Patents by Inventor Robert Otto Brandt, Jr.
Robert Otto Brandt, Jr. 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).
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Patent number: 8978576Abstract: The invention is directed to apparatus and methods for contacting gas and solids in the manufacture of edibles, and particularly in connection with coating edible particulate solids. A drum is positioned around an inner tube so that an annular space is defined between the drum and the tube. A rotatable spiral element defines a gas pathway in the annular space, such that rotation of the spiral pushes particulate solids through the drum while the solids are contacted with gas in the annular space.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 2012Date of Patent: March 17, 2015Assignee: Mars, IncorporatedInventors: Robert Otto Brandt, Jr., Peter Thomas Kashulines, Jr., Thomas C. Britt, K. Ressie Cavenaugh
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Patent number: 8323711Abstract: The invention is directed to apparatus and methods for contacting gas and solids in the manufacture of edibles, and particularly in connection with coating edible particulate solids. A drum is positioned around an inner tube so that an annular space is defined between the drum and the tube. A rotatable spiral element defines a gas pathway in the annular space, such that rotation of the spiral pushes particulate solids through the drum while the solids are contacted with gas in the annular space.Type: GrantFiled: October 9, 2007Date of Patent: December 4, 2012Assignee: Mars, IncorporatedInventors: Robert Otto Brandt, Jr., Peter Thomas Kashulines, Jr., Thomas C. Britt, K. Ressie Cavenaugh
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Publication number: 20090092752Abstract: The invention is directed to apparatus and methods for contacting gas and solids in the manufacture of edibles, and particularly in connection with coating edible particulate solids. A drum is positioned around an inner tube so that an annular space is defined between the drum and the tube. A rotatable spiral element defines a gas pathway in the annular space, such that rotation of the spiral pushes particulate solids through the drum while the solids are contacted with gas in the annular space.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 9, 2007Publication date: April 9, 2009Applicant: MARS, INC.Inventors: Robert Otto Brandt, JR., Peter Thomas Kashulines, JR., Thomas C. Britt, K. Ressie Cavenaugh
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Patent number: 6764293Abstract: A method and apparatus for making a shaped confectionery product of Bingham plastic rheology by cold extrusion wherein particles of the confectionery product are fed between counter-rotating form rolls having depressions corresponding to the desired product shape. The particles are compacted and compressed between the form rolls and fuse together to exit with a thin web of material interconnecting the shaped confectionery product. The release of the product from the roll surface is aided by induced differential motion between the rolls.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2001Date of Patent: July 20, 2004Assignee: Mars, IncorporatedInventors: Peter Thomas Kashulines, Jr., Emil Anthony Kritzer, Robert Otto Brandt, Jr., Aubrey Elmo Jones, Jr., Malcolm Albert Austin, Ray Louis Peterson
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Patent number: 6689417Abstract: An apparatus for heating and/or cooling a plurality of particles including a generally circular bed for holding the particles, the bed having a substantially centered annular inner bed wall, an outer bed wall and an irregular bottom. The apparatus also includes a drive mechanism rotatably affixed to said bed, where rotation of the drive mechanism at a predetermined rate produces a displacement of the bed horizontally and vertically resulting in a particle flow in the x, y and z directions. The particle flow in the x and y planes for a majority of said particles is in a dominant direction. The apparatus also includes an airplant which provides a heated and/or cooled airflow tangentially into the bed in a direction opposite to the dominant direction.Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 2002Date of Patent: February 10, 2004Assignee: Mars, Inc.Inventors: Robert Otto Brandt, Jr., Ray Louis Peterson, David Mendel Nathan, Gregg Alan Martell, Peter Thomas Kashulines, Jr., Malcolm Albert Austin
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Patent number: 6364948Abstract: An apparatus for heating and/or cooling a plurality of particles including a generally circular bed for holding the particles, the bed having a substantially centered annular inner bed wall, an outer bed wall and an irregular bottom. The apparatus also includes a drive mechanism rotatably affixed to said bed, where rotation of the drive mechanism at a predetermined rate produces a displacement of the bed horizontally and vertically resulting in a particle flow in the x, y and z directions. The particle flow in the x and y planes for a majority of said particles is in a dominant direction. The apparatus also includes an airplant which provides a heated and/or cooled airflow tangentially into the bed in a direction opposite to the dominant direction.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 2000Date of Patent: April 2, 2002Assignee: Mars, Inc.Inventors: Malcolm Albert Austin, Robert Otto Brandt, Jr., Ray Louis Peterson, David Mendel Nathan, Gregg Alan Martell, Peter Thomas Kashulines, Jr.
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Patent number: 6270826Abstract: A method and apparatus for making a shaped confectionery product of Bingham plastic rheology by cold extrusion wherein particles of the confectionery product are fed between counter-rotating form rolls having depressions corresponding to the desired product shape. The particles are compacted and compressed between the form rolls and fuse together to exit with a thin web of material interconnecting the shaped confectionery product. The release of the product from the roll surface is aided by induced differential motion between the rolls.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 1999Date of Patent: August 7, 2001Assignee: Mars IncorporatedInventors: Peter Thomas Kashulines, Jr., Emil Anthony Kritzer, Robert Otto Brandt, Jr., Aubrey Elmo Jones, Jr., Malcolm Albert Austin, Ray Louis Peterson
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Patent number: 6059117Abstract: The present invention sorts unselected product from selected product using a chute having a grain separating section, a cross section to orientate the product, and a grain stabilizing section; a laser with a laser line transmitted through the product; a photo detector and processor to receive and analyze the light transmitted through the product to determine which product are unselected; and a separator to separate the selected and unselected product.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 1999Date of Patent: May 9, 2000Assignee: Uncle Ben's, Inc.Inventors: Thomas Joseph Novak, Kaizar Hashim Colombowala, Robert Otto Brandt, Jr., Roy A. Peets
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Patent number: 5986230Abstract: The present invention sorts unselected product from selected product using a chute having a grain separating section, a cross section to orientate the product, and a grain stabilizing section; a laser with a laser line transmitted through the product; a photo detector and processor to receive and analyze the light transmitted through the product to determine which product are unselected; and a separator to separate the selected and unselected product.Type: GrantFiled: May 9, 1997Date of Patent: November 16, 1999Assignee: Uncle Ben's, Inc.Inventors: Thomas Joseph Novak, Kaizar Hashim Colombowala, Robert Otto Brandt, Jr., Roy A. Peets
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Patent number: 5865990Abstract: The present invention sorts imperfect grains from perfect grains using a chute having a grain separating section, a cross section to orientate the grains, and a grain stabilizing section; a laser with a laser line transmitted through the grains; a photo detect or and processor to receive and analyze the light transmitted through the grains to determine which grains are imperfect; and a separator to separate the perfect and imperfect grains.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 1996Date of Patent: February 2, 1999Assignee: Uncle Ben's, Inc.Inventors: Thomas Joseph Novak, Kaizar Hashim Colombowala, Robert Otto Brandt, Jr.