Thomas C Wolcott

US Patent:

6763748, Jul 20, 2004

Filed:

Jul 26, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/206881

Inventors:

Thomas C. Wolcott - Mokena IL
Glenn Sandberg - Mokena IL

Assignee:

Formax, Inc. - Mokena IL

International Classification:

B26D 706

US Classification:

83 29, 83 768, 83 88, 83155, 83358, 83360, 83932

Abstract:

A slicing and conveying system forms a three or more flavor-combined draft. A first slicing machine slices a succession of first and third slices in first and third shingled drafts. A second slicing machine slices a succession of second slices in second shingled drafts. A pass-through conveyor transfers the first draft to an output conveyor of the second slicing machine, wherein the second draft is added to the first draft to form a first combined draft. An overlap conveyor receives the first combined draft and merges the first combined draft with the third draft on the overlap conveyor to form an elongated combined draft. Optical sensors determine lengths of the first draft, the second draft, the third draft, and/or the elongated combined draft. A control receives input from the sensors and outputs a control signal to one or more output conveyors of the slicing machine and/or the overlap conveyor to adjust the spacing of the slices within the first, second and third drafts and/or to control the length of the elongated combined draft.

US Patent:

6997089, Feb 14, 2006

Filed:

Jun 25, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/179549

Inventors:

Scott A. Lindee - Mokena IL, US
Thomas C. Wolcott - La Grange IL, US

Assignee:

Formax, Inc. - Mokena IL

International Classification:

B26D 7/06
G01N 21/00

US Classification:

83 29, 83 73, 83 768, 83107, 83520, 83932

Abstract:

A method of classifying slices or a portion cut from a food product according to an optical image of the slice. After a slice is removed from a food product loaf the slice is passed into an image field of a digital image receiving device. A control generates a pixel-by-pixel image data of the slice using input from the digital image receiving device. The control calculates a surface area of the slice from the data, and a fat content of the slice on a pixel-by-pixel basis. The fat content data is compared to at least one predetermined limit and the slice is classified accordingly.

US Patent:

8469697, Jun 25, 2013

Filed:

Jul 20, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/187426

Inventors:

Scott A. Lindee - Mokena IL, US
David Hansen - Orland Park IL, US
Salvatore Lamartino - Orland Park IL, US
Bruce Bauer - Mokena IL, US
Thomas C. Wolcott - Mokena IL, US
Steve Ill - Mokena IL, US
E. William Wight - Roscoe IL, US

Assignee:

Formax, Inc. - Mokena IL

International Classification:

B29C 45/42

US Classification:

425556, 235375, 425572, 425588

Abstract:

A rotary molding system for molding food products, mold cavities formed when a mold shell rotates mold shapes disposed along the mold shell into a fill position between a fill plate and a wear plate. Molded food products are removed from mold cavities using knock-out cups, the use of air pressure, or the use of a vacuum source disposed below the mold cavity, without the need to slow the rotation of the mold shell. Knock-out cups may be used with a heating system to reduce accumulation of unwanted materials on the knock-out cups. The rotary molding system can also be used to form products with contoured surfaces. A smart tagging system can be used to ensure that compatible sets of mold shells and knock out cups are being used. A vacuum region may be disposed upstream of the fill position to remove air within the mold cavity prior to filling.

US Patent:

20110265624, Nov 3, 2011

Filed:

May 2, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/099325

Inventors:

James E. Pasek - Tinley Park IL, US
Thomas C. Wolcott - La Grange IL, US

International Classification:

B26D 7/06

US Classification:

83409

Abstract:

A high speed food article slicing machine with a slicing station, a moveable frame supporting a food article feed mechanism frame, a food article gate, and a safety guard system for detecting an intrusion into the machine. Food articles are loaded onto a lift tray and raised to a staging position where food articles are in contact with a food article gate. The lift tray is located inline with the food article feed paths such that lateral shifting of food articles into the feed paths is not needed. Food article grippers, individually driven along feed paths by an overhead conveyor, move food articles over the food article gate towards the slicing station. The food article gate functions to assist in removal of food article end portions. The slicing machines utilizes a horizontally radiating laser intrusion detector to shut down systems when an unwanted intrusion is sensed.

