Abstract: An end effector for handling stacks of plastic cups, dishes, and similar items. The end effector includes a bracket for coupling the end effector to the end of a robot arm. A main plate or body with a top side, a bottom side, and a plurality of apertures is connected to the bracket and supports the major components of the end effector. The end effector includes at least one bay positioned in the bottom side of the main body. Within each bay is a multiple-piece blade support block that helps guide the blades located within the bay. One or more roller blocks are positioned at predetermined points along the length of the bay, preferably between two pieces of the blade support block. Each roller block has an arcuate track that holds a roller assembly. Each roller assembly has a link which extends through one of the apertures in the main body. Each roller assembly is also coupled to a curved blade. One or more linear actuators are positioned on the top side of the main body.

Abstract: A bicycle seat suspension includes a parallelogram linkage having one end mounted to a seat post and another end supporting a saddle. A resilient member between opposed members of the parallelogram linkage deforms during linkage displacement to absorb shocks and to provide a restoring force to the linkage. An adjustment mechanism adjusts the initial preload on the resilient member to adapt the suspension system to varying terrain and riding conditions. The resilient member is also configured to provide varying restoring forces at varying degrees of compression to further adapt the suspension to varying riding conditions. The various members of the parallelogram linkage are configured for strength, light weight and manufacturing economy. A universal sleeve and shim arrangement is provided for adapting the seat suspension for use with bicycles having frames formed of tubing of different diameters.

Abstract: A flexible apparatus and process are disclosed for loading objects into pouches and then sealing the pouches, in which a pouch (10) having side walls (12,14) and an open mouth (18) is moved from a source (34) to a pouch opening apparatus (72) where the mouth is opened to pass an object such as a stack (20) of slippery sheets which is pushed through the mouth into the pouch while the object is resiliently engaged through the walls of the pouch by a mechanism (70, 82-110) to prevent the object from shifting during movement into or with the pouch, after which the pouch and object are moved, while still resiliently engaged, to a station (74) at which the pouch is evacuated and sealed. Changes are readily accomodated in object size, pouch size or format, or all of these.

Abstract: A stairway chairlift for transporting passengers in ascending and descending directions along a stairway includes a rail mounted adjacent one stairway wall and further includes a motorized chair unit movable along the rail. A seat, for carrying the passenger, is mounted to the top of the chair unit, and a swivel mechanism permits the seat to be rotated around a vertical axis to facilitate movement of the passenger onto and off of the seat. To minimize interference with ordinary use of the stairway, the seat is pivotally mounted to a horizontal plate which moves inwardly or outwardly in response to rotation of the seat so as to maintain a substantially constant clearance between the seat and the stairway wall. To further reduce interference with ordinary use of the stairway, the seat can be folded upwardly, as can be a foot rest mounted adjacent the lower end of the chair unit.