Patents by Inventor Jimmy I. Frank
Jimmy I. Frank 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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Publication number: 20240125590Abstract: An In-Process Diameter Gage comprises a Position Detection Subsystem, preferably an optical switch and trigger, a Dimension Measurement Subsystem, preferably comprising a wheel of known diameter and a rotation encoder, and a Data Processing Subsystem, all configured and arranged to determine a dimensional property of a rotating part, such as diameter.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 15, 2023Publication date: April 18, 2024Applicant: Gagemaker, LPInventors: Jimmy I. FRANK, John WOLFE, III, Craig CLOUD, Mark BEWLEY, Kris DAWSON
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Patent number: 11920836Abstract: A food product dispenser including a cabinet; a freezing cylinder; an evaporator including a fluid path that generally encircles the freezing cylinder; a compressor located within the cabinet at a location below the freezing cylinder; a condenser at least partially positioned between the compressor and the evaporator; a variable flow expansion valve located within the cabinet and having a first inlet fluidly coupled to the condenser outlet and a first outlet fluidly coupled to the evaporator inlet and a second variable flow expansion valve located within the cabinet having a second inlet fluidly coupled to the condenser outlet and a second fluid outlet coupled to the compressor inlet.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2023Date of Patent: March 5, 2024Assignee: FBD Partnership, L.P.Inventors: Cameron C Crandall, R Craig Cobabe, Jimmy I Frank
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Publication number: 20230384007Abstract: A food product dispenser including a cabinet; a freezing cylinder for freezing a food product located within the cabinet; an evaporator including a fluid path that generally encircles the freezing cylinder and that has an evaporator inlet and an evaporator outlet; a compressor located within the cabinet at a location below the freezing cylinder and having an inlet being fluidly coupled to the evaporator outlet; a condenser at least partially positioned between the compressor and the evaporator, where the condenser has an inlet is fluidly coupled to the compressor outlet; a variable flow expansion valve located within the cabinet and having a first inlet fluidly coupled to the condenser outlet and a first outlet fluidly coupled to the evaporator inlet and a second expansion valve located within the cabinet having a second inlet fluidly coupled to the condenser outlet and a second fluid outlet coupled to the compressor inlet, where the second variable flow expansion valve being located within the cabinet at a lType: ApplicationFiled: March 7, 2023Publication date: November 30, 2023Applicant: FBD Partnership, L.P.Inventors: Cameron C Crandall, R Craig Cobabe, Jimmy I Frank
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Patent number: 11758920Abstract: A sealed pressurized food dispensing system with self-cleaning features that can include a food processing apparatus that includes a cylinder having an inlet for receiving a food ingredient; a faceplate coupled to the cylinder, that defines a dispense bore and a bypass passage having a first open end; a blocking cap coupled to the faceplate to block the dispensing of product from within the cylinder; and a pump having an inlet fluidly coupled to a connection element and an outlet fluidly coupled to the inlet of the cylinder, where connection of the connection element to the source of cleaning fluid will result in the pumping of cleaning fluid into the food dispensing cylinder, though the cylinder into the blocking cap, and through the blocking cap into the bypass passage.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2023Date of Patent: September 19, 2023Assignee: FBD Partnership, LPInventors: Jimmy I Frank, Marshall G Carter, R Craig Cobabe, Craig Cloud, Cameron C Crandall
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Patent number: 11725931Abstract: An In-Process Diameter Gage comprises a Position Detection Subsystem, preferably an optical switch and trigger, a Dimension Measurement Subsystem, preferably comprising a wheel of known diameter and a rotation encoder, and a Data Processing Subsystem, all configured and arranged to determine a dimensional property of a rotating part, such as diameter.Type: GrantFiled: August 12, 2021Date of Patent: August 15, 2023Assignee: Gagemaker, LPInventors: Jimmy I. Frank, John Wolfe, III, Craig Cloud, Mark Bewley, Kris L. Dawson
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Publication number: 20210372775Abstract: An In-Process Diameter Gage comprises a Position Detection Subsystem, preferably an optical switch and trigger, a Dimension Measurement Subsystem, preferably comprising a wheel of known diameter and a rotation encoder, and a Data Processing Subsystem, all configured and arranged to determine a dimensional property of a rotating part, such as diameter.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 12, 2021Publication date: December 2, 2021Applicant: Gagemaker, LPInventors: Jimmy I. FRANK, John WOLFE, III, Craig CLOUD, Mark BEWLEY, Kris L. DAWSON
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Patent number: 10788246Abstract: The inventions disclosed and taught herein relate generally to frozen beverage machines; and more specifically relate to improved methods of and apparatuses for controlling the consistency and quality of the dispensed beverage product.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2016Date of Patent: September 29, 2020Assignee: FBD PARTNERSHIP, LPInventors: Jimmy I. Frank, Daniel J. Seiler, Darren Simmons, Jun Yang
