Abstract: Stacking mechanism includes an accelerating conveyor for launching flat articles edgewise toward a stacking station, a continuously moving conveyor for moving stacks of articles away from the stacking station, two intermittently rotatable rotors and a stationary plate therebetween forming the stacking station, the rotors each having for pegs upstanding from their margins in orthogonal relationship so that a peg of each rotor will engage a stack of articles at the stacking station simultaneously and push the stack from the stacking station onto the discharge conveyor.

Abstract: Highwasy crossing protection equipment which operates warning lights or crossing gates is controlled from the train locomotive which enters into an interchange of messages via a radio link with the controller at the crossing. Communications between the train and the crossing controller is initiated when the locomotive passes a trackside beacon transponder located beyond a safe braking distance from the crossing. The crossing controller transmits a message addressed to the train acknowledging the receipt of the train signal. The interchange of messages can be repeated a plurality of times; each time the minimum time being updated so that traffic flow across the crossing is handled efficiently with minimum interference.

Abstract: An improved double capstan drive allows mechanical amplification for increased power output from stepper motors, servo motors, and other control devices. Tensile members are attached to loads, wrapped around two continuously driven capstan drums, and attach to the stepper motors. The stepper motors, when energized, supply tailing forces to the tensile members which then engage frictionally on the capstan drums. Amplification of forces is achieved. Each wrap provides for slightly less than 2 times amplification of the tailing force with no upper limit to the number of wraps. Elastic bands attach to each wrap of the tensile members approximately midway between the two drums to provide for immediate and responsive release when stepper motors deenergize or reverse direction. Grooves or rings on the periphery of the drums provide tracks for wrapping the tensile member.

Abstract: Rolls of paper are stacked in layers without any relative movement occurring between the surfaces brought into contact, using a transfer table which pivots about a horizontal axis, such that the end directed toward the wrapping machine can be swung vertically into different positions corresponding in number with the number of layers to be wrapped and matched in height with a set of tiered stacking tables, the lowest of which is also the longest; with each stacking table occupied by one layer of the paper rolls, the several layers move forward as one, in vertical alignment, to the point where the top layers run off the ends of the shorter tables together and each roll settles plumb on the roll beneath.

Abstract: An elementary sensor for sensing a force comprises a transducer for transforming a mechanical deformation to an electric signal, and a first strain generative body (20) including a supporting portion (21) and a working portion (23) connected to the transducer so as to allow the transducer to produce a mechanical deformation on the basis of a displacement relative to the supporting portion of the working portion. By further adding a second strain generative body (30) including a fixed portion (31) fixed at least with respect to the direction of a force to be detected, and a displacement portion (33) connected to the working portion of the first strain generative body, wherein the displacement portion is constructed to produce a displacement based on a given external force relative to the fixed portion to transmit the displacement thus produced to the working portion of the first strain generative body, a force detector applicable to a wide variety of measurement ranges can be realized.

Abstract: A new mode of construction for vehicles having a dump body comprises a container (6) which rests on a fixed cradle (5) that serves as a chassis (1). The lower portion of the container (6) is adapted to be interfitted in the cradle due to the fact that the section of the cradle corresponds to the section of the lower portion (10) of the container of smaller dimensions, so as to permit the interfitting of the container in the cradle. The container and the cradle are constituted by volumes having substantially concentric transverse sections such that the lower portion (10) of the container precisely interfits in the cradle.

Abstract: A mixed freight handling system, particularly for limited access areas such as an end-opening trailer at a dock, includes a telescoping conveyor overlapping a fixed conveyor and translatable into the trailer to receive hand liftable articles. A freight manipulator includes an appropriate and changeable freight manipulator tool mounted on an extendible boom and is translatable adjacent and along the conveyors to the dock edge. The tool is extendible into the trailer for engaging and supporting manually nonliftable freight for transfer to or from a freight conveyor extending alongside the path of the manipulator. The telescoping conveyor includes a base section engaged with a track, an inclinable lift section, and a liftable and laterally swingable head section. The manipulator includes a chassis engaged with a track straddling the fixed and telescoping conveyors and has a tunnel formed therethrough, allowing the passage of articles on the conveyors therebeneath.

