Abstract: Apparatus for handling and unwinding round bales of loose fibrous material such as hay, silage and the like comprises a wheeled frame and a turntable mounted for rotation on the frame, the turntable being adapted to receive and retain a round bale such that a bale placed on the turntable may be unwound in a substantially upright position. The turntable may be pivotable from a generally horizontal bale transporting position to a generally vertical bale loading position and in the transporting position, the turntable may be tilted with respect to the frame, generally towards the point at which hay is to be unwound from the bale and dispensed from the turntable. The apparatus is particularly suited for use in narrow passages between animal houses.

Abstract: A lift gate assembly including a U-shaped base having horizontal central section flanked by parallel upstanding legs, a gate, and a pair of upstanding legs secured to the gate in alignment with the legs and the base. Links extending between the legs define two parallelogram linkages and a torsion bar extends between and is rigidly attached to a corresponding link in each of the parallelogram linkages. Preferably, the torsion bar defines the lower pivot of the parallelogram linkage and extends between the legs of the base and the lowermost links in each parallelogram linkage, being rigidly attached thereto. Hydraulic cylinders are provided for each parallelogram linkage to raise and lower the gate.

Abstract: A sheet stacking device with a lift table automatically lowerable in correspondence to the height of the rising stack. At the upper end of the stack is a face-side sheet feeder and at least one stop late positioned opposite the sheet feeder and at least two lateral boundary plates lying opposite one another. The effective boundary plate length is adjustable to accommodate different sheet format lengths by subdividing the boundary plates into a plurality of individual sections in longitudinal directions, of which at least those remote from the stop plate are removable from the stacking zone. Preferably, the boundary plate sections are constructed as equally spaced tongues which are arrestable in a raised position with a support beam.

Abstract: A quick attach means for a tractor loader is described comprising a pair of arcuate brackets pivotally secured to the forward ends of the loader boom arms. Each of the brackets has upper and lower horizontally extending pipes secured thereto which are adapted to be received by pockets at the rearward side of the loader bucket. A locking assembly is provided on the bracket for maintaining the pipes in their respective pockets.

Abstract: The apparatus comprises an operating station with a rotary work platform, a non-rotary supporting stage supporting the work platform by means of a first bearing, a robot for laying the bricks, a monitoring booth, a device for raising and lowering brick pallets and at least one automatic brick-depalletizing mechanism for transferring the bricks from the pallets towards a stand-by station. This stand-by station comprises a turret which can contain a reserve of bricks of different types and which is supported by the stage by means of a second bearing, so as to be rotatable independently of the stage and the platform about the vertical axis of the vessel. The apparatus is particularly well suited for repairing metallurgical converters.

Abstract: An automatic material handling system includes two or more vertically extending staging structures (10) incorporating a plurality of shelving surfaces (24) arranged in rows in respective staging structures for accommodating transport pallets or like goods carriers. The system also includes a loading station (15) and an input/output station (16) for serving a machine tool. The aforementioned three system auxiliaries are placed in a row along a track (14) with a movable a carriage structure (12). The carriage structure includes a load carrier (26) having load-support surfaces which while overlapping the shelving surfaces (24) are able to pass vertically therethrough. A compact system requiring the least possible floor space is thus provided. In addition, the system can be suitably controlled by a computer, so as to obtain a fully automatic material handling system.

Abstract: An inlet checking device for a stacking channel comprises at least one jaw provided with at least one inclined plane and a check groove, the jaw being located in a recess of the channel structure, and further comprising at least one jaw loading spring and control mechanisms for adjusting the radial projection of the jaw inside the channel.

Abstract: An egg carton stacking and loading apparatus having a stacking assembly that adds subsequent cartons to the bottom of the stack. The apparatus includes a transfer assembly having a pair of upright panels that abut both sides of the carton stack during transfer in order to prevent inadvertent tipping of the stack. The transfer panels shift the carton stack onto a loading assembly, which carries the egg carton stack onto a storage surface. The loading assembly includes a support panel and a pusher panel which advance simultaneously, and thereafter the support panel is withdrawn while the position of the pusher panel is maintained.

Abstract: An apparatus for placing in location a circular article from a transport pallet and for moving the article to one or more control positions being angularly offset with respect to one another. The apparatus includes a gripping mechanism with grippers mounted on a gantry, a framework supported by a plate which can be raised and lowered, the framework including a mechanism for rotating the article about itself and leaving free an angular sector of 120.degree. at which all the parts of the article can be presented in order to be brought up to or brought into contact with a measurement or inspection mechanism the framework also comprising a mechanism to allow for correct location in any inclined direction or vertical. The apparatus is applicable to automation of control sequences or machining sequences without manual operation or intermediate return of the article between the operations of inspection or of machining.

Abstract: The apparatus of the present invention utilizes a bricklaying robot which comprises an automatic brick-handling or grabbing device fastened to the end of a main arm which is carried by a frame mounted on a work platform; and which is radially movable relative to the platform. Circular movement of the arm and of the grabbing device relative to the vertical axis of the work platform is generated as result of a rotation of the platform about this vertical axis. The present invention also utilizes a storage table which is mounted underneath the main arm of the robot, so as to be movable along a vertical axis and rotatable about the axis. The present invention further includes an automatic depalletizing mechanism comprising a pivoting arm, of which one of the ends is equipped with a brick-grasping device and the other end is mounted pivotally on a support sliding parallel to the main arm of the robot between two rails of the frame.

