Abstract: Wafer transport in the vacuum portion of an automated wafer processing machine is accomplished by means of an improved transport mechanism. The primary transport device is a rail guided, magnetically driven shuttle plate. Baffles serve to isolate the particle producing portions of the mechanism from the wafers. The major drive components are located inside the rails and outside the vacuum containment system. A pin lift apparatus located on the reactor chucks serves to remove and replace wafers on the shuttle plate. The disclosed apparatus provides efficient and reliable wafer transport with a minimum amount of particulate generation and is easily reconfigurable to single or multiple head machines.

Abstract: A sweep auger attachment for use in combination with an unloading conveyor. The sweep auger includes a first auger coupled to a second auger. A backboard, for directing grain into engagement with the augers extends along one side of the first and second augers. The first auger is rotatably mounted by a bracket to the backboard. A support arm, mounted on the backboard, supports the second auger. The sweep auger is selectively pivotally mounted on the loading conveyor between a first and a second position. The sweep auger longitudinal plane, defined by the axes of the first and second augers, is offset with respect to the pivot axis in the first position, and aligned with the pivot axis in the second position.

Abstract: A drum dumper attachment for fork lift trucks carries its own power plant eliminating all heretofore required hose and other connections to the truck and controlled from the truck operator's seat by a demountable switch connected to the power plant through a single extension cord. The dumper attachment has hollow shoes receiving the truck forks, a rotatable clamp receiving a drum, a hydraulic jack rotating the clamp, an electric motor driven hydraulic pump for the jack, a battery energizing the motor, an electrically controlled valve selectively flowing fluid to and from opposite ends of the jack, and a double pole switch positionable adjacent the operator to energize the motor and the valve for causing the jack to rotate the clamp in opposite directions. The switch may be anchored to the truck by a magnet and the extension cord may be coiled to accommodate positioning of the switch.

Abstract: A device for emptying different designs of containers including a lifting-tilting mechanism having a locking mechanism for engaging a container and an additional locking hook having an actuating mechanism which may be selectively adjusted so that the locking hook operates either in an operative or an inoperative mode depending on the type of container being emptied.

Abstract: A vehicle has container handling apparatus at each end. This apparatus has a pedestal with track arms which with the pedestal form a lateral trackway on which a carriage can run, for lifting, traversing and lowering a container. Each track arm in the operative position is supported by an over-center toggle-jointed arm. The toggle arms are moved by relatively small and relatively low pressure hydraulic rams. In the over-center position of the arms each is locked by a short shaft mounted by the lower toggle joint and engaging with an edge of the upper toggle joint.

Abstract: A trailer for use in transporting a harvesting machine having a laterally shiftable tongue is disclosed wherein the trailer has transversely extending loading ramps pivotally connected to the load platform of the trailer to permit the harvester to be elevated from the ground level onto the load platform. An elevating linkage interconnecting the load platform and the pivotably ramps is engageable with the harvester wheels to affect a raising of the load ramps when the harvester has been properly positioned on the trailer platform. The load ramps are articulated to compact the transport position of the load ramps, thereby minimizing the transport width of the loaded trailer. The draft connection between the loaded trailer and its prime mover is the laterally shiftable tongue of the harvester positioned on the trailer platform.

Abstract: In a concrete production system, an improved aggregates conveying apparatus includes an aggregates drag conveyor having a lower, conveying run which drags aggregates along a centrally-located, common trough shared by separate fine and coarse aggregates hoppers to a discharge end and an upper, return run which moves through a hollow channel formed in a common wall separating the hoppers above the common trough.

Abstract: A load handling apparatus particularly suited for incorporation into a vehicle for lifting and transporting heavy loads such as steel billets, comprising a main frame to straddle a load, pivotally mounted lift frame assembly providing the lifting capability to raise a steel billet and suspend it during transport, suspended load engaging and clamping members, hydraulic cylinders to actuate the clamping and lifting members and an hydraulically actuated drag link for stabilizing the load while transporting over uneven terrain. The drag link is pivotally connected at its one end to the main frame and at its other end to the suspended load engaging and clamping assembly so that these pivot points, in conjunction with the pivot points of the lift frame assembly, substantially define a parallelogram relationship. By varying the length of the drag link, the clamping assembly is maintained in proper orientation relative to the ground.

Abstract: A boathouse loading device for loading a boat out of a body of water and into a boathouse, using in part the motive power of the boat. The device includes a pivotable, slidable carriage for receiving the hull of a boat, outriggers for stabilizing the boat during its movement, a tensionable latching mechanism for initially inhibiting movement of the carriage and a winch for sliding the carriage and for tensioning the latching mechanism.

Abstract: A multiple-use utility jack and tire changing tool which includes a base framework which is movable along the ground for application of a number of different attachment tools. An elongated mast extends upwardly from the base framework and has a masthead which is movable along the mast. The masthead has supports positioned along its vertical length for selective height-wise placement of attachments. These attachments include but are not limited to an assembly for rotatably supporting a vehicle tire, a fork, a fork with a V-bar addition, a boom, and an elbow lift. The assembly for rotatably supporting a vehicle tire includes an outwardly extending arm having at its end two tandem wheels which are aligned in the same plane and have rotational axes parallel to one another in a horizontal plane. The tandem wheels engage the top and side of the rim of the vehicle tire and cause the vehicle tire to be lifted when the masthead is lifted.

