Patents by Inventor Carl Gregory Miller
Carl Gregory 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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Publication number: 20230380475Abstract: A method for making a smokeless tobacco article can include combining thermoplastic polymer particles with tobacco particles to form a mixture of particles, compressing the mixture of particles within a pressing apparatus to form the mixture into a predetermined shape, separating the mixture from the pressing apparatus such that it retains the predetermined shape, and heating the mixture outside of the pressing apparatus to at least partially melt at least some of the thermoplastic polymer particles and form a matrix of polymer and tobacco particles.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 14, 2023Publication date: November 30, 2023Applicant: Altria Client Services LLCInventors: Gregory James GRISCIK, Carl Gregory MILLER
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Publication number: 20230311393Abstract: A method of forming an oral product includes extruding a mixture, conveying the extruded mixture through one or more pairs of forming rollers, and cutting the extruded mixture into one or more oral products. The mixture can include polymer and at least one flavorant, sweetener, active ingredient, or combination thereof. The extruded mixture forms an extrudate having a predetermined cross-sectional shape. The one or more pairs of forming rollers abut to define a passage there between as each forming roller rotates. The passage has a cross-sectional shape corresponding to the predetermined cross-sectional shape. The method can be performed using a machine including an extruder, one or more pairs of forming rollers, and a cutting device.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 7, 2023Publication date: October 5, 2023Applicant: Altria Client Services LLCInventors: Carl Gregory MILLER, Charles Lester DENDY, Jeremy J. STRAIGHT, Gregory James GRISCIK
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Patent number: 11737485Abstract: A method for making a smokeless tobacco article can include combining thermoplastic polymer particles with tobacco particles to form a mixture of particles, compressing the mixture of particles within a pressing apparatus to form the mixture into a predetermined shape, separating the mixture from the pressing apparatus such that it retains the predetermined shape, and heating the mixture outside of the pressing apparatus to at least partially melt at least some of the thermoplastic polymer particles and form a matrix of polymer and tobacco particles.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2020Date of Patent: August 29, 2023Assignee: Altria Client Services LLCInventors: Gregory James Griscik, Carl Gregory Miller
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Patent number: 11701810Abstract: A method of forming an oral product includes extruding a mixture, conveying the extruded mixture through one or more pairs of forming rollers, and cutting the extruded mixture into one or more oral products. The mixture can include polymer and at least one flavorant, sweetener, active ingredient, or combination thereof. The extruded mixture forms an extrudate having a predetermined cross-sectional shape. The one or more pairs of forming rollers abut to define a passage there between as each forming roller rotates. The passage has a cross-sectional shape corresponding to the predetermined cross-sectional shape. The method can be performed using a machine including an extruder, one or more pairs of forming rollers, and a cutting device.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2021Date of Patent: July 18, 2023Assignee: Altria Client Services LLCInventors: Carl Gregory Miller, Charles Lester Dendy, Jeremy J. Straight, Gregory James Griscik
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Patent number: 11478014Abstract: At least one example embodiment discloses a conditioning system including a first roller, a second roller, a first drive system configured to rotate the first roller in a first rotational direction and rotate the second roller in a second rotational direction and a second drive system configured to move the first roller and the second roller in opposing linear directions, the first drive system and the second drive system being configured to cooperatively control the first roller and the second roller to process a substance.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2019Date of Patent: October 25, 2022Assignee: Altria Client Services LLCInventors: Gregory Alan Holmes, Carl Gregory Miller
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Publication number: 20220118667Abstract: A method of forming an oral product includes extruding a mixture, conveying the extruded mixture through one or more pairs of forming rollers, and cutting the extruded mixture into one or more oral products. The mixture can include polymer and at least one flavorant, sweetener, active ingredient, or combination thereof. The extruded mixture forms an extrudate having a predetermined cross-sectional shape. The one or more pairs of forming rollers abut to define a passage there between as each forming roller rotates. The passage has a cross-sectional shape corresponding to the predetermined cross-sectional shape. The method can be performed using a machine including an extruder, one or more pairs of forming rollers, and a cutting device.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 30, 2021Publication date: April 21, 2022Applicant: Altria Client Services LLCInventors: Carl Gregory MILLER, Charles Lester DENDY, Jeremy J. STRAIGHT, Gregory James GRISCIK
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Patent number: 11213988Abstract: A method of forming an oral product includes extruding a mixture, conveying the extruded mixture through one or more pairs of forming rollers, and cutting the extruded mixture into one or more oral products. The mixture can include polymer and at least one flavorant, sweetener, active ingredient, or combination thereof. The extruded mixture forms an extrudate having a predetermined cross-sectional shape. The one or more pairs of forming rollers abut to define a passage there between as each forming roller rotates. The passage has a cross-sectional shape corresponding to the predetermined cross-sectional shape. The method can be performed using a machine including an extruder, one or more pairs of forming rollers, and a cutting device.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2020Date of Patent: January 4, 2022Assignee: Altria Client Services LLCInventors: Carl Gregory Miller, Charles Lester Dendy, Jeremy J. Straight, Gregory James Griscik