Abstract: A transponder reader arm assembly is useful with feed cars for automatically feeding livestock in order to place a transponder reader in close proximity to a transponder worn by the livestock. The transponder reader arm assembly hereof includes a pivotally mounted arm connected to a mounting bracket at an inboard end and presenting an outwardly extending distal end having a transponder reader connected thereto. The transponder reader arm includes a biasing spring which serves to center the arm to an outwardly extending orientation. The transponder reader may be mounted directly to the distal end of a single arm or to a connecting linkage between a pair of parallel arms.

Abstract: Automatic collection and set up equipment for chairs, characterized by the fact that it performs automatically all the jobs required in collecting and setting up chairs; markedly reduces the man-hours required to prepare a conference room; and it has an arrangement of many hooks which are able to move up or down at short intervals, in line, on a truck picking up or letting down crossmembers of the chairs and stacking chairs one by one.

Abstract: An apparatus has on each side of a conveyor (12) a rotating conveying segment (16, 17) for lifting packs from the conveyor (12) to form a stack (13) of packs (11). An oscillating holding segment (18, 19) oscillates about a common axis with each conveying segment (16, 17) but at a lesser radial distance from the axis then the conveying segment. The holding segments hold the stack (13), but separate to permit a new pack (11) to be added to the bottom of the stack.

Abstract: A tractor-loader-backhoe is disclosed wherein the loader mechanism is mounted on the frame of the prime mover by a tapered pivot pin or sleeve having a fastener extending entirely through the axis of the pivot pin or sleeve to effect a clamping load operable to seat the tapered pivot pin or sleeve in the conical hub affixed to the frame of the prime mover to assure a firm fastening of the loader mechanism on the prime mover. The backhoe mechanism is provided with a transport lock remotely actuatable from the operator's cab mounted on the prime mover and incorporating a locking pin having a concentric spring mounted thereon to urge the pin out of engagement with the frame whenever the transport lock is disengaged to permit operation of the backhoe mechanism. The boom and dipper members of the backhoe mechanism are constructed from a pair of opposing C-shaped channels having inwardly directed legs centrally located within the boom and dipper members.

Abstract: A dumping trailer and truck for containers has a frame for mounting and keeping firmly a container thereon and an oil pressure cylinder possible to raise the frame inclinedly with its front up so shock-enduring goods such as scrap, grain, etc., can be loaded in a container inclinedly raised up through an opening at the front or unloaded from a container inclinedly raised up through an opening at the rear.

Abstract: A handling vehicle is used for the interchanging or replacement of printed product reels and empty reel cores. The vehicle body has a substantially U-shaped frame in plan. On the frame is a structure (1), into which is integrated a working module (35) with a vertically adjustable manipulating device (4). This working module is movable at right angles to the vehicle body (2) and is arranged in the central area of the vehicle body. Longitudinally spaced from the working module (35) is a laterally movable gripping arm (12) fixed to the structure (1) on the vehicle body (2). The working module (35) is used for the handling and transportation of printing product reels (8) and the gripping arm (12) for handling and transporting empty reel cores (50).

Abstract: A device is provided for tiltably connecting the boom section of a backhoe unit to the dipper section of the backhoe unit. The device includes a first member mountable to the dipper section so as to be rotatable about a first pivot axis transverse to the dipper section. The first member is connectable to the boom cylinder of the backhoe which pivots the first member about the first axis. A second member is provided which is attachable to the boom section of the backhoe. Respective coupling brackets extend from the first and second members to pivotably couple the first and second members and enable them to rotate about a second pivot axis generally orthogonal to the first pivot axis. Fluid cylinder mounting brackets extend from the first and second members adjacent the edges thereof to mount a pair of fluid cylinders in a diagonal crosswise configuration between the first and second members for tilting the first and second members relative to each other about the second axis.

