Patents by Inventor Enrique Valdez

Enrique Valdez 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).

  • Patent number: 10092020
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides apparatuses and methods for non-contact printing on comestible products. The apparatus includes an extruder for extruding a slab of an edible substrate and a non-contact printing device for printing an edible ink on the slab. The apparatus provides versatility as the printing device may be placed anywhere along the apparatus. The printing device may be positioned along the apparatus as desired to operate in cooperation with other components of the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: WM. WRIGLEY JR. COMPANY
    Inventors: Ronald L. Ream, Enrique Valdez, Dennis W. Rybolt, William R. Gleffe
  • Publication number: 20180279644
    Abstract: A chewing gum includes a xylitol coating applied as multiple layers of a coating syrup. The coating syrup contains a xylitol solution that is the product of xylose hydrogenation and includes impurities such as other sugars or sugar alcohols which are the natural byproducts of xylitol production process. The xylitol coating applied in this manner provides cost and energy savings as compared to prior art xylitol coated chewing gums.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2016
    Publication date: October 4, 2018
    Inventors: Enrique VALDEZ, Carol SINOPLE
  • Publication number: 20160088859
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems, apparatuses, methods and products directed to non-contact printing of confectionery products. The confectionery products may include an edible substrate having a surface and an edible ink printed on the edible surface. The edible ink may cover at least about 5% of the surface. An apparatus of the present disclosure may include a removal device for removing at least a portion of a rolling compound from a confectionery material and a printing device for non-contact printing an edible ink-indicia on the confectionery material. An apparatus of the present disclosure may also include a detection device detecting the presence of confectionery material at a predetermined position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2015
    Publication date: March 31, 2016
    Inventors: Ronald L. Ream, Enrique Valdez, William R. Gleffe
  • Patent number: 9226513
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems, apparatuses, methods and products directed to non-contact printing of confectionery products. The confectionery products may include an edible substrate having a surface and an edible ink printed on the edible surface. The edible ink may cover at least about 5% of the surface. An apparatus of the present disclosure may include a removal device for removing at least a portion of a rolling compound from a confectionery material and a printing device for non-contact printing an edible ink-indicia on the confectionery material. An apparatus of the present disclosure may also include a detection device detecting the presence of confectionery material at a predetermined position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company
    Inventors: Ronald L. Ream, Enrique Valdez, William R. Gleffe
  • Publication number: 20150374011
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides apparatuses and methods for non-contact printing on comestible products. The apparatus includes an extruder for extruding a slab of an edible substrate and a non-contact printing device for printing an edible ink on the slab. The apparatus provides versatility as the printing device may be placed anywhere along the apparatus. The printing device may be positioned along the apparatus as desired to operate in cooperation with other components of the apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2015
    Publication date: December 31, 2015
    Inventors: Ronald L. Ream, Enrique Valdez, Dennis W. Rybolt, William R. Gleffe
  • Patent number: 9044037
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides apparatuses and methods for non-contact printing on comestible products. The apparatus includes an extruder for extruding a slab of an edible substrate and a non-contact printing device for printing an edible ink on the slab. The apparatus provides versatility as the printing device may be placed anywhere along the apparatus. The printing device may be positioned along the apparatus as desired to operate in cooperation with other components of the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company
    Inventors: Ronald L. Ream, Enrique Valdez, Dennis W. Rybolt, William R. Gleffe
  • Patent number: 8091319
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an apparatus and method for packaging a non-contact printed edible substrate as well as the resultant packaged product. The packaging apparatus may include a non-contact printer, a carrier, and a package located at a discharge position. The carrier may be constructed and arranged to transport the edible substrate from the print position to the package and orient same in the package so that the printed ink indicia is visible through at least a portion of a panel of the package. At a print position, the non-contact printer is constructed and arranged to apply an edible ink indicia to an edible substrate. The packaging apparatus may form a packaged product having a plurality of compartments where at least one compartment at least partially defined by a panel. The interior of the compartment contains at least one edible substrate comprising a surface and a printed edible ink indicia on the surface so that the ink indicia is visible through at least a portion of the panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company
    Inventors: Ronald L. Ream, Enrique Valdez, Mitchell B. Dikselis
  • Publication number: 20100303738
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an apparatus and method for packaging a non-contact printed edible substrate as well as the resultant packaged product. The packaging apparatus may include a non-contact printer, a carrier, and a package located at a discharge position. The carrier may be constructed and arranged to transport the edible substrate from the print position to the package and orient same in the package so that the printed ink indicia is visible through at least a portion of a panel of the package. At a print position, the non-contact printer is constructed and arranged to apply an edible ink indicia to an edible substrate. The packaging apparatus may form a packaged product having a plurality of compartments where at least one compartment at least partially defined by a panel. The interior of the compartment contains at least one edible substrate comprising a surface and a printed edible ink indicia on the surface so that the ink indicia is visible through at least a portion of the panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2010
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Applicant: Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company
