Patents by Inventor Dennis B. Usgaard

Dennis B. Usgaard 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).

  • Publication number: 20170113820
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2013
    Publication date: April 27, 2017
    Inventors: James W. Finkowski, Craig E. Gustafson, Mark E. Arlinghaus, Ralph Stenvik, Dennis B. Usgaard
  • Patent number: 9617022
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: General Mills, Inc.
    Inventors: James W. Finkowski, Craig E. Gustafson, Mark E. Arlinghaus, Ralph Stenvik, Dennis B. Usgaard
  • Publication number: 20140237948
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2013
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Inventors: James W. Finkowski, Craig E. Gustafson, Mark E. Arlinghaus, Ralph Stenvik, Dennis B. Usgaard
  • Patent number: 8407973
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: General Mills, Inc.
    Inventors: James W. Finkowski, Craig E. Gustafson, Mark E. Arlinghaus, Ralph Stenvik, Dennis B. Usgaard
  • Publication number: 20110023417
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2010
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Inventors: James W. Finkowski, Craig E. Gustafson, Mark E. Arlinghaus, Ralph Stenvik, Dennis B. Usgaard
  • Patent number: 6745672
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to an improved apparatus for processing dough intermediates that are less developed, softer or which have enhanced water or moisture levels. More specifically, the present invention relates to the use of an improved dough transport module, that has one or more protuberances extending generally perpendicularly from a supporting surface which supports the dough intermediate for a sufficient interval of time during processing so as to eliminate the waste and loss of dough intermediates prior to processing or packaging steps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2004
    Assignee: The Pillsbury Company
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Samayoa, Jeffrey L. Casper, J. Kofi A. Mensah, Dennis B. Usgaard, Bruce W. Robb, James W. Finkowski
  • Patent number: 6227349
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method for dough handling includes a first conveyor for receiving dough and having a first discharge end for discharging dough. A second conveyor receives dough and is positioned along side the first conveyor to convey in the direction of the first conveyor. The second conveyor has a second discharge end that is spaced-apart from the first discharge end. The first and second conveyors can be used to separate dough pieces from an elongated dough product such as a roll and/or phase individual dough pieces to provide them in succession for packaging or further processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2001
    Assignee: The Pillsbury Company
    Inventors: James W. Finkowski, Robert F. Meyer, Dale W. Fredrickson, Dennis B. Usgaard, Manuel Motolina
  • Patent number: 6041912
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method for dough handling includes a first conveyor for receiving dough and having a first discharge end for discharging dough. A second conveyor receives dough and is positioned along side the first conveyor to convey in the direction of the first conveyor. The second conveyor has a second discharge end that is spaced-apart from the first discharge end. The first and second conveyors can be used to separate dough pieces from an elongated dough product such as a roll and/or phase individual dough pieces to provide them in succession for packaging or further processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2000
    Assignee: The Pillsbury Company
    Inventors: James W. Finkowski, Robert F. Meyer, Dale W. Fredrickson, Dennis B. Usgaard, Manuel Motolina
  • Patent number: 5855670
    Abstract: A liquid distribution apparatus for distributing liquid to a dough product includes a source of liquid and an enclosure fluidly coupled to the source of liquid for receiving liquid. The enclosure includes a plurality of spaced-apart holes through which the liquid exits the enclosure. Preferably, a plurality of guide structures on the enclosure guide the liquid to a bottom surface of the enclosure whereat the liquid drops to the dough product. In a further embodiment, a plurality of guiding elements receives the liquid from the plurality of spaced-apart holes and guides the liquid to the dough product. Each guiding element includes a first end disposed proximate the enclosure to receive liquid from one of the plurality of spaced-apart holes and a second end remote from each corresponding first end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1999
    Assignee: The Pillsbury Company
    Inventors: Dennis B. Usgaard, John A. Peterson, Joseph G. Anton
  • Patent number: 5360118
    Abstract: The present invention includes a process for separating food particles of different specific gravities. The process includes providing a feedstock of the food particles, providing a feedstock of diatomaceous earth and water having a specific gravity effective for particles to float or sink; adding the slurry and separating the floating food particles from the sinking food particles; dewatering the food particles and collecting the water; extracting the diatomaceous earth from the slurry and re-using the diatomaceous earth in the process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 1, 1994
    Assignee: The Pillsbury Company
    Inventors: Thomas P. Kempf, Dennis B. Usgaard