John Bean Technologies Corporation Patent applications |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20150257429 | RETORT AGITATION SYSTEM - A retort agitation system ( | 09-17-2015 |
20150227140 | ROUTING OF AUTOMATED GUIDED VEHICLES - A system for controlling the travel path of an automated guided vehicle (AGV) from a first location to a second location includes assigning a virtual penalty for impediments in the potential travel path of the AGV, for each turn required to be made by the AGV in the potential travel path, and for transfers from one elevator to another. The determined virtual penalties are factored in determining the most expeditious travel path from the first location to the second location. The virtual penalty may be a virtual distance penalty or a virtual time penalty composed of one or more of the distance of alternative travel paths available to avoid the impediment(s), the time required to remove or move the impediment(s), or the time required to wait for the impediment(s) to be removed. | 08-13-2015 |
20150210476 | CONVEYOR WITH NON-STICK SLATS | 07-30-2015 |
20150205288 | SYSTEM FOR CUTTING AND UNLOADING PORTIONS | 07-23-2015 |
20150201666 | EXTRACTOR FOR PRODUCING ENHANCED QUALITY PULP AND ASSOCIATED METHODS - An extractor may include first and second cups being relatively moveable for compressing a fruit therebetween during extraction. A first cutter is associated with the first cup and includes a first cutter base having at least one base opening therein, and a first cutting blade extending outwardly from the first cutter base to define an interior passageway in communication with the at least one base opening. In other words, the extractor may include a windowed cutter. The extractor may also include a strainer tube coupled to the second cup and having longitudinally extending, slotted openings therein. The slotted openings may each have a width in a range of 0.03 to 0.05 inches, or more preferably, 0.035 to 0.045 inches. The strainer tube may be used without the windowed cutter. | 07-23-2015 |
20150101589 | COOKING EXHAUST FILTER SYSTEM - A cooking exhaust filter system | 04-16-2015 |
20150101492 | INDUSTRIAL FOOD FRYER - A cooking tank | 04-16-2015 |
20150053058 | ROTATABLE MANIFOLD CUTTER FOR USE IN PORTIONING - Portioning system | 02-26-2015 |
20150010679 | CONTINUOUS LOW TEMPERATURE PASTEURIZATION SYSTEM AND METHOD - A continuous low temperature food pasteurization system ( | 01-08-2015 |
20140342061 | FRUIT OR VEGETABLE PULP PROCESSING APPARATUS WITH DEFECT SEPARATOR AND ASSOCIATED METHODS - A fruit or vegetable pulp processor includes a defect separator configured to separate defects from a fruit or vegetable pulp stream. The defect separator may have associated therewith at least one adjustable control parameter relating to an amount of defect separation from the fruit or vegetable pulp stream. At least one image sensor may be configured to sense defects in the fruit or vegetable pulp stream, and a controller may be configured to adjust the at least one adjustable control parameter of the defect separator based upon sensed defects. Accordingly, the amount or level of defects in the fruit or vegetable pulp stream may be controlled to provide a desired balance between yield and quality. | 11-20-2014 |
20140220197 | Thermal Process Control - A thermal processing and control system ( | 08-07-2014 |
20140220193 | THERMAL MEASUREMENT AND PROCESS CONTROL - A thermal processing and control system ( | 08-07-2014 |
20140175727 | CARRIERS FOR PROCESSING POUCHES AND CONTAINERS - In accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure, a carrier for a container for processing the container in a rotary processing system generally includes a carrier body defining at least one compartment for receiving at least one container, wherein the carrier is capable of rolling, and a retention system for maintaining the at least one container in the at least one compartment and restricting movement of the at least one container within the at least one compartment. | 06-26-2014 |
20140030393 | BLOCKED ORIFICE TUBE SENSOR FOR CITRUS JUICE EXTRACTOR AND RELATED METHODS - A juice extractor includes a strainer tube mounted to receive juice and pulp of a fruit. An orifice tube reciprocates within the strainer tube and has an ejection port and is configured to generate pressure and separate juice and pulp, collect core, and discharge core out of the ejection port. A sensor is positioned adjacent the orifice tube and configured to sense material ejected from the ejection port. | 01-30-2014 |
20130323376 | FOOD COATING APPARATUSES, SYSTEMS, AND METHODS - A coating system ( | 12-05-2013 |
