Patents by Inventor Stephen Owen

Stephen Owen 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).

  • Publication number: 20040102661
    Abstract: Methods and materials are provided for the production of essentially isomerically pure perhalogenated and partially halogenated compounds. One embodiment of the present invention provides a process for the production of essentially isomerically pure CFC-216aa. Other embodiments include processes for the production of CFC-217ba and HFC-227ea. Particular embodiments of the present invention provide separation techniques for the separation of chlorofluorocarbons from HF, from other chlorofluorocarbons, and the separation of isomers of halogenated compounds. Still other embodiments of the present invention provide catalytic synthetic techniques that demonstrate extended catalyst lifetime. In other embodiments, the present invention provides catalytic techniques for the purification of isomeric mixtures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2003
    Publication date: May 27, 2004
    Inventors: Yuichi Iikubo, Stephen Owens, Mitchel Cohn, Stephan M. Brandstadter, Vicki E. Hedrick, Janet K. Boggs, John Qian, Julie Sacarias
  • Publication number: 20040102664
    Abstract: Methods and materials are provided for the production of essentially isomerically pure perhalogenated and partially halogenated compounds. One embodiment of the present invention provides a process for the production of essentially isomerically pure CFC-216aa. Other embodiments include processes for the production of CFC-217ba and HFC-227ea. Particular embodiments of the present invention provide separation techniques for the separation of chlorofluorocarbons from HF, from other chlorofluorocarbons, and the separation of isomers of halogenated compounds. Still other embodiments of the present invention provide catalytic synthetic techniques that demonstrate extended catalyst lifetime. In other embodiments, the present invention provides catalytic techniques for the purification of isomeric mixtures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2003
    Publication date: May 27, 2004
    Inventors: Yuichi Iikubo, Stephen Owens, Mitchel Cohn, Stephan M. Brandstadter, Vicki E. Hedrick, Janet K. Boggs, John Qian, Julie Sacarias
  • Publication number: 20040102662
    Abstract: Methods and materials are provided for the production of essentially isomerically pure perhalogenated and partially halogenated compounds. One embodiment of the present invention provides a process for the production of essentially isomerically pure CFC-216aa. Other embodiments include processes for the production of CFC-217ba and HFC-227ea. Particular embodiments of the present invention provide separation techniques for the separation of chlorofluorocarbons from HF, from other chlorofluorocarbons, and the separation of isomers of halogenated compounds. Still other embodiments of the present invention provide catalytic synthetic techniques that demonstrate extended catalyst lifetime. In other embodiments, the present invention provides catalytic techniques for the purification of isomeric mixtures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2003
    Publication date: May 27, 2004
    Inventors: Yuichi Iikubo, Stephen Owens, Mitchel Cohn, Stephan M. Brandstadter, Vicki E. Hedrick, Janet K. Boggs, John Qian, Julie Sacarias
  • Publication number: 20040102660
    Abstract: Methods and materials are provided for the production of essentially isomerically pure perhalogenated and partially halogenated compounds. One embodiment of the present invention provides a process for the production of essentially isomerically pure CFC-216aa. Other embodiments include processes for the production of CFC-217ba and HFC-227ea. Particular embodiments of the present invention provide separation techniques for the separation of chlorofluorocarbons from HF, from other chlorofluorocarbons, and the separation of isomers of halogenated compounds. Still other embodiments of the present invention provide catalytic synthetic techniques that demonstrate extended catalyst lifetime. In other embodiments, the present invention provides catalytic techniques for the purification of isomeric mixtures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2003
    Publication date: May 27, 2004
    Inventors: Yuichi Iikubo, Stephen Owens, Mitchel Cohn, Stephan M. Brandstadter, Vicki E. Hedrick, Janet K. Boggs, John Qian, Julie Sacarias
  • Publication number: 20040102663
    Abstract: Methods and materials are provided for the production of essentially isomerically pure perhalogenated and partially halogenated compounds. One embodiment of the present invention provides a process for the production of essentially isomerically pure CFC-216aa. Other embodiments include processes for the production of CFC-217ba and HFC-227ea. Particular embodiments of the present invention provide separation techniques for the separation of chlorofluorocarbons from HF, from other chlorofluorocarbons, and the separation of isomers of halogenated compounds. Still other embodiments of the present invention provide catalytic synthetic techniques that demonstrate extended catalyst lifetime. In other embodiments, the present invention provides catalytic techniques for the purification of isomeric mixtures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2003
