US 12,228,557 B2
Moisture detection apparatus and process
Gregory Paul Kirkjan, Palm Desert, CA (US)
Assigned to Desert Valley Date, Inc., Coachella, CA (US)
Filed by Desert Valley Date, Inc., Palm Desert, CA (US)
Filed on Mar. 28, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/656,834.
Application 17/656,834 is a continuation of application No. 16/915,918, filed on Jun. 29, 2020, granted, now 11,287,412.
Application 16/915,918 is a continuation of application No. 16/100,997, filed on Aug. 10, 2018, granted, now 10,697,949, issued on Jun. 30, 2020.
Application 16/100,997 is a continuation of application No. 15/167,836, filed on May 27, 2016, granted, now 10,048,241, issued on Aug. 14, 2018.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/256,646, filed on Nov. 17, 2015.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/167,494, filed on May 28, 2015.
Prior Publication US 2022/0373527 A1, Nov. 24, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. B07C 5/34 (2006.01); B07C 5/344 (2006.01); G01N 27/72 (2006.01); G01N 33/02 (2006.01)
CPC G01N 33/025 (2013.01) [B07C 5/344 (2013.01); G01N 27/72 (2013.01); B07C 2501/009 (2013.01)] 21 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A water detection apparatus for detecting water content in a food product, the apparatus comprising:
a conveying mechanism configured to move at least one food product through an aperture in the apparatus;
at least one transmitter coil configured to transmit a signal within the aperture, wherein the at least one food product alters the signal, wherein the at least one transmitter coil is positioned around the aperture such that the conveying mechanism is configured to move through the at least one transmitter coil;
at least one receiver coil configured to receive the altered signal;
a temperature sensor configured to detect a temperature of the at least one food product; and
a signal processing unit configured to determine at least one output value associated with the at least one food product moving through the aperture based, at least in part, on the temperature, the signal, and the altered signal, wherein the at least one output value corresponds to water content of the at least one food product.