Abstract: A mobile container or bin is provided with a vertically adjustable floor which is suspended by cables which pass through a plurality of supports or pulleys, and the cables are wound around a single cylindrical drive member coupled to a reversible motor with a power off brake. The cylindrical cable drive member is rotatably disposed about an axle passing through side wall members of the bin. The cylindrical cable drive member includes at least one pair of right hand and left hand spiraling grooves having a depth and width sufficient to wind the cables thereon in a single layer. An object level sensing sensor is mounted to the bin for sensing the presence or absence of objects above the floor at a pre-set access level. The sensor output is provided as an input to a control circuit for maintaining the highest most ones of the objects on the floor at the preset level so as to provide a constant object load and object unload floor level.

Abstract: An abrasive liquid jet cutting system has a cutting head for directing a jet of ultra high pressure water and grit to a work piece. The jet cuts the work piece in a desired pattern to form a product. The liquid from the jet, grit, and particulate materials of the work piece are collected with a receiver located generally below the cutting head. Controls for both the cutting head and receiver are coordinated to move the receiver along with the cutting head so that the water and particulate materials are collected by receiver. The receiver has an upright tubular member provided with wear resistant sleeves and an upright central rod to absorb the impact forces of the water and particulate materials that move through the receiver. A drive means connected to the tubular body operates to continuously rotate the tubular body, sleeves and rod to distribute the wear around the sleeves and rod caused by the water, grit and particulate materials that impinge thereon.

Abstract: A system for assembling, processing and transferring battery cell elements including a plurality of element assemblers and an exit conveyor having a plurality of element conveying lanes. Each element assembler includes element transfer and processing apparatus comprising an endless chain conveyor having a plurality of longitudinally spaced element carriers adapted to successively engage an element at a loading station, carry the engaged element through a plurality of process stations, and release the element at a discharge station. In the illustrated apparatus, the carriers each engage a loosely assembled element at the loading station, compress the element to final size, and carry the element through an inspection and manual unload station, a plate alignment station, a plate lug brushing station, a plate alignment after brushing station, and a series of tape applicator stations which bind the element in assembled and processed condition.