Patents by Inventor Ruben T. Huerta-Ochoa

Ruben T. Huerta-Ochoa 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: 11052360
    Abstract: A mixing machine includes a head extending over a bowl receiving location, the head including a downwardly extending rotatable output shaft for receiving a mixer tool. A drive train including a motor having an output operatively connected to drive a planetary gear system that effects rotation of the rotatable output shaft about its axis and orbiting of the shaft axis about another axis. A control system includes a master control unit and a slave control unit, the master control unit connected with a first sensor located along the drive train between the motor and the planetary gear system, the slave control unit connected with a second sensor, wherein both the slave control unit and the second sensor rotate with a part of the planetary gear system, wherein the master control unit and the slave control unit are configured for wireless communication with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Matthew W. Bird, Ruben T. Huerta-Ochoa, Lawrence S. Leung
  • Patent number: 11039715
    Abstract: A food processing machine includes a head extending over a bowl receiving location, the head including an output shaft driven in a planetary manner. At least a first food processing tool and a second food processing tool can be changed in and out of the machine to be driven by the output shaft. A controller and associated tool detection system is configured to identify whether the first food processing tool or the second food processing tool is mounted on the machine and to select a stored load profile that is linked to the identified food processing tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Ruben T. Huerta-Ochoa, Thomas P. Jones
  • Patent number: 10743550
    Abstract: A mixing machine includes a head extending over a bowl receiving location, the head including a downwardly extending rotatable output shaft for receiving a mixer tool, the head including a planetary system therewithin for effecting rotation of the rotatable output shaft about its axis and orbiting of the shaft axis about another axis. A motor includes an output operatively connected to drive the planetary system. A control system includes a plurality of sensors, each sensor located for detecting a respective condition of mixing machine, and a diagnostic control operable to (i) track outputs from the plurality of sensors over time, (ii) analyze the tracked outputs and (iii) produce an alert indication based upon the diagnostic control identifying a performance characteristic indicative of a need for service or repair of the mixing machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Ruben T. Huerta-Ochoa, Lawrence S. Leung
  • Patent number: 10624354
    Abstract: A mixing machine includes a head extending over a bowl receiving location, a rotatable output shaft for receiving a mixer tool, and a gear system for effecting rotation of the rotatable output shaft about its axis and orbiting of the shaft axis about another axis. An electric motor includes an output operatively connected to drive the gear system. A variable frequency drive is connected to deliver 3-phase power to the electric motor to achieve variable speed and torque. The variable frequency drive includes a plurality of embedded sensors, including embedded current sensors and embedded voltage sensors. A diagnostic control is configured and operable to analyze outputs from the embedded sensors and produce an alert indication upon identification of a characteristic indicative of at least one of input power brownout, input power surge, machine short circuit, motor phase insulation arch, motor phase to ground arch or motor loss of phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventor: Ruben T. Huerta-Ochoa
  • Publication number: 20190167041
    Abstract: A food processing machine includes a mixer body including a stand and a bowl support. A bowl is mounted atop the bowl support, the bowl including a bottom wall with an opening therein, the bowl having an upper edge, wherein a bowl height is defined by a linear distance from the opening to a height of the upper edge. A tubular member is formed separate from the bowl and is connected to the bowl, the tubular member extending upward from the opening and within the bowl, the tubular member including a lower end and an upper end, wherein a tube height is defined by a linear distance from the opening to a height of the upper end of the tubular member, wherein the tube height is less than the bowl height. A drive is mounted below the bowl support.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2018
    Publication date: June 6, 2019
    Inventors: Ruben T. Huerta-Ochoa, Zachary A. Borts, Curtis A. Smith
  • Publication number: 20190008326
    Abstract: A food processing machine includes a head extending over a bowl receiving location, the head including an output shaft driven in a planetary manner. A food processing assembly is mounted below the head and includes a drive assembly for converting planetary motion of the output shaft to a rotational motion of a food processing tool drive shaft about a stationary shaft axis. The food processing assembly includes a food processing tool that can be removed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2018
    Publication date: January 10, 2019
    Inventor: Ruben T. Huerta-Ochoa
