Patents by Inventor Tom A. Bolte

Tom A. Bolte 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).

  • Meat fabrication system and method
    Patent number: 8747193
    Abstract: The present invention includes meat fabrication systems and methods. The system according to one embodiment includes a conveyor (104) for advancing meat cuts, a cutting assembly (106) defining a cutting path (136) that intersects the conveyor (104), and at least one guide (160, 162, 163) that orientates the meat cuts on the conveyor relative to the cutting path such that the chine bones of the meat cut are separated from the remaining portions of the meat cuts as the meat cuts are advanced through the cutting path (136) by the conveyor (104).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Cargill, Incorporated
    Inventors: Tom Bolte, David R. McKenna, Dan Moore
  • MEAT FABRICATION SYSTEM AND METHOD
    Publication number: 20130344787
    Abstract: The present invention includes meat fabrication systems and methods. The system according to one embodiment includes a conveyor (104) for advancing meat cuts, a cutting assembly (106) defining a cutting path (136) that intersects the conveyor (104), and at least one guide (160, 162, 163) that orientates the meat cuts on the conveyor relative to the cutting path such that the chine bones of the meat cut are separated from the remaining portions of the meat cuts as the meat cuts are advanced through the cutting path (136) by the conveyor (104).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2013
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Applicant: CARGILL, INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Tom A. Bolte, David R. McKenna, Dan Moore
  • Meat fabrication system and method
    Patent number: 8485871
    Abstract: The present invention includes meat fabrication systems and methods. The system according to one embodiment includes a conveyor (104) for advancing meat cuts, a cutting assembly (106) defining a cutting path (136) that intersects the conveyor (104), and at least one guide (160, 162, 163) that orientates the meat cuts on the conveyor relative to the cutting path such that the chine bones of the meat cut are separated from the remaining portions of the meat cuts as the meat cuts are advanced through the cutting path (136) by the conveyor (104).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Cargill, Incorporated
    Inventors: Tom A. Bolte, David R. McKenna, Dan Moore
  • Automated meat breaking system and method
    Patent number: 8096860
    Abstract: An automated system and method for breaking a primal cut of meat into smaller components includes a conveyor for advancing the primal cut from a first end of the system to a second end of the system, at least one automated cutting assembly for performing a first cut and a second cut to separate the primal cut into three sub-components, and a guide for orienting the primal cut on the conveyor. In some embodiments, the guide is configured to align with a spinal groove in the primal cut. In some embodiments, the at least one automated cutting assembly includes a first automated cutting assembly for performing the first cut and a second automated cutting assembly for performing the second cut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Cargill, Incorporated
    Inventors: Tom A. Bolte, David R. McKenna
  • AUTOMATED MEAT BREAKING SYSTEM AND METHOD
    Publication number: 20100304652
    Abstract: An automated system and method for breaking a primal cut of meat into smaller components includes a conveyor for advancing the primal cut from a first end of the system to a second end of the system, at least one automated cutting assembly for performing a first cut and a second cut to separate the primal cut into three sub-components, and a guide for orienting the primal cut on the conveyor. In some embodiments, the guide is configured to align with a spinal groove in the primal cut. In some embodiments, the at least one automated cutting assembly includes a first automated cutting assembly for performing the first cut and a second automated cutting assembly for performing the second cut.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2010
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Applicant: CARGILL, INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Tom A. Bolte, David R. McKenna
  • MEAT FABRICATION SYSTEM AND METHOD
    Publication number: 20100130114
    Abstract: The present invention includes meat fabrication systems and methods. The system according to one embodiment includes a conveyor (104) for advancing meat cuts, a cutting assembly (106) defining a cutting path (136) that intersects the conveyor (104), and at least one guide (160, 162, 163) that orientates the meat cuts on the conveyor relative to the cutting path such that the chine bones of the meat cut are separated from the remaining portions of the meat cuts as the meat cuts are advanced through the cutting path (136) by the conveyor (104).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Publication date: May 27, 2010
    Applicant: CARGILL, INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Tom A. Bolte, David R. McKenna, Dan Moore