Abstract: A carrier transfer apparatus for automatically unloading and/or loading semiconductor device packages from and/or to printed circuit boards loaded into a carrier. The apparatus includes a housing, an input portion, an elevator portion and an output portion.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically organizing a variable number of lots into a batch which can be treated with high efficiency in a semiconductor wafer manufacturing line is installed for changing the number of lots organized into a batch between preceding and succeeding processes when such change is required.

Abstract: A transport element (1) for transporting or conveying flat goods, such as sheet goods like paper in photocopy machines and printers, includes an inner support member (2) that can be connected to an axle or shaft, and an outer ring member (14) of a rubber-elastic material that at least partially surrounds and is connected in a form-locking manner to the support member (2). The rubber-elastic material has a greater elasticity than the material of the support member (2). The ring member (4) has an outer contact surface (5) for frictionally gripping and transporting the flat goods. The support member (2) has a plurality of grooves (7) distributed around an outer circumferential surface (6) thereof. The rubber-elastic material of the ring member (4) form-lockingly engages the grooves (7). The grooves (7) are open at least toward the outer circumferential surface (6) with a respective opening width (16) that spans an angle .alpha. of at most 5.degree., and are undercut radially inwardly below the openings.

Abstract: In an electric steering actuator comprising an electric motor having a hollow output shaft, a steering shaft passed through the hollow center of the output shaft of the electric motor, and a ball-screw mechanism provided between the output shaft and the steering shaft for converting the rotary movement of the output shaft into a longitudinal movement of the steering shaft. The ball-screw mechanism comprises a threaded section of the steering shaft, and a nut member which threadably engages with the threaded section of the steering shaft via steel balls, and is secured to the output shaft of the electric motor via a serration coupling or the like which achieves an axially free but rotatively fast coupling between the two parts. Thus, the overall axial dimension of the actuator can be reduced, and the step of joining these two parts is significantly simplified in terms of both effort and time while the number of component parts is also reduced.

Abstract: The invention comprises a panel lift apparatus for detachably mounting to a conventional drywall lifter for raising a drywall panel, from immediately adjacent the ground, to the lifting arms of the lifter for transfer of the panel to the lifting arms of the lifter. The apparatus has a main frame for attachment to the main frame of the lifter, with a pivotally mounted channel member pivotally mounted for pivoting adjacent the lifter for storage, and pivoted to a spaced away position for operation. The channel member has a lifting plate for movement down along the channel to a position immediately adjacent the ground for receiving a drywall panel thereon. A cable is attached to the lifting plate at its one end and a drum at its other end and a wheel is mounted to the drum to rotate the drum to wind the cable onto the drum to raise the lifting plate in the channel to thereby raise the panel thereon to the lifting arms of the lifter.

Abstract: In an electric steering actuator comprising an electric motor having a hollow output shaft, a steering shaft passed through the hollow center of the output shaft of the electric motor, and a ball-screw mechanism provided between the output shaft and the steering shaft for converting the rotary movement of the output shaft into a longitudinal movement of the steering shaft, a rotation preventing mechanism is provided for preventing the rotation of the steering shaft around its axial line. The rotation preventing mechanism comprises a guide pin extending in the casing in parallel with the axial line of the steering shaft, and a fork member engaging the guide pin between two prongs thereof. Because the rotation preventing mechanism can be formed by using a guide pin made of a stock steel or other metallic member, such as a cold finished steel bar, the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

Abstract: A lane distribution apparatus for distribution of articles in a single lane to multiple lanes. A rocker plate and associated rocker arms are used to shift simultaneously lanes both upstream and downstream of a distribution point. The apparatus and process permits lane changes in a short period of time, which minimizes the risk of product stoppage and maximizes the speed with which products can be conveyed.

Abstract: A dispensing bucket apparatus that removably connects to a loader vehicle. The apparatus is a bucket that is adapted to receive and hold a flowable material and has an exit opening in its front end that is selectively opened and closed by a gate. The position of the gate may be controlled by the user from within the loader vehicle to control the flow and flow rate of the flowable material from the bucket. The side walls of the bucket converge toward the front of the bucket and form a funnel that directs the flowable material to the exit opening. The construction of the apparatus is such that the user can view the pour at all times and, thereby, reduce spillage and waste. An alternate embodiment includes a tilting mechanism that provides for attachment of the bucket to a forklift and for tilting of the bucket. A removable chute allows the pour opening to be extended further from the front of the bucket.

