Of Food Patents (Class 241/24.26)
  • Patent number: 11549928
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for crumbling root crops into substantially equal sized pieces, comprising: a main frame having an inlet side and an outlet side; a root crop supply at the inlet side; at least one crumbling shaft rotatable supported in the main frame, the crumbling shaft being provided with a plurality of curved hooks, which are curved into a direction of rotation of the crumbling shaft; and a non-rotating cutting rake having a plurality of protrusions and recesses and forming a counter blade for the hooks, wherein the hooks are arranged for interlaced movement with said recesses of the non-rotating rake. The invention moreover concerns a system and a corresponding method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: KWS SAAT SE & CO. KGAA
    Inventors: Elke Hilscher, Frank Friedhoff
  • Patent number: 10877014
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for crumbling root crops into substantially equal sized pieces, comprising: a main frame having an inlet side and an outlet side; a root crop supply at the inlet side; at least one crumbling shaft rotatable supported in the main frame, the crumbling shaft being provided with a plurality of curved hooks, which are curved into a direction of rotation of the crumbling shaft; and a non-rotating cutting rake having a plurality of protrusions and recesses and forming a counter blade for the hooks, wherein the hooks are arranged for interlaced movement with said recesses of the non-rotating rake. The invention moreover concerns a system and a corresponding method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: KWS SAAT SE & Co. KGaA
    Inventors: Elke Hilscher, Frank Friedhoff
  • Patent number: 10602882
    Abstract: An equipment for shredding various meats, cooked and/or pre-cooked, deboned, whether of ox, chicken or other animals, equipped with a meat striping system to shred it without crushing it, with simple and resistant structure, motorized and coupled directly to the motor shaft for productivity gain, and also, with components of modern and functional design, which provide efficiency and safety for the operator during handling. The present meat defroster is constituted by a rectangular-shaped bench (1), provided with four legs, with motor and shaft mounted horizontally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Inventor: Matteo Giovanni Tarter
  • Patent number: 9011955
    Abstract: A system for preparing a coffee beverage, provided with a coffee making apparatus comprising a grinder for grinding coffee beans to obtain ground coffee, a coffee beverage preparation device arranged for, with supply of water to the ground coffee, preparing the coffee beverage, and a coffee outlet for dispensing the coffee beverage, a separate coffee bean package with an inner space which at least before use is filled with the coffee beans, wherein the coffee bean package before use is closed off in itself such that the exposure of the coffee beans to ambient air is prevented, a coffee bean inlet for supply of coffee beans from the coffee bean package to the grinder, and a connecting device for connecting the coffee bean package to the coffee making apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Koninklijke Douwe Egberts B.V.
    Inventors: Gerbrand Kristiaan de Graaff, Gustaaf Frans Brouwer, Philippe Jacques van Camp, Ivo van Os
  • Patent number: 9005691
    Abstract: A method of producing a semifinished confectionary product, such as chocolate or similar, using at least one centrifugal unit for simultaneously grinding and mixing at least some of the ingredients of the semifinished product, and which includes an elongated processing chamber with a substantially horizontal axis, at least one inlet for the ingredients to be processed and one outlet for the processed ingredients, and a powered shaft fitted inside the processing chamber, coaxially with the axis, and fitted with a succession of radial appendixes arranged between the inlet and the outlet; the method including the steps of loading at least a first ingredient of the semifinished product through the inlet; grinding the first ingredient inside the grinding and mixing unit by rotating the shaft at a first speed; loading at least a second ingredient through the inlet, after grinding; rotating the shaft at a second speed to grind and mix the ingredients to form a mixture of the same grain size as the semifinished produ
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Soremartec S.A.
    Inventor: Fabio Federici
  • Patent number: 8794553
    Abstract: An continuous meat grinding reclaiming system that provides a primary meat grinder unit and a secondary meat grinding unit for continuously and simultaneously processing a meat batch in a single processing run. The primary meat grinder unit is designed to grind a batch of meat by initially separating or extrapolating pure meat from the meat that contains bone; collecting the pure meat into a container; and transferring the meat that contains the bone to the secondary meat grinder unit. The secondary meat grinder unit is designed to further grind the batch of meat by separating additional pure meat from the meat that contains the bone; collecting this additional pure meat into the container with the original pure meat; and discard any remaining “undesireables”. The meat grinding reclaiming system also provides an inventive variable valve reducer for controlling the flow of the undesireables through the secondary transfer pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Inventor: Jerry York
  • Patent number: 8778434
    Abstract: A method and system for preparing a granulated product, whereby one or more ingredients are first ground in a centrifugal grinding unit, and then granulated in a centrifugal granulating unit before being fed to a centrifugal mixing and flavoring unit; each of the centrifugal units having a tubular outer shell having an axis and defining a processing chamber; and a powered shaft housed in the shell, coaxially with the axis, and fitted with a row of appendixes projecting radially from, and connected integrally and interchangeably to, the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Soremartec S.A.
