Thomas S Howell

US Patent:

6462644, Oct 8, 2002

Filed:

Nov 19, 1998

Appl. No.:

09/195415

Inventors:

Thomas P. Howell - Suwanee GA
Kevin Ward - Charles MO

Assignee:

The Coca-Cola Company - Atlanta GA

International Classification:

G06F 704

US Classification:

340 592, 340 59, 36447901, 379102, 37910601, 455 66, 455422, 700231, 700239

Abstract:

A wide area network (WAN) of vending machines connected to a host that builds a database of vending-related information received from the vending machines. Also, a communications system within each vending machine having a vending machine data acquisition unit and a multiple-communication-technology adapter to interface the data acquisition unit to multiple communication technologies including at least one wireless technology. Also, a data structure used to build the database, the data structure having data elements corresponding to an identity of a machine, recent and previous prediction information for the machine, and recent and previous refill-visit information for the machine, the elements being linked together. The multiple vending machines communicate with a communications concentrator via one of many communication technologies. The communications concentrator interfaces the multiple vending machines to a data warehouse that builds a database using the data structure mentioned above.

US Patent:

8001795, Aug 23, 2011

Filed:

Jul 27, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/829133

Inventors:

Steven C. Pfister - Dunwoody GA, US
Brock Kolls - Alpharetta GA, US
Carlos A. Barreto - Atlanta GA, US
Mathew Scott Reichardt - Atlanta GA, US
Thomas P. Howell - Suwanee GA, US
Willy Van Esch - Grez-Doiceau, BE

Assignee:

The Coca-Cola Company - Atlanta GA

International Classification:

F25D 3/00
F25D 25/00

US Classification:

62 62, 62393, 62396

Abstract:

A method of adjusting temperatures of products to a desired product temperature. The method may include enabling the selection of a product, enabling the selection of the desired product temperature, enabling the placement of the product into a temperature adjust device, circulating a liquid or a gas through the temperature adjust device, the liquid or the gas having been cooled to a cool temperature less than the desired product temperature or heated to a warm temperature greater than the desired product temperature, determining when the desired product temperature has been obtained, and ceasing circulation of the liquid or a gas through the temperature adjust device.

US Patent:

20080067187, Mar 20, 2008

Filed:

Sep 1, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/469493

Inventors:

Arthur G. Rudick - Atlanta GA, US
Lenoard F. Antao - Smyrna GA, US
David Harvey - Suwanee GA, US
Thomas P. Howell - Suwanee GA, US
Jonathan A. Kirschner - Powder Springs GA, US
Daniel Robert Peters - Alpharetta GA, US
Guy Primiano - Alpharetta GA, US

Assignee:

THE COCA-COLA COMPANY - Atlanta GA

International Classification:

G07F 11/00

US Classification:

221123

Abstract:

A container for use with a number of products. The container may include a product storage area, a product delivery system with a product platform, and a product display area with at least one product gate.

US Patent:

20080142537, Jun 19, 2008

Filed:

Dec 14, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/610648

Inventors:

Thomas P. Howell - Suwanee GA, US
Gerard E. Insolia - Atlanta GA, US
Michael Alan Masters - Atlanta GA, US
David O. Slagley - Roswell GA, US
Ryan Lee West - Newnan GA, US

Assignee:

THE COCA-COLA COMPANY - Atlanta GA

International Classification:

G07F 11/02

US Classification:

221112, 221 92

Abstract:

A vending machine for dispensing a number of products. The vending machine may include a transparent panel, a number of visible product columns, a number of non-visible product columns, and a product delivery system.

US Patent:

20110284569, Nov 24, 2011

Filed:

Jul 15, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/183489

Inventors:

Thomas P. Howell - Suwanee GA, US
Gerard E. Insolia - Atlanta GA, US
Michael Alan Masters - Atlanta GA, US
Ryan Lee West - Newnan GA, US

Assignee:

THE COCA-COLA COMPANY - Atlanta GA

International Classification:

G07F 11/02
B65G 59/00

US Classification:

221 1

Abstract:

A vending machine for dispensing a number of products. The vending machine may include a transparent panel, a number of visible product columns, a number of non-visible product columns, and a product delivery system.

US Patent:

20200005582, Jan 2, 2020

Filed:

Nov 29, 2017

Appl. No.:

16/465388

Inventors:

- Atlanta GA, US
Kirk DAHLBERG - Atlanta GA, US
David SLAGLEY - Roswell GA, US
Thomas P. HOWELL - Atlanta GA, US

International Classification:

G07F 17/00
A23L 3/36
F25D 3/00
F25D 11/04
F25D 25/00
F25D 29/00

Abstract:

A packaged food product processing machine. The machine comprises a food consumer interface configured to receive a food consumer selection identifying an end state of a food product, a package cooling sub-system comprising a chilled fluid bath, a gripper component configured to agitate a package containing the food product in the chilled fluid bath and to sense a physical parameter of the food product, and a controller configured to command the gripper to control the rate of heat transfer from the package to the chilled fluid bath based on receiving an input identifying an end state selection from the food consumer interface and based on receiving an input containing a value of the physical parameter of the food product from the gripper component.