Abstract: A loader boom of a sugar cane loader includes a swivel mast having a vertical axis located to intersect the mid-point of a furrow located between first and second cane rows that would respectively pass centrally beneath the loader vehicle and outside wheels at one side of the loader vehicle during loading operation. The loader boom includes an inner boom section having a middle portion that extends parallel to the swivel mast axis to a height approximating that of a transporter container to be loaded when the boom is in a fully raised position, and having a lower end portion that is joined to the bottom of, and extends perpendicular to, the middle portion and is pivotally attached to an opposite side of the swivel mast axis from the middle portion. Mounted to the loader is a push piler implement having tines located for operating in a central region of the furrow free of the cane rows.

Abstract: A substrate transport apparatus comprising a drive section and a robot transport arm. The robot transport arm is mounted to the drive section. The robot transport arm has a wrist and an end effector to hold the substrate thereon. The end effector is rotatably mounted to the wrist to rotate about the wrist. The rotation of the end effector about the wrist is slaved to the robot transport arm. The robot transport arm is adapted to transport substrates into and out of two general side-by-side orientated substrate holding areas with the drive section being located in only one location relative to the two holding areas.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for transferring spent nuclear fuel within a nuclear power plant. In one aspect, the invention is an apparatus for transferring a cask from a first position to a second position comprising: a first beam having a first proximal end and a first distal end, said first proximal end adapted for pivotal connection to a base; a second beam having a second proximal end and a second distal end, said second proximal end adapted for pivotal connection to said base; a member connecting said first distal end and said second distal end, said member comprising a lifting device adapted to raise and lower said cask; wherein said member, said first pivot beam, and said second pivot beam form a unitary structure; and means to rotate said unitary structure about an axis. In another aspect, the invention is a method of using the apparatus to transfer a cask.

Abstract: The invention relates to a transfer device including a guiding mechanism, a slide which can move on the guiding mechanism, a plunger which can move on the slide, and first, second and third drive wheel sections which are provided on the slide in such a way that they can be rotated together, but not in relation to each other. The first and second drive wheel sections are respectively engaged with the drive wheel sections by means of traction mechanisms on opposite sides, and can be driven by a motor which is fixed in relation to the slide. The third drive wheel section is connected to the plunger in a driving manner.

Abstract: A davit system includes an elongate base having a straight part and a leading part that is angled downwardly relative to the straight part at a predetermined angle. An elongate boom arm is slideably disposed in a hollow interior of the elongate base. The boom arm is fully retracted within the hollow interior of the elongate base when an elongate screw is rotated in a first direction a predetermined number of times and the boom arm is fully extended from the hollow interior of the elongate base when the elongate screw is rotated in a second direction a predetermined number of times. The boom arm is downwardly angled at the predetermined angle when the boom arm is in its fully extended position. In a first embodiment, two elongate bases and boom arms are provided and each boom arm supports a cradle at its leading end for lifting a boat.

Abstract: The invention comprises a hook attachment having a frame with a plurality of hooks pivotally mounted to the frame. The attachment has a engaging flange and eyelets for receiving the attaching flange and engaging pins, respectively on the front of the arms of a front end loader. The attachment has an attaching flange and engaging pins mounted on the front of the frame of the attachment for engaging an attaching flange and eyelets on the rear of a bucket, whereby the hook attachment may be attached directly to the front of a front end loader and used alone with the front end loader, or the attaching flange and engaging pins on the front of the frame of the locking attachment may engage the attaching flange and eyelets on the rear of the bucket to attach the bucket to the flange of the hook attachment so that the hook attachment and bucket may be used together on the front end loader.

Abstract: A multi-purpose log-handling tool for attachment to the three-point hitch of a tractor or other vehicle includes a boom and an inverted U-shaped frame containing a number of apertures to which accessory tools may be attached. The boom and the frame are connected to the tractor and at one of the apertures to permit the outer end of the boom to be lowered and raised by an operator controlling one or more hydraulic pistons. The apertures are preferably longitudinally arranged along a flange affixed to the bottom of the boom. Multiple apertures permit the simultaneous use of more than one tool, which might include logging tongs, chains, or winches. A flexible assembly for coupling the boom to the hydraulic piston accommodates for skewing action as a log is dragged and thereby reduces potential for damage to the log-handling tool.

