Abstract: In the operation of work machines having an ejector blade pivotally coupled to a cylinder by cylinder-attached pivot pins, it has been a problem reducing the stress acting on the pivot pins caused by, for one example, improperly set yaw rollers. The present invention provides for an ejector arrangement for a work machine in which a coupler is pivotally coupled to the cylinder and pivotally coupled with the ejector blade.

Abstract: A wheeled dolly for transporting and/or storing a floor sander to maintain the rubber tired wheels of the sander in a no load state and thereby preventing flat spots from forming in the tires resulting in variations in the depth of sanding process. Also disclosed is a dolly with a hand operable brake for selectively restraining rotation of at least one of the dolly wheels.

Abstract: A wafer blade for picking up wafers immersed in a wafer tank and a method for using the wafer blade are described. The wafer blade is constructed by a blade body of generally elongated rectangular shape that has a wafer pick-up side and a backside. The wafer pick-up side of the blade body has a recessed vacuum port for contacting a wafer with a vacuum passageway in the blade body connected to an external vacuum source. The backside of the blade body has at least two recessed slots that are open to an edge of the blade body, wherein each has a width of at least 5 mm and a length of at least 5 cm for providing ventilation and preventing the backside of the blade body from sticking to a wafer by capillary reaction caused by water entrapped in between the wafer and the backside of the blade body.

Abstract: A pellet picking apparatus for separating a pellet adhered on an adhesive sheet from the sheet and picking the pellet thus separated is provided, which prevents the pellet from being damaged during the pellet picking process without lowering the productivity. This apparatus comprises (a) a stage having a surface with which a lower face of the adhesive sheet is contacted; the pellet being adhered on an upper face of the sheet; the stage having a suction hole that pulls down the sheet; the suction hole having a suction end to be contacted with the sheet on the surface of the stage; the stage being movable in a horizontal plane with respect to a specific reference position; and (b) a collet for holding the pellet by a suction force; the collet having a suction end to be contacted with the pellet; the collet being capable of holding the pellet by the suction force at the suction end.

Abstract: A loading/unloading system designed to easily load and unload wheeled vehicles from the bed of a larger vehicle. The loading/unloading system generally includes a vertically flexible support surface on wheels, U-shaped loading tracks for receiving the wheels of the support surface, a winch with accompanying cable assembly for pulling the support surface onto the loading tracks and into the bed of a vehicle, and a set of offloading springs with accompanying cable assemblies for pushing the support surface out of the bed of the vehicle when desired.

Abstract: A preferred embodiment of the present invention provides an apparatus and method of a load gate. A forwarder includes a load gate, a frame, a power source, an operator station, at least one propulsion device, at least one load retaining member, an implement, all of these arranged into a tractor and a trailer. The load gate includes at least one window and at least one transparent pane covering the windows.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to reduce the number of shelves for supporting articles in an article storage system for storage of articles such as containers. The storage system includes a shelf 12 for supporting a container 2 having an engaging means 8 formed at an upper portion thereof. The storage system also includes a loader/unloader 4 for loading the container 2 on and unloading it from the shelf 12. The shelf 12 includes a deck 20 formed on the upper side thereof, on which the container 2 can be placed. The shelf 12 also includes a pair of right and left engaging parts 16 formed on the lower side thereof for engaging with the engaging means 8 of the container 2 to hold the container 2 hanging from the shelf 12. The engaging means 8 and the pair of engaging parts 16 can engage with and disengage from each other in the directions in which the container 2 can be loaded and unloaded.

Abstract: The vacuum processing apparatus has an atmospheric loader having a plurality of cassette tables and a transport unit for carrying wafers, a vacuum loader equipped with vacuum wafer-processing chambers and a vacuum transport chamber communicating with the processing chambers via gate valves, and a locking unit provided with a loading lock chamber and unloading lock chambers that have gate valves for connecting the atmospheric transport unit and vacuum transport chamber; wherein two etching chambers, formed by UHF-ECR reactors, are arranged symmetrically with respect to an axial line passing through the middle of the vacuum transport chamber and locking unit, only at the opposite side of the locking unit across the vacuum transport chamber, and at an acute angle with respect to the vacuum transport chamber, and UHF-ECR antennas, almost parallel to the foregoing axial line, are opened at the opposite side to that of the vacuum transport chamber.

