Ronald J Mrugala

6490872, Dec 10, 2002

Feb 19, 2002

09/979693

Norman L. Beck - Rockton IL
George C. Boyer - Rockton IL
David C. Duncan - Clearwater MN
Ronald J. Mrugala - Ham Lake MN

Specialty Equipment Companies, Inc. - Aurora IL

F28G 1300

62 66, 62303, 62342

A softserve product refrigeration and dispensing machine ( ) having numerous novel features to make the machine and the operation thereof more efficient; a novel supply method and apparatus provides raw product mix and gaseous matter at the proper ratios to the freezing cylinder ( ) of the machine. Additionally, and also in conjunction with a novel door and product dispensing apparatus ( ), the special design features enable the maintenance of a dispenser ( ), beater ( ), freezing chamber and other parts of the machine capable of easy flushing with a cleaning and/or sanitizing solution via the supply method and apparatus without requiring machine disassembly with no retention of the food stuffs and the like.

48813800, Nov 21, 1989

Mar 31, 1988

7/176352

Ronald J. Mrugala - Rockford IL
Doyle Raymer - Davis IL
Dipak J. Negandhi - Freeport IL
Robert L. Latzko - Wauwatosa WI

King-Seeley Thermos Co. - Freeport IL

B67D 562

62389

The plumbing module is a self-contained fully operational unit which provides the capabililty of supplying both hot or room temperature and refrigerated water or other beverages. The module may be adapted without significant modification to a wide range of products and uses, including bottled water coolers, drinking fountains and beverage dispensers. A dual parallel condenser coil in the refrigeration system takes approximately one-half the space of conventional coils and provides adequate heat dissipation without requiring forced air cooling fans.

49039350, Feb 27, 1990

Mar 31, 1988

7/175925

Ronald J. Mrugala - Rockford IL
Doyle Raymer - Davis IL
Dipak J. Negandhi - Freeport IL
Robert L. Latzko - Wauwatosa WI

King-Seeley Thermos Company - Prospect Heights IL

F16K 706

251 9

The improved valve construction provides low force actuation and is therefore suitable in applications where children and handicapped persons may need to operate the valves. The pinch-type valve employs a lever arm pilot which supports a section of tubing in the fluid dispensing circuit. The lever arm is snap fit onto a valve plate and is adapted for rocking movement about a pivot point at one end of the lever arm. A valve cage supports a compression spring which applies a force upon the lever arm tending to depress the lever arm and its associated tube pinching valve seat into pinching contact with the tube. A force applied to the lever arm opposite the pivot point relieves the pinching force and the tube is thus opened for dispensing. An alternate flapper-type valve employs a valve pad encapsulated on the end of a lever arm which is in turn encapsulated in an O-ring seal so that the valve pad is situated at the center of the O-ring and the lever arm is disposed along a radial of the O-ring. The O-ring, lever arm and valve pad assembly is placed in a valve body which provides an inlet and outlet port, the inlet port having a serpentine bend to absorb turbulent shock.

42380260, Dec 9, 1980

Oct 1, 1979

6/080897

Ronald J. Mrugala - Brooklyn Park MN
Keith W. Nord - Stillwater MN
Ronald B. Benson - Stillwater MN

Ex-Cell-O Corporation - Troy MI

B65G 4726

198460

The specification discloses an accumulating conveyor system (10) including fixed support rails (24), a pair of chains (18), each having half tall links (70) and half short links (72), mounted around upper and lower movable guides (68) and (66) respectively. Air bags (52) serve to raise the guides and chains to lift stacks or cases off the rails, and a cylinder (96) serves to index the raised guides and chains forward, whereupon the air bags are deflated to set the stacks back onto the rails, and the cylinder retracts. When a stack is thus "walked" to the end of the tall links, a switch (104) causes the chains to retract the length of a stack plus a clearance gap relative to the guides (68) to accommodate the accumulation of the next stack and bringing short links beneath the accumulated stacks. When it is desired to discharge the accumulated stacks, a dual level plate member (88), which is slidable relative to the guides, allows the air bags to raise the guides one level higher, thereby causing the short links to lift the accumulated stacks and carry them to discharge when the cylinder indexes. Accumulation and discharge may occur simultaneously.

50426893, Aug 27, 1991

Mar 31, 1988

7/175930

Ronald J. Mrugala - Rockford IL
Doyle Raymer - Davis IL
Dipak J. Negandhi - Freeport IL
Robert L. Latzko - Wauwatosa WI

Scotsman Group, Inc. - Vernon Hills IL

B67D 510

222 66

The vent on demand system for bottled water coolers employs a suction wand having water suction tube, vent tube and air pressure tube for sensing the water level within the bottle. The plumbing system is only exposed to atmospheric air during water dispensing. Air pressure trapped within a bulb well located at the lowermost end of the wand responds to water level within the bottle by changing air pressure which is sensed by a pressure switch employed to disengage the pump when water levels approach empty. A check valve prevents air from entering the water suction tube during bottle replacement and the vent tube is coupled through a vent valve which maintains the water delivery system in a sealed state, only venting to atmosphere during actual water delivery. The vent valve is simultaneously actuated when either hot or cold water buttons are depressed with the pump being actuated momentarily thereafter.