Abstract: The invention relates to a holding device for wafers in an arrangement for wafer inspection, comprising two grippers (11, 12), each of which, in the closed state of the holding device (8), encloses a subsection of the wafer circumference and which are connected to a drive device (27) and, when the latter is driven, the grippers (11, 12) move away from each other for the purpose of opening the holding device (9) and move toward each other for the purpose of closing the holding device (8), and a holding arm (13), on which the two grippers (11, 12) are pivotably mounted. In this case the holding arm (13) is mounted such that it can rotate about an axis (A) which lies substantially in the plane covered by the wafer (W), so that after a rotation through 180° about the axis (A), a wafer (W) held between the grippers (11, 12) has been turned.

Abstract: A load handling vehicle having an operator's position, a power operated load handler including a boom pivotally mounted at a front end of the vehicle and at least front and rear pairs of ground engaging wheels with one wheel of each pair on each side of the vehicle. At least one pair of wheels is power driven. The operator's position is offset to one side of the pivotal mount for the boom. The operator's position may include a seat which can be moved between a first position on a longitudinal center line of the vehicle and a second position to one side of the vehicle center line.

Abstract: An edge gripping device grips and ungrips a substrate, such as a semiconductor wafer. A blade extends in a distal direction from a base of the device. At least one distal contact member is provided at the tip of the blade. Two proximal lever arms are pivotally coupled for synchronized, oppositely directed rotation to the base. Each lever arm has at least one proximal contact member at an outer end. A biasing member is coupled to the two proximal lever arms and to an actuator to effect pivoting movement of the lever arms. The pivoting motion moves the ends of the arms generally radially toward and away from the center of the substrate to be gripped or ungripped, thereby minimizing sliding of the substrate. The biasing member is biased to retain the lever arms in a closed position in the event of a power failure. Ramps are provided next to each contact member. The contact members and ramps are profiled to minimize the zone of the substrate edge that is contacted.

Abstract: A slat replacement system for removing damaged slats and inserting new slats in an animal pen. The slat replacement system includes a base assembly for resting on a floor of the animal pen. A frame member is rotatably coupled to the base assembly. A motor assembly is operationally coupled to a drive assembly and is coupled to the frame member. The drive assembly is operationally coupled to the base assembly for rotating the frame member with respect to the base assembly. A lifting assembly is pivotally coupled to the frame member and operationally coupled to the drive assembly for pivoting the lifting assembly with respect to the frame member for lifting and moving of one of the slats. A control assembly is operationally coupled to the drive assembly for controlling rotation of the frame member with respect to the base assembly and pivoting of the lifting assembly.

Abstract: A bottom sheet inserter is described in which a conveyor is provided on a frame that defines a path for a load. The conveyor is operable to move the load in a forward direction along the path. A bottom sheet insertion station is situated between first and second conveyor flights which support and move a load in a forward direction. A bottom sheet feeder is operable to feed a bottom sheet through the bottom sheet insertion station and under the load as the load moves from the first flight and onto the second flight.

Abstract: The invention concerns a system wherein the tool-bearing frame (1) and the tool (2) are each equipped with a multiple fluidic connection box, for example hydraulic provided with complementary male-female connecting members: each of said boxes is provided with a mobile and retractable protective cover, which normally covers the connecting members contained in said box. Said covers are arranged such that, in a first phase, the proper positioning of the tool-bearing-frame opposite the tool automatically causes the covers to retract, directly matching the fluidic connection members of the two boxes, so as to enable subsequently, in the second and third phases, the mechanical followed by the fluidic connection of the tool-bearing frame and the tool. The system protects the connecting members from the outside environment, while enabling easy and secure connection of the tool with the tool-bearing frame, without any risk of deterioration of the fluidic connectors.

