Abstract: A vehicle restraint for preventing a vehicle, such as a truck, from pulling away from the loading dock during a loading operation. The vehicle restraint includes a frame or supporting structure which is mounted on the generally horizontal driveway in front of the loading dock, and a parallelogram linkage inerconnects the frame and a hook. The parallelogram linkage includes two pair of generally parallel links and the lower ends of both pairs of links are mounted for movement on the frame in a direction toward and away from the dock, while the upper ends of the links are pivotally connected to the hook. A reciprocating drive mechanism interconnects the frame and the linkage, and by moving the lower ends of the links in a direction toward the loading dock, the hook will be moved upwardly in a vertical path to engage an abutment on the rear end of the truck to prevent the truck from accidentally moving away from the loading dock.

Abstract: A container suitable for dispensing compositions, particularly dental preparations, has a dispensing tube (14) which constitutes a separate part and is supported for pivotal movement about a pivot axis extending transversely to the longitudinal axis (18) of the container. It is thereby possible to pivot the tube (14) to the operative position most favourable for the respective application, while there is no risk of a cross-sectional constriction or even breakage which might occur on bending. Furthermore, a closing position may be provided in which a bearing member (15) integrally formed with the tube (14) interrupts communication between the tube (14) and the container compartment (10).

Abstract: A mechanism for use on a boom-type vehicle includes load lifting forks carried by a low profile twist-resistant carriage which is one link in a low profile parallelogram linkage attached to a fly section of the boom and maintained level in all positions of the boom by a slave cylinder connected between the boom and a slave link which constitutes a member of the parallelogram linkage. The mechanism can be adjusted to many positions while automatically maintaining the relative position of the forks with respect to the vehicle frame for any boom angle. The mechanism can be adjusted to provide a long reach over or under obstructions in order to remove or place a load. It may also engage loads below ground level. Load pick-up or placement can be performed in confined areas which are unreachable by conventional forklift trucks.

Abstract: A four-axis robot has three independent linear motions and one rotational component. The robot is disposed between a pair of confronting storage units and is operable to store and retrieve articles in and from them. The robot comprises a carrier disposed half-way between the two storage units for travel parallel to the units. A head is supported from the carriage and in turn supports an arm for horizontal extension and retraction. The head can be both elevated and lowered along, as well as rotated about, a vertical axis. The head and arm are capable of 180.degree. rotary motion about the vertical axis to access the two storage units. Specific rotational control of the head is provided by a unique actuating mechanism with associated adjustable stops. The mechanism includes a linearly movable gear rack operated by a power cylinder and meshing with a pinion concentric with the vertical axis. The pinion is mounted on the bearing portions of a ball spline shaft and bearing coupling.

Abstract: A liquid soap dispensing system includes a molded plastic housing adapted to receive a disposable refill cartridge containing liquid soap. Rails on the housing engage in recesses on the cartridge to guide vertical movement of the cartridge to its mounted use position, in which position it is latched by a latch member pivotally carried by the housing and engageable with the outlet neck of the cartridge. The neck carries a compressible discharge nipple engageable by a pump member actuated by a handle for discharging soap. Bias means holds the latch means in its latched condition and the pump member and handle in their normal rest positions. The dispenser includes a minimal number of parts which can be assembled without the use of fasteners. A key is provided for releasing the latch member to permit removal of a spent cartridge.

Abstract: An apparatus for apportioning powdered material into each of a series of containers is disclosed which includes a powdered material hopper having a dispensing opening and a rotatable filling head contiguous to the dispensing opening. The rotatable filling head includes a plurality of radially situated chambers each having an open outer end for displacement between the material hopper and the series of containers. A conventional pneumatic source is provided for assisting the filling and emptying of the chambers during the apportioning process. Within each chamber, the volume of powdered material received is defined by a piston having a porous surface. The piston engages a threaded stem longitudinally fixed in position yet rotatable about its longitudinal axis to effect displacement of the piston head and support longitudinally within the chamber. A seal is provided at the radially inner end of the threaded stem to ensure positive pneumatic action through the porous piston surface.

Abstract: A cantilevered, soft landing boat loading system for semiconductor processing furnaces includes an alignment mechanism, a paddle, and a boat loader. The alignment mechanism includes five handles for five degrees of freedom. The boat loader is supported from a vertical plane.

Abstract: An earth moving implement which, in use, is mounted on a boom which is attached to an excavating or other vehicle, comprises a bucket mounted on a boom of a vehicle, at least one loading fork, a mounting link secured to the bucket for movement between a lower extreme position, and an upper position, the link having first and second abutments, the loading fork being pivotally mounted on the mounting link for movement between an "in use" position when the mounting link is in its lower extreme position, and the fork extends generally forwardly of the bucket, and a part of the fork is in engagement with the first abutment to prevent movement of fork towards the bucket, and a stowed position when the mounting link is is an upper position and a further part of the fork is in engagement with the second abutment of the mounting link to prevent further pivotal movement of the fork relative to the mounting link.

Abstract: An excavator bucket of improved versatility is characterized by having gripper means to enable the bucket to grip an object to be lifted and also by being mounted so that it is capable of pivotal movement about two independent axes which are substantially at right angles to each other.

