Abstract: A grain bin access door and chute system that can be retrofitted into existing grain bins or installed in new grain bins. The access panel includes an outer door and an inner door and allows a user to quickly access and assess the grain within a bin without fear of falling into the grain or through the crust of grain which can form a bridge on the top of grain. The access door includes a lever-controlled chute door and pipe-chute connection. This allows grain to be gravity fed into awaiting grain trucks or rail cars without using a more dangerous grain auger and without relying on outside energy sources. Additionally, grain transferred through a gravity-fed method is less likely to become damaged than grain transferred through a grain auger. An optional grain agitator may likewise be installed within the grain bin.

Abstract: Disclosed are a transport apparatus that holds and transports an object on a predetermined transport track using a transport portion provided at the leading end of an arm and is capable of acquiring the teaching information of a transport position using a normal transport operation, a position teaching method, and a sensor jig. A transmissive sensor (32) is provided in a sensor jig (30) such that the projection segments of an optical axis (41) and an optical axis (42) on a projection plane intersect with each other and neither the project segment of the optical axis (41) nor the projection segment of the optical axis (42) is aligned with the X-direction and the Y-direction. During a position teaching operation, the sensor jig (30) is provided so as to be held by a wafer transport portion (24), thereby detecting target members (51, 52).

Abstract: An exposure apparatus has a mask stage (9), a prealignment device (7) which prealigns a mask (1) to be transferred to the stage (9), and a manipulating mechanism (10) which transports a master or exchanges two masters between the stage (9) and prealignment device (7). A master transport apparatus (30) includes a mask transport mechanism (8) which holds the mask (1) with holding portions (8a, 8b) that can hold at least two masks (1) and transports the master (1), and a controller (11) which controls the transport mechanism (8). The controller (11) controls the transport mechanism (8) such that, when a mask (1) that should be used in a first turn for exposure is to be mounted on the stage (9), a mask (1) to be used in a second turn is provided to the prealignment device (7), and a mask (1) to be used in a third turn is held by the holding portion (8a, 8b).

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for ensuring the proper handling of reticles in the manufacturing of microdevices are disclosed. The methods and apparatus employ one or more reticle stop blocks fixed to a reticle handling arm. The one or more reticle stop blocks are designed and arranged to engage an edge of the reticle in order to place the reticle in a desired position on the reticle handling arm should the reticle be improperly arranged in a cassette in which the reticle is stored. By ensuring proper placement of the reticle on the reticle handling arm when the reticle is removed from the cassette, the likelihood of a subsequent fault in handling the reticle is greatly reduced.

Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a substrate transport apparatus which enables prompt transfer of a substrate, and a substrate processing apparatus incorporating this. A substrate transport apparatus of the invention comprises a transport arm (45, 46, 145, 146) for supporting a peripheral portion of a substrate (W) at at least two places on the peripheral portion, and transporting the substrate to a stage (7).

Abstract: Disclosed is a substrate conveying system for conveying a substrate to and from an accommodating container, wherein a fork-like hand arranged to hold a reticle by attraction is relatively moved close to or away from and upwardly or downwardly, relative to the container. The container has a supporting member for supporting one or more reticles and a positioning member for positioning the same in a horizontal plane. The conveying system has an obstacle detector, comprising a transmission type sensor, for detecting presence/absence of any obstacle in a region through which the hand is inserted to transfer a reticle. This structure avoids interference between the hand and the container or the reticle.

Abstract: In an automatic exposure apparatus for printing plates, a photopolymer plate is taken out of an accommodating cassette in which stacked photopolymer plates are accommodated, and an image is recorded onto the photopolymer plate. A shutter which opens and closes an opening of the accommodating cassette is configured as a thin plate, and thus, the accommodating cassette is thin and light.

Abstract: A drive mechanism for a radially extending grain sweeper that includes an auger for directing grain into a central opening in the floor portion of a grain storage container, said drive mechanism includes a housing coupled with the grain sweeper, a drive sprocket and tensioning sprocket mounted within the housing, a crawler track which engages the drive and tensioning sprocket. The crawler track includes a chain to which cleats are coupled in spaced fore and aft relation for engaging grain and the floor portion for supporting the grain sweeper. The cleats are adapted to dig into the grain and move grain with a paddling action to generally hinder the grain sweeper from riding up over compacted layers of grain.

Abstract: The present invention provides a silo unloader which combines the advantages of both a single auger unloader and a double auger unloader and substantially eliminates the disadvantages of both, to create a silo unloader that is very efficient and effective. Only a portion of the unloader's auger arms has dual augers working therewith while the remaining portion has a single auger. The dual auger functionality is positioned at the end of the auger where most freezing and compaction occurs, thus creating a very aggressive auger at this point. Additionally, the blower of the present silo unloader is positioned at an angle above the augers. This allows for the use of an efficient closed bottom blower in a double auger system while also allowing the placement of the two augers substantially next to each other. By placing the two augers in close proximity to one another reduces the overall width of the auger arm, thus creating a more efficient auger arm.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing bulk materials from a laterally enclosed storage area wherein the apparatus may be substantially buried within the bulk material (11). The apparatus includes a support column (16) mounted at a base into a support floor (25). An auger (17) is attached by an axial mount at the base of the support column for enabling rotational inclination of the auger from (i) a vertical orientation vertical orientation wherein the auger is nearly parallel with the vertical axis of the support column, (ii) through intermediate angles of inclination (54), to (iii) a substantially horizontal orientation (55) wherein the auger is adjacent to the support floor. The suspension cable (61) is coupled between the support column and auger to enable selective adjustment of auger inclination. A rotational displacement drive (35) is coupled to the support column to rotate the column about its vertical axis, along with the attached auger. A rotational drive motor (51) is mounted at a distal end of the auger.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing bulk materials from a laterally enclosed storage area wherein the apparatus may be substantially buried within the bulk material. The apparatus includes a support column mounted at a base into a support floor. An auger is attached by means of an axial mount at the base of the support column for enabling rotational inclination of the auger from (i) a vertical orientation wherein the auger is nearly parallel with the vertical axis of the support column, (ii) through intermediate angles of inclination, to (iii) a substantially horizontal orientation wherein the auger is adjacent to the support floor. The suspension cable is coupled between the support column and auger to enable selective adjustment of auger inclination. A rotational displacement drive is coupled to the support column to rotate the column about its vertical axis, along with the attached auger. A rotational drive motor is mounted at a distal end of the auger.

Abstract: An apparatus for unloading bulk material from a storage space includes an upward conveyor (14), in particular a screw conveyor. For scraping the bulk material to the inlet end (22) of the upward conveyor (14), there is a scraper conveyor (27, 28) which is pivotally movable up and down and is telescopically extensible. The scraper conveyor is pivotally connected to a protective tube (24) which is rotatable and extends about the upward conveyor (14). The protective tube is located within a pressure-absorbing pipe which prevents the bulk material from impeding the rotational movement of the protective tube. This arrangement makes it possible for the scraper conveyor to remove bulk material from different regions of the storage space, including corners.