Abstract: A nozzle cover for a laser drill includes a mount, a first shell member, and a second shell member. The mount has a first opening centered about a drill axis through which a nozzle can extend. The first shell member extends along the drill axis and has a first end attached to the mount at a first pivot and a second end with a first notch. The second shell member extends along the drill axis and has a first end attached to the mount at a second pivot and a second end with a second notch. The first shell member and the second shell member are configured to pivot between a closed position in which the first shell member and the second shell member form a hollow interior portion coaxial with the drill axis to enclose the nozzle and an open position in which the nozzle is exposed.

Abstract: A dimension measuring device includes: a rail for moving two sheets of material; a plurality of range finders arranged at a preset interval along a direction of traveling of the material, so as to measure a distance from side surfaces of the material; and an imaging device for taking images between the first and second range finders, which are disposed at the first and second locations with reference to the entry side of the material, respectively.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for stacking hay bales. The hay bale stacker includes a trailer having chassis and a platform, a hay clamping assembly (J) positioned at a longitudinal edge of the platform, the clamping assembly is pivotally coupled to the hay bale platform to selectively move between a horizontal bale clamping position and a vertical bale unloading position.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device (1) for overturning containers (2), particularly roller bottles intended for cell cultures, characterized in that it comprises a rotation actuator (3) associated by means of a transmission shaft (13) to a reducer (4) and a dynamic brake (5), a support (17) and rods (7) gripping the container (2), said support (17) being joined to the rotation actuator (3) by means of a shifter (16) of the transmission shaft (13) of the mentioned rotation actuator (3), the rotation actuator (3) being actuated by means of a pneumatic foot pedal (18), and the mentioned rotation actuator (3) in turn being associated to a timer (19) indicating the end of the overturning time of the container (2).

Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus has a substrate transport apparatus for transporting substrates, a sensor, and a control system. The processing apparatus is adapted to effect relative movement between the substrate and the sensor. The processing apparatus is further adapted to determine a position of the substrate by sensing the substrate with the sensor.

Abstract: A transfer device (26) intended to move an object (8) between a support zone (28) and a cap (12), includes: a frame (30); at least one holding arm (32) which is able to carry the object (8) to be moved; and drive elements (36) which are carried by the frame (30), and able to move the holding arm (32). The drive elements (36) are able to move the holding arm (32) so that the opening (19) of the object is moved firstly along an initial trajectory portion which includes a component in accordance with a direction perpendicular to the support zone (28), then along a curve which extends through a point (119) of the trajectory (118) of the base (17) of the object, after the base (17) of the object has passed through that point.

Abstract: A device is proposed for the positional orientation of plate-shaped parts (12), comprising continuous conveying equipment (13) for conveying plate-shaped parts (12), an optical measuring device (15) assigned to the continuous conveying equipment (13) for determining the actual position of at least one specific plate-shaped part (12) and for comparing this actual position to a stored set position and for determining the deviation of the actual position from the set position, and a control unit (20) coupled to the optical measuring device (15) for controlling a positioning unit (19) such that at least one specific plate-shaped part (12) the deviation of which from the set position was determined can be picked up by the positioning unit (19) in a pick-up region and deposited in a defined delivery region in the correct position corresponding to the set position for transfer on the continuous conveying equipment (13).

Abstract: A system and method for prealigning a substrate. One embodiment provides a rotor configured to rotate a carrier around a rotation axis in response to a rotation signal. The carrier includes a main surface substantially perpendicular to the rotation axis. The substrate is disposable on the carrier. The substrate includes a main surface and a mark such that an orientation of the substrate with respect to the rotation axis is detectable. An electromagnetic radiation source is configured to illuminate the main surface of the substrate with electromagnetic radiation. An optical/electrical converter is responsive to the electromagnetic radiation reflected back from the main surface, detecting the mark of the substrate and providing a sensing signal. A controller is configured to receive the sensing signal and providing the rotation signal.

Abstract: Device for turning over electronic components, comprising a turntable (1) for driving the electronic components to be turned over in succession between the following stationary locations: a location (A) for loading them onto the turntable; a start of turning over location (B); an end of turning over location (C); and a location (D) for unloading the turntable. A turning-over device (2) actuated by a fixed rotating motor (21), not linked to said turntable, allows the electronic components to be turned over between the start of turning over position and the end of turning over position.

