Abstract: The present invention concerns a system for loading and unloading loose cargo (6), such as preferably pieces of luggage or the like, in a cargo hold (1) of a plane, including conveying the loose cargo (6) towards the inner end of the cargo hold (1) during loading, or away from it during unloading, and including transport of the loose cargo (6) between the level of the tarmac and the cargo hold opening. In the system of the invention, the loose cargo (6) 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 (1). Loose cargo (6) 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 (2) herefor.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for aligning a small-size component with vacuum pick-up nozzles within turrets used with electronic components or assembly equipments. The method comprises the steps of picking-up the component with a pick-up nozzle; measuring a position of the component in respect to a defined value; bringing the component held by the pick-up nozzle in contact with a aligning device; holding the component with the aligning device and; moving the aligning device in order to align the component based on the position measurement.

Abstract: An article transporting apparatus includes a traveling carriage adapted to run along a travel rail, a pair of front and rear lift guide masts mounted on the traveling carriage to be spaced apart from each other and connected to each other at upper ends thereof by an upper frame, a lift adapted to vertically move along the pair of front and rear lift guide masts, and an article transfer device provided in the lift, wherein one of the pair of front and rear lift guide masts includes a plurality of posts mounted upright to be spaced apart from each other and a plurality of diagonal members for connecting the adjacent posts to each other, the one of the pair of front and rear lift guide masts having a horizontal section area greater than that of the other of the pair of front and rear lift guide masts.

Abstract: The invention is an operating device including an apparatus suited to move a support with an alternating motion around an axis. The apparatus includes one or more permanent magnets arranged along a section of a circumference that is concentric with the axis and a winding controlled by a control unit. The invention also concerns a machine for checking and inspecting containers.

Abstract: A transport method for disk-shaped semiconductor wafer workpieces has a horizontally movable transport arm with two elongated carrying elements at one end, for receiving the workpiece. A cassette which includes a comb structure at each side for receiving several workpieces, is inserted free of contact between two adjacent combs with workpieces therein for vertically lifting a workpiece. The carrying elements are disposed such that during a cassette engagement they are each positioned substantially adjacent and parallel to the comb structure along a comb, and in this region along and between two adjacent comb planes on one side of the cassette, a scanning beam is provided for workpiece acquisition. The scanning beam is relatively height-positionable with respect to the cassette and is tilted about a small angle with respect to the horizontal workpiece plane.

Abstract: Arbitrary pieces of semiconductor wafers are supported flexibly on either the upper side or the lower side. The present invention is a thin plate container for supporting plural semiconductor wafers for use in carriage, storage, processing, etc. It comprises processing trays plurally stacked in a state of each supporting at least one semiconductor wafer individually and a coupling mechanism for integrally coupling the processing trays in a state where the processing trays are plurally stacked and separating the processing trays at an arbitrary location. Each processing tray has a one-side support for supporting at least one semiconductor wafer on its one side and the other-side support mutually fitted to the one-side support of the other processing tray on the other side to form a housing space sealed off from the external environment for constraining and supporting the thin plate.

Abstract: A storage apparatus has an rack of storage bins, a pick head drive unit to drive a pick head to an access location for a selected bin, and a platform drive unit to drive a platform forming part of the pick head into and out of the rack to pick or load packages at a selected bin of the rack. The platform has a cam formation which, in the course of entry of the platform into the rack acting to lift a desired package until the platform reaches a clearance position at which the cam formation clears the package. Subsequent withdrawal of the platform from the rack acts to drag the desired package from the selected bin.

Abstract: An article handling apparatus for gripping and moving an article such as a large tire or other vehicular component of a mining, earthmoving or like vehicle. The article handling apparatus includes a base frame for movement of the apparatus over a substrate surface, and a handling frame for gripping the article, such as a tire. The apparatus has a pair of moveable arm members on the base frame, and a pair of moveable arm members on the handling frame. The apparatus can be compactly stored by contraction of the arms, can be manipulated through tight spaces, and is extremely stable while handling large and heavy articles.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an in-line furnace includes a continuous conveyor configured to hold wafers at an angle relative to ground. The conveyor may have fixedly integrated wafer retainers configured to hold the wafers in slots. The conveyor may be formed by several segments that are joined together. Each of the segments may include a base and a set of wafer retainers formed thereon. The conveyor may be driven to move the wafers through a chamber of the furnace, where the wafers are thermally processed.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for concurrent processing of several substrates. The system employs a novel architecture which, while being linear, may autonomously sequence processing and move substrates in different directions as necessary. The system moves several substrates concurrently; however, unlike the prior art it does not utilize trays.

