Marlen Research Corporation

Unified Brands, Inc.

Marlen International, Inc.

Other

Shick Solutions, Inc.

Richard G Powers

James E Anderson

Joseph S Zeets

Warren R Schack

Joseph G Currier

Michael P Licata

David Gast

Lewis F Alley

Paul Hardenburger

Adam E Anderson

Wendell E Dennis

William R Wright

John W Cantrell

Drake L Koch

Harrison A Ailey, Jr

Roger H Shealy

Thomas E Szemplenski

Greggory Scott Karr

Eugene J London

Michael G Guy

Dennis Aaron Irvin

Kevin F Cooper

A method of cleaning a washing machine and components and systems for enabling a user to clean the washing machine are provided. The method includes gaining access to debris that is trapped in otherwise inaccessible and/or concealed areas and/or directing debris out of inaccessible and/or concealed areas. The components include a jet channel that selectively couples to a discharge manifold in use and is removable to provide access to an interior area of the discharge manifold for cleaning. The systems include a removable mount assembly for accessories and a purging system for pumps and other concealed areas. The purging system is configured to discharge purging fluid through a plurality of purging ports and into concealed areas so as to direct debris in the concealed areas out of the concealed areas.

Washing machine, components thereof and methods of cleaning

Systems and methods for washing and thawing objects, such as vegetables and fruits, where large amounts of lifting of heavy items is minimized, complex and expensive pumping and manifold systems and structures are not required; and system cost and daily maintenance is reduced. The system includes a structure for holding a volume of fluid, a vertical motion structure driven by an electric motor or the like that raises and lowers a basket carrier between an elevated position and a lowered position. In the lowered position, one or more baskets are positioned on a basket carrier and are repeatedly lowered into and raised from the volume of fluid.

Immersion systems and methods for washing and performing other tasks

A tubular conveyance system includes a pressure sensor, a blower, a material feeder, and a flow control apparatus. The pressure sensor is configured to be associated with a conveyance tube. The blower is configured to accelerate a carrier fluid into the conveyance tube. The material feeder is disposed downstream of the blower and configured to add a conveyance material to the conveyance tube to be conveyed by the carrier fluid. The flow control apparatus is configured to control an amount of carrier fluid provided to the blower. The flow control apparatus includes a mobile plate having a mobile plate opening therein, and a drive mechanism configured to selectively place the mobile plate into an open position and a closed position.

Flow control apparatus for carrier fluid

A system () is provided for the production of elongated comestible products such as hot dogs, without the use of traditional casings. The system () includes a circular pattern of arrays () of elongated, open-ended, extruded synthetic resin cooking tubes () within a rotatable cylindrical heating drum or housing (). The tube housing () and arrays () are incrementally rotated and at each stop position certain of the tubes () are filled with portions of meat emulsion () and alternating plugs (), while previously filled tubes () containing cooked product are unloaded, and other unfilled tubes are internally coated with a lubricant (e.g., a mixture of lecithin and vegetable oil). Energy exchange media such as hot water and/ or steam are used within the housing to continuously cook the emulsion portions within the tubes () to the desired extent.

Method and apparatus for production of elongated meat products without casings

A system () is provided for the production of elongated comestible products such as hot dogs, without the use of traditional casings. The system () includes a circular pattern of arrays () of elongated, open-ended, extruded synthetic resin cooking tubes () within a rotatable cylindrical heating drum or housing (). The tube housing () and arrays () are incrementally rotated and at each stop position certain of the tubes () are filled with portions of meat emulsion () and alternating plugs (), while previously filled tubes () containing cooked product are unloaded, and other unfilled tubes are internally coated with a lubricant (e.g., a mixture of lecithin and vegetable oil). Energy exchange media such as hot water and/or steam are used within the housing to continuously cook the emulsion portions within the tubes () to the desired extent.

Twin piston pump

A dual-piston pump apparatus includes a pair of reciprocating sleeves within which a pair of reciprocating pistons are disposed. The pistons and sleeves are each supported on a frame for independent reciprocating movement along a line angled relative to horizontal by an angle of less than about 60.degree.. The apparatus also includes a piston construction including a removable face which permits the piston to be broken down for cleaning. Each piston is normally restricted by a stop from extension beyond the end of the corresponding sleeve, but an actuator is provided for freeing the piston relative to the sleeve so that the piston may be extended beyond the sleeve and the sleeve may be withdrawn from a pump chamber of the apparatus.

