Patents by Inventor E. William Wight
E. William Wight 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: 20140308387Abstract: The food product machine with a food supply, a rotary food pump connected to the food supply, a molding mechanism having a mold plate and a knockout drive, and a mold plate reciprocating between a fill and a discharge position. The knockout drive reciprocates a knockout plunger to discharge molded food products from the mold plate, the mold plate being reciprocated between a cavity fill position and a cavity discharge position. The machine includes a manifold connected an outlet of the food pump and having an outlet passageway connected to an inlet of the molding mechanism for filling the cavity of the mold plate. The machine can further include a fill plunger system for increasing the fill pressure of the food mass prior to filling the mold cavities. Plungers extend into the manifold to displace food mass volume and increase the pressure in the manifold.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 27, 2014Publication date: October 16, 2014Inventors: Scott A. Lindee, Paul Taylor, Christopher Moore, E. William Wight
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Publication number: 20140252143Abstract: Orifice plates, grinding machines, and method of using the same are provided that can process a material. In one aspect, an orifice plate includes multiple orifices, at least one of which has two tapered segments aligned with and operably connected to each other and that taper downwardly from respective outer portions to inner portions. An intermediate bore may connect to minimum diameter portions of each of the tapering segments so that the tapering segments are connected to each other by way of the intermediate bore.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 11, 2013Publication date: September 11, 2014Applicant: WEILER AND COMPANY, INC.Inventor: E. William Wight
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Publication number: 20140242231Abstract: A rotary molding system for molding food products, mold cavities formed when a mold shell rotates mold shapes disposed along the mold shell into a fill position between a fill plate and a wear plate. Molded food products are removed from mold cavities using knock-out cups, the use of air pressure, or the use of a vacuum source disposed below the mold cavity, without the need to slow the rotation of the mold shell. Knock-out cups may be used with a heating system to reduce accumulation of unwanted materials on the knock-out cups. The rotary molding system can also be used to form products with contoured surfaces. A smart tagging system can be used to ensure that compatible sets of mold shells and knock out cups are being used. A vacuum region may be disposed upstream of the fill position to remove air within the mold cavity prior to filling.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 8, 2014Publication date: August 28, 2014Applicant: Formax, Inc.Inventors: Scott A. Lindee, David Hansen, Salvatore Lamartino, Bruce Bauer, Thomas C. Wolcott, Steve Ill, E. William Wight
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Patent number: 8801427Abstract: The food product machine with a food supply, a rotary food pump connected to the food supply, a molding mechanism having a mold plate and a knockout drive, and a mold plate reciprocating between a fill and a discharge position. The knockout drive reciprocates a knockout plunger to discharge molded food products from the mold plate the mold plate being reciprocated between a cavity fill position and a cavity discharge position. The machine includes a manifold connected an outlet of the food pump and having an outlet passageway connected to an inlet of the molding mechanism for filling the cavity of the mold plate. The machine can further include a fill plunger system for increasing the fill pressure of the food mass prior to filling the mold cavities. Plungers extend into the manifold to displace food mass volume and increase the pressure in the manifold.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2011Date of Patent: August 12, 2014Assignee: Formax, Inc.Inventors: Scott A. Lindee, Paul Taylor, Christopher Moore, E. William Wight
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Patent number: 8753107Abstract: A rotary molding system for molding food products, mold cavities formed when a mold shell rotates mold shapes disposed along the mold shell into a fill position between a fill plate and a wear plate. Molded food products are removed from mold cavities using knock-out cups, the use of air pressure, or the use of a vacuum source disposed below the mold cavity, without the need to slow the rotation of the mold shell. Knock-out cups may be used with a heating system to reduce accumulation of unwanted materials on the knock-out cups. The rotary molding system can also be used to form products with contoured surfaces. A smart tagging system can be used to ensure that compatible sets of mold shells and knock out cups are being used. A vacuum region may be disposed upstream of the fill position to remove air within the mold cavity prior to filling.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 2013Date of Patent: June 17, 2014Assignee: Formax, Inc.Inventors: Scott A. Lindee, David Hansen, Salvatore Lamartino, Bruce Bauer, Thomas C. Wolcott, Steve Ill, E. William Wight
