Abstract: Apparatus for placing at spaced intervals spacing members on top of articles being stacked in layers is provided with a loading station having a conveyor for moving elongated spacing members to a plurality of spaced magazine stations; each magazine station is provided with a selection conveyor which can be individually operated to load each magazine with the spacing members; beneath each magazine two pair of guiding arms are provided, one of which is actuated by a rotary shaft to remove a spacing member from the magazine and to pass it between the guiding arms to thereby effect delivery of the spacing member to a desired location on the top of the layer being stacked therebeneath.

Abstract: An automated storage and retrieval system for use at a pipe manufacturing facility includes a computer and memory; a storage/retrieval crane operable in a storage yard; a plurality of containers, each being capable of containing material for storage and a load crane for at least one of loading or unloading respective containers. The computer is on-site proximate the storage yard and includes means for monitoring and controlling the storage/retrieval crane and load crane, means for monitoring and storing in memory information of container positions in the storage yard and means for coordinating operation of the storage/retrieval crane and load crane. The crane stores and retrieves containers in the yard in a three dimensional array, can carry containers on the crane feet, and may deliver or retrieve containers relative to load/unload stations including a load crane. At such stations pipe is transferred between containers and the load crane.

Abstract: An apparatus for vertically stacking and storing articles. The apparatus includes, in series, a stacking station, at least one storage storage, and an unloading station. A discharge conveyor is disposed beneath the stations. A stacking carriage is mounted for vertical movement in the stacking station, and with the carriage in an upper position, each article is individually fed onto the carriage and supported by a pair of supports that are movable between an inner supporting position and a release position. After each article is fed to the stacking carriage, the carriage is lowered in increments until the desired number of superimposed articles are applied to the carriage to form a stack.

Abstract: A tactile sensor which simultaneously provides a compliant interface between a support element and an object to be handled (i.e., a robot gripper in a delicate component), and identifies the contact force and the contact pattern between the object and the support element.

Abstract: An on-road hopper trailer has a hopper bin with front and rear walls, a rear ladder frame mounted on at least one axle extending forward to the rear wall of the bin, and a base frame mounted on the ladder frame. The base frame extends about the hopper bin and has four members each extending inwardly from the periphery of the bin. The hopper bin has a rectangular top frame from which a plurality of struts extend to the base and ladder frames to provide sufficient strength and rigidity to the structure.

Abstract: A pallet transferring arrangement and method for positioning a pallet transfer deck relative to a load transfer station is provided. The pallet transferring arrangement has a jack assembly for elevationally moving a load carrying member between first and second spaced positions relative to a vehicle frame. First and second guide assemblies guide the load carrying member and a supporting arrangement movably supports a pallet transfer deck on the load carrying member for movement in a plane. A plurality of replaceable deck positioning socket members engage a plurality of replaceable deck positioning cone members at the second position of the load carrying member and maintains the pallet transfer deck from movement in the plane. The plurality of deck positioning socket members are free from engagement with the deck positioning cone members at the first position of the load carrying members.

Abstract: A pair of harvester belts have ends joined to form an endless loop by hinged belt fasteners of identical shape. Parallel rods span the endless belts and one of the parallel rods has ends inserted into interleaved loops on adjacent belt fasteners to form a hinge pin connection. In one embodiment, only the belt fastener has only a single plate secured to one side of the belt by threaded fasteners. In another embodiment, the belt fastener has both upper and lower plates with the upper plate having a channel to receive a parallel rod end and fasteners secure the parallel rods, the upper plate, the belt and the lower plate.

Abstract: A ground effects device of the type that introduces pressurized air into a plenum chamber, that then travels through a perforated flexible sheet to form an air cushion, the improvement therein that no air dispersion means are present in the plenum chamber.

Abstract: An inserter for vacuum installations has a two-part arm provided with a driving and, a single joint and an end for holding an object. The arm can turn in at least one horizontal plane about a vertical main axis disposed in the area of the driving end, and has at least one motor for moving the arm about the main axis and changing the angle between the parts of the arm at the joint.

Abstract: An apparatus for turning a vehicle on its side comprises a turning member and a supporting device for supporting the turning member for rotation about a generally horizontal first axis of rotation. The supporting device is rotatably connected to the turning member. The apparatus further comprises a brake for braking movement of the turning member relative to the supporting device. The brake operatively interacts between the turning member and the supporting device. The apparatus also includes first and second connecting devices for connecting a first wheel hub and a second wheel hub of the vehicle to the turning member. The apparatus further includes positioning devices for positioning the first and second connecting devices to align the first axis of rotation with the longitudinal center of mass of the vehicle, the positioning devices being operatively connected to the first and second connecting devices.

Abstract: A cassette of conventional form is loaded with a plurality of semiconductor wafers having indexing flats of the known type and placed over three parallel rollers rotatably secured to a frame. The three rollers include a center roller and two side rollers positioned only slightly higher than the center roller such that their rotary motions can be communicated to the wafers by contact, depending on the position of the individual indexing flats. The indexing flats are roughly aligned in downward directions first by rotating only the center roller and after all three rollers are rotated to bring the indexing flats in upward directions, the wafers are more accurately aligned in a downward direction by rotating only the center roller and all three rollers are rotated thereafter for a predetermined period of time, depending on the desired angular position of the indexing flats.

