Patents by Inventor Stephen J. MacDonald

Stephen J. MacDonald 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).

  • Patent number: 5435198
    Abstract: A method and system for injecting liquid into containers and for inspecting containers for the presence of certain substances such as potential contaminants such as ammonium salts or amine salts in glass or plastic bottles. A high speed system and method are provided for detecting these contaminants in these bottles. Ammonia and amines can be detected by chemiluminescence of samples of volatiles emitted from the bottles during the high speed inspection process. A solution of Na.sub.2 CO.sub.3 is injected into the bottles in order to enhance the conversion of ammonium or amine salts to free ammonia or amines which are then released as vapors. This enhances the likelihood that a gas-phase detection system such as one using chemiluminescence detection techniques will detect the presence of contaminants containing ammonium salts or amine salts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 25, 1995
    Assignee: The Coca-Cola Company
    Inventors: David P. Rounbehler, Eugene K. Achter, David H. Fine, Freeman W. Fraim, Stephen J. MacDonald, Helmut W. Klotzsch
  • Patent number: 5418170
    Abstract: A method and system for injecting liquid into containers and for inspecting containers for the presence of certain substances such as potential contaminants such as ammonium salts or amine salts in glass or plastic bottles. A high speed system and method are provided for detecting these contaminants in these bottles. Ammonia and amines can be detected by chemiluminescence of samples of volatiles emitted from the bottles during the high speed inspection process. A solution of Na.sub.2 CO.sub.3 is injected into the bottles in order to enhance the conversion of ammonium or amine salts to free ammonia or amines which are then released as vapors. This enhances the likelihood that a gas-phase detection system such as one using chemiluminescence detection techniques will detect the presence of contaminants containing ammonium salts or amine salts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 23, 1995
    Assignee: The Coca-Cola Company
    Inventors: David P. Rounbehler, Eugene K. Achter, David H. Fine, Freeman W. Fraim, Stephen J. MacDonald, Helmut W. Klotzsch
  • Patent number: 5397540
    Abstract: A system for injecting liquid into containers moving through an inspection station at variable speeds without spilling liquid over the outside of, or between, the containers for inspecting the containers for the presence of certain substances such as potential contaminants, such as ammonium salts or amine salts in glass or plastic bottles. The movements of each container is tracked with sensors upstream of a high speed injector, and one or more nozzles is timed to inject liquid in a narrow, high velocity stream only while the top opening of a container is under the nozzle(s). The liquid is employed to enhance liberation of vapors from within the containers for detection of the contaminants in the containers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 14, 1995
    Assignee: The Coca-Cola Company
    Inventors: David P. Rounbehler, Eugene K. Achter, David H. Fine, Freeman W. Fraim, Stephen J. MacDonald, Helmut W. Klotzsch
  • Patent number: 5376550
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for sampling and determining the presence of certain substances, such as residues of contaminants in containers. The method includes steps of: injecting compressed air into said containers in order to displace at least a portion of the contents thereof; evacuating a sample of the container contents so displaced by applying suction thereto; and analyzing the sample evacuated to determine the presence or absence of the certain residues therein. The compressed air is injected through a nozzle into an opening in the containers to displace a portion of the container contents and form a sample cloud outside of the container. The sample cloud is then at least partially evacuated by suction and the sample is analyzed for the presence of contaminants such as nitrogen containing compounds or hydrocarbons. In one embodiment about 90% of the sample evacuated is diverted from the analyzer and recirculated into the air injector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 27, 1994
    Assignee: The Coca-Cola Company
    Inventors: David H. Fine, Freeman W. Fraim, Stephen J. MacDonald, Kenneth M. Thrash, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5352611
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for sampling and determining the presence of certain substances, such as residues of contaminants in containers. The method includes steps of: injecting compressed air into said containers in order to displace at least a portion of the contents thereof; evacuating a sample of the container contents so displaced by applying suction thereto; and analyzing the sample evacuated to determine the presence or absence of the certain residues therein. The compressed air is injected through a nozzle into an opening in the containers to displace a portion of the container contents and form a sample cloud outside of the container. The sample cloud is then at least partially evacuated by suction and the sample is analyzed for the presence of contaminants such as nitrogen containing compounds or hydrocarbons. In one embodiment about 90% of the sample evacuated is diverted from the analyzer and recirculated into the air injector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 4, 1994
    Assignee: The Coca-Cola Company
    Inventors: David H. Fine, W. Fraim Freeman, Stephen J. MacDonald, Kenneth M. Thrash, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5318911
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for sampling and determining the presence of certain substances, such as residues of contaminants in containers. The method includes steps of: injecting compressed air into said containers in order to displace at least a portion of the contents thereof; evacuating a sample of the container contents so displaced by applying suction thereto; and analyzing the sample evacuated to determine the presence or absence of the certain residues therein. The compressed air is injected through a nozzle into an opening in the containers to displace a portion of the container contents and form a sample cloud outside of the container. The sample cloud is then at least partially evacuated by suction and the sample is analyzed for the presence of contaminants such as nitrogen containing compounds or hydrocarbons. In one embodiment about 90% of the sample evacuated is diverted from the analyzer and recirculated into the air injector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 7, 1994
    Assignee: The Coca-Cola Company
    Inventors: David H. Fine, Freeman W. Fraim, Stephen J. MacDonald, Kenneth M. Thrash, Jr.