Abstract: A loadlock chamber for a semiconductor processing apparatus comprises an index platform or registration plate, a shaft extending through a wall of the chamber to actuate the platform, and a bellows located on the outside of the chamber to isolate the shaft from the external environment. A seal is placed between the bottom of the registration plate and the wall of the chamber so as to isolate the space under the registration plate and within the bellows from the remainder of the chamber when the platform is in a fully lowered position. A gutter is formed in a wall of the chamber below the registration plate to catch particulate matter, such as broken wafer particles. A method of accessing the interior of a loadlock chamber limits exposure of the space within the bellows to the external environment.

Abstract: A scooter lift includes a post and boom made from a single piece of curved pipe. The boom further includes an arm that is rotationally adjustable about the pipe to provide small, incremental changes in elevation. Incremental rotational adjustment is achieved by a plate attached to the pipe and having a first set of holes that align with second set holes in the angular portion. The holes are drilled in a pattern that provides a vernier-like adjustment of position. The post is mounted on a base such that at least some of the post overlies a point outside the footprint of the base.

Abstract: A snowmobile loading system for conveniently loading and unloading a snowmobile onto a trailer or pickup. The snowmobile loading system includes an elongate frame, a plurality of rollers rotatably positioned within the elongate frame traverse to a longitudinal axis of the elongate frame, a locking plate positioned within the elongate frame, a spring for applying a force upon the locking plate, and a locking pin selectively extendible within an aperture within the elongate frame for retaining the locking plate in a closed position. When an individual desires to load a snowmobile upon a bed of a trailer or vehicle, the user positions each ski with respect to a corresponding loading ramp and, then drives the snowmobile forwardly wherein the skis movably engage the rollers. When the ski engages the locking plate, the locking plate is pivoted downwardly thereby compressing the spring.

Abstract: The pipe-laying vehicle 1 includes a lower vehicle body 2, a driver's cab, and a jib 10 which is supported on the lower vehicle body 2, can be raised and lowered about a horizontal axis 11, and can be swivelled about a vertical pivot axis by a live ring. On the outer end of the jib 10, a sheave head 31 is provided with a deflection pulley 26 and a sheave 28, and can be swivelled as a whole relative to the jib 10 about an adjustment axis 32 that extends in the longitudinal direction of the jib 10. A mechanically or hydraulically actuated locking device selectively locks the pivot position of the sheave head 31 relative to the jib 10. As a result of the swivel capability of the jib 10 and of the sheave head 31, the pipe laying work can be performed more simply and quickly.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for handling individual wafers (2) that are temporarily in an essentially horizontal position. The apparatus (1) comprises at least one supporting part (5) with supporting areas (6), comprising at least three supporting points (9), for supporting an edge region of the wafer, and at least one holding part (7) with holding areas (8), comprising at least two holding points (10), for gripping the edge (4) of this wafer (2), with the holding points (10) being moveable relative to the supporting points (9) and, to grasp the wafer (2), relative to one another. Moreover, at least one of these holding points (10) is arranged on a rotatable rod (12) designed, for reliable holding of the wafer, as a holding part (7), with rod (12) extending coaxially with an axis (11) running through the wafer center (3) and essentially parallel to the surface of the wafer (2).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for supporting and transferring a substrate in a semiconductor wafer processing system. In one aspect, a support ring having one or more substrate support members mounted thereon and defining a central opening therein for receipt of a substrate support member during processing is disclosed. In another aspect, a substrate handler blade having a plurality of substrate supports disposed thereon is provided which is adapted to support a substrate thereon and effectuate substrate transfer between the substrate handler blade and the support ring.

