Patents by Inventor Rudi C. Groppe
Rudi C. Groppe 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: 10287044Abstract: An apparatus for filling a produce tray with agricultural produce includes a tray loading station with a fill hopper for receiving the agricultural produce, a produce compression station including at least one tuck finger platen, and a conveyer including a plurality of tray carriers for moving the produce tray from the tray loading station to the produce compression station. Some embodiments of the invention also include a split chute for transferring the agricultural produce from the fill hopper to the produce tray and a trolley for selectively positioning the split chute under the fill hopper or tuck finger platen. Another embodiment of the invention includes a tuck finger platen for compressing agricultural produce near the center of the tray less than agricultural produce near the interior walls of the produce tray. Yet another embodiment of the invention includes steps in a method for loading agricultural produce into a produce tray.Type: GrantFiled: February 2, 2016Date of Patent: May 14, 2019Assignee: Heinzen LLCInventors: Erick A. Davidson, Rudi C. Groppe
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Publication number: 20160221695Abstract: An apparatus for filling a produce tray with agricultural produce includes a tray loading station with a fill hopper for receiving the agricultural produce, a produce compression station including at least one tuck finger platen, and a conveyer including a plurality of tray carriers for moving the produce tray from the tray loading station to the produce compression station. Some embodiments of the invention also include a split chute for transferring the agricultural produce from the fill hopper to the produce tray and a trolley for selectively positioning the split chute under the fill hopper or tuck finger platen. Another embodiment of the invention includes a tuck finger platen for compressing agricultural produce near the center of the tray less than agricultural produce near the interior walls of the produce tray. Yet another embodiment of the invention includes steps in a method for loading agricultural produce into a produce tray.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 2, 2016Publication date: August 4, 2016Inventors: Erick A. Davidson, Rudi C. Groppe
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Patent number: 9248926Abstract: An apparatus for filling a produce tray with agricultural produce includes a tray loading station with a fill hopper for receiving the agricultural produce, a produce compression station including at least one tuck finger platen, and a conveyer including a plurality of tray carriers for moving the produce tray from the tray loading station to the produce compression station. Some embodiments of the invention also include a split chute for transferring the agricultural produce from the fill hopper to the produce tray and a trolley for selectively positioning the split chute under the fill hopper or tuck finger platen. Another embodiment of the invention includes a tuck finger platen for compressing agricultural produce near the center of the tray less than agricultural produce near the interior walls of the produce tray. Yet another embodiment of the invention includes steps in a method for loading agricultural produce into a produce tray.Type: GrantFiled: August 12, 2011Date of Patent: February 2, 2016Assignee: HEINZEN MANUFACTURING, INC.Inventors: Erick A. Davidson, Rudi C. Groppe
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Publication number: 20120037271Abstract: An apparatus for filling a produce tray with agricultural produce includes a tray loading station with a fill hopper for receiving the agricultural produce, a produce compression station including at least one tuck finger platen, and a conveyer including a plurality of tray carriers for moving the produce tray from the tray loading station to the produce compression station. Some embodiments of the invention also include a split chute for transferring the agricultural produce from the fill hopper to the produce tray and a trolley for selectively positioning the split chute under the fill hopper or tuck finger platen. Another embodiment of the invention includes a tuck finger platen for compressing agricultural produce near the center of the tray less than agricultural produce near the interior walls of the produce tray. Yet another embodiment of the invention includes steps in a method for loading agricultural produce into a produce tray.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 12, 2011Publication date: February 16, 2012Inventors: Erick A. Davidson, Rudi C. Groppe
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Patent number: 6718868Abstract: A peeling device supports a fresh commodity in a first position in a nonspecific orientation. The commodity is impelled using a thruster toward a scoring structure for scoring the peel to a predetermined depth into two sectors. Peel grippers hold the peel between the scores and release the peeled commodity, such that the peel is retained on the gripping means. The thruster is positioned and adapted to force the commodity along a path to engage the cutting and peel-gripping elements, the thruster bottom surface changeable from a first, generally concave orientation for conforming to a shape of the commodity to a second, generally convex orientation for releasing the commodity from the peel.Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 2002Date of Patent: April 13, 2004Assignee: Florida Department of CitrusInventors: Mohamed A. Ismail, Shi-Chiang Pao, Mark Thomas, Rudi C. Groppe, Eric Davidson
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Publication number: 20020185014Abstract: A peeling device supports a fresh commodity in a first position in a nonspecific orientation. The commodity is impelled using a thruster toward a scoring structure for scoring the peel to a predetermined depth into two sectors. Peel grippers hold the peel between the scores and release the peeled commodity, such that the peel is retained on the gripping means. The thruster is positioned and adapted to force the commodity along a path to engage the cutting and peel-gripping elements, the thruster bottom surface changeable from a first, generally concave orientation for conforming to a shape of the commodity to a second, generally convex orientation for releasing the commodity from the peel.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 16, 2002Publication date: December 12, 2002Inventors: Mohamed A. Ismail, Shi-Chiang Pao, Mark Thomas, Rudi C. Groppe, Eric Davidson
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Patent number: 6371014Abstract: The system for peeling a fresh commodity includes barbs for piercing the peel in a plurality of spaced-apart locations. A vacuum infuser is used to infuse the pierced commodity with an aqueous solution to loosen the peel. A peeling device supports a fresh commodity in a first position. The commodity is impelled toward a structure having cutting elements for scoring the peel to a predetermined depth. Preferably the scores are made along generally circumferential lines having substantially common endpoints. Peel grippers hold the peel between the scores and release the peeled commodity, such that the peel is retained on the gripping means. A thruster is positioned and adapted to force the commodity along a path to engage the cutting and peel-gripping elements.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 2000Date of Patent: April 16, 2002Assignee: Florida Department of CitrusInventors: Mohamed A. Ismail, Shi-Chiang Pao, Mark Thomas, Rudi C. Groppe, Erick A. Davidson