Abstract: A coupler is configured to couple an implement to an earth moving or materials handling machine. The coupler includes a locking member for locking a pin of an implement into a coupler in the recess. The locking member is driven by a hydraulic arrangement, with the hydraulic cylinder body being formed integrally with either the coupler body or the locking member. The coupler may be adapted to accommodate a range of implement pin spacings and/or diameters, so that the coupler can be used with different implements and in particular with different makes of implement.

Abstract: Systems and methods to control particle generation in a reticle inspection system are presented. The number of particles added to a reticle during an entire load-inspect-unload sequence of a reticle inspection system is reduced by performing all reticle contact events in a controlled, flowing air environment. In one embodiment, the reticle is fixed to a carrier by clamping outside of the vacuum environment, and the carrier, rather than the reticle, is coupled to the reticle stage of the inspection system. In this manner, the high levels of back-side particulation associated with electrostatic chucking are avoided. In addition, the carrier is configured to be coupled to the reticle stage in any of four different orientations separated by ninety degrees.

Abstract: A system for holding items includes a base tier including two or more totes and one or more higher tiers stacked on the base tier. Each of the higher tiers includes one or more totes stacked on a tote of a lower tier. Totes in of the tiers are laterally cross coupled to one another. The totes include lateral openings that allow removal of items through the lateral opening while the totes are stacked in place.

Abstract: The invention refers to a feed and load unit serving for feeding or removing one or more work pieces in the machining chamber of a machine tool for machining purposes. For this the feed and load unit comprises at least two work piece carriers movably on a guide path. The work piece carrier serves for picking up at least one work piece. In the guide path a guide path section, angularly or diagonally to the direction of conveying of the work pieces on the guide path, movably by a drive is, provided. The guide path section is able to pick up at least one work piece carrier. The guide path section is shifted for loading and unloading purposes in the direction of the machining chamber.

Abstract: A mechanism for deploying and aligning a ramp relative to a platform includes a main bearing operatively associated with the platform and rotatable about a main pivot axis; a drive member disposed on the main bearing, the drive member being adapted to drive the main bearing to rotate about the main pivot axis; a rotating member disposed on the main bearing and rotatable about the main pivot axis with the main bearing; and a ramp member rotatably connected to the rotating member at a pivot point eccentric to the main pivot axis. Rotation of the rotating member causes the ramp member to move between a stowed position and a deployed position in an arcuate path about the main pivot axis.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatic pitch conversion for pick and place heads, comprising at least one auto pitch station for adjusting a pitch in a X-coordinate direction and/or adjusting a pitch in a Y-coordinate direction of pickers/grippers of a pick and place heads; a first actuator, operated by a motor gear assembly of the at least one auto pitch station, wherein the first actuator changes the pitch in the X-coordinate direction distance between rows of pickers/grippers of the respective pick and place head; and a second actuator operated by the same motor gear assembly, wherein the second actuator changes the pitch in the Y-coordinate direction between the pickers/grippers within a row of the respective pick and place head. A method for automatic pitch conversion of pick and place heads and a pick and place head and a pick and place device.

Abstract: A component supply device which includes a moving slider for moving between a position near a wafer sheet replenishment section and a position near a mounter, a table supported on the moving slider, and a rotating mechanism for rotating the table around a specific rotation axis. The table is supported on the moving slider by a number one support point, a number two support point, and a number three support point which are provided on a circumference with the rotation axis at the center. The rotating mechanism includes a number one guide for moving number one support point in an arc with respect to the rotation axis, and driven guides for moving number two support point and number three support point in an arc with respect to the rotation axis.

Abstract: An end effector includes first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh substrate support pads. A method of handling a substrate with the end effector in a substrate processing system includes engaging a peripheral edge of the substrate with the second, fifth, and sixth substrate support pads. The method also includes moving the end effector a first distance into a processing chamber of the substrate processing system. The method further includes disengaging the peripheral edge of the substrate from the second, fifth, and sixth substrate support pads. The method additionally includes moving the end effector a second distance into the processing chamber of the substrate processing system, and engaging the peripheral edge of the substrate with the first, third, fourth, and seventh substrate support pads.

Abstract: A detachable thumb assembly for a construction equipment machine includes a mounting bracket for attaching the thumb assembly to a digging apparatus of the machine, a thumb pivotally connected on the mounting bracket, a thumb cylinder including a cylinder body connected to the mounting bracket and a cylinder rod which extends from a front end of the cylinder body and which is connected to the thumb. The body of the thumb cylinder is pivotally connected to the mounting bracket at a connection portion of the body which is distinct from a body back end portion.

Abstract: The present teachings provide a method of controlling a remote vehicle having an end effector and an image sensing device. The method includes obtaining an image of an object with the image sensing device, determining a ray from a focal point of the image to the object based on the obtained image, positioning the end effector of the remote vehicle to align with the determined ray, and moving the end effector along the determined ray to approach the object.

