Abstract: An apparatus for feeding articles to a work station, for example for feeding electrical terminals to a work station between the co-operating dies of a crimping machine, has a first shaft driven by a main shaft coupled through a clutch to a motor and a second shaft is arranged to be driven by the first shaft in an oscillatory motion having a forward motion and a return motion. A cam is fixed to the first shaft and a cam arm having a cam follower is secured to the second shaft. The second shaft has abutment element which engage against an adjustable stop to limit the extent of return motion of the second shaft, the adjustable stop being readily accessible for manual adjustment. A driven arm is connected to the second shaft for moving a feed device to the work station and the angular position of the driven arm relative to the second shaft is adjustable whereby the forward limit of motion of the feed device can be controlled.

Abstract: This invention relates to a carriage assembly (28) for a lift mast (22). The carriage assembly has a frame (30), a pair of load supporting arms (64) pivotally connected to the frame at spaced locations on a lower portion (36) of the frame and pivotally connected to a guide bar (52) slidably connected to an upper portion (34) of the frame for permitting unitary movement of the load supporting arms relative to the frame transversely of the lift mast. The carriage assembly (28) is compact, lightweight and requires fewer parts. Thus, capacity, visibility, component life and performance are improved. The carriage assembly (10) is particularly useful on a vehicle (20) such as a lift truck.

Abstract: A rotary tool positioning unit for machining workpieces is disclosed having a rotary tool holder and a plurality of slide bearings cooperating with one another in such a manner that the rotary tool holder is capable of independent translational movement in either of two directions perpendicular with respect to one another and capable of independent rotation about either of two axes perpendicular with respect to one another. One of the translational directions is parallel to one of the rotational axes. The unit also includes an eccentric cam shaft cooperating with two slide bearings perpendicular with respect to one another for imparting a reciprocating movement to the tool holder in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the tool holder.

Abstract: A vehicle for removing slash from steep logging slopes includes an anti-skid propulsion system characterized by a power winch for reeling in an uphill-anchored cable and a pair of crawler tracks driven in synchronization with the winch. The vehicle has an articulating tail boom for working against the cable to assist in maneuvering the vehicle along the slope and stabilizing the vehicle during slash gathering operations. A knuckle boom which is extendable from the vehicle for gathering slash within a relatively large area around the vehicle and preparing the soil for planting. A slide mechanism is disposed at the end of the knuckle boom for selectively varying the overall length of the boom. The slide mechanism includes a pair of claws which can be operated as a grapple for gathering slash or as a rake for scarifying the forest soil. The slide mechanism can be tilted for optimum orientation of the claws during raking.

Abstract: A wrist construction for an industrial robot having an arm member including a base unit mountable on the arm member, a carrier assembly universally connected to the base unit for pivotal movement about first and second axes of the base unit, a tool supporting unit universally connected to the carrier assembly for pivotal movement about third and fourth axes of the carrier assembly, an element operatively connected to the carrier assembly that pivots the carrier assembly about the first and second axes of the base unit, and an element responsive to the pivotal movement of the carrier assembly about the first and second axes of the base unit that pivots the tool supporting unit about the third and fourth axes of the carrier assembly.

Abstract: The invention concerns a mechanism for transferring cut-to-length wires out of a loose bundle of wires into a single layer of parallel wires. The mechanism comprises a wire channel, for receiving the single layer of parallel wires, which is inclined to the horizontal. The upper end of the lower side of the inclined channel extends beyond the upper end of the upper side to form a rest for the loose bundle of wires. At least one wiper-cam is positioned above the extended end of the lower side of the channel and is pivotable to and fro in the longitudinal direction of the channel, the end face of the cam facing the lower side of the channel being spaced from the lower side by a distance such as to allow a single wire to pass therebeneath into the channel. The lower side of the channel can be moved relative to the upper side of the channel.

Abstract: Motor vehicle parking apparatus has pallets for vehicles which are arranged next to each other on a movable construction which is drivable so that each pallet can be brought into line with a predetermined position such as a loading position. In order to achieve accurate alignment of a pallet with the predetermined position, a drive control sysem is used which controls operation of the drive in accordance with an evaluated difference between an actual value derived from an increment transmiter and a predetermined theoretical value dependent on the individual pallet to be aligned. Overrun of the predetermined position is corrected by reversal of the drive under control of a correction signal.