Abstract: A reversible drive system for a conveyor includes a belt, a drive wheel and an idler wheel, where the drive wheel and the idler wheel are mounted for rotation on spaced apart axes to define a nip between the drive wheel and the idler wheel, with the belt being pulled through the nip by the rotation of the drive wheel. Also included is a support on which the drive wheel is mounted, the support being mounted to enable a rocking motion, where rocking the support to cause the support to rotate in a first arcuate direction moves the drive wheel and the idler wheel closer to each other, thereby increasing the pinching on the belt passing through the nip. Increased tension on the belt causes rocking of the support which moves the drive wheel and the idler wheel closer to each other to increase the pinch on the belt.

Abstract: The device according to the present invention is primarily intended to be used for handling and conveyance of newspapers and magazines. The clamping devices of the conveyor (4) are designed as clamps, where the clamp is closed by spring loading and can be opened by actuating one of the two parts of the clamp. The arm is actuated by cams (7, 7A) which are mounted at the periphery of a wheel (8) which rotates synchronously with the conveyor. The cams are movable and a control system decides if each cam shall be in a position where it actuates or does not actuate the corresponding clamp. In a preferred embodiment of the invention the clamp and the device are symmetric having a plane of symmetry in the middle of the conveyor and in its direction of movement.

Abstract: A method for rotating and orienting cans in a multipack configuration pushes the cans off a conveyor belt to a scanning and rotating stations where the cans are rotated until the sensors detect that the cans are facing the correct direction. The cans are then shifted back to the conveyor belt. This is useful to prevent unintentional reading of e.g. bar codes on a single item.

Abstract: An automatic system for depalletizing or destacking items, containers or crates. The automatic depalletizing system includes an electronically controlled, automated, lift conveyor having a specialized pick mechanism at its free end, and having a self-contained hydraulic power supply system. The conveyor sequentially lifts pre-stacked crates, containers or items and places them in a single-file on a rotating conveyor automatically (hands free operation or individually controlled).

Abstract: Apparatus for automatically removing bags from a supply conveyor and stacking a predetermined number of bags upon raised pins. The stacks are then placed on a stack transfer assembly that is then moved into a transfer station wherein the stacks are placed on wickets. An endless accumulator conveyor is arranged to deliver the wickets into the transfer station in timed relation with the movement of the transfer assembly between stations.

Abstract: Hauling vehicles, fixtures and methods for loading heavy cargo are provided by this invention. The fixture enables such cargo to be loaded on a trailer, boat or railway with a minimum "effective width". Such fixtures include a support frame and an arm swively mounted to the support frame for enabling the cargo to be tilted from a first loading position to a second transporting position to reduce the degree to which the cargo extends beyond the width of the trailer. Transportation costs are significantly reduced through the use of this invention.

Abstract: An improved hydraulic drive mechanism for a vertical conveyor. The conveyor comprises a pair of upright supports or columns and a carriage to support a load or cargo is guided for vertical movement on the columns. The drive mechanism includes a pair of first hydraulic cylinder units and a pair of second hydraulic cylinder units that preferably have twice the length of the first cylinder units. The first or shorter cylinder units are connected between a movable cross beam and the carriage, while the second cylinder units are connected between the movable beam and the upper end of the frame. At a lower level both the first and second cylinder units are in an extended condition, while at an upper level both cylinder units are retracted.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the classification of solid particles, in particular powdery catalytic components for the polymerization of olefins, which comprises sending solid particles suspended in a transporting gas flow through a screening device. Immediately upstream to the screening device there is an auxiliary fluidized bed classifier, in which the top of the bed is at the level of the lower part of the screening device.

Abstract: A component mounting device adapted to mount components such IC or the like on a printed circuit board that includes replaceable pick up nozzles to accommodate different types of components to be picked up. A sensing station is provided that permits the pick up nozzle to be verified as the correct one. The same sensing station is employed to sense both the orientation of a component that is picked up and also whether the component is correctly oriented for deposit. This is done by measuring projected lengths in a plane with a photo sensitive device and by making calculations in accordance with trigonometric relationships.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for palletizing rectangular packages received in random size and weight. A "corner"-based modeling system is used to assist in evaluating possible placements of packages accumulated on a line conveyor, and a placement evaluation process is used to select a "best" package placement based on heuristic analysis. Statistically-based measurement and comparison is used to assist in the evaluation process.

Abstract: A machine for conveying, discharging and stacking sheets such as carton blanks is disclosed in which the velocity of the blanks is substantially reduced as they are discharged from the conveyor into the stacking area.

Abstract: An automatic component arranging apparatus is disclosed including a component containing unit for containing at least one type of component that is classified by type in at least one component box; a component supply unit for selectively drawing out the component box of the component containing unit, to thereby supply the component to another portion; a tray inducing unit for externally receiving an empty tray to thereby internally move it; and a component arranging unit for receiving the component supplied by the component supply unit, to thereby arrange it on the empty tray delivered by the tray inducing unit at a predetermined interval.