Abstract: A hopper discharge structure is provided with slope sheets defining a throat over a pneumatic outlet tube. The throat is closed by two sliding valve plates. The valve plates are moved by crank arrangements which provide an operator with varying mechanical advantage in operating the valve means. The crank arrangements are mounted on operating shafts extending the length of the hopper. The operating shafts extend through the hopper end walls and are adjustably supported for rotation by reinforcement plates adjustably mounted on the end walls. The operating shafts are equipped with handles which accommodate the insertion of an extension bar from two different directions. The outlet tube is covered by a hinged cap and locking structure. The cap is cammingly sealed over the end of the outlet tube by a cam lock and handle mounted on the locking structure. Outward force on the handle unlocks and withdraws the cap from the end of the outlet tube.

Abstract: A freely programmable multi-axis articulated manipulating arm unit having arm elements disposed along different longitudinal axes especially for use as an industrial robot is provided with a drive system and a brake system for each of individual rotational or translational axes; the drive systems belonging to the rotational or translational axes of the manipulating arm unit are each provided with a hydraulically actuated locking brake which functions in a play-free manner, when in the operating braking state. Each of these brakes fixes adjacent arm-elements with respect to each other. Said adjacent arm elements are able to move about the rotational axes relative to each other when the said brakes are not operative. The arm elements are fixed directly in every position, that is, without the use of intermediate elements.

Abstract: A SCARA type robotic manipulator apparatus including a base supporting first and second independently operable drive motors, toothed belts engaging toothed gears for rotating primary and secondary arms in response to the first and second drive motors respectively, and adjustable bidirectional belt tensioning assemblies associated with the belts to preload the belts to provide stable, repeatable operation of the robot arms.

Abstract: Disclosed is a control device and process for aligning, in the running direction, an endless belt. The device comprises a lifting cylinder with a ram which is retracted or extended as a result of switching signals received from microswitches via a control circuit. The device further includes a pivotal wing which is pivoted by the extending ram in the running direction A of the belt, and a deflecting roller having an axle, the ends of which are mounted in the eyeparts of eyebolts. During pivoting, the wing presses one eyebolt, resting at its bolt end against the front side of the wing, in the running direction A of the belt. The axle, mounted at its axle end, with a certain play in the eyepart of the other positionally fixed eyebolt, is pivoted as a result. As soon as the belt runs out of alignment, that is to say deviates from the running direction A, one of the belt edges actuates the associated microswitch and consequently the lifting cylinder.

Abstract: A pallet for feeding components to a robotic assembly system at accurate reference locations and orientations includes a pair of parallel sheet members rigidly secured together. One sheet member has an array of locating apertures for receiving and locating a plurality of the components in the reference locations and orientation. The other sheet member has an array of rubber grommets, a grommet corresponding to each locating aperture for automatically receiving and releasably, frictionally engaging a component placed in a locating aperture.

Abstract: A bias ply snow tire for use on the rear wheels of a passenger car having radial ply tires on the front wheels. The bias ply tire has a low aspect ratio, narrow tread with a shallow nonskid pattern, narrow flange spacing and high ply turn-ups. The point of maximum section width of the inflated bias ply tire is located in the radially inner one-half of the cross section of the tire.

Abstract: A compact excavator has a superstructure, a swinging or swivelling mechanism connecting said superstructure with a chassis for swinging said superstructure relative to said chassis about a vertical axis, and a boom on said superstructure. The boom is linked to the superstructure directly by a parallel guide having a parallelogram link (14 or 14') and an intermediate member (12). The parallel guide is able to swing about a vertical axis (13', 13") secured to the superstructure (3). The intermediate member (12) has a fixed length and the parallelogram link (14, 14') may have a fixed length link or a hydraulic actuator piston cylinder having a variable length. Such a construction simplifies additional movements required of the driver for operating the excavator.

Abstract: A programmed controlled industry robot for the treatment of work pieces having movable parts (24) to be moved prior to treatment comprises a support arm (15) swivelable three dimensionally and a swivel head (17) affixed at the free end of the support arm (15). The swivel head (17) carries a tool and has a plurality of axes and being rotatable around the axes. The axes of the swivel head (17) are loaded with considerably smaller forces than the swivel axes of the support arm (15). A support member (25) moveable with the support arm (15) grips one of the moveable parts (24) of the work piece and moves the work piece into an open position. The support member (25) serves for the lifting of the moveable part (24) of the work piece and is attached to the support arm (15) in such a manner that the forces acting on the support member (25) do not load any of the axes of rotation of the swivel head (17).

Abstract: A plurality of elongated slats are arranged side by side to form an elongated conveyor, and they are connected to three transverse drive beams in such manner as to form the slats into a plurality of groups of three slats each. Each drive beam is connected to a pair of fluid pressure drive cylinders disposed on opposite sides of the beam so that as one cylinder pushes the beam the other cylinder pulls it. Control valves communicates the cylinders selectively to a source of fluid pressure to reciprocate the slats in a manner to effect moving a load supported thereon in a predetermined direction. The plurality of slats thus form a reciprocating conveyor which moves a load in one direction at a predetermined speed.

