Abstract: The device is for retaining dust when particulate material is dumped through the device into a container. The device has a plurality of adjacent inverted-V shaped restrictors which swing about an axis along the point where the two leaves of the V meet. There are material deflectors which unevenly load some of the restrictors.

Abstract: Material to be deposited on the hearth of a shaft furnace serially passes through a pair of temporary storage containers positioned above the furnace. The uppermost storage container is in the form of a bin open to the ambient atmosphere while the lower storage container is provided with valves at either end whereby it may be hermetically sealed and subsequently brought to furnace pressure. The lower storage container is loaded while at ambient pressure, by releasing furnace charge material previously delivered to the upper storage container into the lower container and subsequently by delivering material directly to the lower container from a conveyor system through the lower container. The upper container is refilled with material while the lower container is at furnace pressure and is discharging its contents into the furnace.

Abstract: Disclosed is an improved apparatus for feeding magazines of cigarettes to a cigarette packaging machine. The improvements reside in controls for synchronizing the delivery of full magazines to the packaging machine and also for monitoring the correct positioning of the magazines.

Abstract: A stacker crane having an elevated trolley on which there is a hoist, a load member beneath the trolley is moved vertically by the hoist and is guided by a mast comprising a vertically fixed inner member projecting down from the trolley and an intermediate member telescopingly slidable on the inner member. In one locking position of a toggle element swingably carried by the intermediate member it engages an upwardly facing surface of a ledge on the load member, constraining the intermediate member to move with the load member in a lower part of the range of vertical motion of the load member; in the upper part of that range the toggle element, in an opposite locking position, engages an upwardly facing surface on a ledge on the inner member so that the latter supports the intermediate member.

Abstract: A novel battery dumping apparatus is described which is uniquely suited for dumping corrosive substances, such as battery acid, simultaneously from a number of automotive batteries. The novel apparatus generally comprises a sealed tube adapted for rotation through an arc of less than 360 degrees. Within the tube are disposed two parallel spaced apart baffles which together form a sealed battery processing channel. This battery processing channel is pierced by a plurality of rods disposed in a plane which bisects the aforementioned baffles. These rods are ultimately caused to rotate in opposite directions by a gear drive disposed outside of said battery processing channel but within said tubular member. These gears are, in turn, caused to drive said rods by a pneumatic motor which is mounted outside of said tubular member.

Abstract: A crane having a fixed mast and a boom pivotally mounted at the top of the mast for movement in a horizontal plane through at least 180.degree. and in a vertical plane downwardly from the horizontal plane at any position of the boom relative to the vertical axis of the mast, a load carrying trolley movable along the length of the boom, hydraulic means located at the top of the mast controlling the movement of the boom in the horizontal plane and hydraulic means between the boom and the mast controlling movement of the boom in the vertical plane.

Abstract: Apparatus for spreading and feeding articles of flatwork such as sheets to an ironing machine and comprising a conveyor over which a beam with two movable clamps is arranged. The clamps are adapted to grip the article at two corners and to move apart to draw the upper edge of the article tight. The beam is stationary in order to simplify construction. Between the beam and the conveyor is a movable plate, onto which the upper edge of the article is transferred and from which plate the article is transferred to the conveyor by a movement of the plate in the moving direction of the conveyor.

Abstract: A telescopic boom comprises inner and outer boom sections; an elongated rotatable screw rotatably mounted on the outer section; a first thread on the screw engaged with a first nut on the inner boom section whereby screw rotation effects telescopic movement of the inner boom section and a second thread of smaller lead superimposed on the first thread and engaged with a second nut mounted on a support which is movably mounted on the outer boom section whereby screw rotation also effects axial movement of the support at a slower rate than telescopic movement of the boom sections to a position wherein it supports the mid-section of the screw.

Abstract: A manway handling apparatus for handling heavy sealing manways in large shells without damaging sealing surface means therefor is provided which includes a support arm pivotally mountable on equipment having elliptical manway access openings. The support arm when mounted is swingable toward and away from an access opening and carries a bearing block supporting bracket which is longitudinal adjustably positionable on the arm. A bearing block is vertically adjustably positionable in the bracket and slidably supports a shaft which is attachable to an elliptical cover. Structure is provided for longitudinally actuating and rotating the shaft to position and rotate the cover to facilitate installation and removal of the cover through the elliptical opening. The shaft carries structure means which when actuated by turning of a crank handle is effective for tilting the cover also to facilitate its installation and removal.

Abstract: Apparatus for consecutively discharging objects from containers moving along a fixed path having a number of discharge points therealong. The apparatus includes a rotatable control sleeve extending along the path with a device arranged at each of the discharge points to cause passing containers to discharge consecutively. A driving member is provided to effect rotation of the control sleeve to a succession of discharging conditions and a further device is provided to prevent over advancement or run-back of the control sleeve with respect to certain discharge positions assumed by the latter. A further device is provided to permit the control sleeve to return rapidly to an initial operating condition on discharge of the last of a series of containers.

