Abstract: An elevator structure is actuated to remove wafers individually out of a storage cassette to an elevated delivery position. The elevator is a lift blade with an arcuate upper end shaped to match the curvature of the wafers, and a groove within this end adapted to match the thickness of a wafer and retain a wafer edgewise. A wafer-holding chuck on a chuck assembly is adapted to receive a wafer from the elevator when the elevator is in the elevated delivery position. The chuck assembly is movable from the delivery position to a remote position where the chuck presents the wafer to a support member. The support member is provided with an aperture and a plurality of deformable wafer-holding clips spaced around the aperture. The chuck assembly includes a pneumatic cylinder capable of contacting a portion of each clip to urge same to an open position. The invention includes an arrangement in which the chuck is mounted on a chuck assembly in the form of a door for sealing an opening in a process chamber.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for collection, compaction, and ejection of refuse wherein refuse initially dumped into a forward hopper compartment is conducted through an opening in a compaction plate into a storage compartment. A shredding device such as an auger-type impeller is formed as part of the compaction blade assembly and is moveable therewith between a forward position in the hopper compartment and a rearward, compaction position in the storage compartment. The combined impeller and compaction blade assembly permits initial shredding and compaction of refuse during transmission to the storage compartment, with periodic compaction of the storage compartment contents by displacement of the compaction blade assembly rearward. Ejection of refuse from the storage compartment is also accomplished by rearward displacement of the impeller and compaction blade assembly, thereby forcing the contained refuse through a rearward ejection door.

Abstract: A vacuum lift clamp device for sidehandling of one or two paper rolls (21), for use in connection with ordinary fork lift trucks equipped with a vacuum pump device (23) , and having a curved carrying plate (1, 2, 3) e.g.

Abstract: A structure for buckling the frames of a two-sectioned, centrally articulated truck chassis has a pair of links swingably mounted on the front frame and pivotally connected to a piston and cylinder power assembly carried by the rear frame. Additionally, a control member in overlying, vertical alignment with the piston and cylinder assembly swingably connects the links to the rear frame. As the piston is actuated, the force directly bears on the links, causing the latter to swing and simultaneously move the control member, causing the frames to move upwardly and spread while tilting about their articulation. The entire force presented by the rear mounted cylinder and piston assembly bears directly on the opposite, front frame such that a minimum amount of power is required to effect the tilting. Also, the vertical alignment of the piston and cylinder with the control member reduces bending and bowing stresses in the structure.

Abstract: A powered lifter that enables one person to move loads such as cars, trucks, farm equipment, trailers and the like from one location to another. The device includes a rear frame supported by a pair of wheels that mounts an upstanding telescoping mast having a rotatable load supporting carriage at its upper end and a hydraulic cylinder connected to the mast for raising and lowering the carriage. The device also includes a front frame pivotally connected to the rear frame and supported by a drive wheel which is driven by a hydraulic motor and steered by a steering arm connected to the front frame which also houses the electronic circuitry for the device. A cabinet is mounted on the rear frame for housing the electrical and hydraulic components for the device, and for reinforcing the frame to avoid sagging and lateral shifting of the frame.

Abstract: There is disclosed a forwardly dumpable trailer including an intermediate frame mounted on a transverse axle and carrying a forwardly and rearwardly shiftable trailer frame. A trailer box is mounted on the intermediate frame and is shiftable from a rearward position on the trailer frame to a forward position adjacent a truck box to which the trailer is hitched. Hydraulic cylinders are interconnected between the dump box and intermediate frame for raising the rearward end of the trailer box to dump the trailer load forwardly into the truck box.

Abstract: A pre-assembled turntable mounting unit for a storage structure. The storage structure is mounted on a foundation having a radial trough extending from the center of the structure to the exterior. A pre-assembled turntable mounting unit is disposed in the inner end of the trough at the center of the storage structure. The turntable mounting unit includes a fixed mounting ring which rests on the upper surface of the foundation bordering the trough and a plurality of angle-shaped roller support brackets are supported on the ring. A turntable, which supports the inner end of a rotatable sweep arm, is mounted for rotation on rollers carried by the roller brackets. By removing the anchor bolts the entire turntable mounting unit can be readily removed from the storage structure. The drive transmission that acts to rotate the sweep arm about its axis is mounted in a pre-established position on a platform suspended in the trough from the turntable mounting ring.

Abstract: A sheet handling machine or stacker, designed to stack sheets in such manner as to avoid tumbling or other movement resulting in possible scratching or other surface marring. Our invention is especially applicable to sheets having a relatively soft surface such as plastic-coated sheet metal, highly polished stainless steel or the like, synthetic plastic such as "vinyl," paper-covered stainless steel, etc. Our invention contemplates a machine comprising a receiver having a lateral opening designed to receive a portion of a sheet. In operation, the receiver is moved through a predetermined trajectory. In its first position the receiver seats a portion of a sheet as from a conveyor, aligns it with a stack of similar sheets and then discharges it from a position above a stack of such sheets, allowing it to drop by gravity onto the stack through a free air cushion between sheet and stack, whereby the sheet is prevented from tumbling or otherwise falling haphazardly.

Abstract: A vertically accumulating storage and dispensing apparatus for containers and the like wherein the containers are loaded at the top of a tower and selectively dispensed from the bottom. The tower has a frame that defines first and second tower sections, each supporting a number of vertically spaced shelf trays which in turn support the containers which are stacked on the trays when loaded. The shelf trays of each tower section face inwardly toward and are staggered relative to each other. Each tray is mounted for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis and is operated so that when a container is dispensed from a bottom shelf tray, each higher tray beginning at the bottom and progressing upward one at a time, pivots to transfer its carton to the upwardly tilted next lower empty shelf tray. This process is repeated until each container has been transferred to the next lower shelf tray.