Abstract: The invention is embodied in a manipulator for supporting and transmitting movement to a tool or the like comprising a base 10, a movable tripod tip 16 or plate 60 spaced from the base to which a tool may be attached, an elongated central spine 12, one end of which is attached to the tripod tip and the other pivotally mounted on the base, variable tension applying means comprising at least three cables 18 extending from the tripod tip to the base in a tripod configuration, and means 22, 24 at the base to continuously vary the length of each cable to vary its length.

Abstract: An elevating conveyor which operates as a pocket elevator to transfer granular, powdered or like material from a loading station through an elevating section to a discharge zone wherein an endless conveyor belt cooperates with a further conveyor part. The belt has transverse bars on its surface preferably located between belt side walls and facing the further conveyor part. The height of the bars is adjusted to have a clearance between it and the further conveyor part which corresponds to between 1 and 3 times the maximum particle size of the material being conveyed and preferably being above 1.5 times the maximum particle size.

Abstract: In a pantograph load handling device having work arms formed of a parallelogram linkage, an improved load cylinder arrangement is provided comprising a flexible diaphragm disposed in a loose support arrangement to afford vertical movement of the load in a more accurate and inexpensive operation than heretofore known.

Abstract: In a seed meter in which a seed disk is rotatably mounted within a housing, a method and apparatus are provided for positioning the seed disk within the housing so that the peripheral portion of the seed disk is located a desired, relatively uniform distance from an adjacent peripheral portion of the housing. A shaft having a threaded outer portion is rotatably mounted within the housing and a hub having a threaded aperture therein is positioned on and turned relative to the threaded outer portion of the shaft to begin advancing the threaded aperture onto the shaft. The seed disk is then mounted on the hub, following which rotation of the hub relative to the shaft is continued in a direction to advance the hub along the shaft toward the housing until a gap of desired size exists between the peripheral portion of the seed disk and the peripheral portion of the housing.

Abstract: A protection arrangement for industrial robotics and other applications reacts to torsion moments and pressure forces in addition to bending moments and traction forces acting upon the flange of the industrial robotics. In the protection arrangement, a protection flange (1) is pulled or held in compression against pins (6) arranged on a divided circle with the tie rod (2) by means of springs (3). On the left end of the tie rod (2) an activating element (10) has been arranged, pressed against a sliding member (12) and/or activating levers (17) by means of spring (11). Upon shifting the activating element (10), a switch (13) is activated for deactivating the industrial robots. This protection arrangement provides mechanical protection for the gripper in addition to the conventional fuse electrical protection for the activating drives.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for supplying bar-like members such as cigarettes and filter plugs, in which a bar-like member containing box is lifted at a supplying position which supports the containing box in an inverted condition; and a pusher is operated to feed the bar-like members instead of a conventional hopper construction which stores bar-like members and allows them to drop from same, whereby the speed of the supplying operation is increased and a smooth supplying operation is assured without causing disordered orientation of the bar-like members.

Abstract: A barge tipper comprises a cylindrical floating apparatus 10 defining a chamber 18 into which a barge 28 can be floated. End doors 16 at either end of the apparatus 10 are closed and the barge 28 is clamped in position by hydraulically operated clamps 20. Water is pumped from the chamber 18 to ballast tanks 12 and 14, causing the apparatus to rotate and thus tipping the barge 28. The contents of the barge 28 flow into a first conveyor 22 and are delivered to a second circumferential conveyor 24 which feeds the material to an external conveyor 26.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for selectively positioning a tool carried by a vehicle moving on the perforated plate of a bank of tubes, said device being composed of a vehicle comprising transfer members mounted to slide in a central body and comprising on either side thereof jacks extending at right angles to the planes in which said members move and of which the mobile rods of said jacks comprise at their free end positioning fingers, which vehicle is connected by swivel joint means to an articulated telescopic arm comprising means for fixation to the opening giving access to the enclosure, which arm maintains the vehicle, in the course of its displacements in the enclosure, permanently in contact with said perforated plate. The invention is more particularly applicable to the maintenance of apparatus comprising banks of tubes, in particular steam generators of nuclear power stations.

Abstract: A container orienting apparatus suitable for flasks and other non-cylindrical containers comprising a pair of continuously moving counter-rotating parallel belts for engaging opposite sides of the finish and/or neck of each container and for rotating each container a predetermined amount by changing the relative speeds of the belts for a predetermined time period. The amount of rotation necessary to rotate each container to a common second orientation is determined by a programmable controller responsive to orientation sensors which determine which one of a number of discrete first orientations each container is in prior to engagement by the belts. The controller contains in memory a plurality of predetermined instruction sets corresponding to the various possible container orientations and the amount of rotation which is required to achieve a predetermined common second orientation.

Abstract: The cover arrangement for covering the balustrade sill or base of a transportion apparatus, such as an escalator of moving walkway equipped with a self-supporting vertically disposed balustrade carrier is elastically fixed to the bottom or sub-structure of the balustrade sill or base by means of pairwise arranged, self-adhesive interlocking strips or bands. For this type of fixing, neither screws or bolts nor welding work is required to be performed upon the cover arrangement, so that no screw or bolt heads are visible and there can be used for the covers or panels of the cover arrangement, without any additional expenditure, the most varied materials and surface properties.

Abstract: A remote control robot vehicle which includes at least two pairs of wheels, at least one pair of which is driven, said pairs of wheels being mounted on a support secured to the vehicle which supports are each mounted for pivotal movement about a generally horizontal axis extending longitudinally of the vehicle, those wheels on the same side of the vehicle being capable of being driven synchronously.