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Publication number: 20140079842Abstract: The food product machine with a food supply, a rotary food pump connected to the food supply, a molding mechanism having a mold plate and a knockout drive, and a the mold plate configured to be driven to reciprocated between a fill and a discharge position. The knockout drive is reciprocating a knockout plunger to discharge molded food products from a cavity in the mold plate, the mold plate being reciprocated by a mold plate drive between a cavity fill position and a cavity discharge position. The machine further includes a manifold connected an outlet of the food pump and having an outlet passageway connected to an inlet of the molding mechanism for filling the cavity of the mold plate.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 19, 2013Publication date: March 20, 2014Applicant: Formax, Inc.Inventors: Scott A. Lindee, Paul Taylor, Christopher Moore, E. William Wight
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Publication number: 20140034764Abstract: A grinding machine for grinding foodstuffs, such as meat or the like, includes an orifice plate at the outlet of a grinding head. The orifice plate has collection passages that discharge a mixture of soft material and hard material through the orifice plate. A separator assembly is located downstream of the orifice plate for separating the soft material from the hard material. The separator assembly includes a tapered, perforated separator chamber that receives the mixture of soft material and hard material, in combination with a rotatable separator screw located within the separator chamber. Rotation of the separator screw functions to separate the soft material from the hard material and force the soft material through the perforations in the separator chamber. An adjustment arrangement enables the axial position of the separator screw to be adjusted within the separator chamber.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 17, 2013Publication date: February 6, 2014Applicant: Weiler and Company, Inc.Inventors: Nick J. Lesar, E. William Wight
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Patent number: 8613615Abstract: The food product machine with a food supply, a rotary food pump connected to the food supply, a molding mechanism having a mold plate and a knockout drive, and a the mold plate configured to be driven to reciprocated between a fill and a discharge position. The knockout drive is reciprocating a knockout plunger to discharge molded food products from a cavity in the mold plate, the mold plate being reciprocated by a mold plate drive between a cavity fill position and a cavity discharge position. The machine further includes a manifold connected an outlet of the food pump and having an outlet passageway connected to an inlet of the molding mechanism for filling the cavity of the mold plate.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2011Date of Patent: December 24, 2013Assignee: Formax, Inc.Inventors: Scott A. Lindee, Paul Taylor, Christopher Moore, E. William Wight
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Patent number: 8584978Abstract: A grinding machine for grinding foodstuffs, such as meat or the like, includes an orifice plate at the outlet of a grinding head. The orifice plate has collection passages that discharge a mixture of soft material and hard material through the orifice plate. A separator assembly is located downstream of the orifice plate for separating the soft material from the hard material. The separator assembly includes a tapered, perforated separator chamber that receives the mixture of soft material and hard material, in combination with a rotatable separator screw located within the separator chamber. Rotation of the separator screw functions to separate the soft material from the hard material and force the soft material through the perforations in the separator chamber. An adjustment arrangement enables the axial position of the separator screw to be adjusted within the separator chamber.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2011Date of Patent: November 19, 2013Assignee: Weiler and Company, Inc.Inventors: Nick J. Lesar, E. William Wight
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Publication number: 20130259991Abstract: A rotary molding system for molding food products, mold cavities formed when a mold shell rotates mold shapes disposed along the mold shell into a fill position between a fill plate and a wear plate. Molded food products are removed from mold cavities using knock-out cups, the use of air pressure, or the use of a vacuum source disposed below the mold cavity, without the need to slow the rotation of the mold shell. Knock-out cups may be used with a heating system to reduce accumulation of unwanted materials on the knock-out cups. The rotary molding system can also be used to form products with contoured surfaces. A smart tagging system can be used to ensure that compatible sets of mold shells and knock out cups are being used. A vacuum region may be disposed upstream of the fill position to remove air within the mold cavity prior to filling.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 23, 2013Publication date: October 3, 2013Inventors: Scott A. Lindee, David Hansen, Salvatore Lamartino, Bruce Bauer, Thomas C. Wolcott, Steve Ill, E. William Wight