US Patent:

20120205164, Aug 16, 2012

Filed:

Oct 26, 2010

Appl. No.:

13/504024

Inventors:

Paul McLaughlin - South Chicago Heights IL, US
Brad DeBlecourt - Lockport IL, US
Thomas C. Wolcott - La Grange IL, US
Scott A. Lindee - Mokena IL, US

International Classification:

G01G 9/00
G01G 13/16

US Classification:

177 1, 177 59

Abstract:

A method for weighing sliced products to generate product batches of a pre-determined weight. A slicer slices products which are disposed onto a slice scale located beneath the output end of the slicer. An intermediate weight is measured at a pre-determined point in the slicing process. The intermediate weight information is used to calculate the minimum number of completion slices, based on thicknesses of the slices, needed to meet the target weight. The competed draft is transferred to a check sale where a final draft weight is measured and compared to a sum of the intermediate weight and the weight of the completion slices. Comparison of the weight is used to adjust slicing parameters for more precise targeting of the desired weight of the next draft. Completion slices may be adjusted in thickness to minimize the giveaway weight.

US Patent:

20120212603, Aug 23, 2012

Filed:

Oct 26, 2010

Appl. No.:

13/504008

Inventors:

Scott A. Lindee - Mokena IL, US
Thomas C. Wolcott - La Grange IL, US
Salvatore Lamartino - Orlando Park IL, US
Gage Fox - New Lenox IL, US

International Classification:

H04N 7/18
G01G 13/00

US Classification:

348 89, 177 52, 348E07085

Abstract:

An apparatus for acquiring a profile of a food product for use in subsequent processing of the food product includes a scanning area and one or more product drives for driving a product through the scanning area in a longitudinal direction. First line lasers project one first transverse laser line transversely to the longitudinal direction on the first surface and two first cameras arranged to capture different, overlapping first transverse image portions of the first transverse laser line. A reference laser projects a beam on the first surface that indicates a transverse reference position, and the two first cameras also capture the reference position. A control system uses the transverse reference position to combine the different first transverse image portions captured by the two first cameras to calculate a first profile of the first surface at multiple positions along a length of the first surface as the product is driven through the scanning area.

US Patent:

20130259991, Oct 3, 2013

Filed:

May 23, 2013

Appl. No.:

13/900970

Inventors:

David Hansen - Orland Park IL, US
Salvatore Lamartino - Orland Park IL, US
Bruce Bauer - Mokena IL, US
Thomas C. Wolcott - Mokena IL, US
Steve Ill - Mokena IL, US
E. William Wight - Roscoe IL, US

International Classification:

A22C 7/00

US Classification:

426389, 425241

Abstract:

A rotary molding system for molding food products, mold cavities formed when a mold shell rotates mold shapes disposed along the mold shell into a fill position between a fill plate and a wear plate. Molded food products are removed from mold cavities using knock-out cups, the use of air pressure, or the use of a vacuum source disposed below the mold cavity, without the need to slow the rotation of the mold shell. Knock-out cups may be used with a heating system to reduce accumulation of unwanted materials on the knock-out cups. The rotary molding system can also be used to form products with contoured surfaces. A smart tagging system can be used to ensure that compatible sets of mold shells and knock out cups are being used. A vacuum region may be disposed upstream of the fill position to remove air within the mold cavity prior to filling.

US Patent:

57248745, Mar 10, 1998

Filed:

Jul 25, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/690327

Inventors:

Scott A. Lindee - New Lenox IL
Wilbur A. Janssen - New Lenox IL
Thomas C. Wolcott - Oak Lawn IL

Assignee:

Formax, Inc. - Mokena IL

International Classification:

B26D 730

US Classification:

83 27

Abstract:

A high speed food loaf slicing machine slices two food loaves simultaneously, using one cyclically driven knife blade; the slices are stacked or shingled in groups on a receiving conveyor located below the slicing station. Independent loaf feed drives are provided; slices cut from one loaf may be thicker than slices from the other. Each loaf feed drive includes two "short" conveyors each driven at a predetermined speed; the conveyor speeds may be different. In each machine cycle the receiving conveyor is moved down to accommodate an increasing number of slices; when a slicing cycle is completed, the receiving conveyor rapidly discharges the slice groups onto a deceleration conveyor and moves back up to start a new slicing operation. The loaf feed drives are reversed at the end of a slicing cycle, stopped, and then reversed again before the next slicing cycle. In each machine cycle previously cut groups of slices are weighed as they traverse a scale conveyor; the weights thus determined control two transfer conveyors, one for each loaf sliced.