Abstract: Apparatus having a frame and an axle on which are two ground engaging wheels and in between the wheels is a plurality of spaced discs arranged to wedge golf balls between adjacent discs and to discharge those golf balls into a forward basket; half of the discs and wheels being in one of two separately rotatable sections mounted on the same axle, the wheels being slightly larger in diameter than the ball engaging discs and capable of functioning as load supporting wheels located at the ends of the axle, but inside the frame.

Abstract: A roll-over device includes a roll-over frame which pivots about a horizontal axis and includes a counterweight mounted at the end of a counterweight beam, a support plate and a plurality of roller sections, each with a plurality of standard conveyer rollers. Each roller sections is spring-mounted on the support plate. A pair of part clamping mechanisms are mounted on the support plate. Each part clamping mechanism includes a pair of pneumatic cylinders which are bolted to the support plate. The cylinder rods are attached to opposite ends of a clamp bar. Upon actuation of the clamping mechanism the part to be clamped moves the roller sections towards the support plate until the part engages an abutment member which projects from the support plate so that most of the clamping force is absorbed by the abutment member.

Abstract: A stackable roll-off box comprises a generally rectangular bin having first and second opposing sides, first and second ends, and a bottom. Wheels are mounted to the bottom of the bin at the four corner regions thereof, the wheels being positioned for enabling the roll-off box to be rolled in a longitudinal direction. First and second rollers, which are smaller in diameter than the wheels, are mounted to bottom regions of the bin adjacent to one of its ends, each of the rollers being positioned outboard of a corresponding wheel and directly beneath an associated one of the bin sides. The rollers are mounted so that their peripheries are above the peripheries of the wheels. Plates are fixed to each side of the bin outboard of the rollers, the plates extending downwardly below lower regions of the rollers. An upwardly-opening roller-receiving recess is provided in upper regions of each of the bin sides above the rollers, the recesses being ramp shaped at one end.

Abstract: An apparatus for inputting commodity data including a bar code scanner having a reading window on a front surface thereof, a keyboard for inputting the commodity data which keyboard is supported at an upper portion of the bar code scanner, a cashier's display and a supporting member for rotatably supporting the bar code scanner in such a manner that the bar code scanner can be rotated about a horizontal pivotal axis. The bar code scanner can be rotated according to the kind of a commodity or the height of a cashier. Accordingly, a bar code of the commodity can be placed to a laser beam scanning area by the cashier in a natural posture, and can be read by the bar code scanner reliably and easily.

Abstract: An object handling device successively transfers objects such as semiconductor wafers. The object handling device includes first and second collapsible arm units having hands for holding objects, a first drive shaft for selectively extending and contracting the first arm unit, a second drive shaft for selectively extending and contracting the second arm unit, a third drive shaft for turning the first and second arm units while keeping the first and second arm units in a relative positional relationship, the first, second, and third drive shafts being disposed coaxially with each other, and an actuator mechanism for angularly moving the first, second, and third drive shafts about their own axes independently of each other.

Abstract: A stacking apparatus of the type which can be connected to a vehicle having a hydraulic system is disclosed comprising a base, a telescope arm support pivotably attached to the base in a manner to allow 360.degree. rotation of the telescoping arm support, and a telescope arm pivotably attached at one end to the telescope arm support in a manner to allow vertical movement of an opposite end of the arm. A load gripping mechanism having at least two gripping plates is attached to the opposite end of the telescope arm. First hydraulic structure are attached to the gripping plates for moving the plates together to grasp an object and for moving the plates apart to release the object and attachment structure are provided for pivotably attaching the support plates to the telescope arm in a manner to permit pivotable movement of the plates in first and second vertical planes which intersect at right angles.