Abstract: A directional transition module for moving an article translating on a primary roller conveyor extending along a first axis to a secondary conveyor for translation along a second axis angularly disposed with respect to the first axis includes at least one flexible drive member supported by a chassis for cycling through a predetermined driver cycle having an upper cycle portion and a lower cycle portion. The upper cycle portion is such that, when the directional transition module is installed for use in conjunction with the primary roller conveyor, the drive member cycles between first and second rollers of the primary roller conveyor. The drive member includes first and second segments wherein the first segment has a profile sufficiently low such that, when the first segment cycles through the upper cycle portion, it does not extend above a plane defined by the tops of the first and second rollers.

Abstract: A pallet stop apparatus for interrupting the motion of a pallet or other item along a conveyor system includes a stop head having both an open arm depending and a stop arm depending therefrom and a front surface for engaging a pallet. The apparatus also includes a slide latch having a first end and a second end connected to a means for imparting generally linear motion to said slide latch to engage the open and stop arms of the stop head as said slide latch moves.

Abstract: A carrier apparatus and method includes a pair of oppositely positioned carriers. At least one pair of steerable wheels is connected to at least one of the oppositely positioned carriers. A movable neck is connected to each of the oppositely positioned carriers and by compressive engagement to an object to be carried such that neither the movable neck, nor the pairs of steerable wheels, nor the pair of oppositely positioned carriers are underneath the object.

Abstract: A device for lifting and supporting a cabinet during installation thereof and including elongated support legs and elongated dowels connected to the support legs for preventing the movement of the support legs and for maintaining the device at a substantially stable positioned during operating conditions. Side panels are secured to the upper end of the support legs for defining a cavity therebetween, and a moveable section is disposed substantially medially of the side panels. There is a pulley mechanism for selectively lifting the movable section in a substantially vertical direction between raised and lowered positions that is disposed within the cavity and is anchored to the moveable section and the side panels.

Abstract: A method for sweeping mail pieces from pockets of a sorter including the steps of (1) sorting mail pieces to a plurality of pockets based upon a preselected sorting criteria, (2) positioning an unloading robot adjacent to a selected one of the pockets when the pocket has received a predetermined volume of mail pieces, the robot carrying a tray having upright side walls and bottom wall, (3) engaging the pocket with a sweeping apparatus, (4) removing mail pieces in the pocket with the sweeping apparatus, (5) loading the removed mail pieces into the tray carried by the robot, and (6) carrying the tray containing the removed mail pieces to a destination with the robot. An apparatus for implementing the method is also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed is a coin change which comprises a coin sort section 50 for sorting coins C discharged from an input hopper 21, and a coin storage section 60 for storing the coins C sorted by the coin sort section 50 on a coin type by type basis. The coin storage section 60 includes a plurality of coin storage grooves 63 provided respectively to the plural coin types and disposed parallel to each other. Each of the coin storage grooves has a width dimension slightly greater than the diameter of a corresponding one of the types of coins and extends approximately horizontally.

Abstract: A pod cover removing-installing apparatus can open and close any covers for a variety of pods made by a various manufactures, can satisfy an allowable distortion error capable of being normally operated even if conditions such as temperature, humidity, and can remove and install the cover without causing it to collide with any one of the parts of the pods. The pod cover removing-installing apparatus to remove and install a cover 203 for an opening 202 of a pod 200, of which the inside is kept extremely clean, by causing the cover to engage a door 13 for an opening 12 of a high cleanliness room, while maintaining high cleanliness of the pod and the room by closely attaching the circumference of the two openings. The apparatus is provided with positioning pins 14a, 14b for positioning the cover 13, a fine adjustment mechanism 20 for fine adjustment of the positioning pins 14a, 14b, and a holding mechanism 40 for holding the position of the cover 13 engaging the positioning pins 14a, 14b.

Abstract: A device for transporting cartridges comprises a housing for holding a plurality of cartridges in a temperature controlled environment. A transport system is also provided and has a grasping mechanism for grasping one of the cartridges. The transport system is further used to remove the cartridge from the housing and to place the cartridge into a scanner.

Abstract: An extendable conveyor includes a support structure, a mechanically extendable section which is extendable along the longitudinal axis between a fully retracted position and a fully extended position, a conveyor belt reeved among the mechanically extendable section thereby defining a conveying surface and a drive. The drive is operable to drive the conveyor belt in at least one direction. The extendable section may be extended by driving the conveyor belt in one direction and retracted by driving the conveyor belt in an opposition direction. The mechanically extendable section may include a plurality of sections at least one made substantially from a unitary sheet of material.

Abstract: A mechanical apparatus and method are disclosed for orienting and positioning semiconductor wafers while avoiding contamination of elements on the faces thereof, by only contacting the peripheries thereof. The apparatus may include a frame for wafer supports and a semiconductor wafer gripping arm. The gripping arm is mounted on a translator for movement in X, Y, and Z directions to engage and move wafers in, from, and between supports. The gripping arm comprises a rigid structure with a plurality of semiconductor support wheels mounted thereon to support a wafer only around its periphery. A drive wheel is provided to orient a supported wafer rotationally while it is being supported around its periphery. A detector is provided to detect orientation of the wafer relative to a notch or other position mark on its periphery.

