The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 14, 2006
Filed:
Nov. 05, 2003
Michael S. Head, Princeton, NJ (US);
John Cronin, Essex Junction, VT (US);
Mark Burrows, Newtown, PA (US);
Cynthia Timblin, Burlington, VT (US);
Michael S. Head, Princeton, NJ (US);
John Cronin, Essex Junction, VT (US);
Mark Burrows, Newtown, PA (US);
Cynthia Timblin, Burlington, VT (US);
Other;
Abstract
An apparatus () and method () for detecting the presence of one or more chemical contaminants in/on a plurality of items, e.g., cork stoppers (), using nose chips (). The apparatus utilizes detection sensor electronics () that are separate from the nose chips such that each nose chip can be either reused or discarded after use. The apparatus moves the nose chips and the cork stoppers independently to align the cork stopper and a corresponding nose chip with one another. The testing apparatus uses multiple sensor units () to simultaneously test multiple cork stoppers for chemical contaminants (e.g., TCA). The invention provides a low-cost, reliable process for testing 100% of cork stoppers in a fast and cost-effective manner that is scalable to the general consumer product market.