Abstract: The apparatus (10) serves for transporting and stacking goods (12), in particular in the form of plates such as metal plates or the like, and includes a feed transport device (14), which is connected to a stacking device (16). In this apparatus an overhead transport device (18) is provided which is disposed at least partially in a stacking area (20) above the stacking device (16) and which has a holding system (22) which can be activated and deactivated, where a delay system is provided for time-delayed activation of an effective holding force of the overhead transport device at a point in time when the front, seen in the direction of transport, area of the goods overlaps the stacking area in the direction of stacking.

Abstract: A remotely-controlled manipulator for mounting to the end of a telescopic boom, includes at least one releasable support mounted to a cross member for releasably holding or clamping an elongate object.

Abstract: Non-symmetrical molded articles, such as large preforms, are handled by a handling system into which an array of molded articles are transferred from a mold having a pitch separation The handling system has an arranging station configured to receive and align a first set of molded articles, which arranging station is further configured to receive and align a second set of molded articles in an opposingly orientated direction to the first set. To reduce the pitch separation, the arranging station includes a closure mechanism that brings together the first and second sets of molded articles in a substantially linear array. Once in the linear array, a handling device operates to pick up and crate the linear array of preforms. Transfer and pick-up of the preforms can be accomplished using a multi-function, multi-axis robot that supports take-out tubes and suction pads.

Abstract: There is provided an apparatus for handling a structural member. The apparatus includes a beam that extends from a first end to a second end and a shuttle in translational communication with the beam in a direction extending between the first and second ends. A fork actuator is connected to the shuttle and capable of hydraulically raising and lowering a fork. The fork can include a cooling system to maintain a temperature of the fork, even when used in a heated environment.

Abstract: This invention provides an apparatus for separating and supplying plates from a stacked plate assembly capable of highly efficiently separating and conveying one plate by one from a stacked plate assembly of a storage cell without interruption and conveying and supplementing, one by one, the separated plate to a next step with improved reliability. In this apparatus, separation suction disks (6) for sucking, separating and holding the uppermost plate P are arranged on a support table (2) at an upper end portion of an elevation rod (1a) of an elevation mechanism (1) above a stacked plate assembly (A1) for separation having a large number of plates stacked in such a fashion as to be capable of moving up and down also included are rotary bodies (13) each having rotary suction disks (12) arranged along a circumference with predetermined gaps.

Abstract: A small loader machine of the skid-steered type having a counterweight to balance heavy loads in the loader bucket. The bucket is automatically extended forward as the counterweight is extended in the opposite direction so as to keep the machine always in reasonable balance.

Abstract: A device for rapidly counting and dispensing pills and capsules is provided. A movable plate with apertures and sizing guide fit inside a housing. The sizing guide has apertures corresponding to a particular size of pill or capsule, allowing the desired number of pills or capsules to be counted in a first section of the housing. When the excess pills or capsules are removed, the counted pills or capsules are transferred to a second section of the housing for dispensing into a prescription bottle by moving the plate and placing its apertures in register with the sizing guide apertures.

Abstract: An apparatus for stacking substantially rigid food portions in preparation for packaging, and without human intervention, including a conveyor for receiving and moving food portions, at least one counter for counting each of the food portions as the food portion is moved by the conveyor, and a rotary transporter having multiple generally right-angled notches for receiving food portions from the conveyor and moving the food portions into a stack. The conveyor, counter, and rotary transporter are cooperatively interconnected by a programmable computer so that a predetermined number of food portions is moved from the conveyor onto the transporter, where the transporter moves the food portions into a substantially horizontal stack of vertically oriented food portions.

Abstract: In the rapid tool coupling device for digger tools, a tool is provided with two pivots operating as means for hooking-up, the tool comprising: a body provided with mobile hooks which are actuated to achieve stable removable couplings with at least one of the two pivots. At least one plurality of first supports and at least one second support, are predisposed to couple with a corresponding plurality of pairs of the two pivots, which pairs comprise a first pivot and a second pivot, and which can be removably fixed to the body.

Abstract: An apparatus for the counting and stacking of food portions in preparation for packaging, and without human intervention, including a conveyor for receiving and moving food portions therealong to form rows of food portions, at least one counter, and a stacking rake positioned with respect to said conveyor as to moveably shuffle the rows of food portions into a horizontal stack for packaging. The conveyor, counter, and stacking rake are cooperatively interconnected by a programmable computer so that the rows of food portions are moved along the conveyor for stacking by the stacking rake.

