Patents by Inventor Steven W. Kirkvold

Steven W. Kirkvold 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: 9538777
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for separating and removing aflatoxin-contaminated corn from batches of corn by a floating process, thus producing a distinguishable floating mat of contaminated corn and a separate submerged bed of uncontaminated and less contaminated corn. The methods of this disclosure include removing the floating contaminated corn mat by a vacuum mechanism or by liquid flow. The methods reduce the aflatoxin level in the submerged corn bed as much as 80% from the initial aflatoxin level, while removing no more than 15% from the batch of corn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: CARGILL, INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Nicholas Wayne Bethke, Chad Allen Conard, Marie Khagik Costanian, Lawrence E. Fosdick, Eugene Joseph Fox, Donald Grunig, Steven W. Kirkvold, Abhay R. Ladhe, Jacob A. Leland, Joseph Michael Lewis, Eugene Max Peters, Anthony John Schanilec, Riley Neil Smith, Eric Sumner, Ping Yang, Hadi Nayef Yehia, Jill Louise Zullo
  • Publication number: 20150090642
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for separating and removing aflatoxin-contaminated corn from batches of corn by a floating process, thus producing a distinguishable floating mat of contaminated corn and a separate submerged bed of uncontaminated and less contaminated corn. The methods of this disclosure include removing the floating contaminated corn mat by a vacuum mechanism or by liquid flow. The methods reduce the aflatoxin level in the submerged corn bed as much as 80% from the initial aflatoxin level, while removing no more than 15% from the batch of corn.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2014
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Inventors: Nicholas Wayne BETHKE, Chad Allen CONARD, Marie Khagik COSTANIAN, Lawrence E. FOSDICK, Eugene Joseph FOX, Donald GRUNIG, Steven W. KIRKVOLD, Abhay R. LADHE, Jacob A. LELAND, Joseph Michael LEWIS, Eugene Max PETERS, Anthony John SCHANILEC, Riley Neil SMITH, Eric SUMNER, Ping YANG, Hadi Nayef YEHIA, Jill Louise ZULLO
  • Patent number: 8919569
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for separating and removing aflatoxin-contaminated corn from batches of corn by a floating process, thus producing a distinguishable floating mat of contaminated corn and a separate submerged bed of uncontaminated and less contaminated corn. The methods of this disclosure include removing the floating contaminated corn mat by a vacuum mechanism or by liquid flow. The methods reduce the aflatoxin level in the submerged corn bed as much as 80% from the initial aflatoxin level, while removing no more than 15% from the batch of corn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Cargill, Incorporated
    Inventors: Nicholas Wayne Bethke, Chad Allen Conard, Lawrence E. Fosdick, Eugene Joseph Fox, Donald Grunig, Steven W. Kirkvold, Abhay R. Ladhe, Jacob A. Leland, Joseph Michael Lewis, Eugene Max Peters, Jr., Anthony John Schanilec, Riley Neil Smith, Eric Sumner, Ping Yang, Jill Louise Zullo
  • Publication number: 20140102950
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for separating and removing aflatoxin-contaminated corn from batches of corn by a floating process, thus producing a distinguishable floating mat of contaminated corn and a separate submerged bed of uncontaminated and less contaminated corn. The methods of this disclosure include removing the floating contaminated corn mat by a vacuum mechanism or by liquid flow. The methods reduce the aflatoxin level in the submerged corn bed as much as 80% from the initial aflatoxin level, while removing no more than 15% from the batch of corn.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Inventors: Nicholas Wayne Bethke, Chad Allen Conard, Lawrence E. Fosdick, Eugene Joseph Fox, Donald Grunig, Steven W. Kirkvold, Abhay R. Ladhe, Jacob A. Leland, Joseph Michael Lewis, Eugene Max Peters, JR., Anthony John Schanilec, Riley Neil Smith, Eric Sumner, Ping Yang, Jill Louise Zullo
  • Patent number: 6235330
    Abstract: A free-flowing, coated, frozen food and a method for making the same are disclosed. Discrete pieces of a free-flowing frozen food are introduced into a coating vessel where they are agitated to expose their surfaces and to maintain their free-flowing state throughout the coating process. A liquid coating material is sprayed onto the free-flowing pieces to cause coating material to adhere and the temperature at the surfaces of the frozen food pieces to rise. The surfaces of frozen food pieces are then recooled with a cryogen. The spraying and recooling steps are repeated until a thorough, even coating is built up on the discrete pieces of free-flowing food.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2001
    Assignee: Conagra, Inc.
    Inventors: David H. Scherpf, David Patterson, Steven W. Kirkvold, Andrew Hampton
  • Patent number: RE39631
    Abstract: A free-flowing, coated, frozen food and a method for making the same are disclosed. Discrete pieces of a free-flowing frozen food are introduced into a coating vessel where they are agitated to expose their surfaces and to maintain their free-flowing state throughout the coating process. A liquid coating material is sprayed onto the free-flowing pieces to cause coating material to adhere and the temperature at the surfaces of the frozen food pieces to rise. The surfaces of frozen food pieces are then recooled with a cryogen. The spraying and recooling steps are repeated until a thorough, even coating is built up on the discrete pieces of free-flowing food.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Assignee: ConAgra, Inc.
    Inventors: David H. Scherpf, David Patterson, Steven W. Kirkvold, Andrew Hampton