Abstract: An improved gantry crane that has a control cab mounted for vertical up and down movement substantially parallel with respect to the upstanding columns of the crane between a lowermost position adjacent the ground and infinite positions within a fixed range. One or both of the sill beams of the crane include a downwardly offset mid-portion extending adjacent to the ground but spaced therefrom with the mid-portion of one of the sill beams being positioned to receive the control cab when in the lowermost position thereof. A supporting beam supports the control cab therebeneath so that the operator in the cab has a 360 degree substantially unobstructed view in all directions.

Abstract: A longitudinally divisible crane boom segment includes at least a first and a second section that are easily nested together for transport. The sections each include at least one chord member, at least one bracket attached to the section, and a plurality of partial lacing elements. Each partial lacing element has a first end permanently attached to the at least one chord member and a second end. The second end of at least one of the plurality of partial lacing elements of the first section is connectable to a bracket attached to the second section to hold the sections in a nested fashion.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for self-assembling and self-disassembling a large capacity crawler crane. The method uses the load hoist line of a crane to remove the equalizer from the boom. The method also uses a hydraulic cylinder to support, raise and lower the boom after the equalizer has been removed from the boom. Finally, the boom butt can be disassembled into several parts.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for placing sleeves on bottles and other objects is disclosed. In particular, a high speed method and apparatus having a plurality of sleeving stations for placing sleeves on bottles is disclosed. Each sleeving station includes a circularly arranged set of relatively movable parallel pins which are operable to contract or expand. A label transporter deposits a sleeve on the pins when they are contracted. The pins expand to stretch the sleeve. A bottle and the pins are then moved relative to one another to place the bottle inside the stretched sleeve. A gas flow is provided between the bottle and the sleeve to reduce friction. The sleeved bottle is then stripped from the pins. The method occurs without starts and stops by the bottle or the sleeve and is thus capable of very high production rates.

Abstract: Apparatus for dispensing agitator balls into aerosol cans being transported thereunder is disclosed. The apparatus includes a one or more rotary ball supply heads each receiving agitator balls at its inlet and conveying same to its outlet for dispensing into the aerosol cans. Each ball supply head includes a rotatable inner plate having a plurality of arm members rotatably attached thereto, a spacer member interposed between adjacent arm members, a cover member and an adjustable bar cam which operatively contacts the arms members and rotationally positions same to form a pocket defined by the arm member, spacer member and the inner surface of the cover member for the receipt and retention of an agitator ball as it is being conveyed through the rotary ball supply head.

Abstract: Disclosed is a manufacturing system having isolated islands of "clean room" environment connected by inter-process transfer containers for transfering in-process workpieces. The system has airlock transfer ports between the process enclosures and the inter-process transfer containers. The make and break airlock transfer ports have facing sealable doors in the process enclosure and the transfer container. These doors are in air sealable facing recesses of the process enclosure and the transfer container. At least one peripheral gasket surrounds the recesses and the pair of doors. This provides a substantially clean room environment in the airlock. The sealable door in the interprocess transfer container is fabricated of a ferromagnetic material and is seated on a ferromagnetic gasket, while the sealable door in the process enclosure has a controllable electromagnetic clamp.

Abstract: A transport means for transporting pieces three-dimensionally, wherein the sections belonging to a section pair (1.sup.1, 1.sup.2, 4.sup.1, 4.sup.2) are box-like; a traction member (14.sup.1, 14.sup.2 ; 16.sup.1, 16.sup.2) has been disposed over its essential length inside the section (1.sup.1, 1.sup.2 ; 4.sup.1, 4.sup.2) and secured to the carriage with a tension means (31); and the transport means comprises return sheaves (15; 17), which have been placed in pairs, spaced at the distance of the section, with the carriage (2.sup.1, 2.sup.2 ; 5.sup.1, 5.sup.2) between the return sheaves; and the traction member has been disposed to run from the carriage over the return sheaves back to the respective carriage for forming a closed loop of the traction member and the respective carriage; and a power means (3, 6) has been arranged to move the traction member and by its mediation, the respective carriage.

Abstract: A cassette input/output unit handles cassettes which contain semiconductor wafers or other substrates that are to be delivered to or withdrawn from a semiconductor processing system. The input/output unit includes a drawer front which rotates 90.degree. about a horizontal axis as it is opened. Thus a cassette containing wafers can easily be placed on the drawer front with the wafers oriented vertically, as they are normally carried, and the cassette will be rotated 90.degree. as the drawer is closed, thereby orienting the wafers horizontally for access by a robot inside the photolithography system. The cassette may also be rotated about a vertical axis within the unit, so that several input/output units may be used with a robot which rotates about a fixed axis. A clamping mechanism grips the cassette firmly when it is placed in the unit.

Abstract: In order to maintain the quality of lifts in a binding line, particularly while they are being conveyed and/or accumulated between the stacker and palletizing robot, a binding line lift index system is provided. The system includes a rotary index table having a plurality of lift index stations each of which is adapted to receive a lift of books from a stacker at an infeed index position and each of which is designed to minimize relative motion between books in a lift as the lift index stations are moved in index fashion from the infeed index position to an outfeed index position remote from the stacker. For this purpose, and particularly for loose lifts of saddlestitched books, the lifts are compressed at an intermediate index position between the infeed and outfeed index positions.