20130133637 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ADJUSTING OVEN COOKING ZONES - A cooking system having adjustable oven cooking zones generally includes a spiral stack disposed within a cooking oven chamber, the spiral stack including a plurality of tiers, and a circulation system for delivering gaseous cooking medium to the spiral stack in the cooking oven chamber. The system further includes a mezzanine assembly including an inner mezzanine and an outer mezzanine, wherein the position of the inner mezzanine is movable relative to the position of the outer mezzanine. Methods for adjusting cooking zones in an oven, and systems and methods for bidirectional flow systems for cooking ovens, are also provided. | 05-30-2013 |
20130085309 | CAROTENOID EXTRACTION FROM PLANT MATERIAL - A method of extracting carotenoids from plant material generally includes acquiring plant material including carotenoids, treating the carotenoids with a first enzyme to create a first enzyme treated mixture, wherein the first enzyme includes cellulase, and separating the first enzyme extracted carotenoids from the first enzyme treated mixture. Natural carotenoid concentrate obtained from plant material are also provided. | 04-04-2013 |
20130042889 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR IMPINGEMENT AIR TREATMENT - A system for impingement air treatment of a thin film conveyor generally includes a thin film conveyor having a width, a first surface, and a second surface, and a first impingement air device configured to blow impingement air on at least one of the first and second surfaces across at least a portion of the width of the thin film conveyor. Other systems and methods for impingement air treatment of conveyors are also provided. | 02-21-2013 |
20130034640 | CHAR MARKER RINGS AND ASSEMBLIES - Char marker rings generally include a ring body having first and second sides, an inner hole extending through the body from the first side to the second side, and an outer perimeter marking surface, and at least a first shield extending outwardly from either of the first and second sides, wherein the first shield surrounds at least a portion of the inner hole. Ring assemblies and methods of using char marker ring assemblies are also provided. | 02-07-2013 |
20130022497 | CARRIERS FOR PROCESSING POUCHES AND OTHER IRREGULAR CONTAINERS AND OBJECTS - In accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure, a carrier for a container for processing the container in a rotary processing system generally includes a carrier body defining at least one compartment for receiving at least one container, wherein the carrier is capable of rolling, and a retention system for maintaining the at least one container in the at least one compartment and restricting movement of the at least one container within the at least one compartment. | 01-24-2013 |
20130020177 | CONVEYOR BELT CLEANING ASSEMBLY - Belt cleaning assemblies for a continuous conveyor belt having a pervious belt assembly and top and bottom belt surfaces generally include contact and non-contact cleaning assembles. Continuous conveyor belt systems having belt cleaning assemblies and methods for cleaning continuous conveyor belts are also provided. | 01-24-2013 |
20130004639 | METHODS OF COOKING IN CONTINUOUS COOKING OVEN SYSTEMS - A method of cooking in a continuous cooking oven system generally includes transporting food products on a continuous, pervious conveyor through a helical path within a cooking chamber, directing a substantially vertical flow of a heated gaseous cooking medium into either a top end or a bottom end of the helical stack and through the plurality of superimposed tiers, and selectively reversing the substantially vertical flow of heated gaseous cooking medium on a user defined interval. | 01-03-2013 |
20120330492 | DEEP LANE NAVIGATION SYSTEM FOR AUTOMATIC GUIDED VEHICLES - A method for automatically guiding a vehicle along at least a first of a plurality of rows comprising predefined centerlines. At least a second of the rows comprises a number of objects of known dimensions positioned at known locations along the centerline thereof. The method comprises the steps of scanning the objects from the vehicle, generating a set of data points representative of the locations of the objects relative to the vehicle, determining a sensed position and heading of the vehicle from the data points, comparing the sensed position and heading of the vehicle to a position and direction of the first row centerline, and generating offset and heading errors for the vehicle based on differences between the sensed position and heading of the vehicle and the position and direction of the first row centerline. | 12-27-2012 |