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Patent number: 10677577Abstract: A metrological instrument configured to measure diameters comprises one or more guide rails, a plurality of clamping blocks configured to removably or releaslably securely locate the blocks on the one or more guide rails, and also configured to removably or releaslably securely clamp a measurement arm substantially normal to the one or more guide rails. A displacement transducer, such as a dial indicator or a digital indicator, may be disposed at an end of one or more of the measurement arms for determining a displacement, relative or absolute, between the measurement arms. To provide the required measurement accuracy, precision, and repeatability, the instrument may be configured with carbon fiber reinforced composite guide rails, and/or measurement arms.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2018Date of Patent: June 9, 2020Assignee: Gagemaker, LPInventors: Jimmy I. Frank, Kris Dawson
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Publication number: 20190339062Abstract: An In-Process Diameter Gage comprises a Position Detection Subsystem, preferably an optical switch and trigger, a Dimension Measurement Subsystem, preferably comprising a wheel of known diameter and a rotation encoder, and a Data Processing Subsystem, all configured and arranged to determine a dimensional property of a rotating part, such as diameter.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 9, 2019Publication date: November 7, 2019Applicant: Gagemaker, LPInventors: Jimmy I. FRANK, John WOLFE, III, Craig CLOUD, Mark BEWLEY, Kris L. DAWSON
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Patent number: 10254099Abstract: An In-Process Diameter Gage comprises a Position Detection Subsystem, preferably an optical switch and trigger, a Dimension Measurement Subsystem, preferably comprising a wheel of known diameter and a rotation encoder, and a Data Processing Subsystem, all configured and arranged to determine a dimensional property of a rotating part, such as diameter.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 2017Date of Patent: April 9, 2019Assignee: Gagemaker, LPInventors: Jimmy I. Frank, John R. Wolfe, III, Craig Cloud, Mark Bewley, Kris L. Dawson
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Publication number: 20160245573Abstract: The inventions disclosed and taught herein relate generally to frozen beverage machines; and more specifically relate to improved methods of and apparatuses for controlling the consistency and quality of the dispensed beverage product.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 22, 2016Publication date: August 25, 2016Applicant: FBD Partnership, LPInventors: Jimmy I. FRANK, Daniel J. SEILER, Darren SIMMONS, Jun YANG
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Publication number: 20160245564Abstract: The inventions disclosed and taught herein relate generally to frozen beverage machines; and more specifically relate to improved methods of and apparatuses for controlling the consistency and quality of the dispensed beverage product.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 22, 2016Publication date: August 25, 2016Applicant: FBD Partnership, LPInventors: Jimmy I. FRANK, Clinton D. FINSTAD, Daniel J. SEILER, Darren SIMMONS, Jun YANG
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Patent number: 8701939Abstract: A food dispensing machine includes a product chamber with a dispensing valve connected to the product chamber and having an outlet through which a product contained in the product chamber is dispensed. The product chamber has a cleaning solution inlet connectable to a cleaning solution supply source for receiving cleaning solution into the product chamber. The product chamber further has an ingredient inlet alternatively connectable to either an ingredient supply source or the dispensing valve outlet. When the ingredient inlet is connected to the dispensing valve outlet, a re-circulating flow path is created, allowing for complete cleaning and sanitizing of the product flow path.Type: GrantFiled: November 11, 2011Date of Patent: April 22, 2014Assignee: FBD Partnership, LPInventors: Jimmy I. Frank, Thomas L. Guy, Kristan L. Dawson, Raymond A. Glatt, Richard E. Frankenberger, Carl R. Martin, Craig Cloud
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Publication number: 20120055952Abstract: A food dispensing machine includes a product chamber with a dispensing valve connected to the product chamber and having an outlet through which a product contained in the product chamber is dispensed. The product chamber has a cleaning solution inlet connectable to a cleaning solution supply source for receiving cleaning solution into the product chamber. The product chamber further has an ingredient inlet alternatively connectable to either an ingredient supply source or the dispensing valve outlet. When the ingredient inlet is connected to the dispensing valve outlet, a re-circulating flow path is created, allowing for complete cleaning and sanitizing of the product flow path.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 11, 2011Publication date: March 8, 2012Applicant: FBD PartnershipInventors: Jimmy I. Frank, Thomas L. Guy, Kristan L. Dawson, Raymond A. Glatt, Richard E. Frankenberger, Carl R. Martin, Craig Cloud
