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 hinged lid with a catch for maintaining the lid normally closed. A truck body has a set of bins corresponding to the pickup container bins and an automated arm mechanism 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 lid catch releases selectively operated 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: A boat trailer is disclosed, having a rigid frame, a guide member adapted for guiding a boat being loaded onto or launched from the trailer, and buoyant members for elevating the guide member to an altitude proximate a surface level of a body of water into which the trailer has been driven. The trailer may include a subframe pivotally mounted to the main frame. The guide member, which may be a pair of cables trained over a plurality of upright stanchions mounted on the frame, defines a "V"-shaped channel dimensioned to receive and guide a boat. The subframe may be fitted with low density material blocks which upon being placed in water effect a hydrostatically-induced, buoyant force against the subframe causing that subframe to rise as it pivots about its frame mounting. The trailer is adapted for forming an automatic connection with an incoming boat and further, for automatically uncoupling itself from a boat being launched. The trailer is thereby suited for one-man loading and launching operations.

Abstract: A wagon for transporting grain and other particulate matter. The wagon is adapted to be attached to a tow vehicle. The wagon has a container which is provided with a forward wall. Within the container is a conduit. The conduit has a part which protrudes outwardly from the container and forwardly from the forward wall. Within the conduit is an auger. Pivotally attached to the part of the conduit which extends outwardly from the forward wall is a conduit extension member. The conduit extension member is pivotally movable to a position extending from the forward wall. Within the conduit extension member is an auger extension member. The auger extension member is operatively connected to the auger when the conduit extension member extends from the forward wall. Thus, a condition is established for discharging grain from the container of the wagon. The conduit extension member is pivotally movable to a position closely adjacent the forward wall.

Abstract: This invention generally relates to load securing devices and in particular to an end connector member (10) having a lower portion (11) in the form of a flat metallic or like plate having a penetrable latch tongue aperture (14) contained therein for releaseably engaging the locking mechanism of a truck tailgate. An upper portion (13), integrally joined with said lower portion (11) is provided in the form of a circular ring or rectangular plate for securably attaching the ends of cargo restraining straps (28) or strap anchored end attaching means (32). The combination of connector (10) and straps (28) is employed for preventing both rearward and transverse motion of cargo carried in the bed of a truck when the length of that cargo reequires that the truck tailgate body (20) be used in the lowered horizontal position.

Abstract: A sorting device includes a plurality of shelves placed one above the other in a frame, each adapted to receive a printing plate in sorted fashion. Located in front of the insertion opening of the shelves is a transport device for moving the printing plates along the shelves, preferably from top to bottom. Between the transport device and the shelves is a sorting carriage which can travel along the shelves and which includes a pivotable flap which operates to deflect the printing plates from the transport device to a desired shelf. To allow the printing plates to be introduced into the shelves, while keeping the shelves placed close together, the shelves are pivotally mounted at their lower edges and the sorting carriage is provided with a tappet for engaging the shelf located above the selected shelf, to lift the upper shelves and thereby enlarge the insertion opening. The arrangement is especially suitable for sorting so-called "flexoplates" and flexible offset plates.

Abstract: A roll-back flat-bed truck comprising a cab at the front end and a frame at the rear end and a flat bed secured thereto by securement member. The securement member includes a hinge having a lower hinge half-coupled to the frame and an upper hinge half coupled to the bed and a hinge pin coupling the hinge halves to allow tilting the upper hinge half and bed with respect to the lower hinge half and frame about a horizontal axis. A swivel plate is attached to the frame adjacent to the rear end of the bed. A swivel pin is positioned in an aperture extending through the swivel plate and lower hinge half to allow swiveling of the bed with respect to the frame about a vertical axis. An intermediate support is attached to the upper surface of the upper hinge half to slidably couple the bed thereto to allow for rolling the bed longitudinally with respect to the intermediate support, hinge and frame.

Abstract: A silo rotary unloader monitor provides an indication of a rotational speed of the rotary collector ring of a material unloading device suspended within the top portion of a vertical silo. A limit switch has an actuating sensor biased into engagement with a sinusoidal cylindrical surface formed on a wheel mounted for rotation with the rotary collector ring. An electric circuit connected to the limit switch causes a remotely mounted electric signalling lamp or buzzer to flash or sound at a rate proportional to the rotary speed of the collector ring.

Abstract: A mobile vehicle is provided with a cradle that can be tilted or rotated. The cradle can also be raised and lowered. The cradle has leaves which are upwardly and outwardly sloping to handle a large cylindrical paper roll by allowing the roll to roll down and center itself 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 cargo carrying vehicle including apparatus for unloading cargo from the vehicle by the general method of (1) shuttling a flat plate that covers a portion of the floor back and forth longitudinally and (2) preventing the cargo being unloaded from following the floor on its retract (forward) stroke by use of a movable bulkhead.