Abstract: The vacuum processing apparatus has an atmospheric loader having a plurality of cassette tables and a transport unit for carrying wafers, a vacuum loader equipped with vacuum wafer-processing chambers and a vacuum transport chamber communicating with the processing chambers via gate valves, and a locking unit provided with a loading lock chamber and unloading lock chambers that have gate valves for connecting the atmospheric transport unit and vacuum transport chamber; wherein two etching chambers, formed by UHF-ECR reactors, are arranged symmetrically with respect to an axial line passing through the middle of the vacuum transport chamber and locking unit, only at the opposite side of the locking unit across the vacuum transport chamber, and at an acute angle with respect to the vacuum transport chamber, and UHF-ECR antennas, almost parallel to the foregoing axial line, are opened at the opposite side to that of the vacuum transport chamber.

Abstract: An animal transporting system for efficiently loading, unloading, sorting, separating and transporting animals within an enclosed structure. The inventive device includes a frame attached to a truck, a ramp movably attached to the frame that is extendable from the frame, a plurality of holding pens within the frame defined by a plurality of partitions, and a plurality of doors pivotally attached to the partitions. Each of the doors are manipulated by an actuator such as a hydraulic cylinder. A stimulator system is positioned within each of the holding pens to humanely encourage an animal to exit the holding pen.

Abstract: A portable lifting frame comprises an elongate track provided with a bogie movable there along. The bogie is adapted to accept a lifting device. An elongate support is provided for the track wherein the track and support are made up of two or more cojoining portions 2a and 2b. The co-joining portions 2a and 2b are hinged together end to end at pivotal hinges 3. The co-joining portions 2a and 2b have an open position where they lie in the same place and a closed position where they lie parallel to each other. The support is provided with two or more legs 4, 5, 6, 7 pivotally attached to one end of the support where only each leg is extendable. The other end of the support is provided with a support element.

Abstract: A substrate processing pallet has a top surface and a plurality of side surfaces. The top surface has at least one recess adapted to receive a substrate. The recess includes a support structure adapted to contact a portion of a substrate seated in the recess and a plurality of apertures each adapted to accommodate a lift pin. Lift pins can extend through the apertures initially to support the substrate and retract to deposit the substrate onto the support structure. A side surface includes a process positioning feature adapted to engage with a feature located in a process chamber to position the pallet. A side surface includes a positioning feature adapted to engage with an end effector alignment feature to position the pallet with respect to the end effector during transport. A side surface includes support features adapted to engage with end effector support features to support the pallet during transport.

Abstract: A frame configuration that is particularly adaptable for use on a trailer such that the frame configuration is operable in both a tilt mode of operation and a dump mode of operation. An actuating mechanism includes a linear actuator that is supported on the frame by a bracket and a yoke that connects to a load bed to power the vertical movement of the load bed in both tilt and dump functions. The linear actuator is pivotally mounted to permit a re-positioning of the actuator into an inoperative position. The frame configuration is provided with an articulated tilt frame in which the tongue is pivoted thereto allowing the load bed to pivot about a tilt axis which can coincide with the wheel axis of the trailer. The bed frame can be locked to the tilt frame for tilting upon articulation with the tongue, while a disconnection of the bed frame from the tilt frame enables the bed frame to pivot about the dump axis to provide a dump function in addition to the tilt function.

Abstract: A substrate handling system with integrated door removal assembly for an environmentally controlled substrate processing chamber is provided. The system includes a robot positioned within the chamber. A drive mechanism is connected to the robot. A door interface mechanism is attached to the drive mechanism and includes a door key and a door key control assembly. The drive mechanism provides mechanical control of the door key control assembly such that that door key is manipulated to couple a substrate carrier door to a port door. The coupled doors are storable within the chamber or on the robot. The drive mechanism may also include a substrate end effector, thereby allowing the robot to transport substrates within the chamber. The robot is movable within the chamber to multiple processing stations.