Patents by Inventor Roger P. Brunner

Roger P. Brunner 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: 9885511
    Abstract: A low profile ice maker/dispenser and water dispenser having a high ice making capacity, for ice nugget manufacture is provided, wherein ice nuggets are metered out of a storage bin via a nugget dispenser outlet, and whereby water is dispensed via a water dispenser outlet. A refrigeration cycle is used, wherein an auger compresses ice on a wall of an evaporator and delivers the ice to the ice bin, breaking it into nuggets along the way. An outer wall of the evaporator is comprised of part of the water reservoir. A baffle in the ice bin facilitates metering of the amount of ice discharged. The system comprises a closed system that enables efficient cleaning of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: Follett Corporation
    Inventors: Roger P. Brunner, Steven R. Follett, Matthew S. Greene, Robert Hettinger, Michael A. Rice, Michael S. Yautz
  • Patent number: 9523526
    Abstract: An ice making apparatus is provided for making ice of the nugget-forming type from ice shavings that are compacted, wherein inlet water is provided to a freezing chamber having a rotatable auger therein, for flow of the inlet water and water squeezed from ice leaving the freezing chamber at the discharge end thereof along the auger, for flow of water through the freezing chamber, to a water reservoir at an opposite end of the freezing chamber, whereby ice flow through the freezing chamber is in one direction, and water flow through the freezing chamber is in an opposite direction. Dissolved minerals are thereby substantially removed from the ice being discharged from the freezing chamber, and are conveyed from a zone of lesser water volume to a zone of higher water volume where they are more substantially dispersed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: Follett Corporation
    Inventors: Roger P. Brunner, Thomas H. Scarince
  • Publication number: 20160003515
    Abstract: An ice making apparatus is provided for making ice of the nugget-forming type from ice shavings that are compacted, wherein inlet water is provided to a freezing chamber having a rotatable auger therein, for flow of the inlet water and water squeezed from ice leaving the freezing chamber at the discharge end thereof along the auger, for flow of water through the freezing chamber, to a water reservoir at an opposite end of the freezing chamber, whereby ice flow through the freezing chamber is in one direction, and water flow through the freezing chamber is in an opposite direction. Dissolved minerals are thereby substantially removed from the ice being discharged from the freezing chamber, and are conveyed from a zone of lesser water volume to a zone of higher water volume where they are more substantially dispersed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2014
    Publication date: January 7, 2016
    Applicant: FOLLETT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Roger P. Brunner, Thomas H. Scarince
  • Publication number: 20140182323
    Abstract: A low profile ice maker/dispenser and water dispenser having a high ice making capacity, for ice nugget manufacture is provided, wherein ice nuggets are metered out of a storage bin via a nugget dispenser outlet, and whereby water is dispensed via a water dispenser outlet. A refrigeration cycle is used, wherein an auger compresses ice on a wall of an evaporator and delivers the ice to the ice bin, breaking it into nuggets along the way. An outer wall of the evaporator is comprised of part of the water reservoir. A baffle in the ice bin facilitates metering of the amount of ice discharged. The system comprises a closed system that enables efficient cleaning of the system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2014
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: Follett Corporation
    Inventors: Roger P. Brunner, Steven R. Follett, Matthew S. Greene, Robert Hettinger, Michael A. Rice, Michael S. Yautz
  • Patent number: 8756950
    Abstract: A low profile ice maker/dispenser and water dispenser having a high ice making capacity, for ice nugget manufacture is provided, wherein ice nuggets are metered out of a storage bin via a nugget dispenser outlet, and whereby water is dispensed via a water dispenser outlet. A refrigeration cycle is used, wherein an auger compresses ice on a wall of an evaporator and delivers the ice to the ice bin, breaking it into nuggets along the way. An outer wall of the evaporator is comprised of part of the water reservoir. A baffle in the ice bin facilitates metering of the amount of ice discharged. The system comprises a closed system that enables efficient cleaning of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Follett Corporation
    Inventors: Roger P. Brunner, Steven R. Follett, Matthew S. Greene, Robert Hettinger, Michael A. Rice, Michael S. Yautz
  • Publication number: 20110041542
    Abstract: A low profile ice maker/dispenser and water dispenser having a high ice making capacity, for ice nugget manufacture is provided, wherein ice nuggets are metered out of a storage bin via a nugget dispenser outlet, and whereby water is dispensed via a water dispenser outlet. A refrigeration cycle is used, wherein an auger compresses ice on a wall of an evaporator and delivers the ice to the ice bin, breaking it into nuggets along the way. An outer wall of the evaporator is comprised of part of the water reservoir. A baffle in the ice bin facilitates metering of the amount of ice discharged. The system comprises a closed system that enables efficient cleaning of the system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2009