Abstract: A manufacturing system is provided for automatic assembly, testing and/or packaging of a variety of products. The system is based on utilization of one or more robotic modules, each having a programmable servo-driven linear actuator of a rod type, combined with slides, and standardized extrusions that form guide rails and a frame to support the actuators. The standardized extrusions include a plurality of faces, with a groove formed in at least one of the faces. Each slide fits in one of the grooves and is attached to the actuator rod, which moves the slide along the guide rails. The guide rails provide structural support to the slides in every direction that a load is attached to the slides, and include grooves to direct the motion of the slides. Two or more such robotic modules, each being positioned in a Cartesian coordinate relationship to one another, complete a system. Each module houses a dedicated controller that operates its respective actuator.

Abstract: A robot for carrying a substrate in which minimum turning radius is small when the arm is retracted although a plurality of forks are provided and installation area can be minimized. The robot comprises a fixed base, a first turnable arm linked with the fixed base, a second turnable arm linked with the first arm, and a turnable fork linked with the second arm, wherein the fork comprises a plurality of first and second independent forks. The first and second forks are fixed coaxially and vertically in two stages to the forward end part of the second arm such that they can turn independently and first and second fork drive motors are disposed in the second arm.

Abstract: The present invention is a skid-steer attachment device with a load bearing D-ring for securing loads to the attachment device. A number of different attachment devices can be attached to a skid-steer loader, however, the preferred attachment device in this invention is a pallet fork carriage. The load securing D-ring is attached to the pallet fork carriage of the skid-steer so that loads can be secured to the D-ring by tying, strapping, or otherwise attaching the load to the D-ring. The D-ring on the pallet fork carriage functions to prevent a skid-steer loader's load from becoming dislodged prematurely.

Abstract: A swivel type working vehicle includes a running device (30), a swivel base (32) mounted on the running device to be swivelable about a vertical swivel axis (31), a swing bracket (5) supported to be swingable about a vertical axis by a flange unit (4) disposed at a front end of the swivel base, a boom (2) having a proximal end (2B) thereof attached to the swing bracket to be swingable about a horizontal axis (6), a boom cylinder (3) having one end thereof connected to the swing bracket and the other end to the boom for swinging the boom, a hydraulic pressure takeoff device (10) disposed in a distal end region (2C) of the boom, and hydraulic pressure takeoff pipes (12A, 12B) for supplying hydraulic pressure to the hydraulic pressure takeoff device (10). The boom (2) is a hollow box having a front wall (17), a left wall (16A), a right wall (16B) and a rear wall (14) extending longitudinally of the boom. The boom cylinder (3) is disposed outside the boom to extend along the rear wall of the boom.

Abstract: The invention relates to a new device for and a new method of assembling stacking patterns and simultaneously stacking these stacking patterns by means of a robotic manipulator having at least one translational robotic axis.

Abstract: A lift arm assembly for a skid steer loader comprises a pair of lift arm links that are pivotally mounted together at first ends of the links. A first lift arm link is of substantial length and is pivotally mounted to the frame of the skid steer loader adjacent the rear lower portion of the frame and extends upwardly. A second lift arm link extends forwardly from the first lift arm link pivot to a position ahead of the skid steer loader frame. A control link is provided that has one end pivotally mounted to the loader frame adjacent a forward end of the loader frame, and a second end pivotally mounted to the second lift arm link to guide the second lift arm link as it is raised. An extendable and retractable actuator is pivotally mounted at a first end to the first lift arm link adjacent to the pivot of the first lift arm link to the frame. A second end of the actuator is pivotally mounted to the second lift arm link forwardly of the first lift arm length link.

Abstract: A pedestal for inverting a soft contact lens has been invented. The pedestal of the invention has an inner surface, an outer surface, a dome shape capable of supporting the back surface of the contact lens or the front surface of that contact lens which has been inverted, is made from an elastic material which allows a negative pressure gradient to be generated from the outer surface to the inner surface, and has an elastic top which is capable of collapsing in to invert the contact lens.