Patents by Inventor Ronald M. GUST
Ronald M. GUST 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: 10759556Abstract: A vertical form fill and seal apparatus, for packaging particulates, includes a package sealing assembly that has opposed sealing jaws operatively coupled to each other by mechanical connection at a common pivot point. A first jaw actuator is mechanically coupled to the opposed sealing jaws to pivot the jaws in a controlled manner about the common pivot point. A second actuator is mechanically coupled to the package sealing assembly and is configured to impart controlled reciprocating motion to the package sealing assembly. A controller is configured to control the first actuator and to control the second actuator thereby causing the jaws to describe a preset locus of travel, allowing flexibility of type of bag being made without change-out of jaws. The packaging film may move continuously, or may optionally be controlled to move intermittently through the VFFS.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2016Date of Patent: September 1, 2020Assignees: Frito-Lay North America, Inc., Douglas Machine, Inc.Inventors: Patrick Joseph Bierschenk, Frank Mathew Brenkus, Ronald M. Gust
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Patent number: 10308379Abstract: A method for compacting a slug of product and apparatus for accomplishing the same. The invention describes collecting weighed product in an intermediate settling device to form a compact slug of product. The device can comprise a single settling chamber or can comprise multiple settling chambers which are axially rotatable. The slug can be compacted by jostling and/or vibrating the settling device. Thereafter, the product is discharged to a packaging apparatus. Because the product in the final package is denser, a smaller package can be utilized reducing manufacturing and shipping costs.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2013Date of Patent: June 4, 2019Assignee: Frito-Lay North America, Inc.Inventors: Patrick J. Bierschenk, Frank M. Brenkus, Jerry M. Reaves, Amelinda Melanson, Leon J. Krause, Ronald M. Gust
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Publication number: 20180170599Abstract: A vertical form fill and seal apparatus, for packaging particulates, includes a package sealing assembly that has opposed sealing jaws operatively coupled to each other by mechanical connection at a common pivot point. A first jaw actuator is mechanically coupled to the opposed sealing jaws to pivot the jaws in a controlled manner about the common pivot point. A second actuator is mechanically coupled to the package sealing assembly and is configured to impart controlled reciprocating motion to the package sealing assembly. A controller is configured to control the first actuator and to control the second actuator thereby causing the jaws to describe a preset locus of travel, allowing flexibility of type of bag being made without change-out of jaws. The packaging film may move continuously, or may optionally be controlled to move intermittently through the VFFS.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2016Publication date: June 21, 2018Inventors: Patrick Joseph Bierschenk, Frank Mathew Brenkus, Ronald M. Gust
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Patent number: 9902517Abstract: A method and apparatus for making a structurally resilient package having a substantially box-shaped configuration is disclosed. A pillow pouch package is received onto a flighted conveyor. The pillow pouch package has a first squared end and an angular end located opposite to the first squared end. The pillow pouch package is received so that the first squared end rests on the flighted conveyor. Thereafter the pillow pouch package is conditioned at least in part by tamping the angular end with a tamping plate. The angular end of the package is subsequently heat treated to form a second squared end. A set of cooling plates is then applied to the second squared end to set the final shape and form the structurally resilient package having a substantially box-shaped configuration.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2014Date of Patent: February 27, 2018Assignees: Frito-Lay North America, Inc., Douglas Machine Inc.Inventors: Parick Joseph Bierschenk, Frank Mathew Brenkus, Ronald M. Gust, Leon J. Krause, Sunitha Nair
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Patent number: 9840346Abstract: A method and apparatus for making a structurally resilient package with a desired shape on a vertical form, fill, and seal machine. The method comprises sealing a film to form a back seal; forming a first end seal to form a partially formed first package; flattening a first side of the partially formed first package to form a flat first side; filling the partially formed first package with product; forming a second end seal on the partially formed first package to form a first package from the partially formed first package; flattening the second side of the first package to form a flat second side, wherein the flattening the first side and the flattening the second side occur on a first machine.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2014Date of Patent: December 12, 2017Assignees: Frito-Lay North America, Inc., Douglas Machine Inc.Inventors: Patrick Joseph Bierschenk, Frank Mathew Brenkus, Ronald M. Gust, Steven Kenneth Tucker
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Publication number: 20150121813Abstract: A method and apparatus for making a structurally resilient package with a desired shape on a vertical form, fill, and seal machine. The method comprises sealing a film to form a back seal; forming a first end seal to form a partially formed first package; flattening a first side of the partially formed first package to form a flat first side; filling the partially formed first package with product; forming a second end seal on the partially formed first package to form a first package from the partially formed first package; flattening the second side of the first package to form a flat second side, wherein the flattening the first side and the flattening the second side occur on a first machine.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 30, 2014Publication date: May 7, 2015Inventors: Patrick Joseph BIERSCHENK, Frank Mathew BRENKUS, Ronald M. GUST, Steven Kenneth TUCKER
