Patents by Inventor R. Dean Houck

R. Dean Houck 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: 7898655
    Abstract: A machine for distinguishing blisters from checks on the finish of a glass container. The captured objects are located in a band to define a cluster. The cluster is evaluated to determine whether it is a multiple cluster and each defined cluster is evaluated to distinguish a check from a blister.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignees: Emhart Glass S.A., Applied Vision Corporation, LLC
    Inventors: Richard A. Sones, R. Dean Houck, Amir R. Novini, Richard D. Diehr
  • Publication number: 20100194878
    Abstract: A machine for distinguishing blisters from checks on the finish of a glass container. The captured objects are located in a band to define a cluster. The cluster is evaluated to determine whether it is a multiple cluster and each defined cluster is evaluated to distinguish a check from a blister.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2010
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Inventors: Richard A. Sones, R. Dean Houck, Amir R. Novini, Richard D. Diehr
  • Patent number: 7697132
    Abstract: A machine for distinguishing blisters from checks on the finish of a glass container. The captured objects are located in a band to define a cluster. The cluster is evaluated to determine whether it is a multiple cluster and each defined cluster is evaluated to distinguish a check from a blister.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignees: Emhart Glass S.A., Applied Vision Corporation, LLC
    Inventors: Richard A. Sones, R. Dean Houck, Amir R. Novini, Richard D. Diehr
  • Patent number: 7688437
    Abstract: A machine for distinguishing blisters from checks on the finish of a glass container. The center of each captured object in an array is determined by a controller which determines the object centers in a plurality of adjacent bands. The band having the most object centers is determined and the objects in the band having the most object centers are deleted from the rest of the bands. The control repeatedly determines the band of the rest of the bands having the most object centers and deletes the objects in the band of the rest of the bands having the most object centers from the remainder of the bands until the objects in each band are unique. The maximum separation of objects in each band is defined and checks will be differentiated from blisters based on this separation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignees: Emhart Glass S.A., Applied Vision Corporation, LLC
    Inventors: R. Dean Houck, Richard A. Sones, Richard D. Diehr, Amir R. Novini
  • Publication number: 20080273085
    Abstract: A machine for distinguishing blisters from checks on the finish of a glass container. The captured objects are located in a band to define a cluster.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2007
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Inventors: Richard A. Sones, R. Dean Houck, Amir R. Novini, Richard D. Diehr
  • Publication number: 20080273197
    Abstract: A machine for distinguishing blisters from checks on the finish of a glass container. The center of each captured object in an array is determined by a controller which determines the object centers in a plurality of adjacent bands. The band having the most object centers is determined and the objects in the band having the most object centers are deleted from the rest of the bands. The control repeatedly determines the band of the rest of the bands having the most object centers and deletes the objects in the band of the rest of the bands having the most object centers from the remainder of the bands until the objects in each band are unique. The maximum separation of objects in each band is defined and checks will be differentiated from blisters based on this separation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2007
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Inventors: R. Dean Houck, Richard A. Sones, Richard D. Diehr, Amir R. Novini
  • Publication number: 20080186693
    Abstract: A machine for inspecting the mold code on the heel of a glass bottle having a vertical axis. A light source is located below the bottle for directing a light beam vertically, coaxially upwardly towards the bottle. An inner conical reflector having an outer conical reflecting surface located between the bottle and the light source and coaxial with the axis of the bottle receives the light beam from the light source and reflects it as a first conical light beam. An outer ring reflector, having an inner conical reflecting surface, receives the first conical light beam and reflects it as a second conical light beam directed at the mold code on the heel of the bottle. The second conical light beam reflects from the mold code and retraces the second conical light path. There is a CCD camera and a beam splitter located between the inner conical reflector and the light source redirects a portion of the light reflected from the inner conical reflecting surface towards the CCD camera to image the mold code.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2007
    Publication date: August 7, 2008
    Inventors: Timothy P. White, R. Dean Houck