20120282378 | CITRUS JUICE APPARATUS WITH UNDESIRED MATERIAL RELEASE DETECTOR AND RELATED METHODS - A citrus juice apparatus may include at least one citrus juice processing device. The at least one juice processing device may include at least one juice output having a flow of juice therethrough. The at least one juice processing device upon a malfunction may cause an undesired material release along with the flow of juice into the at least one juice output. An undesired material release detector may be coupled to the at least one juice output for detecting the undesired material release. The detector may operate based upon magnetic proximity sensing of a moving filter plate within a housing of the detector. Alternatively, the detector may operate using a filter plate, and based upon pressure. | 11-08-2012 |
20120276262 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR HANDLING STERILIZED FOOD PRODUCT - A method is for handling a sterilized food product including sterilizing an intermodal container comprising a rigid shell with opposed closed ends and a discharge port in one of the closed end, and aseptically filling the intermodal container with the sterilized food product. The method further includes transporting the filled intermodal container while maintaining the sterilized food product in aseptic conditions. In addition, the method may include, at an emptying site, moving the intermodal container to an incline angle of at least 8 degrees from horizontal, and emptying the sterilized food product from the discharge port. | 11-01-2012 |
20120269941 | PINEAPPLE COATING APPLICATION DEVICE WITH APPLICATOR AND CONVEYOR BRUSHES AND RELATED METHODS - A pineapple coating application device may include a frame, and a pineapple roller conveyor carried by the frame and having laterally extending conveyor brushes to advance pineapples along a longitudinal path of travel. Adjacent ones of the laterally extending conveyor brushes may rotatably capture the pineapples therebetween. The pineapple coating application device may include a pineapple coating dispenser, and a laterally extending applicator brush positioned above the pineapple roller conveyor to cooperate with the laterally extending conveyor brushes to apply a coating to the pineapples from the pineapple coating dispenser as the pineapples are rotated and advanced along the longitudinal path of travel. | 10-25-2012 |
20120114821 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR HANDLING STERILIZED FOOD PRODUCT - A method is for handling a sterilized food product and includes sterilizing an intermodal container including a rigid shell having an elongate shape with opposed closed ends and a discharge port in one of the closed ends. The intermodal container also includes at least one support frame assembly supporting the rigid shell and configured to permit rotation between a generally horizontal orientation and a generally upright orientation. The method may also include aseptically filling the intermodal container with the sterilized food product; and transporting the filled intermodal container in the generally horizontal orientation via at least one of rail, truck, and ship and while maintaining the sterilized food product in aseptic conditions. The method may also include rotating the intermodal container to the generally upright orientation, and emptying the sterilized food product from the discharge port. | 05-10-2012 |
20120111440 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ASEPTIC FILLING OF FOOD PRODUCT - A method is for handling a sterilized food product and includes securing an aseptic fitment to a filling port of an intermodal container including a rigid shell having an elongate shape with opposed closed ends, and at least one frame assembly supporting the rigid shell. The method also includes sterilizing the intermodal container, and aseptically filling the sterilized intermodal container with the sterilized food product through the aseptic fitment. The method may also include sealing the aseptic fitment after aseptic filling. A related intermodal container and filling station are also disclosed. | 05-10-2012 |
