Patents by Inventor Tom Loftus

Tom Loftus 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).

  • Apparatus and method for separating plants
    Patent number: 9358586
    Abstract: An apparatus and method is presented for separating healthy plants from agricultural material, such as harvested plants. The apparatus includes a conveyor to present the agricultural material to a mesh, which may be, for example bristles. A rotating drum with a plurality of protruding tines moves through the mesh and pulls individual plants from the agricultural material. A machine vision system may then sort the healthy, individual plants. The method includes presenting the agricultural material to the mesh, and then pulling individual plants through the mesh.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: Agricultural Robotics LLC
    Inventors: Claude Edward Brown, Darrell Mintz, Glenn Sakuma, Bob Tipton, Tom Loftus, Joseph Oran Shannon
  • APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR SEPARATING PLANTS
    Publication number: 20150053593
    Abstract: An apparatus and method is presented for separating healthy plants from agricultural material, such as harvested plants. The apparatus includes a conveyor to present the agricultural material to a mesh, which may be, for example bristles. A rotating drum with a plurality of protruding tines moves through the mesh and pulls individual plants from the agricultural material. A machine vision system may then sort the healthy, individual plants. The method includes presenting the agricultural material to the mesh, and then pulling individual plants through the mesh.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2014
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Inventors: Claude Edward Brown, Darrell Mintz, Glenn Sakuma, Bob Tipton, Tom Loftus, Joseph Oran Shannon