Abstract: The method is performed on a tape banding machine with a winding tape made of a paper tape coated with plastic or lacquer which forms at least one tensionable loop. The loop is severed after tightening and binding the winding tape. When forming the loop, the tape banding machine directs the plastic or lacquer layer of a winding tape which is coated on one side onto its uncoated surface made of porous paper. Where the winding tape is coated on both sides, the plastic layers are directed onto each other. The free end is bound to the aforementioned winding tape by ultrasonic cold welding. The flat working surface of the sonotrode of a tape banding machine is divided into sections by at least one recess; it consists of preferably small grid surfaces. The recesses are preferably grooves which run in a lengthwise direction and at an angle of 30.degree.-60.degree. to this lengthwise direction.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for wrapping roll material around a round bale within a bale forming chamber of a round baler including a drive belt tensioner idler, a wrapping material brake and a wrapping material cut-off knife all disposed on a carriage that is articulated between a wrapping material feeding position and a cut-off/stop position. When baling is completed, a signal is provided for movement to the feeding position at which time the wrapping material is held taught to maintain bale compression. After sensor data are fed back to a controller to signal feeding has proceeded for the desired length of time and/or to deploy the desired length of wrapping material, the device articulates to the cut-off position to sever the wrapping material to allow completion of the bale wrapping procedure. A crop recycling mechanism can also be provided to re-feed stray crop material into the baling chamber.

Abstract: Apparatus (1) for removing excess air from sealed packages so as to prevent ballooning. The apparatus (1) comprises a first conveyor belt (3) along which the packages move through the apparatus (1). The conveyor (3) Is driven by two rollers (4 and 5) and is also arranged to vibrate, by means of vibrator (2), in order to settle the contents, e.g. rice, in the packages throughout the operation. When a package is in a predetermined position, as determined by a sensor, such as a photoelectric cell (7), the package is punctured by a suitable device such as a spike (8). As the package continues down the conveyor (3), excess air is removed from the package by means of a spring loaded conveyor (19) which is biased against the package. As spring loaded conveyor (19) is pressed against the package, air in the package Is forced out through the hole made by spike (8).

Abstract: A plate stacking and transferring apparatus includes plate stacking mechanism for continuously stacking plates. The mechanism comprises: a pair of rollers provided at the leading end of a conveyor for transporting pasted plates, for taking a plate in a gap therebetween while rotating and thus ejecting the plate, and adjusting the plate ejection angle; a collision wall for limiting the flight distance of plates; a first stacker table for receiving plates while descending; a device for registering plates stacked on the first table by repeatedly pushing the plates from the sides thereof; and a second stacker table provided below the first table. When the first table has passed the stack of plates over to the second table, another device of the stacking mechanism moves the first table to a standby position above the plate flight region, keeps it at the position, and moves it down to a position below the plate flight region during a shot so that the first table takes over the plate stacking.

Abstract: A lift mountable in a transporting vehicle for loading and unloading objects such as small motorized carts. The lift includes an adjustable stand and pivotal boom assembly. An electric motor selectively operates a drum on which is wound a lifting cable or strap which terminates at a lifting hook or claw which is attachable to the cart or object. The adjustability of the stand and boom make the lift highly versatile and adaptable for convenient mounting in different vehicle configurations.

Abstract: The end of a length of stretch film enveloping a pallet is restrained, prior to being heat-sealed, by a gripping mechanism that can be traversed toward and away from the pallet, and is capable of contracting longitudinally in a direction parallel to the plane occupied by the tail end of the film, transversely to the wrapping direction, from a position of engagement in which the gripping surfaces are spaced apart and uniformly in contact with the film over its maximum width, to a position of restraint in which the selfsame surfaces are drawn together, pinching the film to produce a uniform succession of folds and thus narrowing the material to a width that can be accommodated fully by the heat-seal plate.

Abstract: An apparatus for transferring bag packs (10) containing sensitive loose material to a collective packer for the introduction of the packs into a carton or the like. To compensate for the difference in performance rates of a production machine (bag packer) for the packs (10) and the collective packer, there is provided a conveying device (17) with at least two conveyor belts (18, 19) which act as compensating conveyors. The packs (10) are fed to a special collecting station (16) by the conveying device (17). This collecting station comprises an intermediate band (35) and a group band (43). In the region of the intermediate band (35), the packs (10) are spaced out at a distance so they can be detected. In the region of the group band (43), a pack group (11) is formed from packs (10) lying tightly next to one another.

Abstract: Method for filling a pressure capsule for spray cans, in particular for fing a pressure capsule (5) consisting of a reservoir (7) with a discharge opening (8) and a pressure regulator (9) with a valve (10) which works in conjunction with the above-mentioned discharge opening (8), characterized in that the pressure capsule (5) is filled by creating an external pressure difference at the pressure regulator (9), such that the discharge opening (8) is cleared and the reservoir (7) is filled via this opening (8).

Abstract: A system and method for aligning the upper works assembly to the lower works assembly of a crane to facilitate redecking of the assemblies. The system and method involves suspending, preferably by pendants, the lower works from the upper works in such a manner that the influence of gravity will automatically level and align the lower works with the upper works. Alignment and redecking are accomplished without transferring the weight of the upper works assembly to lower works assembly.

Abstract: A compost bagging machine is described including a wheeled frame having a tunnel mounted thereon which is adapted to receive the opened mouth of a bag. The inside surface of the tunnel is provided with a plurality of spaced-apart flutes which create air channels in the material within the bag. An elongated perforated pipe is also positioned within the material in the bag and the bagging machine moves relative to the bag during the bagging operation. The presence of air in the channels created by the flutes and the air present in the perforated pipe ensures that sufficient air will be present in the mass to achieve complete decomposition of the material.

Abstract: A wire winding and tying machine useful in the winding of steel wire strands or the like includes a tie stock dispenser that delivers a pre cut length of tie stock to a platform. A banking unit picks up the tie stock and delivers it to a position above pre wound strands. The hanking unit includes rockable arms that press the tie stock ends about the wound strands to a position to engage a twister that winds the tie stock about the strands.