Patents by Inventor Keith Alan Barber
Keith Alan 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).
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Patent number: 11897158Abstract: Machines for cutting products and impellers suitable for use therein. Such an impeller includes a lower plate and paddles configured with the lower plate to direct material placed on the lower plate in a radially outward direction of the impeller under the influence of centrifugal forces when the impeller is rotated. At least one of the paddles has an outer radial extent that is adjacent a perimeter of the lower plate. At least a first exit hole is located in the lower plate and has a wall section that completely closes the first exit hole along the perimeter at an upper surface of the lower plate. The first exit hole extends through the lower plate to define a passageway connected to the upper surface to enable foreign debris at the upper surface to exit the impeller through the passageway.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 2020Date of Patent: February 13, 2024Assignees: Urschel Laboratories, Inc., Pepsico, Inc.Inventors: Keith Alan Barber, Corey Everette Baxter, Rebecca Glynn Gann
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Patent number: 11396108Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for cutting food products. The apparatus includes an annular-shaped cutting head having at least a first mounting frame surrounding a central axis of the cutting head and a plurality of cutting tools arranged around the central axis of the cutting head and pivotably coupled to the first mounting frame such that each cutting tool has a pivot axis. The method includes deflecting each cutting tool about its pivot axis by engaging first portions of the cutting tools in proximity to the first mounting frame to deflect the first portions a first radial deflection distance relative to the central axis and engaging second portions of the cutting tools to deflect the second portions a second radial deflection distance relative to the central axis. The first and second radial deflection distances can be adjusted individually or in unison.Type: GrantFiled: January 7, 2020Date of Patent: July 26, 2022Assignees: Urschel Laboratories, Inc., Frito-Lay North America, Inc.Inventors: Corey Everette Baxter, Michael Scot Jacko, Keith Alan Barber, Richard James Ruegg, Daniel Wade King
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Publication number: 20220126475Abstract: Machines for cutting products and impellers suitable for use therein. Such an impeller includes a lower plate and paddles configured with the lower plate to direct material placed on the lower plate in a radially outward direction of the impeller under the influence of centrifugal forces when the impeller is rotated. At least one of the paddles has an outer radial extent that is adjacent a perimeter of the lower plate. At least a first exit hole is located in the lower plate and has a wall section that completely closes the first exit hole along the perimeter at an upper surface of the lower plate. The first exit hole extends through the lower plate to define a passageway connected to the upper surface to enable foreign debris at the upper surface to exit the impeller through the passageway.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 22, 2020Publication date: April 28, 2022Inventors: Keith Alan Barber, Corey Everette Baxter, Rebecca Glynn Gann
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Publication number: 20200223084Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for cutting food products. The apparatus includes an annular-shaped cutting head having at least a first mounting frame surrounding a central axis of the cutting head and a plurality of cutting tools arranged around the central axis of the cutting head and pivotably coupled to the first mounting frame such that each cutting tool has a pivot axis. The method includes deflecting each cutting tool about its pivot axis by engaging first portions of the cutting tools in proximity to the first mounting frame to deflect the first portions a first radial deflection distance relative to the central axis and engaging second portions of the cutting tools to deflect the second portions a second radial deflection distance relative to the central axis. The first and second radial deflection distances can be adjusted individually or in unison.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 7, 2020Publication date: July 16, 2020Inventors: Corey Everette Baxter, Michael Scot Jacko, Keith Alan Barber, Richard James Ruegg
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Patent number: 10548341Abstract: A potato chip that has more oil near its outer surfaces than in its interior and a unique RVA profile is disclosed. The organoleptic properties of the inventive potato chips compare favorably to known and commercially available potato chips.Type: GrantFiled: May 29, 2013Date of Patent: February 4, 2020Assignee: Frito-Lay North America, Inc.Inventors: Keith Alan Barber, Justin French, Girish Ganjyal, Christopher James Koh, Scott L. Sullivan
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Patent number: 10517431Abstract: A method and system for producing fried food pieces with reduced oil content is disclosed. The food pieces are immersion fried in hot oil at a first temperature to an intermediate moisture content, and finish fried at a second, higher oil temperature to a final moisture content.Type: GrantFiled: September 2, 2014Date of Patent: December 31, 2019Assignee: FRITO-LAY NORTH AMERICA, INC.Inventors: Keith Alan Barber, Justin French, Girish Ganjyal, Christopher James Koh, Scott L. Sullivan