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Publication number: 20210106042Abstract: A method for making a smokeless tobacco article can include combining thermoplastic polymer particles with tobacco particles to form a mixture of particles, compressing the mixture of particles within a pressing apparatus to form the mixture into a predetermined shape, separating the mixture from the pressing apparatus such that it retains the predetermined shape, and heating the mixture outside of the pressing apparatus to at least partially melt at least some of the thermoplastic polymer particles and form a matrix of polymer and tobacco particles.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 22, 2020Publication date: April 15, 2021Applicant: Altria Client Services LLCInventors: Gregory James GRISCIK, Carl Gregory MILLER
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Patent number: 10899032Abstract: A method of forming an oral product includes gripping a rod of oral product material with a gripping device, indexing the rod forward to have a leading end of the rod abut a stop at a first location, cutting a leading portion of the rod to create an oral product, moving the stop to a second location to allow the oral product to fall, moving the stop back to the first location, and repeating the process. A machine for forming an oral product can include a cutting device adapted to cut through a rod of plastic material, a stop spaced from the cutting device, the stop being adapted to be moved from a first location to a second location, a gripping device adapted to hold and index a rod towards the stop, and a load cell positioned to receive oral products cut from a rod by the cutting device.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2020Date of Patent: January 26, 2021Assignee: Altria Client Services LLCInventors: Carl Gregory Miller, Charles Lester Dendy, Jeremy J. Straight, Gregory James Griscik
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Patent number: 10881130Abstract: A method for making a smokeless tobacco article can include combining thermoplastic polymer particles with tobacco particles to form a mixture of particles, compressing the mixture of particles within a pressing apparatus to form the mixture into a predetermined shape, separating the mixture from the pressing apparatus such that it retains the predetermined shape, and heating the mixture outside of the pressing apparatus to at least partially melt at least some of the thermoplastic polymer particles and form a matrix of polymer and tobacco particles.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 2019Date of Patent: January 5, 2021Assignee: Altria Client Services LLCInventors: Gregory James Griscik, Carl Gregory Miller
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Publication number: 20200353662Abstract: A method of forming an oral product includes extruding a mixture, conveying the extruded mixture through one or more pairs of forming rollers, and cutting the extruded mixture into one or more oral products. The mixture can include polymer and at least one flavorant, sweetener, active ingredient, or combination thereof. The extruded mixture forms an extrudate having a predetermined cross-sectional shape. The one or more pairs of forming rollers abut to define a passage there between as each forming roller rotates. The passage has a cross-sectional shape corresponding to the predetermined cross-sectional shape. The method can be performed using a machine including an extruder, one or more pairs of forming rollers, and a cutting device.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 29, 2020Publication date: November 12, 2020Applicant: Altria Client Services LLCInventors: Carl Gregory MILLER, Charles Lester DENDY, Jeremy J. STRAIGHT, Gregory James GRISCIK
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Publication number: 20200268037Abstract: At least one example embodiment discloses a conditioning system including a first roller, a second roller, a first drive system configured to rotate the first roller in a first rotational direction and rotate the second roller in a second rotational direction and a second drive system configured to move the first roller and the second roller in opposing linear directions, the first drive system and the second drive system being configured to cooperatively control the first roller and the second roller to process a substance.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 22, 2019Publication date: August 27, 2020Applicant: Altria Client Services LLCInventors: Gregory Alan HOLMES, Carl Gregory MILLER
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Patent number: 10744694Abstract: A machine for forming a plurality of oral products includes an extruder, pairs of forming rollers, and a cutting device. The extruder is configured to form an extrudate. The pairs of forming rollers include a first pair of forming rollers and a second pair of forming rollers. The first pair of forming rollers cooperate to define a first passage therebetween. The first passage is configured to receive the extrudate from the extruder. The second pair of forming rollers cooperate to define a second passage therebetween. The second passage is configured to receive the extrudate from the first pair of forming rollers. The cutting device is configured to receive the extrudate from the first pair of forming rollers and cut the extrudate.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 2019Date of Patent: August 18, 2020Assignee: Altria Client Services LLCInventors: Carl Gregory Miller, Charles Lester Dendy, Jeremy J. Straight, Gregory James Griscik
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Publication number: 20200215709Abstract: A method of forming an oral product includes gripping a rod of oral product material with a gripping device, indexing the rod forward to have a leading end of the rod abut a stop at a first location, cutting a leading portion of the rod to create an oral product, moving the stop to a second location to allow the oral product to fall, moving the stop back to the first location, and repeating the process. A machine for forming an oral product can include a cutting device adapted to cut through a rod of plastic material, a stop spaced from the cutting device, the stop being adapted to be moved from a first location to a second location, a gripping device adapted to hold and index a rod towards the stop, and a load cell positioned to receive oral products cut from a rod by the cutting device.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 18, 2020Publication date: July 9, 2020Applicant: Altria Client Services LLCInventors: Carl Gregory MILLER, Charles Lester DENDY, Jeremy J. STRAIGHT, Gregory James GRISCIK
