Abstract: An apparatus is provided for delivering large containers of goods, especially warehoused goods, such as pallets, to an out-processing station or to a transfer station. The apparatus includes an inclined delivery segment that leads to the out-processing station or transfer station and that has at least two tracks arranged essentially parallel that leave an intermediate space. At least one cart is arranged in each track. The carts form a first cart pair, whereby the carts run on wheels and have a bearing surface, whereby a large container can be placed on the bearing surfaces of the cart pair. Large containers can be moved using the inventive apparatus while avoiding the disadvantages of conventional roller tracks, such as pressing rollers into the wood on the underside of pallets and thereby causing the pallets to become stuck.

Abstract: A self-propelled vehicle transports materials and equipment loaded onboard the vehicle to a desired location in an underground mine. A low profile frame is propelled by endless tracks which support a solid deck divided into a materials handling platform and an operator's station. The deck is open at the rearward end of the vehicle frame to facilitate loading and unloading of equipment and materials. A boom assembly is mounted at the front end of the frame adjacent to the operator's compartment. A free end of the boom assembly is connected to a suitable materials handling device. The materials handling device ranges from a hook mechanism for engaging and pulling heavy loads onto the deck to a bulldozer-type blade for pushing heavy equipment and loose materials off of the deck. The boom assembly includes a parallel spaced arrangement of piston cylinder assemblies.

Abstract: A wheelchair ramp assembly (20) is disclosed. The wheelchair ramp assembly includes a frame attachable to a vehicle having a floor, a platform coupled to a portion of the frame, a ramp having a weight, and a reciprocating mechanism disposed between the ramp and the platform coupled to a portion of the frame, a ramp having a weight, and a reciprocating mechanism disposed between the ramp and the platform for reciprocating the ramp between a deployed position and a stowed position in response to a force. The reciprocating mechanism counterbalancing the weight of the ramp during actuation of the ramp between the deployed and stowed positions to reduce the force required to reciprocate the ramp between the deployed and stowed positions.

Abstract: A drive-transferring apparatus has a constraining guide (10) carrying a plurality of drive-transferring members (11) interconnected compressively. Drive members (13a) drive the drive-transferring members (11) about the constraining guide (10). One or more elongate apertures, such as slots (13), permit access to the drive-transferring members for connection of further members thereto, as well as for reading data carried by the drive-transferring members (11) or by members connected thereto.

Abstract: An integrated wafer transport and transfer device is disclosed, which includes a vehicle with an integrated docking platform for holding a wafer carrier such as a FOUP (front opening unified pod). The docking platform is positioned at the correct height for sealing the FOUP to the load lock of a process tool. Vertical and/or horizontal movement is required in some cases. Methods for delivering wafers to process tools are also described. In a preferred embodiment, wafers are carried inside a FOUP on a cart, such as an automatically guided vehicle or a personally guided vehicle. The cart is docked at a process tool and the FOUP is sealed to the load lock of the tool without removing the FOUP from the cart. After processing on one tool, the cart along with the FOUP can be moved to the next process tool for further processing. The FOUP can stay on the same cart until all processing is completed. This is especially useful for moving priority lots through the fabrication facility quickly.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a tilt bed trailer which includes a frame platform with transport wheels. A V-shaped draw tongue has rearwardly diverging draw arms which terminate in sleeve ends that are spaced the width of the frame platform. Hinge connections extend between the frame platform and the draw tongue with each hinge connection including left and right hinge supports extending downwardly below the frame platform and the side rails with a hinge rod extending therebetween. The draw arm sleeve ends are sleeved on the hinge rods so that the draw tongue swings vertically relative to the frame platform. An extensible member such as a hydraulic ram extends longitudinally angularly between the platform front end and the front portion of the draw tongue so that upon extension the frame platform tilts upwardly and rearwardly about the transport wheels to lower the frame platform rear end to the ground for ease of loading.

