Brian J Neville

US Patent:

20030160122, Aug 28, 2003

Filed:

Feb 28, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/084130

Inventors:

Michael Girtman - O'Fallon MO, US
Brian Neville - Glen Carbon IL, US

International Classification:

B65H075/30
B65H075/48

US Classification:

242/381000, 242/396000

Abstract:

A governing device including a return spring and a spool upon which a line or cord is wound, includes on a fixed housing element a magnetic or a conductive material and on the rotating portion of the spool respectively either a magnet or a layer of conductive material is provided. When the line or cord is retracted by the spring, a hysteresis loop is formed in the conductive material by the magnet causing an eddy current which slows down the rate of retraction of the line to provide safety in the rate of return of the line or cord.

US Patent:

20070074954, Apr 5, 2007

Filed:

Nov 10, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/578563

Inventors:

Brian Neville - Edwardsville IL, US

International Classification:

B65G 47/24

US Classification:

198401000

Abstract:

An non-contact article rotating device is disclosed that rotates articles without impacting or contacting the article other than the bottom of the article. The device is designed to accept a stream of articles with minimum gaps between them, and rotate only those that are programmed to be rotated. The device accepts any combination of rotated and non-rotated articles and can rotate them through angles up to and through 360 degrees. One embodiment of the disclosed device uses only one single-speed drive motor and pneumatic components to operate two conveyor roller sections. While one conveyor roller section maintains a constant speed, the conveyor rollers of the second conveyor roller section are sequentially braked and unbraked to rotate an article that is positioned partially on the first conveyor roller section and partially on the second conveyor roller section. The difference in speeds between the two conveyor sections rotates the article.

US Patent:

20150037131, Feb 5, 2015

Filed:

Jul 29, 2014

Appl. No.:

14/445929

Inventors:

- Mason OH, US
Brian E. Neville - Edwardsville IL, US
Matthew Wicks - St. Charles MO, US

International Classification:

B65G 67/24
B25J 15/06

US Classification:

414797, 901 40

Abstract:

A robotic carton unloader for automatic unloading of cartons from a carton pile, such as a carton pile stacked within a trailer. In various embodiments, a robotic carton unloader may comprise a conveyor system, a robotic positioner, and a manipulator having a conformable face configured to conform to irregularities of the carton pile, and the manipulator may be movable attached to an end of the robotic positioner.

US Patent:

20140341695, Nov 20, 2014

Filed:

Jul 29, 2014

Appl. No.:

14/445964

Inventors:

- Mason OH, US
Brian E. Neville - Edwardsville IL, US
Matthew Wicks - St. Charles MO, US

International Classification:

B65G 61/00

US Classification:

414797

Abstract:

A robotic carton unloader for automatic unloading of cartons from a carton pile, such as a carton pile stacked within a trailer. In various embodiments, a robotic carton unloader may comprise a conveyor system, a robotic positioner, and a manipulator having a conformable face configured to conform to irregularities of the carton pile, and the manipulator may be movable attached to an end of the robotic positioner.