Patents by Inventor Ron E. Swanson

Ron E. Swanson 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: 4131540
    Abstract: A tomato sorter is described for removing culls, e.g. green tomatoes from the good, red tomatoes. An image of each tomato passing the station is formed on a light diffusing plate. Diffused light from the plate is divided into first and second light beams from which all but the red and the green light components, respectively, are removed with filters. The remaining light is sensed by separate photo-multipliers, the output of which is used to form red and green light intensity signals. When the differential between the red and green signals exceeds a predetermined value, a reject signal is generated which actuates a mechanism for removing the affected tomato from the tomato flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1977
    Date of Patent: December 26, 1978
    Assignees: Johnson Farm Machinery Co. Inc., Acurex Corporation
    Inventors: Robert G. Husome, Ron J. Fleming, Ron E. Swanson