Patents by Inventor William R. Gleffe

William R. Gleffe 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: 10092020
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides apparatuses and methods for non-contact printing on comestible products. The apparatus includes an extruder for extruding a slab of an edible substrate and a non-contact printing device for printing an edible ink on the slab. The apparatus provides versatility as the printing device may be placed anywhere along the apparatus. The printing device may be positioned along the apparatus as desired to operate in cooperation with other components of the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: WM. WRIGLEY JR. COMPANY
    Inventors: Ronald L. Ream, Enrique Valdez, Dennis W. Rybolt, William R. Gleffe
  • Publication number: 20160088859
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems, apparatuses, methods and products directed to non-contact printing of confectionery products. The confectionery products may include an edible substrate having a surface and an edible ink printed on the edible surface. The edible ink may cover at least about 5% of the surface. An apparatus of the present disclosure may include a removal device for removing at least a portion of a rolling compound from a confectionery material and a printing device for non-contact printing an edible ink-indicia on the confectionery material. An apparatus of the present disclosure may also include a detection device detecting the presence of confectionery material at a predetermined position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2015
    Publication date: March 31, 2016
    Inventors: Ronald L. Ream, Enrique Valdez, William R. Gleffe
  • Patent number: 9226513
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems, apparatuses, methods and products directed to non-contact printing of confectionery products. The confectionery products may include an edible substrate having a surface and an edible ink printed on the edible surface. The edible ink may cover at least about 5% of the surface. An apparatus of the present disclosure may include a removal device for removing at least a portion of a rolling compound from a confectionery material and a printing device for non-contact printing an edible ink-indicia on the confectionery material. An apparatus of the present disclosure may also include a detection device detecting the presence of confectionery material at a predetermined position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company
    Inventors: Ronald L. Ream, Enrique Valdez, William R. Gleffe
  • Publication number: 20150374011
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides apparatuses and methods for non-contact printing on comestible products. The apparatus includes an extruder for extruding a slab of an edible substrate and a non-contact printing device for printing an edible ink on the slab. The apparatus provides versatility as the printing device may be placed anywhere along the apparatus. The printing device may be positioned along the apparatus as desired to operate in cooperation with other components of the apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2015
    Publication date: December 31, 2015
    Inventors: Ronald L. Ream, Enrique Valdez, Dennis W. Rybolt, William R. Gleffe
  • Patent number: 9044037
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides apparatuses and methods for non-contact printing on comestible products. The apparatus includes an extruder for extruding a slab of an edible substrate and a non-contact printing device for printing an edible ink on the slab. The apparatus provides versatility as the printing device may be placed anywhere along the apparatus. The printing device may be positioned along the apparatus as desired to operate in cooperation with other components of the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company
    Inventors: Ronald L. Ream, Enrique Valdez, Dennis W. Rybolt, William R. Gleffe
  • Publication number: 20070231435
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides non-contact printed comestible products and methods for making these products. The comestible products include an edible substrate and an edible ink-indicia on the substrate. An organoleptic component which corresponds to a feature of the edible ink-indicia and/or a feature of the edible substrate is present on the edible substrate. The edible ink-indicia and the organoleptic component increase the consumer appeal for the product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2007
    Publication date: October 4, 2007
    Applicant: WM WRIGLEY JR. COMPANY
    Inventors: Ronald L. Ream, Enrique Valdez, Dennis W. Rybolt, William R. Gleffe
  • Publication number: 20070231434
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides apparatuses and methods for non-contact printing on comestible products. The apparatus includes an extruder for extruding a slab of an edible substrate and a non-contact printing device for printing an edible ink on the slab. The apparatus provides versatility as the printing device may be placed anywhere along the apparatus. The printing device may be positioned along the apparatus as desired to operate in cooperation with other components of the apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2007
    Publication date: October 4, 2007
    Applicant: Wm Wrigley Jr. Company
    Inventors: Ronald L. Ream, Enrique Valdez, Dennis W. Rybolt, William R. Gleffe
  • Publication number: 20070231432
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides edible products having edible advertising indicia printed directly on the product. The product may be wrapped in a transparent wrapper exposing the edible advertising indicia to a consumer. The present disclosure further provides methods for advertising which include distributing to consumers edible products having edible advertising indicia printed directly on the edible product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2007
    Publication date: October 4, 2007
    Applicant: WM WRIGLEY JR. COMPANY
    Inventors: Ronald L. Ream, Enrique Valdez, Dennis W. Rybolt, William R. Gleffe