Patents by Inventor Frank Mathew Brenkus
Frank Mathew Brenkus 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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Patent number: 10981347Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure describe a method and apparatus for a resealable package having an internal zipper seal. In one embodiment, the apparatus is a vertical form, fill, and seal machine that includes a former, a vertical sealer, and a zipper separation blade located between the former and the vertical sealer. The zipper separation blade further comprises a connector and a blade body that defines a zipper gap between an exterior surface of the former and the blade body.Type: GrantFiled: February 17, 2016Date of Patent: April 20, 2021Assignee: Frito-Lay North America, Inc.Inventors: Frank Mathew Brenkus, Chad Arthur Huebner
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Patent number: 10759556Abstract: A vertical form fill and seal apparatus, for packaging particulates, includes a package sealing assembly that has opposed sealing jaws operatively coupled to each other by mechanical connection at a common pivot point. A first jaw actuator is mechanically coupled to the opposed sealing jaws to pivot the jaws in a controlled manner about the common pivot point. A second actuator is mechanically coupled to the package sealing assembly and is configured to impart controlled reciprocating motion to the package sealing assembly. A controller is configured to control the first actuator and to control the second actuator thereby causing the jaws to describe a preset locus of travel, allowing flexibility of type of bag being made without change-out of jaws. The packaging film may move continuously, or may optionally be controlled to move intermittently through the VFFS.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2016Date of Patent: September 1, 2020Assignees: Frito-Lay North America, Inc., Douglas Machine, Inc.Inventors: Patrick Joseph Bierschenk, Frank Mathew Brenkus, Ronald M. Gust
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Publication number: 20190241297Abstract: An adjustable sealing apparatus and corresponding method of use is disclosed. The sealing apparatus has a variable range of motion programmed to accommodate multiple types of sealing motion, including the reciprocal motion and rotary motion. The proposed design uses two sealing jaw units with each sealing jaw unit located on opposing sides of a continuous layered film. Each sealing jaw unit has a sealing jaw coupled to a distal end of extendable linkages. The sealing jaws are extendable to allow the sealing surfaces to engage one another at a plurality of sealing locations along a plurality of sealing paths. Moreover a control unit is communicatively coupled to each of the sealing jaw units and controls movement of the sealing jaw units to engage one another at one or more of the plurality of sealing locations which enables sealing of the film to produce bags.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 8, 2018Publication date: August 8, 2019Inventor: Frank Mathew BRENKUS
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Publication number: 20180170599Abstract: A vertical form fill and seal apparatus, for packaging particulates, includes a package sealing assembly that has opposed sealing jaws operatively coupled to each other by mechanical connection at a common pivot point. A first jaw actuator is mechanically coupled to the opposed sealing jaws to pivot the jaws in a controlled manner about the common pivot point. A second actuator is mechanically coupled to the package sealing assembly and is configured to impart controlled reciprocating motion to the package sealing assembly. A controller is configured to control the first actuator and to control the second actuator thereby causing the jaws to describe a preset locus of travel, allowing flexibility of type of bag being made without change-out of jaws. The packaging film may move continuously, or may optionally be controlled to move intermittently through the VFFS.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2016Publication date: June 21, 2018Inventors: Patrick Joseph Bierschenk, Frank Mathew Brenkus, Ronald M. Gust
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Patent number: 9902517Abstract: A method and apparatus for making a structurally resilient package having a substantially box-shaped configuration is disclosed. A pillow pouch package is received onto a flighted conveyor. The pillow pouch package has a first squared end and an angular end located opposite to the first squared end. The pillow pouch package is received so that the first squared end rests on the flighted conveyor. Thereafter the pillow pouch package is conditioned at least in part by tamping the angular end with a tamping plate. The angular end of the package is subsequently heat treated to form a second squared end. A set of cooling plates is then applied to the second squared end to set the final shape and form the structurally resilient package having a substantially box-shaped configuration.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2014Date of Patent: February 27, 2018Assignees: Frito-Lay North America, Inc., Douglas Machine Inc.Inventors: Parick Joseph Bierschenk, Frank Mathew Brenkus, Ronald M. Gust, Leon J. Krause, Sunitha Nair