    Inventor: Fabio Federici
  • Publication number: 20140048633
    Abstract: A shredding assembly includes a shredder having a plurality of interspersed, rotational, shredding blades. A shredder block supports the shredder and shredding blades, and further includes a first set of a plurality of vertical counter plates which are intercalated between the blades. Each counter plate has a top surface, and the top surfaces of the counter plates forms a platform. The platform serves to support pieces of a food product during shredding, and helps in the shredding process by providing a pinching action to the pieces of the product when the blades engage the pieces of the product on the platform.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2013
    Publication date: February 20, 2014
    Inventors: Russell Thomas, James Walthers
  • Publication number: 20130056567
    Abstract: A coffee grinder includes a machine base, in which a crushing unit, a separating unit, and a grinding unit are provided. The machine base has an inlet and an outlet, and the crushing unit is under the inlet to crush coffee beans into parchments and beans. The separating unit has a rotary member and a collection container that the rotary member provides an air flow to send the parchments to the collection container. The grinding unit is between the crushing unit and the outlet to grind the beans from the separating unit and send the ground beans to the outlet. The present invention crush the coffee beans to separate the parchments and the beans, and the parchments are removed by the separating unit. Next, the beans will be ground.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2011
    Publication date: March 7, 2013
    Inventors: Yuan-Hung Lee, Bing-Yang Lee
  • Publication number: 20120015093
    Abstract: A method provides a milled whole seed product from a whole seed having at least 0.01% by total weight of oil therein. The whole seed is added to an aqueous carrier which is physically milled at a shear rate of at least 3,000 r.p.m. The shearing is continued until at least 50% by weight of seed solids will pass through a square mesh screen having 1.2 mm screen hole dimensions. The solids in aqueous carrier is collected as a suspension or dispersion in the aqueous carrier. The collected seed solids in aqueous carrier are dried to form a free-flowing powder. The free-flowing powder is rehydrated with a second aqueous medium to form a non-mucilaginous suspension or dispersion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2010
    Publication date: January 19, 2012
    Inventors: John M. Finney, Christopher J. Rueb, William A. Hendrickson, Daniel R. Roesler, Robert G. Bowman, David A. Canfield
  • Patent number: 8091473
    Abstract: A juice extractor capable of extracting juice from vegetables, fruits or soymilk from beans is disclosed. The extractor includes a housing having a draff outlet port and a juice outlet port, a screw having an upper rotary shaft inserted in a rotary shaft hole of the housing and a lower rotary shaft with a plurality of screw spirals formed on an outer periphery thereof, and a mesh drum for extracting the juice toward the juice outlet port, and a rotary brush mounted between the housing and the mesh drum and having a brush holder. Various nutrients and intrinsic flavor contained in the vegetables or fruits are maintained to the fullest extent by employing a very low speed screw of a squeezing mode. Also, since the housing accommodating the screw is vertically fixed to an upper portion of a drive unit, the material is automatically moved downward without pressing the material down, and the draff is discharged while squeezing and grinding the materials put in an inlet port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Inventor: Young-Ki Kim
  • Publication number: 20110083566
    Abstract: The subject application is directed to a food processing device to extract juice. The device includes an inlet coupled to a disintegrator. The inlet is configured to accept food items and the disintegrator configured to disintegrate food items passed through the inlet. The device further includes a separator that accepts the disintegrated food items and separates out the liquid components from the food item. The device further includes a reservoir that is coupled to the separator for accepting and holding the liquid components. The reservoir includes a translucent member for viewing of liquid levels within the reservoir, and a valved outlet. The valved outlet is configured to allow or prevent the flow of liquid from the reservoir through the valved outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2009
    Publication date: April 14, 2011
    Inventor: Alan BACKUS
  • Publication number: 20110062257
    Abstract: Meat trim portions are sorted by employing quantitative lean point analysis and one or more sorting steps. Embodiments of the present invention are adapted to make lean point determinations, to compare the determinations to one or more sorting parameters, and to direct meat trim portions to one of a plurality of containers based on the comparison. Meat trim portions from each container are subsequently processed into ground meat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2009
    Publication date: March 17, 2011
    Applicant: CARGILL, INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Stacey Gould, Rudy Steiner
  • Patent number: 7887862
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for separating joined components, purifying liquid, promoting interaction between two or more components and improving combustion. The apparatus has a housing, a rotor inside of the housing, a plurality of protrusions extending from the rotor, a shaft coupled with the rotor and a prime mover for rotating the shaft. Fluid within the housing cavitates as the rotor rotates and the protrusions move through the fluid. Cavitation causes joined components within the fluid to separate, kills undesirable organisms within the fluid, promotes interaction of components within the fluid and improves combustion of a liquid fuel. The fluid and components may also be subjected to abrasion and centrifugal and impact forces for separating the components, purifying the fluid, promoting interaction of the components and improving combustion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Industrias Centli S.A. de C.V.
