Abstract: A method of feeding cigars to a hopper of a wrapping machine, wherein the cigars are housed in bulk and in orderly manner inside containers; each container has a top opening by which to receive and unload the cigars in the aforementioned orderly manner; a full container of cigars is picked up and inverted at the hopper by means of a manipulating device so that the opening faces downwards; and the full container is rested on a supporting surface having a passage smaller than the opening, so as to partly close the opening and provide for controlled unloading of the cigars.

Abstract: An attaching and removing unit of a lid for a wafer carrier according to the invention includes: a lid holding plate that can move forward and backward relatively to a lid for a wafer carrier provided with a lock unit having a keyhole exposed outside, on a side of the keyhole; a driver for causing the lid holding plate to move forward and backward; and a key element protruding from the lid holding plate on a side of the lid in a pivotable manner, the key element disposed opposite the keyhole in a direction of the forward and backward movement. The lock unit is adapted to be locked and unlocked by the key element pivoting in the keyhole. In a locked state, the key element can be inserted into and released from the keyhole, and in an unlocked state, the key element is engaged with and can not be released from the keyhole, while the lid holding plate holds the lid. The lid holding plate is provided with a lid-detecting unit for detecting whether the lid holding plate is holding the lid or not.

Abstract: A pair of stands are spaced one from the other to support opposite ends of an upper shell and diaphragm halves of a turbine at locations along the upper shell axially beyond the diaphragm halves. Carts mounted on wheels each have a hydraulically actuated lift and a platform mounting support assemblies engagable with an upper diaphragm half at the midline. By engaging a diaphragm half from below the upper shell, securing the support assemblies to the upper diaphragm half and releasing the upper diaphragm half from the upper shell by removing bolts and keys to transfer the weight of the diaphragm half to the cart, the diaphragm half may be lowered from the upper shell and moved away. The diaphragm halves may then be refurbished and the process reversed to reinstall the diaphragm halves into the upper shell. During the process, the upper shell remains in its normal orientation, similarly as in the turbine.

Abstract: A work vehicle is provided for conveying an agricultural product via a movable member or tube to an adjacent product receiving bin. The movable member is controllable to swing back and forth accurately over the bin under precise operator control to enable the bin to be “topped off”. An auger or other conveyer device is used to feed product into the movable member. The vehicle's control system includes an extend switch and a retract switch which operate in a latched first mode when the conveyer device is not actuated. In the latched first mode, the extend or retract switches are pressed once to start the swinging motion of the movable member and are pressed a second time to stop the swinging motion. However, when the conveyer device is turned on to feed product into the movable member, the vehicle's control system switches to an unlatched second mode. In the unlatched second mode, the operator presses the extend or retract switch and the corresponding swinging motion commences upon such contact.

Abstract: A loadlock chamber assembly includes a loadlock chamber, a sub-chamber removably attached to the loadlock chamber and a first robot arm having a primary pivot axis within the sub-chamber, wherein the first robot arm can move a substrate from a position approximately in a center of the loadlock chamber to a position outside the loadlock chamber.

Abstract: An improved trailer for transporting bulk seed boxes is provided. The trailer includes a bed, a hopper extending below the bed for receiving seed from the bulk seed box, and an auger for unloading seed from the hopper. The bed includes upwardly and outwardly extending guide plates to provide self-centering of the seed box when the box is loaded onto the bed with a forklift truck. The bed includes lock bars moveable between locked and unlocked positions to secure the seed box to the bed. The hopper includes a slide gate with a control arm connected to the gate and extending to the auger side of the trailer for moving the slide gate between open and closed position. The auger includes a foldable upper section which is pivotal between a folded transport position and an extended raised operative position. The folding of the upper auger section is facilitated by a gas cylinder and a lever arm.

Abstract: A substrate transfer apparatus capable of preventing contaminants from sticking to a substrate again when the substrate is unloaded, wherein a first support member and a second support member are provided on an arm, the first support member supporting the substrate when the substrate is loaded into a processing machine and the second support member supporting the substrate when the substrate is unloaded from the processing machine.

Abstract: The invention is a unitary cantilever liftgate that attaches to the vehicle body instead of the vehicle chassis. The liftgate may be fully assembled and tested prior to installation on the vehicle body. This greatly reduces installation time while improving performance and reliability. Various features such as steps, bumpers and brackets are integrated into the liftgate. Further, the liftgate is preferably configured so that multiple units can be stacked together for shipping and ease of unloading and loading. The stackability of the liftgates simplifies storing as well, by removing the necessity of storing several components separately.

Abstract: A manhole cover remover, including an attachment; a support; a pivot arm having a proximal end hinged to the support and the pivot arm having a distal end; a connector joining the attachment to the distal end of the pivot arm; a winch joined to the distal end of the pivot arm; and a power source, the power source in operable communication with the winch and method of use including the steps of rotating a pivot arm down toward a manhole over; connecting the pivot arm to the manhole cover; and winching the pivot arm upward.

Abstract: A lifting and telescoping dolly for facilitating the moving of bulky objects into and out of attics by one operator acting alone. The collapsible dolly opens into a self-supporting A-frame with four support points. It has wheels and a brake system for positioning the dolly beneath an attic entry. From ground level a winch elevates the telescoping upper part of the dolly frame into the attic where it is firmly supported. From the attic a second winch elevates the load into the attic.