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Patent number: 9902080Abstract: An apparatus for slicing food product to produce food product slices. The apparatus includes a rotatable cutting wheel having two or more knife assemblies. Each knife assembly includes a knife extending radially between a hub and rim of the cutting wheel. The knife has a leading edge facing a direction of rotation of the cutting wheel and a large-amplitude corrugated shape characterized by peaks and valleys. The knife is secured to the hub and rim with a knife holder, and a clamp secures the knife to a first surface of the knife holder. The knife holder and knife are configured to provide continuous and accurate alignment of an individual food product throughout the slicing thereof by the knife of each knife assembly to produce food product slices with a generally parallel-cut cross-section having a uniform thickness and a large-amplitude periodic shape with an amplitude of 0.1 inch or greater.Type: GrantFiled: November 4, 2016Date of Patent: February 27, 2018Assignee: Urschel Laboratories, Inc.Inventors: Enrique Michel, John Poole Hildebrand, Keith Alan Barber, Michael Scot Jacko, Daniel Wade King
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Publication number: 20170050329Abstract: An apparatus for slicing food product to produce food product slices. The apparatus includes a rotatable cutting wheel having two or more knife assemblies. Each knife assembly includes a knife extending radially between a hub and rim of the cutting wheel. The knife has a leading edge facing a direction of rotation of the cutting wheel and a large-amplitude corrugated shape characterized by peaks and valleys. The knife is secured to the hub and rim with a knife holder, and a clamp secures the knife to a first surface of the knife holder. The knife holder and knife are configured to provide continuous and accurate alignment of an individual food product throughout the slicing thereof by the knife of each knife assembly to produce food product slices with a generally parallel-cut cross-section having a uniform thickness and a large-amplitude periodic shape with an amplitude of 0.1 inch or greater.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 4, 2016Publication date: February 23, 2017Applicants: Urschel Laboratories, Inc., Frito-Lay North America Inc.Inventors: Enrique Michel, John Poole Hildebrand, Keith Alan Barber, Michael Scot Jacko, Daniel Wade King
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Patent number: 9517572Abstract: Apparatuses for cutting food product are provided having a cutting head. The cutting head includes one or more knife assemblies. Each knife assembly includes a knife extending toward the food product and is adapter to secure the knife to the cutting head. The knife has a corrugated shape to produce a food product slice with generally parallel cuts wherein the food product slice has a periodic shape and a large-amplitude cross-section.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2012Date of Patent: December 13, 2016Assignees: Urschel Laboratories, Inc., Frito-Lay North America Inc.Inventors: Enrique Michel, John Poole Hildebrand, Keith Alan Barber, Michael Scot Jacko, Daniel Wade King
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Patent number: 9462818Abstract: A high-amplitude corrugated food product and method of making same. The corrugated food product comprises a corrugated surface on opposing surfaces, each surface having a plurality of peaks with substantially equal amplitude values of at least about 2.54 mm. The corrugated food product further comprises a high area moment of inertia of between about 20×10?8 m3 to about 160×10?8 m3 with a dehydration factor of less than about 1.7, which provides for less breakage and more texture. The corrugated food product has a 90°-to-0° hardness ratio of at least about 2.78 and a 90°-to-0° and a crispiness ratio of at least about 3.14.Type: GrantFiled: January 17, 2013Date of Patent: October 11, 2016Assignee: Frito-Lay North America, Inc.Inventors: Keith Alan Barber, Deborah Fischer, John Hildebrand, Enrique Michel
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Publication number: 20160235110Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling a flow of a product over a product attrition bed, where the product comprises a plurality of product units, for example, potatoes. In one aspect, apparatus comprises a product attrition bed and an auger positioned above the product attrition bed. The auger comprises a flow restriction mechanism to restrict a discharge flow of the product from the auger. In a second aspect, the method comprises feeding the product to the auger to provide a product charge; substantially confining the product charge in a charge space; rotating the auger to move the charge space, and thereby the product charge, in the flow direction; and discharging the product charge from the auger through a flow restriction mechanism. In a third aspect, the method and apparatus controls the feed of product to the auger, for example, providing one control volume of product per revolution of the auger.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 17, 2015Publication date: August 18, 2016Inventors: Rick Wendell BAJEMA, Keith Alan BARBER, Stephen GRAHAM, Peter L. HAYES, Kevin KRETER, Julian ROMANCZUKIEWICZ