Abstract: Apparatus enabling access to the interior surfaces bounding a large spaced comprises a pole adapted to extend vertically through the height of the space with its lower end located at the base of the space, at least one boom structure connected with said pole, a working platform connected to the end of said boom structure remote from said pole and the height of said boom structure is adjustable relative to said pole.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a container handling mechanism for trash collecting vehicles which is adapted for handling small household trash containers; the mechanism adapted to pick up such trash containers from the ground at the forward portion of the vehicle and to transfer them upwardly, backwardly and into an upsidedown position over a receiver on the vehicle; the mechanism comprising novel elevating and actuating means wherein a pickup arm is pivotally mounted on a pivotal support on a horizontal axis and the pivotal support is provided with means for elevating it and concurrently rotating the arm about the axis of the pivotal support. Further, the disclosure relates to the detail of such mechanism, including an incline track and a sprocket and chain, or gear and rack, mechanism for rotating said arm about said pivotal support, which is actuated by a hydraulic cylinder to elevate it upwardly and backwardly on track means.

Abstract: To a device for handling cut-open bags containing bulk material, by separating the bag material from the bulk material there is connected a screw conveyor having a hopper for receiving several bags of a pallet load and being arranged to supply the bags to the separating device at the same time tearing open the bags.

Abstract: A parallel arm clamp assembly having longitudinally-movable elongate slide members mountable transversely on the front of a lift truck and attaching members for connecting relatively narrow opposing clamp arms to the ends of the slide members so as to extend perpendicular thereto. Each slide member has an elongate rear portion longitudinally mounted within a slide guide and a longitudinally-extending elongate front portion external of the respective guide protruding forwardly therefrom, the elongate front portions of the respective slide members intersecting a common plane extending vertically and longitudinally with respect to the slide members. The clamp arm attaching members each have a pair of legs formed monolithically and homogeneously into a single member with the legs oriented at substantially a 90.degree. angle with respect to each other.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for automatically opening and emptying bags. The apparatus includes a substantially enclosed housing with a bag inlet, a bag outlet and a bag contents collection hopper. A conveyor is disposed within the housing to carrying the bags between the inlet and outlet with the bags lying generally horizontally. The bags are positively engaged along opposite lateral edges by elongated piercing members on the conveyor. A cutting disc is mounted in a substantially vertical plane to cut through opposite sides of the bags between the bag lateral edges. The disc is rotatably driven. The conveyor is adjustable such that the elongated piercing members may be accurately positioned to engage bags of various sizes.

Abstract: An automated device comprising an arm, a supporting case mounted on the end of the arm, a rotary actuator mounted on the end of the supporting case and a wrist with a hand rotatably held by the rotary actuator, wherein the rotary actuator has a replaceable stopper on the shaft thereof, and the supporting case has a pair of static members for setting the rotational range of the stopper. In the device, the rotary actuator stops rotating at two positions, i.e., the hand stops rotating at two positions.

Abstract: The boom of a crane carries a pivot bearing for a second bearing which guides an elongated column. The upper or the lower end of the column supports a gallery which is turnable about its axis. The second bearing is pivotable about the horizontal axis of the pivot bearing by a cylinder-and-piston unit, and the column is movable lengthwise with respect to the second bearing by the crane cable.

Abstract: A device for depanning freshly baked goods, and in particular pizza, soon after they leave an oven comprising, a pan conveyor adapted to extend from the oven with at least one baking pan disposed thereon, with the conveyor then moveable in a feed path from the oven. The baking pan has a plurality of perforations therethrough. A pin-block conveyor is associated with the pan conveyor and includes at least one pin-block connected thereto and moveable substantially parallel to the feed path of the baking pan. A plurality of pins extend from the pin-block and are arranged in a pattern and number equal to that of the perforations in the baking pan. Each pin has a diameter which is at most smaller than the diameter of each perforation so that each pin can extend through each corresponding perforation.

Abstract: A conveying method for conveying green tires from storing devices, disposed near building machines, to curing machines and attaching them to the curing machines is disclosed wherein a green tire delivery demand signal is emitted, from a specific curing machine among a plurality of curing machines, to a control system which stores the corresponding relationships between the respective storing devices and the respective curing machines and the quantities and kinds of green tires stored in the storing devices. The control system which receives this demand signal sends a signal, indicating the curing machine which has emitted the demand signal and the corresponding specific storing device, to an automatic truck supporting and carrying thereon a mechanism which is capable of withdrawing a green tire from the storing device, having it suspended thereon, and loading it onto the curing machine.

Abstract: Hoist apparatus of the type adapted to be mounted on a truck adjacent the truck bed, leaving the truck bed clear, for use in unloading or loading the truck or the like, and comprising a boom, hoist means on said boom, a vertical support column, said boom being mounted on the upper end of said column, and said support column being rotatably mounted for rotating said boom, drive gear means located adjacent the lower end of said support column, rack means meshing with said drive gear means, guide means for guiding movement of said rack to and fro relative to said drive gear, housing means supporting said vertical column, and at least partially embracing said drive gear and supporting said guide means, and power operated means connected with said rack, and mounted on said housing, for driving said rack to and fro.