    Publication date: May 27, 2004
    Inventors: Yuichi Iikubo, Stephen Owens, Mitchel Cohn, Stephan M. Brandstadter, Vicki E. Hedrick, Janet K. Boggs, John Qian, Julie Sacarias
  • Publication number: 20030176942
    Abstract: An automated packaging line has capability of filling large and small orders, of one or more bottles, each bottle filled with a respective one of a plurality of different pharmaceutical tablets, in a single run. Structure is provided for filling orders for an individual consumer, for a pharmacist, and for a wholesaler, simultaneously, using differently sized bottles, and providing customized labels for each bottle. A flexible filler station simultaneously fills plural bottles with respective tablets. An intelligent data carrying puck carries each bottle, including therein information describing, among others, the bottle, the customer, the order, the pharmaceutical, the bottle size and label information. Puck handling stations (PHS) are dispersed throughout the line, to verify a number of operations implemented on the line and to reject a puck at the earliest opportunity, while permitting subsequent rejection by a subsequent PHS.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2002
    Publication date: September 18, 2003
    Applicant: MERCK & CO., INC.
    Inventors: Nicholas J. Sleep, Andrew H. Proudfoot, Stephen Owen, Adrian Neil Bargh, Michael Kennedy
  • Publication number: 20030105368
    Abstract: Methods and materials are provided for the production of essentially isomerically pure perhalogenated and partially halogenated compounds. One embodiment of the present invention provides a process for the production of essentially isomerically pure CFC-216aa. Other embodiments include processes for the production of CFC-217ba and HFC-227ea. Particular embodiments of the present invention provide separation techniques for the separation of chlorofluorocarbons from HF, from other chlorofluorocarbons, and the separation of isomers of halogenated compounds. Still other embodiments of the present invention provide catalytic synthetic techniques that demonstrate extended catalyst lifetime. In other embodiments, the present invention provides catalytic techniques for the purification of isomeric mixtures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2001
    Publication date: June 5, 2003
    Inventors: Yuichi Iikubo, Stephen Owens, Mitchel Cohn, Stephan M. Brandstadter, Vicki E. Hedrick, Janet K. Boggs, John Qian, Julie Sacarias
  • Patent number: 6522945
    Abstract: An automated packaging line has capability of filling large and small orders, of one or more bottles, each bottle filled with a respective one of a plurality of different pharmaceutical tablets, in a single run. Structure is provided for filling orders for an individual consumer, for a pharmacist, and for a wholesaler, simultaneously, using differently sized bottles, and providing customized labels for each bottle. A flexible filler station simultaneously fills plural bottles with respective tablets. An intelligent data carrying puck carries each bottle, including therein information describing, among others, the bottle, the customer, the order, the pharmaceutical, the bottle size and label information. Puck handling stations (PHS) are dispersed throughout the line, to verify a number of operations implemented on the line and to reject a puck at the earliest opportunity, while permitting subsequent rejection by a subsequent PHS.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2003
    Assignee: Merck & Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas J. Sleep, Andrew H. Proudfoot, Stephen Owen, Adrian Neil Bargh, Michael Kennedy
  • Publication number: 20030028057
    Abstract: Methods and materials are provided for the production and purification of halogenated compounds and intermediates in the production of 1,1,1,3,3-pentafluoropropane. In a preferred embodiment, the process steps include: (1) reacting carbon tetrachloride with vinyl chloride to produce 1,1,1,3,3-pentachloropropane; (2) dehydrochlorinating the 1,1,1,3,3-pentachloropropane with a Lewis acid catalyst to produce 1,1,3,3-tetrachloropropene; (3) fluorinating the 1,1,3,3-tetrachloropropene to produce 1-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene; (4) fluorinating the 1-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene to produce a product mixture containing 1,1,1,3,3-pentafluoropropane; and (5) separating 1,1,1,3,3-pentafluoropropane from by-products.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2002
    Publication date: February 6, 2003
