Abstract: A portable and easily maneuverable two-tier storage rack for snowmobiles and the like includes a generally rectangular open framework including a lower horizontal frame member and an upper support platform, both of which are adapted to support a snowmobile, one above the other. The upper vehicle support platform is pivotally connected at one end to the upper portion of the framework between a downwardly inclined loading position in which position a snowmobile may be pulled upwardly onto the inclined platform and an upper storage position in which the other free end of the platform is raised to carry the snowmobile to an upper horizontal position. A second snowmobile may then be pulled onto the lower horizontal frame member for storage directly below the upper snowmobile. A first winch mounted on the rear of the storage rack is utilized to sequentially pull the first and second snowmobiles onto their respective supporting platforms.

Abstract: A mechanical-storage multi-level carpark includes a gantry structure formed by a set of uprights and crossbeams, defining a space inside which a vertical carrousel structure is supported, which is provided with car housing support.

Abstract: A chip feeder for supplying a multiplicity of chip parts retained on a tape from a tape supply section to a parts takeout section of a chip mounter. The chip feeder comprises: a working lever having a first, second and third arm portions; a driving source for applying working force to the first arm portion; a tape feed device interlockingly connected to the second arm portion, for intermittently feeding the tape at a predetermined pitch; a protective tape peel-off device interlockingly connected to the third arm portion, for peeling the protective tape off the tape intermittently fed, and a chip takeout device for taking out the chip parts from the tape. The driving source and the chip takeout device are, respectively, a driving source and a chip takeout device for the chip mounter itself, and the working lever is interlocked in operation with the chip mounter.

Abstract: A robotic feeding mechanism for feeding electrical connectors. Connector magazines having a plurality of electrical connectors therein can be held in a magazine feeder which comprises at least two worm gears for holding and moving connector magazines therebetween. The magazine feeder also comprises gates for holding a connector magazine received from the worm gears for dispensing individual connectors and means for operably moving the worm gears and gates for controllably advancing connector magazines towards the gates and moving the gates to replace an empty magazine with a new magazine. The feeding mechanism also comprises a device for feeding and inverting individual electrical connectors comprising a sloped feed path; a gate for holding a row of connectors; means for holding the row of connectors while a leading connector is allowed to advance along the feed path; and a tipping ledge and curved guide for inverting the lead connector as it advanced along the feed path.

Abstract: A component insertion machine having apparatus for mounting component magazines and arranged for loading components therefrom into the component insertion machine. Shuttle apparatus transversely positioned on th e mounting apparatus is arranged to receive ones of the component magazines and is slidably operable for laterally displacing one received component magazine with other received component magazines to maintain a continuous supply of components to the component insertion machine.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a handling device for a distribution chute of a shaft furnace, the said distribution chute being suspended pivotably on a rotary cage mounted by means of bearings in a housing installed in the head of the furnace and containing drive means for rotating the said cage about the vertical axis of the furnace and drive means for pivoting the chute about its horizontal suspension axis. The invention also relates to a mechanism for driving the chute which is suitable for this device.

Abstract: A storage and retrieval subsystem in a data processing system includes a plurality of magnetic tape cartridges, a host computer, and a library storage module storing the plurality of magnetic tape cartridges in substantially upright positions. The library storage module includes a first cylindrical array of storage cells centered about a vertical axis, a second cylindrical array concentrically arranged about the first array, and a library tape unit including a plurality of tape drives, each of the tape drives being adapted to receive one of the magnetic tape cartridges in a substantially horizontal transducing position. A robot within the library storage module is used to transfer selected ones of the magnetic tape cartridges between their substantially upright positions and the substantially horizontal transducing positions at a selected tape drive.

Abstract: A hoisting apparatus for the use in trucks has frame members 26, 28, 30, 32, 34 which are pivotally moveable and slidable connected to one another such that the apparatus can be assembled and disassembled by a single person and placed in a transporting position along the edges of the truck bed thereby occupying a very small portion of the load carrying space of the truck.

Abstract: A multigripper turret (26) for a part handling device (10) in which a circumferential array of gripper mechanisms (28) are each mounted for independent shifting movement in a convergent direction by an associated positioning mechanism (29) between an extended position centered on the axis of rotation of a rotary member (22) of the part handling device (10), and a radially outward retracted position. This enables a plurality of parts (20) to be handled by each motion of the part handling device (10).

Abstract: A nuclear fuel pellet unloading apparatus includes a transfer housing pivotally movable between an upright position remote from a pellet deposit site and an inverted position adjacent to the deposit site, and convertable between opened and closed conditions. In its upright position and closed condition, the housing receives a sintering boat loaded with nuclear fuel pellets and holds the boat while retaining the pellets within the boat as the boat is moved from upright to inverted orientations upon pivoting of the housing from its upright to inverted position. An actuator is operated for causing pivoting of the housing from its upright to inverted position and back to its upright position. A latch member latches the housing in its closed condition when the housing is disposed in its upright position and as the housing is pivoted from its upright position toward its inverted position.

Abstract: A lifting and dumping apparatus is shown for dumping the contents of a refuse container. A fixed frame is connected to a lifting attachment for moving the fixed frame between a rest position and an elevated position. A support frame is rotatably mounted on the fixed frame and has a pair of fork arms for engaging the refuse container. A piston actuated chain drive rotates the support frame and hence the refuse container between a horizontal position and a dumping position.

Abstract: This invention relates to a trailer for transporting solid, loose materials. The trailer features an elongated frame which is attached to a towing vehicle and which carries a bin for containing the solid material. A discharge means is associated with the bin to effect discharge of the material therefrom. The material is conveyed after discharged by a conveying means along a path which extends from the discharge means, over at least a portion of the towing vehicle, and to a dumping point forward of the towing vehicle. This path lies substantially in the vertical plane of the long axis of the trailer.

Abstract: A boat trailer having a frame, a pair of wheels, a mechanism for connecting the trailer to a prime mover, and a roller arrangement rearwardly on the frame for loading, unloading and supporting a boat: the improvement comprising a novel roller arrangement mounting device for a pair of roller assemblies each of which has a pair of rollers, and wherein a single non-metal mounting block provides independent rotatable engagement with the roller assemblies and with a frame connected mounting arm, whereby the roller assemblies are simultaneously rotatable about axes transverse to the frame longitudinal axis and within normally vertical planes to maintain the rollers in constant engagement with the boat hull.