Patents by Inventor James W. Finkowski
James W. Finkowski 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: 10238119Abstract: A dough cutting apparatus is suitable for cutting a sheet of dough. The dough cutting apparatus includes a structure defining a blunt dough engaging portion. The present invention can be embodied in a number of different ways, including a wheel cutter, a rotary drum cutter, a reciprocating head cutter, or another cutter.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 2014Date of Patent: March 26, 2019Assignee: General Mills, Inc.Inventors: James R Evans, James W Finkowski, Gene A Russel
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Publication number: 20170113820Abstract: A method and system for packaging products provides for initially, vertically stacking a plurality of products during production in a transfer canister, simultaneously removing a stack of the products from the transfer canister, reorienting the stack and horizontally loading the stack into a final product package cavity. The invention has applicability to a wide range of products, particularly food products, such as refrigerated dough products. In one embodiment of the invention, the product package cavity is thermoformed as part as an overall horizontal form, fill and seal system.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 27, 2013Publication date: April 27, 2017Inventors: James W. Finkowski, Craig E. Gustafson, Mark E. Arlinghaus, Ralph Stenvik, Dennis B. Usgaard
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Patent number: 9617022Abstract: A method and system for packaging products provides for initially, vertically stacking a plurality of products during production in a transfer canister, simultaneously removing a stack of the products from the transfer canister, reorienting the stack and horizontally loading the stack into a final product package cavity. The invention has applicability to a wide range of products, particularly food products, such as refrigerated dough products. In one embodiment of the invention, the product package cavity is thermoformed as part as an overall horizontal form, fill and seal system.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2013Date of Patent: April 11, 2017Assignee: General Mills, Inc.Inventors: James W. Finkowski, Craig E. Gustafson, Mark E. Arlinghaus, Ralph Stenvik, Dennis B. Usgaard
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Publication number: 20160143297Abstract: A dough cutting apparatus is suitable for cutting a sheet of dough. The dough cutting apparatus includes a structure defining a blunt dough engaging portion. The present invention can be embodied in a number of different ways, including a wheel cutter, a rotary drum cutter, a reciprocating head cutter, or another cutter.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 28, 2016Publication date: May 26, 2016Applicant: General Mills, Inc.Inventors: James R Evans, James W Finkowski, Gene A Russel
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Publication number: 20140352510Abstract: A dough cutting apparatus is suitable for cutting a sheet of dough. The dough cutting apparatus includes a structure defining a blunt dough engaging portion. The present invention can be embodied in a number of different ways, including a wheel cutter, a rotary drum cutter, a reciprocating head cutter, or another cutter.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 18, 2014Publication date: December 4, 2014Inventors: James R. Evans, James W. Finkowski, Gene A. Russel
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Publication number: 20140237948Abstract: A method and system for packaging products provides for initially, vertically stacking a plurality of products during production in a transfer canister, simultaneously removing a stack of the products from the transfer canister, reorienting the stack and horizontally loading the stack into a final product package cavity. The invention has applicability to a wide range of products, particularly food products, such as refrigerated dough products. In one embodiment of the invention, the product package cavity is thermoformed as part as an overall horizontal form, fill and seal system.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 27, 2013Publication date: August 28, 2014Inventors: James W. Finkowski, Craig E. Gustafson, Mark E. Arlinghaus, Ralph Stenvik, Dennis B. Usgaard
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Patent number: 8679565Abstract: A system for removing trim from sheet dough including a belt defined by an upper edge, lower edge, an interior surface, and an exterior surface, wherein a plurality of brushes extend from the lower edge of the belt at an orientation substantially perpendicular to the lower edge, an idler sprocket in communication with the interior surface of the belt, and a motor configured to rotate the belt about the idler sprocket.Type: GrantFiled: August 20, 2010Date of Patent: March 25, 2014Assignee: General Mills, Inc.Inventor: James W. Finkowski