Abstract: An apparatus for unloading a container having different shelves, each filled with a plurality of stacks of trays filled with a product, such as eggs. The container is comprised of four vertical support sections and horizontal connecting sections which support the stack carrying shelves. During the unloading of the various shelves, each of which carries at least three adjacent stacks of trays, the middle stack is, preferably, first removed, and more preferably after loosening such middle stack by lifting and moving it sideways a small distance to prevent jamming of the middle stack and an adjacent stack. In one embodiment, a fork-shaped unloading device can be inserted under tunnel-shaped openings of the lowermost of a stack of trays, and the points of which are provided with switch elements or sensors.

Abstract: There is described a load handling device for a vehicle which enables the vehicle to pick up and set down standard ISO containers. The device has a mast pivotally mounted at one end adjacent the rear of the vehicle for movement about a horizontal axis, and a cross-member mounted for movement along the length of the mast, the cross-member including elongate flexible tension elements extending from its ends and provided with load-engaging fixtures at their respective free ends, the device further including apparatus to vary the effective lengths of the flexible tension elements independently or in unison. This apparatus for varying the effective length of the flexible tension elements is advantageously mounted within the cross-member. In use, the load-engaging fixtures are attached to the corner fittings of a container while the mast is vertical and the cross-member is at the lower end of the mast.

Abstract: Bulk containers of unitary construction and bulk containers formed of separate parts that interfit with one another to form a unitary structure and an apparatus that lifts the containers from a first support surface and suspends them in queued relation to one another above a second support surface. The first support surface may be a loading dock and the second support surface may be the bed of a truck. A plurality of rearwardly extending hook members are positioned on opposite sides of the truck bed at the rearward end of the truck. The hook members rotate in a vertical plane, and lift the container members, one at a time, from the first support surface by engaging outer roller members that extend laterally from opposite sides of each container. The hook members deliver the containers to horizontally disposed chain members that extend the length of the truck bed on both sides of the truck.

Abstract: A bag opener of a generally "U" shaped configuration formed of a memory retentent polymeric material, including a first leg and a second leg arranged parallel relative to one another in a first position, and wherein a blade member is mounted within an interior surface of the first leg arranged parallel to beveled terminal ends of the legs to receive a bag therethrough, wherein the blade member is directed across the surface of a bag inserted between the interior surfaces of the leg members to sever a bag positioned therewithin.

Abstract: A method of lifting and tipping a container off of a supporting surface in order to dump contents therefrom, the container being of the type having a bottom walland upright side walls, the upper extent of which side walls define an opening. The apparatus includes a hook for engaging the bottom of the container and a first support carrying the hook for supporting the bottom of the container through a range of lifting and tipping movement upwardly from the supporting surface and defining a first movement segament wherein the forward side wall of the container in relation to the direction of movement of the container is unsupported. A second support cooperates with the first support for supporting the forward side wall of the container through a second range of lifting and tipping movement subsequent to the first lifting and tipping movement wherein the container is tipped to an angle sufficient to empty the contents therefrom.

Abstract: A carrier vehicle, for carrying at least one vehicle on a carrier bed which is slidable and tiltable relative to the carrier vehicle's frame, includes a tilt lock-out arrangement for preventing actuation of the carrier vehicle's tilt cylinders whenever the moveable carrier bed is locked in a stowed, or vehicle carrying position. The lock-out arrangement features a contactless sensor element which determines the slidable position of the movable carrier bed and inhibits hydraulic activation of the tilt cylinders to raise or lower the carrier bed unless the carrier bed has first been slid rearwardly to clear a mechanical hold-down element. Similarly, the contactless sensor element inhibits hydraulic actuation of the tilt cylinder to lower the carrier bed unless the bed has cleared the hold-down element.

Abstract: Equipment for handling containers such as refuse bins for garbage, comprising lifting and tipping structures which are power actuated, and comprising automatic control systems employing micro-processors, sensing and read-out devices by which there is effected automated handling of the bins, determination of the contents and other data relating to garbage collection.

Abstract: The invention concerns an apparatus (10) for handling containers, load pallets or similar load units comprising an auxiliary body (12) on which the container or similar load object can be disposed to be movable, the auxiliary body being turnable relative to a body or chassis (11). The apparatus comprises a coupler connected to the auxiliary body (12), by the aid of which coupler the container or equivalent can be moved higher on the auxiliary body and off of the auxiliary body. The coupler comprises a tilting cylinder (17) between the body or chassis (11) and the auxiliary body (12) and a lifting cylinder (16) between the body or chassis (11) and the auxiliary body (12), and an intermediate lever (13). The intermediate lever (13) is at one end with a pivot (21) turnably connected to the auxiliary body (12) and at the other end with a pivot (20) to the body (11).

Abstract: A bin inlet deflector for a granulator wherein the deflector is secured to the screen chamber and encloses the bin to ensure that all granulate is received in the bin and not outside the bin.

Abstract: The invention provides a motor vehicle parking installation forming an automatic individual garage in an urban environment. In this installation, the vehicle carrying platform (2) has two longitudinal edges (25) with a V shaped inclined profile cooperating by bearing on two retractable longitudinal stop elements (29) mounted along the hopper opening (3).