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Patent number: 9840346Abstract: A method and apparatus for making a structurally resilient package with a desired shape on a vertical form, fill, and seal machine. The method comprises sealing a film to form a back seal; forming a first end seal to form a partially formed first package; flattening a first side of the partially formed first package to form a flat first side; filling the partially formed first package with product; forming a second end seal on the partially formed first package to form a first package from the partially formed first package; flattening the second side of the first package to form a flat second side, wherein the flattening the first side and the flattening the second side occur on a first machine.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2014Date of Patent: December 12, 2017Assignees: Frito-Lay North America, Inc., Douglas Machine Inc.Inventors: Patrick Joseph Bierschenk, Frank Mathew Brenkus, Ronald M. Gust, Steven Kenneth Tucker
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Publication number: 20170233125Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure describe a method and apparatus for a resealable package having an internal zipper seal. In one embodiment, the apparatus is a vertical form, fill, and seal machine that includes a former, a vertical sealer, and a zipper separation blade located between the former and the vertical sealer. The zipper separation blade further comprises a connector and a blade body that defines a zipper gap between an exterior surface of the former and the blade body.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 17, 2016Publication date: August 17, 2017Inventors: Frank Mathew BRENKUS, Chad Arthur HUEBNER
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Publication number: 20150121811Abstract: A method and apparatus for making a structurally resilient package having a substantially box-shaped configuration is disclosed. A pillow pouch package is received onto a flighted conveyor. The pillow pouch package has a first squared end and an angular end located opposite to the first squared end. The pillow pouch package is received so that the first squared end rests on the flighted conveyor. Thereafter the pillow pouch package is conditioned at least in part by tamping the angular end with a tamping plate. The angular end of the package is subsequently heat treated to form a second squared end. A set of cooling plates is then applied to the second squared end to set the final shape and form the structurally resilient package having a substantially box-shaped configuration.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 30, 2014Publication date: May 7, 2015Inventors: Parick Joseph BIERSCHENK, Frank Mathew BRENKUS, Ronald M. GUST, Leon J. KRAUSE, Sunitha NAIR
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Publication number: 20150121813Abstract: A method and apparatus for making a structurally resilient package with a desired shape on a vertical form, fill, and seal machine. The method comprises sealing a film to form a back seal; forming a first end seal to form a partially formed first package; flattening a first side of the partially formed first package to form a flat first side; filling the partially formed first package with product; forming a second end seal on the partially formed first package to form a first package from the partially formed first package; flattening the second side of the first package to form a flat second side, wherein the flattening the first side and the flattening the second side occur on a first machine.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 30, 2014Publication date: May 7, 2015Inventors: Patrick Joseph BIERSCHENK, Frank Mathew BRENKUS, Ronald M. GUST, Steven Kenneth TUCKER
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Patent number: 7700143Abstract: A method for making asymmetrical snack pieces that can be efficiently nested or stacked. A dough preform is mated with a mold as the preform is cooked into a snack piece. The preform takes the shape of the mold. The mold is designed such that the resultant snack piece, when resting upon a flat surface, has an apex and a base of equal height. This is achieved by making the mold such that the centroid of the snack piece lies in a plane that is parallel to a plane formed by the vertices of the snack piece. The snack pieces can then be efficiently nested or stacked.Type: GrantFiled: February 7, 2005Date of Patent: April 20, 2010Assignee: Frito-Lay North America, Inc.Inventors: Darin James Baylor, Edward Anthony Bezek, Frank Mathew Brenkus, Kevin Matthew Trick
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Patent number: 6993890Abstract: A novel method and apparatus of detecting unique items as they are inserted into a product packaging system that is easily adaptable to current product packaging and prize insertion systems. A number of different types of sensors may be used in conjunction with the insertion device to detect the unique prize before it is inserted into a product packaging system. The sensor used will vary depending on the particular application. Sensors that may be used include a capacitive proximity sensor, a thickness sensor, a reflectivity sensor, a transmissivity sensor, a stiffness sensor, a color sensor, or even an odor or chemical sensor. Ideally, the type sensor used will detect a feature of the unique item that is easily distinguishable from other items being inserted. Once the sensor detects the prize and generates a signal, this signal can be used to perform a variety of useful functions.Type: GrantFiled: May 6, 2004Date of Patent: February 7, 2006Assignee: Frito-Lay North America, Inc.Inventor: Frank Mathew Brenkus
