Patents by Inventor Brian A. Piotrowski

Brian A. Piotrowski 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: 6335960
    Abstract: Detection of components (22-24) missing from sealed packages (16) is accomplished by combining a multiplicity of electrical outputs representing the mass in volumes of the package (16) and comparing the combined value with a standard value for packages (16) including all components (22-24). In the preferred form, the mass is represented by the absorption of x-rays, with the packages (16) being conveyed on a conveyor (18) between an x-ray radiator (12) generating a fan-shaped x-ray beam (14) and a line array (20) of individual detectors (20a, 20b, etc.). The detectors (20a, 20b, etc.) detect radiation after passing through the package (16) and provide a numerical electrical signal equal to the amount of radiation detected. If the sum of the multiplicity of numerical electrical signals is less than the standard value, the package (16) is rejected from the conveyor (18) by a rejection device (30).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2002
    Assignee: General Mills, Inc.
    Inventors: Wayne I. Knigge, Brian A. Piotrowski
  • Publication number: 20010014138
    Abstract: Detection of components (22-24) missing from sealed packages (16) is accomplished by combining a multiplicity of electrical outputs representing the mass in volumes of the package (16) and comparing the combined value with a standard value for packages (16) including all components (22-24). In the preferred form, the mass is represented by the absorption of x-rays, with the packages (16) being conveyed on a conveyor (18) between an x-ray radiator (12) generating a fan-shaped x-ray beam (14) and a line array (20) of individual detectors (20a, 20b, etc.). The detectors (20a, 20b, etc.) detect radiation after passing through the package (16) and provide a numerical electrical signal equal to the amount of radiation detected. If the sum of the multiplicity of numerical electrical signals is less than the standard value, the package (16) is rejected from the conveyor (18) by a rejection device (30).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2001
    Publication date: August 16, 2001
    Inventors: Wayne I. Knigge, Brian A. Piotrowski