    Publication date: February 24, 2011
    Applicant: FOLLETT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Roger P. Brunner, Steven R. Follett, Matthew S. Greene, Robert Hettinger, Michael A. Rice, Michael S. Yautz
  • Patent number: 7469552
    Abstract: Apparatus transports rod(s) of ice of flaked or chipped ice through a tube to a remote ice bin, in which the ice is broken into nuggets. A method of cleaning the transport tube is also provided in which ice pushes a dry conformable article and a wet conformable articles carrying sanitizing solution through the tube, with the conformable articles preferable being sponges, and with the wet article sanitizing algae, bacteria, etc. during movement through the tube, and with the dry conformable article scraping debris from wall(s) of the tube during transport.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Follett Corporation
    Inventors: Roger P. Brunner, James Vorosmarti
  • Patent number: 7469548
    Abstract: An ice making apparatus is provided in which a refrigeration cycle is used to produce ice inside an evaporator that is generally horizontally disposed, with a hollow auger being provided with a helical flight thereon, for scraping ice from the inner wall of the evaporator and pushing the ice toward one end of the auger, by which it is compressed and moved by a paddle toward a flange, in which it is delivered to an ice breakup device, by which the ice is diverted into a compression zone, with water being squeezed from the ice and the ice delivered to a transport tube and then to an ice retainer. Filling the retainer or jamming of ice nuggets inside the transport will effect a shut-down of the apparatus. Various water level controls for a water reservoir are provided, whereby the auger is flooded inside and outside, for enhancing ice formation. Nugget-type ice is provided by the ice making apparatus. The apparatus allows for changing the nugget size/shape without negative ice hardness consequences.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Follett Corporation
    Inventors: Roger P. Brunner, Michael S. Yautz, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7322201
    Abstract: An ice making apparatus is provided in which a refrigeration cycle is used to produce ice inside an evaporator that is generally horizontally disposed, with a hollow auger being provided with a helical flight thereon, for scraping ice from the inner wall of the evaporator and pushing the ice toward one end of the auger, by which it is compressed and moved by a paddle toward a flange, in which it is delivered to an ice breakup device, by which the ice is diverted into a compression zone, with water being squeezed from the ice and the ice delivered to a transport tube and then to an ice retainer. Filling the retainer or jamming of ice nuggets inside the transport will effect a shut-down of the apparatus. Various water level controls for a water reservoir are provided, whereby the auger is flooded inside and outside, for enhancing ice formation. Nugget-type ice is provided by the ice making apparatus. The apparatus allows for changing the nugget size/shape without negative ice hardness consequences.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Follett Corporation
    Inventors: Roger P. Brunner, Michael S. Yautz, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7263844
    Abstract: Apparatus transports rod(s) of ice of flaked or chipped ice through a tube to a remote ice bin, in which the ice is broken into nuggets. A method of cleaning the transport tube is also provided in which ice pushes a dry conformable article and a wet conformable articles carrying sanitizing solution through the tube, with the conformable articles preferably being sponges, and with the wet article sanitizing algae, bacteria, etc. during movement through the tube, and with the dry conformable article scraping debris from wall(s) of the tube during transport.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Assignee: Follett Corporation
    Inventors: Roger P. Brunner, James Vorosmarti
  • Patent number: 7096686
    Abstract: An ice making apparatus is provided in which a refrigeration cycle is used to produce ice inside an evaporator that is generally horizontally disposed, with a hollow auger being provided with a helical flight thereon, for scraping ice from the inner wall of the evaporator and pushing the ice toward one end of the auger, by which it is compressed and moved by a paddle toward a flange, in which it is delivered to an ice breakup device, by which the ice is diverted into a compression zone, with water being squeezed from the ice and the ice delivered to a transport tube and then to an ice retainer. Filling the retainer or jamming of ice nuggets inside the transport will effect a shut-down of the apparatus. Various water level controls for a water reservoir are provided, whereby the auger is flooded inside and outside, for enhancing ice formation. Nugget-type ice is provided by the ice making apparatus. The apparatus allows for changing the nugget size/shape without negative ice hardness consequences.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: Follett Corporation
    Inventors: Roger P. Brunner, Michael S. Yautz, Jr.
  • Patent number: D728985
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Follett Corporation
    Inventors: Roger P. Brunner, Steven R. Follett, Matthew S. Greene, Michael A. Rice, Michael S. Yautz, Robert Hettinger
  • Patent number: D731842
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: Follett Corporation
    Inventors: Roger P. Brunner, Steven R. Follett, Matthew S. Greene, Michael A. Rice, Michael S. Yautz, Robert Hettinger