Patents by Inventor Mark L. Ludwig

Mark L. Ludwig 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).

  • Patent number: 9301543
    Abstract: A coffee bean roasting machine of the type having a cyclone separator heating chamber and a coffee bean roasting chamber in a recirculating process stream driven by a recirculation fan is operated to air cool the roasted coffee beans in the roasting chamber, to a temperature beneath which the beans give off smoke, while at the same time incinerating smoke removed from the roasting chamber. A purge gate in ducting between the cyclone separator and the roasting chamber is opened to allow the flow of ambient air into and through the roasting chamber while blocking flow out of the cyclone separator, so that ambient air is directed through the roasting chamber. The smoke and any airborne particulate material from the roasting chamber are carried into the heating chamber and through the incineration tube, where they are incinerated. Preferably the system and process are operated automatically by a computer and programming.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Loring Smart Roast, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark L. Ludwig
  • Publication number: 20140150673
    Abstract: A coffee bean roasting machine of the type having a cyclone separator heating chamber and a coffee bean roasting chamber in a recirculating process stream driven by a recirculation fan is operated to air cool the roasted coffee beans in the roasting chamber, to a temperature beneath which the beans give off smoke, while at the same time incinerating smoke removed from the roasting chamber. A purge gate in ducting between the cyclone separator and the roasting chamber is opened to allow the flow of ambient air into and through the roasting chamber while blocking flow out of the cyclone separator, so that ambient air is directed through the roasting chamber. The smoke and any airborne particulate material from the roasting chamber are carried into the heating chamber and through the incineration tube, where they are incinerated. Preferably the system and process are operated automatically by a computer and programming.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2014
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Applicant: Loring Smart Roast, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark L. Ludwig
  • Patent number: 8679561
    Abstract: A coffee bean roasting machine of the type having a cyclone separator heating chamber and a coffee bean roasting chamber in a recirculating process stream driven by a recirculation fan is operated to air cool the roasted coffee beans in the roasting chamber, to a temperature beneath which the beans give off smoke, while at the same time incinerating smoke removed from the roasting chamber. A purge gate in ducting between the cyclone separator and the roasting chamber is opened to allow the flow of ambient air into and through the roasting chamber while blocking flow out of the cyclone separator, so that ambient air is directed through the roasting chamber. The smoke and any airborne particulate material from the roasting chamber are carried into the heating chamber and through the incineration tube, where they are incinerated. Preferably the system and process are operated automatically by a computer and programming.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Loring Smart Roast, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark L. Ludwig
  • Publication number: 20130344207
    Abstract: A coffee bean roasting machine of the type having a cyclone separator heating chamber and a coffee bean roasting chamber in a recirculating process stream driven by a recirculation fan is operated to air cool the roasted coffee beans in the roasting chamber, to a temperature beneath which the beans give off smoke, while at the same time incinerating smoke removed from the roasting chamber. A purge gate in ducting between the cyclone separator and the roasting chamber is opened to allow the flow of ambient air into and through the roasting chamber while blocking flow out of the cyclone separator, so that ambient air is directed through the roasting chamber. The smoke and any airborne particulate material from the roasting chamber are carried into the heating chamber and through the incineration tube, where they are incinerated. Preferably the system and process are operated automatically by a computer and programming.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2012
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Inventor: Mark L. Ludwig