Abstract: A data and communication system including a hand-held unit (17) and an infrared communication satellite (10) is used to provide for the interchange of data between a host computer (13), individual personal computers (15), the hand-held computing unit (17) and factory machinery, including process controllers.

Abstract: A data and communication system including a hand-held unit (17) and an infrared communication satellite (10) is used to provide for the interchange of data between a host computer (13), individual personal computers (15), the hand-held computing unit (17) and factory machinery, including process controllers.

Abstract: A portable computer docking station has incorporated therein a motorized docking/undocking module which is releasably latched to a housing wall portion of the docking station. The module includes a housing within which a small electric drive motor is operatively mounted, with wall portions of the module housing translationally and rotationally restraining the motor body without the use of screws or other separate fastening members. A docking control system, upon sensing the manual placement of a portable computer on a receiving area adjacent the module energizes the module motor which rotates a cammed worm gear portion of the module which is drivingly linked to latching and ejection portions of the module. The motor-driven latching portion of the module connects to the computer and docks it by forcibly drawing it toward the module in a manner mating facing connectors on the computer and docking station.

Abstract: A data and communication system including a hand-held unit and an infrared communication satellite is used to provide for the interchange of data between a host computer, individual personal computers, the hand-held computing unit, and factory machinery, including process controllers.

Abstract: Mechanical handling apparatus for moving a load over a support surface comprises an endless powered conveyor device which extends substantially over at least part of the length of the support and is trained round guides or pulleys rotatable about substantially horizontal axes. The endless conveyor device comprises a chain having a working run and a return run the working run of which comprises at least two working parts, which are movable vertically independently or in unison. In a preferred embodiment, each conveyor device comprises two side-by-side chains. The endless chains run in a guide for the working run and a guide for the return run. The guides are mounted one on top of the other, the lower guide being of inverted channel section and the upper guide being of upwardly open channel section which rises and falls within an outer channel on a support plate which is in contact with an inflatable device such as an air bag in order to provide a smooth and uniform raising and lowering.