Patents by Inventor Craig E. Gustafson
Craig E. Gustafson 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: 20230217934Abstract: A dividable dough sheet piece gives consumers enhanced flexibility in creating food items from pre-made sheeted dough. The dividable dough sheet piece is cut from a dough sheet, with the dividable dough sheet piece having a perimeter and including a plurality of interconnected, sub-pieces defined within the perimeter. Each sub-piece is defined by one or more lines of structural weakness that provide predetermined breaking points. The dividable dough sheet piece can be used as a whole or can be divided into the sub-pieces for alternative use.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 11, 2022Publication date: July 13, 2023Applicant: General Mills, Inc.Inventors: Craig E. Gustafson, Roberta Marie Langenfeld, Todd A. Rasmussen, Bruce W. Robb, Dalton Sherrill, Michael Snyder, Andrew Friend Souder, Kiara C. Camareno Vargas
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Publication number: 20230104327Abstract: Rolled food products are produced by cutting a dough sheet to form a roll sheet having a continuous pattern. The pattern is comprised of an asymmetrical repeat unit. The roll sheet is transported in a first direction with a conveyor system, and the roll sheet is rolled in a second direction to form a continuous roll. The second direction is not parallel to the first direction. The continuous roll is cut to form a plurality of rolls. Each of the plurality of rolls is asymmetrical.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 8, 2022Publication date: April 6, 2023Applicant: General Mills, Inc.Inventors: Roberta M. Langenfeld, Anna Gale, Benjamin R. Heyda, Craig E. Gustafson
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Patent number: 11540522Abstract: Rolled food products are produced by cutting a dough sheet to form a roll sheet having a continuous pattern. The pattern is comprised of an asymmetrical repeat unit. The roll sheet is transported in a first direction with a conveyor system, and the roll sheet is rolled in a second direction to form a continuous roll. The second direction is not parallel to the first direction. The continuous roll is cut to form a plurality of rolls. Each of the plurality of rolls is asymmetrical.Type: GrantFiled: September 1, 2017Date of Patent: January 3, 2023Assignee: General Mills, Inc.Inventors: Roberta M Langenfeld, Anna Gale, Benjamin R Heyda, Craig E Gustafson
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Publication number: 20190069562Abstract: Rolled food products are produced by cutting a dough sheet to form a roll sheet having a continuous pattern. The pattern is comprised of an asymmetrical repeat unit. The roll sheet is transported in a first direction with a conveyor system, and the roll sheet is rolled in a second direction to form a continuous roll. The second direction is not parallel to the first direction. The continuous roll is cut to form a plurality of rolls. Each of the plurality of rolls is asymmetrical.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 1, 2017Publication date: March 7, 2019Applicant: General Mills, Inc.Inventors: Roberta M. Langenfeld, Anna Gale, Benjamin R. Heyda, Craig E. Gustafson
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Publication number: 20170113820Abstract: A method and system for packaging products provides for initially, vertically stacking a plurality of products during production in a transfer canister, simultaneously removing a stack of the products from the transfer canister, reorienting the stack and horizontally loading the stack into a final product package cavity. The invention has applicability to a wide range of products, particularly food products, such as refrigerated dough products. In one embodiment of the invention, the product package cavity is thermoformed as part as an overall horizontal form, fill and seal system.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 27, 2013Publication date: April 27, 2017Inventors: James W. Finkowski, Craig E. Gustafson, Mark E. Arlinghaus, Ralph Stenvik, Dennis B. Usgaard
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Patent number: 9617022Abstract: A method and system for packaging products provides for initially, vertically stacking a plurality of products during production in a transfer canister, simultaneously removing a stack of the products from the transfer canister, reorienting the stack and horizontally loading the stack into a final product package cavity. The invention has applicability to a wide range of products, particularly food products, such as refrigerated dough products. In one embodiment of the invention, the product package cavity is thermoformed as part as an overall horizontal form, fill and seal system.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2013Date of Patent: April 11, 2017Assignee: General Mills, Inc.Inventors: James W. Finkowski, Craig E. Gustafson, Mark E. Arlinghaus, Ralph Stenvik, Dennis B. Usgaard
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Patent number: 9095144Abstract: A weighing apparatus comprising a weigh deck, one or more load cells, and two staging bars. The weighing apparatus is configured to be installed in an existing conveyor system having a frame and a conveyor belt so that the weigh deck is generally flush with the frame and the weigh deck and the staging bars are positioned underneath the conveyor belt. The staging bars are positioned to mitigate weight measurement variations produced by the conveyor belt. In many cases, the staging bars are vertically adjustable. One or more weigh bridges can be incorporated into a production line or conveyor system.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 2011Date of Patent: August 4, 2015Assignee: General Mills, Inc.Inventors: Cara J. Sekerak, Terry G. Reishus, Craig A. Dowd, Craig E. Gustafson
