Abstract: In order to treat disk-shaped bodies, specifically semiconductor disks in a vacuum plant, they must be transported and deposited between stations. A given disk is supported at its edge by two supporting arms each having two fingers and supporting surfaces at four edge sections of the disk distributed along the circumference of the disk. In order to grasp or release the disk by decreasing or increasing the distance between the supporting arms, both supporting arms are mounted to a respective piston/cylinder unit. In such units a respective cylinder moves relative to a stationary piston rod. The ends of both piston rods are thereby mounted oppositely of each other to a rotation axle extending perpendicularly to the axes of the cylinders by means of which the two piston/cylinder units can be pivoted together with the supporting arms from one station to the other station within the vacuum plant.

Abstract: A robot of a cylindrical structure with vertical axes of rotation comprises a base for support on a ground surface; a column mounted on the support for rotation about an axis; a support element for linking and for driving, which is flexible and inextensible and closed in a loop, mounted on and along the column; a first assembly including a carriage fixed to one of the vertical sections of the element, a horizontal bracket mounted on the carriage for rotation about a second axis, a head mounted on the bracket for rotation about a third axis; a second assembly including a second carriage fixed to the second section of the element, a second bracket, a second head mounted on the second bracket; and a control arrangement for driving and controlling so that the two assemblies are displaced synchronously along the column in opposite vertical directions to one another.

Abstract: A conveyor loader for loading railroad cars or the like with coal or other crushed, ground or particulate material includes a support providing a guideway extending along the line of railroad cars and a line of segmented carriages rollably mounted upon the guideway. An endless belt of elastomeric construction is supported by the line of carriages for movement of an upper run of the belt between the ends of the carriage lines. Motors are associated with each of the line of carriages and the conveyor belt for moving the carriage line and the belt in either of two directions relative to its supporting structure. During a loading operation with the loader, coal or other particulate material is delivered to the upper run of the belt from a central loading station and conveyed to an end of the belt where it is directed into a railroad car to be loaded.

Abstract: A telescopic cargo bar having a jack comprising a rack and a gear segment cooperating therewith, the gear segment being connected to a control handle, which is pivotally connected to the outer telescopic member, the jack further is provided with a latch, which in a first latch position latches the handle in a first locking position. The latch further comprises a second latch position arranged to latch the handle in a second locking position located between the first locking position and the open position. This second latch position is arranged to prevent the handle from being brought past the latch before the gear segment is released from the rack. The handle can be brought past the second latch position to open position by manual actuation of the latch.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided which may be added onto a conventional front-end loader having a pivoted bucket to facilitate the handling of bales such as bales of hay. The apparatus utilizes a grapple, and coupling components which interact between the grapple and the bucket in a manner whereby, when the bucket is pivoted to a lower position, the grapple automatically and synchronously swings upwardly away from the bucket, and when the bucket is pivoted to an upper position, the grapple automatically and synchronously swings downwardly toward the bucket.

Abstract: A dump truck is provided with a dump body having a tailgate. A lever arm having a first end and a second end is pivotably attached to the dump body. The first end is fixedly attached to the tailgate and the second end is attached to a latching device which locks the position of the lever arm. When the dump body is raised, the latching device is deactivated and the position of the lever arm is unlocked. When the dump body is lowered, the latching device is activated and locks the position of the lever arm, thereby locking the position of the tailgate.

Abstract: A new mode of construction for vehicles having a dump body comprises a container (6) which rests on a fixed cradle (5) that serves as a chassis (1). The lower portion of the container (6) is adapted to be interfitted in the cradle due to the fact that the section of the cradle corresponds to the section of the lower portion (10) of the container of smaller dimensions, so as to permit the interfitting of the container in the cradle. The container and the cradle are constituted by volumes having substantially concentric transverse sections such that the lower portion (10) of the container precisely interfits in the cradle.

Abstract: A device is provided for tiltably connecting the boom section of a backhoe unit to the dipper section of the backhoe unit. The device includes a first member mountable to the dipper section so as to be rotatable about a first pivot axis transverse to the dipper section. The first member is connectable to the boom cylinder of the backhoe which pivots the first member about the first axis. A second member is provided which is attachable to the boom section of the backhoe. Respective coupling brackets extend from the first and second members to pivotably couple the first and second members and enable them to rotate about a second pivot axis generally orthogonal to the first pivot axis. Fluid cylinder mounting brackets extend from the first and second members adjacent the edges thereof to mount a pair of fluid cylinders in a diagonal crosswise configuration between the first and second members for tilting the first and second members relative to each other about the second axis.

Abstract: An apparatus for inputting commodity data including a bar code scanner having a reading window on a front surface thereof, a keyboard for inputting the commodity data which keyboard is supported at an upper portion of the bar code scanner, a cashier's display and a supporting member for rotatably supporting the bar code scanner in such a manner that the bar code scanner can be rotated about a horizontal pivotal axis. The bar code scanner can be rotated according to the kind of a commodity or the height of a cashier. Accordingly, a bar code of the commodity can be placed to a laser beam scanning area by the cashier in a natural posture, and can be read by the bar code scanner reliably and easily.

Abstract: Apparatus for feeding logs into a feed chute comprising a dead deck extending laterally outwardly and sloping upwardly at least from a feed chute first side top edge; the sloping dead deck being capable of supporting a grapple load pile of side-by-side logs substantially parallel to the chute opening; the sloping dead deck having a lower portion with a front edge from which logs can roll off and fall into the chute; and the sloping dead deck lower front portion having a plurality of stops movable from a first position, which retains a complete pile of logs on the dead deck, to different positions suitable for metering the long logs by gravity into the chute.

