Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus includes a process tube for processing a plurality of substrates, two boats for accommodating the substrates, two boat elevators, a substrate transfer unit for loading and unloading the substrates into and from the boats when the boats are at the first position. In this apparatus, each boat elevator has one boat mounted thereon and each of the boat elevators carries a corresponding boat between a first position located below the process tube and two corresponding second positions. Each of the boat elevators performs loading and unloading the corresponding boat into and from the process tube at the first position. Further, in the apparatus, a center position of the process tube is disposed inside a triangle formed by connecting the substrate transfer unit and the two boat elevators.

Abstract: Ready loading and unloading of objects are provided for by providing for alternating tilting of a bed of a dual tilt trailer in a first loading direction and in a second unloading direction. Ideally, the loading and unloading occur at opposing corners of the dual tilt trailer. This provides for a diagonal orientation of the object during all contact with the dual tilt trailer. Various safety features ensure safe operation of the dual tilt trailer. These include a locking assembly which locks the bed in a level transport orientation during the loading operation when the bed moves from the loading tilted orientation to the level transport orientation and which locks the bed in an unloading tilted orientation during the unloading operation when the bed moves from the level transport orientation to the unloading tilted orientation.

Abstract: A container loading and unloading apparatus including a container support frame at a base of a container main body and including a reception frame and a traverse frame; an inverted L-shaped container supporter in the traverse frame and including a horizontal adjustable supporter, a vertical supporter and a vertical adjustable supporter; covers formed at upper and lower ends of the vertical supporter and the vertical adjustable supporter, respectively; hanger fittings fixedly mounted in the covers for hanging a coil spring; a fixing device provided at a side surface of the traverse frame for fixing the container supporter; a reception groove formed on an outer side of the reception frame receiving the container supporter; elevation devices provided in a chassis of a freight car, each including a hydraulic cylinder operating in a vertically upward direction; and a guidance arrangement positioned corresponding to each elevation device.

Abstract: Bi-directional magazine and trays are disclosed. The bi-directional magazine and trays are used in double-picker automated storage library in which the double-pickers can never collide. The bi-directional magazine enables a double-picker to retrieve storage cartridges from either side of a magazine. The bi-directional magazine includes a tray for supporting a storage device removably mounted in a magazine, the storage tray being removable from a first end of the magazine and from a second end of the magazine, opposite from the first end. The storage tray may include a plurality of such storage trays. Each tray includes an engagement configuration on opposing ends of the tray for engaging with a picker mechanism for allowing the picker mechanism to pull the tray from the magazine at the first end or the second end of the magazine.

Abstract: A lift dolly is provided for lifting and transporting stand-mounted power tools and the like, with little effort. The dolly includes a pair of platforms and a wheel system having at least three castors extending downwardly from the platforms. The dolly is designed such that one step onto a latching or locking mechanism by the operator causes the wheel system to be forced downward relative to the stand thereby slightly lifting the power tool and stand off of the ground and enabling transport of same via the castors. Another step on the locking or latching mechanism disengages the wheel system and permits gravity to return the stand and tool firmly to the ground for use.

Abstract: A SMIF load port assembly is disclosed including a port door position compensation assembly capable of dynamically adjusting a relative spacing between a front surface of a port door and a front surface of a pod door loaded onto the load port assembly so as to compensate for any improper positioning of the front surface of the pod. The position compensation assembly includes a plunger translationally mounted in the port door, and a sensor for detecting a position of the plunger. As a pod is loaded onto the load port assembly is advanced toward the port door, the front surface of the pod door contacts the plunger at which point the position compensation assembly in combination with an overall controller can identify the exact position of the pod door. From this identification, the position of the port and/or pod doors may be adjusted to compensate for any improper positioning of the front surface of the pod door on the load port assembly.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a transporter. More particularly this invention relates to an apparatus that can be used to transport a large and heavy cylinder on a frame with easy maneuverability. The apparatus is designed mainly for use with propane cylinders that have legs, whereby the article is not lifted to be place on the transporter, instead the apparatus is slid or placed underneath the article without disturbing it.

