Patents by Inventor Kirk Reis

Kirk Reis 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).

  • Keel strip removal apparatus and method
    Patent number: 11102990
    Abstract: An apparatus and method to remove a keel strip that is centrally attached to a poultry butterfly. The butterfly has first and second poultry breasts on opposite sides of the keel strip. An elongated, longitudinally-oriented spine defines a butterfly travel path and is disposed above a longitudinally-driven conveyor. A scoring blade is disposed above, and spaced a predetermined distance from, the spine. First and second severing blades are disposed along the butterfly travel path downstream of the scoring blade with the first and second severing blades disposed on opposing first and second lateral sides of the spine. A second longitudinally-driven conveyor is disposed above the spine and ex tends from a first position downstream of the scoring blade to at least a second position between the first and second severing blades.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: PRIME EQUIPMENT GROUP, LLC
    Inventors: Kirk Reis, Stephen Cribb, Barry Jones
  • KEEL STRIP REMOVAL APPARATUS AND METHOD
    Publication number: 20200323224
    Abstract: An apparatus and method to remove a keel strip that is centrally attached to a poultry butterfly. The butterfly has first and second poultry breasts on opposite sides of the keel strip. An elongated, longitudinally-oriented spine defines a butterfly travel path and is disposed above a longitudinally-driven conveyor. A scoring blade is disposed above, and spaced a predetermined distance from, the spine. First and second severing blades are disposed along the butterfly travel path downstream of the scoring blade with the first and second severing blades disposed on opposing first and second lateral sides of the spine. A second longitudinally-driven conveyor is disposed above the spine and ex tends from a first position downstream of the scoring blade to at least a second position between the first and second severing blades.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2020
    Publication date: October 15, 2020
    Applicant: Prime Equipment Group, LLC
    Inventors: Kirk Reis, Stephen Cribb, Barry Jones