Patents by Inventor Alan G. Miller
Alan G. Miller has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 11606957Abstract: The present disclosure provides a mechanical system for providing a food product on a sheet of paper. The disclosed mechanical system includes an adjustable conveyor belt system that is configured to enable a puck of food product to land up-right. The angle (e.g., slope) of the adjustable conveyor belt system can be adjusted to account for variations in the size and shape of the puck. The disclosed mechanical system also includes a flattener that is configured to provide memory to the pressed pucks.Type: GrantFiled: April 18, 2022Date of Patent: March 21, 2023Assignee: RISCO USA CORPORATIONInventor: Alan G. Miller
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Publication number: 20220240523Abstract: The present disclosure provides a mechanical system for providing a food product on a sheet of paper. The disclosed mechanical system includes an adjustable conveyor belt system that is configured to enable a puck of food product to land up-right. The angle (e.g., slope) of the adjustable conveyor belt system can be adjusted to account for variations in the size and shape of the puck. The disclosed mechanical system also includes a flattener that is configured to provide memory to the pressed pucks.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 18, 2022Publication date: August 4, 2022Inventor: Alan G. MILLER
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Patent number: 11304423Abstract: The present disclosure provides a mechanical system for providing a food product on a sheet of paper. The disclosed mechanical system includes an adjustable conveyor belt system that is configured to enable a puck of food product to land up-right. The angle (e.g., slope) of the adjustable conveyor belt system can be adjusted to account for variations in the size and shape of the puck. The disclosed mechanical system also includes a flattener that is configured to provide memory to the pressed pucks.Type: GrantFiled: May 1, 2018Date of Patent: April 19, 2022Assignee: RISCO USA CORPORATIONInventor: Alan G. Miller
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Publication number: 20190335769Abstract: The present disclosure provides a mechanical system for providing a food product on a sheet of paper. The disclosed mechanical system includes an adjustable conveyor belt system that is configured to enable a puck of food product to land up-right. The angle (e.g., slope) of the adjustable conveyor belt system can be adjusted to account for variations in the size and shape of the puck. The disclosed mechanical system also includes a flattener that is configured to provide memory to the pressed pucks.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 1, 2018Publication date: November 7, 2019Inventor: Alan G. MILLER
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Patent number: 9596867Abstract: An input conveyor, output conveyor, and knife assembly with a blade between the input and output conveyors all reciprocate back and forth as a blade moves perpendicular to the conveyors to cut portioned sized of product, such as ground meat. The cut cycle allows the product feed to keep moving in a continuous manner on conveyors. For ground meat, this system can allow production rates of 150 pieces or more per minute per conveyor line and can improve the accuracy of portioning. The blade is actuated by a profiled cam set that pulls the blade down, and then returns it with a spring to an upper position. The knife assembly can accelerate just after cutting to reduce the potential for sticking to the cut product.Type: GrantFiled: August 11, 2015Date of Patent: March 21, 2017Assignee: RISCO USA CORPORATIONInventor: Alan G. Miller
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Publication number: 20150343654Abstract: An input conveyor, output conveyor, and knife assembly with a blade between the input and output conveyors all reciprocate back and forth as a blade moves perpendicular to the conveyors to cut portioned sized of product, such as ground meat. The cut cycle allows the product feed to keep moving in a continuous manner on conveyors. For ground meat, this system can allow production rates of 150 pieces or more per minute per conveyor line and can improve the accuracy of portioning. The blade is actuated by a profiled cam set that pulls the blade down, and then returns it with a spring to an upper position. The knife assembly can accelerate just after cutting to reduce the potential for sticking to the cut product.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 11, 2015Publication date: December 3, 2015Inventor: Alan G. MILLER
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Patent number: 9107424Abstract: An input conveyor, output conveyor, and knife assembly with a blade between the input and output conveyors all reciprocate back and forth as a blade moves perpendicular to the conveyors to cut portioned sized of product, such as ground meat. The cut cycle allows the product feed to keep moving in a continuous manner on conveyors. For ground meat, this system can allow production rates of 150 pieces or more per minute per conveyor line and can improve the accuracy of portioning. The blade is actuated by a profiled cam set that pulls the blade down, and then returns it with a spring to an upper position. The knife assembly can accelerate just after cutting to reduce the potential for sticking to the cut product.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2012Date of Patent: August 18, 2015Assignee: RISCO USA CORPORATIONInventor: Alan G. Miller
