Patents by Inventor Norman A. Putnam

Norman A. Putnam 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: 4489506
    Abstract: Apparatus for roasting small quantities of coffee (typically less than five pounds) includes a roasting chamber with base and cylindrical wall portions in fixed relation to each other. Disposed coaxially within the chamber is a downwardly extending tube that has an outlet orifice spaced from the base surface, and an exhaust outlet is in the upper portion of the chamber. A stream of hot roasting gas flowed downwardly through the central tube at high velocity for impact on the base surface and deflection radially outwardly and then flow upwardly through the exhaust outlet at the top of the chamber produces a toroidal circulation pattern of fluidized coffee beans with rapid and uniform roasting of the green coffee, in a simple and compact arrangement in which roasting parameters (such as fluid temperature and cycle duration) may be easily adjusted depending on the degree of roast desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1982
    Date of Patent: December 25, 1984
    Assignee: Wolverine Corporation
    Inventors: Ernest C. Brown, Walter E. Buske, Norman A. Putnam