Abstract: A dragline bucket transporter for use in moving a dragline bucket with a hauling vehicle comprises a wheeled trailer having a U-shaped frame with tire-supported free ends, the free ends forming an open end. The frame is moved by a hauling vehicle to surround the sidewalls of a dragline bucket. Once the bucket is surrounded, a cross member of the frame engages and lifts a front end portion of the bucket by action of a hitching assembly attached to the hauling vehicle. With the front end of the bucket elevated, lifting assemblies located at the free ends of the frame lift up a rear portion of the bucket so that it is off the ground. The hauling vehicle can then transport the bucket to a desired location, the bucket then removed from the transporter for use with a dragline.

Abstract: A motorized unloading apparatus for unloading cargo from a container such as a trailer or the cargo container of a large truck. The apparatus of the invention includes two threaded rods which extend substantially the full length of the cargo container, a pusher plate extending across the width of the cargo container, the pusher plate being rotatably received on the threaded rods and driven along the length of the trailer as the threaded rods are rotated, and a motor to rotate the rods.

Abstract: A mating pair of portable metal ramps for use with pickup trucks, trailers and vans to load and unload small sized wheeled vehicles such as all terrain vehicles, riding lawn mowers, small tractors and motorcycles. The side beams of each ramp have a longitudinal groove into which the ends of three or more cross beams are recessed. The grooves sufficiently support and maintain the cross beams about the ramp that it is only necessary to weld the cross beam/side beam joints in those areas accessible from the underside of the ramp.

Abstract: A loading dock having a dock face, a driveway positioned adjacent to the dock face, a wheel chock positioned above the driveway for movement relative to the driveway, and a power mechanism interconnected with the chock to provide power to the chock. The power mechanism is at least partially recessed within the driveway. Preferably, the power mechanism is spaced from the dock face so that vehicles having lift gates can be serviced under a variety of conditions. The power mechanism can be positioned within a housing that is also spaced from the dock face. The housing can include a ramped portion facing the dock face so that contact with the housing by a lift gate will be deflected.

Abstract: A carriage is provided for a storage-retrieval system including a shelf assembly. The carriage includes a base member, at least one carrier region above the base member for supporting an object to be transferred, at least one pair of shifting units flanking the carrier region. The shifting units are reciprocally movable into and away from the shelf assembly. Engaging members are mounted on the shifting units. Each of the engaging members arranged to pivot about a vertical axis and movable between a closed position for contacting the object and an open position for avoiding the contacting with the object.

Abstract: A device for transporting substrates through a vacuum system has a flat, parallel piped, plate-shaped substrate holder with upper and lower holder areas that are moveable in a vertical position along a transport path through the system. The upper part of the substrate holder is supported without contact and is movably guided by a magnetic arrangement.

Abstract: A data, which is used for raising-and-lowering a magazine holder on which a magazine for storing articles such as lead frames is placed in a magazine elevator device, being set by the steps of: placing a magazine on the magazine holder, storing in a memory the number of article storing sections of this magazine, aligning the lowermost article storing section of the magazine with the level of a lead frame conveying path by moving the magazine holder, storing in the memory the positional data of the thus moved magazine holder, aligning the uppermost article storing section of the magazine with the level of the frame conveying path by further moving the magazine holder, and then storing in the memory the data of the thus further moved magazine holder.