Patents by Inventor Keith A. Barber

Keith A. Barber 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).

  • Impellers for Cutting Machines and Cutting Machines Equipped with Impellers
    Publication number: 20240075646
    Abstract: Machines for cutting products and impellers suitable for use with the machines. The impellers include a lower plate having a central zone and paddles configured with the lower plate outside of the central zone to direct material to the cutting head. At least a first exit slot is located in the lower plate and extending through the lower plate to define a passageway to enable foreign debris at the upper surface to exit the impeller through the passageway.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2023
    Publication date: March 7, 2024
    Inventors: Keith A. Barber, Rebecca G. Gann, Betsy M. Hicks
  • Impellers for cutting machines and cutting machines equipped with impellers
    Patent number: 11858162
    Abstract: Machines for cutting products and impellers suitable for use with the machines. The impellers include a lower plate having a central zone and paddles configured with the lower plate outside of the central zone to direct material to the cutting head. At least a first exit slot is located in the lower plate, intersecting the perimeter of the lower plate, and extending through the lower plate to define a passageway to enable foreign debris at the upper surface to exit the impeller through the passageway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Frito-Lay North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Keith A. Barber, Rebecca G. Gann, Betsy M. Hicks
  • Impellers for Cutting Machines and Cutting Machines Equipped with Impellers
    Publication number: 20230012222
    Abstract: Machines for cutting products and impellers suitable for use with the machines. The impellers include a lower plate having a central zone and paddles configured with the lower plate outside of the central zone to direct material to the cutting head. At least a first exit slot is located in the lower plate, intersecting the perimeter of the lower plate, and extending through the lower plate to define a passageway to enable foreign debris at the upper surface to exit the impeller through the passageway.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2021
    Publication date: January 12, 2023
    Inventors: Keith A. Barber, Rebecca G. Gann, Betsy M. Hicks
  • Apparatus and method for adjusting the cutting thickness of a food cutting apparatus
    Patent number: 11173622
    Abstract: An apparatus for cutting food products is disclosed. The apparatus includes a cutting head comprising a cutting tool that is rotatable between a plurality of positions to change the cutting thickness of the cutting tool. The cutting head also includes a biasing element that biases the cutting tool in a position, and a moveable stop configured to cooperate with the biasing element to maintain the first cutting tool at any of the plurality of positions. The biasing element may be a mechanical spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: Frito-Lay North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Keith A. Barber, Richard J. Ruegg
  • APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR ADJUSTING THE CUTTING THICKNESS OF A FOOD CUTTING APPARATUS
    Publication number: 20200215711
    Abstract: An apparatus for cutting food products is disclosed. The apparatus includes a cutting head comprising a cutting tool that is rotatable between a plurality of positions to change the cutting thickness of the cutting tool. The cutting head also includes a biasing element that biases the cutting tool in a position, and a moveable stop configured to cooperate with the biasing element to maintain the first cutting tool at any of the plurality of positions. The biasing element may be a mechanical spring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2020
    Publication date: July 9, 2020
    Inventors: Keith A. Barber, Richard J. Ruegg
  • Replaceable blade cartridge for a centrifugal type food slicer
    Patent number: 5555787
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a replaceable blade cartridge and a compatible assembly for holding the cartridge wherein an old blade cartridge is slidably removed from the holding assembly and a new blade is slidably inserted into the holding assembly. Specifically, a replaceable blade cartridge for use in a compatible cutting head assembly of a centrifugal type slicer is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1996
    Assignees: Recot, Inc., The Texas A&M University System
    Inventors: Keith A. Barber, Ronald N. Bone, Jr., Kevin C. Cogan, Michael L. Dickerson, Peter H. Gien, Lezley A. Griffith, Gary R. Nightingale, Edward L. Ouellette, Robert R. Petter, Jr., Gary A. Semjenow