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Patent number: 8544778Abstract: A grinding machine has a shearing chamber that includes one or more edges that provide fulcrum points against which frozen block of material, such as frozen blocks of meat, can be held against during a reduction or shearing process. The edges may be arranged to limit the advancement of reduced blocks of material to provide more control on the size of the ground material that is ultimately output by the grinding machine. The grinding machine may also include an expansion zone into which reduced blocks can be temporarily held to accommodate volume increases during the reduction process. A feed screw advances the frozen blocks through the shearing chamber and includes pressure fighting to help shear material from the frozen blocks. The feed screw may include a knife holder that provides support for a knife held therein against the lateral forces experienced by the knife as the knife shears material adjacent the orifice plate.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 2011Date of Patent: October 1, 2013Assignee: Weiler and Company, Inc.Inventors: Nick J. Lesar, Christopher E. Albrecht, E. William Wight
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Patent number: 8469697Abstract: A rotary molding system for molding food products, mold cavities formed when a mold shell rotates mold shapes disposed along the mold shell into a fill position between a fill plate and a wear plate. Molded food products are removed from mold cavities using knock-out cups, the use of air pressure, or the use of a vacuum source disposed below the mold cavity, without the need to slow the rotation of the mold shell. Knock-out cups may be used with a heating system to reduce accumulation of unwanted materials on the knock-out cups. The rotary molding system can also be used to form products with contoured surfaces. A smart tagging system can be used to ensure that compatible sets of mold shells and knock out cups are being used. A vacuum region may be disposed upstream of the fill position to remove air within the mold cavity prior to filling.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2011Date of Patent: June 25, 2013Assignee: Formax, Inc.Inventors: Scott A. Lindee, David Hansen, Salvatore Lamartino, Bruce Bauer, Thomas C. Wolcott, Steve Ill, E. William Wight
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Patent number: 8286902Abstract: A grinding machine has a shearing chamber that includes one or more edges that provide fulcrum points against which frozen block of material, such as frozen blocks of meat, can be held against during a reduction or shearing process. The edges may be arranged to limit the advancement of reduced blocks of material to provide more control on the size of the ground material that is ultimately output by the grinding machine. The grinding machine may also include an expansion zone into which reduced blocks can be temporarily held to accommodate volume increases during the reduction process. A feed screw advances the frozen blocks through the shearing chamber and includes pressure fighting to help shear material from the frozen blocks. The feed screw may include a knife holder that provides support for a knife held therein against the lateral forces experienced by the knife as the knife shears material adjacent the orifice plate.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 2011Date of Patent: October 16, 2012Assignee: Weiler and Company, Inc.Inventors: Nick J. Lesar, Christopher E. Albrecht, E. William Wight
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Patent number: 8257148Abstract: A grinding head of a grinder is provided with a knife assembly that includes a knife holder with a number of arms, each having a knife insert slot, for receiving a matching number of knife inserts. The knife inserts have a blade or cutting edge and a bottom edge. The bottom edge, rather than being a straight edge, is shaped to define a pair of bearing portions that fit within the slot of the knife holder arm and allow the knife insert to be firmly retained in the slot. A recessed area is located between the bearing portions. The recessed area accommodates any imperfections in the floor of the insert slot, and provides a void area within which any material contained within the slot can be received when the knife insert is engaged within the slot.Type: GrantFiled: January 6, 2009Date of Patent: September 4, 2012Assignee: Reliance Controls CorporationInventors: E. William Wight, Christopher E. Albrecht
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Publication number: 20120058213Abstract: A rotary molding system for molding food products, mold cavities formed when a mold shell rotates mold shapes disposed along the mold shell into a fill position between a fill plate and a wear plate. Molded food products are removed from mold cavities using knock-out cups, the use of air pressure, or the use of a vacuum source disposed below the mold cavity, without the need to slow the rotation of the mold shell. Knock-out cups may be used with a heating system to reduce accumulation of unwanted materials on the knock-out cups. The rotary molding system can also be used to form products with contoured surfaces. A smart tagging system can be used to ensure that compatible sets of mold shells and knock out cups are being used. A vacuum region may be disposed upstream of the fill position to remove air within the mold cavity prior to filling.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 20, 2011Publication date: March 8, 2012Inventors: Scott A. Lindee, David Hansen, Salvatore Lamartino, Bruce Baure, Thomas C. Wolcott, Steve Ill, E. William Wight
