Patents by Inventor Michael J. Hardy

Michael J. Hardy 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: 20030224715
    Abstract: A method of stuffing natural casings with emulsion involves slidably mounting a collar element on the stuffing tube of the machine adjacent an end of the stuffing tube opposite to the discharge end thereof. The collar is slidably advanced towards the discharge end of the tube to telescope the casing into a shirred condition while leaving a non-shirred portion downstream thereof. The non-shirred portion of the casing is progressively advanced while the casing is filled with emulsion from the tube. A sensor is placed in the proximity of the non-shirred portion of the casing to detect whether shirred or non-shirred casing is present. The sensor is connected to a controller so that the collar will be advanced to slide the casing material on the tube when the non-shirred casing is detected, and the advance of the collar is stopped when shirred casing material is detected. A machine includes the foregoing components to accomplish the method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2003
    Publication date: December 4, 2003
    Applicant: Townsend Engineering Company
    Inventors: Steven P. Hergott, David S. Hamblin, Michael J. Hardy
  • Publication number: 20030224713
    Abstract: A method and structure of stuffing natural casings with sausage material involves taking a plurality of natural casings of different lengths and diameters; pre-loading each of the casings on elongated hollow open ended sleeves shorter than the casings and having a diameter less than the casings by telescoping the casings on the outer surfaces of the sleeves, slidably mounting the sleeves on the open end of a meat stuffing tube of a sausage encasing machine; extruding meat emulsion through the stuffing tube into the casing mounted on the sleeve until the sleeve is slidably removed from the tube, removing the sleeve from the stuffing tube, repeating the use of the sleeve by preloading the sleeve with another natural casing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2002
    Publication date: December 4, 2003
    Applicant: Townsend Engineering Company
    Inventors: Steven P. Hergott, David S. Hamblin, Michael J. Hardy
  • Publication number: 20030224714
    Abstract: A method for rapid loading of casing-bearing sleeves on the stuffing tube of a sausage machine, provides for placing the preloaded sleeves on a feeder mechanism and selectively and sequentially moving the sleeves into registering position with the discharge end of an emulsion stuffing tube; sequentially moving the stuffing tube into each of the sleeves and extruding emulsion through the stuffing tube into the casing mounted on the sleeve until the sleeve is slidably removed from the tube caused in part by the movement of emulsion entering the casing. The apparatus has a fixture suitably movably mounted on the machine with a plurality of preloaded sleeves thereon for sequential movement for selective alignment of the sleeves with the stuffing tube for sequential filling of the casings with emulsion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2002
    Publication date: December 4, 2003
    Applicant: Townsend Engineering Company
    Inventors: Steven P. Hergott, David S. Hamblin, Michael J. Hardy
  • Patent number: 6641474
    Abstract: A method for rapid loading of casing-bearing sleeves on the stuffing tube of a sausage machine, provides for placing the preloaded sleeves on a feeder mechanism and selectively and sequentially moving the sleeves into registering position with the discharge end of an emulsion stuffing tube; sequentially moving the stuffing tube into each of the sleeves and extruding emulsion through the stuffing tube into the casing mounted on the sleeve until the sleeve is slidably removed from the tube caused in part by the movement of emulsion entering the casing. The apparatus has a fixture suitably movably mounted on the machine with a plurality of preloaded sleeves thereon for sequential movement for selective alignment of the sleeves with the stuffing tube for sequential filling of the casings with emulsion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Assignee: Townsend Engineering Company
    Inventors: Steven P. Hergott, David S. Hamblin, Michael J. Hardy
  • Publication number: 20030189495
    Abstract: Energy dissipating loads are controlled from a location remote from the load. Load control information is transmitted between the remote location and the load by way of electrical energy transmission lines including a neutral conductor, a ground conductor and a line conductor. Load control information representative of the electrical energy applied to the load is determined and the load control information and applied to the energy transmission lines at an impressing end for transmission to a receiving end wherein the load control information is impressed between the neutral conductor and the ground conductor to provide impressed load control information. The impressed load control information is received at the receiving end by obtaining the load control information from between the neutral conductor and the ground conductor to provide received load control information. The energy of the load is controlled in accordance with the received load control information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2002
    Publication date: October 9, 2003
    Inventors: Peter R. Pettler, Laurence R. Nicholson, Michael J. Barford, Michael J. Hardy, Mark A. Gilmore
  • Patent number: 6585580
    Abstract: A method of stuffing natural casings with emulsion involves slidably mounting a collar element on the stuffing tube of the machine adjacent an end of the stuffing tube opposite to the discharge end thereof. The collar is slidably advanced towards the discharge end of the tube to telescope the casing into a shirred condition while leaving a non-shirred portion downstream thereof. The non-shirred portion of the casing is progressively advanced while the casing is filled with emulsion from the tube. A sensor is placed in the proximity of the non-shirred portion of the casing to detect whether shirred or non-shirred casing is present. The sensor is connected to a controller so that the collar will be advanced to slide the casing material on the tube when the non-shirred casing is detected, and the advance of the collar is stopped when shirred casing material is detected. A machine includes the foregoing components to accomplish the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Townsend Engineering Company
    Inventors: Steven P. Hergott, David S. Hamblin, Michael J. Hardy
  • Patent number: 6572464
    Abstract: A method for rapid loading of casing-bearing sleeves on the stuffing tube of a sausage machine, provides for placing the preloaded sleeves on a feeder mechanism and selectively and sequentially moving the sleeves into registering position with the discharge end of an emulsion stuffing tube; sequentially moving the stuffing tube into each of the sleeves and extruding emulsion through the stuffing tube into the casing mounted on the sleeve until the sleeve is slidably removed from the tube caused in part by the movement of emulsion entering the casing. The apparatus has a fixture suitably movably mounted on the machine with a plurality of preloaded sleeves thereon for sequential movement for selective alignment of the sleeves with the stuffing tube for sequential filling of the casings with emulsion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Assignee: Townsend Engineering Company
    Inventors: Steven P. Hergott, David S. Hamblin, Michael J. Hardy
  • Patent number: 4503701
    Abstract: A panel straightening apparatus includes a first dent engaging member having a pointed-tip spike portion to be driven through the dent in an automotive body panel. A second leverage member is then engaged with the first member and leverage is applied to move the dented area into substantial alignment with the panel surface. The second member includes a lever arm curved to permit engagement with the first member at various heights above the panel. The first member includes a handhold for use without the lever arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1983
    Date of Patent: March 12, 1985
    Inventor: Michael J. Hardy
  • Patent number: 4473419
    Abstract: A metal laminate is formed of a metallic member suitable to be repeatedly manually molded to conform to and retain the shape of an associated surface prior to being affixed thereto. An adhesive backing is on one side of the member and the backing is covered by a protective peelable coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1983
    Date of Patent: September 25, 1984
    Inventor: Michael J. Hardy