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).

  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • Patent number: 8448080
    Abstract: A method for identifying target server computers for consolidating virtual machines in a virtualized data center includes measuring load constraints for different server computers in a virtualized data center. The method also include rendering in a load graph in a graphical user interface (GUI) for the target identification module different icons, each representative of a corresponding one of the different server computers, each icon in the load graph including a position in the load graph according to measured load constraints for a corresponding one of the different server computers. The method further includes selecting a server computer from amongst the different server computers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Keith Barber, Adam J. Friedlander, Robert Hagan, John M. Lake
  • Patent number: 8245140
    Abstract: A method for visualizing and simulating server consolidation of different virtual machines in a virtualized data center can include identifying different server computers in a virtualized data center, computing load metrics for each of the server computers, and rendering a graph of the computed load metrics for the server computers in a graphical user interface (GUI) in a host computer. The method further can include selecting a source one of the server computers and also a target one of the server computers and further selecting a virtual machine for prospective migration from the source one of the server computers to the target one of the server computers. Yet further, the method can include further computing prospective load metrics for the source and the target resulting from the prospective migration of the virtual machine to the target. Finally, the method can include displaying in the GUI respective graphs of the prospective load metrics for each of the source and the target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Keith Barber, Adam J. Friedlander, Robert Hagan, David L. Kaminsky
  • Publication number: 20110161858
    Abstract: A method for identifying target server computers for consolidating virtual machines in a virtualized data center includes measuring load constraints for different server computers in a virtualized data center. The method also include rendering in a load graph in a graphical user interface (GUI) for the target identification module different icons, each representative of a corresponding one of the different server computers, each icon in the load graph including a position in the load graph according to measured load constraints for a corresponding one of the different server computers. The method further includes selecting a server computer from amongst the different server computers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2009
    Publication date: June 30, 2011
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keith Barber, Adam J. Friedlander, Robert Hagan, John M. Lake
  • Publication number: 20110161851
    Abstract: A method for visualizing and simulating server consolidation of different virtual machines in a virtualized data center can include identifying different server computers in a virtualized data center, computing load metrics for each of the server computers, and rendering a graph of the computed load metrics for the server computers in a graphical user interface (GUI) in a host computer. The method further can include selecting a source one of the server computers and also a target one of the server computers and further selecting a virtual machine for prospective migration from the source one of the server computers to the target one of the server computers. Yet further, the method can include further computing prospective load metrics for the source and the target resulting from the prospective migration of the virtual machine to the target. Finally, the method can include displaying in the GUI respective graphs of the prospective load metrics for each of the source and the target.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2009
    Publication date: June 30, 2011
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keith Barber, Adam J. Friedlander, Robert Hagan, David L. Kaminsky
  • Publication number: 20060115562
    Abstract: A snack food having large three-dimensional seasoning bits whereby the bits are substantially adhered to the food substrate, or chip. A topping comprising large seasoning bits and a dry adhesive is applied to a cooked chip. The topped, cooked chip is then heated to a temperature such that the dry adhesive undergoes a glass transition and flows down around the bit to the bit and food substrate contact point. The topped, cooked chip is then subjected to changed process conditions, such as cooling, the adhesive hardens, and a bond is formed between the chip and the seasoning bits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2006
    Publication date: June 1, 2006
    Inventors: Keith Barber, Adrianna Heywood, K. King, Stephen Rice, Richard Ruegg
  • Publication number: 20060088633
    Abstract: A novel improved process and apparatus is disclosed for producing low oil potato chip products having less than 30 percent by weight oil based on the total weight of an unseasoned chip. The process requires contacting the chip with a brine solution, frying the chip, and concurrently dehydrating and de-oiling the chip with superheated steam in a single unit operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2004
    Publication date: April 27, 2006
    Inventors: Keith Barber, David Barry, Kelly Miller, Donald Neel, Myron Silver, Tawnya Lynn Smart, James Stalder
  • Publication number: 20050095328
    Abstract: A method for adhering large three-dimensional seasoning bits to a snack food base whereby the bits are substantially adhered to the food substrate, or chip. A topping comprising large seasoning bits and a dry adhesive is applied to a cooked chip. The topped, cooked chip is then heated to a temperature such that the dry adhesive undergoes a glass transition and flows down around the bit to the bit and food substrate contact point. The topped, cooked chip is then subjected to changed process conditions, such as cooling, the adhesive hardens, and a bond is formed between the chip and the seasoning bits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2003
    Publication date: May 5, 2005
    Inventors: Keith Barber, Adrianna Heywood, K. King, Stephen Rice, Richard Ruegg
  • Patent number: 6295001
    Abstract: A pager receiver based system provides a method and an apparatus for receiving and detecting a tornado alert or other severe weather alert from the National Weather Service, determining the region or grid block to which the alert applies, and broadcasting an alert signal to a plurality of pager receivers, all programmed with the same sub-address, within that region or grid block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2001
    Inventor: Jerry Keith Barber
  • Patent number: 6255953
    Abstract: A pager receiver based system provides a method and an apparatus for receiving and detecting a tornado alert from the National Weather Service, determining the region to which the alert applies, and broadcasting an alert signal to a plurality of pager receivers, all programmed with the same pager number, within that region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2001
    Inventor: Jerry Keith Barber
  • Patent number: 6223471
    Abstract: A repair kit for a sliding glass patio door having worn original wheel assemblies includes an edge bracket with an associated edge wheel for installation on a leading edge of the door and a side bracket with an associated side wheel for installation on a side of the door near a trailing edge. The edge wheel and the side wheel support the weight of the door, while the worn original wheel assemblies are left in place for guiding the door. An original track for the door provides a guideway on which the door and the original wheel assemblies travel. The edge bracket includes an edge plate that can be fastened to the leading edge, and a frame is attached to the edge plate. An axle is mounted in the frame, and the edge wheel is mounted on the axle. The side bracket has a side plate and a frame. The frame has legs mounted parallel to the side plate for holding an axle perpendicular to the side plate. The side wheel is mounted on the axle located within the frame on the side plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Inventor: Jerry Keith Barber
  • 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