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Publication number: 20140037810Abstract: A dough cutting apparatus is suitable for cutting a sheet of dough. The dough cutting apparatus includes a structure defining a blunt dough engaging portion. The present invention can be embodied in a number of different ways, including a wheel cutter, a rotary drum cutter, a reciprocating head cutter, or another cutter.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 14, 2013Publication date: February 6, 2014Applicant: General Mills, Inc.Inventors: James R. Evans, James W. Finkowski, Gene A. Russel
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Patent number: 8535039Abstract: A dough cutting apparatus is suitable for cutting a sheet of dough. The dough cutting apparatus includes a structure defining a blunt dough engaging portion. The present invention can be embodied in a number of different ways, including a wheel cutter, a rotary drum cutter, a reciprocating head cutter, or another cutter.Type: GrantFiled: January 21, 2011Date of Patent: September 17, 2013Assignee: General Mills, Inc.Inventors: James R. Evans, James W. Finkowski, Gene A. Russel
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Patent number: 8407973Abstract: A method and system for packaging products provides for initially, vertically stacking a plurality of products during production in a transfer canister, simultaneously removing a stack of the products from the transfer canister, reorienting the stack and horizontally loading the stack into a final product package cavity. The invention has applicability to a wide range of products, particularly food products, such as refrigerated dough products. In one embodiment of the invention, the product package cavity is thermoformed as part as an overall horizontal form, fill and seal system.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 2010Date of Patent: April 2, 2013Assignee: General Mills, Inc.Inventors: James W. Finkowski, Craig E. Gustafson, Mark E. Arlinghaus, Ralph Stenvik, Dennis B. Usgaard
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Publication number: 20110177190Abstract: A dough cutting apparatus is suitable for cutting a sheet of dough. The dough cutting apparatus includes a structure defining a blunt dough engaging portion. The present invention can be embodied in a number of different ways, including a wheel cutter, a rotary drum cutter, a reciprocating head cutter, or another cutter.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 21, 2011Publication date: July 21, 2011Inventors: James R. Evans, James W. Finkowski, Gene A. Ressel
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Publication number: 20110027438Abstract: A method for packaging products utilizes a horizontal form, fill and seal (HFFS) system in combination with a vertical loading system. The packaging method includes creating product receiving cavities in a lower film, directly vertically stacking products in the product receiving cavities and then sealing the vertically stacked products in the cavities with an upper film to form product pouches. In one embodiment of the invention, a product fill station of the HFFS system is advantageously defined by a shaped packer including a stamping unit for directly vertically stacking the products. In another embodiment, a vertical lift and feed mechanism is employed to vertically stack the products in the receiving cavities.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 28, 2010Publication date: February 3, 2011Inventors: James W. Finkowski, Craig E. Gustafson
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Publication number: 20110023417Abstract: A method and system for packaging products provides for initially, vertically stacking a plurality of products during production in a transfer canister, simultaneously removing a stack of the products from the transfer canister, reorienting the stack and horizontally loading the stack into a final product package cavity. The invention has applicability to a wide range of products, particularly food products, such as refrigerated dough products. In one embodiment of the invention, the product package cavity is thermoformed as part as an overall horizontal form, fill and seal system.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 28, 2010Publication date: February 3, 2011Inventors: James W. Finkowski, Craig E. Gustafson, Mark E. Arlinghaus, Ralph Stenvik, Dennis B. Usgaard
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Publication number: 20100320060Abstract: A system for removing trim from sheet dough including a belt defined by an upper edge, lower edge, an interior surface, and an exterior surface, wherein a plurality of brushes extend from the lower edge of the belt at an orientation substantially perpendicular to the lower edge, an idler sprocket in communication with the interior surface of the belt, and a motor configured to rotate the belt about the idler sprocket.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 20, 2010Publication date: December 23, 2010Inventor: James W. Finkowski