Abstract: An all terrain vehicle lifting apparatus includes a powered vehicle frame having a driver's seat, a plurality of wheels and a steering mechanism. At least one cargo rack is mounted on the frame at a position spaced away from the driver's seat. A mandrel is rotatably attached to the frame at the cargo rack. A load transfer member is attached to the mandrel, providing a free end portion that is attached to a cable. One end of the cable can be attached to an immovable object such as a tree. A lifting frame, preferably in the form of a pair of lifting rods, extends away from the mandrel at spaced apart positions, such as at the end portions of the mandrel. The cable is attached to a tree so that when the operator of the vehicle moves it forward, the load transfer rod is rotated and functions as a lever, rotating the mandrel and the lifting frame so that an animal carcass can be elevated for transport.

Abstract: A trailer hitch assembly adapted for use with a foldable liftgate assembly on a truck. The trailer hitch assembly is able to be pivoted out of the way of the liftgate assembly as the liftgate is deployed from a stowed position beneath the truck chassis. The liftgate assembly may include a foldable platform including a main platform member and a platform extension.

Abstract: A vehicle including a combination body for selectively dumping and spreading materials. The vehicle includes, at least, a chassis and a body pivotably secured to the chassis at a hinge. The body is comprised of front and rear ends having upper and lower edges and first and second side walls having lower edges. A hoist is provided which extends between the body and the chassis for pivoting the body about the hinge.

Abstract: A powered vehicular wheelchair lift with an automatic folding platform assembly for persons who are physically challenged or otherwise have limited mobility. The wheelchair lift is used in conjunction with a vehicle having an opening and a floor. The wheelchair lift includes a mounting assembly mounted to the vehicle floor adjacent to the vehicle opening. A power actuating system includes a pair of hydraulic cylinders mounted on opposite sides of a pair of relative parallelogram linkage structures of the wheelchair lift. The wheelchair lift has a foldable platform assembly which includes two platform plates pivotably connected along their adjacent transverse edges, where the platform assembly moves from a stowed position inside the vehicle to an entry position at the vehicle opening and inversely (i.e., from the entry level position to the stowed position), and moves the platform assembly between the entry level position and a ground level position outside the vehicle and inversely (i.e.

Abstract: Supporting members with alternating positions (5) are disclosed for raising and lowering bulky transport goods (2). The supporting members (5) are pivotally arranged on a transport structure and can be connected with auxiliary pivoting means. The structure can be lowered onto the floor (9) or into a low position and brought back into a high position by corresponding pivoting movements (6) of the supporting members (5). The supporting members (5) are preferably designed as knee links and their axes of articulation are parallel to the vehicle axles. This new solution can also be implemented by means of centering cones and centering funnels in combination with a device for alternatively moving a vehicle between a standing position and a transport position.

Abstract: A lift-up mechanism (50, 150) installed inside a vehicle serves to move a seat unit (10, 110) into or out of the vehicle. The seat unit (10, 110) is used as a passenger seat inside the vehicle and as a wheelchair outside the vehicle. Connecting plates (56, 156) are disposed on the lift-up mechanism (50, 150) permit the lift-up mechanism (50, 150) to be connected to the seat unit (10, 110) by inserting the connecting plates into connecting recesses (40, 140) formed in the seat unit (10, 110). Front wheels (60, 160) and rear wheels (70, 170) of the seat unit (10, 110) can be retracted and extended. A drive unit having an electric motor or similar drive may be provided to retract and extend the front wheels (60, 160) and the rear wheels (70, 170). An attitude changing arrangement may be provided to automatically change the attitude of the front wheels (60, 160) when the front wheels (60, 160) and the rear wheels (70, 170) are retracted.

Abstract: A wafer transport mechanism is disclosed capable of transferring workpiece cassettes between lot boxes and SMIF pods. The transport mechanism includes a frame having a first support platform on a first side of the frame for supporting a SMIF pod, and a second support platform on a second side of the frame for supporting a lot box. The frame further includes a carrier transfer mechanism which resides completely within the frame when in a home position. The transfer mechanism includes an arm and a gripper pivotally mounted to the arm. Once a SMIF pod and lot box are seated on their respective support platforms, the transfer mechanism transfers a cassette between the two containers.

