Abstract: A load-lifting mast especially adapted for an automatically-guided, driverless vehicle has automatic features for ensuring accuracy and reliability of operation despite the absence of a driver. For load-lowering purposes, a slack chain sensor senses whether or not the load-supporting carriage is supported by the mast, and the carriage is withdrawn from the load when no support by the mast is indicated. The slack chain sensor also cooperates with a carriage height control system by overriding it to cause lowering past a target height until the carriage is supported independently of the mast. A carriage height sensor self-calibration system continually recalibrates the height-sensor readings automatically while the mast is in use to compensate for height sensor slip, chain stretching, and other mechanical variables.

Abstract: A wafer probe for testing semiconductor devices brings low impedance connections closely adjacent device bonding pads for bypassing power supply voltages.

Abstract: A push-pull slipsheet handler for a forklift truck is capable of utilizing the truck's standard forks for load-supporting purposes, while enabling mounting and demounting of the push-pull assembly and forks in unison with respect to the lift truck carriage. The upstanding portions of the standard forks are suspended from a transverse mounting member affixed to the frame of the push-pull assembly at an elevated position. The mounting member has a pair of fork-supporting surfaces positioned in transversely offset relation to vertically pivotable push-pull links, thereby minimizing forward protrusion of the push-pull assembly in its fully-retracted position despite the mounting of the standard forks on the push-pull frame. The construction also permits side shifting of the push-pull assembly and standard forks as a unit relative to the lift truck carriage.

Abstract: An automatic dual side grinder is disclosed. A circular saw blade is supported and rotated in angular increments for grinding of each saw tooth. A pair of radially-opposed, parallel grinding wheels are reciprocated, by a crank assembly radially of the blade to grind opposite sides of each tooth. The crank assembly is driven continuously by a DC electric motor. An electric control circuit for the motor has two subcircuits, each including a resistor which determines motor speed. Control is switched between the subcircuits synchronously with reciprocation by a switch actuated by a rotating cam on the crank assembly. The resistors are preferably variable rheostats. Different rheostat settings are used to grind a saw tooth at one speed and retract the grinder at a second, higher speed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring the curl in a vertically suspended sheet of paper is disclosed. A pair of spaced horizontal laser beams is directed through a pair of collimating lenses to produce laser beams having a given width. The collimated beams are directed against the upper and lower side edges of the sheet in a direction parallel with the planar face of the sheet. The shadow images cast from the interruption of the pair of beams by the upper and lower edges of the sheet are detected and compared, with the difference between the images corresponding with the diagonal curl of the paper sheet.

Abstract: An electric motor-actuated load clamp for automatically-guided vehicles has clamp arms which are selectively opened and closed by a plurality of rotary electric motors connected to the clamp arms by ball screws. Clamping force is accurately controlled by regulation of current to the electric motors, any of a number of different predetermined clamping forces being selectively obtainable. During clamping of a load, the electric motors are energized only a small fraction of the time according to a time-sequenced clamping and reclamping procedure, clamping force being otherwise maintained by a one-way brake. Further control features ensure against inaccuracy and overclamping due to current in-rush, and against malfunctions which could cause safety hazards.

Abstract: An improved valve assembly is provided for dispensing liquid from bulk containers. The valve assembly includes a tubular housing defining a cylindrical chamber open at its ends. The housing is connected with an opening in the liner of the container to afford fluid communication between interior of the liner and the chamber. The valve assembly includes a valve shaft having end portions rotatably connected with the housing and a cylindrical body portion extending transversely across the chamber. The shaft body portion contains a slot extending between the end portions for receiving a generally circular butterfly valve disc. The disc has a maximum diameter corresponding with the diameter of the chamber and a minimum diameter corresponding with the length of the slot. An O-ring is connected with the outer edge of the disc. When the valve shaft is rotated to an open position, the disc is arranged longitudinally of the chamber to permit the flow of liquid from the container through the chamber.

Abstract: An automatically-guided, driverless vehicle for handling loads has a selectively openable and closeable load clamp. The clamp is equipped with various sensors for automatically sensing the load and other objects and surfaces surrounding the load, and controlling the movement of the clamp along a load-engaging direction, the vertical reciprocation of the clamp, and the opening and the closing of the clamp in response thereto.

Abstract: A push-pull slipsheet handler mountable on a standard hook-type lift truck carriage compatibly with load-handling forks mounted on the carriage. The slipsheet handler comprises a push-pull assembly and split platen, both of which receive their vertical support from the load-supporting surfaces of the forks. Attachment of the push-pull assembly to the lower hook-type bar of the carriage provides resistance against fore-and-aft movement of the slipsheet handler. To convert the truck rapidly to a fork-type truck capable of handling standard rigid pallets rather than slipsheets, the platen may be quickly removed leaving the push-pull assembly in place or, alternatively, the push-pull assembly and platen may be removed as an integral unit.

Abstract: A lift truck load handling attachment having a quick-disconnect hook assembly for quick mounting or demounting of the attachment on a lift truck carriage. The hook assembly comprises a hook mounting member fastened to the rearwardly-facing surface of the frame of the load-handling attachment, slideably mounting an upwardly-facing hook for vertical reciprocation of the hook relative to the mounting member. The hook and mounting member respectively have elongate, vertically-oriented interlocking slides for permitting such vertical reciprocation while preventing rearward movement of the hook relative to the mounting member. A locking pin is selectively insertable transversely to limit downward movement of the hook relative to the mounting member, and the vertical slides and pin are located below the engagement surface of the hook when in its engaged position so as to permit direct abutment between the front of the lift truck carriage and rear of the attachment frame.