  • Publication number: 20190011019
    Abstract: A food processing machine includes a head extending over a bowl receiving location, the head including a rotatable output member for receiving a mixer tool. A drive system for effecting rotation of the rotatable output member includes a primary drive motor connected through a variable ratio transmission assembly to drive the output member, and a modulator motor linked to operate the variable ratio transmission assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2018
    Publication date: January 10, 2019
    Inventor: Ruben T. Huerta-Ochoa
  • Publication number: 20190008325
    Abstract: A food processing machine includes a head extending over a bowl receiving location, the head including an output shaft driven in a planetary manner. At least a first food processing tool and a second food processing tool can be changed in and out of the machine to be driven by the output shaft. A controller and associated tool detection system is configured to identify whether the first food processing tool or the second food processing tool is mounted on the machine and to select a stored load profile that is linked to the identified food processing tool.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2018
    Publication date: January 10, 2019
    Inventors: Ruben T. Huerta-Ochoa, Thomas P. Jones
  • Publication number: 20180361335
    Abstract: A mixing machine includes a head extending over a bowl receiving location, the head including a downwardly extending rotatable output shaft for receiving a mixer tool. A drive train including a motor having an output operatively connected to drive a planetary gear system that effects rotation of the rotatable output shaft about its axis and orbiting of the shaft axis about another axis. A control system includes a master control unit and a slave control unit, the master control unit connected with a first sensor located along the drive train between the motor and the planetary gear system, the slave control unit connected with a second sensor, wherein both the slave control unit and the second sensor rotate with a part of the planetary gear system, wherein the master control unit and the slave control unit are configured for wireless communication with each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2018
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Inventors: Matthew W. Bird, Ruben T. Huerta-Ochoa, Lawrence S. Leung
  • Publication number: 20180242595
    Abstract: A mixing machine includes a head extending over a bowl receiving location, the head including a downwardly extending rotatable output shaft for receiving a mixer tool, the head including a planetary system therewithin for effecting rotation of the rotatable output shaft about its axis and orbiting of the shaft axis about another axis. A motor includes an output operatively connected to drive the planetary system. A control system includes a plurality of sensors, each sensor located for detecting a respective condition of mixing machine, and a diagnostic control operable to (i) track outputs from the plurality of sensors over time, (ii) analyze the tracked outputs and (iii) produce an alert indication based upon the diagnostic control identifying a performance characteristic indicative of a need for service or repair of the mixing machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2018
    Publication date: August 30, 2018
    Inventors: Ruben T. Huerta-Ochoa, Lawrence S. Leung
  • Publication number: 20180242594
    Abstract: A mixing machine includes a head extending over a bowl receiving location, a rotatable output shaft for receiving a mixer tool, and a gear system for effecting rotation of the rotatable output shaft about its axis and orbiting of the shaft axis about another axis. An electric motor includes an output operatively connected to drive the gear system. A variable frequency drive is connected to deliver 3-phase power to the electric motor to achieve variable speed and torque. The variable frequency drive includes a plurality of embedded sensors, including embedded current sensors and embedded voltage sensors. A diagnostic control is configured and operable to analyze outputs from the embedded sensors and produce an alert indication upon identification of a characteristic indicative of at least one of input power brownout, input power surge, machine short circuit, motor phase insulation arch, motor phase to ground arch or motor loss of phase.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2018
    Publication date: August 30, 2018
    Inventor: Ruben T. Huerta-Ochoa
  • Publication number: 20180085966
    Abstract: A food slicer for slicing and weighing food items includes a slicer body and a slicer knife mounted for rotation relative to the slicer body. The slicer knife includes a peripheral cutting edge. A food product carriage is mounted to the slicer body for reciprocating movement back and forth past a cutting zone of the slicer knife. A portion scale is mounted on the slicer body and includes a weigh platter on a slice exit side of the slicer knife. A controller of the food slicer is configured for automated operations and/or monitoring and alerting based upon slicer conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2017
    Publication date: March 29, 2018
    Inventors: Scott N. Schmidt, Ruben T. Huerta-Ochoa, Lawrence S. Leung