    Inventors: Ronald L. Ream, Enrique Valdez, Mitchell B. Dikselis
  • Patent number: 7797909
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an apparatus and method for packaging a non-contact printed edible substrate as well as the resultant packaged product. The packaging apparatus may include a non-contact printer, a carrier, and a package located at a discharge position. The carrier may be constructed and arranged to transport the edible substrate from the print position to the package and orient same in the package so that the printed ink indicia is visible through at least a portion of a panel of the package. At a print position, the non-contact printer is constructed and arranged to apply an edible ink indicia to an edible substrate. The packaging apparatus may form a packaged product having a plurality of compartments where at least one compartment at least partially defined by a panel. The interior of the compartment contains at least one edible substrate comprising a surface and a printed edible ink indicia on the surface so that the ink indicia is visible through at least a portion of the panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company
    Inventors: Ronald L. Ream, Enrique Valdez, Mitchell B. Dikselis
  • Publication number: 20080152756
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an apparatus and method for packaging a non-contact printed edible substrate as well as the resultant packaged product. The packaging apparatus may include a non-contact printer, a carrier, and a package located at a discharge position. The carrier may be constructed and arranged to transport the edible substrate from the print position to the package and orient same in the package so that the printed ink indicia is visible through at least a portion of a panel of the package. At a print position, the non-contact printer is constructed and arranged to apply an edible ink indicia to an edible substrate. The packaging apparatus may form a packaged product having a plurality of compartments where at least one compartment at least partially defined by a panel. The interior of the compartment contains at least one edible substrate comprising a surface and a printed edible ink indicia on the surface so that the ink indicia is visible through at least a portion of the panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2007
    Publication date: June 26, 2008
    Applicant: Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company
    Inventors: Ronald L. Ream, Enrique Valdez, Mitchell B. Dikselis
  • Patent number: 7338677
    Abstract: Methods for manufacturing coated confectionary or chewing gum products are provided. The method of manufacturing a confectionary product comprises the steps of providing a confectionary center, heating at least one polyol to the polyol's melting point to produce a molten polyol, spraying the molten polyol through at least one atomizing spray nozzle, and applying a plurality of layers to the confectionary center to form a final coating. The plurality of layers includes at least one layer of the molten polyol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company
    Inventors: Joo Hae Song, Donald Arthur Seielstad, Enrique Valdez
  • Publication number: 20070231435
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides non-contact printed comestible products and methods for making these products. The comestible products include an edible substrate and an edible ink-indicia on the substrate. An organoleptic component which corresponds to a feature of the edible ink-indicia and/or a feature of the edible substrate is present on the edible substrate. The edible ink-indicia and the organoleptic component increase the consumer appeal for the product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2007
    Publication date: October 4, 2007
    Applicant: WM WRIGLEY JR. COMPANY
    Inventors: Ronald L. Ream, Enrique Valdez, Dennis W. Rybolt, William R. Gleffe
  • Publication number: 20070231425
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems, apparatuses, methods and products directed to non-contact printing of confectionery products. The confectionery products may include an edible substrate having a surface and an edible ink printed on the edible surface. The edible ink may cover at least about 5% of the surface. An apparatus of the present disclosure may include a removal device for removing at least a portion of a rolling compound from a confectionery material and a printing device for non-contact printing an edible ink-indicia on the confectionery material. An apparatus of the present disclosure may also include a detection device detecting the presence of confectionery material at a predetermined position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2007
    Publication date: October 4, 2007
    Applicant: WM WRIGLEY JR. COMPANY
    Inventors: Ronald Ream, Enrique Valdez, William Gleffe
  • Publication number: 20070231434
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides apparatuses and methods for non-contact printing on comestible products. The apparatus includes an extruder for extruding a slab of an edible substrate and a non-contact printing device for printing an edible ink on the slab. The apparatus provides versatility as the printing device may be placed anywhere along the apparatus. The printing device may be positioned along the apparatus as desired to operate in cooperation with other components of the apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2007
    Publication date: October 4, 2007
    Applicant: Wm Wrigley Jr. Company
    Inventors: Ronald L. Ream, Enrique Valdez, Dennis W. Rybolt, William R. Gleffe
  • Publication number: 20070231432
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides edible products having edible advertising indicia printed directly on the product. The product may be wrapped in a transparent wrapper exposing the edible advertising indicia to a consumer. The present disclosure further provides methods for advertising which include distributing to consumers edible products having edible advertising indicia printed directly on the edible product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2007
    Publication date: October 4, 2007
    Applicant: WM WRIGLEY JR. COMPANY
    Inventors: Ronald L. Ream, Enrique Valdez, Dennis W. Rybolt, William R. Gleffe
  • Publication number: 20050163886
    Abstract: Methods for manufacturing coated confectionary or chewing gum products are provided. The method of manufacturing a confectionary product comprises the steps of providing a confectionary center, heating at least one polyol to the polyol's melting point to produce a molten polyol, spraying the molten polyol through at least one atomizing spray nozzle, and applying a plurality of layers to the confectionary center to form a final coating. The plurality of layers includes at least one layer of the molten polyol.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2004
    Publication date: July 28, 2005
    Inventors: Joo Song, Donald Seielstad, Enrique Valdez