Abstract: In adapting a semi-trailer for hauling ATVs, modular track segments of a predetermined length for conveniently spanning a plurality of longitudinally spaced, transversely extending E-bars that attach to the logistic posts in the side wall of the semi-trailer are arranged to provide an elevated deck structure in the trailer on which additional ATVs can be placed. In order to load both the floor level and the elevated deck level, appropriately sized and configured ramps that extend from ground level to the trailer floor, or alternatively to the elevated deck structure, permit the ATVs to be driven onto the trailer floor or its elevated deck.

Abstract: A tray feeder sequentially takes pallets, each holding a tray storing electronic parts, out of a magazine and feeds them to a pick-up position where the electronic parts are picked up by a transfer head of an electronic parts-mounting apparatus. The tray feeder comprises the magazines for containing the pallets in a stacked manner, a drawing portion for drawing the pallet from the magazine and carrying the same thereon, a lifting-lowering portion for vertically moving the drawing portion, a non-mounted-parts discharge portion provided above the magazines, and a replenishing portion for receiving the pallet, holding the empty tray from which the electronic parts have been picked up, and for recharging the pallet after fresh electronic parts are replenished. With this construction, there can be achieved the tray feeder that is excellent in the operation efficiency and is compact in size.

Abstract: A method for transporting a substrate between a carrier, which holds the substrate, and a semiconductor manufacturing unit, which receives the substrate. The method includes steps of applying the carrier, which holds the substrate, to a chamber, which houses the semiconductor manufacturing unit, in which chamber the environment of the semiconductor manufacturing unit is controlled, rotatably removing, by an opener, a door of the carrier and a door of the chamber, as a unit, from the carrier and the chamber, and transferring the substrate from the carrier and to the carrier, when the door of the carrier and the door of the chamber have been rotatably removed as a unit by the opener in the removing step. Also disclosed are semiconductor manufacturing apparatus utilizing such a method.

Abstract: The instant invention is directed to an implement transporter having an over-the-center latching mechanism that is selectively biased between locked and unlocked positions by the mere movement of a selection arm. Before moving the empty transporter, the latching mechanism is selectively biased in the locking position so that the ramps lock in place when the operator raises them from the light side, the ground-engaging end. To lower the ramps, the latching mechanism is selectively biased to the unlocked position. The weight of the ramp keeps the latch in place until the operator raises the far end of the ramp slightly, taking the load off the latch. The latch is pulled away from the ramp by the over-the-center mechanism and the ramp can be lowered to engage the ground.

Abstract: The instant invention is directed to method and apparatus for securing an implement to a transporter. The transporter has rigid hooks affixed thereto adjacent the platforms upon which the wheels of the implement rest during transport. The implement has horizontally protruding cross pins that rise as the header on the implement is lowered to the transport position. By directing the wheels of the implement onto the transporter, the cross pins are moved into the mouths of the hooks and then, upon lowering of the implement header, the pins are directed into the throats of the hooks, securing the implement to the transporter.

Abstract: A transporter for use in transporting a harvesting machine having a laterally movable tongue is disclosed wherein the transporter has a jack on the forward end thereof to be deployed during the loading process for improved stability. The jack includes components that lock the jack in place when a load is applied to the jack and unlocks the jack when that load is removed, allowing it to pivot rearwardly to a transport position without manual intervention.

Abstract: A coil handling device for engaging a coil having a depth and an interior surface defining a diameter and defining a longitudinal axis, is configured to engage the coil with the longitudinal axis oriented vertically and reorient the coil to position the longitudinal axis horizontally. The handling device includes a transport assembly, a lift assembly and a manipulating assembly. The manipulating assembly is mounted to the lift assembly and includes a pair of spaced apart support arms and a pivoting carriage carried by the support arms. The carriage includes a locking arm for engaging the interior surface of the coil along the depth of the coil and a thrust lever including a bearing arm and a lever arm disposed at an obtuse angle to one another opposite the locking arm.