Abstract: A robot assembly including multiple independently operable robot assemblies are provided for use in semiconductor wafer processing. The robot assembly includes independent co-axial upper and lower robot assemblies adapted to handle multiple objects. The upper robot is stacked above the lower robot and the two robots are mounted concentrically to allow fast wafer transfer. Concentric drive mechanisms may also be provided for imparting rotary motion to either rotate the robot assembly or extend an extendable arm assembly into an adjacent chamber. Each robot can be either a single blade robot or a dual blade robot. Also provided is an apparatus for processing semiconductor wafers comprising a pre/post process transfer chamber housing multiple independent robot assemblies and surrounded by a plurality of pre-process chambers and post process chambers. Within each process, pre-process and post-process chamber is an apparatus for holding a plurality of stacked wafers.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a forklift having a traversing carriage for moving longitudinally along a frame of the forklift, an outer guide rail for guiding the carriage being disposed relatively low to the operator cockpit so as to minimize the obstruction of operator visibility of the surrounding terrain.

Abstract: A stick or boom for a work machine. The stick or boom has a box portion including a first and second end and a first and second pivot point position at respective ends. A truss portion having an offset pivot point is attached to said stick or boom.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a material handler that includes a frame, a telescoping boom, a boom extension sensor, a boom angle sensor, and a control system. The telescoping boom is coupled to the frame, pivotable between a lowered and a raised position, and movable between a retracted and an extended position. The boom extension sensor generates a first signal that corresponds to the distance which the boom is extended. The boom angle sensor generates a second signal that corresponds to the angle which the boom is pivoted. The control system receives the signals and displays a cursor located at a position that is based on the first signal and the second signal.

Abstract: The invention relates to affixing adapter plates to the back of commercially available forklift implements to enable the rapid connection of a forklift to the end of the hydraulic booms of backhoes. The attachment is accomplished either by substituting the bucket of the backhoe with the modified forklift or by engaging the modified forklift with a modified bucket connector which allows the forklift implement to be connected without removing the bucket.

Abstract: A work vehicle including at least one implement lifting arm connected to an implement and a hydraulic implement circuit, the implement circuit having a pump and a fluid reservoir connected to conduits of the implement circuit. The implement circuit further includes at least one implement cylinder, the implement cylinder being connected to the conduits of the implement circuit so as to be powered by the pump; and a latch mechanism comprising a latch valve with integral sequence valve mechanism, wherein the latch valve is connected to receive fluid from the implement cylinder, and a latch cylinder is connected to receive fluid from the latch valve, wherein the latch mechanism operates to securely connect the implement at one end of the at least one lifting arm when the implement cylinder is in a first state and the latch valve is operated to direct fluid to the latch cylinder.

Abstract: A motor vehicle for industrial and/or agricultural operations, in particular an agricultural tractor, is described with an attachment interface containing a three-point implement hitch (24). In order to widen the spectrum of applications of the vehicle and the capability of the attachment interface and in order to open up new areas of application for the motor vehicle, a telescoping arm (16) that can be pivoted in the vertical direction is connected in a joint to the vehicle chassis (14). A support (22) is arranged at the free, extensible end of the telescoping arm (16) and carries the attachment interface for the three-point implement hitch (24). A locking arrangement (38, 40) is provided by which the support (22) can be immobilized with respect to the vehicle chassis (14), when the telescoping arm (16) is in an operating position.

Abstract: A substrate conveyer robot inserts and removes a substrate to and from a an arbitrarily positioned container. A base is rotatably driven by a first motor which defines a pivotal center. A first spindle is rotated by a second motor independent of rotation of the base, is positioned coaxially with the pivotal center, and one end of a first arm is attached to the first spindle. A second spindle on the other end of the first arm is rotated by a gear ratio 2:1, and one end of a second arm is attached to the second spindle. A third spindle is carried on the other end of the second arm and is rotated by a gear ratio 1:2. One end of a third arm is attached to the third spindle, and a hand for holding a substrate is attached on the other end of the third arm.

Abstract: An automated cell for the handling of workpieces is disclosed that comprises a working space within which a two-dimensional gantry that comprises a first and a second linear axis which are coupled to each other. A first gripping device is movable across the working space horizontally and also vertically. A gantry extends above the working space and protrudes towards a machine tool. Along the gantry a second gripping device is displaceable for moving workpieces between the working space of the automated cell and the machine tool. Both linear axes of the two-dimensional gantry are driven by linear motor drives, to allow a fast movement of workpieces and also to allow the performing of supplementary functions without slowing down the machine tool supplied by the automated cell.

Abstract: Transfer devices for handling microelectronic workpieces, apparatus for processing microelectronic workpieces, and methods for manufacturing and using such transfer devices. One embodiment of a transfer device includes a transport unit configured to move along a linear track and a lift assembly carried by the transport unit. The transfer device can also include an arm assembly having an arm actuator carried by the lift assembly to move along a lift path and an arm carried by the arm actuator to rotate about the lift path. The arm can include a first extension projecting from one side of the lift path and a second extension projecting from another side of the lift path. The arm actuator can rotate the arm about the lift path. The transfer device can also include a first end-effector and a second end-effector.