20120059500 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PORTIONING FOODSTUFF TO USER-SPECIFIED SHAPE - A system is provided for cutting a three-dimensional portion from a foodstuff. The system includes a conveyor for carrying a foodstuff to be portioned, a scanner located adjacent to the conveyor for scanning the foodstuff, a computer coupled to the scanner for receiving scan information from the scanner to determine one or more cutting paths for the foodstuff, and a cutter for portioning the foodstuff according to the one or more determined cutting paths. The computer is configured to perform generally four steps: (i) receiving scan information of the foodstuff from the scanner; (ii) building a three-dimensional map of the foodstuff based on the received scan information of the foodstuff; (iii) fitting at least one desired shape, which is stored in memory of the computer, onto the three-dimensional map in the memory of the computer; and (iv) determining one or more cutting paths to be used in portioning the foodstuff so as to produce one or more portioned foodstuffs corresponding to the at least one desired shape. | 03-08-2012 |
20120045906 | Aircraft GPU connection method and apparatus - A GPU connection apparatus for an aircraft towing vehicle comprising a vehicle-mounted ground power unit (GPU). The GPU includes a GPU cable having a first end which is connected to the GPU and a second end which includes a GPU connector that is configured to be plugged into a GPU receptacle on an aircraft to be towed. The GPU connection apparatus includes an intermediate cable having a first end which comprises a cable plug and a second end which comprises a cable receptacle. The cable plug is configured to be plugged into the GPU receptacle. In addition, the cable receptacle is configured to receive the GPU connector. In use of the GPU connection apparatus, the cable plug is plugged into the GPU receptacle and the GPU connector is plugged into the cable receptacle to thereby electrically connect the aircraft to the GPU. | 02-23-2012 |
20120021102 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR SENSING THE CONCENTRATION OF PULP IN A CONCENTRATED PULP STREAM - A juice processing system includes at least one fluid line for a concentrated pulp stream, and a flow restrictor coupled in fluid communication with the at least one fluid line for generating a pressure drop in the concentrated pulp stream indicative of a concentration of pulp therein. The system may further include at least one pressure sensor associated with the flow restrictor for sensing the pressure drop, and a controller coupled to the at least one pressure sensor for generating at least one control signal based upon the sensed pressure drop. The control signal may be for an upstream and/or a downstream control device. | 01-26-2012 |
20110287706 | Diffuser for aircraft heating and air conditioning system - A heating and/or air conditioning system comprising a blower for generating an air stream and a heat exchanger unit for heating or cooling the air stream includes a diffuser which is positioned between the blower and the heat exchanger unit and which comprises a plurality of vertically spaced diffuser plates, each of which includes an upstream edge and a downstream edge. The vertical distance between the downstream edges of at least an adjacent pair of diffuser plates is greater than the vertical distance between the upstream edges of the pair of diffuser plates. Thus, the diffuser diffuses the air stream vertically prior to the air stream entering the heat exchanger unit. | 11-24-2011 |
20110220145 | PRODUCE BIN SCRUBBER AND RELATED METHODS - A produce bin washer for washing produce bins of an open-box type may include a housing and a conveyor for advancing a plurality of empty produce bins along a path of travel through the housing. The produce bin washer may include at least one scrubbing brush within the housing adjacent the conveyor and along the path of travel. The produce bin washer may also include a positioner within the housing for sequentially lifting and rotating each empty produce bin from the conveyor onto the at least one scrubbing brush to scrub the interior, and returning the empty produce bin to the conveyor. A sprayer may be within the housing for spraying a cleaning solution onto the empty produce bins, and a collector may also be within the housing for collecting sprayed cleaning solution. | 09-15-2011 |
20110113593 | Self reversing caster - A caster assembly includes a swivel assembly having a pivot axis, a housing which is connected to the swivel assembly, and a wheel which is slidably supported for linear movement along the longitudinal axis of the housing. The wheel is slidable along the longitudinal axis to move the rotational axis of the wheel from one side of the pivot axis to the other. | 05-19-2011 |
20110106294 | Automatic battery exchange system for mobile vehicles - A battery exchange system for a battery-powered mobile vehicle comprises an exchanger automatic guided vehicle (“EAGV”) which is controlled by a central computer and which comprises a linking member that is temporarily connectable to the battery and a motive member that moves the battery at least horizontally relative to the mobile vehicle. During a battery exchange operation, the EAGV automatically engages the battery and removes the battery from the mobile vehicle. The EAGV may then automatically engage a charged battery and insert the charged battery into the mobile vehicle. | 05-05-2011 |
