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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.