Patents by Inventor Walter Gresch

Walter Gresch 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: 5510125
    Abstract: To remove selectively particularly sugar from nonalcoholic or alcoholic beverages, first the sugar is either carried away in the permeate in a membrane separation unit (2) by suitable choice of membrane (4) or is retained in the retentate. Afterward, the sugar is removed from the permeate or from the retentate with the help of a device (5) for substance removal or substance conversion. Next the substances remaining in the permeate or in the retentate after the removal of the sugar are fed back into the process or the final product. With the process according to the invention, a high selectivity and an improvement in quality of the final product with high economic efficiency of the unit is achieved (FIG. 1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 23, 1996
    Assignee: Bucher-Guyer AG Maschinenfabrik
    Inventor: Walter Gresch
  • Patent number: 5496577
    Abstract: A process for the production of a low-sugar, alcohol-free beverage comprises a desugarization process, which is upstream to a preliminary separation. Through the preliminary separation, the raw juice is divided into two streams (A,B), of which the first stream, relative to the raw juice, has a lower acid/sugar ratio and a higher sugar content and the second stream has an elevated acid/sugar ratio and a lower sugar content. The first stream is directly fed to the desugarization process, while the second stream is fed to the low-sugar juice after the desugarization process. The second stream contains a high portion of acid and other, low-molecular components and thus when mixed with the first stream, increases the total content and the quality of the end product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 5, 1996
    Assignee: Bucher-Guyer AG, Maschinenfabrik
    Inventor: Walter Gresch, deceased
  • Patent number: 5202142
    Abstract: For the production of cloudy juices with stable cloudiness from plant products, the raw juice, is clarified in ultrafiltration unit (2) and is mixed as cold sterilized clear juice with the filter residue of a crossflow filtration. Here the filter residue serving as clouding agent is very finely crushed in crushing unit (1) before being fed into mixing device (4). Along with the filter residue stabilizing agents are also fed into mixing device (4), to prevent the agglomeration of the very finely crushed particles. Through the totality of the measures according to the invention a high degree of cloudiness stability of the cloudy juice is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 13, 1993
    Assignee: Bucher- Guyer AG
    Inventor: Walter Gresch
  • Patent number: 5110472
    Abstract: For extraction of juice from fruits and vegetables a process is used in which first the raw material is crushed in a crushing device (1) and separated in a screening device (2) from the solid components, then liquefied by physical cell breakdown, and the raw juice is clarified in a filtration device (9). In this connection, device (8, 27, 32) for the physical cell breakdown can be integrated into filtration device (9) or into filtration module (13) of a membrane filtration device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1992
    Assignee: Bucher-Guyer AG Maschinenfabrik
    Inventor: Walter Gresch
  • Patent number: 5096719
    Abstract: To extract the juice from fruits and vegetables, a process is used in which first the raw material is crushed in a mill (1) and then fed to a pulping machine (2) and a membrane filtration device (4). Before membrane filtration device (4), a liquefaction stage (3) is provided in which the raw material is liquefied enzymatically or physically only to the extent that a considerable portion of the mash can be run through membrane filtration device (4). The main breakdown of the cells occurs in the retentate of membrane filtration device (4) by a downstream device (5) for chemical or physical cell breakdown.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1992
    Assignee: Bucher-Guyer AG Maschinenfabrik
    Inventor: Walter Gresch
  • Patent number: 5090306
    Abstract: For the extraction of juice pulp from fruits, berries and/or vegetables the raw material, which may consist of whole fruits, is first comminuted in a comminuting device (1) and subsequently squeezed out with the help of a press (2). Press (2) is constructed in such a way, that together with the juice separated from the raw material, a high proportion of valuable cell material is pressed off. Through this process a viscous juice pulp results, which subsequently is further processed for refining purposes, for example for the manufacture of clear juice, in a crossflow filtration device (7) which follows press (2). Through the process according to the invention the quality of the refined products as well as the economy of the unit and the yield are significantly improved, especially in connection with a recycling press (4) assigned to press (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1992
    Assignee: Bucher- Guyer AG Maschinenfabrik
    Inventor: Walter Gresch
  • Patent number: 5014612
    Abstract: For continuous production of dealcoholized beverages, a substrate consisting of fruit or berry juice, grape juice or beer wort is first preclarified in a microfiltration device (2) and sterilized and then fermented by immobilized microorganisms in the fluid bed process in a tower fermenter (3). Support particles (12), which are kept in suspension in tower fermenter (3) and to which the microorganisms are bonded, guarantee an effective biomass retention. After fermentation in tower fermenter (3), the raw juice is freed of alcohol in a dealcoholization device (24) and then clarified in an ultrafiltration or microfiltration device (27). The process taking place in a continuous product line makes possible an especially economical and productive operation of the unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 14, 1991
    Assignee: Bucher-Guyer AG Maschinenfabrik
    Inventor: Walter Gresch
  • Patent number: 4988525
    Abstract: For selective removal of volatile substances from liquids, the initial liquid is fed to a crosscurrent diaphragm separation device (2), in which the permeate consisting of water and volatile substances is separated by increased transdiaphragm pressure and concentration difference. Then, the permeate is fed into a further liquid-volatile separation device (8), in which the alcohol is distilled out. The permeate now only consisting of water, salts, acids and extracts is then fed back into the crosscurrent diaphragm separation device (2), where it flows through the permeate side in countercurrent to the flow of the retenate. Excess permeate can be introduced into the dealcoholized initial liquid. By the process according to the invention the economic efficiency of the unit and the quality of the end product are significantly improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 29, 1991
    Assignee: Bucher-Guyer AG Maschinenfabrik
    Inventor: Walter Gresch
  • Patent number: 4975297
    Abstract: For aftertreatment of clarified juices, the juice is brought into contact with an agent, e.g., PVPP, and is filtered in a crossflow filtration device (11) and the aftertreated juice is separated as permeate from the agent. The agent can be regenerated by the addition of water and lye either inside or outside the unit. After regeneration, the lye is again flushed out by diafiltration on the permeate side of crossflow filtration device (11). With the aid of crossflow filtration, the economic efficiency and the universal applicability with respect to the use of agents of the unit can be considerably increased and the treatment quality of the juice can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 4, 1990
    Assignee: Bucher-Guyer AG Maschinenfabrik
    Inventor: Walter Gresch
  • Patent number: 4794013
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for extracting a liquid from a filtered residual substance, such as retentate resulting from an ultrafiltration during fining or clarification of raw juice from agricultural products. The residues are mixed with the expressed pomace in a separate processing and the mixture is subjected to a further juice extraction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 27, 1988
    Assignee: Bucher-Guyer AG
    Inventor: Walter Gresch
  • Patent number: 4775486
    Abstract: A process and apparatus is disclosed for degassing liquids, particularly raw juices from fruits and berries. The liquid which is to be clarified or liquid residues remaining after clarification are subjected to degassing while circulating in a processing installation. A vacuum producing device is provided through which the liquids are circulated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1987
    Date of Patent: October 4, 1988
    Assignee: Bucher-Guyer AG.
    Inventor: Walter Gresch
  • Patent number: 4737283
    Abstract: A process and apparatus is disclosed for degassing liquids, particularly raw juices from fruits and berries. The liquid which is to be clarified or liquid residues remaining after clarification are subjected to degassing while circulating in a processing installation. A vacuum producing device is provided through which the liquids are circulated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1986
    Date of Patent: April 12, 1988
    Assignee: Bucher-Guyer, AG
    Inventor: Walter Gresch