Patents by Inventor William Wierenga

William Wierenga 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).

  • Servo-driven cutting mechanism for driving a multi-directional cutting edge
    Patent number: 10207417
    Abstract: A cutting assembly for cutting an extruded edible material includes an extrusion assembly having a food extrusion port that extrudes an edible material in an extrusion direction. A cutter frame having a cutting edge is positioned proximate the food extrusion port. The cutting edge moves through a cutting region proximate the extrusion port in a cutting motion. First and second servo motors are operably coupled to the cutter frame, wherein the first servo motor operates the cutting edge to define a first component of the cutting motion perpendicular to the extrusion direction. The second servo motor operates the cutting edge to define a second component of the cutting motion generally parallel with the extrusion direction. The first and second servo motors combine the first and second components to define a cutting path and a return path of the cutting edge through the cutting region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: Baker Perkins Inc.
    Inventors: James E. Jett, II, William Wierenga
  • SERVO-DRIVEN CUTTING MECHANISM FOR DRIVING A MULTI-DIRECTIONAL CUTTING EDGE
    Publication number: 20170203455
    Abstract: A cutting assembly for cutting an extruded edible material includes an extrusion assembly having a food extrusion port that extrudes an edible material in an extrusion direction. A cutter frame having a cutting edge is positioned proximate the food extrusion port. The cutting edge moves through a cutting region proximate the extrusion port in a cutting motion. First and second servo motors are operably coupled to the cutter frame, wherein the first servo motor operates the cutting edge to define a first component of the cutting motion perpendicular to the extrusion direction. The second servo motor operates the cutting edge to define a second component of the cutting motion generally parallel with the extrusion direction. The first and second servo motors combine the first and second components to define a cutting path and a return path of the cutting edge through the cutting region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2016
    Publication date: July 20, 2017
    Inventors: James E. Jett, II, William Wierenga