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Patent number: 6935086Abstract: A double-bag package, and method for manufacturing same, constructed by modification to existing vertical form and fill packaging machines and perforation knives. In a preferred embodiment, the invention involves producing a double-bag package from a single sheet of packaging film by feeding a roll of film having graphics printed sideways rather than vertically into a vertical form, fill and seal packaging machine and using a novel perforating/cutting knife to alternately cut and perforate transverse seals. The perforating/cutting knife has teeth in the shape of oblique triangular pyramids, with each tooth having three cutting edges. The perforating/cutting knife produces self-correcting T-shaped perforation patterns capable of capturing and redirecting errant tears for fail-safe directional separation.Type: GrantFiled: November 25, 2003Date of Patent: August 30, 2005Assignee: Frito-Lay North America, Inc.Inventors: Frank Mathew Brenkus, Anthony Robert Knoerzer, Garrett William Kohl, Steven Kenneth Tucker
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Publication number: 20040250514Abstract: A novel method and apparatus of detecting unique items as they are inserted into a product packaging system that is easily adaptable to current product packaging and prize insertion systems. A number of different types of sensors may be used in conjunction with the insertion device to detect the unique prize before it is inserted into a product packaging system. The sensor used will vary depending on the particular application. Sensors that may be used include a capacitive proximity sensor, a thickness sensor, a reflectivity sensor, a transmissivity sensor, a stiffness sensor, a color sensor, or even an odor or chemical sensor. Ideally, the type sensor used will detect a feature of the unique item that is easily distinguishable from other items being inserted. Once the sensor detects the prize and generates a signal, this signal can be used to perform a variety of useful functions.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 6, 2004Publication date: December 16, 2004Applicant: FRITO-LAY NORTH AMERICA, INC.Inventor: Frank Mathew Brenkus
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Publication number: 20040226849Abstract: A double-bag package, and method for manufacturing same, constructed by modification to existing vertical form and fill packaging machines and perforation knives. In a preferred embodiment, the invention involves producing a double-bag package from a single sheet of packaging film by feeding a roll of film having graphics printed sideways rather than vertically into a vertical form, fill and seal packaging machine and using a novel perforating/cutting knife to alternately cut and perforate transverse seals. The perforating/cutting knife has teeth in the shape of oblique triangular pyramids, with each tooth having three cutting edges. The perforating/cutting knife produces self-correcting T-shaped perforation patterns capable of capturing and redirecting errant tears for fail-safe directional separation.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 25, 2003Publication date: November 18, 2004Inventors: Frank Mathew Brenkus, Anthony Robert Knoerzer, Garrett William Kohl, Steven Kenneth Tucker
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Patent number: 6751935Abstract: A novel method and apparatus of detecting unique items as they are inserted into a product packaging system that is easily adaptable to current product packaging and prize insertion systems. A number of different types of sensors may be used in conjunction with the insertion device to detect the unique prize before it is inserted into a product packaging system. The sensor used will vary depending on the particular application. Sensors that may be used include a capacitive proximity sensor, a thickness sensor, a reflectivity sensor, a transmissivity sensor, a stiffness sensor, a color sensor, or even an odor or chemical sensor. Ideally, the type sensor used will detect a feature of the unique item that is easily distinguishable from other items being inserted. Once the sensor detects the prize and generates a signal, this signal can be used to perform a variety of useful functions.Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 2001Date of Patent: June 22, 2004Assignee: Frito-Lay North America, Inc.Inventor: Frank Mathew Brenkus
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Publication number: 20030070401Abstract: A novel method and apparatus of detecting unique items as they are inserted into a product packaging system that is easily adaptable to current product packaging and prize insertion systems. A number of different types of sensors may be used in conjunction with the insertion device to detect the unique prize before it is inserted into a product packaging system. The sensor used will vary depending on the particular application. Sensors that may be used include a capacitive proximity sensor, a thickness sensor, a reflectivity sensor, a transmissivity sensor, a stiffness sensor, a color sensor, or even an odor or chemical sensor. Ideally, the type sensor used will detect a feature of the unique item that is easily distinguishable from other items being inserted. Once the sensor detects the prize and generates a signal, this signal can be used to perform a variety of useful functions.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 15, 2001Publication date: April 17, 2003Inventor: Frank Mathew Brenkus