Abstract: A system can be formed for automatically loading and unloading items such as ICs into and from containers of different types having various configurations by providing a plurality of base units each of the same structure but having different item-handling modules attached thereto. The base units have a unistructurally cast planar top plate with a horizontal top surface, an arm which is horizontally supported above the top plate and a driving assembly which serves to move the arm in a horizontal first direction while the arm remains extended in a horizontal second direction perpendicular to the first direction. A holder member is mounted to the arm and slidable therealong in the second direction. A spline shaft is rotatably supported by the top plate that extends in the first direction. A belt is attached to the holder member on the arm and engages with the spline shaft in a power-communication relationship.

Abstract: A road sweeper which includes a hopper between a cab and a centrifugal separator, a pair of relatively telescopically extendable and retractable members, one member of each pair being pivoted to a frame of the vehicle and another member of each pair being pivoted to a hopper, a pair of control arms pivoted one each between one of the extendable members and the vehicle, and a tilt cylinder and occupant-protecting mechanism cooperatively operative such that upon relative extension of the extendable and retractable members the control arms effect compound motion of the hopper to a position over-the-cab for subsequent dumping and the automatic interpositioning of the occupant protection mechanism between the hopper and the cab.

Abstract: A self-loading machine capable of transporting several round bales at a time has an overhead frame from which a pair of transversely spaced clamping jaws are suspended. The two jaws are elongated fore-and-aft and outwardly bowed so as to present a generally cylindrical container that is open at its front and rear ends. The machine is towed behind a tractor or other vehicle but can be hydraulically shifted to an offset position relative to the line of draft of the vehicle during pickup and discharge operations. When a bale is to be picked up, the machine is advanced with the jaws spread wide apart until the machine is disposed over the bale straddling the latter. By hydraulically lowering the machine into a pickup position, the jaws are then disposed to be closed together, causing long beams at the bottom of the jaws to be forced transversely under the bale and within the grip of the container.

Abstract: A truck body for mounting on a truck or trailer mounts apparatus for engaging, picking up, and selectively dumping a compartmented curbside container having separated recyclable materials. The truck body is divided into a plurality of bins. A carriage is movably mounted on a longitudinal track, the track supported by a pair of movable telescoping arms, the carriage powered to move along the track. Extensible arms are attached to the carriage and includes hydraulic actuators for extending and retracting the arms. A pair of clamping arms is disposed at a distal end of the extensible arms, and include a hydraulic actuator for clamping the clamping arms on a container. Thereafter, the container is picked up, inverted over the bins, and the container contents dumped selectively as the inverted container is moved over the bins. The container is returned to curbside after dumping.

Abstract: A mounting arrangement is disclosed to mount an arm. The arm has a pair of spaced enlarged sections and an intermediate recessed section. The mounting arrangement has a first mount portion with an upwardly facing opening that extends for a distance greater than the diameter of the recessed section, a second mount portion spaced rearwardly of the first, and an intermediate open portion. The recessed section of the arm is positioned over the opening in the first mount portion and moved downwardly. The arm is then moved rearwardly such that the first and second enlarged sections are received within the first and second mount portions, respectively. The improved mounting arrangement provides support over a sufficient axial distance of the arm, but does not require the arm to be slid within the mounting arrangement for the entire distance. Less space is required in front of the mounting arrangement, and less force must be applied to the arm in order to move it within the mounting arrangement.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for transporting or storing in a compact and efficient manner large objects, such as vehicles, whose shape and/or composition do not lend themselves to a high density arrangement. Using automobiles as an example, the apparatus uses trays to support the ends of the automobiles, the trays riding on open rails that are positioned at different levels to permit nesting of automobiles of different sizes and shapes. Some of the rails may be pivoted or be equipped with switches and gates, and the upper rails may have a wider gauge than the lower rails. With this arrangement, and by proper selection of carrier trays to correspond to the gauge of the rails at a particular level, damaged or otherwise undriveable vehicles can be loaded and transported as well as vehicles that are driveable.

Abstract: A system includes a point-of-use container having a plurality of removable bins with each bin for a different recyclable material. A pickup container, transportable to a pickup location, has a plurality of bins corresponding to the point-of-use bins, each bin having a normally closed hinged lid. A truck body has a set of bins corresponding to the pickup container bins and an automated arm mechanism for holding the lids closed, and for picking up and inverting the pickup container over the truck body bins. A computer is programmed to control the arm mechanism to perform the required movements. A barcode on the pickup container is read and each lid is released selectively when each bin is over a corresponding truck body bin to dump the contents of the container bins. The container is returned to its pickup location and released.

Abstract: An elevatable and tiltable loader bucket is provided with a large hay bale spear attachment with the attachment and the loader bucket including coacting structure removably supporting the attachment from the bucket in a manner such that the operator of a prime mover from the bucket is supported may advance toward, pick up and support the attachment from the bucket against accidental dislodgement therefrom and thereafter reposition the attachment back upon the ground and disengage the bucket therefrom, all without the operator of the prime mover dismounting from the operators position thereof.

Abstract: The loader and carrier apparatus for boat and trailer includes a support framework having two side rail members with stake pocket engaging stubs and a front lower cross member, formed to lay atop and be supported only by the side and front walls of the pickup box. A front top cross member is supported above the front lower cross member. Two rear cross members extend across the pickup box between the side rail members. A guide rail is centrally attached to the rearmost cross member, and extends upward and forward to a central attachment at the front top cross member. A forward support platform is attached to the front end of the guide rail and extends horizontally forward a limited distance to provide for transition between trailer tongue supporting rollers. A first horizontal roller assembly is mounted on, and extends downward from, the trailer tongue, to engage the guide rail and forward support platform.

