Abstract: A lift system comprising a chassis having a frame. The frame including a first extension member and a second extension member opposite thereof. Each of the first extension member and the second extension member being extendable and coupled to the frame. A first scissor support is coupled to the first extension member. A second scissor support is coupled to the second extension member. The first and second scissor supports are configured rigid and extendable from each of the first and second extension members. A platform is coupled to each of the first and second scissor support. The platform is configured to rigidly support an object coupled thereto. An actuator is coupled to the scissor lift. The actuator is configured to move the platform.

Abstract: The invention relates to container carriers that are used in ports and terminals. The invention comprises a method, an apparatus and a computer program product for moving a container carrier. The method comprises the steps of lowering the container, causing to disengage the weight of the container and the spreader off the wheels, tuning the wheels to an orientation suitable for a carousel or skew maneuver, lifting the container and starting a carousel or skew maneuver.

Abstract: A hoisting platform system configured to permit transport of loads to and between floors of a building. The system includes a roof lift having a pair of beams resting on a roof and jutting out therefrom. The roof lift includes a winch coupled to and positioned over the beams. The roof lift includes a mounting structure extending upwardly from the beams with a plurality of cables coupled to and extending from a top region of the mounting structure downwardly at an angle. The cables are fixedly coupled to the roof. The hoisting platform system includes a floor deck disposed below the roof lift. The floor deck is coupled to a floor of the building and extending outwardly therefrom.

Abstract: An adapter tool that is configured to be attached to a loadport of a wafer handling system includes a support member, and first and second guiding elements supported by the support member. The first and second guiding elements are arranged for placing a first wafer magazine and a second wafer magazine, respectively. The adapter tool further includes a housing supported by the support member that is configured to house the first and the second wafer magazines, respectively, and first and second openings in the housing, respectively. The first and second openings are aligned with the first and second guiding elements.

Abstract: A load-supporting apparatus includes a pair of support assemblies each including a base, and a slide, formed with an abutment, mounted to the base for movement between a retracted position and an extended position relative to the base. The support assemblies extend in the same direction, and a linkage assembly interconnects the slides and enables adjustment of the support assemblies toward and away from one another. The abutments of the slides define contact points that engage and stabilize a load relative to the support assemblies, when the load is supported by the slides. The bases of the support assemblies are concurrently mountable releasably to a lift operable for raising and lowering the load-supporting apparatus between raised and lowered positions. The support assemblies are enabled for adjustment toward and away from one another via the linkage assembly, when the bases of the support assemblies are concurrently mounted releasably to the lift.

Abstract: A substrate cassette loading system for docking substrate cassettes to a substrate processing system is provided. A plurality of ports passes substrates into the substrate processing system, wherein a first port of the plurality of ports is vertically above a second port of the plurality of ports. A plurality of cassette loaders provides substrate cassettes to the plurality of ports.

Abstract: An item storage, dispensing, and receiving apparatus includes a frame assembly having a height and length, including at least one section thereof having two opposing side wall sections, wherein each opposing side wall section includes vertically spaced rails disposed on an inner surface thereof such that each rail on a respective side wall section is located opposite a corresponding rail on the opposing side wall section, further wherein the at least one section has an open space fully extending between the vertically spaced rails between the two opposing side wall sections over the height and length, and a conveyance mechanism located within the open space along at least a portion of the length, wherein the conveyance mechanism is movable in a vertical direction in the open space along the height.

Abstract: A transporter for the transport of a large payload across an uneven ground surface is described. The transporter has a body (4); ground contacting transport means below the body, provided with drive means (1,2) to move the body across a ground surface in use; a payload support module (5) to support a payload above the body in use; and a plurality of elongate extendable elevators (6) each having a first articulated joint (17) with the body at a first end and a second articulated joint (13) with the payload support module at a second end.

Abstract: A swivel deck loading and off loading system for flatcars. The system is mounted onto a flatbed railcar and works in conjunction with the railroad loading/off loading area for the safe and efficient loading/off loading of transported equipment, such as trailers, from either side of the rail car. The system uses a structured ramp platform, which is affixed to the top flange of a slew ring bearing. The slew ring bearing lower flange is affixed to a mounting plate. This mounting plate is affixed to the bed of the rail car. The ramp platform swivels freely and is supported on a polyethylene sheet, which is affixed to the bed of the rail car. This arrangement operates such that it allows the platform to freely rotate without binding when under load. A forklift is used to lift the front of trailers so that the trailers can be loaded/unloaded from the flatcar.

Abstract: A second control device of a second substrate processing apparatus determines whether the processing-start expected time for a substrate is equal to or earlier than a processing-start time limit. If the processing-start expected time is equal to or earlier than the processing-start time limit, the second control device allows the second substrate processing apparatus to execute a first schedule and a second schedule that are initial schedules. On the other hand, if the processing-start expected time is later than the processing-start time limit, the second control device changes the initial first schedule and the initial second schedule so that the processing-start expected time becomes equal to or earlier than the processing-start time limit, and the second control device allows the second substrate processing apparatus to execute the first schedule and the second schedule that have been changed.