    Inventors: Stephen Owens, Andrew Jackson, Vimal Sharma, Mitchel Cohn, John Cheng-Ping Qian, Julia Ann Sacarias, Yuichi Iikubo
  • Publication number: 20020188926
    Abstract: A modified Boyer-Moore searching algorithm used within an E-mail filtering system for detecting the presence of a plurality of target band strings during a single traversal of the character data to be searched. A single jump table for the combined set of strings for which a search is being made is used. A hierarchical match table starting with the possible terminating letters of strings for which a search is being made is traversed to identify any strings as they are encountered.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2001
    Publication date: December 12, 2002
    Inventor: Stephen Owen Hearnden
  • Publication number: 20020099467
    Abstract: An automated packaging line has capability of filling large and small orders, of one or more bottles, each bottle filled with a respective one of a plurality of different pharmaceutical tablets, in a single run. Structure is provided for filling orders for an individual consumer, for a pharmacist, and for a wholesaler, simultaneously, using differently sized bottles, and providing customized labels for each bottle. A flexible filler station simultaneously fills plural bottles with respective tablets. An intelligent data carrying puck carries each bottle, including therein information describing, among others, the bottle, the customer, the order, the pharmaceutical, the bottle size and label information. Puck handling stations (PHS) are dispersed throughout the line, to verify a number of operations implemented on the line and to reject a puck at the earliest opportunity, while permitting subsequent rejection by a subsequent PHS.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2001
    Publication date: July 25, 2002
    Applicant: MERCK & CO., INC.
    Inventors: Nicholas J. Sleep, Andrew H. Proudfoot, Stephen Owen, Adrian Neil Bargh, Michael Kennedy
  • Patent number: 6340126
    Abstract: Devices and methods for paying off an elongate material between two coaxially aligned packages without interruption. The elongate material from a first wound package is connected to the elongate material of a second wound package by joining the tail end of the first wound package to the head end of the second wound package. Each wound package includes the elongate material having a body portion and a tail portion wound about a core. Also, each body portion has the head end at an outer diameter of the respective package and each tail portion has the tail end at an inner diameter substantially corresponding to a diameter of the core. Further, the path of the wound elongate material is transitioned from the first wound package to the second wound package by providing transition device having a supporting surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2002
    Assignee: Corning Cable Systems LLC
    Inventors: Warren Welborn McAlpine, Stephen Owen Mast, David Henry Smith, Joseph Varga
  • Patent number: 6317648
    Abstract: An automated packaging line for filling large and small orders, of one or more bottles, each bottle filled with a respective one of a plurality of different pharmaceutical tablets, in a single run. An intelligent data carrying puck carries each bottle, including therein information describing, among others, the bottle, the customer, the order, the pharmaceutical, the bottle size and label information. Puck handling stations (PHS) are dispersed throughout the line, to verify a number of operations implemented on the line and to reject a puck at the earliest opportunity, while permitting subsequent rejection by a subsequent PHS. The PHS units are substantially identical, with DIP switch modifying operation of the controlling software thereof to implement different features at different points on the line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2001
    Assignee: Merck & Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas J. Sleep, Andrew H. Proudfoot, Stephen Owen, Adrian Neil Bargh, Michael Kennedy
  • Patent number: 5924547
    Abstract: An apparatus for presenting a flexible article, longer than it is wider, in a predetermined orientation which has an orientation for tumbling the article generally about one direction while retaining the article so that it can rotate about another direction while it is being tumbled. The retention mechanism on the apparatus includes a retention face and is moveable between a first position in which the retention face is disposed to receive the article generally downwardly from the orientation head while it is being tumbled thereby, and a second position displaced from the first. Additionally, when the article is received on the retention face, it can be detected if it is correctly orientated on the retention face. In response to this detection, the retention mechanism moves to the second position and the article is received in a predetermined orientation from the retention face at the second position of the retention mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1999
