Abstract: A container handling assembly for lifting one or two containers. The assembly comprises a first and second jaw captively connected for cooperative movement whereby the jaws close when a load is applied. If a single container is lifted on the first jaw, the second jaw pivots to clamp the container on the first jaw. If two containers are lifted the jaws close to safely clamp both containers. In the unloaded position the second jaw projects beyond the first jaw thereby facilitating insertion of the jaws into coupling pieces of containers to be lifted. A number of safety features are incorporated to prevent lifting unless the containers are correctly loaded and to prevent unloading unless a release is activated.

Abstract: A system for handling portable diagnostic equipment. The system includes a powered equipment lift sized and shaped to fit in an overland vehicle. A hooking mechanism is coupled to the bottom of the equipment lift and a portable cart is hooked to the hooking mechanism. The hooking mechanism includes an attachment tube coupled to the bottom of the equipment lift and a pivot bar is inserted through the attachment tube and freely rotatable within it. One or more hooks are coupled to the pivot bar, in one embodiment, one on each end. The hooks are designed to hold a portable workstation cart. The cart has a base platform with a plurality of wheels. In addition to acting as a shelf for heavy equipment, the main platform also supports a vertical frame. The vertical frame has two upstanding arms and supports a second shelf which is designed to accommodate medical equipment. Positioned above the second shelf is a second frame with a flip-out tray.

Abstract: An automatic vehicle chock has a chock and a locking mechanism movable on a rail from a retracted position to a position where the chock is extended and held in position by the locking mechanism. A sensor moves with the chock to determine the position of the wheel to be chocked and extend the chock. The position of the sensor relative to the chock can be adjusted. The device also employs mechanical assemblies carried by the carriage assembly to retract the chock without the use of a brake. In one embodiment a cam is used to reverse the direction of the chock arm retaining spring after the chock has been engaged. In a second embodiment the chock is continuously biased to the stored position and a latch is used to hold the chock outward until it is locaked in posiion. The latch is then released and the bias to the stored position is restored so that the chock will retract when the lock is released.

Abstract: A tape feeder 200 includes a sprocket 201 having a plurality of teeth 202 for engaging holes of a tape. A pawl 205 engages selected teeth of sprocket 201. A first lever 203 is coupled to pawl 205 and a second lever 204 is coupled to first lever 203 and a source 208 of a driving force. First lever 203 and second lever 204 operate by a toggle action to selectively engage pawl 205 with ones of teeth 202 and thereby index sprocket 201.

Abstract: A forklift truck has a frame, a cab including a roof to protect the driver and a lift support structure connected to the frame. A load-carrying fork is mounted on the lift support structure for vertical movement and the lift support structure, the roof and the frame are all welded together to form a single load-bearing assembly.

Abstract: A differential impulse conveyor 10, 80, 90, 100 includes a tray 12 which is driven in a forward direction at a slow speed and a backward direction at a higher speed to slide goods with respect to the tray and thereby move goods along the tray. The drive motor 26, 27 powers the tray in the forward and backward directions through a drive shaft 40 and a tray crank 66, 106 interconnecting the drive shaft and the tray. Controller 84 is provided for varying the rotational speed of the motor shaft, thereby avoiding mechanical knock in the drive system. In another embodiment, a pair of counterweights 52, 62 are provided on opposing sides of the drive shaft 40, with respective counterweight cranks 46, 56 initiating forward movement of each counterweight at a preselected offset angular position with respect to forward movement of the tray.

Abstract: A vehicle handling system is provided for an automated parking garage. The system includes a loading platform dimensioned to support a vehicle, the loading platform including gratings each formed by a plurality of spaced-apart, parallel bars. The system also includes a carriage also formed with a grating having a plurality of spaced-apart, parallel bars, wherein the gratings of the loading platform and the carriage being sized and configured to allow the bars of the carriage to pass between the bars of the loading platform. The system also includes a lifting mechanism for lifting a vehicle away from the loading platform. The lifting mechanism may be a stacker crane assembly allowing both vertical and horizontal movement of the carriage or a robot trolley and lift assembly. The system may also include a turntable for changing the orientation of the vehicle within the garage.

