Geoffrey S Parnell

Author:

Geoffrey Parnell

ISBN #:

0713468637

Author:

Geoffrey Parnell

ISBN #:

0713468645

Author:

Geoffrey Parnell

ISBN #:

0750917636

US Patent:

7017961, Mar 28, 2006

Filed:

Aug 6, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/914004

Inventors:

Geoffrey Parnell - Moseley VA, US
Paul Boyd - Midlothian VA, US
Lee Robinson - Ruther Glen VA, US
Tom Pearce - Ruther Glen VA, US

Assignee:

Bakery Holdings LLC - Richmond VA

International Classification:

B25J 15/06

US Classification:

294 2, 294 641, 901 40

Abstract:

Apparatus and method for holding an uncompressed bundle of product from the top with a vacuum assisted end effector and then simultaneously compressing the bundle from all sides at the same time with thin compression plates located about the periphery of a vacuum assisted end effector to form an evenly compressed product bundle that is then placed in a container with the compression plates between the product and the container walls. Once the bundle is received in the container, vacuum is removed; the inward force of the compression plates released and the compression plates removed vertically from between the product and the containers walls. The simultaneous compression from all sides provides even distribution of forces on the product and ensures that all product is compressed or deformed to the same degree. Using the apparatus described herein to place the bottom of the products gently onto the inside bottom of the container is further advantageous.

US Patent:

7353933, Apr 8, 2008

Filed:

Aug 6, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/914000

Inventors:

Geoffrey Parnell - Moseley VA, US
Paul Boyd - Midlothian VA, US
Landon Scott - Caledonia MI, US

International Classification:

B65G 47/30

US Classification:

1984193, 1984601

Abstract:

A loading system for the high speed loading of product in varying numbers comprising: an infeed conveyor having an infeed conveyor stop, a staging conveyor moving at a speed greater than the infeed conveyor and having a staging conveyor stop and a picking conveyor moving at or about the same speed as the staging conveyor and having a moveable picking conveyor stop. A photoelectric sensor or other similar counting device located in the region of the staging conveyor stop counts product as it moves from the infeed conveyor to the staging conveyor by counting the gaps between product units induced by the difference in the advancing speed of the infeed and the staging conveyors.

US Patent:

7950708, May 31, 2011

Filed:

Aug 15, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/192184

Inventors:

Geoffrey James Parnell - Moseley VA, US

Assignee:

AMF Automation Technologies, Inc. - Richmond VA

International Classification:

A47G 21/10

US Classification:

294 2, 294 65, 901 40

Abstract:

An end effector for a robot having an array of suction cups includes an air control valve connected to each suction cup. Each valve can be individually operated so that specific zones of suction cups may be activated while others are dormant. The dormant suction cups are closed to the sub-atmospheric pressure, so that leakage of air through unused suction cups is avoided, while only the suction cups of the selected zone perform the picking of the work products. This allows the end effector to provide accurate and constant sub-atmospheric pressure to the work products during the picking process.

US Patent:

20130029824, Jan 31, 2013

Filed:

Jul 27, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/192076

Inventors:

Johannes J.M. de Koning - Glen Allen VA, US
Geoffrey J. Parnell - Moseley VA, US
Stephen V. Turner - Mechanicsville VA, US

Assignee:

FLEXICELL INC. - Ashland VA

International Classification:

B31B 1/00

US Classification:

493180

Abstract:

A pallet tier cap forming apparatus is provided for forming a horizontal planar paperboard blank into a pallet tier cap. The blank includes a generally rectangular center panel having four edges, and four flaps connected by fold lines with the center panel edges, respectively. A blank transport device initially displaces the blank laterally in a first diagonal direction for simultaneous engagement with a first orthogonally arranged pair of drag walls, and vertically upwardly, thereby to break downwardly about associated fold lines a first pair of adjacent flaps of the blank. The blank is further displaced laterally in the first direction, thereby to reversely fold back the first pair of flaps about the associated wall junctions toward an acute angle relative to the blank center panel. The blank is then displaced in the opposite diagonal direction, and the forming steps are repeated to fold downwardly simultaneously a second pair of flaps.

US Patent:

20130197832, Aug 1, 2013

Filed:

Jan 27, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/360154

Inventors:

Kevin J. Jones - Mechanicsville VA, US
Johannes J.M. de Koning - Glen Allen VA, US
Geoffrey J. Parnell - Moseley VA, US

Assignee:

FLEXICELL INC. - Ashland VA

International Classification:

G06F 19/00

US Classification:

702 51

Abstract:

A leak detection system and method are characterized by scanning a surface of a vacuum package, generating a contour signal corresponding with the contour of the scanned surface, and comparing the contour signal with a stored contour signal of a similar package which is known to be free of leaks. The system includes a sensor such as a scanning device which scans a surface of the package and generates the contour signal. A signal processor connected with the scanning device processes the signal to generate a profile of the package surface. This profile is compared with a stored profile corresponding to a normal configuration for the package surface. When the scanned profile deviates from the stored profile, a leak within the scanned package is indicated.