Abstract: An elevated inverted cone product storage hopper having an enclosed volume with a central opening at the bottom. A dust-free transfer system removes and delivers stored product from the storage hopper through a hopper unloader. The unloader has a converging frustoconical transition body which continues from the inverted cone toward a bottom discharge port. An elongated delivery auger system coupled to the unloader comprises an elongated horizontal barrel having a delivery screw for rotation about its axis for moving product to a product delivery opening. A flexible enclosed delivery tube is coupled to the delivery opening, with the delivery tube having a compliant exterior shell for accommodating free axial length adjustment thereof. The hopper and the delivery auger are rotatable for positioning the auger barrel and enclosed delivery tube radially relative to the storage hopper.

Abstract: A crop material is unloaded from a storage bin by providing a generally triangular pit arranged below the base pad surface of the bin into which crop material can fall from the bin through one of two openings in the base floor. Opening the door of one of the openings at the center of the bin allows discharge of the material into the pit by gravity to an apex at a bottom of the pit below the opening. The pit has a bottom wall inclined upwardly and outwardly to exterior opening outside the bin. An auger standing outside the bin with an inclined auger tube is moved to a position extending downwardly from a top discharge end of the auger to a bottom feed end of the auger which is inserted into the pit through the exterior opening so as to extend to the apex at the bottom of the pit for extracting the material falling into the pit through the center opening.

Abstract: A containerized refuse collection truck that generally includes a cab having a chassis extending rearwardly therefrom, a compactor unit attached to a rear end of the chassis and a refuse container removably attached to the chassis between the cab and the compactor unit. The refuse container includes a door hingedly connected to a rear end of the container for swinging downwardly into the compactor unit in an open position. The door is driven by a piston of the compactor unit from its open position for receiving refuse on said door to a closed position for compacting the refuse within the container. The removable refuse container also preferably includes a removable ejector assembly positioned within the container at a front end thereof for ejecting refuse within the container out through the rear end of the container.

Abstract: A functional load lock apparatus having two or more load lock chambers mounted on a central chamber which can be mounted on a single opening in a vacuum chamber such as a substrate processing platform for making integrated circuits on silicon wafers. Each load lock chamber preferably has a semi-cylindrical valve which remains sealed when the load lock chamber is open to atmospheric pressure. A wafer cassette holder positioned within each load lock chamber can be loaded and unloaded while the semi-cylindrical valves seal the vacuum chamber from atmospheric pressure. The semi-cylindrical valve pivots to an open position when the load lock chamber is under vacuum and the entire wafer cassette moves from the load lock chamber to the central chamber.

Abstract: A vehicle cargo loading and unloading system for rotating a vehicle in an area where there is a limited amount of space in which to maneuver. The vehicle cargo loading and unloading system includes a vehicle support platform for supporting the vehicle to be turned. The vehicle support platform includes an upper surface, a lower surface and a peripheral edge extending between the upper and lower surfaces. A plurality of rolling assemblies is provided for rotatably turning the vehicle supporting platform. Each of the rolling assemblies is movably mounted to the lower surface of the vehicle supporting platform. A supporting shaft is provided for supporting the vehicle supporting platform. The supporting shaft includes a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is mounted to a central point of the vehicle supporting platform. A gear is mounted to a portion of the supporting shaft and is operationally coupled to a motor used for turning the shaft.

Abstract: A vehicle parking structure particularly well adapted for providing a parking capacity of up to about 20 vehicles has a structure framework with an entrance/exit level and a plurality of parking level floors, each of the floors having a pair of parking bays located on opposite sides of an elevator shaft. Vehicles to be parked are driven onto a vehicle tray, which is raised and lowered by means of an elevator in the elevator shaft. The elevator includes a shifter on which the tray is supported which allows the tray to be cantilevered outwardly from the elevator at a parking level. With the tray so cantilevered outwardly, the tray is incrementally lowered to rest on a pair of tray supports in the desired parking bay. The shifter is then retracted and the elevator can be raised or lowered to another level as required. To retrieve a vehicle, the elevator and shifter is positioned incrementally below the identified tray, and the shifter is extended into the bay.