Abstract: A method and device for effecting automatic centering of an annular workpiece on a rotating surface having a rotational center involves arbitrarily positioning the workpiece on the slowly rotating surface, applying a support for the workpiece by way of spaced apart contact members that individually contact the workpiece and are synchronously movable in a guided reciprocating manner towards and away from the rotational center of the rotating surface. The contact members are gradually retracted away from the rotational center of the rotating surface until the workpiece is unaffected by the contact members during one revolution of the rotating surface so that the workpiece is centered, and the center of the workpiece coincides with the rotational center of the rotating surface. At least one of the contact members is provided with a mechanism for counteracting a friction force acting on the workpiece.

Abstract: A system for bundling long ferrous products comprises a roller table for delivering the products longitudinally to a receiving station. A cradle is spaced laterally from the receiving station and is constructed and arranged to receive and accumulate the products in bundle form. A stacker is positioned between the receiving station and the cradle, and a pre-stacker is positioned between the stacker and the receiving station. A transport system laterally advances products from the receiving station to the pre-stacker, and the pre-stacker operates in concert with the transport system to pre-stack multiple layers of the products into sub-bundles and to transfer the sub-bundles to the stacker, which then operates to deposit the sub-bundles in the cradle.

Abstract: A wafer handling robot, ion implanter system including a wafer handling robot and a related method are disclosed. An ion implanter system may include an ion implanting station including a load lock coupled thereto; a wafer handling robot located at least partially within the load lock, the wafer handling robot including an end effecter for handling at least one wafer, and a motor for moving the end effecter vertically; and a sensor positioned within the load lock to determine a vertical position of the end effecter.

Abstract: A wafer handling robot, ion implanter system including a wafer handling robot and a related method are disclosed. An ion implanter system may include an ion implanting station including a load lock coupled thereto; a wafer handling robot located at least partially within the load lock, the wafer handling robot including an end effecter for handling at least one wafer, and a motor for moving the end effecter vertically; and a sensor positioned within the load lock to determine a vertical position of the end effecter.

Abstract: A fugitive pattern of an article to be investment cast wherein the pattern includes a plurality of locator embossments disposed in an array to provide a datum reference system by which the pattern can be held and positioned by a manipulator, such as for example a gripper device to a computer controlled robotic device, for assembly with another component of the pattern assembly. The datum embossments are located on a portion of the pattern that will be removed from the final metallic casting made to replicate the pattern. The casting includes integral cast datum embossments thereon by which the casting can be held and positioned.

Abstract: A cassette chamber according to the present invention comprises a housing defining a space stored with a cassette for holding a plurality of objects of treatment, a lift base having a rotatable shaft and located in the housing for up-and-down motion, an auxiliary base fixed to the shaft and inclined at a predetermined angle to the longitudinal direction of the shaft, a cassette support having a bottom support portion set on the lift base and bearing the bottom face of the cassette and a back support portion rotatably supported by the auxiliary base and bearing the back face of the cassette, a rotation mechanism for rotating the shaft as the lift base ascends or descends, thereby rotating the auxiliary base and the cassette support between a first position inside the housing and a second position outside the housing, and a support section for keeping the back support portion of the cassette support parallel to the shaft by engaging the back support portion being rotated to the second position by the rotation m

Abstract: An improved log debarking apparatus characterized by a pair of shafts with cleated wheels for supporting and rotating a log under a rosser type debarking tool. The improved log debarking apparatus further has a plurality of log lifters movably supported about a common axis, and each having a profiled upper edge engageable transversally with a lower surface of a log on the cleated wheels. There is also provided a first lifter actuating means for alternately turning the log lifters from a retracted position below a radial projection of the cleated wheels, to a raised position above the cleated wheels, and into a log ejecting position wherein each profiled upper edge is inclined for rolling the log along and away from the cleated wheels. There is further provided a second lifter actuating means for moving the plurality of log lifters longitudinally relative to the shafts.

Abstract: A holder mechanism tilts and rotates a vertically oriented wafer-loaded cassette for proper presentation in a horizontal orientation to the robotic arm of a workstation. The mechanism includes a cassette holder, a support member, and a motor. The cassette holder has first and second supports that define orthogonal first and second planes. In two embodiments, the support member connects the cassette holder to the motor shaft and, as the motor shaft rotates, the cassette holder is rotated about a single pivot axis that is oblique to the first and second planes. This rotation tilts a cassette placed in the holder through a tilt angle of about 45.degree. to 90.degree., and simultaneous rotates the cassette through an angle .theta. about the vertical axis. The support member shape determines whether tilting and rotation is away from or toward the motor, and also determines the angle of rotation .theta. and the tilt angle.

