Abstract: A lift frame adapted to be pivotally mounted on a hoist include a tubular sleeve guide that guides a lift slide. The lift slide carries a lift frame for supporting a load such as a beam or truss to be lifted, and is spring loaded in an upward direction by a spring extending between a slider tube and the lift frame. The spring keeps the bracket seated on the load for a limited distance along the lift path. The lift slide has a stop that limits the amount of downward movement of the lift slide relative to the guide as the load is lifted. Specifically, a pair of frames are mounted at opposite ends of a spreader bar for lifting an elongated beam. A bracket on each lift slide engages one end of the beam and supports it under spring load for a selected amount of vertical travel, and thereafter the beam or load is directly lifted mechanically by having the stop on the lift slide engaging the sleeve guide.

Abstract: A weeder includes a longitudinal shaft having a predetermined length and a longitudinal bore, a chuck mechanism provided at a lower end portion of the longitudinal shaft for pinching and pulling out weeds in the ground, the chuck mechanism including first and second pinching members for pinching the weeds therebetween, a first remover member combined with the chuck mechanism for forcedly removing the weeds and/or mud from the first pinching member, a second remover member combined with the chuck mechanism for forcedly removing the weeds and/or mud from the second pinching member, an operating lever mechanism provided on an axis of the longitudinal shaft for actuating the first and second pinching members and the first and second remover members, and a towing wire inserted and extending within the longitudinal bore of the longitudinal shaft, and coupling the chuck mechanism and the operating lever mechanism.

Abstract: An apparatus for supporting a video camera includes a camera mounting bracket, a front handle assembly and a rear handle assembly. The camera mounting bracket has an L-shaped profile and includes a handle mounting shelf and a camera mounting shelf. The camera mounting shelf and the front handle assembly are attached to the front of the handle mounting shelf. The rear handle assembly is attached to the rear of the handle mounting shelf at a position between the front handle assembly and the camera mounting shelf. Consequently, the apparatus will help a person to firmly hold a video camera when using the video camera to record scenes, regardless of different heights of view.

Abstract: A hand device for working robot which can be downsized is provided. The device consists of a robot hand 10, a link means 40 and a workpiece drop prevention means. The robot hand 10 includes a hand base 20, a pair of fingers 21, 21 protruding from the hand base 20 and a movable core 25 provided with a cylinder 24. The link means 40 includes a lever and a connecting pad 43 for connecting the lever and the movable core 25. A workpiece drop prevention means 60 includes a protrusion stick 50 which is supported by a supporting rail 51, a coil spring and an air cylinder for recess 53.

Abstract: A clamping plate assembly for movement laterally into and out of engagement with a load includes a main plate member which has front, rear, upper and lower edges. Along the lower edge of the main plate member, an auxiliary plate overlies a portion extending from the lower edge a predetermined distance toward the upper edge thereof, and is removably attached to the main plate member. A yieldable friction material then is over substantially the major portion of the auxiliary plate and the portion of the main plate member not covered by the auxiliary plate.

Abstract: A lightweight molded plastic shovel for removing snow and ice has a reinforced scoop and a shock absorbing mechanism in the handle. The handle has a “D shaped” hand grip at one end telescoped over a guide surrounded by a coil spring. The other end of the guide telescopes into the shaft of the handle. The movement of the “D shaped” hand grip toward the scoop compresses the spring reducing shock during use.

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: An animal waste collection device allows collection of waste into a bag without soiling a user. The animal waste collection device comprises an elongated handle that comprises an actuator assembly at one end; a pick-up and collection device disposed at the other end of the elongated handle and a pick-up and collection device disposed at an end of the elongated handle from the actuator assembly. The pick-up and collection device comprising movable collection members movably connected to an elongated base member. A linkage is operably connected to the actuator assembly and extends between the actuator assembly and the pick-up and collection device. A transmission element is operably connected to the linkage at the pick-up and collection device and is operably connected to the movable collection members for transmitting movement to move each of the movable collection members between open and closed movable collection members positions.

Abstract: A vertical lift system is constructed for transporting a receptacle, such as a food or supply receptacle from one deck to another deck, particularly in an aircraft. For this purpose, a vertical lift (71) is equipped with a number of lifting hooks (10) each mechanically coupled to a respective locking pawl (11). Each receptacle is equipped with a respective number of latch elements (9) such as recesses (92) to be engaged by a respective hook (10). The latching and unlatching is caused by the cooperation of the hooks (10) and pawls (11) with each other, with a stationary activating member (12) engaging a cam track (113) of a pawl (11), with biasing forces and with the latch elements (9). Latching requires a small downward motion of the vertical lift. Unlatching requires a slight further downward motion of the vertical lift. During latching and unlatching the receptacle (3) is supported on a floor (13).

Abstract: A gripping device for gripping an object has a vacuum gripper; a magnet disposed within the vacuum gripper and moveable between a gripping position and a retracted position; gripping vacuum for moving the magnet to the gripping position; and release for moving the magnet to the retracted position.

