Abstract: A small, self-contained portable back-hoe has a wheeled frame with a towing tongue for over-the-road trailering. Pivoted outriggers are connected to the back and a third support is secured to the front of the frame. Cylinder units are coupled to position the supports for digging and in raised position for trailering. The bucket and articulated boom assembly is affixed to the frame with a vertical pivot and includes cylinder units for digging operation thereof. An operator station and a hydraulic power supply source or system is secured to the front of the frame. A special hydraulic supply is integrated into the front framework. The back-hoe boom assembly and operating assembly are balanced about the single axle for convenient positioning. The bucket assembly and three-point support are arranged to minimize the tipping of the frame as a result of the digging forces. A gasoline driven high efficiency industrial-type pump is connected to the cylinder units with a filter and the suction side.

Abstract: A work stacking apparatus for stacking a plurality of different type of works alternately which includes a plurality of stock rods each for stocking same kind of works in a stacked condition at predetermined work supply positions. A stacking arm is pivotally mounted for rocking motion between the work supply positions and a work receiving locator. Chucks are mounted on the stacking arm for chucking uppermost works at the different work supply positions alternately and releasing them at the work receiving locator. C-shaped forks are provided underneath the stacked works for pushing up the works one by one whenever the uppermost one of the works is taken out from the respective work supply positions.

Abstract: A combination transfer/turnover machine has a pair of double-acting transfer arms for quickly retrieving and inserting parts into a pair of metal stamping presses performing sequential operations on a workpiece. A turnover mechanism is provided for inverting the part during its transfer between machines. The transfer arm and turnover mechanism are all carried by a horizontally and vertically moveable bar mounted to a carriage. The entire apparatus can be mounted as a single unit to overhead support structure in a factory between the machines.

Abstract: A mechanical closed loop robotic arm end effector positioning system which produces a precision reference frame with an associated workpiece fixture or other robotic manipulator system is disclosed. The positioning system results in decoupling of end effector operation from gross movement inaccuracies or vibrations of the robotic arm, thus allowing less precise robots to perform high precision tasks. The system includes a wrist assembly which is mountable to the robotic arm near the arm's distal functional end. The wrist assembly has a compliant member and a first positioning member connected thereto. The first positioning member includes a first docking arrangement. A second positioning member associated with the workpiece fixture includes a second docking arrangement. The first and second docking arrangements are sized and positioned to engageably mate within the robotic arm's resolution when the robotic arm attains a target position relative to the workpiece fixture.

Abstract: The posture of a front loader attached to a vechicle body is controllable by an apparatus which comprises an engaging portion provided on a control lever, an engageable member pivoted to a fixed member on the vehicle body and releasably engageable with the engaging portion when the control lever is positioned for lowering the boom of the loader and for moving the work implement of the loader for scooping, an implement sensor for detecting whether the angle between the implement and the boom is an angle which provides contact of a work implement bottom surface parallel with horizontal ground, and a release interlocking mechanism operatively connected to the sensor and to the engageable member for moving the engageable member to a released position where the member is not engageable with the engaging portion upon the sensor detecting that the work implement is at the angle.

Abstract: The obstacle detector (24) has an upper plate (32) which mounts on the arm (22) of the positioning machine. At least three springs (50) pull the lower plate (34) upward and three projections such as balls (36) provide precise location of the lower plate (34). Lateral force causes actuation of switch (60) to terminate motion of the positioning machine. Vertical impact is sensed by upward motion of outer ball slide (68), which is resiliently held down against stop shoulder (76). The handling device has its foot (74) mounted on the bottom of the outer ball slide.

Abstract: A round bale trailer includes a trailer that travels in a hay field in the same direction that the field is normally worked to approach round hay bales in a direction perpendicular to the bales' axes. A U-shaped fork on the round bale trailer engages three sides of the bale. A closing arm on the fork closes to engage the bale on the fourth side. Continued motion of the trailer causes the fork and bale to rotate together 90 degrees about a vertical axis such that the fork closes to nest within a generally U-shaped frame. A hydraulic cylinder immediately operates to pivot the frame and fork to a vertical attitude, such that the bale rolls off the fork and onto the trailer. Pivoting the frame to the horizontal attitude automatically opens the fork by the use of a spring. All the bales are unloaded at one time by an unloading mechanism that tilts the trailer such that the bales roll off one side thereof.

