Patents by Inventor Ryan S. Willits

Ryan S. Willits 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: 6493605
    Abstract: A method, apparatus, and system for separating and distributing food product bits provided in bulk form from a supply source to a packager. The present invention is particularly suitable for a combination weighing machine, such that the apparatus includes an inlet chute, a dispersion table, a driving mechanism, and a plurality of batch handling units. The inlet chute directs a stream of food product bits from the supply source to the dispersion table. The driving mechanism is coupled to the inlet chute for raising and lowering the inlet chute relative to the dispersion table, for example, in response to a controller-supplied signal. The plurality of batch handling units receive, accumulate, and selectively dispense charges of the food product bits from the dispersion table to the packager. During use, the inlet chute is directed to a lowered position to facilitate food product bit accumulation on the dispersion table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2002
    Assignee: General Mills, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Prideaux, Ryan S. Willits