Abstract: An indexing part loader for orientating a part for transfer and subsequent use. A transfer machine has a carousel magazine mounted thereon, with each magazine containing a stack of parts. The parts are sequentially lifted out of the magazine by a pickup head. The pickup head has a displacement mechanism which advances the part into an indexing head. The pickup head rotates the part within the indexing head until sensors within the indexing head determine the part to be in a proper angular position. The part is then withdrawn from the indexing head and advanced to a subsequent use position.

Abstract: A ramp (1) is provided with spiked chains (2) for handling bales (4), movable from a gathering position, parallel to the direction of advance of the trailer (8) and inclined with respect to the horizontal plane, for gathering the bale from the ground, to a loading position, at right angles to the direction of advance of the trailer (8) and at the same height as its platform, for loading the bale onto the trailer (8), characterized in that the movement of the ramp (1) between the positions is effected in a single rotation around a geometrical axis which is fixed with respect to the trailer (8), the fixed geometrical axis being inclined with respect to the horizontal plane and with respect to the vertical plane containing the longitudinal axis of the trailer (8).

Abstract: A device for uprighting containers from a position with their axis horizontal to a position with their axis vertical comprises a circular plate (3) fixed to the end of a shaft (5) of horizontal axis by a support structure (4) arranged to undergo stepwise rotations of 180.degree. in synchronism with a container feed line (1); two parallel shafts (14, 15) symmetrically arranged about a diameter of the plate (3) and each carrying, at that end facing away from the plate, a receptacle (18) for seizing the containers, said shafts being connected mechanically such as to undergo equal rotations in the same direction, and carrying the receptacles (18) thereon with their axes mutually perpendicular; and a fixed positive-acting cam (25) within which there engages the end of a rocker arm (23) pivoted on the plate (3), its opposite end rotating one of the shafts (14 or 15) by a mechanism comprising a connecting rod-crank unit (21, 22).

Abstract: An apparatus for handling palletized piles of sheet-shaped materials including a first carriage having a fork tower with upper and lower forks which are actuated to grip the pile. The fork tower swings about a horizontal axis and rotates about a vertical axis. A second carriage has a pallet-supporting surface which rotates about a vertical axis. The first and second carriages are movable along rails so that a pile is aerated and positioned for delivery to a production machine.

Abstract: Agar-filled petri dishes with covers on them are taken in rows from a first conveyor belt through interface equipment to a horizontal infeed conveyor transporting them in axially aligned packs of ten through a conventional wrapping machine. Two alternate types of interface are used. A "parallel" interface stacks dishes from six columns simultaneously adjacent the end of the first conveyor, to create six stacks of dishes. These are transferred as a group to a lateral conveyor. The lateral conveyor transports the six stacks to a single stack transfer station where a transfer wheel having a horizontal axis receives the stacks and turns them from a vertical attitude to a horizonatal attitude moving in synchronization with the linear motion of the infeed conveyor.

Abstract: A teller machine for drive up applications is disclosed. The machine has a safe with an access slot. The machine also has a user panel which has an opening that lies transverse to the slot. A document carrier is described which rotates documents around two different axes as it carries them between the slot and the opening to allow passage of the documents through both.

Abstract: "Method and device for aligning and storing in a given order moldings having a tubular perforation."Individual moldings (6) are introduced successively from above into a turbulence space above a receiving mandrel (5) profiled for reception in the perforation (7) in the molding (6). Each molding is subjected to an aligning air turbulence until the molding (6) has been aligned with its perforation (7) with respect to the receiving mandrel (5) in such a manner that the molding (6) falls onto the receiving mandrel (5) due to an air resistance decreasing as a result of the alignment. The receiving mandrel (5) then passes the molding (6) on to a deposition transport rail (19).

Abstract: An apparatus (21) and method for rapid transport of elastic bands (34) from a band loading station (22) to a band unloading station (23). The apparatus (21) includes a movable arm assembly (24) having a finger (26) thereon dimensioned to loosely receive an elastic band (34) therearound. A drive assembly (36) is coupled to move the arm assembly (24) from the loading (22) to the unloading station (23). The arm assembly (24) is further movable by the drive assembly (36) from a first orientation of the finger (26) to a second orientation of the finger (26) to enable gravity assisted mounting of the band (34) on the finger (26) at the loading station (22) and gravity assisted demounting of the band (34) at the unloading station (23). During the transport of the band (34) between the loading (22) and unloading stations (23), the finger (26) is reoriented along a path maintaining the band (34) on the finger (26) against dynamic forces acting on the band (34) during transport of the arm assembly (24).