20100327126 | STABILIZATION SYSTEM FOR HIGH-PRESSURE WATER JET FEED LINE - A support system ( | 12-30-2010 |
20100276408 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR WELDING METAL PANELS HAVING FLANGES - Methods are provided for joining two panels by welding together a seam formed at a flange of each panel using a welding tractor adapted to travel along the seam to be welded. A welding tractor adapted for use in the methods is also provided, as is a welded panel product fabricated using the methods provided. | 11-04-2010 |
20100215817 | TUMBLE BREADING SYSTEM, AND RELATED METHOD - Tumble breading assemblies, systems, and methods for applying breading material to food are described herein. In accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure, a rotary tumbling breading assembly for applying a breading material to a food generally includes a first rotary tumbler having a first channel for accepting the food and breading material and for rotating the food with the breading material, a second rotary tumbler offset beneath the first tumbler and having a second channel arranged to accept the food and the breading material from the first channel of the first rotary tumbler. | 08-26-2010 |
20100179684 | CLASSIFYING WORKPIECES TO BE PORTIONED INTO VARIOUS END PRODUCTS TO OPTIMALLY MEET OVERALL PRODUCTION GOALS - A method is provided for classifying incoming products (e.g., chicken butterflies) to be portioned into two or more types of end products (e.g., sandwich portions, strips, nuggets, etc.) to meet production goals. The method includes generally five steps. First, information on incoming products is received. Second, for each incoming product, a parameter value (e.g., the weight of an end product to be produced from the incoming product) is calculated for each of the two or more types of end products that may be produced from the incoming product. Third, the calculated parameter values for the incoming products for the two or more types of end products, respectively, are normalized so as to meet the production goals while at the same time achieving optimum parameter values. Fourth, for each incoming product, the end product with the best (e.g., largest) normalized parameter value is selected as the end product to be produced from the incoming product. Fifth, each incoming product is portioned to produce the end product selected in the fourth step. | 07-15-2010 |
20100038038 | LABELING APPARATUS HAVING PORTING ARRANGEMENT AND RELATED METHODS - A labeling apparatus is for applying labels to articles advanced along an article conveyor. The labeling apparatus may include a frame to be positioned adjacent the article conveyor, and a labeler carried by the frame. The labeler may include a housing, a rotary bellows wheel carried by the housing, and bellows carried by the rotary bellows wheel. The rotary bellows wheel and adjacent portions of the housing may define a porting arrangement for selectively connecting the rotary bellows wheel to a fluid flow to selectively control internal fluid pressure for the bellows so that each bellows is movable between a retracted label pick-up position and an extended label-applying position and so that a peak negative internal fluid pressure is applied at the label pick-up position and a peak positive internal fluid pressure is applied at the label-applying position. | 02-18-2010 |
20100038028 | LABELING APPARATUS WITH PAY-OUT AND TAKE-UP STEPPER MOTORS AND RELATED METHODS - A labeling apparatus is for applying labels to articles advanced along an article conveyor. The labeling apparatus may include a frame to be positioned adjacent the article conveyor, and a labeler carried by the frame. The labeler may include a housing, and a label supply carried by the housing and having a label strip being separable along a longitudinal centerline, and labels carried by the label strip. The labeler may also include a separation notch member carried by the housing for separating the label strip into separated strip portions as it is advanced thereover, a rotary bellows wheel carried by the housing, and bellows carried by the rotary bellows wheel to pick up labels from the separation notch member and to place the labels on the articles advanced along the article conveyor. The labeler may also include a pay-out motor adjacent the label supply to pay out the label strip therefrom, and a take-up motor downstream from the separation notch member to take up the separated strip portions. | 02-18-2010 |