Abstract: An apparatus for setting an industrial robot at the standard position comprises a block (19) to be measured, which is attached to a top end portion (18) of a wrist of the industrial robot, and a supporting member (23) for the measurement, which is attached to a fixing base (11) of the industrial robot. The block has three planes (20, 21, 22), orthogonal to one another, to be measured, and the block is positioned to the top end portion of the wrist so that the three planes to be measured are set at predetermined positions relative to the top end portion of the wrist. The supporting member has three frames (24, 25, 26) orthogonal to one another, and the supporting member is positioned relative to the fixing base so that the three frames take predetermined positions relative to three-axis orthogonal coordinates predetermined on the basis of the fixing base. By a plurality of dial gauges (27 through 32; 37 through 42), the positions of the planes of the block are measured.

Abstract: A powered load carrier having a front wheel and rear driving wheels secured to a lower frame which supports a hinged upper frame that engage a detachable load carrying apparatus which is slideable on the upper frame between a rearward position where the load is disposed over the drive wheels and a forward position over the hinge whereby the upper frame can be tipped forward at its hinge to dump the load.

Abstract: A stacker having platforms movable along a path by chains. Cam followers on the platforms engage a cam surface which controls the platform path. The chains are driven by a motor in a closed-loop system which monitors the platforms and controls their speed. The closed-loop system first decelerates the platforms and thereafter stops one platform in the intercept-ready position. The platform cam follower enters a claw which moves the end of the platform through the stream to collect signatures when the downstream platform reaches a predetermined count and deposits the stack on a turntable. A piston assembly rotates the turntable one-half turn after each deposit. Different pressure values are selectively applied to the piston assembly to slow the turntable before it is halted.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for accurately positioning stickers when stacking lumber. The apparatus provides an unscrambling conveyer that feeds stickers from a bulk supply to a crowder feed conveyer to present a constant supply of stickers to a timed release mechanism. The release mechanism by cam means sequentially presents individual stickers in a timed fashion to an endless distribution conveyer that initially feeds stickers through an upper horizontal feed plane about a curved guide structure, and finally about a second horizontal feed plane below the first. The stickers are maintained in the second feed plane by an underlying bottom shelf structure. The bottom shelf structure feeds individual stickers into a plurality of sticker positioners that oscillate from an upper position downwardly to feed the stickers onto a top of a lumber stack to accurately position them in spaced relation on a stack of lumber therebeneath.

Abstract: A door transporting and mounting machine is disclosed for transporting an mounting a door relative to a complementary door frame. The machine includes a wheeled supporting frame for portably transporting a door to a selected door frame site. A generally vertically extending column extends upwardly from the supporting frame and includes a carriage mounted on the column for movement between lower and upper positions. Door gripping arms are pivotally mounted on the movable carriage for re-positioning the door between a horizontal transporting position and a vertical mounting position. When the machine is located at a complementary door frame, the movable carriage, with associated door gripping arms, moves the door to properly aligned position for mounting the door relative to its complementary door frame.

Abstract: A method whereby a pack of metal sheets adhering to one another is suspended on upper gripping elements of an upper vertically-mobile element beneath which is fed forward a lower transversely-mobile element having lower gripping elements. The upper and lower gripping elements are caused to interact in such a manner as to divide the pack into two parts by raising the upper element; and the lower element is backed up so as to feed on to a production line the part of the pack consisting of a single sheet, and/or to feed on to a reject bed the part of the pack consisting of a number of inseparable sheets.

Abstract: A portable wild game hoist having a multiple section boom which can be assembled and dismantled. The boom is supported at its lower end by a standard trailer hitch mounted on the rear of a vehicle. Straps are secured to the upper section of the boom and terminate in hooks at their distal ends which are adapted to mate with the edges of the fenders of the vehicle. A torsion bar is adjustably secured to one section of the boom so that is bears against the rear body or tailgate of the vehicle. A rope extends from a winch secured to the boom through a pulley at the distal end of the boom. The rope supports a hanger with hooks for supporting the animal from its rear hooves. In a further embodiment, the boom may be supported by a base resting on the ground and stabilized by the trailer hitch. In both embodiments, the boom is comprised of a plurality of mating sections.

Abstract: A gripping claw for a backhoe, breaker, or similar device is secured to the end of a boom in a pivotal manner. Attachment is achieved through a pair of plates joined together facing each other, with the claw pivotally mounted at one end in the space between the plates. A piston and cylinder, also mounted in the space between the plates, joins the plates to a second location on the claw, both being pivot connections, so that extension and retraction of the piston causes the claw to pivot between open and closed positions. To install the attachment on a boom-mounted tool, the tool is detached from the boom, and the attachment inserted in its place, with the tool in turn secured to the attachment. The attachment thus serves as an extension, and is readily installed and removed on site.

Abstract: Overlapped sheets are conveyed against a stop to form piles, a plurality of the stops being provided on a starwheel. The leading edge of each forming pile is carried by carrier fingers operatively associated with the stops, most of the pile being carried over the actual pile table by a support element, which projects in ramp-like sloping manner through the table plane. The pile can be removed by a gripper after lowering the support element, while a new pile forms on a carrier finger swung in by rotation of the starwheel.