Abstract: A method for unloading inventory items includes storing an inventory item on an inventory holder and moving the inventory holder toward an unloading station with a mobile drive unit. Additionally, the method includes moving the inventory holder past a barrier of the unloading station. The method further includes preventing the inventory item from moving past the barrier as the mobile drive unit moves the inventory holder past the barrier.

Abstract: A mounting frame for attaching a backhoe or other implement to a lift arm of a vehicle, such as a compact loader, includes an upright arm on the mounting frame that is positioned ahead of and adjacent to a forward portion of a lift arm of the loader. The upright arm carries a pivoting locking handle at a first pivot and a locking link is pivotally supported on the locking handle on a first pivot pin. The locking link has a second pivot pin that can be moved to be supported in an existing pin sleeve or bushing on the lift arm. The pivot pins on the locking link are positioned so that when the locking handle is moved to a locked position, the line between the axes of the pivot pins on the locking link goes over center with respect to the pivot axis of the first pivot locking handle, and a hook end of the link latches onto a locking projection on the upright arm. The mounting frame is held in a fixed position relative to the lift arm.

Abstract: A container transfer system for a transport vehicle includes a lift assembly which has spaced lift lugs that can extend into spaced recesses in the floor of a mating storage container and attachment straps that respectively extend from opposite ends of a mast to connection elements on the respective sides of the container to connect the container to the lift assembly and enable the lift assembly to lift the container onto the vehicle for transport to another location and thereafter download the container off the vehicle.

Abstract: In the figures there is provided a bin handling apparatus comprising a trailer (10) having a pair of spaced chassis members (14) defining a rear-opening space. A hoist assembly (16) includes spaced support beams (17) pivoted at pivots (20). The forward ends of the support beams (17) are interconnected and support a hoist tower (22) having a lift chain moving a tine carriage (24) from which is cantilevered a pair of spaced lifting tines (26). A tipping ram (27) serves to rotate the hoist assembly (16) about the pivots (20). A headstock (30) on the hoist tower (22) has apertured bin engaging lugs. An open-topped bin assembly (31) has a movable wall (35) hinged to the upper, rear edge and forming a closure which can be locked in the closed position by latches. The front wall of the bin has engagement lugs (37) with apertures adapted to align with the apertures in the bin engaging lugs, and be retained by an elongate steel pin (40).

Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus includes a transport chamber capable of holding an isolated atmosphere therein and communicably connected to a charging station for loading and unloading a substrate into the apparatus, a transport system inside the transport chamber for transporting the substrate and an array of processing chamber modules distributed alongside the transport chamber and communicably connected to the transport chamber to allow the substrate to be transferred therebetween.

Abstract: An inner wall surrounding an inner space for vertically circulating a rack, and an outer wall surrounding the inner wall are provided. Then, a rack is disposed in the inner space. A pair of extensions are provided at diagonal positions of the rack. The extensions are attached to an endless drive member in a manner that the extensions protrude toward an outer space between the inner wall and the outer wall through slits of the inner wall, and, a drive mechanism for a drive member is provided in the outer space. Further, a tunnel passing through the outer space to connect the inner space and an area outside of the vertical carousel is provided for transportation of an article into, and out of the tunnel.

Abstract: A device for lifting and moving shelves, in particular shelves for cages for laboratory animals, said device comprising: means for lifting at least one shelf, and for keeping it lifted from the ground; moving means to allow displacement of the device in the presence of a shelf lifted from the ground, along at least one direction. Structure comprising several devices as described above, engaged with a driving system to allow translation along a common direction.

Abstract: A semiconductor workpiece processing system having at least one processing apparatus for processing workpieces, a primary transport system, a secondary transport system and one or more interfaces between first transport system and second transport system. The primary and secondary transport systems each have one or more sections of substantially constant velocity and in queue sections communicating with the constant velocity sections.

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: The present invention provides a pharmaceutical container transferring system suitable for taking containers stored in a storage rack in closely-spaced relation into and out of the storage rack. The system has a storage rack mounting plate for holding the storage rack, a thrust-up member provided underneath of the plate to thrust up a target container through an insertion hole of the storage rack while abutting the bottom of the container, a picking member provided above the mounting plate and having compressible jaw members having a spacing smaller than the upper part of the thrust-up container which are compressed to pinch the incoming container by extending their spacing, an upper thrust-down member disposed vertically above the lower thrust-up member for thrusting down the container pinched by the picking member and a picking carriage provided with the lower thrust-up member, the upper picking member and the upper thrust-down member that sandwich the mounting plate as the carriage moves.