Patents by Inventor Francis Allan Anderson

Francis Allan Anderson has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Apparatus and method for detecting foreign materials in a container
    Patent number: 7970102
    Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus and method for detecting foreign material in containers in a product stream. Two X-ray emitters and two sensor arrays are positioned in a constellation to improve the detection of foreign material. A first x-ray emitter is positioned so that it projects an x-ray beam in a downward manner through the product stream. A second x-ray emitter is positioned so that it projects an x-ray beam in an upward manner through the product stream. Two sensor arrays are each positioned in receiving relation to each of the x-ray beams to receive and provide signals from each of the beams after they have interacted with the product stream. Signals from each of the two sensor arrays are processed and compared with user defined thresholds to detect and indicate the presence of foreign material in containers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: InspX LLC
    Inventors: Alexander I. Gilevich, Francis Allan Anderson
  • Apparatus and method for detecting foreign materials in a container
    Publication number: 20100020927
    Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus and method for detecting foreign material in containers in a product stream traveling on a conveyor. Two X-ray emitters and to sensor arrays are positioned in a constellation to improve the detection of foreign material. A first x-ray emitter is positioned so that it projects an x-ray beam both toward the product stream and also in a downward manner through the product stream. A second x-ray emitter is positioned so that it projects an x-ray beam both toward the products stream and in an upward manner through the product stream. Two sensor arrays are each positioned in receiving relation to each of the x-ray beams to receive and provide signals from each of the beams after they have interacted with the product stream. Signals from each of the two sensor arrays are processed and compared with user defined thresholds to detect and indicate the presence of foreign material in containers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2008
    Publication date: January 28, 2010
    Inventors: Alexander I. Gilevich, Francis Allan Anderson