Abstract: A semiconductor device transporting apparatus and a semiconductor device posture altering apparatus are provided which constitute a portion of a semiconductor device transporting and handling apparatus used in a semiconductor device testing apparatus of magazine/tray combination type. The semiconductor device transporting apparatus and the semiconductor device posture altering apparatus are used for loading onto a test tray in the horizontal posture semiconductor devices from a magazine supported in an inclined posture by which semiconductor devices can run out therefrom by their own weights.

Abstract: A multi-purpose hand cart for permitting a single user to transport a variety of heavy loads. The multi-purpose hand cart includes a rear base frame having a spaced apart pair of side members and an elongate rear cross member connecting the side members of the rear base frame together. A pair of wheel assemblies each having a rear member and a wheel rotatably mounted to the rear member of the respective wheel assembly. The back end of a first of the side members of the rear base frame is coupled to the front end of the rear member of a first of the wheel assemblies. The back end of a second of the side members of the rear base frame is coupled to the front end of the rear member of a second of the wheel assemblies. A pair of front members are also provided. The back end of a first of the front members is coupled to the front end of the first side member of the rear base frame. The back end of a second of the front members is coupled to the front end of the second side member of the rear base frame.

Abstract: A wafer lifter basket assembly includes a wafer lifter basket and a base, the base including a bracket and a bracket holder. The wafer lifter basket is mounted to the bracket, and the bracket holder is releasably connected to the bracket holder via spring-loaded plungers, which release upon the wafer lifter basket encountering a force of at least a predetermined level.

Abstract: A wafer lifter basket assembly includes a wafer lifter basket and a base, the base including a bracket and a bracket holder. The wafer lifter basket is mounted to the bracket, and the bracket holder is releasably connected to the bracket holder via spring-loaded plungers, which release upon the wafer lifter basket encountering a force of at least a predetermined level.

Abstract: The invention includes a device for parking vehicles for supplying and delivering at an entry/exit position, wherein the device is provided with vertically displaceable lifting devices with which one carrying platform at a time is displaceable in vertical direction. This carrying platform is intended to support a vehicle. The device also includes horizontal transporting devices for taking a platform, which may or may not be loaded with a vehicle, in horizontal direction of the vertical transporting means and carrying it into a parking position.

Abstract: A multicombination vehicle and method are provided for transporting a payload, such as a mined metal ore, over the roadways existing in an underground mine. The multicombination vehicle includes a powered towing unit, which may comprise a rigid body truck, and at least one towed unit mechanically coupled to the rigid body truck. The vehicle may also include a plurality of the towed units, with a forward most one of the units coupled to the rigid body truck and each adjacent pair of the towed units being coupled to one another. Each of the units includes a chassis, a plurality of wheeled axles connected to the chassis for supporting the respective unit as the vehicle travels over the roadways of the mine, and a draw frame attached to and extending rearwardly from the corresponding chassis, with a coupling attached to a rear end of the draw frame.

Abstract: A passenger lift (10) is provided for loading a passenger (12) into and out of an aircraft (14). Lift (10) includes a chassis (38) having a front (34) end and a back (36) end. A plurality of wheels (62 and 63) are attached to the chassis (38) providing means for moving the lift (10). The lift (10) also includes an electrical energy source (70) for providing electrical energy, and an energy converter (104) for translating the electrical energy from the electrical energy source (70) to mechanical energy. The lift (10) includes a rear support (40) generally perpendicular to the chassis (38) and attached to the back end of the chassis (38). The lift (10) has a basket (48) for holding the passenger (12) while the passenger is raised and lowered with the lift (10) and (48) is located at the front end of the chassis (38). The lift (10) includes a pair of lift arms (44) for lifting the basket (48), and a pair of stabilizing arms (42) for providing stability to the basket (48).

