Abstract: A system and method for automated trailer loading that utilizes an automatic case loader for loading product in a trailer is disclosed. A mobile base structure provides a support framework for a drive subassembly, conveyance subassembly, an industrial robot, a distance measurement sensor, and a control subassembly. Under the operation of the control subassembly, product advances through a powered transportation path and is stacked as product columns which are presented to an industrial robot which places the product columns within the trailer. The control subassembly coordinates the selective articulated movement of the industrial robot and the activation of the drive subassembly, which provides for forward and reverse movement as well as traverse movement between so that product may be loaded within multiple trailers without interruption.

Abstract: A grab hook includes a locking plate which is held in position by a biased pin that may be axially extended to move the locking plate between a latching and unlatching position to close or open the slot in the grab hook.

Abstract: A clamping device of a moving cart includes a clamp rotatably provided in a moving cart frame and including a plurality of locaters that vary with the kinds of vehicles for which the moving cart is being used, a positioning device slidingly provided in the moving cart frame to determine the position of the clamp, and an actuator selectively coupled with the clamp and the positioning device to rotate the clamp or to linearly move the positioning device. The clamp may includes a polygonal plate with locaters provided on its edges. Display units for displaying the kinds of vehicles are attached to the locaters. The actuator includes a sensor for sensing the display units.

Abstract: A load carrying vehicle (10) having a mobile chassis (11) and a load carrying body or tray (15) mounted to the chassis (11) so as to be capable of pivotal movement about a pivot axis defined by a releasable pivot connection (16) between the chassis (11) and body (15) for tipping of the body about a pivot axis. Alternatively the load carrying body (15) may be mounted to the chassis (11) through rollers (19) which permit movement of the body longitudinally of the chassis (11) and tilting movement about a tilt axis.

Abstract: A bottom block assembly includes a block having a central vertical axis, a hook secured to the block for attaching a load to the block, a first pair of sheaves rotatably attached to the block, a first rope reeved about the first pair of sheaves, a second pair of sheaves rotatably attached to the block, and a second rope reeved about the second pair of reeves. The first and second pairs of sheaves are each equally spaced about the central vertical axis. The first pair of sheaves are located higher on the block than the second pair of sheave so that a portion of the first rope located between the first pair of sheaves crosses over a portion of the second rope located between the second pair of sheaves. If either rope fails, the other rope ensures the block remains level with a full load attached to the hook.

Abstract: An integrated vacuum and magnetic gripper includes a rigid housing defining an internal chamber, and a flexible vacuum cup operatively connected thereto. A vacuum cavity is defined by the vacuum cup and a vacuum source is configured to reduce pressure in the vacuum cavity. A permanent magnet is disposed within the rigid housing, and a magnet release mechanism is configured to selectively render the magnet incapable of exerting sufficient force to hold the work piece. A pole plate may be interposed between the internal chamber and vacuum cavity, such that the pole plate forms a portion of the internal chamber and may act to provide friction on the work piece. A method of using the gripped includes operating at high acceleration while the vacuum gripper is monitored as fully operational and operating only at lower acceleration while the vacuum gripper is not fully operational.

Abstract: A holder manufacturing method for loading a substrate of a semiconductor manufacturing device, a batch type boat having the holder, a loading/unloading method of a semiconductor substrate using the same, and a semiconductor manufacturing device having the same are disclosed. For example, the manufacturing method of the holder of the boat for loading a semiconductor substrate includes the steps of molding a holder substrate of a pipe shape having inner and outer circumference of a predetermined size in such a manner that a lower portion of the semiconductor substrate is seated thereon; and forming a plurality of holder rings by cutting the holder rings from the holder substrate in such a manner that each holder ring is matched to a disposal interval of the semiconductor substrates in the boat.

Abstract: An apparatus for rotary dumping of rail cars, including a backside airflow diverter, a backside hood for removing contaminated air from the back side of the pit and at least two baffles on a rotational frame, the baffles each presenting a leading edge that contacts the backside airflow diverter during at least a portion of rotational motion. At least one air intake is positioned to pass through the upper surface of the backside diverter into the backside hood at a location where pressure in the backside hood is maintained at a substantially neutral or negative level even when pressure in the material receiving pit is increased by a down rush of air caused by the exit of the load from the railcar.

Abstract: A material unloader has a frame for removably mounting to the side of a dump truck. The frame has a platform, a pair of longitudinal flanges coupled together by a stabilizing bracket, a plurality of cross-braces extending between the flanges, inclined side walls, a back plate and a height adjustment chain. The platform supports a chain driven conveyor assembly including an endless drive mechanism having a pair of parallel drive chains connected together by a plurality of bars. The assembly includes a lower end drivably located about a pair of drive sprockets secured to a transverse drive shaft, and an upper end trained about idler sprockets mounted on a traverse shaft. The unloader has a power train powered by a hydraulic fluid system of the dump truck, and includes a hydraulic motor, a gearbox and a driveshaft.