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Publication number: 20140237948Abstract: A method and system for packaging products provides for initially, vertically stacking a plurality of products during production in a transfer canister, simultaneously removing a stack of the products from the transfer canister, reorienting the stack and horizontally loading the stack into a final product package cavity. The invention has applicability to a wide range of products, particularly food products, such as refrigerated dough products. In one embodiment of the invention, the product package cavity is thermoformed as part as an overall horizontal form, fill and seal system.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 27, 2013Publication date: August 28, 2014Inventors: James W. Finkowski, Craig E. Gustafson, Mark E. Arlinghaus, Ralph Stenvik, Dennis B. Usgaard
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Patent number: 8407973Abstract: A method and system for packaging products provides for initially, vertically stacking a plurality of products during production in a transfer canister, simultaneously removing a stack of the products from the transfer canister, reorienting the stack and horizontally loading the stack into a final product package cavity. The invention has applicability to a wide range of products, particularly food products, such as refrigerated dough products. In one embodiment of the invention, the product package cavity is thermoformed as part as an overall horizontal form, fill and seal system.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 2010Date of Patent: April 2, 2013Assignee: General Mills, Inc.Inventors: James W. Finkowski, Craig E. Gustafson, Mark E. Arlinghaus, Ralph Stenvik, Dennis B. Usgaard
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Patent number: 8313227Abstract: A cutting mechanism is mounted to a tub of a dough mixing apparatus including an internal mixing chamber having a rotatable agitator assembly for forming dough. After the dough is formed, the tub is rotated and the cutting mechanism is automatically shifted from a non-cutting position, wherein an elongated blade element of the cutting mechanism is located remote from the agitator assembly so as to not interfere with the dough forming process in the internal mixing chamber, to a cutting position, wherein the elongated blade element is arranged directly adjacent an operational path of mixing elements of the agitator assembly to slice the dough, whereupon the dough readily falls from the agitator assembly for enhanced discharge of the dough from the tub. The cutting mechanism can be integrated into a breaker bar or separately mounted in the tub.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2007Date of Patent: November 20, 2012Assignee: General Mills Marketing, Inc.Inventors: Craig E. Gustafson, Thomas E. Heinzen
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Publication number: 20110023417Abstract: A method and system for packaging products provides for initially, vertically stacking a plurality of products during production in a transfer canister, simultaneously removing a stack of the products from the transfer canister, reorienting the stack and horizontally loading the stack into a final product package cavity. The invention has applicability to a wide range of products, particularly food products, such as refrigerated dough products. In one embodiment of the invention, the product package cavity is thermoformed as part as an overall horizontal form, fill and seal system.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 28, 2010Publication date: February 3, 2011Inventors: James W. Finkowski, Craig E. Gustafson, Mark E. Arlinghaus, Ralph Stenvik, Dennis B. Usgaard
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Publication number: 20110027438Abstract: A method for packaging products utilizes a horizontal form, fill and seal (HFFS) system in combination with a vertical loading system. The packaging method includes creating product receiving cavities in a lower film, directly vertically stacking products in the product receiving cavities and then sealing the vertically stacked products in the cavities with an upper film to form product pouches. In one embodiment of the invention, a product fill station of the HFFS system is advantageously defined by a shaped packer including a stamping unit for directly vertically stacking the products. In another embodiment, a vertical lift and feed mechanism is employed to vertically stack the products in the receiving cavities.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 28, 2010Publication date: February 3, 2011Inventors: James W. Finkowski, Craig E. Gustafson
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Publication number: 20090161478Abstract: A cutting mechanism is mounted to a tub of a dough mixing apparatus including an internal mixing chamber having a rotatable agitator assembly for forming dough. After the dough is formed, the tub is rotated and the cutting mechanism is automatically shifted from a non-cutting position, wherein an elongated blade element of the cutting mechanism is located remote from the agitator assembly so as to not interfere with the dough forming process in the internal mixing chamber, to a cutting position, wherein the elongated blade element is arranged directly adjacent an operational path of mixing elements of the agitator assembly to slice the dough, whereupon the dough readily falls from the agitator assembly for enhanced discharge of the dough from the tub. The cutting mechanism can be integrated into a breaker bar or separately mounted in the tub.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2007Publication date: June 25, 2009Inventors: CRAIG E. GUSTAFSON, THOMAS E. HEINZEN
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Patent number: D515274Type: GrantFiled: January 12, 2005Date of Patent: February 21, 2006Assignee: General Mills, Inc.Inventors: Jonathan M. Griebel, Stephen J. Green, Craig E. Gustafson, Michael P. Waldherr