Patents by Inventor Nigel G. Mills

Nigel G. Mills 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: 10722099
    Abstract: A warewash machine includes a chamber for receiving wares, the chamber having at least one wash zone. A refrigerant medium circuit includes a first heat exchanger arranged to deliver refrigerant medium heat to a first fluid and a second heat exchanger arranged to provide a heat exchange relationship between the refrigerant medium and a second fluid, the first heat exchanger located upstream of the second heat exchanger in the refrigerant medium circuit. A bypass arrangement for causing at least some refrigerant medium to selectively bypass at least one of the first condenser or the second condenser based upon subcooled refrigerant medium condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Alexander R. Anim-Mensah, Nigel G. Mills
  • Patent number: 10722097
    Abstract: A warewash machine includes a chamber for receiving wares, the chamber having at least one wash zone. A refrigerant medium circuit includes a first condenser and a second condenser, the first condenser located upstream of the second condenser in the refrigerant circuit. The refrigerant medium circuit includes a first flow path through the first condenser and a second flow path in bypass of the first condenser, and a valve for selectively controlling whether at least some refrigerant medium flows along the first flow path or the second flow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Nigel G. Mills, Alexander R. Anim-Mensah
  • Publication number: 20190133410
    Abstract: A warewash machine includes a chamber for receiving wares, the chamber having at least one wash zone. A refrigerant medium circuit includes a first heat exchanger arranged to deliver refrigerant medium heat to a first fluid and a second heat exchanger arranged to provide a heat exchange relationship between the refrigerant medium and a second fluid, the first heat exchanger located upstream of the second heat exchanger in the refrigerant medium circuit. A bypass arrangement for causing at least some refrigerant medium to selectively bypass at least one of the first condenser or the second condenser based upon subcooled refrigerant medium condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2019
    Publication date: May 9, 2019
    Applicant: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Alexander R. ANIM-MENSAH, Nigel G. MILLS
  • Publication number: 20190133405
    Abstract: A warewash machine includes a chamber for receiving wares, the chamber having at least one wash zone. A refrigerant medium circuit includes a first condenser and a second condenser, the first condenser located upstream of the second condenser in the refrigerant circuit. The refrigerant medium circuit includes a first flow path through the first condenser and a second flow path in bypass of the first condenser, and a valve for selectively controlling whether at least some refrigerant medium flows along the first flow path or the second flow path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2019
    Publication date: May 9, 2019
    Applicant: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Nigel G. MILLS, Alexander R. ANIM-MENSAH
  • Patent number: 10178937
    Abstract: A warewash machine includes a chamber for receiving wares, the chamber having at least one wash zone. A refrigerant medium circuit includes a first condenser and a second condenser, the first condenser located upstream of the second condenser in the refrigerant circuit. The refrigerant medium circuit includes a first flow path through the first condenser and a second flow path in bypass of the first condenser, and a valve for selectively controlling whether at least some refrigerant medium flows along the first flow path or the second flow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Nigel G. Mills, Alexander R. Anim-Mensah
  • Patent number: 10178940
    Abstract: A warewash machine includes a chamber for receiving wares, the chamber having at least one wash zone. A refrigerant medium circuit includes a first heat exchanger arranged to deliver refrigerant medium heat to a first fluid and a second heat exchanger arranged to provide a heat exchange relationship between the refrigerant medium and a second fluid, the first heat exchanger located upstream of the second heat exchanger in the refrigerant medium circuit. A bypass arrangement for causing at least some refrigerant medium to selectively bypass at least one of the first condenser or the second condenser based upon subcooled refrigerant medium condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Alexander R. Anim-Mensah, Nigel G. Mills
  • Patent number: 10057946
    Abstract: An oven includes a cooking chamber configured to receive a food product, a user interface configured to display information associated with processes employed for cooking, first and second energy sources, and a cooking controller. The first energy source provides primary heating and the second energy source provides secondary heating for the food product. The cooking controller executes instructions associated with a cooking program directing application of energy to the food product via the first or second energy sources. The cooking controller includes processing circuitry configured to monitor energy added to the food product via the first energy source in accordance with the cooking program, receive an indication of a change to a cooking parameter associated with a second energy source, and determine a modification to the cooking program by employing a modification algorithm based on the cooking parameter change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS, INC.
    Inventors: Nigel G. Mills, Richard W. Cartwright, Richard A. Kice
  • Publication number: 20170027407
    Abstract: A warewash machine includes a chamber for receiving wares, the chamber having at least one wash zone. A refrigerant medium circuit includes a first condenser and a second condenser, the first condenser located upstream of the second condenser in the refrigerant circuit. The refrigerant medium circuit includes a first flow path through the first condenser and a second flow path in bypass of the first condenser, and a valve for selectively controlling whether at least some refrigerant medium flows along the first flow path or the second flow path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2016
    Publication date: February 2, 2017
    Applicant: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC .
    Inventors: Nigel G. Mills, Alexander R. Anim-Mensah
  • Publication number: 20170027404
    Abstract: A warewash machine includes a chamber for receiving wares, the chamber having at least one wash zone. A refrigerant medium circuit includes a first heat exchanger arranged to deliver refrigerant medium heat to a first fluid and a second heat exchanger arranged to provide a heat exchange relationship between the refrigerant medium and a second fluid, the first heat exchanger located upstream of the second heat exchanger in the refrigerant medium circuit. A bypass arrangement for causing at least some refrigerant medium to selectively bypass at least one of the first condenser or the second condenser based upon subcooled refrigerant medium condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2016
    Publication date: February 2, 2017
    Applicant: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Alexander R. Anim-Mensah, Nigel G. Mills
  • Patent number: 9380912
    Abstract: A fryer unit includes a vat and heat exchange system with multiple passes within the fryer vat. Additional heat exchange passes may be provided in ductwork along the exterior surface of the lateral vat sidewalls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: PREMARK FEG LLC.
