Abstract: An apparatus for opening and closing a vehicle door as a vehicle body is being conveyed through a paint booth and having a primary arm pivotally mounted on a carriage and supporting a secondary arm for seizing and releasing the vehicle door under the control of a link, the apparatus being characterized in that the pivotal connections interconnecting the primary arm and the link to the secondary arm and to the carriage are located in positions which allow the primary and secondary arms to be positioned in substantially parallel relationship adjacent the carriage when the apparatus assumes a stored position.

Abstract: A chuck for a chucking machine has a rotatably supported toroidal body having first and second sets of jaws projecting inward from its inner periphery, the first and second sets of jaws being axially spaced from one another. Each of the sets of jaws has its own actuating mechanism comprising a lead screw engaging each jaw for the movement thereof. All of the lead screws of a set are controlled by a ring gear actuable by a fluid pressure motor to simultaneously advance or withdraw all the jaws of a set. At least the second set of jaws has a slip clutch associated with each lead screw to allow engagement of all jaws with the workpiece regardless of irregularities in the workpiece surface.

Abstract: In accordance with a preferred embodiment of this invention, a precessing bottom pour stopper is used to accurately and precisely control the flow of molten metal through the tap hole which is located in the bottom of a metallurgical vessel. The precessional movement of the stopper, as it moves into and/or out of sealing engagement with the tap hole, removes any debris which may be lodged between the sealing surfaces and thereby ensures a tight seal over a prolonged period of operation.