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Publication number: 20140366747Abstract: A method and system for producing fried food pieces with reduced oil content is disclosed. The food pieces are immersion fried in hot oil at a first temperature to an intermediate moisture content, and finish fried at a second, higher oil temperature to a final moisture content.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 2, 2014Publication date: December 18, 2014Inventors: Keith Alan BARBER, Justin FRENCH, Girish GANJYAL, Christopher James KOH, Scott L. SULLIVAN
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Patent number: 8613969Abstract: Disclosed is an improved process and system for producing low oil fried food products. The process discloses frying food products at atmospheric pressure, and deoiling the fried food products using a centrifuge under vacuum pressure.Type: GrantFiled: July 22, 2011Date of Patent: December 24, 2013Assignee: Frito-Lay North America, Inc.Inventors: Keith Alan Barber, Christopher James Koh, Ram Pandit, Scott L. Sullivan
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Publication number: 20130266720Abstract: A potato chip that has more oil near its outer surfaces than in its interior and a unique RVA profile is disclosed. The organoleptic properties of the inventive potato chips compare favorably to known and commercially available potato chips.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 29, 2013Publication date: October 10, 2013Inventors: Keith Alan BARBER, Justin FRENCH, Girish GANJYAL, Christopher James KOH, Scott L. SULLIVAN
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Publication number: 20130183415Abstract: A high-amplitude corrugated food product and method of making same. The corrugated food product comprises a corrugated surface on opposing surfaces, each surface having a plurality of peaks with substantially equal amplitude values of at least about 2.54 mm. The corrugated food product further comprises a high area moment of inertia of between about 20×10?8 m3 to about 160×10?8 m3 with a dehydration factor of less than about 1.7, which provides for less breakage and more texture. The corrugated food product has a 90°-to-0° hardness ratio of at least about 2.78 and a 90°-to-0° and a crispiness ratio of at least about 3.14.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 17, 2013Publication date: July 18, 2013Applicant: Frito-Lay North America, Inc.Inventors: Keith Alan Barber, Deborah Fischer, John Hildebrand, Enrique Michel
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Publication number: 20130136834Abstract: A method and system for producing fried food pieces with reduced oil content is disclosed. The food pieces are immersion fried in hot oil at a first temperature to an intermediate moisture content, and finish fried at a second, higher oil temperature to a final moisture content.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 30, 2011Publication date: May 30, 2013Applicant: FRITO-LAY NORTH AMERICA, INC.Inventors: Justin FRENCH, Girish Ganjyal, Christopher James KOH, Scott L. SULLIVAN, Keith Alan Barber
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Publication number: 20130022719Abstract: Disclosed is an improved process and system for producing low oil fried food products. The process discloses frying food products at atmospheric pressure, and deoiling the fried food products using a centrifuge under vacuum pressure.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 22, 2011Publication date: January 24, 2013Applicant: Frito-Lay North America, Inc.Inventors: Keith Alan BARBER, Christopher James KOH, Ram PANDIT, Scott L. SULLIVAN
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Publication number: 20100101682Abstract: A method for reducing product breakage while filling a product into a package and apparatus for accomplishing the same. The invention describes reducing the momentum of product falling through a filling apparatus to reduce collisions of the product with other product and with the apparatus, thus reducing breakage. The vertical momentum, in one embodiment is transferred to horizontal momentum by imparting a swirling motion onto the product via swirling vanes located on the funnels. Because the product swirls in a controlled direction, collisions and breakage is effectively reduced. In another embodiment, the product encounters bumpers which absorb a portion of the products momentum and which prevent damaging collisions.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 29, 2008Publication date: April 29, 2010Inventors: Keith Alan Barber, Rudolph L. Bazaldua, Stephen Michael Callahan
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Patent number: D679476Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 2011Date of Patent: April 9, 2013Assignee: Frito-Lay North America, Inc.Inventors: Keith Alan Barber, Deborah Fischer, John Hildebrand, Enrique Michel
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Patent number: D690896Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2011Date of Patent: October 8, 2013Assignee: Frito-Lay North America, Inc.Inventors: Keith Alan Barber, Deborah Fischer, John Hildebrand, Enrique Michel