Other

Heat and Control, Inc.

Karen Sue Svejkovsky

Svejkovsky, Paul

Svejkovsky, Paul A.

Svejkovsky, Karen Sue

Karen Sue Svejkovsky, Trustee of the Paul A. Svejkovsky Family Trust

Karen Sue Svejkovsky, Trustee of the P.a. & K.s. Svejkovsky Living Trust, Dated July 9, 1997

Svejkovsky, Paul Blake

Kenneth C Petri

Thomas G Knodell, Jr

P Blake Svejkovsky

Paul A Svejkovsky

Jonny Fitzgerald

David L Burke

Thomas G Knodell

Richard T Rees

Paul Blake Svejkovsky

Blake Svejkovsky

Paul A Svejkovksy

Anselm Pajuodis

Paul S Svejkovsky

Paul B Svejkovksy

Steven Bullard

Gilbert C Winfree, Jr

Richard Rees

Steven R Bullard

Anselm R Pajuodis

A method and system for correcting mass flow rate measurements relating to a conveyor used to move a stream of first component material portions to and through a mixing station in which a second component material is dispensed in a predetermined mass percentage of the mass of the first component material portions. The correction of the measurements is adapted to correct for inaccuracies that arise in the measurements due to, for example, differences in the first component material portions properties, differences in the second component material properties, environmental conditions, drift of electronic instruments, and changing conditions that occur during extended use of an upstream conveyor that delivers first component material portions to the mixing station.

Adaptive flow measurement system

A method of controlling an upstream and a downstream process wherein the upstream process conditions a stream of product delivered to the downstream process is provided. The control method uses an empirically determined formula to determine a metric for adjusting the activity of the upstream process to thereby adjust the rate with which the upstream process conditions and feeds a stream of conditioned product to the downstream process. The empirically determined formula determines the metric using two input variables: a duty cycle setting of the upstream process and an output rate of the downstream process expressed as a decimal amount of the output rate set-point.

Method of controlling a rate at which an upstream process feeds a conditioned product to a downstream process

A distribution conveyor having a proximal and a distal ends, a first and a second sides and one or more adjustable side-discharging flow control valves between the proximal and distal ends, and a recirculation conveyor having a proximal end, proximal to the distal end of the distribution conveyor, and a distal end proximal a redeposit section of the distribution conveyor, wherein the valves can discharge a portion of a source stream of product from the distribution conveyor to a receiving structure underneath each valve, wherein the distal end of the recirculation conveyor is positioned to recirculate a tail stream from the distal end of the distribution conveyor to a redeposit section of the recirculating conveyor, and wherein the distal end of the recirculation conveyor is positioned to return the tail stream to the distribution conveyor laterally offset to a centerline of the distribution conveyor for preferential discharge in the valve(s).

Conveyor method and system for conveying and managing a food inventory

An apparatus to apply seasoning to a foodstuff comprising a plurality of individual food portions comprises a rotatable drum supportable in a generally horizontal position and having an inlet at a first end, an outlet at a second end and a bore extending through the drum from the inlet to the outlet, with a substantial portion of the bore having a generally frustoconical interior with a larger diameter end of the frustoconical interior disposed proximal to the inlet and a smaller diameter end of the frustoconical interior portion disposed proximal to the outlet. In one embodiment, the frustoconical interior portion extends substantially from the inlet to the outlet and converges in that direction. In another embodiment, the generally frustoconical portion extends from a generally cylindrical interior portion, that is intermediate the inlet and the frustoconical interior portion, to the outlet and converges in that direction.

Tumble drum for flavoring food portions

A differential impulse conveyor () is provided for moving goods, including a tray () having a tray floor () supporting goods, with the tray movable in a forward direction and a backward direction. A drive motor () is provided for moving the tray floor in the forward direction and the backward direction. The tray floor includes plurality of dimples () each projecting upward from an adjacent product supporting surface () of the tray floor. Each dimple () includes an upwardly projecting pusher portion () for pushing goods forward during the forward movement of the tray, and a tapered ramp portion () extending upward from the product supporting surface and engaging the pusher portion for moving goods in front of the pusher portion.

