Patents by Inventor Sorin Stingaciu

Sorin Stingaciu 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: 12290081
    Abstract: A product conveying and coating system includes multiple, sequentially arranged conveyor units, with at least one conveyor unit being an open belt type. A carrier sheet is placed on a first of the conveyor units, a web of coating material in liquid form is deposited on the carrier sheet and spaced ropes of soft and sticky material are deposited on and settle into the web. The carrier sheet, web and ropes are transferred to a second conveyor unit after the coating material of the web solidifies, whereupon the ropes are cut into bar-length pieces. Thereafter, the carrier sheet is removed while the web and pieces are transferred to the open belt conveyor unit and exposed to an enrober. The enrober coats the pieces while melting portions of the web between the pieces in order to form full coated or encapsulated food products with soft and sticky cores.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2024
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2025
    Assignee: General Mills, Inc.
    Inventors: James Andrew Moss, Sorin Stingaciu
  • Publication number: 20240260591
    Abstract: Rolled dough products, such as croissants, are made by: layering fat between thin layers of dough in forming a multi-layer dough sheet; compressing the multi-layer dough sheet; cutting the dough sheet; reorientating the cut pieces; stretching the cut pieces; curling the pieces; flattening the pieces; coating or surface treating the pieces; and optionally freezing the pieces. With this method, freezer-to-oven (FTO) dough products are made eliminating the thawing and proofing steps, while significantly enhancing the production of desired flaky, rich, airy final pastry products. The process can include one or more filling materials, prior to cutting the dough sheet: depositing a filling layer, such as a chocolate ganache, in a central region of the multi-layer dough sheet; and folding lateral side portions of the dough sheet onto the central region to encase the filling layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2021
    Publication date: August 8, 2024
    Applicant: General Mills, Inc.
    Inventors: Cassee Malia Cain, Christine O'Connor, Sorin Stingaciu
  • Publication number: 20240196923
    Abstract: A product conveying and coating system includes multiple, sequentially arranged conveyor units, with at least one conveyor unit being an open belt type. A carrier sheet is placed on a first of the conveyor units, a web of coating material in liquid form is deposited on the carrier sheet and spaced ropes of soft and sticky material are deposited on and settle into the web. The carrier sheet, web and ropes are transferred to a second conveyor unit after the coating material of the web solidifies, whereupon the ropes are cut into bar-length pieces. Thereafter, the carrier sheet is removed while the web and pieces are transferred to the open belt conveyor unit and exposed to an enrober. The enrober coats the pieces while melting portions of the web between the pieces in order to form full coated or encapsulated food products with soft and sticky cores.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2024
    Publication date: June 20, 2024
    Applicant: General Mills, Inc.
    Inventors: James Andrew Moss, Sorin Stingaciu
  • Patent number: 11937617
    Abstract: A product conveying and coating system includes multiple, sequentially arranged conveyor units, with at least one conveyor unit being an open belt type. A carrier sheet is placed on a first of the conveyor units, a web of coating material in liquid form is deposited on the carrier sheet and spaced ropes of soft and sticky material are deposited on and settle into the web. The carrier sheet, web and ropes are transferred to a second conveyor unit after the coating material of the web solidifies, whereupon the ropes are cut into bar-length pieces. Thereafter, the carrier sheet is removed while the web and pieces are transferred to the open belt conveyor unit and exposed to an enrober. The enrober coats the pieces while melting portions of the web between the pieces in order to form full coated or encapsulated food products with soft and sticky cores.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: General Mills, Inc.
    Inventors: James Andrew Moss, Sorin Stingaciu
  • Publication number: 20230083723
    Abstract: A product conveying and coating system includes multiple, sequentially arranged conveyor units, with at least one conveyor unit being an open belt type. A carrier sheet is placed on a first of the conveyor units, a web of coating material in liquid form is deposited on the carrier sheet and spaced ropes of soft and sticky material are deposited on and settle into the web. The carrier sheet, web and ropes are transferred to a second conveyor unit after the coating material of the web solidifies, whereupon the ropes are cut into bar-length pieces. Thereafter, the carrier sheet is removed while the web and pieces are transferred to the open belt conveyor unit and exposed to an enrober. The enrober coats the pieces while melting portions of the web between the pieces in order to form full coated or encapsulated food products with soft and sticky cores.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2022
    Publication date: March 16, 2023
    Applicant: General Mills, Inc.
    Inventors: James Andrew Moss, Sorin Stingaciu