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Patent number: 7845928Abstract: A method and apparatus for marking, imprinting or applying a pattern, design or mark to a plurality of individual pieces of food product to be divided from a sheet of food product is described. In one aspect of the invention, a method may include the steps of supplying a sheet of food product, marking the plurality of individual pieces of food product to be divided from the sheet of food product, and dividing, at least partially, the individual pieces of food product from the sheet of food product. In another aspect of the present invention, an apparatus may generally include a support frame, a cutting plate, and a marking head. The cutting plate preferably includes a plurality of cutting openings and an engagement surface capable of supporting and positioning a sheet of food product. The cutting openings preferably correspond to a plurality of individual pieces of food product to be divided from the sheet of food product.Type: GrantFiled: January 19, 2007Date of Patent: December 7, 2010Assignee: General Mills Marketing, Inc.Inventors: James W. Finkowski, Mark E. Arlinghaus
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Patent number: 7806678Abstract: A system for removing trim from sheet dough including a belt defined by an upper edge, lower edge, an interior surface, and an exterior surface, wherein a plurality of brushes extend from the lower edge of the belt at an orientation substantially perpendicular to the lower edge, an idler sprocket in communication with the interior surface of the belt, and a motor configured to rotate the belt about the idler sprocket.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2007Date of Patent: October 5, 2010Assignee: General Mills Marketing, Inc.Inventor: James W. Finkowski
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Publication number: 20090155438Abstract: A system for removing trim from sheet dough including a belt defined by an upper edge, lower edge, an interior surface, and an exterior surface, wherein a plurality of brushes extend from the lower edge of the belt at an orientation substantially perpendicular to the lower edge, an idler sprocket in communication with the interior surface of the belt, and a motor configured to rotate the belt about the idler sprocket.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 14, 2007Publication date: June 18, 2009Inventor: JAMES W. FINKOWSKI
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Patent number: 7306444Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods and apparatuses for processing food products and utilizes a series of guides for moving platens through several operative zones to press a food product intermediate. In particular, the present invention relates to an apparatus and method for forming generally flat dough products such as tortillas, taco shells, snacks and the like by gradually pressing a dough intermediate between movable platens that are disposed on concentric, endless belts.Type: GrantFiled: April 22, 2003Date of Patent: December 11, 2007Assignee: General Mills Cereals, LLCInventors: Thomas E. Heinzen, James W. Finkowski, Jimmy A. Demars
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Patent number: 7186429Abstract: A method and apparatus for marking, imprinting or applying a pattern, design or mark to a plurality of individual pieces of food product to be divided from a sheet of food product is described. In one aspect of the invention, a method may include the steps of supplying a sheet of food product, marking the plurality of individual pieces of food product to be divided from the sheet of food product, and dividing, at least partially, the individual pieces of food product from the sheet of food product. In another aspect of the present invention, an apparatus may generally include a support frame, a cutting plate, and a marking head. The cutting plate preferably includes a plurality of cutting openings and an engagement surface capable of supporting and positioning a sheet of food product. The cutting openings preferably correspond to a plurality of individual pieces of food product to be divided from the sheet of food product.Type: GrantFiled: February 19, 2003Date of Patent: March 6, 2007Assignee: General Mills Marketing, Inc.Inventors: James W. Finkowski, Mark E. Arlinghaus
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Patent number: 6920739Abstract: A method and apparatus for aligning a mark to a plurality of individual pieces of food product to be divided from a sheet of food product before the individual pieces of food product are at least partially divided from the sheet of food product. In an aspect of the invention, the method includes the steps of providing a sheet of food product, transferring the sheet of food product to an intermittently movable conveyor, marking the sheet of food product, feeding the marked sheet of food product to a cutting plate, and dividing, at least partially, the sheet of food product into individual pieces of food product.Type: GrantFiled: February 19, 2003Date of Patent: July 26, 2005Assignee: The Pillsbury CompanyInventors: James W. Finkowski, Mark E. Arlinghaus