Patents by Inventor Kevin C. Cogan
Kevin C. Cogan 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: 10807126Abstract: A novel separation screen, a separation apparatus utilizing the separation screen, and a method for product separation are disclosed herein. The separation apparatus includes a housing defining a separation chamber having an inlet and a plurality of outlet orifices. A separation screen, which is located within the separation chamber, has a plurality of openings having fixed, non-uniform sizes. The separation apparatus also includes an adjustable feed placement device located upstream from the separation screen to direct a feed stream to a selected region of the separation screen to achieve a desired size distribution in each of the product streams.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 2019Date of Patent: October 20, 2020Assignee: Frito-Lay North America, Inc.Inventors: Kevin C. Cogan, Joseph H. Gold
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Publication number: 20190299253Abstract: A novel separation screen, a separation apparatus utilizing the separation screen, and a method for product separation are disclosed herein. The separation apparatus includes a housing defining a separation chamber having an inlet and a plurality of outlet orifices. A separation screen, which is located within the separation chamber, has a plurality of openings having fixed, non-uniform sizes. The separation apparatus also includes an adjustable feed placement device located upstream from the separation screen to direct a feed stream to a selected region of the separation screen to achieve a desired size distribution in each of the product streams.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 19, 2019Publication date: October 3, 2019Inventors: Kevin C. COGAN, Joseph H. GOLD
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Patent number: 10376924Abstract: A novel separation screen, a separation apparatus utilizing the separation screen, and a method for product separation are disclosed herein. The separation apparatus includes a housing defining a separation chamber having an inlet and a plurality of outlet orifices. A separation screen, which is located within the separation chamber, has a plurality of openings having fixed, non-uniform sizes. The separation apparatus also includes an adjustable feed placement device located upstream from the separation screen to direct a feed stream to a selected region of the separation screen to achieve a desired size distribution in each of the product streams.Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 2017Date of Patent: August 13, 2019Assignee: Frito-Lay North America, Inc.Inventors: Kevin C. Cogan, Joseph H. Gold
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Publication number: 20180236494Abstract: A novel separation screen, a separation apparatus utilizing the separation screen, and a method for product separation are disclosed herein. The separation apparatus includes a housing defining a separation chamber having an inlet and a plurality of outlet orifices. A separation screen, which is located within the separation chamber, has a plurality of openings having fixed, non-uniform sizes. The separation apparatus also includes an adjustable feed placement device located upstream from the separation screen to direct a feed stream to a selected region of the separation screen to achieve a desired size distribution in each of the product streams.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 23, 2017Publication date: August 23, 2018Inventors: Kevin C. COGAN, Joseph H. GOLD
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Publication number: 20160143299Abstract: Exemplary embodiments provide methods of making a masa and exemplary corn-based snack food products made from the masa. The methods of making the masa include the steps of hydrating kernel corn; grinding the hydrated corn; and adding corn flour previously treated to deactivate enzymes therein to thereby make a masa comprised of hydrated ground corn and the added treated corn flour. Optionally, the treated corn flour may be corn flour that has been toasted to deactivate enzymes. The deactivation of the enzymes avoids an organoleptic property of a “raw” taste in the snack food product containing the corn flour.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 24, 2014Publication date: May 26, 2016Inventor: Kevin C. COGAN
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Publication number: 20160067877Abstract: An improved cutting head assembly with an angled blade for slicing that can be used with a centrifugal-type slicer to provide an increased yield. The blade comprises a cutting edge that cuts a product, for example, a potato, in a cutting direction. A tangent to the cutting edge is at an angle away from the normal plane of a cutting direction for the blade. For example, if the cutting edge is a straight line and the cutting direction is horizontal, then the cutting edge is at an angle away from vertical.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 5, 2014Publication date: March 10, 2016Inventors: Kevin C. Cogan, Peter L. Hayes, David Lester Hickie, Greg Paul Hilliard, Marc Lingier, Nico Vandecasteele
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Patent number: 6116130Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 22, 1997Date of Patent: September 12, 2000Assignee: Recot, Inc.Inventor: Kevin C. Cogan
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Patent number: 5819628Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 12, 1996Date of Patent: October 13, 1998Assignee: Recot, Inc.Inventors: Kevin C. Cogan, Michael L. Dickerson, Edward L. Ouellette
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Patent number: 5555787Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: November 12, 1993Date of Patent: September 17, 1996Assignees: Recot, Inc., The Texas A&M University SystemInventors: 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
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Patent number: 5425308Abstract: Apparatus and method for slicing potatoes and washing or coating the potato slices wherein the slices exit a slicing mechanism and are directed between inner and outer spray rings that generate a pressurized water mist which washes the slices. The nozzles in the inner spray ring face the nozzles in the outer ring so that the pressurized water mist is formed in a predetermined area located between the rings. The high pressure water mist removes surface starch from the slices, and vibrating sieve arrangements disposed downstream of the slicing apparatus cooperate with a series of spray bars to further clean the slices. The apparatus of the invention is also used in a method of coating potato slices with a treating material.Type: GrantFiled: February 2, 1994Date of Patent: June 20, 1995Assignee: Recot, Inc.Inventors: Michael Dickerson, Wilfred M. Bourg, Jr., Kevin C. Cogan, Donald V. Neel, David B. Emerson, Pravin Desai
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Patent number: 4889241Abstract: An optical inspection machine has a discharge chute provided for receiving fragile articles thrown from a high speed belt in the course of ejecting such articles. The chute has an "S"-shaped bottom with the top of the "S" under the trajectory of the ejected articles, the mid portion of the "S" positioned to receive the falling articles at a minimum impact angle, and the bottom of the "S" discharging the sliding articles after being significantly decelerated due to the variable slope of the "S"-shaped chute bottom. The inspection machine has another "S"-shaped chute for receiving articles from an infeed conveyor and transferring them to the high speed belt while minimizing deceleration.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 1987Date of Patent: December 26, 1989Assignee: Frito-Lay, Inc.Inventors: Kevin C. Cogan, Robert M. Echols
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Patent number: 4831922Abstract: An automated system for processing whole potatoes maintains a substantially constant mass flow of potatoes into an adjustable potato peeler that is capable or removing from the potatoes varying amounts of potato peel. Peeled potatoes are conveyed downstream of the peeler, while being electromagnetically inspected to determined the uniformity of peel removal, the presence of unacceptable material, and to identify oversized potatoes that exceed a predetermined size limitation. A diverter gate separates oversized potatoes and foreign materials from potatoes that have been identified as satisfactory.Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 1988Date of Patent: May 23, 1989Assignee: Frito-Lay Inc.Inventors: Kevin C. Cogan, Robert M. Echols, Tina T. Dierl
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Patent number: 4715957Abstract: An apparatus for dewatering a corn-water slurry which is inexpensive to build and operate. The device comprises an inverted conical unit having porous walls which permit the passage of water, debris and broken corn pieces therethrough but retains undamaged corn within the porous walls. The corn-water slurry is injected tangentially into the upper portion of the device and follows a generally downward spiral path, whereby the water is centrifugally removed through the porous wall structure, with the undamaged corn exiting through a lower exit port.Type: GrantFiled: May 1, 1986Date of Patent: December 29, 1987Assignee: Frito-Lay, Inc.Inventors: Kevin C. Cogan, Edward L. Ouellette, Martin Morua