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Patent number: 8840390Abstract: A cut-off device is used for providing a deposit of known portion weight of the ground meat or paste. This deposit is dropped accurately onto a conveyor belt for transport to a press wheel the height of which, from the conveyor, can be adjusted to provide a finished product of correct thickness. The press wheel has a system of vacuum ducts around the circumference in four chambers that pull paper from a de-nesting tray situated at the top of the press wheel, at the correct interval as to meet up with the deposit at the base of the wheel. This results in the deposit being pressed to the required thickness onto the conveyor, with the interleave paper attached to the top of the now formed patty.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2008Date of Patent: September 23, 2014Assignee: Risco USA CorporationInventor: Alan G. Miller
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Publication number: 20130000454Abstract: An input conveyor, output conveyor, and knife assembly with a blade between the input and output conveyors all reciprocate back and forth as a blade moves perpendicular to the conveyors to cut portioned sized of product, such as ground meat. The cut cycle allows the product feed to keep moving in a continuous manner on conveyors. For ground meat, this system can allow production rates of 150 pieces or more per minute per conveyor line and can improve the accuracy of portioning. The blade is actuated by a profiled cam set that pulls the blade down, and then returns it with a spring to an upper position. The knife assembly can accelerate just after cutting to reduce the potential for sticking to the cut product.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 7, 2012Publication date: January 3, 2013Applicant: RISCO USA CORPORATIONInventor: Alan G. MILLER
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Publication number: 20090087530Abstract: A cut-off device is used for providing a deposit of known portion weight of the ground meat or paste. This deposit is dropped accurately onto a conveyor belt for transport to a press wheel the height of which, from the conveyor, can be adjusted to provide a finished product of correct thickness. The press wheel has a system of vacuum ducts around the circumference in four chambers that pull paper from a de-nesting tray situated at the top of the press wheel, at the correct interval as to meet up with the deposit at the base of the wheel. This results in the deposit being pressed to the required thickness onto the conveyor, with the interleave paper attached to the top of the now formed patty.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 27, 2008Publication date: April 2, 2009Applicant: RISCO USA CORPORATIONInventor: Alan G. MILLER
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Patent number: 6920711Abstract: The present invention provides for a photo display system having a decorative frame, an imaged transparency disposed on the decorative frame and a diffuser film disposed on the imaged transparency. The photo display system also has a base having a means for mounting the decorative frame and a means for attaching a diffuse reflector. The diffuse reflector is disposed behind the decorative frame as viewed from the imaged transparency side of the photo display system.Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 2003Date of Patent: July 26, 2005Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Alan G. Miller, Douglas P. Hills
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Patent number: 6913722Abstract: A receptor medium with a sheet having an optically transmissive microembossed imaging surface as one major surface thereof. The receptor medium can receive jettable materials, which include inks, adhesives, biological fluids, chemical assay reagents, particulate dispersions, waxes, and combinations thereof. The microembossed medium unexpectedly solves such common inkjet printing problems as feathering, banding, and mudcracking in inkjet printing systems by controlling how an inkjet drop contacts and dries on an inkjet receptor medium and also Moire' effects but also provides sufficient optical transmissivity to be useful as overhead transparency media, backlit signage, and the like. Clear lines of demarcation between adjoining colors of a pigmented inkjet image graphic can be obtained without creation of the Moire' effects. Methods of making and using the inkjet receptor medium are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2002Date of Patent: July 5, 2005Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Lori P. Engle, Robert T. Fehr, Patrick R. Fleming, Alan G. Miller, Todd R. Williams, Caroline M. Ylitalo
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Publication number: 20040181990Abstract: The present invention provides for a photo display system having a decorative frame, an imaged transparency disposed on the decorative frame and a diffuser film disposed on the imaged transparency. The photo display system also has a base having a means for mounting the decorative frame and a means for attaching a diffuse reflector. The diffuse reflector is disposed behind the decorative frame as viewed from the imaged transparency side of the photo display system.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 20, 2003Publication date: September 23, 2004Applicant: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: ALAN G. MILLER, DOUGLAS P. HILLS
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Publication number: 20040181989Abstract: The present invention provides for a photo display system that can quickly and easily be converted from an ambient light backlit viewing mode to a powered backlit viewing mode. The photo display system includes an imaged transparency, a diffuser film disposed next to the imaged transparency and a diffuse reflector.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 20, 2003Publication date: September 23, 2004Applicant: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventor: Alan G. Miller