Abstract: In loading a press, it is desirable to provide a loading device which can be driven independently of the main driving means of the press and which causes a minimum of surface damage to the blanks being loaded into the press. To achieve this, gripper elements are provided which are coupled to adjustable drive systems controlled by a numerical control unit. The gripper elements are capable of motion in at least two planes perpendicular to each other to remove devices from the stack and carry them along a preselected path into a tool chamber of the press.

Abstract: An elongated housing 10 has a positioning rod 13 located therein, slidable with respect to the housing. A guide rod 14 slides parallel to the positioning rod. The guide rod and the positioning rod are coupled together by end elements 38, 39. The housing 10 is formed with recesses or bores 11, 12 for the positioning rods 13, 14 and additionally is formed with bores to transfer energy at power level for subsequent positioning or operating units, as well as to permit transfer of control signals. The positioning rod can be operated by fluid pressure by coupling a piston, slidable within its operating space and forming a cylinder, or by an electrical rack-and-pinion or worm screw drive. The unit is compact and closed towards the outside, suitable for modular association with similar or other units, and devoid of external flexible hoses or cables interfering with access thereto.

Abstract: A tractor mounted front end loader with a swingable boom assembly carrying a bucket, there being an ejector assembly for the bucket. The boom arms are shortened to place the center of gravity of the bucket proximal to the front tires of the loader, to place the cutting edge of the bucket closer to the center line of the front axle of the tractor; to place the boom to bucket pivot proximal to the surface upon which the loader is working and the cutting edge of the bucket in a horizontal plane slightly below that of the boom to bucket pivot, as compared with a loader without a bucket ejector assembly, to the end that bucket capacity is increased, reach and dump height are increased, cycle time is reduced and greater breakout force can be developed inasmuch as the bucket can be dumped, by use of the ejector assembly, while in a horizontal position. The ejector assembly includes upper and lower swingable panels within the bucket, hinged together with means for sealing the hinge.

Abstract: A rotating device for rotatably transferring yarn skeins or hanks from a first generally stationary support or carrier to a second generally movable support or carrier, the latter being substantially at the same level as the first support or carrier, comprises a vertical structure, carrying two slide guides parallel to the movement of the second support; thereon a carriage having a rotating head is movable and has a rotating frame with two slide bars integral therewith; a rod carrying slider moves forwardly and backwardly on the bars, and carries two skein-holder rods which are parallel to each other and can be moved toward and away from each other. Preferably, the rotational movement is given by a cylinder-piston assembly between the vertical structure and an eccentric location on the rotating frame.

Abstract: In unloading a press, it is desirable to provide automatic unloading without the need for operators, even in situations requiring a definite stacking order in containers located next to the press. To achieve this automatic unloading, extraction grippers and a carrier frame are provided which can be moved in three directions which are at right angles to each other by servo drives controlled by a continuous-path numerical control unit.

Abstract: A six-axes manipulator consists of a central tubular support 30 equipped with four bearings A, B, C, D at 90.degree. to each other, disposed in a plane XOY perpendicular to the axis ZZ' of the tubular support, a ring 110 with a diameter larger than that of a section of the tubular support, the ring carrying a gripping and control handle, and rigid and elastic means 120, 121, 122, 123 to support said ring on said tubular support, in such a manner that, at rest, said ring presents itself coaxially with said tubular support. Each bearing A, B, C, D is equipped with at least four force sensors.

Abstract: A high-lift attachment for a tractor provided with a three-point linkage comprises a platform provided with a vertical backing frame, and a vertical intermediate frame positioned between the backing frame and the tractor body. The intermediate frame is connected to the three-point linkage arms of equal length by three pivots which are positioned on this frame in spatial alignment corresponding to the position of the points of attachment on the tractor, whereby the frame remains in its vertical position at any height of lift. The intermediate frame and the backing frame are interconnected by one upper and two lower links which are in parallel alignment and wherein the distance between their linkage points is identical for all three links. The two lower links are elongated beyond the intermediate frame towards the tractor body which latter is provided with a pivoted member serving to attach the ends of these links and to keep them in their initial lowermost position.