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Publication number: 20150121811Abstract: A method and apparatus for making a structurally resilient package having a substantially box-shaped configuration is disclosed. A pillow pouch package is received onto a flighted conveyor. The pillow pouch package has a first squared end and an angular end located opposite to the first squared end. The pillow pouch package is received so that the first squared end rests on the flighted conveyor. Thereafter the pillow pouch package is conditioned at least in part by tamping the angular end with a tamping plate. The angular end of the package is subsequently heat treated to form a second squared end. A set of cooling plates is then applied to the second squared end to set the final shape and form the structurally resilient package having a substantially box-shaped configuration.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 30, 2014Publication date: May 7, 2015Inventors: Parick Joseph BIERSCHENK, Frank Mathew BRENKUS, Ronald M. GUST, Leon J. KRAUSE, Sunitha NAIR
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Publication number: 20140020336Abstract: A method for compacting a slug of product and apparatus for accomplishing the same. The invention describes collecting weighed product in an intermediate settling device to form a compact slug of product. The device can comprise a single settling chamber or can comprise multiple settling chambers which are axially rotatable. The slug can be compacted by jostling and/or vibrating the settling device. Thereafter, the product is discharged to a packaging apparatus. Because the product in the final package is denser, a smaller package can be utilized reducing manufacturing and shipping costs.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 25, 2013Publication date: January 23, 2014Applicant: Frito-Lay North America, Inc.Inventors: Patrick J. BIERSCHENK, Frank M. BRENKUS, Jerry M. REAVES, Amelinda MELANSON, Leon J. KRAUSE, Ronald M. GUST
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Patent number: 8567165Abstract: A method for compacting a slug of product and apparatus for accomplishing the same. The invention describes collecting weighed product in an intermediate settling device to form a compact slug of product. The device can comprise a single settling chamber or can comprise multiple settling chambers which are axially rotatable. The slug can be compacted by jostling and/or vibrating the settling device. Thereafter, the product is discharged to a packaging apparatus. Because the product in the final package is denser, a smaller package can be utilized reducing manufacturing and shipping costs.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 2010Date of Patent: October 29, 2013Assignees: Frito-Lay North America, Inc., Douglas Machine, Inc.Inventors: Patrick J. Bierschenk, Frank M. Brenkus, Jerry M. Reaves, Amelinda Melanson, Leon J. Krause, Ronald M. Gust
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Publication number: 20130104502Abstract: A method for compacting a slug of product and apparatus for accomplishing the same. The invention describes collecting weighed product in an intermediate settling device to form a compact slug of product. The device can comprise a single settling chamber or can comprise multiple settling chambers which are axially rotatable. The slug can be compacting by jostling and/or vibrating the settling device. Thereafter, the product is discharged to a packaging apparatus. Because the product in the final package is denser, a smaller package can be utilized reducing manufacturing and shipping costs.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 23, 2012Publication date: May 2, 2013Inventors: Ronald M. Gust, Jacob P. Hendrickx
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Publication number: 20120297738Abstract: A method for compacting a slug of product and apparatus for accomplishing the same. The invention describes collecting weighed product in an intermediate settling device to form a compact slug of product. The device can comprise a single settling chamber or can comprise multiple settling chambers which are axially rotatable. The slug can be compacting by jostling and/or vibrating the settling device. Thereafter, the product is discharged to a packaging apparatus. Because the product in the final package is denser, a smaller package can be utilized reducing manufacturing and shipping costs.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 25, 2010Publication date: November 29, 2012Inventors: Leon J. Krause, Ronald M. Gust
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Publication number: 20110131934Abstract: A method for compacting a slug of product and apparatus for accomplishing the same. The invention describes collecting weighed product in an intermediate settling device to form a compact slug of product. The device can comprise a single settling chamber or can comprise multiple settling chambers which are axially rotatable. The slug can be compacting by jostling and/or vibrating the settling device. Thereafter, the product is discharged to a packaging apparatus. Because the product in the final package is denser, a smaller package can be utilized reducing manufacturing and shipping costs.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 21, 2010Publication date: June 9, 2011Applicant: FRITO-LAY NORTH AMERICA, INC.Inventors: Patrick J. BIERSCHENK, Frank M. BRENKUS, Jerry M. REAVES, Amelinda MELANSON, Leon J. KRAUSE, Ronald M. GUST