Abstract: A mounting system for mounting a container handling device on a refuse gathering vehicle accomplishes the mounting in a manner which enables translation of the device between deployed and stowed positions so that the container handling device is protected and out of the way when not in use.

Abstract: A railroad car loader/unloader apparatus includes a mobile machine adapted to operate atop an open top rail car. The apparatus includes a plurality of support subassemblies with surfaces adapted to engage upper surfaces of sidewalls of the rail car when the apparatus is positioned thereon. The support subassemblies are removable. The apparatus also includes a boom structure with a bucket attached at an end thereof. The apparatus can move atop the rail car on its own power, or by coordinated use of the boom structure to push or pull the apparatus along the rail car. In an alternative embodiment, rollers are attached to the support subassemblies in a position to engage the sidewall's upper surface to reduce travel friction.

Abstract: A storage shelf system for hanging goods, for example, a storage system for articles of clothing hanging on clothes hangers, essentially includes a hanging conveyor of the power-and-free type with trolleys traveling on rails, a storage unit, operating devices for loading and unloading the high shelf storage system, and storage rods for receiving the goods during transport and storage thereof, wherein the trolleys, the operating devices, and the high shelf storage system are equipped with supports and corresponding securing devices, such as locking pawls, locking bolts and the like, for securing the storage rods in a positively engaging manner.

Abstract: In a device for controlling the drive of mechanisms operating separately from one another, the object is to minimize the operating effort and expense of driving alternatively operating mechanisms. Furthermore, it is ensured by the device that the mechanisms are only allowed to be put into operation if they are in a specific state and that this state is maintained throughout their operation. The device has power transmission capabilities different from one another for adjusting the control system to different states of the mechanisms. Arrangements provided for this purpose operate in different settings, determined by control signals, of which a first setting prevents a power transmission and further settings respectively permit power transmission to one of the mechanisms. The arrangement for power transmission is equipped with a signal-receiving device, with which a reception of the control signals dependent on the state of the mechanisms takes place.

Abstract: The invention relates to a lifting and tipping device for emptying containers into the loading opening of a collecting container, especially for emptying refuse containers (50) into the collecting container (12) of a refuse truck (10). The lifting and tipping device (5) has a swivel drive device (32) in the area of the loading opening (14) to which at least one swivel arm (38) with a device (46) for receiving a container is connected with a non-positive fit. The aim of the invention is to provide a lifting and tipping device (5a, 5b) which is as compact as possible and in which the device (46) for receiving a container moves substantially from the bottom upwards without a significant horizontal component when it take hold of the refuse container (50).

Abstract: A truck having either a segmented body configured to receive a plurality of form fitted containers or a substitute body that can be interchangeably mounted on the chassis of the truck. The truck is also provided with a multi-purpose crane and a plurality of hydraulic valve banks mounted to the chassis of the truck, whereby the crane and hydraulic tools can be operated simultaneously. The truck may also be configured with various other features such as a hose reel or a snow plow.

Abstract: A pick up and delivery system for use with mobile robots which have a body with a horizontal upper surface and at least one vertical side. The robot has at least one shelf, each of which contains a stop bar containing a retaining device. The system further uses multiple stations, each of which contain at least one pallet retaining surface to contain at least two pallets. The pallet retaining surfaces are provided with a holding device at the pick up area and a holding device at the delivery area. Pallets are used to retain the items being transferred with each of the pallets having a securing device that interacts with the holding device and retaining device. The strength of the holding device at the pick up area is less than the holding device at the delivery area, with the robot's retaining device having a strength between the strength of the holding devices. The mobile robot picks up a pallet from a first station, and delivers the pallet to a second station.