Abstract: A fluid-powered, laterally tiltable bucket assembly having a bucket with a pair of bucket clevises, and an actuator having a generally cylindrical body with an output shaft rotatably disposed therein with an axis in general parallel alignment with a forward rotation plane through which the bucket is rotatable on a backhoe arm by the operation of a rotation link. A bracket is attached to the body and has a pair of clevises for pivotal attachment to the vehicle arm and rotation link. The output shaft has a pair of shaft clevises for attaching the shaft to the corresponding bucket clevises. A linear-to-rotary transmission device disposed within the body produces rotational movement of the shaft relative to the body to produce lateral tilting of the bucket in a lateral plane generally transverse to the forward rotational plane for the bucket.

Abstract: An apparatus for use on a ship having in its hull a stowage with a multiplicity of cells in a latticework arrangement and each having an opening in a deck for individually stowing elongated heavy articles in a vertical position. The apparatus is adapted to insert the articles into the respective stowage cells and comprises a lower structure having a pair of opposed carriages guidable respectively on a pair of rails extending in parallel to each other and disposed on the deck outwardly of the respective opposite sides of the stowage, and an upper structure supported by the lower structure pivotally movably upward and downward and having a horizontal beam extending transversely of the ship, and a slider slidably mounted on the beam. A boom connected to the slider has a pair of guide arms for guiding and holding the article and is positionable horizontally along the direction of travel of the carriage and also vertically by the pivotal movement of the upper structure.

Abstract: On a work vehicle having a support, an implement carrying swing frame connected to the support by a first pivot pin apparatus, and an elevatable boom connected to the swing frame by a second pivot pin apparatus, a controllable locking apparatus having a boom lock for locking the boom in a substantially vertical position and maintaining the boom against movement, a swing lock for locking the swing frame against side to side movement, and an obstruction for preventing the swing frame from being locked against side to side movement unless the boom is locked against movement, is provided.

Abstract: A round bale transporter and unroller provides a mechanical system for unrolling large, round bales. The apparatus includes a frame that may be mounted on a front end loader. The mounting brackets are adjustable and "universal". A carriage is mounted on the frame for movement from side to side. The carriage carries a bale support in the form of a large disk with a long center spike and four smaller spikes distributed around it. The support is mounted on a shaft for rotation by a hydraulic motor also carried on the carriage. The unrolling mechanism is positioned at one side of the frame and projects to the front so that it lies alongside a bale carried by the support mechanism. The unroller includes a power driven, spiked cylinder that rotates in the same direction as the bale to draw material from the bale over the cylinder. As material is removed from the bale, the carriage is shifted towards the unroller.

Abstract: In an apparatus whereby spacer frames (1) for insulating glass being transported in an essentially vertical position and resting against a supporting wall (2, 6) to a receiving station, may be transferred on a carrier (20), in the area of the receiving station (5) in the supporting wall (6) a plurality of lifting elements (14) is provided, which may be moved upwards in slots (13) to raise the spacer frames (1). To be able to transfer a spacer frame (1) to the carrier (20) for spacer frames (1) located opposite the receiving station (5), the distance between the free ends (30) of the beams (21) of the carrier (20) facing the supporting wall (6) provided in the receiving station (5) and the supporting wall (6) may be reduced for example by the forward tilting of the supporting wall (6). When the supporting wall (6) is tilted forward, the free ends (30) of the beams (21) of the carrier (20) engage two openings (17) in the supporting wall (6) and one spacer frame (1) is transferred to the carrier 20.

Abstract: A master controller for a mechanically dissimilar bilateral slave servo-manipulator is disclosed. The master controller includes a plurality of drive trains comprising a plurality of sheave arrangements and cables for controlling upper and lower degrees of master movement. The cables and sheaves of the master controller are arranged to effect kinematic duplication of the slave servo-manipulator, despite mechanical differences therebetween. A method for kinematically matching a master controller to a slave servo-manipulator is also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed is a load-hoisting assembly for mounting on a pair of horizontal rails spaced apart a predetermined vertical distance. The assembly comprises an upright post having a jib at its upper end provided with a hoisting device. The assembly also comprises an upper rail-engageable member to be secured to the upper one of the rails and a lower rail-engageable member to be secured to the lower rail. A connection structure is provided to join the two rail-engageable members to the post. This connection structure is so constructed as to allow relative displacement of the two members to suit the particular distance between the two rails.