Abstract: A lift gate for loading and unloading cargo from a vehicle. The lift gate includes a moveable load platform and a ramp. The ramp is coupled to the load platform such that the ramp rotates between various positions at the selection of a user.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided to assist in the loading and carrying of recreational vehicles in a pick-up truck vehicle having a trailer hitch receiver. The apparatus includes a trailer hitch engaging member that partially inserts into the trailer hitch receiver and extends from the trailer hitch receiver. The apparatus also includes a platform member attached to the trailer hitch engaging member and at least one ramp member attached to the rear edge of the platform member. The ramp members may be folded and unfolded for loading and unloading and further include locking mechanisms for locking the ramps in place.

Abstract: A method of, and apparatus for, unwrapping a module of cotton or other fibrous material from a wrapping having at least one layer of plastics-sheet material, the method including the steps of: raising the module to a first, or elevated, position on a lift conveyor or vertically-movable support surface; advancing a plurality of gripper heads, mounted on a support frame, to an advanced position, into gripping engagement with the layer(s) of the sheet material wrapping; lowering the lift conveyor or vertically-movable support surface from the first position towards a second, or lowered, position; and retracting the plurality of gripper heads, to expand the wrapping to progressively release the cotton or other fibrous material from the lower portion to the upper portion of the module.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and vacuum chucks for transferring flexible elongate bodies are disclosed herein. The vacuum chucks include an elongate rigid support, a vertically oriented vacuum surface, a vacuum manifold, and a skirt seal. The systems include an elongate horizontal support structure, a transfer structure, a plurality of vertical linkages, which are operatively attached to the elongate horizontal support structure, and a plurality of vacuum chucks. Each of the plurality of vacuum chucks is operatively attached to a respective one of the plurality of vertical linkages. The methods include suspending an elongate horizontal support structure with a transfer structure, aligning each of a plurality of vacuum chucks with a respective portion of a vertical surface of a flexible elongate body, selectively actuating each of the plurality of vacuum chucks to retain the respective portion of the vertical surface of the flexible elongate body, and lifting the flexible elongate body.

Abstract: A mounting device includes: a main plate on which a wheelchair is to be mounted; a vehicle side plate provided between one end of the main plate and a vehicle body; a ground side plate provided between another end of the main plate and a ground surface; and first to third rotating shafts provided between the vehicle body and the vehicle side plate, and between each of the plates. A slope is configured to include the main plate, the vehicle side plate, the ground side plate and the first to third rotating shafts. The slope is provided so that the main plate is displaced between a low position and a high position by rotating the first to third rotating shafts using a drive mechanism.

Abstract: A storage structure (10) according to the invention comprises a plurality of pallets (14) that is each configured to carry a load such as a car (16), a vertical conveyor (12) including a number of endless chains (26), a support structure (24) that defines storage bays (18) in which the pallets (14) and cars (16) can be stored, a number of brackets (30) on each chain (26), and a sliding mechanism (44,46) on each level, for sliding the pallets (14) between the bays (18) and a position in which the pallet (14) is supported on some of the brackets (30) on the chains (26). The bays (18) are provided on opposing sides of the vertical conveyor (12) and are spaced apart vertically on multiple levels, with equal vertical spacing between the levels. The brackets (30) are spaced apart on the chains (26) by a distance equal to the spacing between the levels of bays (18).

Abstract: Automated warehouses are provided which include a main path, a series of secondary paths perpendicular to the main path along which storage stations are defined, suitable for receiving cargo units. In order to move the cargo units, a main self-propelled vehicle is movable along the main path, and is associated with an auxiliary self-propelled vehicle, movable along the secondary paths. Location data representations are provided along the paths, which identify absolute positions of reference points or ranges within the automated warehouse. Sensors to read the data are mounted on board of the main self-propelled vehicle and the auxiliary self-propelled vehicle. Methods for storing and withdrawing cargo units in automated warehouses are also provided.

Abstract: A container handling system is adapted to move, deploy, and retrieve containers used to manage waste or other materials. The container handling system includes a vehicle and a hoist unit coupled to the vehicle to move therewith and relative to the vehicle. The hoist unit includes a hoist frame and a hoist-frame mover coupled to both the vehicle and the hoist frame to cause the hoist frame to move between a transport position in which the hoist frame is generally horizontal and a use position in which the hoist frame is arranged at an angle relative to the horizontal to facilitate deployment and retrieval of containers.

Abstract: A device for the accumulation and release of products arranged within containers comprises a main accumulation unit with a reception opening and a first delivery opening, the containers being guided between the openings. The device is provided with a second accumulation unit operationally in communication with the main unit and having a second delivery opening. The device uses an actuator for selectively moving containers loaded with products from the main accumulation unit to the second unit, in order to selectively by-pass the first delivery opening and enable containers to be unloaded at the second delivery opening provided in the second accumulation unit.

Abstract: A load port is provided with a table and a plate. The table is arranged on a side of a front wall of an atmospheric transfer unit for transferring a piece of material under processing and is adapted to mount on it a container with the piece of material received in the same. The plate serves to isolate an interior of the atmospheric transfer unit from an exterior of the atmospheric transfer unit. The load port includes an exhaust duct arranged on a rear side of the plate and a fan arranged in a lower extremity of the exhaust duct. By the exhaust duct and the fan, an internal atmosphere of the atmospheric transfer unit can be exhausted into the atmosphere.