Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an apparatus for moving appliances that includes a vehicle having a cargo area with a front region and a back region. The vehicle also includes a door for accessing the cargo area. A track is mounted within the vehicle. The track extends between the front and back regions of the cargo area. An extendable boom is slidably mounted on the track. The boom is movable between an extended orientation in which the boom is adapted to project outward through the door of the vehicle, and a retracted orientation. The present disclosure further includes a winch having a cable mounted on the boom, and a drive motor for raising and lowering the cable.

Abstract: A system for restraining a vehicle, such as a truck having a pair of separated tires mounted on an axle, positioned at a loading dock. A member is movable from a stored position near or under the loading dock to an operative position under the vehicle and located between said separated tires. A pair of restraining elements are mounted on the movable member and are movable from a stored position between the tires to an outward extended position where each of the restraining elements engage a respective one of said pair tires. A mechanism, such as an hydraulic system, is mounted to said member at one end and to a fixed point at the other to move the member to a position under the vehicle. The pair of restraining elements is moved to the outward extended position by action of the moving mechanism for the member or by movement of a sensor that contacts a tire.

Abstract: This apparatus relates to improved replaceable wear shoes for use with the slide guides of rear-loading refuse trucks.

Abstract: A service cart transportable in a van or truck is comprised of a vertically oriented pyramid-shaped profile. The pyramid shape offers a high degree of stability, making it virtually impossible to tip over during normal operating conditions, especially during transport. The cart has a four-wheel base. One set of wheels is preferably swivel casters for turning sharp corners. A second set of wheels is larger and located externally of the cart. These wheels increase the base of the pyramid profile and add to the cart's stability. The service cart may be transported to and from a job site. The cart fits into a van or truck bed. To remove the cart from the vehicle, a ramp system is provided. A mechanical or electrical winch may be used to transport the cart into or out of the vehicle.

Abstract: The present invention discloses methods and apparatus for use in a mass memory data storage system. The present invention includes a gripper assembly having a roller-inserter, which permits contact with a data cartridge to be retrieved from or archived in said data storage system. The present invention also includes methods to inventory cartridges in said data storage system using the roller-inserter to provide for a contact method of inventory. The present invention also provides for teach-mode probe functions and real-time cartridge position locators.

Abstract: A bulk seed bag carrier and dispenser of the present invention is adapted to transport and dispense the contents of a plurality of bulk seed bags. The bag carrier and dispenser includes a plurality of hoppers having V-shaped bottoms which help to empty the contents of the bag as well as stabilize the bag within the hopper. A horizontal auger is disposed below the hoppers and empties into a discharge auger having a movable and telescoping spout. The hoppers of the bulk seed carrier are offset to one side to allow a fork lift to move closer to the hoppers. The bulk seed carrier is preferably controlled by a wireless remote control.

Abstract: Two embodiments of a slope extension are disclosed herein for use with a vehicle restraint. In each embodiment, the vehicle restraint is adapted to releasably secure a parked trailer or other vehicle to an adjacent structure, such as a loading dock, and includes a carriage assembly which is adjustably mounted in proximity to the adjacent structure for movement relative to a roadway, and a restraining member which is operatively attached to the carriage assembly. In operation, each embodiment of the inventive slope extension interacts with the carriage assembly to avoid a "dead lock" condition wherein the carriage assembly is obstructed from moving downwardly toward the roadway.

Abstract: The primary function of the optional handler is to make plates available on demand to the imaging engine. A multitude of plates are stored inside cassettes and these cassettes are loaded into the handler. There may be up to four cassettes residing in the handler. Inside a cassette there may be a protective interleaf sheet, sometimes called a slip sheet, between each plate which is removed by the handler and discarded. The handler receives commands from the engine control sequencer which provides instructions as to what cassette needs to be accessed to make a plate available to the picker mechanism so the plate may be conveyed to the imaging engine. Conversely the handler provides status information to the engine to make full interaction with the system possible.

Abstract: A chip peeling apparatus has a plurality of protrusions which include first protrusions and second protrusions lower than the first protrusions. A vacuum pump communicates through holes with grooves defined between adjacent ones of the protrusions. A UV sheet is attached to chips, and the chips are supported in the vicinity of their corners by the tops of the first protrusions. When the vacuum pump is actuated, the chips and streets disposed between the chips are lowered, and the chips are curved and supported in abutment against the tops of the second protrusions. Each of the chips is gradually peeled off the UV sheet under a force tending to recover the original shape of the curved sheet. The chip peeling apparatus is effective in preventing the chips from being damaged and positionally deviated when the chips are attracted and carried.

Abstract: A portable overhead bin comprising a plurality of adjacent frame members pivotally connected such that the frame members form a horizontal transport frame when in the lowered transport position, and further form an elevated overhead frame when the frame members are moved to a raised operating position. A bin is supported by the frame members. A hitch is attached at the front end of the transport frame for attachment to a towing vehicle and wheels are adapted to support the transport frame for movement by the towing vehicle. A transport vehicle may be positioned between two of the frame members and under the bin to receive the contents thereof through a bottom discharge. A force, either external to the invention or included therein, is applied to at least one frame member to raise the bin into the overhead operating position. A conveyor may be provided to convey material into the raised bin.

