Patents by Inventor William Rinks

William Rinks 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: 7409967
    Abstract: A pattern former for assembling wrapped bakery products into predetermined patterns comprises a perforated vacuum turntable. Vacuum is applied to the vacuum turntable while bakery products are loaded thereon and positioned in a predetermined pattern. Once the bakery products are positioned on the turntable in the predetermined pattern, an air assist is applied to the vacuum turntable while the bakery products are unloaded therefrom. The air assist eliminates contact between the wrappers of the wrapped bakery product and the upper surface of the turntable thereby eliminating disorientation of the bakery products within the wrappers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Assignee: Stewart Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: William A. Rinks, John M. Lucido
  • Patent number: 7305806
    Abstract: A pattern former for assembling wrapped bakery products into predetermined patterns comprises a perforated vacuum turntable. Vacuum is applied to the vacuum turntable while bakery products are loaded thereon and positioned in a predetermined pattern. Once the bakery products are positioned on the turntable in the predetermined pattern, an air assist is applied to the vacuum turntable while the bakery products are unloaded therefrom. The air assist eliminates contact between the wrappers of the wrapped bakery product and the upper surface of the turntable thereby eliminating disorientation of the bakery products within the wrappers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Stewart Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: William A. Rinks, John M. Lucido
  • Publication number: 20070169440
    Abstract: A pattern former for assembling wrapped bakery products into predetermined patterns comprises a perforated vacuum turntable. Vacuum is applied to the vacuum turntable while bakery products are loaded thereon and positioned in a predetermined pattern. Once the bakery products are positioned on the turntable in the predetermined pattern, an air assist is applied to the vacuum turntable while the bakery products are unloaded therefrom. The air assist eliminates contact between the wrappers of the wrapped bakery product and the upper surface of the turntable thereby eliminating disorientation of the bakery products within the wrappers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2007
    Publication date: July 26, 2007
    Inventors: William Rinks, John Lucido
  • Patent number: 7191578
    Abstract: A pattern former for assembling wrapped bakery products into predetermined patterns includes a vacuum turntable. A first transfer apparatus moves groups of wrapped bakery products onto the vacuum turntable and a second transfer apparatus moves assembled patterns of wrapped bakery products from the vacuum turntable into bakery trays. A bakery tray loading system receives unfilled bakery trays and sequentially delivers unfilled bakery trays to a bakery tray loading station adjacent to the vacuum turntable. A conveyor assembly within the bakery tray loading station supports the bakery tray while being filled and thereafter conveys the loaded bakery tray onto an out-feed conveyor for further processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignee: Stewart Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: John M. Lucido, William A. Rinks
  • Patent number: 7076934
    Abstract: A pattern former for assembling wrapped bakery products into predetermined patterns includes a vacuum turntable comprising a perforated plate which is driven by a belt extending around the periphery of the vacuum turntable and actuated by a motor. A first transfer apparatus includes a pusher plate which moves groups of wrapped bakery products onto the vacuum turntable and which retracts to facilitate the formation of a subsequent group of wrapped bakery products as a previous group is being transferred to the vacuum turntable. A second transfer apparatus includes a pusher plate which moves assembled patterns of wrapped bakery products from the vacuum turntable into bakery trays and which is retractable to facilitate the assembly of a subsequent pattern of wrapped bakery products as a previous pattern is being transferred to a bakery tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: Stewart Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: John M. Lucido, William A. Rinks
  • Publication number: 20060070355
    Abstract: A pattern former for assembling wrapped bakery products into predetermined patterns comprises a perforated vacuum turntable. Vacuum is applied to the vacuum turntable while bakery products are loaded thereon and positioned in a predetermined pattern. Once the bakery products are positioned on the turntable in the predetermined pattern, an air assist is applied to the vacuum turntable while the bakery products are unloaded therefrom. The air assist eliminates contact between the wrappers of the wrapped bakery product and the upper surface of the turntable thereby eliminating disorientation of the bakery products within the wrappers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2005