20100038027 | LABELING APPARATUS WITH SIDEWALL SHAFT AND RELATED METHODS - A labeling apparatus is for applying labels to articles advanced along an article conveyor. The labeling apparatus may include a frame to be positioned adjacent the article conveyor, and a labeler carried by the frame. The labeler may include a housing having a sidewall, a shaft extending outwardly from the sidewall, a rotary bellows wheel carried by the shaft, and bellows carried by the rotary bellows wheel. The rotary bellows wheel and adjacent portions of the housing may define a porting arrangement for selectively connecting the bellows wheel to a fluid flow to selectively control internal fluid pressure for the bellows so that each bellows is movable/between, a retracted label pick-up position and an extended label-applying position. | 02-18-2010 |
20090149986 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PORTIONING FOODSTUFF TO USER-SPECIFIED SHAPE - A system is provided for cutting a three-dimensional portion from a foodstuff. The system includes a conveyor for carrying a foodstuff to be portioned, a scanner located adjacent to the conveyor for scanning the foodstuff, a computer coupled to the scanner for receiving scan information from the scanner to determine one or more cutting paths for the foodstuff, and a cutter for portioning the foodstuff according to the one or more determined cutting paths. The computer is configured to perform generally four steps: (i) receiving scan information of the foodstuff from the scanner; (ii) building a three-dimensional map of the foodstuff based on the received scan information of the foodstuff; (iii) fitting at least one desired shape, which is stored in memory of the computer, onto the three-dimensional map in the memory of the computer; and (iv) determining one or more cutting paths to be used in portioning the foodstuff so as to produce one or more portioned foodstuffs corresponding to the at least one desired shape. | 06-11-2009 |
20090149980 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PORTIONING WORKPIECES TO DIRECTLY-CONTROLLED AND INDIRECTLY-CONTROLLED SPECIFICATIONS - A method and system are provided for automatically portioning workpieces, such as food products, into both shape and other user-defined specification(s). Workpieces are portioned both to shape and weight, such as to a weight-specific uniform shape, by adjusting (e.g., scaling up and down or slightly modifying) a desired template shape until the desired weight is achieved depending on the varying thickness of each workpiece. For example, from a thicker workpiece, a smaller-sized piece having a predefined shape and weight is portioned, while from a thinner workpiece, a larger-sized piece having the same predefined shape and weight is portioned. The system permits a user to scan in and edit a desired (reference) shape to be used as a template in the portioning process. | 06-11-2009 |
20090143886 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PORTIONING WORKPIECES TO USER-ENTERED SHAPE AND OTHER SPECIFICATIONS - A method and system are provided for automatically portioning workpieces, such as food products, into both shape and other user-defined specification(s). Workpieces are portioned both to shape and weight, such as to a weight-specific uniform shape, by adjusting (e.g., scaling up and down or slightly modifying) a desired template shape until the desired weight is achieved depending on the varying thickness of each workpiece. For example, from a thicker workpiece, a smaller-sized piece having a predefined shape and weight is portioned, while from a thinner workpiece, a larger-sized piece having the same predefined shape and weight is portioned. The system permits a user to scan in and edit a desired (reference) shape to be used as a template in the portioning process. | 06-04-2009 |
20090137195 | DETERMINING THE POSITION AND ANGULAR ORIENTATION OF FOOD PRODUCTS - A portioning system ( | 05-28-2009 |
20090038542 | Crumb breading distribution system - A distribution apparatus for a breading machine comprising a hopper having a number of hopper sections includes a downspout for conveying the breading material to the hopper and a spreader plate which is adjustably supported between the downspout and the hopper. By adjusting the position of the spreader plate relative to the hopper, the flow of breading material from the downspout may be distributed as desired between the hopper sections. | 02-12-2009 |
20090038455 | COMPLIANT HOLD-DOWN CONVEYOR FOR SLICER - The powered endless belt ( | 02-12-2009 |