Patents by Inventor Thomas M. Jarl

Thomas M. Jarl 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: 11540552
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods and systems for continuously coating food pieces. The methods include a steps of directing and uncoated food stream through an enrober to apply a first coating to at least a portion of a surface of each food piece to form a coated stream and continuously redirecting a portion of the coated stream back through the enrober along with the stream of uncoated food pieces to apply at least one additional coating to the portion of the coated stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: General Mills, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel R Green, Jekaterina Severova-Epp, Thomas M Jarl
  • Publication number: 20200138087
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods and systems for continuously coating food pieces. The methods include a steps of directing and uncoated food stream through an enrober to apply a first coating to at least a portion of a surface of each food piece to form a coated stream and continuously redirecting a portion of the coated stream back through the enrober along with the stream of uncoated food pieces to apply at least one additional coating to the portion of the coated stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2020
    Publication date: May 7, 2020
    Applicant: General Mills, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel R Green, Jekaterina Severova-Epp, Thomas M Jarl
  • Patent number: 10575548
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods and systems for continuously coating food pieces. The methods include a steps of directing and uncoated food stream through an enrober to apply a first coating to at least a portion of a surface of each food piece to form a coated stream and continuously redirecting a portion of the coated stream back through the enrober along with the stream of uncoated food pieces to apply at least one additional coating to the portion of the coated stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: General Mills, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel R. Green, Jekaterina Severova-Epp, Thomas M. Jarl
  • Publication number: 20150335060
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods and systems for continuously coating food pieces. The methods include a steps of directing and uncoated food stream through an enrober to apply a first coating to at least a portion of a surface of each food piece to form a coated stream and continuously redirecting a portion of the coated stream back through the enrober along with the stream of uncoated food pieces to apply at least one additional coating to the portion of the coated stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2014
    Publication date: November 26, 2015
    Applicant: General Mills, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel R. Green, Jekaterina Severova-Epp, Thomas M. Jarl
  • Patent number: 7431986
    Abstract: A stabilized emulsion is employed to produce shelf stable, controlled release, discrete, solid particles or pellets which contain an encapsulated and/or embedded component, such as a readily oxidizable component, such as omega-3 fatty acids. An oil encapsulant component which contains an active, sensitive encapsulant, dissolved and/or dispersed in an oil is admixed with an aqueous component and a film-forming component to form an emulsion. An antioxidant for prevention of oxidation of the active, sensitive encapsulant, and a film-softening component or plasticizer for the film-forming component may be included in the emulsion. The emulsion is stabilized by subjecting it to homogenization. The pellets are produced by first reducing the water content of the stabilized emulsion so that the film-forming component forms a film around the oil droplets and encapsulates the encapsulant. In embodiments of the invention, the water content of the homogenized emulsion may be reduced by spray-drying to produce a powder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: General Mills, Inc.
    Inventors: Bernhard H. Van Lengerich, Lily Leung, Steven C. Robie, Young Kang, Jamileh Lakkis, Thomas M. Jarl
  • Publication number: 20040017017
    Abstract: A stabilized emulsion is employed to produce shelf stable, controlled release, discrete, solid particles or pellets which contain an encapsulated and/or embedded component, such as a readily oxidizable component, such as omega-3 fatty acids. An oil encapsulant component which contains an active, sensitive encapsulant, dissolved and/or dispersed in an oil is admixed with an aqueous component and a film-forming component to form an emulsion. An antioxidant for prevention of oxidation of the active, sensitive encapsulant, and a film-softening component or plasticizer for the film-forming component may be included in the emulsion. The emulsion is stabilized by subjecting it to homogenization. The pellets are produced by first reducing the water content of the stabilized emulsion so that the film-forming component forms a film around the oil droplets and encapsulates the encapsulant. In embodiments of the invention, the water content of the homogenized emulsion may be reduced by spray-drying to produce a powder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2002
    Publication date: January 29, 2004
    Inventors: Bernhard H. Van Lengerich, Lily Leung, Steven C. Robie, Young Kang, Jamileh Lakkis, Thomas M. Jarl
  • Patent number: D859782
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: General Mills, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick E Allen, Darryl J Ballman, Benjamin Lee Heitke, Thomas M Jarl, Aimee Mortenson, Steven C Robie