Abstract: An automatic unloading dolly that automatically unloads pallets therefrom that includes a frame having a loading/unloading side and a pusher side, a conveyor platform that extends between the loading/unloading side and the pusher side, one or more wheels connected to the frame, a multi-bar linkage system mounted to the frame and connected to a pusher that moves along the conveyor platform from the pusher side toward the loading/unloading side between a pusher base position and a pusher triggered position, and a contact arm link connected to the multi-bar linkage system such that movement of the contact arm link relative to the frame from a contact arm link base position to a contact arm link triggered position moves the multi-bar linkage system and the pusher from the pusher base position to the pusher triggered position.

Abstract: This invention relates to a new pallet lift system for the movement of pallets via the use of a new pallet jack and dolly in conjunction with new tines to transport the pallet from one location to another and minimize the risk of damaging or marring the surface across which the pallet is moved by utilizing a pallet jack and a dolly equipped with soft wheels to allow a pallet to move over door thresholds and floor surfaces without risking damage to the surface, and to facilitate the transportation of pallets of merchandise across an uneven surface such as a parking lot, and into and through a narrow entrance such as a standard doorway and provides a method to load pallets in and out of trucks with the narrow edge leading, thus increasing the usable space inside a typical truck, the present invention being able to be used with multiple different sized pallets.

Abstract: A stacker includes a frame, forks connected to the frame and provided with a support part having at least one support wheel, and a carrier part provided movably relative to the support part for carrying the goods for displacement. The carrier part is provided with a double roller device. The double roller device includes a number of first roller elements located a distance from each other and having a roll surface, and a number of second roller elements located above the first roller elements and having a roll surface. The roll surface of the first roller elements lies against the roll surface of the second roller elements. The roller elements engage movably in vertical direction on the frame in a guided manner so as to extend the second roller elements in selective manner above the upper surface of the load platform.

Abstract: A bale accumulator and method in which a plurality of hay bales can be accumulated and arranged into a cluster of ten bales (a “ten stack”). The accumulator first collects a bale in each of two angled bale receivers at the rear of the accumulator. These remain in position as four columns having two bales each are collected in a more forward collection. The result is two angled bales being dragged to the rear of a conventional “eight stack.” As the device releases all ten bales, gate mechanisms rotate the two rear bales 90 degrees so that they lie transverse to the eight bales comprising the “eight stack.” The two rear bales are pressed against the rear of the eight stack in order to form a ten stack.

Abstract: Automatic placement of safety cones from a moving vehicle is provided. The preferred safety cone would have a flexible cone part. A receptacle holds a plurality of safety cones either with the flexible cone part in non-compressed position or in spring-loaded position. The receptacle is removably attached to the vehicle. A releasing means that is attached to the receptacle is controlled and advances the safety cones in an automatic and controlled fashion, one-by-one, to different locations on a ground surface from a moving vehicle. The advantage is that it automatically handles the placement of a plurality of safety cones while driving. There would be no more need for a person to manually place the safety cones. It provides for increased road safety since it decreases or even eliminates the number of fatal or non-fatal accidents as well as chronic injuries of road-workers that are involved in placing safety cones.

Abstract: An apparatus and method to facilitate unloading material from the cargo area (e.g. bed) of a vehicle. The apparatus may include a flexible member placed to line the bottom of the cargo area before a load is placed therein. After moving the vehicle to a desired location, a friction-reducing member may be placed to extend across the rear edge of the cargo area (e.g. the rear edge of an open tailgate). One end of the flexible member may be wrapped around the friction-reducing member and placed just behind the rear wheels of the vehicle. The vehicle may then be moved in reverse. The wheels of the vehicle roll over the flexible material, fixing one end thereof to the ground. The friction reducing member acts like a pulley (whether rolling with, or simply sliding with respect to, the flexible member) at the edge of the moving tailgate, drawing the flexible member and associated load out of the cargo area of the vehicle.

Abstract: An apparatus for use in conjunction with a powered vehicle to take up a long length's wide flexible sheeting material such as may be used in sanitary landfill sites, the apparatus having a framework designed to be engaged and transported by a powered vehicle, pick up arms extending outwardly at each end of the framework, an arbor assembly including a cylindrical mandrel, an oil pump mounted interiorly of the cylindrical mandrel, and a hydraulic system mounted at one end of the mandrel.

Abstract: A substrate load lock comprising a frame and a substrate support movably mounted to the frame. The frame forms at least three chambers. The substrate support has at least two separate support areas. The first one of the support areas is movable between the first one of the chambers. A second one of the support areas is movable between the second chamber and a third one of the chambers.

Abstract: A method and harvesting apparatus for stacking cut sod wherein the cut sod is formed into rolls at a rolling station carried by a machine and wherein alternating first and second series of rolls are conveyed in a first direction relative to a stacking station so as to form in the stacking station alternating first and second layers of rolls which are oriented generally perpendicularly to one another and wherein the rolls in each layer are oriented generally parallel with respect to one another. The second series of rolls are partially rotated approximately 90.degree. as they are conveyed to the stacking station so the second series of rolls are oriented generally perpendicularly with respect to the first series rolls. The apparatus also includes a wrapping device which is movable with respect to the stacking station so as to be maneuverable about the layers of sod rolls which are formed within the stacking station.