Abstract: A loader-unloader system for loading and unloading workpieces, into a machine tool wherein each workpiece is held in position for rotation about a longitudinal axis during which various machine operations may be performed. The tool comprising a loading chute or conveyor adapted to deliver articles in succession to a loading position, an unloading chute or conveyor adapted to receive workpieces, and a loader-unloader assembly. The loader-unloader assembly comprises a track extending along an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the machine, a trolley movable along the track and means for moving said trolley back and forth along the said track. A loader clamping head assembly is mounted on the trolley, and an unloader head assembly is mounted on the trolley. Each assembly includes a head for gripping a workpiece, means on the trolley for mounting said head for swinging movement into and out of position adjacent the machine and for reciprocating movement toward and away from the axis of said machine.

Abstract: A linkage system for automatically maintaining the orientation of a bucket of a tractor loader while the lift arms are moved between raised and lowered positions is disclosed herein. Several specific embodiments are illustrated and described in detail. Each embodiment incorporates one or more links joined to the lift arms in such a manner that a portion of that linkage is maintained generally parallel to the bucket end of the lift arm. By maintaining this parallel relationship throughout the rotation of the lift arm, the bucket positioning mechanism is displaced in such a manner as to counteract the rotation of the bucket induced by the motion of the lift arms alone. The automatic self-leveling feature improves the overall productivity of the tractor loader.

Abstract: Apparatus for transferring and manipulating a plurality of containers in a sequence is disclosed including a mechanical manipulator arm 10 having a gripping device B which automatically picks up a container at a fixed pickup position P and transfers it to a processing station.At a processing station X, the container is loaded with silicon wafers and thereafter returned by the arm to the fixed position P at the pickup and return station Y. A plurality of the containers may be processed in sequence from the fixed pickup position by providing a movable carriage 58 upon which container pedestal platforms 54 and 56 are supported, at least one of which is an elevator platform. The platforms include abutments 54c and 56c for properly positioning the containers for accurate pickup by the manipulator arm.

Abstract: The previous linkages for transmitting signals across an axis (21) between a first member or cylinder (20) and a second member or frame (11) have been relatively difficult to adjust and have had a tendency to bind. Herein, a roller (44) is pivotally mounted to a first link structure (36) which is itself pivotally mounted relative to the cylinder (20). The roller (44) defines a generally circular cam surface (42). A second link structure (52) is mounted to the frame (11) and a generally U-shaped member (98) has one of its legs (100) mounted to the second link structure (52) and the other leg (102) positioned to define a coacting surface (106) for action against the roller (44). An adjustment device (122) serves for adjusting the other leg (102) of the generally U-shaped member (98) tangentially and radially relative to the roller (44). Relatively straightforward and easily accessible adjustment is thereby provided. Also, binding problems are reduced.

Abstract: A currency dispensing apparatus has a plurality of customer receipt openings to which an ordered number of banknotes can be sent from a store of banknotes in response to an order signal. The banknotes are dispensed to a collector station through a first feed mechanism in response to the transmitted order signal, and from the collector station to a selected receipt opening by a second feed mechanism which cooperates with a switching device for determining the direction of feed of the second feed mechanism.

Abstract: Under direction of a machine controller, an endless chain conveyor is incrementally passed by a plurality of loader heads. The loader heads receive a series of components taped on a reel supplied substrate, sever individual taped components from the supply, and load the individual taped components onto clip carriers of the endless conveyor, on command, in a preferred sequence. The clip carrier mounted components are then indexed past a cutter assembly for trimming the lengths of the leads and removing the substrate, and a positioning disc assembly for positioning the components in the clip carriers before being passed to a rotary transfer assembly. The rotary transfer assembly removes individual components from the conveyor and rotates to an unload position above a linear loader, which laterally transfers the components from the rotary transfer to an insert head assembly.