Abstract: A device for attachment to the rear of a pickup truck as a replacement for the rear bumper includes a transverse frame member which is pivotally mounted on brackets carried on the chassis. The frame member carries a pair of arms each of which is pivoted at an outer end of the frame member and extends across the frame member in a folded position with an outer stub portion extending outwardly and around the end of the frame member to define ends of the bumper. Hydraulic rams can pivot the frame member about a horizontal axis and can pivot the arms about vertical axes at the outer ends of the frame member. Flanges extending from the rear face of the frame member confine and receive the arms and define a compartment for a hitch pin.

Abstract: An automated assembly facility includes a random storage facility for each assembly line conveyor and associated series of assembly stations. The assembly line conveyor is located between the random storage facility and the series of assembly stations. A first conveyor is coupled between plural sources of carriers and the random storage facility. The random storage facility is coupled to the assembly stations by a transfer conveyor so that carriers can be transferred directly from random storage to an appropriate assembly station, obviating the need for the assembly line conveyor to cooperate in this transfer. The layout leaves the assembly station accessible from three sides. Efficient space use is achieved by providing one access aisle for each pair of assembly lines; random storage facilities of two lines are directly adjacent each other.

Abstract: A pusher assembly for use with a signature stacker pushes a stack of signatures from the stacker. The pusher assembly includes a pusher bar, a linkage for moving the pusher bar, and a controller for adjusting the length of travel of the pusher bar. The pusher bar is supported for reciprocating movement along a length of travel for engaging the stack of signatures. The linkage is connected to an extendible fluid cylinder which moves the linkage upon actuation to push the stack of signatures from the stacker. The controller actuates the fluid cylinder and is adjustable as a function of signature width for pushing various width stacks from the stacker.

Abstract: An automatic parts handling apparatus feeds a stack of accumulated pallets from a delivery apparatus to a separator apparatus that separates the lowermost pallet from the stack and conveys it to a pallet positioning apparatus whereat parts on such pallet are removed. An accumulating lifter apparatus accumulates a stack of such emptied pallets and thereafter feeds then to a storage apparatus for temporary storage thereof. The stack of pallets thus stored is fed to a discharge lifter apparatus and is elevated thereby to the deliver apparatus for further use.

Abstract: The apparatus comprises a work platform vertically movable within a vessel and capable of rotating about the vertical axis of the vessel. The work platform is provided with two storage areas for pallets of bricks, and an automatic device for manipulating and laying the bricks. The apparatus also includes a palletholder housing comprising at least two compartments for respectively receiving a full pallet and an empty pallet, a basket for carrying the housing, and lifting devices for raising and lowering the basket, together with the pallet-holder housing to the level of the platform and for releasing the pallet-holder housing from the basket. The apparatus is particularly well suited for repairing the refractory lining of a metallurigical convertor.

Abstract: A tractor-implement combination comprising a tractor frame supported on front and rear wheels and having left and right side plate means has a horizontal tube structure extending through the side plate means to oppositely, transversely spaced open ends. A transverse beam is slidably mounted within the tube and has opposite end portions projecting transversely outwardly of the open ends of the tube. A pair of implement supports detachably secured to said end portions and an implement is carried on the implement supports.

Abstract: A transport cart for material carriers such as bobbins or drums having threads or other elongated material wound thereon, has a cart frame with wheels and a tilting frame journalled in said cart frame. The tilting frame carries two parallel skids for supporting a material carrier on its rollers. The tilting frame is tiltable between a first position in which the skids extend horizontally for loading a material carrier onto the cart, and a second position in which the skids extend vertically for unloading a material carrier, or vice versa.

Abstract: A delivery device of piled corrugated fiberboard boxes is provided, which comprises a hopper for holding therein corrugated fiberboard boxes in a piled mode, a front sheet receiver and a rear sheet receiver held at a position higher than is the front sheet receiver and having an inclined guide surface whose height is adjustable, both the receivers being disposed in a lower portion inside the hopper, a kicker movable back and forth on and along the inclined guide surface for kicking out obliquely the upper and lower sheet end faces of a lowermost corrugated fiberboard box, and upper and lower feed rolls disposed on the send-out side of the front sheet receiver, whereby deformation of the lowermost corrugated fiberboard can be amended and prevented.

Abstract: An improved signature stacking apparatus includes an assembly which feeds signatures across a stack of signatures toward a register surface. As the signatures are moving toward the register surface, they are engaged by a precompressor assembly which applies a force to a leading end portion at each of the signatures in turn to urge the signature forwardly against the register surface and to press the leading end portion of each signature downwardly against other signatures in the stack of signatures. The precompressor assembly incudes a pair of arcuate paddles which extend outwardly from a rotatable hub. The speed of rotation of the hub is such that outer side surface areas of the paddles are moving at a speed which is greater than the speed of movement of the leading end portion of the signatures. Therefore, upon engagement of an outer side surface area of a paddle with a signature, the signature is accelerated toward the register surface.

Abstract: Pipe handling systems are generally somewhat bulky, relying on a plurality of hydraulic cylinders and complicated linkages. A relatively simple, compact pipe handling apparatus for use on a derrick of the type which can be rotated between the horizontal and the vertical includes an elongated track for mounting on one side of the derrick, a carriage slidably mounted on the track, three swing arms connected end-to-end, the first arm being connected to a rotary actuator mounted on the carriage, rotation around an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the derrick, a second rotary actuator between the first and second swing arms for rotating the second and third swing arms around an axis parallel to and spaced apart from the longitudinal axis of the derrick, a third rotary actuator for rotating the third swing arm, which carries a pair of jaw assemblies.