Abstract: A beam picker adapted to be mounted on the boom tip of a conventional hydraulic crane is described to facilitate the removal of shoring beams positioned beneath a completed structure. The beam picker comprises a first support which is mounted on the outer end of a hydraulic crane and which has a second support pivotally secured thereto about a horizontal axis. A third support is rotatably and pivotally mounted on the second support so that the third support may be rotated and tilted relative to the second support. Movable jaws are provided on the third support for grasping the lower flange of the shoring beam.

Abstract: Apparatus for lifting successive topmost stacks of large paper sheets and the panels beneath such stacks off a pile of superimposed stacks and panels has one or more separating units each employing a roller which is caused to bear upon the topmost sheet of the topmost stack of the pile and a sword which is aligned with or is disposed at a level slightly below the topmost panel of the pile and is caused to penetrate into the pile so as to lift the topmost stack with the topmost panel preparatory to automatic shifting of the lifted stack and panel sideways into a processing machine. The distance between the lowermost portion of the roller and the plane of the sword is adjustable to permit for subdivision of piles having thicker or thinner stacks. Any sheets which are lifted with a panel and belong to the stack below the lifted panel are stripped off the lifted panel by a continuously driven friction wheel which enters the gap that is formed by the sword.

Abstract: A cup and/or cover strand can be fed with the cup and/or cover feed device according to our invention, especially a cup and/or cover feed device of a cup filling unit for nutrient and palatable items such as dairy products. The cup and/or cover edges of the cup and/or cover strand are gripped and held by circumferential screw threads on substantially vertical axially parallel rotating spindle heads of a separating device and are divided into magazine suitable cup and/or cover partial stacks. The cup and/or cover partial stacks are deposited and supported on a horizontal conveyor spaced from and below the separating device. At least one vertical conveyor with downwardly moving recesses is provided on each side of the horizontal conveyor connected with the separating device and bridging the space between the separating device and the horizontal conveyor. The recesses hold the cover and/or cup edges and are provided in an axial region appropriate for the partial stack.

Abstract: A stack loader (30), for picking up a stack (10) of thin metal sheets, moving the stack to a feed hopper (100) and lowering the stack into the feed hopper, is provided, the stack loader (30) having a fork support frame (31) and a stack retainer (32) telescopically received in the fork support frame, the stack retainer (32) being shaped to fit over the stack while leaving the back of the stack mostly exposed, the fork support frame (31) having lifting forks (41) mounted thereon which can fit under the stack (10) and lift it up into the stack retainer (32) so that sagging bottom sheets in the stack will not spill out of the stack loader (30) during movement of the stack (10) to the feed hopper (100). The forks (41) can be locked under the stack (10) and an automatic safety (92, 93) is provided to prevent unlocking of the forks during movement of the stack loader to the feed hopper.

Abstract: Insulation board feeding apparatus feeds successive boards from a pallet stack to a grooving machine to make pre-formed duct sections. The apparatus includes a cable driven elevator assembly, a reciprocating transfer carriage with a plurality of pivotable board-engaging fingers which is reciprocated by an air cylinder, and a guide assembly comprised of two non-driven rollers. The machine of the present invention is simpler, more reliable and less expensive to manufacture than its predecessors.

Abstract: Two bucket holder for crane buckets allows one bucket to be filled while the other is in use on the crane. Means are provided for automatically disconnecting a just-returned bucket from the crane cable and connecting the other bucket. Guide means for a returning bucket, and a universal bucket arm connection places the bucket arm in contact with the disconnect-connect means.

Abstract: A safety support and stop assembly for securing a dump body pivotally mounted on a truck chassis frame in an elevated position above the chassis frame so as to permit a mechanic to work safely on components of the truck while the dump bed is in the elevated position. The safety support and stop assembly comprises an upright support member, a cradle support assembly and a base assembly. The upright support member is characterized as having an upper bed engaging support end and a lower pivot end. The lower pivot end is pivotally connected to the cradle support assembly such that the upright support member is disposed in a selectable angular disposition relative to the truck chassis frame. The base assembly, which is removably supported on the truck chassis frame, supports the cradle assembly at a preselected position along the truck chassis frame.

Abstract: A multi-function bale handling apparatus for use on small trucks or other farm vehicles is defined by a metal frame, which is mounted on the vehicle, a loading device defined by a prong pivotally mounted on the end of an arm, which is also pivotally mounted on the frame for moving a bale from the ground through an arc in excess of 90.degree. to a transversely extending conveyor belt on the frame, a manually operated gate on one side of the frame so that the bale can be discharged in its entirety for storage or feed, and toothed shredder rollers on the other side of the frame for shredding the bale for discharge in particulate form from the apparatus. The loading device is operated by a pair of hydraulic cylinders for rotating the arm and prong. The conveyor and discharge rollers are driven by a common drive including a hydraulic motor, chains and toothed wheels.

Abstract: The elevator device for an agricultural tractor loader comprises a swing member bearing in an articulated manner on a member protruding from a bracket in direction of the tractor loader. The swing member is moreover supported and actuated by a cylinder connected to the bracket so that this swing member pivots the tool to which it is attached and lifts the tool during expansion of the cylinder.

Abstract: A programmable automatic assembly system is provided which may be employed to assemble small parts. Each assembly station includes cooperating manipulator arms which are programmable to assemble parts on a centrally located work table. Improved facilities are provided for teaching the manipulator arms at each station, these facilities including a computer which assists the teaching operator in setting up the programs required for assembly of small parts to close tolerances. Each manipulator arm includes closed loop teach facilities for maintaining the arm at a previously located position during the teaching mode of operation. The computer is employed as a teach assist facility in performing a number of tasks during the teaching operation which are extremely difficult for the operator to perform manually. All of the assembly stations may be controlled during playback from a common disc storage facility so that the control circuitry and memory storage facilities at each manipulator are minimized.