Patents by Inventor Zach Francis

Zach Francis 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).

  • Smoking article package inspection system and associated method
    Patent number: 10063814
    Abstract: A smoking article package inspection system configured to inspect a smoking article package is provided. The system includes imaging devices configured to capture images of the smoking article package and an analysis unit configured to analyze the images captured by the imaging devices and determine whether the smoking article package is defective. The imaging devices may be positioned and configured to capture images of the smoking article package at least one of: before and after enclosing a plurality of smoking articles in the smoking article package, before and after printing an identifier on the smoking article package, and before and after wrapping the smoking article package with an outer wrapper. A related method is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
    Inventors: Gary Lee Wood, Chris Campbell, Hung Phan, Hugh Gates, Jim Belk, Zach Francis, Reginald Thomas, Luke Hutchens
  • Smoking Article Package Inspection System and Associated Method
    Publication number: 20150264319
    Abstract: A smoking article package inspection system configured to inspect a smoking article package is provided. The system includes imaging devices configured to capture images of the smoking article package and an analysis unit configured to analyze the images captured by the imaging devices and determine whether the smoking article package is defective. The imaging devices may be positioned and configured to capture images of the smoking article package at least one of: before and after enclosing a plurality of smoking articles in the smoking article package, before and after printing an identifier on the smoking article package, and before and after wrapping the smoking article package with an outer wrapper. A related method is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Publication date: September 17, 2015
    Applicant: R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
    Inventors: Gary Lee Wood, Chris Campbell, Hung Phan, Hugh Gates, Jim Belk, Zach Francis, Reginald Thomas, Luke Hutchens