    Inventors: Fernando Roberto Paz Briz, Fernando Roberto Paz Alcazar
  • Publication number: 20100183796
    Abstract: It is intended to provide a food which is rich in active ingredients contained in a bean (e.g., adzuki bean) peel and has the original favorable taste of the bean and a low calorie, and a method for producing a food material thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2010
    Publication date: July 22, 2010
    Inventor: Kiyosumi Hattori
  • Publication number: 20090214733
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for separating lean meat and/or fat from lean meat-containing material, including combining a particulate material with fluid carbon dioxide. The material and fluid is introduced into a vessel and is separated into low density and high density fractions. The material from the low density fraction is removed via an outlet and has a higher percentage of fat than the material introduced into the vessel. The material from the high density fraction is removed via an outlet and has a higher percentage of lean meat than the material introduced into the vessel. The vessel can include a centrifuge bowl or an inclined vessel. Separation is achieved via gravity or the application of an artificial force field, such as centrifugal force, to separate particulates high in density from those low in density.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2006
    Publication date: August 27, 2009
    Applicant: SafeFresh Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Anthony J.M. Garwood
  • Publication number: 20090004357
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods of using the apparatus for manufacturing irregularly shaped and sized products, and in particular cheese irregularly shaped and sized crumbles from cheeses, such as semi-soft cheeses including types of cheddar, mozzarella, Monterey jack, Colby, pepper jack, provolone, Swiss, Mexican cheeses and any other combinations of two or more varieties. The apparatus preferably includes five knife assemblies that combine to reduce bulk cheese products into irregularly shaped and sized cheese crumbles in a high-speed commercial manufacturing process. In addition, the apparatus includes one or more augers having flights configured for working or reshaping peripheral edges of the cheese during the manufacturing process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2008
    Publication date: January 1, 2009
    Inventors: Michael S. McCormick, Donald Atkinson, Russell Butalla, Carl Yessa
  • Patent number: 7223431
    Abstract: A method of shredding a block of material, which can be a block of cheese, includes moving blades about an axis and feeding a block of material in a feed plane toward the moving blades in a feeding direction, where the feeding direction is substantially perpendicular to the axis about which the blades move. A drive unit is provided that moves the blades about the axis, wherein the blades define a cutting perimerer, and a feed unit is provided that moves the block of material toward the cutting perimeter on a feed plane and in the feeding direction. In one embodiment, the blades are on a rotating drum and the feeding direction is generally perpendicular to and rotated about 90° from the axis about which the blades move. The plurality of blades cut shreds of material from a front face of the block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Assignee: Schreiber Foods, Inc.
    Inventor: Shawn Owens
  • Patent number: 6513739
    Abstract: A flour sifter includes a sifter unit detachably supported on a stand that houses an electric motor and speed reducer. The speed reducer output shaft has a disconnectable connection with an agitator shaft that extends transversely within the sifter tube, such that when the motor is energized the agitator is rotated to pulverize flour particles located on a sifter screen in the sifter tube. Flour particles gravitate through screen openings into a collection receptacle placed below the sifter tube. The sifter unit can be removed from the stand for cleaning or storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2003
    Inventors: Eula C. Fritz, Wanda C. Fritz
  • Patent number: 6446547
    Abstract: A food processor that is operable in a dough mixing mode and in at least one other mixing mode. When in the dough mixing mode, the mixing impeller is driven at a continuous speed in the range of about 1,400 to about 1,600 rpm and preferably form about 1,400 rpm to about 1,550 rpm. When in the other mixing mode, the impeller is driven at a speed in excess of 1,600 rpm. The impeller has a blade assembly with an upper blade and a lower blade that are offset vertically and sloped toward one another to thereby slice a relatively wide swath of the dough ball during mixing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Assignee: Conair Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Kubicko, Theodore B. Mulle, Asik Braginsky