Abstract: This invention relates to a light towable vehicle (1) designed for maneuvering a detachable container (22), such as a skip. This vehicle comprises a support frame (4) and a platform (7) hinged together. It is provided with two wheels (5) on an axle (6) and with a coupling member (3) for being hitched to a towing vehicle (2); it carries a slender mast (8), the lower end (10) of which is pivotally linked to the front end of said frame (4). The mast top carries a pulley (12) for a cable (20) attached by one end to the front end (11) of the platform and by its other end to a winch (21) on the platform (7) for raising the front end (11) of the platform.The frame (4) carries two pivots (14) forming an axis (15) for the pivoting of the platform. This axis (15) is preferbaly near the vertical plane of the center of gravity of the platform.

Abstract: A method of taking an electronic component or chip out of each of plural pockets which are formed at regular intervals along a longitudinal direction of a carrier tape and which have openings in the upper surface of the tape, through vacuum suction of a suction member, while the tape is intermittently fed in a feeding direction parallel to its longitudinal direction, including the steps of: (a) bringing the pockets having the chips, into a position where their openings are covered with a covering device having a notch with a width narrower than that of the chip and wider than that of the suction member; (b) feeding the tape by the regular interval in the feeding direction, and permitting a leading chip of the chips covered with the covering device to be brought into a suction position where the leading chip is right below the suction member and the notch; (c) lowering the suction member through the notch so as to allow the suction member to suck and hold the leading chip; (d) retracting the covering device wh

Abstract: The sales stand for sewing thread bobbins and the like consists of a housing which is divided into an upper customer array part and a lower equipment part arranged beneath it in which the customer array consists of storage slots arranged in rows and columns with their longitudinal axes parallel where each slot has a removal opening at the front and a filling opening at the back, and in each slot a number of the same bobbins are arranged which can be removed from the removal opening at the front. Magazines for each diameter of bobbin are arranged in the equipment part from which the transport system automatically refills the storage slots.

Abstract: An unloader for bulk materials is provided to transfer material such as cement from a barge or other bulk container. It includes a moveable and rotatable support member such as a crane or cantilevered arm that is adjacent the bulk container. A first conveyor or auger is connected to the support for pivotal movement and extends generally horizontally. A second conveyor or auger is connected to the distal end of the first conveyor for pivotal movement and is generally vertically oriented. A feeder unit is connected to the distal end of the second conveyor for universal and rotational movement. The feeder includes an uplift portion communicating with the second conveyor, the uplift portion advancing the bulk material at a rate slower than the second conveyor, and a collector portion communicating with the uplift portion. The collector portion includes converging auger assembly to advance the bulk material towards the uplift portion and to assist in transferring it into the uplift portion.

Abstract: Apparatus for loading and unloading an exchangeable platform, container or the like onto and off a tipping frame of a vehicle, the rearward end of said tipping frame being connected through a shaft to the vehicle frame and said tipping frame being tiltable in relation to the vehicle frame by at least one cylinder/piston combination. The tipping frame comprises an endless chain arranged to run around a motor driven chain wheel at one end of the tipping frame and a chain wheel of otherwise embodied wheel at the other end of the tipping frame, whereby a separate auxiliary tail is connected with one end thereof to the endless chain and with the other end thereof to a hook-shaped engaging member designed to become engaged to the platform, container or the like.

Abstract: A robotic system includes a series of cassettes holding blank centrally apertured disks which are ejected in seriatim from each cassette and a plug inserted into the disk central aperture by manipulation of a robotic arm at that cassette position. Each disk is transported by the robotic arm and inserted into a series of disk-holding apertures in a carrier panel and, after processing of multiple disks in the panel, the processed disks are removed from the carrier panel by the robotic arm to a second cassette position where the plugs are removed from the processed disk and the plugs conveyed by a pair of robotic arms or by the robotic arm acting in conjunction with an auxiliary robotic arm for reinsertion into other blank disks. Sensors are provided for accurately positioning the robotic arm with respect to the position of the carrier panel to be loaded.

