed position for the infusion; elements for guiding the packaging from an introduction area (7) towards the infusion chamber, the guiding elements including a slide (6) which can cooperate with the periphery of the packaging, characterized by the fact that the inventive device includes elements (9) for detecting an identification marking on the packaging, the detection elements (9) being formed in the slide (6). The device is applicable to coffee machines using packaging provided with marking for identification purposes.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2005Date of Patent: December 9, 2008Assignee: Compagnie Mediterraneenne des Cafes S.A.Inventors: Jean-Pierre Blanc, Christian Ferrier
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Patent number: 7451691Abstract: A multifunctional cooking oven for the preparation of food products including a cooking chamber, racks within the cooking chamber to support products to be prepared in the oven and a primary convection heat source. There is a drainable collection pan positioned below the racks to collect by-products rendered from the food products during preparation for later use. A steam source is positioned below the collection pan as well as a flavored smoke generator at the bottom of the preparation chamber. Airflow paths within the preparation chamber allow for the circulation of heat, steam and flavored smoke around the racks. The oven includes a programmable controller to control the primary heat source, the steam source and the flavored smoke generator that is programmed to operate any one of the heat source, the steam source and the flavor generator in any predetermined sequence, and for any predetermined duration of time to provide optimum preparation and flavoring of the products.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 2004Date of Patent: November 18, 2008Inventor: Michael L. Robertson
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Patent number: 7448315Abstract: A device for drying food is disclosed in an embodiment as a container including a bowl having a side wall terminating at a top edge defining an opening and a cover substantially covering the opening; a basket assembly disposed in the bowl and rotatable relative to the container about an axis at a variable rate of rotation, the basket assembly including a basket having a side wall terminating at a top edge; and a lid, the lid being releasably coupled to the basket and the cover.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2005Date of Patent: November 11, 2008Assignee: Helen of Troy LimitedInventors: Paul Mulhauser, Rebecca Taylor
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Patent number: 7448313Abstract: An apparatus for combining delivery of objects from a first transport conveyor (34) and a second transport conveyor (40), comprising a first continuous discharge conveyor (36), a second continuous discharge conveyor (42) which is rotatable about a longitudinal axis; means for pivoting the second discharge conveyor about the longitudinal axis between a lower position in which the discharge ends of the first discharge conveyor and the second discharge conveyor are adjacent, and an upper position in which the discharge ends of the first discharge conveyor and the second discharge conveyor are spaced apart sufficiently to accommodate the objects therebetween; and means for synchronizing the pivoting means with discharge of the objects from the first discharge conveyor and the second discharge conveyor.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2004Date of Patent: November 11, 2008Assignee: Lawrence Equipment, Inc.Inventor: Eric Clay Lawrence
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Patent number: 7444927Abstract: A brewing machine includes a brewing chamber delineated by first and second parts (12, 20) that can move relative to one another between closed and open positions, and a device for ejection of a portion of the infused product including an ejection element that can be moved by an actuating mechanism. A retractable flap is mounted to be able to move on the ejection element. The actuating mechanism moves the ejection element back from the chamber in the closed position, and during passage to the open position controls the forward motion of the ejection element parallel to the plane of the contact surface of the first and second parts, during which the flap is retracted upon contact with the portion, and a return movement during which the flap is in the holding position and drives the portion to outside of the brewing chamber.Type: GrantFiled: February 15, 2007Date of Patent: November 4, 2008Assignee: SEB S.A.Inventors: Vincent Crosville, Sylvain Giffard
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Patent number: 7444930Abstract: An avocado de-skinning apparatus having two generally vertically disposed rotating drums. The rotating drums rotate inward to pinch the skin of an avocado and force the off and through a gap defined between the rotating drums. A driver in the gap and in the upper section of the rotating drums aids in forcing the skin from the avocado and into the gap and through the rear side of the rotating drums. A skin scraper removes any skin adhering to the drums and a pulp scraper retrieves any pulp adhering to the drums for further processing.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2005Date of Patent: November 4, 2008Inventor: Richard E. Moore
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Patent number: 7441496Abstract: A method and system for designing, manufacturing and selling thematic cooking plates that are interchangeable with removable cooking plates in various waffle irons, sandwich grillers and waffle iron/sandwich griller combinations. The cooking plates may have a pattern on one or both sides. The plates may be packaged in a variety of combinations, but most often as a group of three cooking plates each with different patterns representing a single theme.Type: GrantFiled: December 16, 2003Date of Patent: October 28, 2008Inventor: Mary F. Romano
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Patent number: 7415922Abstract: A grill surface or pan provide for the removal of fats and oils by supporting the foodstuffs on ribs that slope downward such that the intervening regions form channels for transporting fluids to the edge of the pan, and away from the cooking food stuffs. The draining channels are interrupted by intervening ribs of a lower height than the first set of foodstuff supporting ribs. The intervening ribs have a series of slits or holes formed in there apex to enable the direct cooking of the foodstuff by radiant heat from a flame or heating source disposed underneath the grill surface. The grill surface may be combined in a pan that provides a peripheral fluid collecting channels at the termination or junction of the draining channels disposed between the sets of rib food supporting and slotted or perforated ribs.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2005Date of Patent: August 26, 2008Assignee: Meyer Intellectual Properties LimitedInventor: Stanley Kin Sui Cheng
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Patent number: 7377208Abstract: A cooking pan with a temperature display function includes a pan body and a handle. An extra bottom layer is provided at a bottom of the pan body with a metallic plate sandwiched in between the bottom of the pan body and the extra bottom layer. An installation hole is located at a side of the metallic plate with a temperature sensor installed inside the hole. A display unit is placed on the handle and the temperature sensor is connected to the display unit via connection wires. This cooking pan can show the temperature of the bottom of the pan body precisely and quickly, so that the user can control the timing better.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2006Date of Patent: May 27, 2008Assignee: Mingle Metal (Shen Zhen) Co. LimitedInventors: Waiming Ho, Ming Lee
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Patent number: 7377207Abstract: The invention relates to a device for preparing a beverage, comprising:—a water reservoir (1);—a chamber (5) that is connected to said reservoir for delivering water;—means (17) for filling said chamber with water;—means (16) for emptying water from the chamber;—a compressed gas reservoir (2) with a three-way valve (4) for displacing said means so as to empty the chamber; and—a conduit (14) for conveying the water from the chamber to an extraction head.Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 2003Date of Patent: May 27, 2008Assignee: Nestec S.A.Inventors: Karl Hug, Jean-Luc Denisart, Jean-Paul Denisart