Abstract: It is a subject to provide a workpiece conveying device capable of linearly conveying a workpiece with a light-weight and simple configuration. The present invention is a workpiece conveying device 100 for conveying a workpiece W, the workpiece conveying device 100 comprising a main body portion 10; a rail portion 1 mounted to an upper portion of the main body portion 10; a guide portion 1a slidable along the rail portion 1; an arm 3 in which a first pivotally attaching portion 3b at the upper end thereof is pivotally attached to the guide portion 1a; a holding means 4 which is mounted to a second shall 3a at a lower end of the arm 3 and which can hold the workpiece W; an auxiliary arm 20 mounted to a first shaft 2b of the main body portion 10 to be rotatable; a slider portion 2a slidable along the auxiliary arm 20; and servomotors for driving the auxiliary arm 20, wherein a second pivotally attaching portion 3c at approximately a center of the arm 3 is pivotally attached to the slider portion 2a.

Abstract: A sacrificial polymer pole guide cover for the use of covering one or more pole guide tongs in a pole guide. The pole guide cover has a generally arcuate body presenting a length and that is curved along the length. The pole guide cover further presents a concave interior surface along the length and a convex exterior surface along the length. A channel is formed in at least a portion of the length of the convex exterior surface. The channel is shaped to complementally receive at least a portion of a pole guide tong. The pole guide cover also has a mounting assembly for removably mounting the pole guide cover to the pole guide tong.

Abstract: A system for positioning and welding a bracket 30 to a mounting surface, such as a vehicle side rail 40, including using a pivoting tool 20 on a moveable arm 10 that allows the bracket 30 to pivot to minimize the gap between the bracket 30 and its intended mounting surface. The pivoting tool 20 secures, positions near the surface, and allows the bracket 30 to pivot for a precise surface match. A welder 50 welds the bracket 30 to the surface with the gap minimized while the bracket 30 is held in the desired position. The pivoting tool 20 is preferably on an adjustable appendage 12 or combination end 60 mounted on a distal end of the arm 10. The flexible tooling does not require the bracket 30 to be forced with substantial pressure against the mounting surface.

Abstract: A work vehicle may include a chassis, linkage, and locking pin. The linkage may include an upper link pivotally connected to the chassis, lower link pivotally connected to the chassis, and boom. The boom may include an upper arm pivotally connected to the upper link, lower arm pivotally connected to the lower link, front arm pivotally connected to a work tool assembly, and locking tab affixed to one of the front arm and the lower arm and protruding from one of the front arm and the lower arm in a direction away from the work tool assembly. The locking pin may be connected to the chassis and extend laterally relative to the chassis from a retracted position outside a travel path of the locking tab to an extended position intersecting the travel path of the locking tab.

Abstract: A system for sensing, orienting, and transporting wafers in an automated wafer handling process that reduces the generation of particles and contamination so that the wafer yield is increased. The system includes a robotic arm for moving a wafer from one station to a destination station, and an end-effector connected to an end of the robotic arm for receiving the wafer. The end-effector includes a mechanism for gripping the wafer, a direct drive motor for rotating the wafer gripping mechanism, and at least one sensor for sensing the location and orientation of the wafer. A control processor calculates the location of the center and the notch of the wafer based on measurements by the sensor(s) and generates an alignment signal for rotating the wafer gripping mechanism so that the wafer is oriented at a predetermined position on the end-effector while the robotic arm is moving to another station.

Abstract: A throughput can be improved. A substrate processing apparatus includes processing units arranged in a vertical direction and configured to process substrates; and a substrate transfer device configured to be moved in the vertical direction and perform loading/unloading of the substrates into/from the processing units. Further, the substrate transfer device comprises a first transfer arm and a second transfer arm which are arranged in the vertical direction and configured to be moved in the vertical direction independently, and movement ranges of the first transfer arm and the second transfer arm in the vertical direction are overlapped with each other.

Abstract: An adapter for a dielectric hot stick, the hot stick having a hook, the hook being movable along an axis of travel that includes a retracted position where the hook is within an axial passage in the hot stick, and an extended position where the hook is extended past a work end of the hot stick, the adapter comprising: a frame with a hot stick seat shaped to be mounted on the work end of the hot stick, the frame defining a lever passage positioned to at least partially align with the axial passage in use; and a lever assembly pivotally connected to the frame, the lever assembly having a first end with a connector for the hook and being at least partially within the lever passage, and the lever assembly having a second end defining or connected to a tool part to move the tool part relative to the frame to carry out a function when the hook moves along the axis of travel.

Abstract: An electric motor receives electric power from an electricity storage module. A drive target is driven by the electric motor. The electricity storage module has a plurality of protection plates, which are stacked up in a stacked direction, and a plate-shaped electricity storage cell, which is interposed between the protection plates adjacent to each other. The protection plates have a positional restriction shape for restricting a relative position with respect to a positional restriction direction which is perpendicular to the stacked direction.

Abstract: A tray loading system for tested electronic components including a tray loading bin adapted to prevent trays of a first configuration from being operably received in a first bin operating mode and to operably receive trays of the first configuration in a second bin operating mode. The system also includes an operating mode switching assembly adapted to automatically change from the second operating mode to the first operating mode in response to an operation associated with removal of loaded trays of the first configuration from the tray loading bin.

Abstract: A storage system in a ceiling space includes overhead traveling vehicles and a traveling route for the same, a shuttle carriage configured to transport goods to and from processing devices and a traveling route for the same, an OHT port to and from which the overhead traveling vehicles and the shuttle carriage both transport goods, and buffers that are provided in the ceiling space above the processing device and are for the placement of goods by the shuttle carriage. The traveling route for the shuttle carriage enables delivery and reception of goods by the shuttle carriage between the load port of the processing devices, the buffers, and the OHT port.