Abstract: This invention relates to a portable ball retriever, holder, and carrier apparatus operable to (1) pick-up and retrieve ball members from a support surface; (2) hold the ball members in a container member in an elevated condition; and (3) be folded into a compact condition for transport and/or storage. The portable ball retriever, holder, and carrier apparatus includes a main support frame assembly; a support and power drive assembly operable to provide mechanical power drive for a ball member retrieving function; a ball pick-up assembly having a rotatable cylinder member to pick-up the ball members and carry same upwardly and laterally; a ball container assembly mounted on the main support frame assembly to receive ball members therein; and an actuator handle assembly which is movable to various positions. The ball pick-up assembly includes a main retriever housing having a rotatable pick-up cylinder assembly therein.

Abstract: A sluice device for insertion between zones having different environmental conditions, for instance pressure and/or temperature. A drum is rotatably arranged in an opening in a housing and has radially displaceable flaps uniformly distributed along the periphery of the drum. Each flap has a first portion for sealing against the housing, and a second portion of the flap, adjacent to the drum, cooperates with a sealing device. The sluice device is formed as a longitudinal groove which is open against the drum, whereby a longitudinal sealing member is arranged in the groove. The pressure difference between spaces at the two sides of the flap brings the longitudinal sealing member in such a sealing position that the flap, by the pressure difference, is placed in sealing abutment against the inside of the housing regardless of the positive or negative pressure difference.

Abstract: A computer-controlled storage system for handling and storing goods items, comprising at least one horizontal storage line provided with rails or equivalent guide members and one or more transport carriages (6) movable along the rails. The system comprises a transport apparatus comprising a power unit (16) with a power transmission mechanism (17) and a rope member (18), connecting these to the transport carriage (6), external to the transport carriage. In addition, the system may comprise a power transmission arrangement connected to the lifting member, external to the transport carriage (6), for lifting a goods item in position above the transport carriage off the guide member to be carried by the transport carriage and for lowering same onto the guide member.

Abstract: An unloading mechanism for unloading automatically a box, includes an endless conveyor belt with a conveyor beld extension for transporting a box to be unloaded. A cage device is used to receive the box to be unloaded from the conveyor belt. Air cylinder actuators are operatively connected to the belt extension for pivoting downwardly the belt extension in order to permit rotation of the cage device. Rotary air cylinders are operatively connected to the cage device for rotating the cage device through approximately 165.degree. in a first direction in order to unload the contents of the box into a hopper.

Abstract: A device for transferring crosswound coils from a crosswound-coil delivery location of a textile machine into a box-shaped conveyance includes a flat conveyor for collecting crosswound coils in mutually adjacent rows, and grippers for unloading the collected crosswound coils, the flat conveyor and the grippers being combined into one structural unit, the structural unit being pivotable in a vertical plane through an angle of substantially 180.degree. and being controllably changeable in position in vertical and horizontal direction.

Abstract: A vehicle restraint to prevent a truck, or other vehicle, from accidentally pulling away from a loading dock during a loading operation. The vehicle restraint includes a pair of spaced vertical guide tracks mounted on the front face of the dock and a slide is mounted for movement within the tracks. The slide has an extension that extends outwardly from the dock between the guide tracks and a restraining member, such as a hook, is pivotally connected to the extension about a generally vertical axis, so that the restraining member can be pivoted from a storage position, where the restraining member is generally parallel to the front face of the dock to an operating position where the restraining member extends outwardly from the dock. The restraining member is formed with a notch or recess in its lower surface, which is adapted to engage the ICC bar at the rear of the truck.

Abstract: A device for emptying refuse bins, having a tipping frame to engage the bin, a fluid-actuated motor connected to the tipping frame for moving it between a first position wherein it is capable of initial engagement with and holding of the bin, and a second, tilted position, wherein the bin is partially inverted, so as to empty the contents thereof into a larger, collecting container. A switch is provided, responsive to placement of the bin in position on the frame. The device further includes a control circuit having a timing device operated by the switch. The switch initiates operation of the timing device to direct the functioning of the fluid-actuated motor. In a preferred embodiment, the switch is mechanical and is adapted to be engaged by the walls of the refuse bin. Upon the expiration of a predetermined interval established by the timing device, power to the fluid-actuated motor is removed, and the tipping frame carrying the emptied bin is returned to its initial position.

