Abstract: A device to assist in loading and unloading objects into and from the trunk compartment of an automotive vehicle, the device having a lower platform supported on the floor of the trunk compartment, an upper platform positioned above the lower platform, a plurality of vertically extensible pneumatic operators for supporting the upper platform on the lower platform, an accumulator containing pressurized air, and a piping system for connecting the accumulator to each of the pneumatic operators to simultaneously extend each of the pneumatic operators and thereby lift the level of the upper platform with respect to the lower platform to a level at which objects can be transferred to and from the trunk compartment by a sliding action. An electric air pump is also provided to introduce pressurized air into the accumulator, and a safety switch is provided to prevent lifting the upper platform while the trunk is closed.

Abstract: In order to load and discharge pieces of sheet metal automatically onto and from a machine tool having a horizontal table movable along a first horizontal axis, a horizontal discharge table and a horizontal loading table are provided in positions in which the tables are side by side and substantially aligned with the horizontal plane of the table of the machine tool. An unprocessed piece of sheet metal to be supplied to the machine tool is placed on the loading table. Initially, the piece-holding table of the machine tool is positioned beside the discharge table. The piece of sheet metal on the piece-holding table is transferred to the discharge table by being slid on the bearing surfaces of the tables in the direction of a second horizontal axis perpendicular to the first axis. The table of the machine tool is then moved to a position in which it is beside the loading table.

Abstract: By employing a simple structure, the invention provides a conveyor belt which can detect overload and can be easily applied to an existing conveyor belt. Further, detection of twisting and slippage of the conveyor belt can be obtained. Specifically, an overload can be detected by measuring a load of an orthogonal direction with respect to a rotation axis of shape-maintaining rollers by a load cell installed on a bracket. Further, twisting of the conveyor belt can be also detected by measuring a load of an axial direction with respect to the rotation axis of the shape-maintaining rollers.

Abstract: A ferrofluid sink/float separator for separating nonmagnetic materials of different densities comprises a horizontal separating tank and a magnetic field generating mechanism. The separating tank is filled with a ferrofluid capable of being induced by the magnetic field generating mechanism to have a magnetic field gradient and various apparent densities in the direction of earth gravity. The magnetic field generating mechanism comprises two magnetic poles spaced at an interval and a gap which is defined by the two magnetic poles and is located under the horizontal separating tank.