Jerome P Lehman

US Patent:

7325486, Feb 5, 2008

Filed:

Dec 4, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/309915

Inventors:

David C. Nordby - Madison WI, US
Dennis F. Conohan - Cross Plains WI, US
Noel R. Johnson - Stoughton WI, US
Andi J. Mikelsons - Middleton WI, US
Steve O. Schultz - Pardeeville WI, US
Jerome P. Lehman - Madison WI, US
Seth T. Pulsfus - Poynette WI, US

Assignee:

Alkar-RapidPak, Inc. - Lodi WI

International Classification:

A23L 1/00

US Classification:

99477, 99443 C

Abstract:

A food processing system includes a food processing chamber for processing a food product, such as meat products such as hot dogs, sausages, poultry, fish, and other food items. A high speed serial to parallel loading station delivery system is provided. The food product is loaded onto a conveyor in the processing chamber having a plurality of two-piece food product cradles having openings receiving the food product at the loading station and discharging the food product at the unloading station and having gaps between food product carriers distally oppositely spaced from the openings and defining food product cavities therebetween, the width of the openings varying during traversal of the conveyor through the chamber from the loading to the unloading stations.

US Patent:

8015917, Sep 13, 2011

Filed:

Oct 16, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/580296

Inventors:

Dennis F. Conohan - Cross Plains WI, US
Noel R. Johnson - Stoughton WI, US
Andi J. Mikelsons - Middleton WI, US
Steve O. Schultz - Pardeeville WI, US
Jerome P. Lehman - Madison WI, US
Seth T. Pulsfus - Poynette WI, US

Assignee:

Alkar-RapidPak-MP Equipment, Inc. - Lodi WI

International Classification:

A21B 1/48
A23L 3/18
A47J 37/04
A47J 37/07
B65G 47/26

US Classification:

99443C, 99443 R, 198418

Abstract:

A food processing system includes a food processing chamber for processing a food product, such as meat products such as hot dogs, sausages, poultry, fish, and other food items. A high speed serial to parallel loading station delivery system is provided. The food product is loaded onto a conveyor in the processing chamber having a plurality of two-piece food product cradles having openings receiving the food product at the loading station and discharging the food product at the unloading station and having gaps between food product carriers distally oppositely spaced from the openings and defining food product cavities therebetween, the width of the openings varying during traversal of the conveyor through the chamber from the loading to the unloading stations.

US Patent:

8020487, Sep 20, 2011

Filed:

Jan 9, 2008

Appl. No.:

11/971299

Inventors:

David C. Nordby - Madison WI, US
Dennis F. Conohan - Cross Plains WI, US
Noel R. Johnson - Stoughton WI, US
Andi J. Mikelsons - Middleton WI, US
Steve O. Schultz - Pardeeville WI, US
Jerome P. Lehman - Madison WI, US
Seth T. Pulsfus - Poynette WI, US

Assignee:

Alkar-RapidPak-MP Equipment, Inc. - Lodi WI

International Classification:

A21B 1/48
A23L 3/18
A47J 37/04
A47J 37/07
B65G 47/26

US Classification:

99443C, 99443 R, 198418

Abstract:

A food processing system includes a food processing chamber for processing a food product, such as meat products such as hot dogs, sausages, poultry, fish, and other food items. A high speed serial to parallel loading station delivery system is provided. The food product is loaded onto a conveyor in the processing chamber having a plurality of two-piece food product cradles having openings receiving the food product at the loading station and discharging the food product at the unloading station and having gaps between food product carriers distally oppositely spaced from the openings and defining food product cavities therebetween, the width of the openings varying during traversal of the conveyor through the chamber from the loading to the unloading stations.

US Patent:

7000816, Feb 21, 2006

Filed:

Sep 26, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/672642

Inventors:

Andi J. Mikelsons - Middleton WI, US
Luke A. Titel - Johnson Creek WI, US
Jerome P. Lehman - Madison WI, US
Dennis F. Conohan - Cross Plains WI, US

Assignee:

Alkar-Rapidpak, Inc. - Lodi WI

International Classification:

B65H 51/02
B65H 51/30

US Classification:

226 2, 226 29, 226 33, 226104, 226111, 226172, 226176, 452 51

Abstract:

A loading system is provided for loading an elongated strand of food product of given diameter on a moving transport conveyor. First and second loading conveyors are separated by a gap of dimension less than or equal to the diameter of the food product strand and convey the strand to a transfer ramp by an indexed drive.