Patents by Inventor Matthew W. Bird

Matthew W. Bird 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: 20220339813
    Abstract: A food product slicer includes a base, a knife mounted for rotation relative to the base, a carriage assembly mounted to the base for reciprocal movement back and forth past a cutting edge of the knife, and an adjustable gauge plate mounted for movement between a closed position that prevents slicing and multiple open positions that permit slicing at respective thicknesses. A slice thickness identification system includes: at least one sensor for determining a position of the gauge plate; and a display for displaying a slice thickness indicator corresponding to the determined position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2022
    Publication date: October 27, 2022
    Inventor: Matthew W. BIRD
  • Patent number: 11052360
    Abstract: A mixing machine includes a head extending over a bowl receiving location, the head including a downwardly extending rotatable output shaft for receiving a mixer tool. A drive train including a motor having an output operatively connected to drive a planetary gear system that effects rotation of the rotatable output shaft about its axis and orbiting of the shaft axis about another axis. A control system includes a master control unit and a slave control unit, the master control unit connected with a first sensor located along the drive train between the motor and the planetary gear system, the slave control unit connected with a second sensor, wherein both the slave control unit and the second sensor rotate with a part of the planetary gear system, wherein the master control unit and the slave control unit are configured for wireless communication with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Matthew W. Bird, Ruben T. Huerta-Ochoa, Lawrence S. Leung
  • Publication number: 20180361335
    Abstract: A mixing machine includes a head extending over a bowl receiving location, the head including a downwardly extending rotatable output shaft for receiving a mixer tool. A drive train including a motor having an output operatively connected to drive a planetary gear system that effects rotation of the rotatable output shaft about its axis and orbiting of the shaft axis about another axis. A control system includes a master control unit and a slave control unit, the master control unit connected with a first sensor located along the drive train between the motor and the planetary gear system, the slave control unit connected with a second sensor, wherein both the slave control unit and the second sensor rotate with a part of the planetary gear system, wherein the master control unit and the slave control unit are configured for wireless communication with each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2018
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Inventors: Matthew W. Bird, Ruben T. Huerta-Ochoa, Lawrence S. Leung