Abstract: The invention is directed to a remotely-controlled remote handling arrangnt for use in large-area radioactively-charged cells of a facility for reprocessing irradiated nuclear fuel materials. The remote handling means includes a travelling bridge crane and a manipulator carrying apparatus arranged in a plane below the bridge beam of the crane. To improve the self servicing and internal maintenance thereof, the arrangement is made up of various assemblies. The movable assemblies can be separated from their travelling chassis frames. The drive units for driving the chassis frames stay with assemblies when the latter are removed. Accordingly, chassis frames are left on the bridge beam or guide member without their drive units.

Abstract: In a so-called bell less top type shaft furnace charging installation with rotary and angularly adjustable distribution chute (34) and one or more storage hoppers (18) which are offset with regard to the vertical central furnace axis, there are provided adjustable guide plates (44, 46, 146) in order to correct the path of material falling from the storage hopper(s) (18) on the chute (34).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the high volume loading of produce or other material into a bulk container such as a truck or rail car. The invention includes an endless belt driven across the opening of a hopper, and a driven rotor assembly utilizing a series of semi-flexible loops to urge the material to be loaded into engagement with the belt. The radially disposed portions of these loops provides an essentially continuous yet flexible circumferential surface for contact with the material being moved. The cooperation of these loops with the belt gives the flexibility to accommodate various sizes of material, and yet provide sufficient contact with the material to forcefully and accurately propel it from a discharge chute into the bulk container.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system for automatically loading a transport vehicle with unit loads by automatically moving the unit loads from a predetermined loading position to prescribed positions in the transport vehicle. The present invention uses a loading vehicle which receives loads from a staging device which positions the unit loads in the predetermined loading position. A unit load transfer device transfers the unit loads from the staging device to the loading vehicle. The loading vehicle uses on-board sensors in combination with placement information provided by a staging processor to perform translational and operational movements which are processed by an on-board loading vehicle processor. Unit loads can be deposited throughout the transport vehicle by maintaining a guidance path which is internally generated within the transport vehicle and can be either internally or externally generated outside the transport vehicle.

Abstract: The present invention is a process for removing covering material from a bale of, for example, Oriental tabacco leaves at production line speeds which causes only minimal damage to the underlying bale and only minimal contamination of the underlying bale with particles, fragments and/or fibers of the covering material.

Abstract: An automatic sputtering apparatus for coating semiconductor wafers uses shuttle wafer carriers and elevators to handle wafers within the apparatus. The wafer carrier has a hole in the center. One side of the wafer carrier is opened, thereby forming a throat in the shuttle wafer carrier in the form of the letter C. The elevator has a cantilevered shaft. The upper part of the shaft of the elevator is centered under the wafer while the lowest part of the cantilevered shaft is under a point outside the wafer carrier. The connecting portion of the shaft passes through the throat of the wafer carrier as the wafer is lifted. Since the lifting portion of the shaft is outside the wafer carrier, the shuttle can move with the elevator in the up position. The pedestal for holding the wafer on the elevator is equipped with arms which project upward at an angle to the horizontal, thereby confining the wafer to a pedestal.

Abstract: To expedite loading and unloading of a truck, in particular of a beverage supply truck, the truck is provided with a load carrier which is received by a portal-like frame, surrounding the load carrier in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and open at least at one side. Due to lifting elements, the load carrier can be lifted from the ground into the frame. If the load carrier is lowered to the ground, loading and unloading is facilitated. Moreover, the load carrier can be laterally removed from the frame on a roller conveyor.

Abstract: A treatment furnace having a longitudinally extending charging opening has a transversely extending furnace conveyor having an upstream end in the vicinity of the opening. A loading conveyor has an array of transversely extending approach rollers adjacent the charging opening so that a workpiece to be treated in the furnace can be rolled longitudinally along the approach rollers to a position transversely aligned with the charging opening. A loading apparatus for the furnace has at least two transversely extending arms each having an inner end pivoted inside the furnace about a longitudinal axis at the upstream end of the furnace conveyor and an outer end outside the furnace and an array of longitudinally extending loading rollers rotatable about horizontal and longitudinal axes is carried on the arms.

Abstract: A curbside lift apparatus for transferring wheelchair passengers to and from trains and public transit vehicles using existing pedestrian passenger entryways. Free-standing base wall structures support parallel guide tracks inclined toward the transit vehicle, such that a passenger lift car guided by such tracks and carried by chain and sprocket elevator means between the wall structures advances toward and retracts from the passenger vehicle in being raised and lowered, thereby shortening the crossover distance between vehicle passenger deck and lift car spanned by a hinged bridge on the lift car lowered to the deck. Simplified, enclosed, vandal-resistant construction of the mechanical apparatus and an automatic sequencing control system for the same accessible only to an authorized attendant assure prompt, safe operation of the apparatus under various contingencies.

Abstract: A device for lifting removable tops from vehicles comprises a frame having a longitudinal member attached to a hoist and upper and lower crossbars extending laterally outward therefrom to envelope the vehicle top. Protective pads on each end of the lower crossbar engage the underside of the top near the rear portion and a protective pad at the front of the longitudinal member engages the front topside of the top whereby the removable top is supported in a balanced horizontal position upon application of a lifting force to the longitudinal member.