Abstract: This wrecker assembly is removably received on a truck body, and is designed to pull at an angle to the right or left, when desired. Primarily, it consists of a bracket mounted boom, which includes a rotatable head at its top, and a projecting pin on the boom is freely received in a horizontal slot in the head. The head further includes a set screw or bolt, for rendering the head secured at the desired angle.

Abstract: This invention describes a balustrade for passenger conveyors, comprising a handrail adapted to be moved synchronously with endless moving stairway, panels consisting of transparent glass plates and, immediately under the handrail, an upper unit provided between upper ends of the transparent panels and a lower surface of the handrail and adapted so as to guide the handrail, and a lower unit provided at the lower ends of the transparent panels and consisting of inner and outer decks, the handrail-guiding upper unit consisting of a guide frame adapted to guide the handrail and having a groove for fitting upper the end portions of the tranparent panels thereinto, a fastener for press-tightening the transparent panels in the groove, a limiter for restricting the tightening force of the fastener and guides fitted around an outer circumferential surface of the guide frame, the upper unit as a whole being positioned within the handrail.

Abstract: A wafer handler featuring a carriage movable along a rail path, the carriage supporting an upright rotatable arm with a cantilevered wafer chuck. Elevators for raising and lowering trays containing wafer stacks are disposed on either side of the rail path. Each elevator has a curved track section which may be interposed along the rail path. The upright arm has a track follower, parallel to a boom supporting the wafer chuck and freely movable along the rail path, except when it encounters a curved track section. In this instance, the track follower will follow the curved track section, causing rotation of the arm, boom and wafer chuck, bringing the chuck into the wafer stack at an elevation determined by the elevator. In this manner, motion in the X, Y and Z planes may be provided for stacked wafers over extended distances.

Abstract: The object of this invention is a machine which automatically collects hollow conical road markers, stores them, transports them and dispenses them in a line. This machine is comprised of a vehicle carrying a series of vertical cylindrical magazines open at both ends which are supported by a vertical central shaft which rotates them stepwise (into position). The machine includes a device which collects the cone markers comprised of a chain elevator having projections each of which penetrates one cone marker.When the chain reaches the top, the cone marker is released into the top of the magazine where they pile up one on top of the other.

Abstract: The spare tire of a motor vehicle is placed in a holder which (1) can be lifted to or lowered from a storage position under the vehicle, (2) rolled on running wheels to carry the tire to a position adjacent an axle hub, and (3) operated to raise or lower a tire relative to an axle hub. The holder has a pair of horizontal, spaced rollers upon which a tire is carried. These rollers are mounted on a vertically raisable frame which in one embodiment has vertical slide bars slidingly extending through vertical tubular guides mounted on a wheeled dolly frame. Hand wheel operated screws and hydraulic jacks are provided in respective embodiments for raising and lowering the frame supporting the tire. In attaching the holder at a storage location on the vehicle, the upper end of the holder is first attached and then a winch is used to raise the lower end so that the holder pivots to a horizontal storage position under the vehicle.

Abstract: The invention provides a process and an installation for storing objects with automated handling.The installation comprises a storage area (10) formed by a plurality of horizontal and parallel beams (14) resting on supports (18) which define therebetween and under the beams at least one longitudinal passage track extending in a direction perpendicular to the beams and at least one mechanized handling vehicle (12) adapted to move along said track, said vehicle being equipped with conveyors (86,88) for driving in a transverse direction, perpendicular to the direction of movement of the vehicle, and being adjustable in height between a low position in which it may pass freely under the beams and a high position in which the drive conveyors raise the object to be moved.

Abstract: Mechanical handling apparatus (1) which includes rollers (7) which can be raised and lowered above or below a support surface, and a driven roller or rollers (14) which is driven by an electro-hydraulic system including a hydraulic motor (20) and which is mounted on a pivoted bracket (15) which can be raised and lowered by an air control ram (16) so that the roller (14) too can be raised and lowered relative to the support surface to engage a pallet (18) and drive that pallet (18) over the apparatus (1).

Abstract: A discharger mechanism is provided for discharging solids from the bottom of a pile. The discharger comprises a reciprocating stoker rod having a series of stoker cross bars, affixed thereto, which is supported by bearings within a trough. An arrangement for holding down the rod and for sealing the trough comprises a pair of longitudinally extending metal strips attached to either side of the rod and a pair of seal strips or plates secured to the edges of the trough and extending therefrom into the trough to positions above and adjacent to the upper surfaces of the metal strips.

Abstract: The carrying platform includes means for adapting it to railway bogies, a tracked road bogie or a support structure in a boat for transporting the van by railway, road or sea. The platform comprises a frame having two parallel side-members 100 each of which has an inverted U-shaped cross-section, the branches 101 of which are extended, except adjacent the ends of the side-members, by lateral wings 102 so that each side-member has in the part thereof provided with the wings an omega type of cross-section. Cross-members 600 interconnect the side-members 100 in the regions thereof provided with the wings 102. The end parts of the side-members 100 outside the wings 102 are assembled by plate structures 400 for bearing on a support such as a railway bogie 39. Rolling devices 151 having free rollers 152 are connected to the ends of the side-members 100.

Abstract: A restraining device or "keeper" for locking a truck having an ICC bar to a dock, the device including an arm pivotally secured to the front of the dock for movement between a storage position against the front of the dock and an operative position extending outward from the dock, a restraining bar mounted for vertical movement relative to the swing arm to a position to block the path of motion of the ICC bar away from the dock, and a latch assembly for locking the swing arm in the operative and inoperative positions.