Abstract: An inline terminal system (300), which includes the steps of: (i) transporting (302) a first container with a cargo via an inbound railroad car to a terminal having a plurality of train rails; (ii) picking and placing (304) the first container from the railroad car to a track side location having at least one buffer in proximity to the plurality of train rails, including: (a) rotating the first container at an angle of at least ten or more degrees with respect to the train rails; and (b) positioning the at least one buffer substantially adjacent to the train rails, at the track side location, at an angle of at least ten or more degrees with respect to the train rails; and (iii) moving (306) the first container via a tractor truck to a desired location for unloading. This system provides a simple, robust and efficient method to load, and in the reverse unload, a container on a chassis or rail car, respectively.

Abstract: An article storage facility includes a storage rack that includes a plurality of storage units that store articles; a first article transport that includes a first vertically movable body guided by a first vertical guide and a first transit body configured to move along a path defined along the storage rack, the first vertical guide being provided in the first article transport so as to be positioned on one side of a lateral direction of the path; and a second article transport that includes a second vertically movable body guided by a second vertical guide and a second transit body configured to move along the path, the second vertical guide being provided in the second article transport so as to be positioned on the other lateral side of the path. The first transit body and the second transit body are configured so as to be able to pass each other.

Abstract: A personal mobility vehicle lift mounted to the rear portion of a vehicle to transport a personal mobility vehicle from location to location comprising a platform assembly configured to support a personal mobility vehicle thereon operatively coupled to a lift assembly to selectively raise and lower the platform assembly with or without a personal mobility vehicle thereon and a mount assembly coupled to the lift assembly to mount the personal mobility vehicle lift to the rear portion of a vehicle.

Abstract: The present invention is a processing apparatus comprising a transfer mechanism including at least one transfer plate, the transfer mechanism being configured to cause, when a substrate to be processed is placed on an upper surface of the transfer plate, the transfer plate to move while maintaining the substrate to be processed placed horizontally thereon. The transfer plate has a cantilevered support structure horizontally extending from a proximal end thereof to a distal end thereof in a fore and aft direction. An upper surface of the transfer plate is provided with a plurality of support projections configured to horizontally support the substrate to be processed at a substantially central position thereof and a rear position thereof in the fore and aft direction. The substrate to be processed is not supported on the distal portion of the transfer plate.

Abstract: A transmission lift arm to facilitate the safe lifting and/or lowering of a transmission from or into a transmission jack. The transmission lift arm is provided in pairs and each is adapted for attachment to a transmission bell housing utilizing threaded rods secured thereto. The lift arms may be adjustably spaced apart on the lift arm of a lift truck to accommodate various spacings is the bell housing holes into which the threaded rods are placed and secured. The transmission arms may also be provided in a variety of sizes to mount to different lift bar sizes and/or to have different size threaded rods to accommodate a wide range of motor vehicle transmissions. In alternate embodiments, transmission lift arms having an adjustable opening may be used to accommodate different lift bar dimensions.

Abstract: A tactile wafer lifting apparatus includes a pedestal and a vertical drive connected to the pedestal. The vertical drive is defined to provide controlled upward and downward movement of the pedestal. The tactile wafer lifting apparatus also includes a wafer support member disposed over the pedestal. A tactile switch is disposed between the wafer support member and the pedestal such that sufficient downward force on the wafer support member causes activation of the tactile switch. The tactile switch is connected to the vertical drive so as to interrupt upward movement of the pedestal and wafer support member disposed thereover upon activation of the tactile switch.

Abstract: A system for lifting, handling, and transporting containers includes a trailer that is either connectable to a truck or permanently affixed to a truck. The trailer has front and rear ends and is configured to receive and hold a container. A dolly is mounted on the trailer to lift and handle the container while maintaining the container in an upright orientation. The dolly travels between the front and rear ends of the trailer.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a system for loading and unloading loose cargo, such as preferably pieces of luggage or the like, in a cargo hold of a plane, including conveying the loose cargo towards the inner end of the cargo hold during loading, or away from it during unloading, and including transport of the loose cargo between the level of the tarmac and the cargo hold opening. The loose cargo may during loading be conveyed into the fuselage in a direction transversal to the longitudinal axis of the plane and also in the longitudinal direction of the plane, and deposited, in the cargo hold. Loose cargo conveyed back into the plane of the cargo hold opening during unloading may be conveyed off transversely to the longitudinal axis of the plane through the cargo hold opening. Moreover the invention proposes intermediate conveyor means herefor.

Abstract: A wafer boat assembly for use with a loading apparatus configured to insert the wafer boat assembly loaded with semiconductor substrates into a furnace. The wafer boat assembly includes a first wafer boat part comprising a base and a first cover part mounted on the base; and a second wafer boat part comprising a second cover part that is provided with receiving slots for holding a plurality of semiconductor substrates. The second cover part has an arcuate shape that extends from a first longitudinal edge to a second longitudinal edge. The first and second wafer boat parts are detachably connectable, such that they mate together to extend around an outer perimeter of a loaded substrate at a predetermined distance.

Abstract: An elevating conveyance device with improved versatility which can be utilized for transferring an automobile body in an automobile assembly line, etc.

