Patents by Inventor Robert F. Wilhelm

Robert F. Wilhelm 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).

  • Food container cleaner apparatus and method
    Patent number: 6779317
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for effecting the formation of a packaged food product with the food being contained within a receptacle having a cover adhered to the receptacle. Prior to securing the cover to the receptacle, the surface that is to be sealed to the cover is cleaned by wiping with towel material. The towel material is advanced from a supply to a cleaning position to wipe a cover engaging surface to remove at least a portion of contaminants or foreign material present on the container, thereby improving adhesion of the cover to the receptacle. Towel material can be advanced from time to time from the supply to a take-up mechanism to present clean or fresh towel material at predetermined intervals. A method for cleaning container-sealing surfaces is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2004
    Assignee: Tyson Fresh Meats, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert F. Wilhelm, John E. Johnson
  • FOOD CONTAINER CLEANER APPARATUS AND METHOD
    Publication number: 20030136088
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for effecting the formation of a packaged food product with the food being contained within a receptacle having a cover adhered to the receptacle. Prior to securing the cover to the receptacle, the surface that is to be sealed to the cover is cleaned by wiping with towel material. The towel material is advanced from a supply to a cleaning position to wipe a cover engaging surface to remove at least a portion of contaminants or foreign material present on the container, thereby improving adhesion of the cover to the receptacle. Towel material can be advanced from time to time from the supply to a take-up mechanism to present clean or fresh towel material at predetermined intervals. A method for cleaning container-sealing surfaces is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2002
    Publication date: July 24, 2003
    Applicant: IBP, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert F. Wilhelm , John E. Johnson