Patents by Inventor James D Erd

James D Erd 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).

  • Method and apparatus for coating confectionery centers
    Patent number: 7320808
    Abstract: An improved coating apparatus and an improved method of coating a mass of centers are disclosed. The improved coating apparatus comprises a temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of the surface of the coated centers and/or a moisture sensor for measuring the moisture content of the surface of the coated centers. The improved method comprises drying coated centers by measuring the temperature of the surface of the coated centers in the mass using the temperature sensor and adjusting the temperature of the drying gas to maintain the surface temperature of the coated centers at a predetermined temperature and drying the coated centers until the moisture content of the surface of the coated centers is about 0 to about 30 percent water, by weight. Advantageously, the surface temperature and/or surface moisture measurements are conducted during the coating processing of the centers, while the centers are in the coating apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2008
    Assignee: Mars Incorporated
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Banko, Kenneth S. Beasley, David H Reese, James D Erd, Robert O. Brandt, Jr., Malcolm A. Austin
  • Method and apparatus for coating centers
    Publication number: 20040109936
    Abstract: An improved coating apparatus and an improved method of coating a mass of centers are disclosed. The improved coating apparatus comprises a temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of the surface of the coated centers and/or a moisture sensor for measuring the moisture content of the surface of the coated centers. The improved method comprises drying coated centers by measuring the temperature of the surface of the coated centers in the mass using the temperature sensor and adjusting the temperature of the drying gas to maintain the surface temperature of the coated centers at a predetermined temperature and drying the coated centers until the moisture content of the surface of the coated centers is about 0 to about 30 percent water, by weight. Advantageously, the surface temperature and/or surface moisture measurements are conducted during the coating processing of the centers, while the centers are in the coating apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2003
    Publication date: June 10, 2004
    Applicant: MARS, INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Banko, Kenneth S. Beasley, David H. Reese, James D. Erd, Robert O. Brandt, Malcolm A. Austin
  • Method for coating solid confectionery centers
    Patent number: 6638550
    Abstract: An improved coating apparatus and an improved method of coating a mass of centers are disclosed. The improved coating apparatus comprises a temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of the surface of the coated centers and/or a moisture sensor for measuring the moisture content of the surface of the coated centers. The improved method comprises drying coated centers by measuring the temperature of the surface of the coated centers in the mass using the temperature sensor and adjusting the temperature of the drying gas to maintain the surface temperature of the coated centers at a predetermined temperature and drying the coated centers until the moisture content of the surface of the coated centers is about 0% to about 30% water, by weight. Advantageously, the surface temperature and/or surface moisture measurements are conducted during the coating processing of the centers, while the centers are in the coating apparatus or during drying of the centers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignee: Mars, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Banko, Kenneth S. Beasley, David H. Reese, James D. Erd, Robert O. Brandt, Jr., Malcolm A. Austin
  • Method and apparatus for coating solid centers
    Publication number: 20020061349
    Abstract: An improved coating apparatus and an improved method of coating a mass of centers are disclosed. The improved coating apparatus comprises a temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of the surface of the coated centers and/or a moisture sensor for measuring the moisture content of the surface of the coated centers. The improved method comprises drying coated centers by measuring the temperature of the surface of the coated centers in the mass using the temperature sensor and adjusting the temperature of the drying gas to maintain the surface temperature of the coated centers at a predetermined temperature and drying the coated centers until the moisture content of the surface of the coated centers is about 0% to about 30% water, by weight. Advantageously, the surface temperature and/or surface moisture measurements are conducted during the coating processing of the centers, while the centers are in the coating apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2000
    Publication date: May 23, 2002
    Inventors: Jeffrey A Banko, Kenneth S Beasley, David H Reese, James D Erd, Robert O Brandt, Malcolm A Austin