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Patent number: 8079230Abstract: A food dispensing machine includes a product chamber with a dispensing valve connected to the product chamber and having an outlet through which a product contained in the product chamber is dispensed. The product chamber has a cleaning solution inlet connectable to a cleaning solution supply source for receiving cleaning solution into the product chamber. The product chamber further has an ingredient inlet alternatively connectable to either an ingredient supply source or the dispensing valve outlet. When the ingredient inlet is connected to the dispensing valve outlet, a re-circulating flow path is created, allowing for complete cleaning and sanitizing of the product flow path.Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 2006Date of Patent: December 20, 2011Assignee: FBD Partnership, LPInventors: Jimmy I. Frank, Thomas L. Guy, Kristan L. Dawson, Raymond A. Glatt, Richard E. Frankenberger, Carl R. Martin, Craig Cloud
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Publication number: 20100293965Abstract: The disclosure provides an improved method and system for reducing energy in a beverage machine. The disclosure provides for a reduced operation of a mixer motor in the beverage machine that still allows for testing product conditions and ensuring product quality unique to the needs of beverage dispensing. The product remains cooled or frozen longer, thus reducing compressor operation in a refrigeration system and heat input into the surrounding environment, such as a store, that further reduces the cooling needs of the environment for an overall reduced energy consumption with the beverage machine. The invention departs from the standard of continuous mixing to ensure product quality and reduces the energy input into the mixer motor and energy input into the product chamber, thus reducing the compressor reactivation frequency for significant energy savings.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 18, 2010Publication date: November 25, 2010Applicant: FBD PARTNERSHIP, LPInventors: Jimmy I. FRANK, Craig CLOUD
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Publication number: 20080041876Abstract: The present disclosure provides an improved system and method that includes a food dispensing machine for dispensing a base food product through a dispensing valve and adding ingredients and other additives, such as flavors and the like, to the base food product when the product is dispensed from a product chamber. Multiple conduits coupled between additive sources and the dispensing valve can be selectively used to flow the various additives to the dispensing valve when the product is dispensed. The system and method may assist in reducing the number of product chambers generally required to deliver multiple products, allow various combinations of products, and even more combinations for those units having multiple product chambers with multiple dispensing valves. The disclosure further provides a unique valve that includes a movable nozzle assembly that unseats and seats on a fixed valve stem with attendant advantages in the above described dispensing valve.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 16, 2007Publication date: February 21, 2008Inventors: Jimmy I. FRANK, Kris L. DAWSON, Thomas L. GUY
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Patent number: 6679314Abstract: A method of operating a frozen beverage machine is disclosed that utilizes a short “burst” heating of the beverage machine's freezing chamber. The method includes monitoring a beverage mixture within the freezing chamber of the frozen beverage machine, and heating the freezing chamber for a predetermined time period in response to the beverage mixture reaching a first predetermined state. The freezing chamber is then refrigerated until the beverage mixture reaches a second predetermined state.Type: GrantFiled: February 3, 2003Date of Patent: January 20, 2004Inventor: Jimmy I. Frank
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Patent number: 6625993Abstract: A frozen beverage machine includes a mixing block having a plurality of inlets and an outlet coupled to a freezing chamber. The freezing chamber has a drain valve and a dispensing valve coupled thereto. Beverage ingredients are pumped into corresponding ingredient inlets of the mixing block such that the ingredients are mixed in the mixing block to form a product mixture, and the product mixture flows from the mixing block outlet into the freezing chamber. The freezing chamber and the mixing block are refrigerated. The product mixture is drained from the freezing chamber via the drain valve, and a cleaning solution is pumped into a cleaning solution inlet of the mixing block and into the freezing chamber. The cleaning solution is drained from the freezing chamber via the drain valve.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 2003Date of Patent: September 30, 2003Assignee: Lancer FBDInventors: Jimmy I. Frank, Thomas L. Guy, III
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Publication number: 20030145607Abstract: A method of operating a frozen beverage machine is disclosed that utilizes a short “burst” heating of the beverage machine's freezing chamber. The method includes monitoring a beverage mixture within the freezing chamber of the frozen beverage machine, and heating the freezing chamber for a predetermined time period in response to the beverage mixture reaching a first predetermined state. The freezing chamber is then refrigerated until the beverage mixture reaches a second predetermined state.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 3, 2003Publication date: August 7, 2003Inventor: Jimmy I. Frank