Abstract: An elevator for storing and retrieving riser pipe in a semi-submersible unit is disclosed. The riser pipe is stored in a annular caisson below the floor of the semi-submersible unit in surrounding relationship to the drill center of the unit. The annular caisson forms a magazine in which the riser pipe is vertically stored. The riser pipe is moved in and out of the magazine in a telescopic elevator which raises the riser pipe and tilts it so that it moves through the floor of the semi-submersible unit at an angle to the vertical.

Abstract: A vehicle has a steerable subframe articulated to the remainder of the vehicle, a set of lifting forks projecting forwardly from the subframe and supported thereon by a linkage permitting lifting, tilting and lateral movement of the forks, and a counterweight balancing a load carried by the forks across the subframe, the counterweight projecting rearwardly from the subframe beneath the remainder of the vehicle. Interchangeable units are engageable with the forks to transport thereby to a worksite, such as pallet units, a work platform, a crane and a cable dispenser.

Abstract: A release mechanism for a side opening x-ray cassette uses an air jet to release the x-ray film from sticking and facilitating its removal from the cassette.

Abstract: The handling apparatus includes two spaced apart lower arms pivoting on a base, and two spaced apart upper arms pivoting on an elbow bearing on the lower arms. The lower arm is driven by a ball-screw arrangement in which a threaded drive, mounted on the base of the apparatus is connected to a ball screw attached to a strut between the ball screw and the lower arm. Moving the ball screw along the threaded drive member pivots the lower arm upward. Another ball screw arrangement is mounted on the lower arm and is attached to the lower end of the upper arm by means of cables that extend along a rear curved surface of the upper arm to allow for more travel of the upper arm. Various attachment can be mounted on the upper arm including hangers for propellers and rudders and a gripper unit for supporting propeller shafts. When handling propellers and rudders, a single material handling unit is used, and the propeller or rudder is hung between the spaced apart arms.

Abstract: An adjustable dual-wheel caddy for supporting wheel assemblies when they are removed from vehicles is described. The caddy includes a U-shaped support having a single movable leg and rollers along the lower surfaces of both legs. A crank handle is provided to manually change the bight of the "U" only in response to rotation thereof. An internal rack is provided along at least a portion of the bight of said "U". A spur gear is rotatably mounted on the movable leg in mesh with the rack and a worm gear is mounted on the crank handle to drive the spur gear in response to manual rotation.

Abstract: A sheet convey apparatus which conveys a mixture of obverse and reverse-sheets set at an inlet port to a collecting section, comprises a first convey path for conveying obverse-presented bills which are distinguished from reverse-presented bills by a sorting convey path, and a second convey path disposed parallel to the first convey path, for conveying reverse-presented bills which are to be reversed.

Abstract: An apparatus for individually depositing articles comprises a cylinder with a plurality of accommodating apertures, each of which is adapted to accommodate a single article only from a supply. The apparatus is adapted to retain the articles in the apertures and comprises nozzles for removing superfluous articles from the cylinder. Moreover, the apparatus is adapted to release the articles from the apertures. In order to secure that the articles are deposited one by one without any interruptions in the depositing pattern, the apparatus comprises a supplementary cylinder having accommodating apertures corresponding to the accommodating apertures of the cylinder. Also each of the accommodating apertures of the supplementary cylinder is adapted to accommodate a single article only from a supply, the supplementary cylinder also comprises nozzles for removing superfluous articles and is also adapted to retain the articles in the accommodating apertures.

Abstract: A wrist for an industrial robot with a large orientation capacity comprising first, second , third and fourth turnable wrist parts arranged in series with each other. The first wrist part is rotatable about a first axis. The second wrist part is journalled in the first wrist part and is rotatable about a second axis which intersects the first axis. The third wrist part is journalled in the second wrist part and is rotatable about a third axis which intersects the second axis. A tool attachment is rotatably journalled in the third wrist part about a fourth axis which intersects the third axis.

Abstract: A mobile loader of the type used for loading and unloading the cargo holds of aircraft is described. The loader operates by electric motors driving both traction apparatus and loading platform elevation.

Abstract: Belt conveyor comprises first and second endless belts in side-by-side relationship which move in opposite directions. Articles such as connector housings are loaded onto the first belt at its first end and carried towards the second end of the first belt. The articles may be in either of two stable attitudes. A sorting guide extends transversely across the first belt and separates the articles in the second stable attitude from those in the first attitude, the articles in the second attitude being pushed onto the second belt. The articles pushed onto the second belt are carried to the first end of the second belt and transferred laterally to the first end of the first belt. The attitudes of the articles transferred are changed during transfer so that they are then in the first stable attitude.

Abstract: A solid block chemical dispenser for cleaning systems. A substantially horizontal support screen within a housing retainably supports a solid block of wash chemical thereabove. The support screen divides the housing into an upper cylindrical storage portion and a lower funnel shaped collector portion. A spray forming nozzle is mounted within the collector portion below the generally horizontal screen for directing a spray of water at substantially the entire downwardly facing surface of the wash chemical block supportably retained above the support screen. The dissolved wash chemical passes through the support screen, is collected by the collector portion of the housing, and directed to its utilization point. Spray controls, either manual or electronic, control the spray of water through the nozzle in response to a control signal. The dispenser is configured for mounting to a vertical surface and is loaded through an upper access port normally closed by a door.