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Publication number: 20030129301Abstract: A receptor medium with a sheet having an optically transmissive microembossed imaging surface as one major surface thereof. The receptor medium can receive jettable materials, which include inks, adhesives, biological fluids, chemical assay reagents, particulate dispersions, waxes, and combinations thereof. The microembossed medium unexpectedly solves such common inkjet printing problems as feathering, banding, and mudcracking in inkjet printing systems by controlling how an inkjet drop contacts and dries on an inkjet receptor medium and also Moire' effects but also provides sufficient optical transmissivity to be useful as overhead transparency media, backlit signage, and the like. Clear lines of demarcation between adjoining colors of a pigmented inkjet image graphic can be obtained without creation of the Moire' effects. Methods of making and using the inkjet receptor medium are also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 23, 2002Publication date: July 10, 2003Applicant: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Lori P. Engle, Robert T. Fehr, Patrick R. Fleming, Alan G. Miller, Todd R. Williams, Caroline M. Ylitalo
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Patent number: 6521325Abstract: A receptor medium with a sheet having an optically transmissive microembossed imaging surface as one major surface thereof. The receptor medium can receive jettable materials, which include inks, adhesives, biological fluids, chemical assay reagents, particulate dispersions, waxes, and combinations thereof. The microembossed medium unexpectedly solves such common inkjet printing problems as feathering, banding, and mudcracking in inkjet printing systems by controlling how an inkjet drop contacts and dries on an inkjet receptor medium and also Moire' effects but also provides sufficient optical transmissivity to be useful as overhead transparency media, backlit signage, and the like. Clear lines of demarcation between adjoining colors of a pigmented inkjet image graphic can be obtained without creation of the Moire' effects. Methods of making and using the inkjet receptor medium are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2000Date of Patent: February 18, 2003Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Lori P. Engle, Robert T. Fehr, Patrick R. Fleming, Alan G. Miller, Todd R. Williams, Caroline M. Ylitalo
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Patent number: 6500527Abstract: An image receiving layer comprising an ink receptive crosslinked polymer comprising the reaction product of a multifunctional aziridine crosslinking agent and a polymer containing protonated pyridine substituents. Image receiving layers may also contain at least one swellable polymer and additives such as particulates, mordants, fillers and the like.Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 2001Date of Patent: December 31, 2002Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventor: Alan G. Miller
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Publication number: 20020150732Abstract: An image receiving layer comprising an ink receptive crosslinked polymer comprising the reaction product of a multifunctional aziridine crosslinking agent and a polymer containing protonated pyridine substituents. Image receiving layers may also contain at least one swellable polymer and additives such as particulates, mordants, fillers and the like.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 9, 2001Publication date: October 17, 2002Inventors: Manisha Sarkar, Mahfuza B. Ali, Alan G. Miller
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Publication number: 20020142141Abstract: An image receiving layer comprising an ink receptive crosslinked polymer comprising the reaction product of a multifunctional aziridine crosslinking agent and a polymer containing protonated pyridine substituents. Image receiving layers may also contain at least one swellable polymer and additives such as particulates, mordants, fillers and the like.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 1, 2001Publication date: October 3, 2002Applicant: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventor: Alan G. Miller
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Patent number: 5712027Abstract: An improved ink-receptive sheet comprising a substrate bearing on at least one major surface thereof an ink-receptive layer which comprises at least one ink receptive polymer and an effective amount of polymeric mordant having the general structure: ##STR1## wherein A is selected from the group consisting of a COO-alkylene group having from 1 to about 5 carbon atoms, a CONH-alkylene group having from 1 to about 5 carbon atoms, --COO--(CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 O)n--CH.sub.2, --CONH--(CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 O)n--CH.sub.2 -- and .paren open-st.CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 NH.sub.2 Cl.paren close-st.n, wherein n is from 1 to about 5;E and D are independently selected from the group consisting of alkyl group having from 1 to about 5 carbon atoms;or A, E, D and N are combined to form a heterocyclic compound selected from the group consisting of ##STR2## R.sub.1 and R.sub.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 1996Date of Patent: January 27, 1998Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing CompanyInventors: Mahfuza B. Ali, Omar Farooq, Mohammed Iqbal, Alan G. Miller