    Assignee: Pacific Dunlop Limited
    Inventors: Ian James McInnes, Stephen Owen, Petr Baum
  • Patent number: 5783793
    Abstract: A laser drilling process capable of producing a plurality of holes in a pharmaceutical dosage form, at high speed, is presented. The process utilizes a high power CO.sub.2 laser steered by an acousto-optic deflector together with various mirrors and optical components to achieve the correct beam path geometry, in order to produce an unlimited number of holes through the surface or coating of a dosage form, at rates up to 100,000 units or more per hour.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1998
    Assignee: Merck & Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Neil Emerton, Graham S. Gutsell, Timothy A. Large, Stephen Owen
  • Patent number: 5638657
    Abstract: A system and method for automatically feeding, inspecting and diverting tablets for continuous filling of tablet containers includes a tablet conveyor system which divides the tablets in a plurality of tablet streams for inspection by color, size and shape. Following the tablet inspection, each tablet passes through a tablet diverter which diverts the tablets to a recycle stream, reject stream or one of two bottle filling positions based upon instruction from the inspection. A bottle conveyor system is provided which feeds empty bottles into a bottle escapement mechanism which positions the empty bottles for filling. Filled bottles are moved from the bottle escapement mechanism to an exit conveyor. The entire system is computer controlled by various control mechanisms to enable the system to be fully operational without operator assistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 17, 1997
    Assignee: Merck & Co., Inc.
    Inventors: John R. Archer, David E. Cumpstey, Richard H. Gray, Stephen Owen
  • Patent number: 5522512
    Abstract: A system and method for automatically feeding, inspecting and diverting tablets for continuous filling of tablet containers includes a tablet conveyor system which divides the tablets in a plurality of tablet streams for inspection by color, size and shape. Following the tablet inspection, each tablet passes through a tablet diverter which diverts the tablets to a recycle stream, reject stream or one of two bottle filling positions based upon instruction from the inspection. A bottle conveyor system is provided which feeds empty bottles into a bottle escapement mechanism which positions the empty bottles for filling. Filled bottles are moved from the bottle escapement mechanism to an exit conveyor. The entire system is computer controlled by various control mechanisms to enable the system to be fully operational without operator assistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 4, 1996
    Assignee: Merck & Co., Inc.
    Inventors: John R. Archer, David E. Cumpstey, Richard H. Gray, Stephen Owen
  • Patent number: 4825705
    Abstract: A mass flow meter for flowing media with equipment for determining the coriolis force consists of a helicoidally bent measuring tube provided with two tube loops whose inflow and outflow ends are fastened to a massive cast block and between whose oppositely pivotable tube loops are arranged an oscillator and two sensors measuring the torsional oscillations. For a more compact stiffening and an improved clamping of the measuring tube at the cast block, the two tube loops are in each case ovally bent in one plane, extend approximately parallel to one another and are provided on one longitudinal side in each case with two tube sections lying opposite to one another in an alignment line (x.sub.1 --x.sub.1 or x.sub.2 --x.sub.2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 2, 1989
    Assignee: Rheometron AG
    Inventors: Manfred Hohloch, Stephen Owen, Walter Steffen, Wolfgang Stumm
  • Patent number: 4801553
    Abstract: A cassette for holding a tissue specimen comprises a body portion (10) and a separable portion (12) which snap together to enclose a specimen (42) in a mould space (54) of the cassette. The specimen (42) is located and oriented in the mould space (54) between a compliant base portion (14) and the separable portion (12). The specimen is processed by the successive application of processing fluids before being embedded in paraffin wax. The specimen is held in its oriented position on the cassette during processing and embedding, there being no handling or re-positioning of the specimen between processing and embedding. During embedding, molten wax is supplied to a container (56) in which the cassette is placed. Wax surrounds and embeds the specimen, the container base is then cooled to solidify a base layer of wax, allowing the remaining wax to be drained from the container, leaving the wax within the cassette to solidify and cool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1989
    Inventors: Stephen Owen, John R. North, Stefan Nowinski