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Publication number: 20120045535Abstract: The food product machine with a food supply, a rotary food pump connected to the food supply, a molding mechanism having a mold plate and a knockout drive, and a the mold plate configured to be driven to reciprocated between a fill and a discharge position. The knockout drive is reciprocating a knockout plunger to discharge molded food products from a cavity in the mold plate, the mold plate being reciprocated by a mold plate drive between a cavity fill position and a cavity discharge position. The machine further includes a manifold connected an outlet of the food pump and having an outlet passageway connected to an inlet of the molding mechanism for filling the cavity of the mold plate.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 20, 2011Publication date: February 23, 2012Inventors: Scott A. Lindee, Paul Taylor, Christopher Moore, E. William Wight
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Publication number: 20120045534Abstract: The food product machine with a food supply, a rotary food pump connected to the food supply, a molding mechanism having a mold plate and a knockout drive, and a mold plate reciprocating between a fill and a discharge position. The knockout drive reciprocates a knockout plunger to discharge molded food products from the mold plate the mold plate being reciprocated between a cavity fill position and a cavity discharge position. The machine includes a manifold connected an outlet of the food pump and having an outlet passageway connected to an inlet of the molding mechanism for filling the cavity of the mold plate. The machine can further include a fill plunger system for increasing the till pressure of the food mass prior to filling the mold cavities. Plungers extend into the manifold to displace food mass volume and increase the pressure in the manifold.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 20, 2011Publication date: February 23, 2012Inventors: Scott A. Lindee, Paul Taylor, Christopher Moore, E. William Wight
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Publication number: 20110248109Abstract: A grinding machine for grinding foodstuffs, such as meat or the like, includes an orifice plate at the outlet of a grinding head. The orifice plate has collection passages that discharge a mixture of soft material and hard material through the orifice plate. A separator assembly is located downstream of the orifice plate for separating the soft material from the hard material. The separator assembly includes a tapered, perforated separator chamber that receives the mixture of soft material and hard material, in combination with a rotatable separator screw located within the separator chamber. Rotation of the separator screw functions to separate the soft material from the hard material and force the soft material through the perforations in the separator chamber. An adjustment arrangement enables the axial position of the separator screw to be adjusted within the separator chamber.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 28, 2011Publication date: October 13, 2011Inventors: Nick J. Lesar, E. William Wight
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Publication number: 20110220750Abstract: A grinding machine has a shearing chamber that includes one or more edges that provide fulcrum points against which frozen block of material, such as frozen blocks of meat, can be held against during a reduction or shearing process. The edges may be arranged to limit the advancement of reduced blocks of material to provide more control on the size of the ground material that is ultimately output by the grinding machine. The grinding machine may also include an expansion zone into which reduced blocks can be temporarily held to accommodate volume increases during the reduction process. A feed screw advances the frozen blocks through the shearing chamber and includes pressure fighting to help shear material from the frozen blocks. The feed screw may include a knife holder that provides support for a knife held therein against the lateral forces experienced by the knife as the knife shears material adjacent the orifice plate.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 23, 2011Publication date: September 15, 2011Inventors: Nick J. Lesar, Christopher E. Albrecht, E. William Wight
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Publication number: 20110220749Abstract: A grinding machine has a shearing chamber that includes one or more edges that provide fulcrum points against which frozen block of material, such as frozen blocks of meat, can be held against during a reduction or shearing process. The edges may be arranged to limit the advancement of reduced blocks of material to provide more control on the size of the ground material that is ultimately output by the grinding machine. The grinding machine may also include an expansion zone into which reduced blocks can be temporarily held to accommodate volume increases during the reduction process. A feed screw advances the frozen blocks through the shearing chamber and includes pressure fighting to help shear material from the frozen blocks. The feed screw may include a knife holder that provides support for a knife held therein against the lateral forces experienced by the knife as the knife shears material adjacent the orifice plate.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 23, 2011Publication date: September 15, 2011Inventors: Nick J. Lesar, Christopher E. Albrecht, E. William Wight