Helmut R Klotzsch

56028903, Feb 11, 1997

Sep 27, 1995

8/534846

Glenn Gray - Waipshu HI
Clayton Wood - Framingham MA
Helmut W. Klotzsch - Groton MA

Thermedics Detection Inc. - Chelmsford MA

G01N 2310

378 57

A container inspection system for inspecting a moving container includes a radiation source positioned to direct radiation at the moving container. A radiation detector is positioned to receive a portion of the radiation from the radiation source that is not absorbed or blocked by the moving container and to generate electrical signals in response thereto. Processing circuitry produces multi-dimensional image data for the moving container based on the electrical signals generated by the radiation detector, and compares at least a first portion of the multi-dimensional image data to a corresponding portion of the multi-dimensional image data for a standard container. Thereafter, the processing circuitry determines, based on a result of the comparison, one or more characteristics of the container from the set of characteristics including the fill level of the container, whether the container is underfilled, whether the container is overfilled, whether the container is properly pressurized, and whether the container is sealed.

54181704, May 23, 1995

Apr 22, 1993

8/051209

David P. Rounbehler - Bedford MA
Eugene K. Achter - Lexington MA
David H. Fine - Sudbury MA
Freeman W. Fraim - Lexington MA
Stephen J. MacDonald - Salem NH
Helmut W. Klotzsch - Groton MA

The Coca-Cola Company - Atlanta GA

G01N 2176
G01N 3502

436111

A method and system for injecting liquid into containers and for inspecting containers for the presence of certain substances such as potential contaminants such as ammonium salts or amine salts in glass or plastic bottles. A high speed system and method are provided for detecting these contaminants in these bottles. Ammonia and amines can be detected by chemiluminescence of samples of volatiles emitted from the bottles during the high speed inspection process. A solution of Na. sub. 2 CO. sub. 3 is injected into the bottles in order to enhance the conversion of ammonium or amine salts to free ammonia or amines which are then released as vapors. This enhances the likelihood that a gas-phase detection system such as one using chemiluminescence detection techniques will detect the presence of contaminants containing ammonium salts or amine salts.

53975405, Mar 14, 1995

Mar 21, 1994

8/215362

David P. Rounbehler - Bedford MA
Eugene K. Achter - Lexington MA
David H. Fine - Sudbury MA
Freeman W. Fraim - Lexington MA
Stephen J. MacDonald - Salem NH
Helmut W. Klotzsch - Groton MA

The Coca-Cola Company - Atlanta GA

G01N 2101

422 8208

A system for injecting liquid into containers moving through an inspection station at variable speeds without spilling liquid over the outside of, or between, the containers for inspecting the containers for the presence of certain substances such as potential contaminants, such as ammonium salts or amine salts in glass or plastic bottles. The movements of each container is tracked with sensors upstream of a high speed injector, and one or more nozzles is timed to inject liquid in a narrow, high velocity stream only while the top opening of a container is under the nozzle(s). The liquid is employed to enhance liberation of vapors from within the containers for detection of the contaminants in the containers.

55280366, Jun 18, 1996

Feb 17, 1994

8/198217

Eugene K. Achter - Lexington MA
John S. Beaty - Belmont MA
Helmut W. Klotzsch - Groton MA
Craig D. Thompson - Natick MA

Thermedics Detection, Inc. - Waltham MA

G01N 2190

25033912

To spectrally detect a contaminant in a moving container, a set of reference spectral information related to one or more containers having known contents is stored. Thereafter, radiant energy is directed at liquid near the bottom of the container so that the radiant energy is modified by the contents of the container and travels through the contents of the container in multiple paths of varying length. Spectral information from detected portions of the modified radiant energy is obtained, and is compared to the stored set of reference spectral information using correlation techniques. Based on the relationship between this spectral information and the stored set of reference spectral information, the presence or absence of a contaminant is indicated.

60501332, Apr 18, 2000

Jun 8, 1999

9/327858

Eugene K. Achter - Lexington MA
Jonathan E. Bosworth - Acton MA
Helmut Klotzsch - Acton MA

True Technology, Inc. - Newton MA

G01M 304

73 407

A method and apparatus are directed to non-destructive testing for a leak in a sealed package having an interior chamber formed of a gas-permeable portion and a non-gas-permeable portion. A temporary barrier having an aperture is formed to the gas-permeable portion to temporarily seal the gas-permeable portion of the sealed package except at the aperture. A tracer gas is applied through the aperture at the gas-permeable portion, whereby the tracer gas enters into the interior chamber. The concentration of tracer gas is measured at the exterior of the sealed package, thereby testing for a leak in the sealed package.

59396199, Aug 17, 1999

Dec 2, 1997

8/982728

Eugene K. Achter - Lexington MA
Jonathan E. Bosworth - Acton MA
Helmut Klotzsch - Acton MA

True Technology, Inc. - Newton MA

G01M 304

73 407

A method and apparatus are directed to non-destructive testing for a leak in a sealed package having an interior chamber formed of a gas-permeable portion and a non-gas-permeable portion. A temporary barrier having an aperture is formed to the gas-permeable portion to temporarily seal the gas-permeable portion of the sealed package except at the aperture. A tracer gas is applied through the aperture at the gas-permeable portion, whereby the tracer gas enters into the interior chamber. The concentration of tracer gas is measured at the exterior of the sealed package, thereby testing for a leak in the sealed package.

55369359, Jul 16, 1996

Nov 8, 1994

8/337824

Helmut W. Klotzsch - Groton MA
Eugene K. Achter - Lexington MA
Fuquan Gao - Cambridge MA
Craig D. Thompson - Natick MA
Glenn R. Gray - Woburn MA
Jose A. Santos - Ludlow MA

Thermedics Detection, Inc. - Chelmsford MA

G01N 904
G06M 700

250223B

To detect a foaming contaminant in a moving container, an image of the moving container and any contents thereof is produced. Thereafter, image processing techniques are used to determine levels of low and high frequency spatial variations in intensity in the image. The levels of low and high frequency spatial variations in intensity are then compared to determine the presence of a foaming contaminant.

54866936, Jan 23, 1996

Nov 8, 1994

8/337817

Eugene K. Achter - Lexington MA
Helmut W. Klotzsch - Groton MA
Craig D. Thompson - Natick MA
Fuquan Gao - Cambridge MA
Jonathan E. Bosworth - Acton MA

Thermedics Detection Inc. - Chelmsford MA

G01N 2124

250223B

To detect a turbid contaminant in a moving container, radiant energy having a wavelength that is absorbed by contents of the moving container that include the turbid contaminant at a different level than energy having the wavelength is absorbed by contents of the moving container that include a non-contaminant is directed into the container. Thereafter, a level of radiant energy scattered by contents of the container is detected. The presence of a turbid contaminant is indicated when the detected level of scattered radiant energy differs from a threshold level.