Patents by Inventor James A. Ruff
James A. Ruff 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: 8172652Abstract: A method and apparatus for harvesting livers and hearts from a giblet package comprising an infeed pinch roller assembly, a slide assembly, an indexer assembly, an intestine pull down and a liver and heart separator assembly, for harvesting livers and hearts with an increased yield. The steps of the process include loading a load viscera pack into a feed chute that channels the pack to a pair of counter rollers. The viscera pack is captured by infeed pinch rollers thereby forcing the package into and between the rollers with only the gizzard remaining on top of the roller body. The liver and heart is isolated and separated by a pull down stripper assembly and a stripper arm assembly.Type: GrantFiled: January 2, 2007Date of Patent: May 8, 2012Assignee: Tyson Foods, Inc.Inventors: Charley Reed, Mark Griffin, Tim Reddell, James Ruff, Ron Mackey, John E. Johnson
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Publication number: 20100236994Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus and method for sorting foreign material and undesirable articles from a product stream. A mechanical diverter having a concave shape is responsive to an inspection station coupled to the product stream. The mechanical diverter is employed to effectively launch or otherwise redirect undesirable articles in an alternate path. In addition, an air ejector is responsive to the inspection station and is employed to dislodge foreign material from the product stream.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 19, 2009Publication date: September 23, 2010Inventors: Philip L. Hoffman, Hans G. Haimberger, Ken McGarvey, James Ruff, Mike Lemke, Timothy Reardon
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Patent number: 7546789Abstract: A whole muscle slicer and separator that solves the product separation problem and other problems found with an ordinary slicer. The invention is where one embodiment includes a special peel out finger bar comb that peels out every other product piece onto a conveyor and a final comb that peels out the remaining product pieces onto a second conveyor. This can be accomplished by tilting the cutting assembly to about approximately a 45 degree angle off vertical. There can be an upper and lower combs arranged in a interfacing relationship with the cutter for separating the product. Another embodiment includes a single finger bar comb having two sets of fingers.Type: GrantFiled: August 7, 2006Date of Patent: June 16, 2009Assignee: Tyson Foods, Inc.Inventors: Tim Reddell, Charley Reed, Marshall Vanderpool, Kelvin D. Lasse, James Ruff
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Patent number: 7544119Abstract: An apparatus for positioning poultry, meat, or fish product pieces on a conveyor and a system and method which utilize the inventive apparatus. The inventive apparatus comprises an array of side-by-side upwardly arched product channels and a plurality of catch members mounted for rotating through the product channels such that they lift and pull the product pieces through the upwardly arched product channels and then release the product pieces onto the conveyor.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2005Date of Patent: June 9, 2009Assignee: Tyson Foods, Inc.Inventors: James Ruff, Kelvin D. Lasse, Tim Reddell, Marshall Vanderpool, Charley Lee Reed, Jr., Angela D. Haley, legal representative, Brandon Haley
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Publication number: 20080280550Abstract: A method and apparatus for separating an intestine from a gizzard comprising an infeed overhead rail indexing conveyor assembly, and a dual blade cutter assembly, which teaches a novel method and apparatus for separating a substantial portion of the intestine from a gizzard with an increased yield. The steps of the process can include feeding a viscera pack into a feed end of the overhead rail system; capturing and conveying the pack with a conveyor belt or chain having indexing members along a path to engage the dual blade cutter assembly. A substantial portion of the intestine and the separated gizzard with a small portion of the intestine remaining are allowed to separate after being severed by the dual blade and fall along separate chutes for further processing.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 15, 2008Publication date: November 13, 2008Applicant: TYSON FOODS, INC.Inventors: Charley Reed, Dallas W. Prouty, James Ruff, Daniel M. Evans
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Patent number: 7435167Abstract: Mechanical assembly comprising a roller chain mounted on multiple sprockets attached via shafts and bearings to a frame. Multiple unloader shackles are attached to the roller chain such that all shackles are aligned in a consistent manner. The roller chain assembly is mounted in such a way as to align it longitudinally with an overhead shackle-line. It is mounted in such a way as to allow the individual unloader shackles to align directly opposite the individual overhead shackles at a specific offset distance and travel in the same direction as the overhead shackles. It is also mounted in such a way as to allow the attached shackles to rise in elevation from beneath the overhead shackles as they travel in the same direction as the overhead shackles. The chain is driven at a rate which synchronizes the attached unloader shackles with the overhead shackle-line to which it is aligned in order to transfer a carcass such as a leg quarter.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 2007Date of Patent: October 14, 2008Assignee: Tyson Foods, Inc.Inventors: Kelvin D. Lasse, Charley Reed, Tim Reddell, James Ruff
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Publication number: 20080182497Abstract: Mechanical assembly comprising a roller chain mounted on multiple sprockets attached via shafts and bearings to a frame. Multiple unloader shackles are attached to the roller chain such that all shackles are aligned in a consistent manner. The roller chain assembly is mounted in such a way as to align it longitudinally with an overhead shackle-line. It is mounted in such a way as to allow the individual unloader shackles to align directly opposite the individual overhead shackles at a specific offset distance and travel in the same direction as the overhead shackles. It is also mounted in such a way as to allow the attached shackles to rise in elevation from beneath the overhead shackles as they travel in the same direction as the overhead shackles. The chain is driven at a rate which synchronizes the attached unloader shackles with the overhead shackle-line to which it is aligned in order to transfer a carcass such as a leg quarter.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 25, 2007Publication date: July 31, 2008Inventors: Kelvin D. Lasse, Charley Reed, Tim Reddell, James Ruff
