Abstract: A side dumping loading bucket for pivoting a dumping bucket about a plurality of axes automatically includes a bucket having first and second sides oriented perpendicular to the centerline of the bucket, a holder having first and second sides and a second centerline substantially parallel to the centerline of the bucket, a dumping ram disposed substantially parallel to the centerline of the bucket and operatively connected between the bucket and the holder for dumping the bucket on a selected side, first and second journal assemblies located on the first and second sides of the holder and concentric with the axes and a hydraulic circuit including the dumping ram and the first and second journal assemblies for locking a selected journal assembly prior to unlocking the other journal assembly and for operating the dumping ram only after the selected and the other journal assemblies are locked and unlocked, respectively.

Abstract: Method for stacking substantially flat products such as meat patties. Rows of patties are conveyed under a metal detector and then to a sigmoidal slide. Patties contaminated with metal trigger the metal detector to send a signal to the slide. Upon receipt of a signal from the metal detector, the slide pivots in a manner to dispose of metal contaminated patties. Uncontaminated patties are conveyed down the slide without flipping over and onto a second lower conveyor having a plurality of vertical blades mounted thereto, between which patties are received in stacks. An optical counter is mounted to count patties conveyed down the slide. The counter is in communication with the second indexed conveyor and signals such conveyor to move forward after a predetermined number of patties have been stacked between two adjacent vertical blades on the indexed conveyor.

Abstract: An apparatus for lifting a panel to a ceiling has a post having an upper end and a lower end, a spring in the post between the upper and lower ends for at least limited longitudinal compression of the post against a spring force, and a foot pivoted on the lower end about a foot axis transverse to the longitudinal axis. A handle is pivoted on the post between its ends about a handle axis generally parallel to the foot axis and a panel-engaging support bar is pivoted on the upper end of the post about a bar-pivot axis generally parallel to the foot and handle axes, extends perpendicular to this bar-pivot axis, and has one end provided with an outwardly directed cleat. Thus this bar can be engaged under the panel with the cleat against an edge of the panel. At least one bar spring is operatively engaged between the bar and the post for biasing the bar into a position extending perpendicular to the post.

Abstract: To transport, store, process and handle and distribute a plurality of printed products, retained in cassettes on a minimum of space, the cassettes are vertically stored, preferably in pairs. Transport can occur in a predetermined plane, of full and empty cassettes, respectively, the cassettes being moved within the storage elements by horizontal and vertical or lift transport elements, so that the cassettes can be moved in all directions of the three-dimensional storage structures and removed from any one position.

Abstract: A method of using an apparatus for handling heavy pipe is set forth. Pipe is rolled off the end of a pipe rack into a waiting elongate trough. The trough is moved on a pair of trolley cables extending from that area up towards a rig floor, the trolley cables being raised, and the trough being pulled along the trolley cables by means of a control cable which moves the trough toward the rig floor. At a registered location, the trough is stopped and a lock device is extended on generally horizontally positioned hydraulic cylinders. The lock device is brought down onto and locks around the upper portions of the pipe. The lock device is able to support the pipe as it is rotated upwardly toward the derrick and moved into an aligned position whereby the pipe is supported vertically on the lock device free of the trough and the lower end of the pipe hangs above the rotary table ready for threading in the next step of assembly of the pipe string.

Abstract: An automatic conveyance system comprises a buffer storage for storing a plurality of unit racks containing units; a plurality of test cells for testing the units contained in the unit racks; and a plurality of test cell controllers, each being provided in one of the test cells and each accepting an operator's requirement to take out a unit rack from the buffer storage, to store a unit rack into the buffer storage, or to convey a unit rack from one of the test cells to another one of the test cells. The system is provided with a plurality of automatic guided vehicles for conveying unit racks. A computer is connected to the test cell controllers by a single bus and has information on the unit racks stored in the buffer storage.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically stacking molded articles successively trimmed by a trim press from a web of thermoplastic material, the trim press having a stationary die member which includes a die plate and a die shoe, the apparatus comprising: (a) a frame; (b) a carriage mounted to the frame; (c) at least one stacking mechanism, the stacking mechanism comprising: (i) a plurality of stack rods rotatively mounted to the carriage, each of the stack rods having a stack dog located substantially perpendicular to a first end thereof the stack dog positionable within a corresponding aperture of the die shoe of the stationary die member; and (ii) mechanism for rotating the stack rods so that the stack dog engages an endmost article of a completed stack of articles, the stack of articles located at least partially within the die shoe of the stationary die member; and (d) mechanism for transporting the completed stack of articles from within the die shoe of the stationary die member to a position for removal from the

Abstract: A locking mechanism for latching cargo pieces to a loading floor of aircraft has two latches housed in a common latch housing. The latching claws face in opposite directions. The latches rotate on journal shafts arranged parallel to the longitudinal axis of the aircraft with a lateral on-center spacing between the journal shafts. Tension springs act eccentrically to hold the latches in their extended locking position. In the locking position the latches support each other by bearing against respective stops. An inclined ramp, provided on each latch and extending in the loading direcion, cooperates with a connecting lever joint to assure that the latches can be rolled over by cargo pieces of full width, while pieces of half the full width are arrested in lateral and vertical directions when the mechanism is located between two pieces of half width closely spaced from each other.