Differential impulse conveyor with improved tray

A conveyor () includes an elongate tray () for supporting goods thereon, and a powered drive () to move goods along the tray. In one embodiment, a gate () is supported on this tray for closing an opening in the tray or for opening to allow goods to drop through the tray opening. The gate has a first magnet () supported thereon. A gate drive () moves the gate between the open and closed positions, and has a second magnet () which cooperates with the first magnet such that the magnets separate if the gate encounters an obstruction when closing.

Conveyor with safety gate

An improved seasoning systemuniformly coats a food product with the desired amount of seasoning, with the seasoning rate preferably being controlled as a function of the product volume signals from the sensorsand. The seasoning system preferably utilizes linear motion conveyors and either a rotating drumor a deflectorand a second seasoning unitbetween linear conveyors. Oil may be sprayed onto food products and tumbled in a drumwhich both rotates and moves in a reciprocating manner with the conveyor tray. An improved seasoning trayhas a planar floorwith an angled discharge edgefor uniformly distributing seasoning on the product. The seasoning system minimizes damage to the food product and uniformly coats the product with a desired amount of seasoning.

Seasoning system and method

An improved tumble drum is provided for mixing one food product with another food product, and includes a rotating tumble drum for rotating the products about a drum axis of rotation, with the drum having a product input in one end and a product output in an axial opposing end. A tumble drive motor rotates the tumble drum. Another drive mechanism reciprocates the tumble drum linearly in a direction aligned with the axis of rotation. The product is discharged from the axial opposing end of the tumble drum. A product tray is providing for inputting food product to the tumble drum, and the rotating tumble drum may be fixed to the product tray such that the drive mechanism linearly rotates both the tumble drum and the product tray in a slow forward/backward manner.

Tumble drum for mixing food product

An improved seasoning system uniformly coats a food product with the desired amount of seasoning, with the seasoning rate preferably being controlled as a function of the product volume signals from the sensors and . The seasoning system preferably utilizes linear motion conveyors and either a rotating drum or a deflector and a second seasoning unit between linear conveyors . Oil may be sprayed onto food products and tumbled in a drum which both rotates and moves in a reciprocating manner with the conveyor tray . An improved seasoning tray has a planar floor with an angled discharge edge for uniformly distributing seasoning on the product. The seasoning system minimizes damage to the food product and uniformly coats the product with a desired amount of seasoning.

A discharge gate mechanism or structure for proportioning a volume of goods between two flow streams. The gate discharge structure includes a one-piece tube having a gate discharge opening therein. A feed trough is connected to tube for reciprocal simultaneous movement with tube for moving the goods along trough and tube . A motor is effective to rotate tube and opening therein relative to feed trough to position discharge opening at a desired location for controlling the discharge of goods between two flow streams.

Proportional gate mechanism for a conveyor and method

A conveyor,includes a cyclically powered drive mechanism,for moving products along an elongate tray,in a forward direction. The tray,includes a substantially planar floor,for supporting product thereon and tray side,on opposing transverse sides of the tray floor. A flow leveler,is positioned along the tray floor and normalizes the flow of product moving along the tray. In its preferred embodiment, the flow leveler includes a plurality of elongate ramp members,laterally spaced between the tray sides, and optionally arranged in staggered rows. The flow leveler may include a planar leveler floor,for positioning within a cutout in the tray floor and a plurality of securing members,for movably securing the leveler floor to the tray. The inclined ramp surface of the leveler is preferably angled up to 25&deg; to 45&deg;. The flow leveler is particularly well suited for leveling the flow rate of irregularly shaped snack goods conveyed along the linear motion conveyor.

Growing community of inventors

Richardson, TX, United States of America

Kenneth C Petri