Abstract: A boat trailer having a pair of spaced guide roller assemblies between which the bow of a boat is located upon boat retrieval. Each guide roller assembly comprises a base member secured to the trailer chassis, a post which can pivot in a generally fore-and-aft direction, a spring which urges the post to an upstanding position, a rocker arm which can pivot in a general transverse direction on the upper end of the post, and a pair of rollers which engage the boat undersurface and help to centralize it as the boat is retrieved from the water and onto the trailer.

Abstract: A load-handling attachment for a forklift truck has an upright base including a downwardly open upper hook for engaging the upper crossbar of the truck's load carriage and an upwardly open lower hook for engaging the lower crossbar of such carriage. The lower hook forms part of a hook-and-support assembly. The assembly includes a base from support foot which supports the attachment in an upright free standing condition when the attachment is dismounted from the truck. The lower hook and foot move together between operative and inoperative positions when activated so that when the foot is moved to its supporting position, the lower hook disengages the load carriage to enable the truck to disengage the attachment.

Abstract: An upright silo has a U-shaped central discharge opening in the floor and a cavity below the floor in vertical alignment with the opening. A hopper in the cavity has an upright wall terminating at an upper edge and a smooth, inclined slip ramp contiguous with the edge and rigidly secured to the floor along the opening. The horizontal configurations of the opening, the cavity, the wall and the ramp are identical. The silage falls freely from a cutter arm above the floor into the hopper such that unloading time is substantially decreased. In one embodiment, a rake is movable within the cavity adjacent the ramp and is operable to break up otherwise lodged silage. In another embodiment, a somewhat similar rake has an outer segment which is pivotal about a vertical axis for retraction when not in use.

Abstract: A spacer block for a tow bar which has a central support having an opening therethrough to receive the tow bar and a plurality of faces disposed around the central support. Each face has a different configuration adapted to conform to the shape of support elements provided on the underside of a vehicle. The faces are connected to the central support by a plurality of webs which absorb impact, forces which would otherwise be transmitted to the automobile by the towing apparatus while the vehicle is being towed.

Abstract: In a storage system suitable for use in clean environments, multiple stacks of pallets on which cassettes or boxes for storing semiconductor wafers or the like are placed, are selectively raised and lowered by ram or lever arrangements, and the topmost and lowermost pallets transported horizontally until located on the top or bottom of another stack.

Abstract: A storage rack comprising a plurality of bays each having at least a front storage location and a rear storage location and which is adapted to receive at least two loads with the first-received load being movable between the locations. Each bay comprises an open front end through which the loads can be inserted and removed, a support surface for supporting a load at the front storage location, and first rails disposed above the support surface and extending between the storage locations. Each bay further comprises a trolley for carrying the first-received load. The trolley is supported by the rails and is movable on the rails between the locations so that both loads can be inserted into the bays at the front storage location.

Abstract: Apparatus adapted to be mounted on the bed of a towing vehicle for lifting and towing disabled vehicles, particularly large vehicles. The apparatus includes an extendible boom disposed for positioning beneath the disabled vehicle and retracted for moving the disabled vehicle close to the rear of the towing vehicle. The boom is pivotable about a substantially horizontal axis on an elevator from a vertically disposed storage position to its operative position, the elevator being slidably mounted in slideways for vertical movement between the storage position and the operative positions. The elevator is supported by an extendible beam which is vertically driven for raising and lowering the elevator and which is extendible for varying the angular inclination of the elevator which may pivot relative to the slideways.

Abstract: A side shifting attachment for a fork lift truck having an upper shift bar and a lower shift bar for allowing transversal shifting movement of the attachment having load handling fork tines. The upper shift bar is engaged with an upper finger bar held by the truck body, via a transversally extending liner. Slide pads are also disposed between the upper shift bar and the upper finger bar for establishing a small gap therebetween as well as for preventing movement of the upper shift bar relative to the upper finger bar.

Abstract: A centrifugal pump for feeding pulverized material such as coal particles from a low pressure zone into a high pressure zone, the pump having nozzles mounted on a rotor. The pulverized material is ejected into the high pressure space through the nozzles, and gas is supplied to the nozzles to control the flow rate of the pulverized material. Apparatus is provided that ensures mass flow of the material through the nozzles, even if the nozzles have a short length.

Abstract: A system for transfering discs, such as integrated circuit wafers during manufacture, from a location at atmospheric pressure into a vacuum chamber of an electron microscope or the like with a minimum of vacuum loss to the chamber. A wafer is placed on a moveable holder in a small sealable chamber having a sealable top door and which is mounted to the outer surface of the vacuum chamber at the position of a small gate through the chamber wall. The wafer holder carries a magnet that is magnetically coupled to a second magnet outside of the sealable chamber and which is motor driven to transfer the wafer through the gate and into the vacuum chamber and upon a stage that has a three-point grasping mechanism operated by the leading end of the moving wafer holder. The wafer holder includes a solenoid operated clip that engages the leading edge of a wafer during pick-up of the wafer for its removal from the vacuum chamber.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing solids from a solids upflow vessel, preferably an upflow retort, which includes a horizontally reciprocatable carriage containing a vertical feed cylinder that extends downward from a horizontal seal plate. A vertically reciprocatable piston is located inside the feed cylinder. One section of the seal plate contains a hole and a sliding door for opening and closing the hole. During normal operations when the apparatus is used to feed solids from a feed chute to an upflow vessel, the carriage is reciprocated between a first stationary position wherein the feed cylinder is aligned with the outlet of the solids feed chute while at least a portion of the closed hole in the seal plate is aligned with and below the inlet to the upflow vessel, and a second stationary position wherein the feed cylinder is aligned with the inlet to the upflow vessel while another section of the seal plate is aligned with the outlet from the feed chute.