Abstract: A paver installer (10) is described for receiving and carrying a paver from one location to another location. The paver installer has frame (12) comprising a pair of spaced apart frame members (18) and a longitudinal axis disposed between. To add strength, at least one brace member (24) is disposed between the frame members. Proximate the lower portion of the frame is a wheel assembly(26). So that pavers (62) can be place on pedestals (72) having varying heights above grade, the paver installer has a U-shaped platform (46) slidably mounted to the facing away from the wheel assembly. Substantially cylindrically shaped sleeves (54) are mounted to the platform which respectively slidably engage the frame members. To move the platform along the longitudinal axis, a self locking screw lift (34) is mounted to the at least one brace member and the platform. A shim (60) is provided on the platform to prevent damage to the paver and provide an adjustable fit.

Abstract: A replaceable load bearing slide system for carrying an ejector mechanism slidably along in spaced parallel ejector rails includes an elongated substantially rectangular slide member for slidably supporting one side of an ejector mechanism in a rail having one side attached along one side of the ejector mechanism at rail level by removable bolts or screws. The elongated member being configured to be slidably accommodated in an ejector rail of matching shape and having optional wear strips attached to the three exposed surfaces thereof designed to contact the inner surfaces of the rail.

Abstract: System, method, and apparatus for carrying out the multi-level stacking and moving of merchandise units using lift trucks configured for slipsheet palletizing. The system employs a blocking assembly in conjunction with slipsheets employed for such warehousing practices. This blocking assembly preferably is formed of a corrugated polymeric material having a forward flap-like blocking component which extends downwardly from a die-formed crease over the packaged components of a lower assembled merchandise unit. The crease provides sufficient compressive stress distribution from abutting engagement with an errant lift truck forward fork tip to avoid damage to upper level packaged merchandise within the lower unit. The blocking assemblies are quite light and thin, and the flap-like blocking components thereof may be utilized as a slipsheet in the event that the grasping tab of a slipsheet is torn by the gripping mechanism of a lift truck.

Abstract: A wafer handling apparatus and method includes a wafer carrier station for supporting a wafer carrier, such as an enclosed pod, that holds one or more wafers. A grounded interface panel is provided between the carrier station and a clean testing or processing environment. A z-movement mechanism moves the carrier station and the wafer carrier in a z-direction. A door opening mechanism removes a door from said carrier through a door opening in the interface panel. A handler mechanism includes a wafer holding device, such as a flat end effector, that moves into the wafer carrier at a separate access opening to load or unload a wafer to or from the wafer carrier. Wafer carriers holding different amounts of wafers can be used with no major structural changes to the apparatus.

Abstract: An apparatus for moving an object, such as a wheelchair, between an upper position and a lower position. The upper position is typically adjacent to the floor surface of a vehicle while the lower position is typically at ground level. The apparatus preferably includes a platform including at least three pivotally connected sections. The sections are selectively moveable between an unfolded orientation in which the sections are substantially co-planar and a folded orientation in which the sections form a compact configuration. The apparatus also preferably includes a folding assembly for selectively moving the sections of the platform between the folded orientation and the unfolded orientation, a deployment assembly for selectively deploying and stowing the platform and a lift assembly for selectively moving the platform vertically between the upper position and the lower position.

Abstract: A trailer and a method for loading a trailer onto a transport vehicle. The trailer is elevated, causing a rear axle assembly of the trailer to pivot from a forward position to a position that is generally normal to the trailer frame. A front wheel axle assembly is rotated upwardly, and the trailer is then subsequently slid/or pushed along a generally planar bed surface of the transport vehicle. The end of the bed surface contacts the rear axle assembly during the sliding process, and with continuing sliding the rear axle assembly moves from a normal position to a rearward position.