Abstract: Silage distributor apparatus has an upper annular stationary member disposed about a flowing silage stream, a silage distributing chute, and a lower annular member rotatably mounted to the upper annular member for disposing the chute in the path of the flowing silage stream. A drive track in the form of a row of apertures is defined on the lower annular member and a drive sprocket is rotatably mounted on the upper annular member and disposed in driving relation with the drive track. A drive motor is removably mounted on the upper annular member and has a rotary output shaft which when the motor is mounted on the upper member is drivingly interengaged with the drive sprocket and when the motor is dismounted therefrom becomes disengaged from the drive sprocket. A sensor is connected to the motor for removal with it and has a contact finger disposed across the path of a row of pins projecting from the lower annular member.

Abstract: Apparatus (24) for feeding electrical connectors from slide packs (SP), to a pick and place robot (2), comprises an elevator (44) which is raised to pick the lowermost pack (SP') from a stack of packs (SP) in a magazine (36). The elevator (44) is then lowered into a connector feed position in which a ram (54) on a flexible chain (52) is run step by step through the pack (SP') on the elevator (44) to place each connector (C) in the pack (SP'), in turn, at a pick-up station (26) to be picked up by the robot (2). When the pack (SP') on the elevator (44) has been emptied of connectors (C), the elevator (44) is raised and the ram (54) is advanced in one stroke beneath pack (SP') on the elevator (44) and a latch (56) on the ram (54) rises to engage the end of the empty pack (SP') nearest to the pick-up station (26). The ram (54) is then retracted, in one stroke, to eject the empty pack (SP') from the apparatus (24).

Abstract: A carpenter's elevator and conveyor which includes a pair of spaced framework elements transversely interconnected by braces. An elongated material supporting plate extends between the framework elements over the braces and is joined at one longitudinal edge to a guidance plate which extends at an acute angle to the plane of the material supporting plate. An elongated chain channel is positioned centrally in the material supporting plate, and extends parallel to the guidance plate. An endless flexible conveyor has an upper reach lying in the chain channel and carries a plurality of spaced material pusher flights. A motor is drivingly connected to the conveyor and is mounted between the spaced framework elements, and horizontally spaced from one end of the material supporting plate. A motor switch plate is mounted between the motor and material supporting plate, and a motor guard bar extends between the framework elements on the opposite side of the motor from the switch plate.

Abstract: In a climbing four-wheel dolly for moving a load from one elevation to another, a pair of box-channel tracks form a ramp in which sliding door track rollers, mounted on the axle support adjacent the respective dolly wheel channel track, guidingly support the dolly. The dolly is moved up or down the tracks by a winch and pulley arrangement having a cable connected with a tongue at one end of the dolly.

Abstract: A pneumatic hoist is provided for lifting cabinets, ceiling frames, and the like. The hoist includes a tripod base and manual structure for an initial height adjustment.

Abstract: A distribution apparatus for the distribution of piece goods to different stations which is equipped with a transporting system for the pick-up and delivery of the piece good and with a chassis adapted to be driven; in order to enable the loading and unloading of differently constructed stations, the transporting system of the distribution apparatus includes a roller or chain type conveyor and a loading fork arranged coaxially thereto, whereby the loading fork is mounted on a chassis so as to be liftable and lowerable and both the conveyor and loading fork are adapted to be driven for loading and unloading.

Abstract: A pipe handling machine having vertical tracks mounted on a rotatable base. A carriage is mounted on the vertical tracks for vertical movement. A multisection telescoping boom is mounted on the carriage, and a pipe-engaging head is mounted on the end of the boom. The base may be carried on a movable trolley, which engages a set of tracks. The tracks run across the rig floor, from well center to a setback area. A second set of tracks may run across the rig floor, transverse to the first set.

Abstract: A robotic system includes two joints moving a common load-bearing member along a path for positioning a load. Each joint includes a linear electric motor and a feedback loop, the latter driving the motor accurately in response to a commanded position signal, and a true position signal provided by sensor apparatus disposed alongside a track of each linear motor. Cross-coupling circuitry connects with the sensor apparatus of each joint to produce signals representing differences in positional error and in speed of the joints. The signals are injected into the feedback loops of the joints to effect a shift of power between the joints to synchronize their travel. Window comparator circuitry is employed for introduction of variable gains to the feedback loops for values of positional error and velocity which are greater than reference values in a window.

Abstract: Apparatus for assembling products such as bagged particulate material, into a multi-tiered stack upon a pallet, is designed to substantially eliminate relative movement between the articles and article supporting surfaces of the apparatus during the stacking operation. The articles are arranged into a tier upon an air table, then transferred to an elevator consisting of spaced parallel rollers. The elevator is then raised to a location above a set of retractable tines which are then projected beneath the elevator into the spaces between the rollers to receive the tier of articles as the elevator is lowered. The elevator then brings a second tier of articles to a location just below the extended tines which are then retracted to drop the tier supported on the tines onto the tier supported on the elevator, which is then raised above the tines. The tines are then reinserted beneath the elevator to receive the two stacked tiers and this cycle is repeated until the stack is complete.

Abstract: A robotic control arm apparatus or control arm for controlling the position of a control point associated with a controlled element within a reference plane and with respect to two reference points in a work space. The control arm assembly includes at least four link members mutually coupled in series to form a closed loop linkage, each of the link members being coupled about a pivot axis at each end. The apparatus may include a set of roller assemblies affixed to the control arm assembly, each roller assembly including a roller element and an endless belt disposed about the roller elements for driving the controlled element.