Abstract: An apparatus for moving parked aircraft with an omni-directional tractor via an aircraft lift dolly that is revolvably coupled thereto which includes a hinged gate to entrap the aircraft nose gear. The aircraft lift dolly may be removably detachably coupled to the omni-directional tractor or may be integral to it through two attachment points via attachment members. The aircraft lift dolly includes a lift mechanism having a lift carriage which is selectively elevated. The lift carriage includes a fixed forward chock and a rear chock that it repositioned longitudinally with respect to the forward chock and is hingedly coupled. The chocks are positioned about the aircraft nose gear without movement of the aircraft. Elevating the lift cradle elevates the chocks and the nose gear cradled therebetween.

Abstract: A storage (10) unloads and loads a load (3) with a transporting carriage (2). The storage is provided with a port capable of transferring said load from or to said transporting carriage; a plurality of rack portions (15) capable of accommodating or putting said load thereon; a driving device (19) capable of moving said load between said port and said plurality of rack portions, and mutually between said plurality of rack portions; and a controlling device (20) for controlling said driving device to (i) firstly move said load to an temporary rack portion for unloading, which is one of said plurality of rack portions, and (ii), after once accommodating or putting said load on said temporary rack portion, move said load to said port from said temporary rack portion, in case of moving said load from said plurality of rack portions to said port.

Abstract: A method is provided where the method includes configuring a plurality of robots so that a wafer can be handed off between neighboring robots, and disposing a plurality of sensors so that a robotic arm-relative position of a wafer that is transported by a robot is determined from sensor outputs by moving the wafer through a retract, rotate, and extend path.

Abstract: The invention concerns a parking lot at least partly automatic comprising at least one floor (1; 1a, 1b) including parking lanes (4) separated by lateral boundaries (5), characterized in that each parking lane (4) comprises one or more driving means (7) to drive a vehicle in the longitudinal direction up to a free place and in that the entry and exit ends of the parking lanes (4) are connected to transport means (8, 9) allowing the automatic entry and exit of the vehicles in and out of the parking lanes (4).

Abstract: An apparatus for unloading bulk material form a silage bag, the apparatus collecting and lifting the grain while moving in a direction against the bag and cutting the bag in an upper part thereof, the apparatus dividing the bag in two side strips that are rolled up in rotary side spools, wherein once the strips are rolled up in the spools the spools are removed from the apparatus to collect the bag strips.

Abstract: A rack for loading and accumulating bags comprises: a) a frame; b) a plurality of similarly sized shelves maintained in a horizontal position; c) said frame carrying similar shelves on an opposite side; d) tracks and a powered mechanism to rotate the shelves. After a first shelf positioned on a bottom portion of the first long side is loaded, it can be moved upwardly, generally concurrently rotating all of the shelves around the rack. All of the shelves can be thereby loaded from the portion position on a first long side. Lifting and carrying required to completely fill the rack is thereby minimized. Most preferably a shelf unloading mechanism is provided to push the shelf and/or bags loaded thereon off the rack; so that all of the shelves can be discharged therewith, by rotatably moving all of the shelves after each shelf has been unloaded.

Abstract: A material handling vehicle, such as an AGV, for loading and unloading a transport and wherein the vehicle includes a pair of freely floating forks. The forks are freely moveable in the vertical direction as well as capable of pivoting or tilting about an axis relative to a fork carriage, however when a load is applied, the forks are locked are prevented from such free floating movement.

Abstract: A grain cart has a wheel supported frame on which is mounted an open top container having inclined bottom walls and including a single discharge auger conveyor having a lower section extending from a sump for the container adjacent a front left inclined corner portion of the container. The auger conveyor has an extended upper section supported by a hinge assembly having a pivot axis offset and askewed at an acute angle from the auger axis. The hinge assembly provides for pivoting the upper conveyor section between an inclined grain discharge position projecting upwardly, laterally outwardly and forwardly from the container and a stored position inclined downwardly at a substantial angle from the hinge assembly in front of the container. In the stored position, the grain discharge outlet is located lower than the top surfaces of the wheels.

Abstract: The present invention is a refuse truck lift arm with sections that are bolted, not welded, together. Where the sections are joined together there is a recess and key arrangement. The key is seated in the recess of each half and straddles the inner face that divides them. In this way, shear forces that would otherwise be entirely borne by the bolts are also placed on the key. Each of the three sections, called “weldments,” are welded together in a novel way. The welding placement and sequence reduces welding distortion. Two C-shaped steel pieces are used for each straight section of each weldment. First, interior reinforcing brackets are welded into each C-section. Next, the two C-shaped sections are welded together, with the weld being between the edges that will form the thin side of the arm.

Abstract: A truck for collecting trash from a trash container includes a body having a front, a main hopper, and a trash-receiving station disposed in front of the main hopper. A pick up arm assembly is connected to the front, so that the pick up arm assembly can selectively pick up the trash container and dump the trash into the trash-receiving station. A main conveyor moves the trash from the trash-receiving station to the main hopper. The pick up arm assembly can be easily removed from the front of the truck, and can be pivoted outward for maintenance purposes.