Abstract: A vehicle lift for use in conjunction with a vehicle to facilitate passengers boarding and leaving the vehicle. The vehicle lift has an improved driving mechanism for moving a platform between a stowed position to a deployed position. The driving mechanism includes a bidirectional motor which is mechanically coupled to a gear box which in turn is coupled to a pinion that is connected to a main sprocket. A longitudinal bracket is affixed to the underside of a top panel of the mounting enclosure and is located parallel to a longitudinal guide bar. At both ends of the longitudinal bracket are sprockets which are coupled by a loop chain. Accordingly, engaging the main sprocket with the loop chain moves the traveling assembly inward or outward with respect to the vehicle. The chain is immobilized by a manual spring biased locking mechanism to prevent the chain from moving linearly along the bracket.

Abstract: The invention is a loading and unloading device for transporting small recreational or utility vehicles in a pickup truck. The invention comprises two stationary rails mounted on the bed of a truck. A ramp is slidably and pivotally attached to the stationary rails, and an interchangeable vehicle carriage or dump bed is slidably and pivotally mounted to the ramp. In use, the ramp and carriage are lowered by a winch so that the carriage is close to the ground and substantially horizontal. A small vehicle can then be placed on the carriage. A winch then pulls the carriage up the ramp until the vehicle's center of gravity is slightly rearward of the stationary rails. The carriage stops, and the winch pulls the ramp onto the stationary rails. The ramp can then be pushed into the bed of the truck.

Abstract: A ramp, for loading the box of a pick-up truck, has a pair of stringers and slidable rungs joined by lengths of chain. The stringers may be telescopically stored in storage tubes located on the box floor. The chains that join the rungs limit their separation when the ramp is extended. The stringers are tethered to the storage tubes when deployed and the storage tubes are optionally tethered to the truck box.

Abstract: A coal charging car for a coke-oven battery has a screw-type feeder beneath the coal hopper shiftable on the chassis of the car to allow positioning of the outlet of that feeder over the hole communicating with the coking chamber without moving the car.

Abstract: A tractor-mounted forklift comprising a first frame having its rearward end secured to the underside of the tractor and having its forward end secured to the forward end of the tractor about a longitudinally extending pivot axis. A second frame is pivotally secured, about a transverse axis, to the forward end of the first frame and has a pair of ground-engaging wheels mounted at the opposite sides thereof. A hydraulic cylinder is pivotally connected to and extends between the first and second frames to pivot the second frame upwardly and downwardly with respect to the first frame. A materials handling attachment, such as a bale grapple, is mounted on a vertically movable lift which is secured to the forward end of the second frame.

Abstract: A motorcycle maneuvering apparatus for moving a motorcycle about in a cramped location. The motorcycle maneuvering apparatus includes a front dolly member having wheels, a pair of frame sections mounted thereupon, a pair of cross members secured to the frame sections, and a pair of tire support member threaded upon the cross members, and further includes a middle dolly member having wheels, a platform mounted thereupon, and a pair of adjustable kickstand retaining members, and also includes a rear dolly member having wheels, a pair of frame sections mounted thereupon, a pair of cross members secured to the frame sections, and a pair of tire support member threaded upon the cross members, and in addition includes a ramp member having a pair of arm members for removably mounting to the front and rear dolly members to load the tires thereupon.

Abstract: An enclosed granular or powdered material storage reclaimer, having a floor, a vertical column at the center of the floor, conveyor means disposed below the floor, elongate transfer device hingedly attached to the column, an anchor pedestal for anchoring the bottom end of the column to a footing structure below, and a downwardly directed annular opening formed in the center of the floor, said opening having an inside wall and an outside wall, said annular opening being concentric with the vertical axis of the column and designed to receive granular or powdered material transported there by the elongate transfer device, such that the column may be directly supported by the anchor pedestal and the footing structure, and the conveyor means need not be located directly beneath the center of the column. Such an enclosed granular or powdered material storage reclaimer wherein the conveyor means comprises an air slide conveyor.

Abstract: A rear hydraulic outrigger assembly for a rotator or similar mobile wrecker wherein the rear outriggers are constructed and arranged to diverge rearwardly from the outrigger and are capable of outward lateral extension for increased stability. The rear outrigger includes a vertically extending portion and horizontally extending position which can be telescopically extended away from the rotator thereby increasing stability during loaded operation. This allows a large vehicle which requires rear stabilization room in the center part thereof for an underlift or similar structure while maintaining down and out stabilization advantages.

Abstract: For removing and transporting several spaced, parallel wafers stored in a container, a gripping device is provided. The gripping device has a holding rake and several gripping heads which can be rotated with respect to the holding rake. In one swivel position, the gripping heads are moved through between the wafers and then swivelled into another swivel position. In this latter position, the gripping heads are brought to a stop against the edges of the wafers movement of the gripping device, and then the opposite edges of the wafer disks are brought to stop against the counterholder by displacement of the counterholder. All wafers contained in the container are thus simultaneously securely held and can be displaced out of the container. In order to then swivel the wafers, the holding rake which has slots for receiving the wafer edges is also stopped at the wafer edges, and the counterholder is then pushed back. The wafers are therefore securely swivelled.

Abstract: A linkage assembly (20) for use with a platform or step lift (22) for transmitting force from a linear actuator (228) to a ramp (40) pivotally attached to the outer edge of the platform (26) of the lift so as to cause the ramp to travel through a rotational path of at least 180 degrees. The linkage assembly is designed so that no portion thereof extends more than about 0.25 inch above the upper surface (28) of the ramp and the top surface (48) of the platform, and so that the ramp is driven downwardly toward the extended position with a force insufficient to cause serious injury to a person's feet positioned in the path of travel of the ramp. Additionally, a hinge structure (700) is provided for use with a step lift for coupling the platform with its vertical extensions (66, 68) so as to permit the latter to pivot relative to the platform as the extensions move up and down within the vertical guides (80, 82) in which the vertical extensions are slidably received.