Dual-piston pump apparatus

A twin-piston food pump includes a hydraulic cylinder coupled with each piston for driving the pistons and a linear transducer coupled with each cylinder for determining the positions thereof. Control circuitry coupled with the transducers determines the velocity of the cylinders and thereby the pistons and controls the application of hydraulic fluid through the cylinders to maintain a constant food product flow rate.

Food pump

Sizing apparatus (10) for handling and casing of a flowable material such as meat is provided in order to produce individual, loose-filled casings (98) having product evenly distributed along the lengths thereof. The apparatus (10) preferably includes an elongated, tubular horn (16) having a discharge end (20) and adapted to receive a length of casing material (21) thereover. A tunnel device (14) having an inlet end (32) is situated closely adjacent the discharge end (20) and is oriented to receive the forward ends (96) of partially filled casings (98), in order to evenly distribute the meat as the casings (98) are formed. Separable voider jaws (24, 26) and a clipper (28) are employed for clipping the ends of the casings (98). The tunnel device (14) preferably includes rollers (40, 64) at the inlet end (32) thereof, with pickup conveyor assemblies (50, 70) downstream of the rollers (40, 64) which receive and continue the conveyance of the casings (98 ) through and out of device (14).

Sizer adapter apparatus and method for creating substantially evenly and

An improved casing brake mechanism (10) is provided for selectively engaging and braking the movement of a casing (14) applied over a casing horn (12) during filling of the casing (14). The mechanism (10) includes a pair of resilient, laterally spaced apart, obliquely oriented, annular casing-engaging rings (16, 18) which are selectively compressed and caused to engage a casing (14) by means of a thrust assembly (20) including a pair of separate, co-acting thrust elements (62, 68); the thrust elements (62, 68) are moved in a direction generally parallel with the longitudinal axis of horn (12) by means of a source of pressurized air (P). A remotely actuatable, three-position valve (80) is preferably employed, which allows alternate and selective connection to the pressurized air source (P), an atmospheric vent (A), and a source of vacuum (V). In this manner, the thrust elements (62, 68) can be selectively moved for compressing the rings (16, 18), or the operating pressure may be relieved via vent (A) or source (V). A shifting assembly (90 ) may be coupled with brake assembly (10) for translatory movement of the latter between a forward braking position and a rearward sealing position preventing passage of air entrapped between the casing (14) and horn (12) into the confines of the latter; an annular sealing element (92) is provided on the horn (12) which is cooperable with the braking assembly (10) when the latter is moved to its sealing position.

Casing brake mechanism for stuffing apparatus

A preferred sizer (10) for stuffing flowable materials such as sausage into a flexible casing (24) includes a horn assembly (12) having inner and outer concentric tube (28, 34) presenting an evacuation chamber (46) therebetween connected to a vacuum source (50a) for deaerating material within the inner tube (34). The tubes (28, 34) are shiftable relative to one another between an open position in which the chamber (46) communicates with the interior of the inner tube (34) through an open space (48) adjacent the discharge ends (30, 36) of the tubes (28, 34) for evacuating air from material within the inner tube (34), and a closed position in which the open space (48) is sealed to prevent communication between the chamber (46) and the inner tube (34) interior thereby preventing entry of material into the chamber (46).

Sizer apparatus having shiftable horn

Apparatus (20) for successively supplying substantially equal portions of a flowable comminuted product such as sausage from a source thereof to a delivery zone is disclosed wherein dual product portioning chambers (80, 88, 82, 90) are provided which function such that as meat to be portioned is directed into a first chamber which increases in volume to a predetermined extent, portioned meat is delivered from the other chamber as it decreases in volume to the same predetermined extent. Means (114) is provided externally of the chambers for substantially equalizing the increase and decrease of the effective product-receiving volume of each of the chambers.

Growing community of inventors

Overland Park, KS, United States of America

Richard G Powers