Abstract: Modular crane attachment device for purlins is a crane attachment jig that attaches to the hook of a crane and functions to lift a plurality of purlins in one lift to place each purlin at the precise location on the rafters of a building under construction to allow for immediate attachment of all purlins to the rafters wherein each purlin is fastened into place while held by the crane and modular crane attachment device for purlins, which functions as a giant assembly jig in this manner. Modular crane attachment device for purlins is modular so that it can be broken down by hand into a bundle of 10-20 foot long structural members, fittings, and cables. Modular crane attachment device for purlins is modular so it can be assembled in any length and width to fit any application of any number and any length of purlins required for the building.

Abstract: A gripping device includes a rotating member having a pinion and rotating about a center axis of the pinion, a drive piezoelectric unit having a vibrating portion that vibrates with expansion and contraction of a piezoelectric material, and a convex portion provided in the vibrating portion, being in contact with the rotating member, and transmitting vibration of the vibrating portion to the rotating member, a rack meshing with the pinion and moving with rotation of the pinion, and a gripping part coupled to the rack, wherein a contact portion in which the convex portion and the rotating member are in contact is located outside of an outer circumference of the pinion in a plan view from a direction of a rotation axis of the rotating member.

Abstract: A gripping device includes carriages or pivot arms carrying gripping elements. The carriages or pivot arms are mounted and guided in a base body and are drivable by at least one cylinder-piston unit. A switching module is mounted on the base body. The switching module includes at least one pressure medium connection and at least one electrical connection. At least one electrically controllable valve, which is switching a pressure medium, and at least one electronic controller for implementing external and internal control signals are arranged in the control module. The internal control signals originate from at least one sensor which detects at least one physical characteristic variable of the carriage(s) and/or the cylinder-piston unit at least in or on the base body. The gripping device can be adapted to at least one machine control system with a minimum interconnection and programming effort.

Abstract: The golf flagstick with ball retrieval attachment is designed to assist a player in removing a golf ball from a golf cup after the player has played the ball into the cup. The golf flagstick includes a flag mounted proximate a top end of the golf flagstick and a ball retrieval attachment mounted proximate a bottom end of the golf flagstick. The ball retrieval attachment includes a ball retrieval body mounted on the flagstick using a ball retrieval fastener and adjustment mechanism. The ball retrieval fastener and adjustment mechanism allows for height adjustable attachment of the ball retrieval body on the flagstick to compensate for different golf cup depths.

Abstract: A first arm and a second arm each have a proximal end and a distal end. The first arm is pivotably connected to the second arm at a pivot point. A first handle is positioned at the first proximal end of the first arm. A second handle is positioned at the second proximal end of the second arm. A first foundation engagement portion is sized and configured to engage a first portion of a bed foundation. The first foundation engagement portion is positioned at the first distal end of the first arm. A second foundation engagement portion is sized and configured to engage a second portion of the bed foundation. The second foundation engagement portion is positioned at the second distal end of the second arm.

Abstract: A gripping system includes a gripping device and a pitch adjustment device. The gripping device has a row of grippers arranged in a first direction and adapted to grip a row of contacts and a support frame on which at least two adjacent grippers of the row of grippers are slidably attached. The pitch adjustment device is adapted to drive the at least two adjacent grippers to slide in the first direction to adjust a pitch between the two adjacent grippers.

Abstract: A lifting hook (14) provided with a remotely operated safety latch (12), wherein remote operation is used to both open and close the latch. The latch can be magnetically held (36) in the open position to connect and disconnect the load from the hook. Furthermore, an indicator (42) can be provided to indicate when the latch is latched and unlatched. The latch can be operated with lines with a first line (62) controlling one direction of movement of the latch and a second line (64) controlling a second direction of movement of the latch.

Abstract: A hole digger is provided. The hole digger includes a first handle assembly and a second handle assembly. The first handle assembly includes a first grip, a first intermediate portion, and a first blade. The first intermediate portion extends between the first grip and the first blade. The second handle assembly including a second grip, a second intermediate portion, and a second blade. The second intermediate portion extends between the second grip and the second blade. The second handle assembly is pivotally coupled to the first handle assembly such that a front surface of the first blade faces a front surface of the second blade. The first blade is not identical to the second blade. At least one stiffener is coupled to at least one of the first or second blades.

Abstract: A retention device for a low-structure food item and method of operation for holding a low-structure food, such as a bun-less sandwich, during preparation, holding, and consumption. The retention device comprises a pair of flat panels having spikes arranged on one side. The panels sandwich the food item above and below to provide a border that supports the food item while held and consumed. The panels have spikes on one side that orient towards the food item to penetrate the food item. The spikes maintain lateral stability of the food item during consumption. In operation, the panels press down on the food item from opposing sides, causing the spikes to penetrate the food item.

Abstract: Systems, apparatus, and methods of manufacturing an article using electroadhesion technology, either as a sole modality of handling such materials or in concert with at least one mechanically actuated modality for the pick-up and release of materials, respectively. The mechanically actuated modality in one embodiment is configured as a netting configured to be placed over a contact surface of an electroadhesive plate to facilitate the handling of an object.

