John C Julian

US Patent:

D577176, Sep 23, 2008

Filed:

Apr 11, 2006

Appl. No.:

29/246433

Inventors:

Harlow Young - Kennewick WA, US
John Julian - Richland WA, US

Assignee:

ConAgra Foods, Inc. - Omaha NE

International Classification:

0101

US Classification:

D 1128

US Patent:

7430947, Oct 7, 2008

Filed:

Jun 16, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/870701

Inventors:

John C. Julian - Richland WA, US
Gary R. Brockman - Kennewick WA, US
Trent R. Wetherbee - Kennewick WA, US

Assignee:

ConAgra Foods Lamb Weston, Inc. - Kennewick WA

International Classification:

B26D 5/20

US Classification:

83207, 83221, 83391, 83932

Abstract:

This invention includes a system for cutting food products, such as potatoes, into proportional length pieces. In a one embodiment, the system includes a cutting assembly, sensors upstream of the cutting assembly and a programmable logic controller. The cutting assembly preferably includes a housing defining a passageway, at least two separately actuatable stops extendable into the passageway to provide an abutment to hold the food product in place, and at least two separately actuatable blades for slicing the food product into pieces. The controller cooperates with the sensors to determine the length of each food product and, based on a length determinative algorithm, selectively actuate one of the stops and at least one of the blades to determine how many times the food product will be sliced and location of the cut(s) relative to the leading end of the food product.

US Patent:

D581627, Dec 2, 2008

Filed:

Apr 11, 2006

Appl. No.:

29/246432

Inventors:

Harlow Young - Kennewick WA, US
John Julian - Richland WA, US

Assignee:

ConAgra Foods Lamb Weston, Inc. - Kennewick WA

International Classification:

0101

US Classification:

D 1123

US Patent:

7513450, Apr 7, 2009

Filed:

Mar 17, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/378924

Inventors:

Harlow Young - Kennewick WA, US
John Julian - Richland WA, US

Assignee:

Centlgra Foods, Inc. - Omaha NE

International Classification:

B02C 18/16

US Classification:

2412921, 2412821

Abstract:

The present invention is directed to a cutting apparatus, which includes an s-shaped blade, for cutting a foodstuff to form a concave, tapered wedge product. The cutting apparatus includes a cylindrical housing member, a ring member, which receives and holds the s-shaped blade, and a base member affixed to the cylindrical housing member. The cylindrical housing receives at least one ring member, typically several. The several ring members, each receiving and holding an s-shaped blade, are stacked together. One or more ring members in the stack can be rotated in order to adjust the angles between the blades. By adjusting the angles between the blades, the size and dimensions of the cut foodstuff can be modified. Typically, the apparatus will be used as part of a high speed processing line.

US Patent:

7748303, Jul 6, 2010

Filed:

Oct 3, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/245609

Inventors:

John C. Julian - Richland WA, US
Gary R. Brockman - Kennewick WA, US
Trent R. Wetherbee - Kennewick WA, US

Assignee:

ConAgra Foods Lamb Weston, Inc. - Kennewick WA

International Classification:

B26D 5/20

US Classification:

83207, 83221, 83391, 83932

Abstract:

This invention includes a system for cutting food products, such as potatoes, into proportional length pieces. In a one embodiment, the system includes a cutting assembly, sensors upstream of the cutting assembly and a programmable logic controller. The cutting assembly preferably includes a housing defining a passageway, at least two separately actuatable stops extendable into the passageway to provide an abutment to hold the food product in place, and at least two separately actuatable blades for slicing the food product into pieces. The controller cooperates with the sensors to determine the length of each food product and, based on a length determinative algorithm, selectively actuate one of the stops and at least one of the blades to determine how many times the food product will be sliced and location of the cut(s) relative to the leading end of the food product.

US Patent:

7789000, Sep 7, 2010

Filed:

Sep 18, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/233521

Inventors:

John C. Julian - Richland WA, US
Gary R. Brockman - Kennewick WA, US
Trent R. Wetherbee - Kennewick WA, US

Assignee:

ConAgra Foods Lamb Weston, Inc. - Kennewick WA

International Classification:

B26D 5/20

US Classification:

83 13, 83207, 83391, 83932

Abstract:

This invention includes a system for cutting food products, such as potatoes, into proportional length pieces. In a one embodiment, the system includes a cutting assembly, sensors upstream of the cutting assembly and a programmable logic controller. The cutting assembly preferably includes a housing defining a passageway, at least two separately actuatable stops extendable into the passageway to provide an abutment to hold the food product in place, and at least two separately actuatable blades for slicing the food product into pieces. The controller cooperates with the sensors to determine the length of each food product and, based on a length determinative algorithm, selectively actuate one of the stops and at least one of the blades to determine how many times the food product will be sliced and location of the cut(s) relative to the leading end of the food product.

US Patent:

7849771, Dec 14, 2010

Filed:

Sep 18, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/233526

Inventors:

John C. Julian - Richland WA, US
Gary R. Brockman - Kennewick WA, US
Trent R. Wetherbee - Kennewick WA, US

Assignee:

ConAgra Foods Lamb Weston, Inc. - Kennewick WA

International Classification:

B26D 5/20

US Classification:

83207, 83221, 83391, 83932

Abstract:

This invention includes a system for cutting food products, such as potatoes, into proportional length pieces. In a one embodiment, the system includes a cutting assembly, sensors upstream of the cutting assembly and a programmable logic controller. The cutting assembly preferably includes a housing defining a passageway, at least two separately actuatable stops extendable into the passageway to provide an abutment to hold the food product in place, and at least two separately actuatable blades for slicing the food product into pieces. The controller cooperates with the sensors to determine the length of each food product and, based on a length determinative algorithm, selectively actuate one of the stops and at least one of the blades to determine how many times the food product will be sliced and location of the cut(s) relative to the leading end of the food product.

US Patent:

8156851, Apr 17, 2012

Filed:

Aug 3, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/849684

Inventors:

John C. Julian - Richland WA, US
Gary R. Brockman - Kennewick WA, US
Trent R. Wetherbee - Kennewick WA, US

Assignee:

ConAgra Foods Lamb Weston, Inc. - Kennewick WA

International Classification:

B26D 5/20

US Classification:

83 13, 83207, 83221, 83391, 83932

Abstract:

This invention includes a system for cutting food products, such as potatoes, into proportional length pieces. In a one embodiment, the system includes a cutting assembly, sensors upstream of the cutting assembly and a programmable logic controller. The cutting assembly preferably includes a housing defining a passageway, at least two separately actuatable stops extendable into the passageway to provide an abutment to hold the food product in place, and at least two separately actuatable blades for slicing the food product into pieces. The controller cooperates with the sensors to determine the length of each food product and, based on a length determinative algorithm, selectively actuate one of the stops and at least one of the blades to determine how many times the food product will be sliced and location of the cut(s) relative to the leading end of the food product.