Thomas P Collins

US Patent:

6823795, Nov 30, 2004

Filed:

May 16, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/859141

Inventors:

Neil A. Willcocks - Flanders NJ
James M. Suttle - East Stroudsburg PA
Thomas M. Collins - Nazareth PA
Arun Shastry - Neshanic Station NJ

Assignee:

Mars, Inc. - McLean VA

International Classification:

B41M 140

US Classification:

101492, 101 35, 101491, 101211, 426383

Abstract:

Multicolor registered images, formed from at least two component images, are printed on the surfaces of shaped edible pieces. Registration of the component images is maintained by applying the component images to a single image transfer surface from plural image application surfaces. The registered image is applied to a shaped edible piece from the image transfer surface in a single contact step.

US Patent:

7272571, Sep 18, 2007

Filed:

May 16, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/855558

Inventors:

Robert W. Tuttrup - Sparta NJ, US
Neil A. Willcocks - Flanders NJ, US
Thomas M. Collins - Nazareth PA, US
Mark J. Chimel - Long Valley NJ, US
Kevin L. Rabinovitch - Hackettstown NJ, US
Henry V. Izzo - Bridgewater NJ, US

Assignee:

Mars Incorporated - McLean VA

International Classification:

G06G 1/14

US Classification:

705 22, 705 28, 705 26

Abstract:

An apparatus and method for delivering goods ordered by a plurality of customers, in which a plurality of customers place orders for goods from a vendor, the vendor fulfills its orders by combining into a single shipping order the goods ordered by a plurality of customers who are geographically close to a single local pick-up point, and the vendor causes the single shipping order to be sent to a local pick-up point.

US Patent:

7621734, Nov 24, 2009

Filed:

Jul 28, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/900174

Inventors:

David Pontzer - Sparta NJ, US
Bob Crossley - Montclair NJ, US
Thomas Collins - Nazareth PA, US

Assignee:

Mars, Incorporated - McLean VA

International Classification:

A23G 3/20

US Classification:

425237, 426512, 426514, 994507, 425449

Abstract:

The present invention is directed to a forming apparatus comprising (a) first and second forming rolls with forming pockets in corresponding alignment, wherein at least one roll has one or more continuous grooves extending around the circumference of the roll in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the roll and which intersects the forming pockets in the plane, wherein the first and second forming rolls rotate in directions counter to one another, and (b) one or more forming pins positioned between the counter rotating rolls and within the continuous groove of the roll.

US Patent:

7884953, Feb 8, 2011

Filed:

Jun 2, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/587108

Inventors:

Neil A. Willcocks - Flanders NJ, US
Arun Shastry - Neshanic Staton NJ, US
Thomas M. Collins - Nazareth PA, US
Alfred V. Camporini - Hackettstown NJ, US
James M. Suttle - East Stroudsburg PA, US

Assignee:

Mars Incorporated - McLean VA

International Classification:

G06F 3/12
G06F 15/00

US Classification:

358 115, 358 11

Abstract:

Disclosed are methods of printing high resolution images on edible substrates with dispersed pigmented inks using a drop-on-demand ink-jet printer. Dispersed pigmented white inks useful with the inventive methods are also disclosed. White images having a resolution greater than 200 dpi can be printed on chocolate using the methods and inks disclosed herein. The inventive methods and inks may also be integrated with a consumer-driven site vending or e-commerce application in which the consumer provides the image to be printed and edibles bearing the printed image are prepared for rapid turnaround.

US Patent:

8084069, Dec 27, 2011

Filed:

Oct 7, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/574773

Inventors:

David Pontzer - Sparta NJ, US
Bob Crossley - Montclair NJ, US
Thomas Collins - Nazareth PA, US

Assignee:

Mars, Incorporated - McLean VA

International Classification:

A23G 3/20

US Classification:

426283, 426279, 426282, 426512, 426601, 426660, 425294, 425408, 425447, 425237

Abstract:

The present invention is directed to a forming apparatus comprising (a) first and second forming rolls with forming pockets in corresponding alignment, wherein at least one roll has one or more continuous grooves extending around the circumference of the roll in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the roll and which intersects the forming pockets in the plane, wherein the first and second forming rolls rotate in directions counter to one another, and (b) one or more forming pins positioned between the counter rotating rolls and within the continuous groove of the roll.

US Patent:

8414697, Apr 9, 2013

Filed:

Jan 3, 2011

Appl. No.:

12/983777

Inventors:

Neil A. Willcocks - Flanders NJ, US
Arun Shastry - Neshanic Station NJ, US
Thomas M. Collins - Nazareth PA, US
Alfred V. Camporini - Hackettstown NJ, US
James M. Suttle - East Stroudsburg PA, US

Assignee:

Mars, Incorporated - McLean VA

International Classification:

C09D 11/02

US Classification:

106 3186

Abstract:

Disclosed are methods of printing high resolution images on edible substrates with dispersed pigmented inks using a drop-on-demand ink-jet printer. Dispersed pigmented white inks useful with the inventive methods are also disclosed. White images having a resolution greater than 200 dpi can be printed on chocolate using the methods and inks disclosed herein. The inventive methods and inks may also be integrated with a consumer-driven site vending or e-commerce application in which the consumer provides the image to be printed and edibles bearing the printed image are prepared for rapid turnaround.

US Patent:

20020004742, Jan 10, 2002

Filed:

Dec 8, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/731834

Inventors:

Neil Willcocks - Flanders NJ, US
Thomas Collins - Nazareth PA, US
Kevin Rabinovitch - Hackettstown NJ, US
Mark Chimel - Long Valley NJ, US
Henry Izzo - Bridgewater NJ, US
Robert Tuttrup - Sparta NJ, US
Kevin Stanton - Califon NJ, US

International Classification:

G06F017/60

US Classification:

705/014000

Abstract:

An apparatus and method for motivating a consumer to promptly indicate an interest in purchasing a product and/or service over a computer network includes the steps of presenting an offer for sale of a product and/or service to the consumer over the computer network, concurrently presenting an incentive for purchasing the product and/or service to the consumer promptly over the computer network. The incentive is initially set to a predetermined maximum value and decreases over a period of time. Additional steps include indicating an interest to purchase the product and/or service by the consumer at a point in time during the period of time, and providing the consumer the current value of the incentive corresponding to the point in time at which the consumer indicated the interest.

US Patent:

20020016737, Feb 7, 2002

Filed:

May 16, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/855585

Inventors:

Henry Izzo - Bridgewater NJ, US
Thomas Collins - Nazareth PA, US
Neil Willcocks - Flanders NJ, US
Kevin Rabinovitch - Hackettstown NJ, US
Robert Tuttrup - Sparta NJ, US
Mark Chimel - Long Valley NJ, US

International Classification:

G06F017/60

US Classification:

705/014000

Abstract:

A method of administering a promotional contest comprises the steps of: providing to a consumer a product the label of which includes the identification code, enabling the consumer to input the identification code into a prize redemption system, validating the identification code, and determining whether the code is a winning code that entitles the consumer to receive a prize.