Patents by Inventor Steve Kiernan

Steve Kiernan 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).

  • Central control system and method for fine tuning individual cigarette manufacturing control systems
    Patent number: 6728594
    Abstract: The present invention includes a central control system and method for fine tuning a cigarette manufacturing process. A measurement device captures measurements of particular cigarette properties. The measurement data is sent to and stored in a central database. Once sufficient measurement data has been stored, the data is loaded into an optimization program that outputs optimized controlled parameters that may be used by individual control systems to better control the properties of the cigarettes during manufacture. The central control system and method may be used with both off-line and in-line measurement devices, and can communicate and control such devices regardless of the manufacturer thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Assignee: Automation and Control Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Steve Kiernan, David Honigford, Mike Iaquinta, John Wendt