Patents by Inventor Thomas Heinzen

Thomas Heinzen 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: 9635873
    Abstract: A product conveying and coating system includes at least first and second, sequentially arranged conveyor belts, with at least the second conveyor belt being a solid belt. Interposed in a gap between the first and second belts is a dispenser head of a coating manifold. The dispenser head spans a gap between upper surface portions of the first and second conveyor belts, with an elongated side wall outlet portion of the dispenser head being exposed, in a downstream direction of the conveyor unit, to the upper surface of the second conveyor belt. The system provides for dispensing of coating material directly onto the second, solid conveyor belt and enrobing at least bottom and partial side portions of food products upon the solid belt. Provisions are made for scraping from the solid belt, removing from the food products and recycling excess coating material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: General Mills, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas Heinzen
  • Publication number: 20150044339
    Abstract: A product conveying and coating system includes at least first and second, sequentially arranged conveyor belts, with at least the second conveyor belt being a solid belt. Interposed in a gap between the first and second belts is a dispenser head of a coating manifold. The dispenser head spans a gap between upper surface portions of the first and second conveyor belts, with an elongated side wall outlet portion of the dispenser head being exposed, in a downstream direction of the conveyor unit, to the upper surface of the second conveyor belt. The system provides for dispensing of coating material directly onto the second, solid conveyor belt and enrobing at least bottom and partial side portions of food products upon the solid belt. Provisions are made for scraping from the solid belt, removing from the food products and recycling excess coating material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2013
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Applicant: General Mills, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas Heinzen
  • Patent number: 8297889
    Abstract: A loading and unloading device for cargo containers, such as sea containers, silos and other vessels, of mobile design, whereby a container, one end face of which can be opened or closed and can and can be connected flush to a cargo container for bulk goods to be loaded or unloaded, whereby the device container is equipped with least one telescoping tube that can be inserted or withdrawn from the cargo container to be loaded or unloaded, an associated motive power aggregate and a connector for the conveyance of bulk goods into or out of the cargo container to be loaded or unloaded, a suction unit with propelling air outlet, a motor-compressor unit with propelling air inlet for propelling air supply into the cargo container to be loaded or unloaded, a vacuum and filter system and an operating and control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Inventors: Thomas Heinzen, Christian Hanses
  • Publication number: 20100080677
    Abstract: A loading and unloading device for cargo containers, such as sea containers, silos and other vessels, of mobile design, whereby a container, one end face of which can be opened or closed and can be connected flush to a cargo container for bulk goods to be loaded or unloaded, whereby the device container is equipped with least one telescoping tube that can be inserted or withdrawn from the cargo container to be loaded or unloaded, an associated motive power aggregate and a connector for the conveyance of bulk goods into or out of the cargo container to be loaded or unloaded, a suction unit with propelling air outlet, a motor-compressor unit with propelling air inlet for propelling air supply into the cargo container to be loaded or unloaded, a vacuum and filter system and an operating and control unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2007
    Publication date: April 1, 2010
    Inventors: Thomas Heinzen, Christian Hanses