Abstract: This invention relates to a clip for fastening a rail of a railway on a rail support comprising: a spring clip forming a device for fastening or clamping the rail on a rail support, constituted by a clip made of elastic metal having a first end and a second end and presenting successively, from the first end, a first section forming a substantially rectilinear arm, a second section forming a substantially 180.degree. bend, a third section, a fourth section forming a substantially 180.degree.

Abstract: A dumping trailer wherein the cargo carrying surface of the trailer is movably mounted relative to the bed frame of the trailer. A cargo carrying surface is to be movable from the bed frame to an initially raised position while still being maintained substantially parallel to the bed frame. From this initially raised position, the cargo carrying surface is to be inclined to facilitate dumping of any cargo from the rear end of the trailer. When the cargo carrying surface is in the raised position, a locking mechanism is activated which holds the rear portion of the cargo carrying surface in this raised position as the cargo carrying surface is inclined.

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 travel control system for trains, especially monorail trains, is disclosed. At each stopping point, there is a stop target mounted adajcent to the rail. The train carries a detector for sensing the stop targets and bringing the train to a stop at such targets. At each stop, there is also provided a controllable signal transmitter, cooperating with a receiver carried by the train. The transmitter/receiver combination has a greater effective transmitting range, in a lengthwise direction, than the stop target and its detector. Accordingly, the normal stop instructions can be overridden by activation of the controllable transmitter, allowing the train to pass through the stopping point without stopping. The controllable transmitter is also useful for restarting a train stopped in the normal course.

Abstract: A bar feeder for machine tools, comprising at least first and second carriages for bearing the bars, the carriages being movable along guide rods which are supported at their ends so as to freely oscillate with the carriages and the bar. The guide rods bear the carriages by sliding bushes which maintain the bars parallel and at a suitable distance from one another during oscillations. A supplementary bar guide comprising a bar pushing member is supported between a position coaxially arranged with the supporting carriages and a side or underlying position.

Abstract: A dust discharging apparatus suitable for use in a dust collector, which comprises series-connected upper and lower dust shoot chambers, each having a swingable discharging valve device to close and open its ceiling opening. In order to prevent dust coating on the seal members of the swingable valves and the wear of same, the swingable valve device uses a downstream-convergent throttle ring, a swingable concave pan-like valve and an upstream divergent bucket fixed to the concave plate. The upper chamber has an exhaust pipe to communicate with the dust hopper, and a suction pipe to permit the chamber to open to the surrounding atmosphere to prevent dust backflow when transferring the dust from the dust hopper to the upper chamber and then from the upper to lower chamber.

Abstract: A rail fastener includes a rail plate and a rigid stop for rail. The rail plate consists of two parts having a plane surfaces for supporting the rail and extended upward appendages bearing preferably inclined surfaces which cooperate with inclined surfaces of the rail. Each of the parts of the rail plate is placed from opposite lateral side of the rail and they both are tightened with the rail. After they are jointed, the rail fastener becomes as a single whole with rail. One of the parts of the rail plate has a recess one wall of which may be inclined. The rigid stop is mounted in advance into the support structure. When the rail with a rail plate is placed on the support structure, the recess in the rail plate straddles the rigid stop. Then a wedge is mounted into this recess. One of its ends contacts with rigid stop, other which is inclined contacts with inclined wall of the recess in the rail plate. The wedge is bolted to the support structure and pulls up the rail to the rigid stop.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing multi-dimensionally curved guide rails having tubular cross-sections for passenger and material transportation systems, in which a hose-like plastic tube of any tubular cross-section is bent according to requirements and subsequently filled with a filling compound to stabilize the shape.

Abstract: A removable window carrier for removably mounting in the top surface of a scanner checkout counter, the removable window carrier comprising a frame member having an aperture therein, a window member which is removably secured in the aperture of the frame member so that the window member provides a transparent support through which scanning light beams are projected and over which items of merchandise bearing coded labels are passed. The removable window carrier makes it easy to handle the window member so as to facilitate removing or cleaning the window member.

Abstract: An apparatus for loading and unloading open top railroad cars (46) utilizing a conventional material handling equipment item attached to a slidable structure (20). The material handling equipment item is equipped with a boom structure (64) and material handling device (66). During railcar loading and unloading operations, the operator positions and attaches the material handling equipment item onto the slidable structure (20) which is positioned adjacent to an end of the railcar (46). The front of the structure is engaged with the top surface of the railcar endwall (72) and the material handling device is positioned on the railroad bed (52) adjacent to the rear of the slidable structure (20). The boom structure (64) is then extended to position the apparatus atop the railcar (46). The apparatus (18) is then supported on the sidewall (76) upper surface of the railcar by support members (22) which are hydraulically extendable from the structure ends (36).

Abstract: A belt-shaped member taking-out and transfer apparatus serves to take belt-shaped members one by one from a container having a plurality of shelves vertically stacked, and transferring them to a server of a tire building machine. The apparatus includes a lifter supporting thereon the container and intermittently raising and lowering the container, and a roller conveyor having a carriage arranged on one side of the container. The carriage is movable in width directions of the belt-shaped members. A plurality of elongated rollers are rotatably supported with their bottom ends remote from the container by the carriage. The elongated rollers extend in the width directions of the belt-shaped members in the container and spaced from each other in longitudinal directions of the belt-shaped members.