Abstract: A sheet material feeding device for sending out sheet materials mounted on a sheet material mounting portion one by one by a feeding roller, includes an elastic member with the angle changed elastically by being abutted against by the sheet materials sent out, for separating the sheet materials by being moved over by the sheet materials, and a return assisting unit to be contacted with the elastic member for facilitating the return of the angle change of the elastic member to the original state.

Abstract: A conveying apparatus for spouts or bags with spouts thereon, including: a circular rotating body which is driven rotationally, a guide rail disposed around the circumference of the rotating body with a predetermined spacing in between, and a plurality of grippers disposed on the rotating body and rotated with the rotating body. The rotating body has an outer circumferential edge that supports the flanges of the spouts, and the guide rail has on its inner edge an arc-shaped guide portion that also supports the flanges of the spouts. During the rotation of the rotating body, the grippers close to hold the spouts at the flanges and then opens to release the spouts. A rotational force is imparted by the rotating body to the spouts while spouts are held at the flanges by the grippers.

Abstract: A shovel, particularly useful for weeding soil, has a tubular socket with a proximal end having an opening configured to receive a distal end of an elongate handle. The socket has a slot configured to receive a proximal end of a blade at its distal end, the slot. The slot is further configured to receive the blade such that the proximal end of the blade is positioned continuously through the slot without interruption. The shovel further includes a foot step having platform for accommodating a person's foot at the proximal end of the blade. The footstep has a support integral with the platform such that the support contacts the bottom surface of the blade at a location distal from the proximal end to provide support to the blade and the platform.

Abstract: An apparatus for handling a sheet of material comprises: a paper accumulator that receives at least one sheet of paper, and at least one first roller that applies a force against a first edge of the sheet in a first direction parallel to the first edge, so as to move the sheet within the paper accumulator at least until a second edge of the sheet reaches a registration position.

Abstract: Apparatus for dispensing pills packaged in a pack comprising a base and a top rotatably mounted on the base and defining a housing for the pill pack, a plunger mounted in the housing operable between inner and outer limit positions and having means for discharging one of the pills in the pack during cycling of the plunger between limit positions, means for rotating the pack only one pill increment at a time and child resistant means normally preventing cycling of the plunger between limit positions.

Abstract: A barbecue skewer with a protector/extractor for extracting food from the skewer and preventing injuries and contamination of the skewer. The protector/guard is a generally cylindrical member which is slidably mounted on a shank of the skewer and is selectively movable for a position of covering relationship with a pointed end portion of the shank of the skewer to a position of uncovering relationship with the pointed end portion of the shank of the skewer. In a first embodiment, the protector/extractor is retained in the positions of covering and uncovering relationship by the attraction of a permanent magnet and ferromagnetic members. In a second embodiment the protector/extractor is retained in the positions of covering and uncovering relationship with a leaf spring mounted on the protector/retractor.

Abstract: A general purpose hand for a multiaxis manipulator which includes a suction holder. The suction holder includes: a suction pad to be sucked onto the handled object; an axially movable rod member supporting the suction pad as rotatable; a resilient member for pressing the suction pad toward the handled object; a first locking mechanism for locking axial movement of the rod member; and a second locking mechanism for locking rotation of the suction pad. The suction holder is slidably mounted on the frame member carried by the multiaxis manipulator.

Abstract: A material handling system for use in storing and moving goods within multi-level storage warehouses, ocean going vessels and the like wherein storage areas are provided on at least one of the levels and wherein goods are automatically transferred to and from the storage areas and between the various levels by self-propelled load transfer vehicles. The load transfer vehicles move across the surface of the various levels and deliver are also movable within open vertical trunks between the levels to thereby move goods to any desired area.

Abstract: The present invention is a unified spine structure that EFEM components, such as a wafer handling robot and a SMIF pod advance assembly, may mount to. The frame includes multiple vertical struts that are mounted to an upper support member and a lower support member. Structurally tying the vertical struts to the support members creates a rigid body to support the EFEM components. The vertical struts also provide a common reference that the EFEM components may align with. This eliminates the need for each EFEM component to align with respect to each other. Thus, if one EFEM component is removed it will not affect the alignment and calibration of the remaining secured EFEM components. The unified frame also creates an isolated storage area for the SMIF pod door and the port door within the environment that is isolated from the outside ambient conditions.

Abstract: A value sheet handling apparatus comprises an actuating mechanism for exerting pressure onto a value sheet so as to move the value sheet, and further comprises detecting means to detect movement of the value sheet with respect to the actuating mechanism, wherein if the detecting means ascertains that the value sheet has not been moved by the actuating mechanism the pressure exerted Onto die flexible media is increased until motion of the value sheet is detected. Additionally or alternatively, the pressure is varied in dependence on the type of the value sheet. The value sheet is dispensed from a stack by buckling the sheet, the rest of the stack being gripped in the area exposed by the buckling of the sheet.