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Patent number: 10611043Abstract: A method of forming an oral product includes gripping a rod of oral product material with a gripping device, indexing the rod forward to have a leading end of the rod abut a stop at a first location, cutting a leading portion of the rod to create an oral product, moving the stop to a second location to allow the oral product to fall, moving the stop back to the first location, and repeating the process. A machine for forming an oral product can include a cutting device adapted to cut through a rod of plastic material, a stop spaced from the cutting device, the stop being adapted to be moved from a first location to a second location, a gripping device adapted to hold and index a rod towards the stop, and a load cell positioned to receive oral products cut from a rod by the cutting device.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2014Date of Patent: April 7, 2020Assignee: Altria Client Services LLCInventors: Carl Gregory Miller, Charles Lester Dendy, Jeremy J. Straight, Gregory James Griscik
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Publication number: 20190246685Abstract: A method for making a smokeless tobacco article can include combining thermoplastic polymer particles with tobacco particles to form a mixture of particles, compressing the mixture of particles within a pressing apparatus to form the mixture into a predetermined shape, separating the mixture from the pressing apparatus such that it retains the predetermined shape, and heating the mixture outside of the pressing apparatus to at least partially melt at least some of the thermoplastic polymer particles and form a matrix of polymer and tobacco particles.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 26, 2019Publication date: August 15, 2019Applicant: Altria Client Services LLCInventors: Gregory James GRISCIK, Carl Gregory Miller
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Patent number: 10336597Abstract: An alcoholic beverage forming apparatus operable to dispense an alcoholic beverage having a desired flavor, proof, temperature, and volume mixes water and alcohol with a flavor medium to form an alcoholic beverage having a desired flavor that may be dispensed from the apparatus. The apparatus includes a capsule holder, a water supply reservoir and an alcohol supply reservoir. The reservoirs are operable to respectively supply water and alcohol to a mixing manifold of the apparatus to such that the water and alcohol are combined in the mixing manifold to form an alcoholic beverage mixture which is subsequently mixed with a flavor medium contained in an interior of a beverage capsule. A dispenser is operable to dispense an alcoholic beverage therefrom during operation of the alcoholic beverage forming apparatus.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2016Date of Patent: July 2, 2019Assignee: Altria Client Services LLCInventors: Gregory James Griscik, Jonathan David Watson, Carl Gregory Miller, Rosana C. Altoveros, Lawrence E. Tipton, Jeremy Straight, David Alvarez, John Nelson
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Publication number: 20190168435Abstract: A method of forming an oral product includes extruding a mixture, conveying the extruded mixture through one or more pairs of forming rollers, and cutting the extruded mixture into one or more oral products. The mixture can include polymer and at least one flavorant, sweetener, active ingredient, or combination thereof. The extruded mixture forms an extrudate having a predetermined cross-sectional shape. The one or more pairs of forming rollers abut to define a passage there between as each forming roller rotates. The passage has a cross-sectional shape corresponding to the predetermined cross-sectional shape. The method can be performed using a machine including an extruder, one or more pairs of forming rollers, and a cutting device.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 4, 2019Publication date: June 6, 2019Applicant: Altria Client Services LLCInventors: Carl Gregory MILLER, Charles Lester DENDY, Jeremy J. STRAIGHT, Gregory James GRISCIK
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Patent number: 10271572Abstract: A method for making a smokeless tobacco article can include combining thermoplastic polymer particles with tobacco particles to form a mixture of particles, compressing the mixture of particles within a pressing apparatus to form the mixture into a predetermined shape, separating the mixture from the pressing apparatus such that it retains the predetermined shape, and heating the mixture outside of the pressing apparatus to at least partially melt at least some of the thermoplastic polymer particles and form a matrix of polymer and tobacco particles.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2016Date of Patent: April 30, 2019Assignee: Altria Client Services LLCInventors: Gregory James Griscik, Carl Gregory Miller
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Patent number: 10195777Abstract: A method of forming an oral product includes extruding a mixture, conveying the extruded mixture through one or more pairs of forming rollers, and cutting the extruded mixture into one or more oral products. The mixture can include polymer and at least one flavorant, sweetener, active ingredient, or combination thereof. The extruded mixture forms an extrudate having a predetermined cross-sectional shape. The one or more pairs of forming rollers abut to define a passage there between as each forming roller rotates. The passage has a cross-sectional shape corresponding to the predetermined cross-sectional shape. The method can be performed using a machine including an extruder, one or more pairs of forming rollers, and a cutting device.Type: GrantFiled: August 21, 2018Date of Patent: February 5, 2019Assignee: Altria Client Services LLCInventors: Carl Gregory Miller, Charles Lester Dendy, Jeremy J. Straight, Gregory James Griscik