Abstract: A device for loading and unloading a wheelchair into and out of a motor vehicle, consisting of a horizontal carriage track mounted transversely on the floor of the vehicle and extending the length of the compartment behind the front seat. A carriage block is slideably engaged with the carriage track and connected to a motor-actuated screw drive that causes it to slide along the track on command. An arm with a wheel-support track assembly conforming to the front wheels of a standard wheelchair is pivotally attached to the carriage block and can be extended to the outside of the vehicle to receive the folded wheelchair and move it in and out of the vehicle as the arm is retracted or extended as a result of the carriage block sliding across the track. The device is controlled by a single switch operable from the driver's seat.

Abstract: A package palletizing system is systematized such that it comprises a winder, an inspection station for inspecting cone packages wound up by the winder, and a palletizing station for palletizing the cone packages after inspection in alternately opposite postures, and that feeding of cone packages from the winder to the inspection station is carried out by means of an overhead self-traveling truck while feeding of cone packages from the inspection station to the palletizing station and loading of the same are carried out by means of the overhead self-travelling truck.

Abstract: A relatively inexpensive void filler includes alternately stacked and laminated sheets of V-shaped and W-shaped panels of corrugated board glued together along the center and sides.

Abstract: A queue of randomly oriented chips is advanced down a track. Each chip in the queue is sequentially and individually elevated into a pneumatic circuit and pressed against a mirrored surface of an upper slide member to which it adheres if the chip was oriented with upwardly disposed solder lands. A jet of compressible fluid insufficient in magnitude to dislodge the chip is injected in a direction toward the queue. If the chip, alternatively, was oriented with the solder lands down, this fluid jet propels the chip about the oval-shaped pneumatic circuit so as to reorient the chip with the lands extending in the desired upward orientation, whereupon the chip is injected into a storage magazine.

Abstract: A wheelchair lift for tilting a wheelchair and occupant backwards to a position for having his or her hair dressed or dental work or the like performed includes a pivotable frame onto which the wheelchair is rolled and secured. The lift also includes a fixed frame, a telescoping arm pivotally attached to the fixed frame and to the rear of the pivotable frame, and an electric motor drive which retracts and extends the telescoping arm to pivot the pivotable frame and wheelchair attached thereto about a pivot axis where the pivotable frame and the fixed frame are connected. The pivotable frame includes a horizontal section and an upright section which are connected at the pivot axis. The upright section includes a headrest which is adjustable.

Abstract: A trailer having a hinged bed with a hinge positioned such that a rear bed portion automatically pivots toward the ground in an inclined load/unload position when the trailer is empty, forming a ramp for loading and unloading. The hinged bed automatically pivots to a horizontal transport position when a front portion of the bed is loaded. The trailer includes a transport locking mechanism for securing the rear bed portion in its horizontal transport position and a separate load/unload locking mechanism for securing the rear bed portion in its inclined load/unload position.

Abstract: A retractable bumper is mounted to the rear of a cotton module transport. The bumper is attached to elongated shafts which are pivoted in tubes. The tubes are mounted upon a bracket which is hinged below the bed of the transport. Before the bed is tilted to a lower position, the bumper is telescoped forward in the tubes and the tubes tilted so that the bumper is moved against the bottom of the bed.

Abstract: A machine for denesting stacked packaging baskets receives a stack of nested packaging baskets via a first conveyer belt. The stack of packaging baskets lies on its side. A gripper is reciprocatingly moved along a trajectory toward and away from the stack. During each reciprocating motion of the gripper, the first basket in the stack is gripped and removed by the gripper from the stack. The denested basket is then rotated into an upright position by engaging against a turning rod located above the trajectory of the gripper. The uprighted basket is then deposited on a second conveyer belt for transport to a location where product is added.

Abstract: An improvement in a self-loading apparatus for picking up and moving a bale of hay having diameters of up to about 3 or 4 feet and longitudinal lengths of up to about 5 or 6 feet. The apparatus is of the type including a main frame member supported on wheels mounted near the end of the main frame. A hitch frame has one end pivotally connected to the front end portion of the main frame, with the other end of the hitch frame adapted for attachment to a tow vehicle. The main frame is adapted to be tilted upwardly about the support wheels when braking devices on the wheels are activated and the tow vehicle is backed up. A pair of load engaging and clamping swing arms are pivotally attached to the respective sides of the main frame.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for debagging container ends from a package comprising two superposed continuous webs having a plurality of sealed compartments formed therein by two continuous end sealing strips and a plurality of widthwise extending sealing strips extending between and into the end sealing strips wherein a portion of each end sealing strip is cut away to form a cut compartment having an open end, then holding the cut compartment to prevent widthwise movement thereof, applying a force in one direction to expose an end container end, applying a force in the opposite direction to push the container ends out of the held cut compartment and onto a receiving and transferring unit and transferring the container ends to a conveying apparatus leading to further processing apparatus.

Abstract: A modified hand truck with a novel structure that optimizes the cooperation between the carrying platform and the wheels in order to produce the maximum lifting force possible for the operator. The wheels are free to move in relation to the carrying platform, thus tilting of the load to the extent desired is possible before lifting becomes necessary. In addition, because the invention minimizes the impact of the size of the wheels on the lifting action, large wheels are used to improve the rideability and stability of the truck.

Abstract: A carrier for handicapped vehicle comprises a fulcrum frame which is adapted to be coupled rigidly to a trailer hitch mounted at the rear of an automobile, truck, or van. A horizontal platform is mounted on the fulcrum frame for tilting movement about a tilt axis provided by the fulcrum frame from a horizontal position to an inclined position wherein one edge engages the ground. The platform is also pivotal about a second axis perpendicular to the tilt axis and includes casters at its rear edge for engaging the ground and permitting articulation of the platform about the second axis.