Patents by Inventor Matthew Wicks

Matthew Wicks has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20150063973
    Abstract: A robotic carton unloader for automatic unloading of cartons from a carton pile. In various embodiments, a robotic carton unloader may comprise a mobile body, a movable robotic arm attached to the mobile body and comprising an end effector configured to unload a row of cartons in a side-by-side orientation from the carton pile, and a conveyor system mounted on the mobile body and configured to receive the row of cartons from the end effector in the side-by-side orientation. In various embodiments the conveyor system may comprise a front-end descrambler and a central descrambler coupled to the front-end descrambler. In various embodiments, the robotic arm may be configured to straddle at least a portion of the mobile body and at least a portion of the conveyor system such that the conveyor system conveys cartons from the carton pile through the robotic arm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventors: Michael L. Girtman, Matthew Wicks
  • Publication number: 20150063972
    Abstract: A robotic carton unloader for automatic unloading of cartons from a carton pile. In various embodiments, a robotic carton unloader may comprise a mobile body, a movable robotic arm attached to the mobile body and comprising an end effector configured to unload a row of cartons in a side-by-side orientation from the carton pile, and a conveyor system mounted on the mobile body and configured to receive the row of cartons from the end effector in the side-by-side orientation. In various embodiments the conveyor system may comprise a front-end descrambler and a central descrambler coupled to the front-end descrambler. In various embodiments, the robotic arm may be configured to straddle at least a portion of the mobile body and at least a portion of the conveyor system such that the conveyor system conveys cartons from the carton pile through the robotic arm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventors: Michael L. Girtman, Tim Beilsmith, Matthew Wicks
  • Publication number: 20150037131
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2014
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Inventors: Michael L. Girtman, Brian E. Neville, Matthew Wicks
  • Publication number: 20140341694
    Abstract: A robotic carton unloader for automatic unloading of cartons from a carton pile stacked within a trailer. In various embodiments, a robotic carton unloader may comprise a conveyor system, a manipulator movably attached to an end of a robotic positioner and configured to dislodge one or more cartons from a carton pile; and a frame comprising a bumper configured to be pressed against the carton pile below one or more cartons being dislodged from the carton pile by the manipulator to stabilize the carton pile below the one or more cartons being dislodged; and a shelf configured to catch the one or more cartons dislodged from the carton pile and guide the one or more cartons dislodged from the carton pile onto the conveyor system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2014
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Inventors: Michael Girtman, Matthew Wicks
  • Publication number: 20140341695
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2014
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Inventors: Michael L. Girtman, Brian E. Neville, Matthew Wicks
  • Patent number: 8082915
    Abstract: According to embodiments of the present invention, a pellet stove includes a firepot assembly with a bottom plate slideable along rails to move between a closed position during combustion in the firepot and an open position during ash removal. According to other embodiments, a firebox or combustion enclosure includes a plurality of airfoils formed on the inner and outer surfaces of the enclosure to facilitate heat exchange between exhaust gases flowing across the inner surface of the enclosure and air blown across the outer surface of the enclosure. According to some embodiments, the airfoils and enclosure are of integral unibody construction. According to yet other embodiments, a user sets parameters via a wall control unit, and a stove control unit receives the parameters and automatically controls fuel feed rate, ignition, convection blower, combustion blower, and/or firepot cleaning based on the one or more parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: HNI Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Colin J. McCormick, Daniel S. Henry, Matthew Wicks, Gordon E. Taylor
  • Publication number: 20090183659
    Abstract: According to embodiments of the present invention, a pellet stove includes a firepot assembly with a bottom plate slideable along rails to move between a closed position during combustion in the firepot and an open position during ash removal. According to other embodiments, a firebox or combustion enclosure includes a plurality of airfoils formed on the inner and outer surfaces of the enclosure to facilitate heat exchange between exhaust gases flowing across the inner surface of the enclosure and air blown across the outer surface of the enclosure. According to some embodiments, the airfoils and enclosure are of integral unibody construction. According to yet other embodiments, a user sets parameters via a wall control unit, and a stove control unit receives the parameters and automatically controls fuel feed rate, ignition, convection blower, combustion blower, and/or firepot cleaning based on the one or more parameters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2009
    Publication date: July 23, 2009
    Applicant: HNI Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Colin J. McCormick, Daniel S. Henry, Matthew Wicks, Gordon E. Taylor
  • Publication number: 20070215143
    Abstract: According to embodiments of the present invention, a pellet stove includes a firepot assembly with a bottom plate slideable along rails to move between a closed position during combustion in the firepot and an open position during ash removal. According to other embodiments, a firebox or combustion enclosure includes a plurality of airfoils formed on the inner and outer surfaces of the enclosure to facilitate heat exchange between exhaust gases flowing across the inner surface of the enclosure and air blown across the outer surface of the enclosure. According to some embodiments, the airfoils and enclosure are of integral unibody construction. According to yet other embodiments, a user sets parameters via a wall control unit, and a stove control unit receives the parameters and automatically controls fuel feed rate, ignition, convection blower, combustion blower, and/or firepot cleaning based on the one or more parameters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2007
    Publication date: September 20, 2007
    Applicant: HNI TECHNOLOGIES INC.
    Inventors: Colin McCormick, Daniel Henry, Matthew Wicks, Gordon Taylor