Abstract: A device for handling and moving generally cylindrical loads, such as cable reels, rolls of paper, sheet metal, and the like, comprising a frame supported by wheels or the like and provided with vertically pivotable, laterally movable telescoping arms for retentive engagement with the load to move said load toward and away from a load-supporting surface of said frame.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to container lift apparatus for a side loading garbage truck. The apparatus includes mechanism for lifting and rotating a container to dump the garbage therein in the open side hopper of the truck. Also, upper and lower retaining assemblies provide for shocking the garbage container during its rotation so that the garbage may be jarred loose from the container. Stabilizing legs support the side hopper to prevent the truck from tipping during the lifting and dumping of the container.

Abstract: A transportable bin-type container having opposed side and end walls and opposed top and bottom walls, the container including a pair of outwardly extending pivot shafts extending from the opposed end walls to define a pivot axis. The container is adapted to be received on a truck bed, or the like, wherein a pair of spaced bearing support members are provided that extend upwardly from the truck bed in substantially parallel relationship, and that are spaced a distance slightly greater than the spacing between the end walls of the container. The bearing support members include an upper surface and an elongated, upwardly facing opening to receive one of the pivot shafts of the container, the opening including a pair of spaced, substantially parallel walls the outermost of which is longer than the innermost to define a transverse stop means for the pivot shafts when the container is being loaded on the truck bed.

Abstract: An overhead apparatus is provided for conveying elements to and from each weaving machine of rows of weaving machines. The apparatus includes a movable rack which is adjustable width-wise and which carries depending actuators with gripping elements at the lower ends for engaging warp beams and cloth beams. A transverse beam is also provided with depending actuators which carry clamping jaws for engaging the heddles for raising and lowering of the heddles.Additional actuators may also be provided to carry nozzles for pneumatic cleaning or lubrication of the weaving machines.

Abstract: A flexible bag-like container holding contents is placed on a setting table. The setting table is provided with an extracting gear and is movable with respect to a housing between a bag placing position and an extracting position. The housing is provided with an extracting gear which is adapted to be engaged with the extracting gear of the setting table when the setting table is moved to the extracting position. Said flexible bag-like container is placed on the setting table when the table is in the bag placing position, and the setting table is moved to the extracting position with the bag thereon so that a portion of the bag near one end thereof is pinched between the extracting gears. A portion of the bag near the other end is severed in response to the movement of the setting table to the extracting position, and then the extracting gears are rotated to move the bag away from the contents.

Abstract: A load vertically stacked on a pallet lowered on a lift fork into a vertically elongated handling zone, enclosed by a guide frame. As the pallet approaches a lower rest position, the load is retained above a support plane on top of rails between which the lift fork tines are vertically movable. The lift fork is withdrawn from the unloaded pallet and reinserted into the handling zone just below the load to raise it through the guide frame during which the load is stabilized on the lift fork.

Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning out material which remains within a confined space, such as silos, hoppers and the like, is disclosed. The apparatus includes a power driven device for impacting the material which is hung up within the silo to loosen it and allow it to fall downwardly of the silo. The device for impacting the material is suspended from and powered by a cable/hose which is reeled onto a drum supported above the material in the silo. The drum is rotatable to payout or rewind the cable/hose in positioning the impacting device in the area of the material to be loosened. The apparatus includes provision for automatically reciprocating the impacting device along the material face and in the event of a material avalanche, releasing the drum to allow the impacting device to fall downwardly with the flowing material.

Abstract: An apparatus for transporting, storing and delivering dry chemicals to a planter apparatus is described comprising a support frame mounted on the bed of a truck and a chemical tank removably mounted thereon. The tank is filled with the chemical at the chemical plant and the chemical is conveyed from the tank to the planter apparatus to fill the chemical hoppers thereon. When the tank becomes empty, the tank is replaced with a full tank.

Abstract: Horizontally and vertically actuable apparatus for loading/unloading workpieces from a work station. The workpiece holder is contained on a driven workpiece holding tower having in one embodiment a laterally floating bearing coupled to an endless drive assembly whereby up/down motion is imparted relative to a controlled rotary motion in one direction. Horizontal motion is controlled via a driven endless notched belt and associated magnetic transducing and counting apparatus for determining relative horizontal position. Alternative embodiments of a driven pivoting roller arm and a driven lead screw are also disclosed for imparting respective vertical and horizontal motion.

Abstract: An elevating platform (1) is attached to the tailgate elevator (2) of an automotive truck by means of a support member (7). The support member is accommodated in a recess (1a) provided in the thick end of the platform and is connected thereto by the horizontal pivot shaft (6) of the platform, against which shaft a lifting arm (4) co-acting with a lifting cylinder (3) engages. The elevating platform (1) may optionally be freely pivotable relative to the support member (7), in which case the platform can be manually swung to a vertical position. This upward swinging of the platform can alternatively be effected by a rocker cylinder device (5, 5a), in which case the platform and support member are joined together by a screw (10). The platform (1) may comprise extruded profiled sections, in which the support member accommodating recess (1a) can be formed by milling.