Patents by Inventor Larry Dean McCann

Larry Dean McCann 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).

  • System for analyzing a filter element associated with a smoking article, and associated method
    Patent number: 8186359
    Abstract: A system and associated method for analyzing a filter element of at least one of a filter rod and a smoking article is provided. At least one sensor element is adapted to interact with the filter element so as to determine an object insertion status with respect thereto and to generate an output signal in response. The object insertion status includes at least one of an object presence within the filter element, an object absence from the filter element, a proper insertion of an object into the filter element, a defective insertion of an object into the filter element, a proper object within the filter element, and a defective object within the filter element. An analysis unit is in communication with the at least one sensor element and responsive to the output signal therefrom to generate an indicia corresponding to the object insertion status.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
    Inventors: Balager Ademe, Vernon Brent Barnes, Travis Eugene Howard, Robert William Benford, Franklin Forrest Brantley, Brent Walker Carter, William Robert Collett, Darrell Thomas Dixon, Larry Dean McCann, John Larkin Nelson, Gregory J. Roberts, Timothy Frederick Thomas, Calvin Wayne Henderson
  • CIGARETTE PACKAGE INSPECTION SYSTEM, AND ASSOCIATED METHOD
    Publication number: 20120120229
    Abstract: An inspection system and associated method are provided for inspecting a cigarette package. A transport device is configured to transport individual cigarette packages to an inspection position such that at least a portion of the cigarette package is visibly accessible for optical inspection. An inspection device is configured to optically inspect each cigarette package, at least about the visibly accessible portion thereof, as the cigarette package is transported through the inspection position, and to automatically determine from the optical inspection whether the inspected cigarette package is defective.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2010
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Inventors: Franklin Forrest Brantley, Darrell Thomas Dixon, Larry Dean McCann, Eddie Lee Nuckols
  • SYSTEM FOR ANALYZING A FILTER ELEMENT ASSOCIATED WITH A SMOKING ARTICLE, AND ASSOCIATED METHOD
    Publication number: 20090194118
    Abstract: A system and associated method for analyzing a filter element of at least one of a filter rod and a smoking article is provided. At least one sensor element is adapted to interact with the filter element so as to determine an object insertion status with respect thereto and to generate an output signal in response. The object insertion status includes at least one of an object presence within the filter element, an object absence from the filter element, a proper insertion of an object into the filter element, a defective insertion of an object into the filter element, a proper object within the filter element, and a defective object within the filter element. An analysis unit is in communication with the at least one sensor element and responsive to the output signal therefrom to generate an indicia corresponding to the object insertion status.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2008
    Publication date: August 6, 2009
    Inventors: Balager Ademe, Vernon Brent Barnes, Travis Eugene Howard, Robert William Benford, Franklim Forrest Brantley, Brent Walker Carter, William Robert Collett, Darrell Thomas Dixon, Larry Dean McCann, John Larkin Nelson, Gregory J. Roberts, Timothy Frederick Thomas, Calvin Wayne Henderson