Abstract: An articulated finger unit has a two-jointed structure comprising a joint portion on a finger base side, a finger base portion, a joint portion on a fingertip side, and a fingertip portion; the joint portion on the finger base side has a drive-side bevel gear fixed to a rotational output shaft of an actuator, a driven-side bevel gear coaxially fixed to a joint portion that is perpendicular to the rotational output shaft, and a connecting member wherein an annular boss is fixed to the driven-side bevel gear and wherein a tip portion extends in a fork shape; and a cover on the finger base side is connected to the connecting member. A rotation of the rotational output shaft is converted to rotational movement of the joint shaft by way of a pair of bevel gears, and the connecting member fixed to the joint shaft turns right and left at an angle of 90° or more about the joint shaft. The finger unit suitable for use in a robot hand that moves at high speed and with precision can be realized.

Abstract: Embodiments of an end effector assembly for a substrate robot are provided herein. In one embodiment, the end effector assembly includes a wrist and a first and a second end effector coupled to the wrist in a spaced apart relationship. The first end effector includes a base coupled to the wrist and a tip coupled to the base opposite the wrist. The base and the tip may be made of the same or different materials. The first and the second end effectors may have different resonant frequencies to minimize vibration. Optionally, a low emissivity coating may be provided on the first and second end effector. The low emissivity coating may further have a plurality of stress relief grooves to reduce or prevent flaking of the coating due to differences in rates of thermal expansion between the coating and the underlying end effector.

Abstract: An extension pole suitable for use in light bulb changing operations. The extension pole comprises first, second, and third telescopically intercoupled sections. A first locking assembly selectively locks the first and second sections to one another, and a second locking assembly selectively locks the second and third section to one another. The extension pole is made entirely of non-conductive materials to thereby reduce the risk of electrical shock to the operator.

Abstract: A palm mechanism for a high-speed robot hand has a fixed-side articulated finger unit that projects forward from an upper side of a vertically positioned palm plate, and moveable-side articulated finger units disposed on both sides thereof. The left and right articulated finger units are capable of turning along two short sides of the rectangular palm plate from upper end positions on the palm mechanism. The articulated finger units are capable of bending up and down about joint portions thereof. A variety of operations, including gripping, picking, and throwing, can be performed rapidly and reliably by controlling relative positions of the three articulated finger units and controlling bending operations of the articulated finger units.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a vacuum end effector having workpiece supports that work in conjunction with distorted workpiece surfaces. In one embodiment, each workpiece support has the ability to gimbal and conform the workpiece surface in contact with an outer edge of the support. Each workpiece support preferably provides a knife-like contact edge to minimize the contact area between the support and the workpiece while still providing an effective vacuum area to hold the wafer securely on the support.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed including a first device which includes a first stick having a first tip, a second device which includes a second stick having a second tip, and a third device which includes a first hollow tube in which a spring is located. The first and second devices may be connected to the third device so that the first and second sticks can pivot with respect to the third device. In a rest state, the spring causes the first stick to be separated from the second stick so that the first tip and the second tip do not contact each other. The first stick and the second stick can be pressed together into a compressed state, so that the first and second sticks pivot with respect to the third device, the spring is compressed by the first and second devices, and the first and second tips come into contact with each other.

Abstract: A combination pastry support and server is provided by a formed polycarbonate sheet having a rectangular intermediate portion, and integral, trapezoidal flanges extending at an angle of 88° in opposite directions from its respective upper and lower edges. The trapezoidal flanges are tapered in opposite directions, making it possible to use the combination support and server on either exposed face of a partially cut circular cake.

Abstract: An apparatus for the loading and unloading of material is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a latching and unlatching mechanism that safely and efficiently releases an attached load from a sling after the load has been transported to the desired location. The apparatus further comprises a load-activated locking mechanism that prevents inadvertent release of the attached load, yet is adjustable to the weight of the lifting slings and hardware so as to prevent a premature locking.

Abstract: An animal waste scooper and bagging system, comprising a shovel with an open tray, a shovel handle extended from the back border of the shovel, four spaced apart bag hooks in the shovel tray, a plurality of disposable flexible bags, each bag having one open end fitted with a drawstring, four spaced apart eyelets in each bag, the eyelets corresponding to the bag hooks, whereby each bag removably hooks to the eyelets within the shovel tray, a scoop with handle removably snapped onto the shovel handle, disposable gloves removably fitted to the shovel handle.

Abstract: A suction device includes a handle (10) and an operation lever (30) which has a cam end (32) pivotably connected to the handle. A suction disk (20) has a shaft (21) which movably extends through the underside of the handle and is pivotably connected to the cam end. A release device (40) is connected to a side of the handle and removably engaged with a hole in a side of the operation lever and the handle. The release device can be easily operated by the thumb of the user to disengage the shaft from the operation lever, and the suction disk is pushed back by a spring (22) mounted to the shaft.