Abstract: A device for use with one or more lines that includes a unitary rigid body having an annular portion surrounding a central opening and at least four finger sections that extend from the annular portion of the rigid body. A first finger section and a second finger section curve toward each other on one end of the rigid body and terminate in blunt tips that are spaced apart from each other by a gap. Similarly, a third finger section and a fourth finger section curve toward each other on an opposite end of the rigid body and terminate in blunt tips that are spaced apart from each other by a gap. The device maximizes the pulling strength of lines while reducing the possibility of line failure. Also disclosed are methods of using the device for shortening a line, belaying an object, joining two lines together and for forming a V-bridle.

Abstract: A hot stick for manipulating a probe from a position a selected distance away from a workpiece, the tool including an arm, a connector coupled to the arm, the connector including a connector body having a contoured first surface, and a mechanism movable relative to the connector body and configured to cooperate with the first surface of the body to retain a probe.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a grip jaw structure with characteristics as follows: a cam disk is driven by a rotary motor; two transmission shafts are driven through two slotted guideways in the cam disk; lubricants inside the slotted guideways adhere to a plurality of bearings in which the transmission shafts in the slotted guideways are inserted when the transmission shafts are shifted; sliders between which a workpiece is clamped are driven to be shifted by the transmission shafts along linear rails at the top of the framework for stresses sustained and dispersed by bearings.

Abstract: Scoops for picking up pet waste including a first arm pivotally connected to a second arm at a pivot end, wherein the first arm and the second arm define a collection region distal the pivot end, the second arm being configured to pivot relative to the first arm between an open position and a closed position, the collection region being configured to encompass the pet waste in the collection region when the second arm is in the open position. In certain examples, the scoop includes a coupler configured to facilitate forming a knot in the pet waste bag. In some examples, the scoop includes a container configured to store pet waste bags. In some examples, the scoop includes a latch configured to selectively restrict the second arm pivoting relative to the first arm.

Abstract: A transfer apparatus includes first and second holding portions, a hand, a hand moving portion, and fluid pressure driving and control units. The control unit acquires an inter-holding portion distance between the first and second holding portions for holding a workpiece. The control unit makes the hand moving portion move the hand to a predetermined position such that the distance between the first and second holding portions becomes the inter-holding portion distance when the first holding portion moved by the fluid pressure driving unit is brought into contact with a contact portion provided at a work field, the predetermined position being located away from the contact portion. With the hand located at the predetermined position, the control unit makes the fluid pressure driving unit move the first holding portion to contact with the contact portion, and the control unit stops driving of the fluid pressure driving unit.

Abstract: A crop bucket having an aux-bail release mechanism wherein movement of the chains is restrained such that an auxiliary hook actuating the release mechanism can do so in a smooth and controlled manner from a variety of angles and positions, while reducing or eliminating bucket roll from offset pulling. The release mechanism can include a carriage configured to translate along at least a portion of a mast and operatively connected to first and second clamshell portions such that movement of the carriage away results in rotation of the clamshell portions toward the open position.

Abstract: Vacuum powered tool that is connectable to a vacuum source and arranged in an object engagement position to engage and hold an object as a result of a negative pressure in the tool as well as to resiliently return to an initial position when the negative pressure ceases. The tool comprises an object handling engagement part, wherein the tool, in a first end, has a fitting to be fixedly received in a vacuum connection implement for fixation of the tool, and in a second end of the tool, wherein the second end is formed for air-proof contact and provided with an at least partly flexible and collapsible spherical hollow inner geometry onto which at least partly spherical and collapsible hollow inner geometry having a collapsible part.

Abstract: A handheld article carrier is designed to accommodate dumbbells and other personal items such as water bottles, cellphone, keys etc. The carrier may be formed from a single piece of sheet metal material and is generally U-shaped. The carrier includes sidewalls each having a slot for supporting the shaft portion of one or more dumbbells. The carrier includes a handle that may be integrally formed in a central portion of the frame of the carrier, or attached as a separate piece. The article carrier can be made from a single sheet of metal, multiple sheets of metal, a combination of metal and natural materials, all natural materials, a combination of metal and synthetic materials, or all synthetic materials.

Abstract: The present invention provides a robot arm. The robot arm is for forking a substrate, and includes: a substrate fork and vacuum cups. The substrate fork includes parallel spaced prongs, and an upper surface of each prong is provided with vacuum cups spaced along an extending direction of the prong; and vacuum cups on two prongs at outermost sides of the substrate fork are scratch-resistant vacuum cups, and a top face and a side face of each scratch-resistant vacuum cup are connected through an arc-shaped surface. By setting the top face of the scratch-resistant vacuum cup connected to the side face through the arc-shaped surface, when the substrate is bent with the gravity, the contact area between the substrate and the scratch-resistant vacuum cup can be increased, to improve the friction therebetween, prevent the substrate from being scratched in a transportation process, and ensure the security of substrate transportation.

Abstract: A gripper head for use in gripping a seal and positioning the seal in an electrical terminal. The gripper head has a mounting section, a compliant section and a gripping section. The compliant section extends from the mounting section. The compliant section has compliant legs having fixed ends proximate the mounting section and free ends. The compliant legs are spaced apart by compliant section slots. The gripping section extends from the compliant section. The gripping section has gripping legs which extend from the compliant legs. The gripping legs are spaced apart by gripping section slots. As the gripper head is moved into engagement with the seal, the gripping legs and the compliant legs are resiliently deformed causing the compliant legs and the gripping legs to apply a force to the seal to retain the seal on the gripping section of the gripper head.