Abstract: A sealable door assembly including a frontplate which faces an opening to be sealed, a backplate operatively coupled to the frontplate, and at least one inflatable member located between the frontplate and the backplate. When inflated, the inflatable member moves the frontplate into sealing engagement with the opening. In one embodiment the inflatable member includes one or more vacuum grade bellows. A movable mechanism moves the door assembly to selectively occlude the opening. Once the door assembly occludes the opening, the inflatable member is inflated and expands forcing the frontplate in a direction normal to the opening, thereby sealing the opening. The door assembly may be mounted within a pocket formed in an outer wall of a transfer chamber, and a sealing plate may be employed to form a gas tight region within the pocket. The gas tight region may be pressurized to enhance the door's seal of the opening.

Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus includes a transport robot (TR1) formed with a telescopic vertical movement mechanism of a so-called telescopially nestable multi-tier construction. A drive mechanism (D1) is initially driven to move a support member (48) upwardly to simultaneously elevate a vertical movement member (42d). As the vertical movement member (42d) rises, a pulley (47c) simultaneously moves upwardly. As the pulley (47c) moves upwardly, a vertical movement member (42c) is lifted upwardly by a belt (L1). Similar actions elevate a pair of transport arms (31a, 31b) provided on the top of a vertical movement member (42a). The increase in the number of tiers of the nestable multi-tier structure precludes the increase in height of the transport robot (TR1) in its retracted position.

Abstract: A storage lift has shelving columns having lateral panels provided with support sections (5) for storage goods carriers. Each column has four stays (4) configured as mountable and dismountable panel elements (7). The panel elements have a sandwich-type structure consisting of a contoured plate (12) and a support plate (13) connected to it to increase the rigidity of the support sections (5). The structure of the storage width facilitates and accelerates construction of storage lifts on site.

Abstract: A combined dump truck and spreader apparatus is disclosed for selectively dumping and spreading materials. The apparatus includes a truck chassis and a body for receiving and dispensing the materials. The body has a first and a second end and a first and second curved side wall. The body is secured to the chassis and a tailgate is secured to the first end of the body. An auger arrangement is disposed within the body and extends between the first and second ends thereof for transporting the materials along the body. The tailgate defines an opening which co-operates with the auger arrangement for permitting the flow therethrough of the materials. The arrangement is such that selective spreading and dumping of the materials from the opening is permitted.

Abstract: A dolly for moving articles including lateral filing cabinets, comprising a support surface for one end portion of such a cabinet, and upstanding members partially surrounding the support surface for locating the cabinet in position. The upstanding members include an upstanding end member for locating one end of a cabinet and side members for locating sides of the cabinet, the dolly having an open end opposite the end member which allows the dolly to be slid underneath the cabinet when tilted. Side wheels are mounted on fixed axles outside of the support surface adjacent the open end, and a caster wheel is mounted by a bracket extending outside of, and supported by, the end member. The dolly can be used by one operator to move a fully loaded lateral filing cabinet without tilting the cabinet to such an extent to cause damage.

Abstract: A loadlock chamber assembly includes a loadlock chamber, a sub-chamber removably attached to the loadlock chamber and a first robot arm having a primary pivot axis within the sub-chamber, wherein the first robot arm can move a substrate from a position approximately in a center of the loadlock chamber to a position outside the loadlock chamber.

Abstract: A folding cargo loading/unloading ramp, particularly adapted for motor trucks, includes first and second ramp sections and an intermediate support leg assembly which is pivotally connected to the first and second ramp sections at a common hinge point. The support leg assembly includes a latch for automatically latching the support leg assembly in a working position when it is rotated from a folded position to its working position, the latch being manually actuatable to unlock the support leg assembly. Ground engaging rollers are mounted on the support legs and are braked against rotation when the ramp is in a working position. Both ramp sections and the support leg assembly include manipulating handles to facilitate movement of the ramp between a stored position and a working position.

Abstract: Wafer processing apparatus A-Z for performing processes A-Z on a wafer are arranged in a row. A chamber 14 is formed parallel to these wafer processing apparatus, and a guide rail 11 is provided inside the chamber 14. A mobile element 12 driven by means of a linear motor is provided on the guide rail 11, and a wafer transfer robot 13 capable of exchanging a wafer between the wafer processing apparatus is mounted on the mobile element 12. With this structure, the wafer transfer robot 13 exchange wafers between wafer processing apparatus to perform each process on the wafers until the wafers are conveyed to the wafer processing apparatus Z.

Abstract: A self-standing structure supporting a fixed boom is built on a palette-like base that is picked up and moved by a fork truck. Railroad car lids with a variety of handles can be engaged by the boom which has fittings suited to that purpose, lifted and removed by the fork truck operator so that the contents of the car such as coils of metal can be lifted out by a crane or the like.

Abstract: A tray unloader for rod-like articles of the tobacco industry includes a horizontally-movable, slidable carriage supporting an independently-driven tray inverting carrier arranged to pick up an upright full tray from a receiving position and invert it during movement to an unloading position. In the unloading position articles are received directly over opposed horizontal bands having a delivery channel between confronting ends and defining the initial level at which articles are received over most of the width of the tray. Downstream of the channel is a conveyor which operates at a relatively high rate during a first phase of unloading for each tray and at a reduced rate during a second phase, so as to allow controlled emptying of the tray and establishment of the residual level of articles in the channel after completion of unloading of each tray.