    Inventors: Richard B. Manson, Nigel G. Mills, Terry R. Wiseman
  • Publication number: 20150208865
    Abstract: A fryer unit includes a vat and heat exchange system with multiple passes within the fryer vat. Additional heat exchange passes may be provided in ductwork along the exterior surface of the lateral vat sidewalls.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2015
    Publication date: July 30, 2015
    Inventors: Richard B. Manson, Nigel G. Mills, Terry R. Wiseman
  • Patent number: 9021941
    Abstract: A fryer unit includes a vat and heat exchange system with multiple passes within the fryer vat. Additional heat exchange passes may be provided in ductwork along the exterior surface of the lateral vat sidewalls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Premark Feg L.L.C.
    Inventors: Richard B. Manson, Nigel G. Mills, Terry R. Wiseman
  • Patent number: 8600819
    Abstract: A random weight item transaction system include a scale with label RFID tag functionality, service person RFID tag functionality and customer RFID tag functionality. A slicer in proximity to the scale may include service person and bulk food product RFID functionalities. The scale may make weigh transaction data available to a computerized checkout system via a communications link or via writing the information to the label RFID tag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Premark FEG. L.L.C.
    Inventors: Robert J. Schuller, Robert J. Weisz, Nigel G. Mills, Mark E. Eberhardt, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8432567
    Abstract: A label printer for handling labels with RFID tags includes one or more advantageous features such as locating an RF encoder unit antenna in position to read and/or write to label antennas after the label antennas have exited a label output slot of the printer, providing light elements to indicate status of a read and/or write operation to a label RFID tag or a voiding step to void labels when a read and/or write operation is unsuccessful.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Premark FEG L.L.C.
    Inventors: Mark E. Eberhardt, Jr., Nigel G. Mills, Randall L. Redman, Kinred Bowling
  • Publication number: 20130092682
    Abstract: An oven includes a cooking chamber configured to receive a food product, a user interface configured to display information associated with processes employed for cooking, first and second energy sources, and a cooking controller. The first energy source provides primary heating and the second energy source provides secondary heating for the food product. The cooking controller executes instructions associated with a cooking program directing application of energy to the food product via the first or second energy sources. The cooking controller includes processing circuitry configured to monitor energy added to the food product via the first energy source in accordance with the cooking program, receive an indication of a change to a cooking parameter associated with a second energy source, and determine a modification to the cooking program by employing a modification algorithm based on the cooking parameter change.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2011
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Applicant: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS, INC.
    Inventors: Nigel G. MILLS, Richard W. CARTWRIGHT, Richard A. KICE
  • Patent number: 8375848
    Abstract: A self-cleaning rotisserie oven includes a cooking chamber for cooking food product. A rotor is used for supporting and moving a food product in the cooking chamber. A sump is positioned below the cooking chamber that collects water provided to the cooking chamber. A sensor is positioned to detect when the sump is filled to a set level. An inlet valve is configured to control supply of water to the cooking chamber. A controller is configured to carry out a self-cleaning process. The self-cleaning process includes (a) a pre-rinse phase where the controller (i) opens the inlet valve, (ii) closes the inlet valve when the sensor detects that the sump is filled to the set level, and (iii) determines a duration of time that the inlet valve was open during (i), and (b) a later phase during which the controller opens the inlet valve for an amount of time based on the duration of time determined during (a)(iii).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Premark FEG L.L.C.
    Inventors: Richard D. Valentine, Nigel G. Mills, Matthew A. Weber, James M. Heiser, Clifford A. Blackmore
  • Patent number: 8249928
    Abstract: In addition to standard product labels, incentive labels are printed and provided to customers when an item is identified to and weighed by a scale/label printer located in a store by accessing an incentive database to determine the existence and nature of any incentive. One or more display devices may be used in connection with providing incentives, including enabling a customer to select from among a number of incentives displayed. An incentive label construction may be provided with desirable folding features. Certain incentives may be of a graduated/progressive type to invite larger purchases by customers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Valassis In-Store Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. Schuller, Robert J. Weisz, Nigel G. Mills
  • Patent number: 8066442
    Abstract: A supply of labels may be configured to facilitate folding. A label handling method involves initiating a label fold prior to a label completely exiting a label exit opening. A label apparatus includes a label obstructing member to promote label folding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Premark FEG L.L.C.
    Inventors: Robert J. Weisz, Nigel G. Mills, Kinred Bowling, Karl S. Schroeder
  • Publication number: 20110083657
    Abstract: An oven includes air deflectors arranged about a fan to aid in equalizing flow to two sides of the fan. The oven may also include plenums located on opposite sides of the oven cavity, with air interruption panels located in the plenums.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2009
    Publication date: April 14, 2011
    Applicant: Premark FEG L.L.C.
    Inventors: Michael J. Ploof, Nigel G. Mills
  • Publication number: 20110048248
    Abstract: A fryer unit includes a vat and heat exchange system with multiple passes within the fryer vat. Additional heat exchange passes may be provided in ductwork along the exterior surface of the lateral vat sidewalls.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2010
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Inventors: Richard B. Manson, Nigel G. Mills, Terry R. Wiseman