    Publication date: April 6, 2006
    Inventors: William Rinks, John Lucido
  • Publication number: 20060042194
    Abstract: A pattern former for assembling wrapped bakery products into predetermined patterns includes a vacuum turntable. A first transfer apparatus moves groups of wrapped bakery products onto the vacuum turntable and a second transfer apparatus moves assembled patterns of wrapped bakery products from the vacuum turntable into bakery trays. A bakery tray loading system receives unfilled bakery trays and sequentially delivers unfilled bakery trays to a bakery tray loading station adjacent to the vacuum turntable. A conveyor assembly within the bakery tray loading station supports the bakery tray while being filled and thereafter conveys the loaded bakery tray onto an out-feed conveyor for further processing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2005
    Publication date: March 2, 2006
    Inventors: John Lucido, William Rinks
  • Publication number: 20050247032
    Abstract: A pattern former for assembling wrapped bakery products into predetermined patterns includes a vacuum turntable comprising a perforated plate which is driven by a belt extending around the periphery of the vacuum turntable and actuated by a motor. A first transfer apparatus includes a pusher plate which moves groups of wrapped bakery products onto the vacuum turntable and which retracts to facilitate the formation of a subsequent group of wrapped bakery products as a previous group is being transferred to the vacuum turntable. A second transfer apparatus includes a pusher plate which moves assembled patterns of wrapped bakery products from the vacuum turntable into bakery trays and which is retractable to the facilitate the assembly of a subsequent pattern of wrapped bakery products as a previous pattern is being transferred to a bakery tray.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2005
    Publication date: November 10, 2005
    Inventors: John Lucido, William Rinks
  • Publication number: 20050138901
    Abstract: A pattern former for assembling wrapped bakery products into predetermined patterns includes a vacuum turntable comprising a perforated plate which is driven by a belt extending around the periphery of the vacuum turntable and actuated by a motor. A first transfer apparatus includes a pusher plate which moves groups of wrapped bakery products onto the vacuum turntable and which retracts to facilitate the formation of a subsequent group of wrapped bakery products as a previous group is being transferred to the vacuum turntable. A second transfer apparatus includes a pusher plate which moves assembled patterns of wrapped bakery products from the vacuum turntable into bakery trays and which is retractable to the facilitate the assembly of a subsequent pattern of wrapped bakery products as a previous pattern is being transferred to a bakery tray.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2005
    Publication date: June 30, 2005
    Inventors: John Lucido, William Rinks
  • Patent number: 6862869
    Abstract: A pattern former for assembling wrapped bakery products into predetermined patterns includes a vacuum turntable comprising a perforated plate which is driven by a belt extending around the periphery of the vacuum turntable and actuated by a motor. A first transfer apparatus includes a pusher plate which moves groups of wrapped bakery products onto the vacuum turntable and which retracts to facilitate the formation of a subsequent group of wrapped bakery products as a previous group is being transferred to the vacuum turntable. A second transfer apparatus includes a pusher plate which moves assembled patterns of wrapped bakery products from the vacuum turntable into bakery trays and which is retractable to the facilitate the assembly of a subsequent pattern of wrapped bakery products as a previous pattern is being transferred to a bakery tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Assignee: Stewart Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: John M. Lucido, William A. Rinks
  • Publication number: 20040168410
    Abstract: A pattern former for assembling wrapped bakery products into predetermined patterns includes a vacuum turntable comprising a perforated plate which is driven by a belt extending around the periphery of the vacuum turntable and actuated by a motor. A first transfer apparatus includes a pusher plate which moves groups of wrapped bakery products onto the vacuum turntable and which retracts to facilitate the formation of a subsequent group of wrapped bakery products as a previous group is being transferred to the vacuum turntable. A second transfer apparatus includes a pusher plate which moves assembled patterns of wrapped bakery products from the vacuum turntable into bakery trays and which is retractable to the facilitate the assembly of a subsequent pattern of wrapped bakery products as a previous pattern is being transferred to a bakery tray.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2004
    Publication date: September 2, 2004
    Inventors: John M. Lucido, William A. Rinks