Abstract: A loading/unloading vehicle having booms and a bucket carried thereon such as a shovel loader, a wheel loader or the like vehicle detects that a true bucket-to-ground angle coincides with a preset angle after the vehicle starts automatic turning movement of the bucket. When the coincidence is detected, the automatic turning movement of the bucket is interrupted. Thereafter, a differential value between the true bucket-to-ground angle and the preset angle is determined, if any and then the bucket angle is corrected so as to allow the differential value to be reduced to zero. Consequently, the bucket is held at the preset angle after the bucket stops, even though the booms continue to be turned.

Abstract: An apparatus for accepting two kinds of coins comprises a coin diameter discriminating passage unit having a coin passage adapted for discriminating diameters of coins and being openable downwards for dropping an unacceptable coin from the coin passage, a vertically extending coin returning chute arranged below the coin diameter discriminating passage unit for receiving the unacceptable coin dropped therefrom and two coin material discriminating units arranged at both sides of the coin returning chute, respectively. The coin diameter discriminating passage unit has two opposed side outlets adapted for introducing acceptable coins into the respective coin material discriminating units. Thus, the apparatus has a reduced width and thickness and a high flexibility owing to possibility of exchanging the coin diameter discriminating passage unit and/or the coin material discriminating unit for various kinds of coins.

Abstract: A collector cart includes a body having an open rear end, which is closed by a canopy pivotally mounted adjacent its front end on the body adjacent its front end. The body has a support pivotally connected to caster wheel supports and a tow bar attached to a riding lawn mower hitch plate. Telescoping chutes connect the mower outlet with a canopy port to fill the cart with debris. When the cart is to be dumped, a first handle is rotated by an operator, who remains on the mower, to initially cause pivoting of a rear portion of a frame of the canopy, which includes a cover on the frame, relative to the body and the remainder of the canopy frame to release a locking connection of the rear portion of the canopy frame to the rear of the body.

Abstract: An apparatus for imputting commodity data, including a bar code scanner and a keyboard for inputting the commodity data. The apparatus further includes a supporting member for pivotably supporting the keyboard at its front end, a plurality of engagement portions provided at one of opposed portions between the keyboard and the supporting member and arranged on an arc about an axis of rotation of the keyboard, a stopper member provided at the other of the opposed portions and adapted to be releasably engaged with any one of the engagement portions, and a release mechanism connected to the stopper member for releasing the stopper member from the engagement portion, the release mechanism having a knob projecting from the front end of the supporting member of the keyboard for operating the release mechanism.

Abstract: In a coin-operated device an inserted coin lodges in a tumbler member which is adjustable continuously or in discrete steps to cater for coins of a different denomination. Upon receipt of a valid coin, the tumbler member tilts to allow the coin to pass between the tumbler member and a pendulum member.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are described for conveying and supplying a part, such as a projection nut, to a predetermined point in space. The apparatus comprises a telescopic supply rod including an outer and inner shaft, two magnets being associated with a proximal end of one of the two shafts. The supply rod first extends in its entirety towards the predetermined point, or destination, with the part being attracted and held at the proximal end by the magnets. Relative displacement in longitudinal direction of the outer and inner shafts takes place as the part reaches the destination and, consequently, the magnets are moved away from the part so that magnetic force on the part is no more influential, whereupon the part is allowed to fall under gravity down to the destination.

Abstract: An article handling apparatus is provided for arranging a mass of randomly supplied articles into a group and moving the group from a group arranging area to a group loading area. The apparatus comprises retractable pattern forming pins closable to halt article movement while a group is being arranged and openable to permit article movement after a group has been arranged. The path forming pins are also closable during travel of the moving device back from the loading area to the arranging area to permit arrangement of a next successive group during said travel.

Abstract: A bulk coin hopper and dispensing system is provided. A loading disc and a dispensing disc are fixedly secured to a motor driven shaft in spaced apart relationship to each other. A dispensing blade is interposed between the two discs. Bores in the loading disc are loaded with coins from a bulk hopper, the lower most coin in each of the bores resting upon the dispensing disc. As the discs rotate, the blade engages the coins thereon and urges them out of dispensing slots within the dispensing disc. Ball plungers are provided to restrict movement of the coins upon the dispensing disc until contacted by the blade.

Abstract: A grapple device (12) adapted for coupling to a conventional loader (110) is provided which is especially adapted for the pickup and handling of elongated auger sections. The device (12) includes a pair of pivotal arms (28,30) having auger-engaging pickup members (72,74) secured to the outermost ends thereof. The arms (28,30) are movable between a closed, auger-engaging position and an open position by a stationary piston and cylinder assembly (94) equipped with an extensible piston rod (96); the rod (96) is coupled to the arms (28, 30) by pivotal links (104,106). Selective rotation of the arms (28, 30) is effected by motor (108) coupled via chain (112) and sprockets (110,88) to the arm assembly.

Abstract: A removable window carrier for removably mounting in the top surface of a scanner checkout counter, the removable window carrier comprising a frame member having an aperture therein, a window member which is removably secured in the aperture of the frame member so that the window member provides a transparent support through which scanning light beams are projected and over which items of merchandise bearing coded labels are passed. The removable window carrier makes it easy to handle the window member so as to facilitate removing or cleaning the window member.