Abstract: A dolly carrier for carrying a dolly has a support arm slidably coupled to a guide member. The support arm has a dolly support surface configured to engage the dolly. The dolly support surface is movable between a storage position and a removal position. The removal position is at least closer to a wrecker bed side then the storage position.

Abstract: A road sweeper which includes a hopper between a cab and a centrifugal separator, a pair of relatively telescopically extendable and retractable members, one member of each pair being pivoted to a frame of the vehicle and another member of each pair being pivoted to a hopper, a pair of control arms pivoted one each between one of the extendable members and the vehicle, and a tilt cylinder and occupant-protecting mechanism cooperatively operative such that upon relative extension of the extendable and retractable members the control arms effect compound motion of the hopper to a position over-the-cab for subsequent dumping and the automatic interpositioning of the occupant protection mechanism between the hopper and the cab.

Abstract: A signature stream is intercepted by a bucket unlatched from the intercept position. The buckets are moved by drive chains. A spring assembly maintains tension upon the drive chains and spring loads the bucket in the "home" position, providing a detent action upon this bucket to accelerate the bucket and also provide a force for drop-out of the bucket. A bucket cam follower guides the bucket to move from a normal path to the "home" position. A microprocessor selectively halts each bucket during downward movement to reduce free fall time of signatures. A zero force cam engaged by the bucket cam follower counteracts the force otherwise applied to the chains by variable weight signatures on the bucket to maintain uniform tension on the chains. Circular cams move the free ends of the tines increasingly faster to orient the signature stack horizontally before the bucket withdraws from beneath the batch. Oscillating paddles jog the sides and corners of the signatures during stacking to form a neat batch.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for handling stacked and/or nested products in a product line using a counter separator system, a counter device, a motive system, and a separator device is disclosed. Product to be handled is produced and moved along at least one elongated channel. When a predetermined number of products in the product line have passed the fixed reference point, the counter device triggers the motive system, which moves the separator device forward, physically separating a predetermined number of product away from the product line, creating a counted unit.

Abstract: A sheet handling apparatus for accumulating a plurality of sheets into a stack (18) and for feeding the stack (18) to an exit location includes first feeding belts (30) for feeding sheets along a feed path to a stacking area (43) at which there is provided a support plate (44) positioned lower than the feed path. A plurality of rubber strips (50) are arranged to urge each of the sheets leaving the feed path towards the support plate (44) whereby the stack (18) is formed supported by the support plate (44) with the rubber strips (50) engaging the top sheet of the stack (18). Part of the stack (18) projects beyond an edge of the support plate (44), and further feeding belts (114, 68) are adapted to grip this part of the stack ( 18 ) and thereafter feed the stack (18) to the exit location. The apparatus (10) may be used in an ATM for stacking printed sheets making up a bank account statement into a stack and for feeding the stack to a user of the ATM.

Abstract: A ski rack (120) for attachment to an articulated support rack (10) is disclosed. The ski rack includes a vertically oriented mainframe (124) to which a set of mounting arms (132) is attached for securing the ski rack to frame members (30, 32) integral with the support rack. A support frame (126) is secured to the top of the mainframe; a locking frame (130) is secured to the bottom of the mainframe. Skis are placed in a support rack in vertical orientation such that the top clips of the skis are suspended by the support frame. The tail ends of the skis are disposed inside the locking frame (130) to prevent the skis from swaying. The mounting arms, the support frame, and the locking frame are all hingedly secured to the mainframe so that when the ski rack is not used it may be folded flat for storage.

Abstract: In a vehicle having a spare tire and wheel assembly supported adjacent the depending rearward limit thereof by a cable hoist operated by a rearwardly projected hoist shaft terminating adjacent the rearward bumper of the vehicle. A lockable shaft is extended through the bumper and engages the rearward end of the shaft for receiving a lock and preventing access to the rearward end of the hoist shaft. A sleeve surrounds the lockable shaft and an elongated sleeve surrounds the hoist shaft in shielding relation preventing access thereto by an unauthorized person.

Abstract: A safety cart for use by repair persons along a travelled highway is constructed of heavy steel plate to carry cones, flags, and an illuminated sign from the repair vehicle up the road to warn approaching motorists of the work site. The cart is carried to the site while attached to the front of the repair vehicle and a support device is attached to the front of the vehicle which tilts down out of the way of the forwardly tilting engine hood. The cart includes a pivoting handle which pivots to bring an engaging rod upwardly to a height of mounting slots in the supporting device on the vehicle. The handle is then used as a lever to lift the safety cart upwardly to abut the support device on the vehicle to be releasably interlocked on the support device.

Abstract: An improved tractor-trailer assembly utilizes a trailer bottom wall having a drop center portion which is located rearwardly of the longitudinal midpoint of the trailer. The bottom wall of the cargo container is attached to and suspended from the upper edges of the sidewalls of the trailer. In one form of the invention, the bottom wall has a rectangular cross-sectional configuration, and in another form of the invention, the bottom wall has an arcuate U-shaped cross-sectional configuration.

Abstract: A vacuum beam product dispenser and singulator to dispense and singulate "soft" products in an automated order dispensing system (AOS) includes a product cartridge and an inclined conveyor belt. The conveyor belt picks the products from the bottom of the cartridge using a vacuum control element and carries it up the conveyor until it reaches a pinch roller that holds the product ready to be dispensed to a central conveyor of the AOS. Products are picked from the product cartridge by the inclined conveyor in a position such that a product will fall off the conveyor unless held by a vacuum generated by the vacuum control element. Thus, random multiples removed from the cartridge with the picked product fall off the conveyor. The product stream from the hopper is thereby singulated.