Abstract: A portable animal excrement collecting apparatus for effectively discarding animal excrement in a sanitary manner includes an elongated shaft. A handle is fixedly attached to a proximal end of the shaft. The apparatus further includes a trigger and a trigger actuating mechanism that is operably coupled to the shaft and the handle respectively for resiliently biasing the trigger along an arcuate path defined proximate to the handle. A collection bag is positioned at a distal end of the shaft. The collection bag has an open top end for allowing a user to scoop up and collect the animal excrement. The apparatus also includes a mechanism for automatically detaching the collection bag from the distal end of the shaft by selectively adapting the trigger to a tensed position via the trigger actuating mechanism.

Abstract: Quick changeover apparatus for wafer handlers capable of handling at least two sizes of wafer frames and methods of using such apparatus are disclosed.

Abstract: A tweezers includes two joined metal legs comprising a forward gripping end and a force exertion portion extending from a rear end of the leg to the gripping end wherein a projection is formed on an inner surface of a head part joining the legs; a battery powered light source having a forward portion pivotably secured to the legs and comprising an on/off switch; a magnet disposed in a rear end of the light source and adapted to attach to the projection; and a plastic member covered the head part and the force exertion portions of the legs. An angle of light emitted from the light source can be adjusted to illuminate an area being worked therewith.

Abstract: A method for processing substrates for a substrate processing facility includes the steps of: performing ventilation of a container with a fan filter unit while a lid of the container is in a closed state, when the container is stored in a storage shelf, and when the container is transferred with a substrate transfer device, and ventilating the container with the fan filter with the lid of the container in an open state, when substrates are transferred in a substrate loading/unloading section with the substrate transfer device.

Abstract: A lifting apparatus for lifting manufacturing rings is provided. The lifting apparatus includes an attachment part having an opening extending therethrough, and a plurality of elongated legs extending from the attachment part. Each of the elongated legs has a slit disposed therein. A plurality of support rods are movably disposed in the slits. The support rods are pivotable between a lowered position in which each support rod extends from the associated slit and a raised position in which each support rod is disposed within the associated slit. The lifting apparatus further includes an actuating part operably associated with the support rods and for moving the support rods between the raised position and the lowered position.

Abstract: A vacuum robot includes an arm portion on which a work is to be disposed under a reduced pressure environment and a motor portion for rotatably driving the arm portion, the vacuum robot being configured to transfer the work by causing a rotational movement of the arm portion by the motor portion. The motor portion comprises a rotor portion connected to the arm portion, a stator portion disposed at an external periphery of the rotor portion, a housing disposed under an atmospheric pressure environment, and a thin cylindrical can disposed in an electromagnetic gap formed between the rotor portion and the stator portion and secured to the housing so that the stator portion is air-tightly encapsulated in a space formed by the housing and the can. The space is maintained in a depressurized state by a seal.

Abstract: An end effector for a robot having an array of suction cups includes an air control valve connected to each suction cup. Each valve can be individually operated so that specific zones of suction cups may be activated while others are dormant. The dormant suction cups are closed to the sub-atmospheric pressure, so that leakage of air through unused suction cups is avoided, while only the suction cups of the selected zone perform the picking of the work products. This allows the end effector to provide accurate and constant sub-atmospheric pressure to the work products during the picking process.

Abstract: A learning marker configured such that one of learning horizontal distance information and learning vertical distance information can be learned based on detection information from a horizontal travel distance detection device or a vertical travel distance detection device upon detection of at least one edge section of the learning marker in one direction of a horizontal travel direction and a vertical travel direction of a transfer means by a learning marker detector for detecting the learning marker, and the other of the learning horizontal distance information and learning vertical distance information can be learned based on detection information from the horizontal travel distance detection device or the vertical travel distance detection device upon detection of each of both edge sections of the learning marker in the one direction by the learning marker detector.

Abstract: An implement for a machine is provided. The implement has a frame, an operator interface, and a ratchet. The operator interface is pivotally attached to the frame about an axis. The ratchet is mounted about the axis and coupled to the frame and the operator interface.

Abstract: A saddle block assembly including a main body having a shipper shaft opening through the main body bottom end, and an eccentric pin opening in the main body top end, an eccentric pin received in an eccentric pin opening in the top end of the main body, and a wear plate support. The wear plate support has a pin receiving opening, the eccentric pin being received in the pin receiving opening. Wear plates are mounted on the bottom end of the wear plate support and are adapted to bear against the top of a dipper handle.

Abstract: A server system lifting device includes a bearing area foldable at a midline. The bearing area includes a front portion and a rear portion that are defined by the midline. A plurality of handles are coupled to the bearing area. The plurality of handles includes two front handles coupled to opposite sides of the front portion of the bearing area and two rear handles coupled to opposite sides of the rear portion of the bearing area. The midline extends between the opposite sides. The bearing area is characterized by a width greater than or equal to a width of a server system chassis and a length such that the two forward handles are forward of a center of gravity of the server system chassis, and the two rear handles are posterior to the center of gravity, when the midline is approximately aligned with the center of gravity.