Patents by Inventor Steven Andrew Bresnahan

Steven Andrew Bresnahan 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).

  • Fryer atmosphere control for mold form fryer
    Patent number: 8124154
    Abstract: A mold form fryer utilizing a top conveyor that transports snack pieces through a constant velocity oil stream without the need of a bottom mating mold or conveyor. Herein, the form fryer having a fryer housing for controlling the frying atmosphere is provided with a top conveyor disposed above a fryer oil pan positioned longitudinally through the fryer. Uncooked snack pieces are provided to the fryer oil pan by a bottom entrance conveyor. A steam shield separates a front-end vestibule from the downstream portion of the fryer housing, and inert gas manifolds introduce inert gas into the front-end vestibule, thereby providing a sufficiently low oxygen and sufficiently low condensable gas or steam environment near the product submerging point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Frito-Lay North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Varadharajan Radhamani Basker, Wilfred Marcellien Bourg, Jr., Steven Andrew Bresnahan, Thomas George Crosby, Pravin Maganlal Desai, Phillip Stuart Frazier
  • Fryer atmosphere control for mold form fryer
    Patent number: 7798058
    Abstract: A mold form fryer utilizing a top conveyor that transports snack pieces through a constant velocity oil stream without the need of a bottom mating mold or conveyor. Herein, the form fryer having a fryer housing for controlling the frying atmosphere is provided with a top conveyor disposed above a fryer oil pan positioned longitudinally through the fryer. Uncooked snack pieces are provided to the fryer oil pan by a bottom entrance conveyor. A steam shield separates a front-end vestibule from the downstream portion of the fryer housing, and inert gas manifolds introduce inert gas into the front-end vestibule, thereby providing a sufficiently low oxygen and sufficiently low condensable gas or steam environment near the product submerging point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Frito-Lay North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Varadharajan Radhamani Basker, Wilfred Marcellien Bourg, Jr., Steven Andrew Bresnahan, Thomas George Crosby, Pravin Maganlal Desai, Phillip Stuart Frazier
  • FRYER ATMOSPHERE CONTROL FOR MOLD FORM FRYER
    Publication number: 20100196568
    Abstract: A mold form fryer utilizing a top conveyor that transports snack pieces through a constant velocity oil stream without the need of a bottom mating mold or conveyor. Herein, the form fryer having a fryer housing for controlling the frying atmosphere is provided with a top conveyor disposed above a fryer oil pan positioned longitudinally through the fryer. Uncooked snack pieces are provided to the fryer oil pan by a bottom entrance conveyor. A steam shield separates a front-end vestibule from the downstream portion of the fryer housing, and inert gas manifolds introduce inert gas into the front-end vestibule, thereby providing a sufficiently low oxygen and sufficiently low condensable gas or steam environment near the product submerging point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2010
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Applicant: FRITO-LAY NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Varadharajan Radhamani BASKER, Wilfred Marcellien BOURG, JR., Steven Andrew BRESNAHAN, Thomas George CROSBY, Pravin Maganlal DESAI, Phillip Stuart FRAZIER
  • Method for on-line machine vision measurement, monitoring and control of organoleptic properties of products for on-line manufacturing processes
    Patent number: 7660440
    Abstract: A method for extracting feature information from product images using multivariate image analysis (MIA) to develop predictive models for organoleptic and other feature content and distribution on the imaged product. The imaging system is used to monitor product quality variables in an on-line manufacturing environment. The method may also be integrated into a closed-loop feedback control system in automated systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: Frito-Lay North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Wilfred Marcellien Bourg, Jr., Steven Andrew Bresnahan, Paul Allan Martin, John F. MacGregor, Honglu Yu, Mark-John Bruwer
  • Method for on-line machine vision measurement, monitoring and control of organoleptic properties of products for on-line manufacturing processes
    Publication number: 20040197012
    Abstract: A method for extracting feature information from product images using multivariate image analysis (MIA) to develop predictive models for organoleptic and other feature content and distribution on the imaged product. The imaging system is used to monitor product quality variables in an on-line manufacturing environment. The method may also be integrated into a closed-loop feedback control system in automated systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2004
    Publication date: October 7, 2004
    Inventors: Wilfred Marcellien Bourg, Steven Andrew Bresnahan, Paul Allan Martin