Abstract: A machine for automatically loading elongated bars into an automatic screw machine. Each bar initially is advanced at a rapid rate and with relatively low force by a first fluid-operated actuator. When the leading end of the bar reaches the feed finger of the screw machine, a second fluid-operated actuator advances the bar at a slower speed and with relatively high force. A measuring device measures the distance through which the bar is advanced by the second actuator and automatically stops the advance when the leading end of the bar is located in a predetermined position.

Abstract: A conventional bottom dump truck includes doors which in a closed position are suspended underneath the bottom opening of the hopper of the trailer. The doors are opened outwardly and upwardly by pivotal action about an upper suspension point of each of the doors. The amount of movement of the door is limited by an abutment member mounted upon a vertical flange on the outside surface of the hopper bottom. The abutment member includes an abutment plate extending outwardly from the flange together with a bracket which has a slot slidable along the length of the flange and locatable at different points along the length of the flange by a pin passing through openings in the bracket and one of a plurality of openings in the flange. An elongate triangular body can be positioned between the doors during operation at minimum spacing so as to increase the angle of the surface of the doors beyond the angle of repose of the material to ensure complete discharge without hang up of the material on the doors.

Abstract: A dumping type vehicle having a body which is semicircular in cross section and wherein the body is provided with a plurality of removable floor units each of which spans the body in spaced relationship to its upper and lower portions and each of which is moveable individually from a loading end forwardly of the body with cargo placed thereon by way of a mechanical loading system.

Abstract: Apparatus for moving construction material relative to a building frame includes a weighted, pivotable base, an extensible shaft projecting from the base, and a carrier assembly adjustable transversely of and pivotable relative to the shaft and including releasable grippers for holding construction material on the assembly, positioned on the shaft. The base has a non-slip exterior surface and a retractable caster housed therein. The shaft is extensible manually and includes a jacking mechanism for extending same incrementally. A spring on the shaft urges the construction material in contact with the building frame. The shaft is made up of telescoped tubular members, and a piston type seal to trap air is provided for dampening downward movement. A collapsible tripod mechanism provides additional support for the apparatus.

Abstract: A palletizing apparatus for providing container packages in a desired pattern to a pallet, and related method are presented. The apparatus includes a metering conveyor section which uses a traveling endless belt to feed container packages to a lane forming station; a lane forming station having a lane divider which accepts container packages from the metering conveyor section and separates the container packages such that they are fed to a turning station in a plurality of lanes; a turning station having a turning conveyor using a traveling endless plastic belt made up of individual modules shaped to provide longitudinally oriented upper ribs, which conveys the container packages therealong; turning apparatus for turning container packages by approximately 90.degree.

Abstract: A device for aiding in the installation of flat building materials includes a plurality of cross bars interconnecting first and second angles so that a first offset is formed between the first angle and the cross bars in order to accommodate a building material. A third angle is pivotally attached by a hinge to the second angle so that a second offset which is less than the first offset is formed between the third angle and the cross bars. Fasteners secure the first and third angles to a building framework.

Abstract: A bale carrier for carrying first, second and third rows of bales. The first row of bales are positioned on cradles positioned at one side of the carrier while the second row of bales are positioned on cradles at the other side of the carrier. A third row of bales is positioned on the tops of the first and second rows. A hydraulic cylinder having a push-off arm at the upper end thereof is positioned between bales in the first and second rows and is adapted to engage the underside of the bale in the third row of the bales positioned thereon so that the bale in the third row will be moved upwardly and laterally with respect to the bales and will be dumped from the right side of the carrier.

Abstract: A liquid dispensing system, comprising a liquid filled reservoir, a control microprocessor, and a plurality of outlets connected to the reservoir. A filter may be provided between the reservoir and the outlets for filtering the liquid. A valve provided with each outlet controls flow through the outlet. Each valve is individually controlled by the processor so that each outlet can be selected individually. The processor is adapted to receive a signal signifying a demand for liquid from a particular outlet. On reception of the demand, a selected valve is opened responsive to a signal from the processor while other valves remain closed, allowing liquid dispensing through only the selected outlet. An orifice included with each outlet and a predetermined pressure applied to the liquid sensed adjacent the selected outlet controls the rate of flow through the selected outlet. The controller provides a signal to the selected valve at the end of a predetermined time period to close the valve.

Abstract: A simplified wheel-lift mechanism is disclosed. The components of the wheel-lift mechanism are all formed of a plastic material that is corrosion resistant. Further, the wheel-lift mechanism includes a one-piece flexible coupling which reduces the complexity of the system over prior art systems. The one-piece flexible coupling includes a plurality of integrally molded discs connected by a plurality of circumferentially-spaced integrally molded posts. This results in a strong coupling which allows relative angular motion between the ends of the coupling. In a further feature of this invention, a locking key is operable to lock the wheel hub at a particular location. The locking key is selectively released to allow the wheel to be lowered. A unique drive mechanism is also included.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for sealing pallets of fresh produce inside plastic bags and furnishing the interiors of the sealed bags with a modified gaseous atmosphere. Conventional pallets loaded with cooled fresh produce are moved one at a time to an in-line squeeze station. The produce load of a pallet positioned at the squeeze station is squeezed between opposed vertical walls to suspend it above the pallet base as a downwardly movable floorplate descends to allow the deposition of a plastic sheet lining on the pallet. The floorplate is raised to its former level to bear the weight of the loaded pallet as the produce load is unsqueezed and the loaded pallet is moved by conveyor to a bagging station.