Abstract: A soft landing cantilever boat loader for loading semiconductor wafer carrying boats into a furnace process tube includes a loading station having one or more loading assemblies, an automatically controlled door associated with each loading assembly for selectively closing an end of the process tube and a microcomputer based control system for controlling and coordinating process operations. The loading assemblies are of a low profile configuration and each include a boat supporting, cantilevered paddle that is mounted by a quick release mechanism on a carriage which is driven along ways by a motor. A motor speed control circuit provides closed loop motor speed using a pulse width modulated motor drive. A door operating mechanism provides movement of the door along two transverse axes to assure tight sealing of the door against the tube.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for supplying a silo with bulk material and for discharging the bulk material from the silo, using a clearing unit which can be raised and lowered in the silo, and which at the same time is mounted pivotably about the silo axis. In the silo a draw-off shaft is in the form of a telescopic gravity-descent tube, via which the bulk material removed by the clearing unit is conveyed out of the silo.In this invention the clearing unit is connected via a bearing to a bridge girder which extends transversely across through the silo and which at its ends is guided in vertical guides on the silo wall. The operating forces are transmitted to the silo wall via the bridge girder.

Abstract: A tennis ball retrieving apparatus comprises a wheeled vehicle having a front end and a rear end. The vehicle has a ball storage container disposed at a level enabling ready removal of balls therefrom by a person next to the vehicle while the person is in a standing position. There are a pair of horizontal ball gathering arms at the front of the vehicle arranged in V formation to provide an apex portion to which gathered balls are fed. A pair of the wheels of the wheeled vehicle are in traction contact with the surface on which the vehicle is supported to be driven thereby in rotary fashion as the vehicle is moved over the supporting surface. The wheels are supported with the lower portions of the tires spaced from one another less than the diameter of a tennis ball so as to grip the same when a ball is fed thereto. A chute extends from the area just rearwardly of the lower portions of the tires upwardly to the storage container.

Abstract: The loading and unloading of large items such as shipping containers from vehicles is accomplished with a lifting and transferring unit at each end of the vehicle. Each unit has a lifting post (3) slidable on a transverse track (7), and a foldable track extension (12) to extend the track (7) laterally of the vehicle. Hydraulic rams (5,6) swing the track to its extended position and locate the lifting post in its position. A hydraulic ram (4) lifts the container (1) by lifting chains (17).

Abstract: A self-service apparatus for the delivery of sheet-like articles, such as garments, comprises at least two parallel rails having notches defining a plurality of locations at each of which can be stored an article on a hanger ready to be delivered to a customer. In response to an authorized request by a customer, a carriage is driven along the rails for picking up and conveying an article from any specific location to a reception region at which the article can be received by the customer. The apparatus also includes a control device which is actuated as a selected article is picked-up by the carriage so as to rotate the article from its storage position to a position at which it is held edgewise-on as it is conveyed towards the reception region.

Abstract: An unloading system for a container, such a forage box, includes a floor and a pair of parallel sidewalls. An auger is located in the container and a hydraulic motor on the auger rotates the auger to convey material in the container toward one end thereof. The auger is mounted on movable carriages and a second hydraulic motor drives the carriages to advance the auger transversely across the floor of the container between the sidewalls while the auger is rotating. A second cross auger is positioned adjacent the discharge end of the aforementioned auger and extends transversely of the container to receive the material conveyed by the first auger and discharge it from the container, and the second auger is also driven by a hydraulic motor. The hydraulic motor which transversely advances the first auger includes a relief valve which controls the hydraulic fluid pressure of that motor to vary the speed of the transverse movement across the floor of the container.

Abstract: A distribution apparatus for the distribution of piece goods to different stations which is equipped with a transporting system for the pick-up and delivery of the piece good and with a chassis adapted to be driven; in order to enable the loading and unloading of differently constructed stations, the transporting system of the distribution apparatus includes a roller or chain type conveyor and a loading fork arranged coaxially thereto, whereby the loading fork is mounted on a chassis so as to be liftable and lowerable and both the conveyor and loading fork are adapted to be driven for loading and unloading.