Abstract: A vehicle has a frame on which are mounted road wheels or a track. A cargo ed tilts on the frame about pivot mechanisms connected between the frame's aft end and a location on the bed remote from its ends. A spool on the frame rotates in response to road wheel or track rotation. A cable winds on the spool and around a pulley on the frame, passes through a slide block on the bed, fixes to a cargo module and pulls the module slidingly onto the vehicle during vehicle motion. The cable can later be removed from the pulley and connected directly to the cargo module, so that vehicle motion will now cause the cable to pull the module off the vehicle.

Abstract: An apparatus, or trailer, for use in transporting large bales of hay in which the bales are loaded onto two rails from the rear of the trailer and slid forward. Upon unloading, the bales are pushed backward off the trailer as the trailer is pulled forward by a pushing mechanism which is mounted by way of wheels onto a track which runs down each side of the trailer. The pushing mechanism is extended until it is forced against the ground. Upward pressure is exerted upon the rails by a set of wheels which are located below the rails. These wheels roll along the lower side of the track as the pushing mechanism pushes the bales off the rear of the moving trailer. After unloading, the pushing mechanism is retracted from the ground and may be rolled forward on wheels that are located above the tracks.

Abstract: A micro-environment load lock for coupling a SMIF-type box containing a stack of semiconductor wafers directly to a wafer processing chamber includes a load lock chamber in communication with at least one wafer processing tool. The load lock also includes a seal operable to accept and sealably couple a SMIF-type box to the load lock chamber such that SMIF-type box becomes an extension of the load lock chamber, and provides a base that is selectably operable to open and close the SMIF-type box and to selectably draw a cassette of wafers from the SMIF-type box through a port in communication with the load lock chamber and into the load lock chamber. The base is also operable to seal the port in the absence of a SMIF-type box. A single robot is provided in conjunction with the load lock chamber for moving one wafer at a time between the cassette of wafers and the process chamber.

Abstract: A pick-up device for a load includes a shaft having a central axis, rollers disposed on the shaft, an engagement device pivotably mounted to the shaft for engaging the load, the engagement device being mounted to the shaft at a distance from the central axis, a pulling member for pulling the load, the pulling member being disposed on the shaft at a distance from the central axis so that a pulling force applied to the pulling member applies a torque to the shaft so as to pivot the engagement device in a direction of lifting of the load; and a cam disposed on the shaft and the engagement device for preventing further pivot of the engagement device relative to the shaft when the load has been lifted a desired height.

Abstract: An apparatus for collecting cans from a ground surface. The apparatus comprises a basket portion having a carriage pivotally attached thereto. A bearing mounted shaft extends transversely across said carriage, and a plurality of flexible discs are connected to said shaft. At least one carriage wheel is attached to said shaft and has an outside diameter greater than an outside diameter of the discs. The carriage may be locked in a non-operating position wherein the carriage wheel and discs are spaced from the ground surface, and the carriage may be pivoted downwardly to an operating position wherein the carriage wheels engage the ground surface. The discs flex outwardly from one another when a can is pushed therebetween so that the discs engage the can and move it toward the basket portion. A can disengaging finger is positioned between pairs of adjacent discs for disengaging the cans therefrom so that the cans are free to fall into the basket portion.

Abstract: A self-loading transport for round hay includes at tilt platform hinged to a transport platform. Round bales of hay are captured onto the tilt platform when it is in an upright position. Then, movement of the transport forward will raise and level the tilt platform with a bale of hay on it. When the tilt platform is in its full erect position, the bale of hay will roll forward from the tilt platform onto the transport platform. A rocker on the tilt platform aids in the smooth motion of the tilt platform and the rear of the transport platform from the transport position to a tilt position with a tilt platform in upright position. When the bales have been transported to the desired location, they are unloaded from the transport by permitting individual trays carrying the bales in transport on the transport platform to rotate upon the transport frame.

Abstract: A vacuum chuck apparatus operable in both gas and liquid includes a liquid-gas separating membrane which allows passage of gas molecules but prevents passage of liquid. The liquid-gas separating membrane is disposed between an inlet hole of the chuck and a manifold which is connected to a pneumatic system. The pneumatic system includes an aspirator, a compressor and a switching valve. The vacuum chuck is immersed into a liquid, compressed gas purges the liquid in the inlet hole, then the switching valve is switched to the aspirator. An object, such as a semiconductor wafer, is vacuumed quickly to the chuck, and the inlet hole is closed by the object. If a small quantity of liquid intrudes into the chuck, it is stopped by the liquid-gas separating membrane.

Abstract: A railroad scrap pick up machine includes a magnetic wheel and transversely extending support arm or beam which pivots in a plane transverse to the right and left sides of the machine. The magnetic wheel may alternately be mounted on the left or right side of the machine for picking up loose tie plates disposed on the railroad bed. The single magnetic wheel which is used for picking up tie plates may be removed and a support arm having two magnetic wheels for picking up spikes may be attached at either the right or left side of the machine. Stripper trays are used for separating metallic articles from the magnetic wheels. Crawlers which may slide from left to right on the machine are used to support the machine when traveling on a roadbed having only one rail.

Abstract: A manually operatable dosage pump comprising a cylinder, a piston movable therein between two end positions, and inlet and outlet passages communicating with the cylinder space and each containing a one-way valve or check valve. The piston is adapted to interrupt communication between said inlet and outlet passages in at least one of the end positions of the piston. Thus, a valve member mounted on the piston may cooperate with valve seats formed in a valve chamber axially aligned with the cylinder space.