Abstract: Apparatus for cleaning each threaded marginal end portion of large pipe. The apparatus has a cleaning head assembly which includes a rotatable member having circumferentially spaced cleaning brushes adjustably mounted thereon so that the cleaning brushes can engage and clean the opposed pipe surface at the opposed marginal terminal ends of a joint of pipe. Spaced plate-like members are axially arranged along a common shaft, and the opposed faces of the plate members have the cleaning brushes adjustably mounted thereto and arranged so that the common shaft can be rotated in a horizontal plane, thereby bringing the brushes of one of the plate members into cleaning engagement respective to the pipe threads, and thereafter the assembly is rotated 180.degree.0 in a horizontal plane, thereby bringing the other set of brushes into cleaning relationship respective to the opposed pipe end.

Abstract: Apparatus for positioning or orienting a hand of tubes, or the like, includes clamp arms for clamping the hand while on a conveyor, a fluid activated ram for raising the hand, inverting it 180.degree., lowering it back onto the conveyor, and releasing the clamp arms. The device may also be tilted while in elevated position so that the clamp arms and hand avoid contact with personnel during inversion.

Abstract: An apparatus for manipulating bottles of wine to precipitate and collect sediments in the wine includes a base frame from which a pair of stanchions extend upwardly. A rectangular frame is disposed between the stanchions and pivotally supported by the stanchions to rotate about a horizontal axis. A generally cubic housing is disposed within the rectangular frame, and is pivotally supported by the frame on an axis which is perpendicular to the horizontal axis. The housing includes doors which permit the unloading of bins of wine bottles supported in the housing in parallel arrays. The housing may be rotated slowly while the frame is slowly pivoted, so that the wine bottles are gradually rotated and tipped from horizontal to vertical disposition, the sediments in the wine precipitating to the upper neck portion of each wine bottle.

Abstract: A coil handling device which orientates heavy coils between two positions, e.g. vertical and horizontal. The device is constructed to cause the center of gravity of the coil and a turning coil support to coincide with the axis of rotation. Hence, forces of resistance caused by weight are eliminated and only friction forces have to be overcome. Hence, a manual device is possible. In one arrangement, the device is adjustable to accommodate coils of different weights and sizes.

Abstract: A tool storage magazine of the type wherein a circulatable endless chain pivotably carries a plurality of tool storage sockets is provided with a cradle member adapted to carry thereon any of the tool sockets indexed to an exchange position and a mechanism for pivoting the cradle member between horizontal and vertical positions. The magazine is further provided with a locking mechanism which prevents a holding plunger of any tool socket indexed to the exchange position from being disengaged from a tool received in the tool socket until the cradle member is pivoted to the vicinity of the vertical position so that the dropping of a tool from an associated tool socket is reliably prevented during pivotal movement of the cradle member.

Abstract: Apparatus for removing protective members from the threaded ends of pipe joints. A rotating head assembly is attached for longitudinal movement respective to a main frame having a motor mounted therewithin. The head includes a plurality of protector gripping jaws which are radially spaced from one another and aligned such that movement of the head assembly towards and away from the main frame causes the jaws to releasably grip the pipe protector. The rotating head assembly includes spaced parallel arms connected to cause the jaws to maintain the same relative position as the jaws are moved apart from one another to accommodate different diameter pipe. The apparatus can also be used to engage and remove pipe couplings as well as other threaded members. A second embodiment of the invention includes a cleaning head assembly mounted to the main frame which cleans the threads of both the box end and pin end of the pipe.

Abstract: A tool changing mechanism or assembly for a machine tool, which has a spindle for rotating a tool on an operating axis and has a tool storage magazine having at least one tool receiving means such as a socket for supporting a tool on a storage axis, has an improvement which enables increased distances between the spindle and the storage axis. The improvement is that a tool changing arm is mounted on a housing or a shuttle to rotate about a first axis and the shuttle is mounted on the frame of the machine tool so that it can be moved between two linear positions as the arm is rotated so that the axis of rotation of the arm is shifted in a linear path.