Abstract: A wafer probe is provided having metallic transmission lines mounted on a tapered alumina substrate generally surrounded by microwave absorbing material. The probe provides for on-wafer measurements of small planar devices at frequencies from DC to at least 18 GHz with low inductance, and with constant characteristic impedance from the probe external cable terminal to the point of contact on device being probed. The microwave absorbing material absorbs energy propagating along the probe ground preventing this energy from resonating, radiating and re-exciting normal transmission line modes with minimal transmission line mode resonance along the probe ground. The probe, which may be coupled to receive signals from a coaxial cable, is capable of making contact with bonding pads of a device having a center-to-center distance between pads of only 4 mils.

Abstract: A load clamp has two selectively openable and closable opposing clamping assemblies, one of which comprises at least a pair of clamp arms movable separately from each other toward and away from the other clamping assembly. Separate actuators for the respective clamp arms are controlled automatically in such a way that, during closure, the respective movements are simultaneous until such time as one of the arms attains a predetermined clamping force, at which time an override system permits their respective movements to become non-simultaneous to enable further closure of the other clamp arm. Corresponding actuator regulation occurs during opening of the clamp arms, the override function being triggered by full opening of one of the clamp arms.

Abstract: An assembly for connecting the wooden members of a truss is disclosed, characterized by the use of a combination of adhesive and a connecting plate. The connecting plate is formed of metal and includes a plurality of nail-like projections which extend from and normal to a planar portion of the plate. A layer of adhesive is applied to the extremities of all of the projections. The wooden members to be joined are arranged in a desired configuration and the adhesive-covered projections of the plate are driven into adjoining members. In addition to the nail-like bond between the plate and the truss members, an adhesive bond is formed between the metal projections and the wood. The resulting joint has increased resistance to tensile, shear, and rotational forces.

Abstract: A swimming pool, of the type having a sectionally constructed wall extending about and supporting a plastic liner, incorporates in the wall a capability of forming a wide variety of swimming pools of different shapes and sizes. Disclosed is a wall system which basically comprises a relatively small number of different types of sections. Each section has a flat web and side flanges disposed at selected obtuse or acute angles to the plane of the web. The angles incorporated in each section differ from those of the remaining sections. In this way, by abutting against each other selected sections, and by utilizing a selected number of such sections along different portions of the periphery of a swimming pool, it becomes possible to provide an almost infinite variety of swimming pool shapes and sizes.

Abstract: A push-pull slipsheet handler mountable on a standard hook-type lift truck carriage compatibly with load-handling forks mounted on the carriage. The slip-sheet handler comprises a push-pull assembly and split platen, both of which receive their vertical support from the load-supporting surfaces of the forks. Attachment of the push-pull assembly to the lower hook-type bar of the carriage provides resistance against fore-and-aft movement of the slipsheet handler. To convert the truck rapidly to a fork-type truck capable of handling standard rigid pallets rather than slipsheets, the platen may be quickly removed leaving the push-pull assembly in place or, alternatively, the push-pull assembly and platen may be removed as an integral unit.

Abstract: A method of making a self-inflating air mattress comprising an open cell foam core enclosed within, and bonded to, upper and lower sheets. Each sheet is made by heat laminating to an outer substantially nonstretching fiber layer an intermediate solid polymer film layer to which is then heat laminated an inner solid polymer film layer having a melting temperature at which the intermediate film layer is structurally stable. The sheets are pressed against the foam core by heated platens, and afterwards cooled. These particular sheets form a reliable bond and alleviate a problem of creating air leaks through the intermediate film layer.

Abstract: A carton clamp having a frame adapted to be mounted on a materials-handling machine, especially an automatically guided vehicle, includes clamp arms coupled directly together, independently of the frame, by motor-driven screw-type linear actuators which selectively open and close the arms. A centering assembly coupled to each clamp arm corrects for any imbalance of clamp arm speeds relative to the frame which may occur due to the fact that the screw actuators are free to move relative to the frame. The direct interconnection of the clamp arms by the screw actuators effectively doubles the clamping force which would otherwise be obtainable if the actuators were fixed to the frame.

Abstract: A corrugated fibreboard container of tube-and-cap construction has two-walled plastic lining and a bottom side-wall discharge hose. A metal lid-mounting flange in the top end-cap receives a conventional drum lid with vent opening and bung opening threaded to receive a standard plug or a discharge pump fitting to facilitate pumping from the top. A band of reinforcing panels of hardboard mounted on corrugated fibreboard is strapped to the container tube wall and the whole assembly is strapped to a wood pallet for ease of transportation and handling.

Abstract: An improved membrane-type end closure member for composite containers or the like is disclosed, characterized in that the end closure member is deformed to define an annular deformation of generally V-shaped or flat bottom transverse cross-section, which deformation extends partially within the end of the container when the end closure member is bonded to the open upper end of the container body. The annular deformation, which is arranged between the annular flange portion that is bonded to the end extremity of the container and a central circular disk portion of the end closure member, serves to reinforce the relatively thin flexible membrane member and flexes or "domes" in response to variations in internal pressure of the container to maintain the container in a closed condition.

Abstract: A support pad formed from a pair of corresponding horizontal vertically spaced rectangular blanks each divided by a pair of parallel fold lines into a center panel and a pair of side wall panels. In one embodiment, the blanks are joined by a pair of spacer members adhesively bonded between corresponding side wall panels of the blanks. The center panel of one blank contains a line of severance parallel with the fold lines, and cut out portions on opposite sides of the line of severance that define sets of corresponding dovetail projections and grooves.