The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 14, 2018
Filed:
Aug. 30, 2017
Applicant:
General Mills, Inc., Minneapolis, MN (US);
Inventors:
Ralph A Stenvik, Plymouth, MN (US);
Bryan M Dade, Minneapolis, MN (US);
Molly Moen, Rosemount, MN (US);
Assignee:
General Mills, Inc., Minneapolis, MN (US);
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
B65G 45/14 (2006.01); B65G 15/28 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
B65G 45/14 (2013.01); B65G 15/28 (2013.01);
Abstract
A food production apparatus includes a conveyor belt and a wire scraper. The conveyor belt supports and transports a food product. The wire scraper includes a wire and a motor. The wire is located above and extends across the conveyor belt to temporarily separate the food product from the conveyor belt. Operation of the motor causes the wire to continuously cycle back and forth between 1) movement in a first direction above and across the conveyor belt and 2) movement in a second opposite direction above and across the conveyor belt.