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Publication number: 20080160892Abstract: A method and apparatus for harvesting livers and hearts from a giblet package comprising an infeed pinch roller assembly, a slide assembly, an indexer assembly, an intestine pull down and a liver and heart separator assembly, which teaches a novel method and apparatus for harvesting livers and hearts with an increased yield. The steps of the process include loading a load viscera pack into a feed chute that channels the pack to a pair of counter rollers. The viscera pack is captured by infeed pinch rollers thereby forcing the package into and between the rollers with only the gizzard remaining on top of the roller body. The liver and heart is isolated and separated by a pull down stripper assembly and a stripper arm assembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 2, 2007Publication date: July 3, 2008Applicant: TYSON FOODS, INC.Inventors: Charley Reed, Mark Griffin, Tim Reddell, James Ruff, Ron Mackey, John E. Johnson
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Publication number: 20080028906Abstract: A whole muscle slicer and separator that solves the product separation problem and other problems found with an ordinary slicer. The invention is where one embodiment includes a special peel out finger bar comb that peels out every other product piece onto a conveyor and a final comb that peels out the remaining product pieces onto a second conveyor. This can be accomplished by tilting the cutting assembly to about approximately a 45 degree angle off vertical. There can be an upper and lower combs arranged in a dovetail interfacing relationship with the cutter for separating the product. Another embodiment includes a single finger bar comb having two sets of fingers.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 7, 2006Publication date: February 7, 2008Applicant: TYSON FOODS, INC.Inventors: Tim Reddell, Charley Reed, Marshall Vanderpool, Kelvin D. Lasse, James Ruff
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Publication number: 20060210674Abstract: An apparatus for positioning poultry, meat, or fish product pieces on a conveyor and a system and method which utilize the inventive apparatus. The inventive apparatus comprises an array of side-by-side upwardly arched product channels and a plurality of catch members mounted for rotating through the product channels such that they lift and pull the product pieces through the upwardly arched product channels and then release the product pieces onto the conveyor.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 18, 2005Publication date: September 21, 2006Inventors: James Ruff, Kelvin Lasse, Tim Reddell, Marshall Vanderpool, Charley Reed, Brandon Haley, Angela Haley
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Patent number: 6945382Abstract: A gate assembly for use with a conveying surface which has an aperture formed therein is disclosed, and which includes a moveable gate plate which is operable to selectively occlude the aperture; and first and second chutes which are borne by the moveable gate plate and which move therewith, and which are individually operable to receive and carry away an article which passes through the aperture of the conveying surface.Type: GrantFiled: August 7, 2003Date of Patent: September 20, 2005Assignee: Key Technology, Inc.Inventors: Denerd Harstad, James Ruff, Larry Mahanna
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Publication number: 20050040008Abstract: A gate assembly for use with a conveying surface which has an aperture formed therein is disclosed, and which includes a moveable gate plate which is operable to selectively occlude the aperture; and first and second chutes which are borne by the moveable gate plate and which move therewith, and which are individually operable to receive and carry away an article which passes through the aperture of the conveying surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 7, 2003Publication date: February 24, 2005Inventors: Denerd Harstad, James Ruff, Larry Mahanna
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Patent number: 6638156Abstract: An apparatus for cutting poultry carcasses as they are continuously conveyed by a shackle conveyor having a plurality of shackles. The inventive apparatus comprises a gap provided between two rails. The rails are positioned such that the exterior of the carcass adjacent the spine will contact and slide along the back rail while the front rail will pivot the front half of the carcass backward with respect to the back half, thereby placing the skin connecting the two halves in a peeling position with respect to the front half. The apparatus further comprises a blade positioned for cutting a segment of skin while the carcass is in this stretched position such that at least most of the segment of skin remains attached to the back half.Type: GrantFiled: October 4, 2002Date of Patent: October 28, 2003Assignee: Tyson Foods, Inc.Inventors: Brandon C. Haley, Marshall Vanderpool, Kelvin D. Lasse, Larry R. Welch, James A. Ruff
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Publication number: 20030045223Abstract: An apparatus for cutting poultry carcasses as they are continuously conveyed by a shackle conveyor having a plurality of shackles. The inventive apparatus comprises a gap provided between two rails. The rails are positioned such that the exterior of the carcass adjacent the spine will contact and slide along the back rail while the front rail will pivot the front half of the carcass backward with respect to the back half, thereby placing the skin connecting the two halves in a peeling position with respect to the front half. The apparatus further comprises a blade positioned for cutting a segment of skin while the carcass is in this stretched position such that at least most of the segment of skin remains attached to the back half.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 4, 2002Publication date: March 6, 2003Inventors: Brandon C. Haley, Marshall Vanderpool, Kelvin D. Lasse, Larry R. Welch, James A. Ruff
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Patent number: 6114477Abstract: The present invention relates to a gas phase process for the polymerization of monomer(s) utilizing a metallocene catalyst system to produce easy processing polyolefin polymers.Type: GrantFiled: February 9, 1996Date of Patent: September 5, 2000Assignee: Exxon Chemical Patents Inc.Inventors: Natalie Ann Merrill, Jo Ann Marie Canich, Armenag Hagop Dekmezian, Richard Byron Pannell, Charles James Ruff