Abstract: A miniature slide storage tray having a plurality of annularly arranged, radially extending compartments for receiving and storing a plurality of slides in a compactly arranged manner so that the storage tray and slides require a minimum of storage space. An annular slide transfer tray having a plurality of radially extending compartments corresponding to the compartments in the storage tray is temporarily engageable with the storage tray and the mated storage and transfer trays are temporarily engageable with an associated, annular, slide projection tray. Alignment and indexing structure maintains alignment between the respective compartments in the storage, transfer and projection trays when these parts are in mated relationship.

Abstract: A hydraulic positioning system for precisely and rapidly positioning objects of the type likely to impose impact loadings on the system. The system is particularly adaptable for use in sawmill setworks for precisely positioning logs preparatory to sawing thereof. High impact loads are compensated for by special rapid-acting shock-absorbing hydraulic relief circuitry responsive to differences between impact overpressure and system pressure.

Abstract: The control device for an earthwork machine according to the invention is designed for reducing the manufacturing cost of the earthwork machine by eliminating some of the calculating circuitry and the control circuitry. According to the control device, one of the cylinders necessary for carrying out straight excavation is directly manually controlled without using calculating circuitry, and the operations of the cylinders are respectively detected by detecting circuitry. The other two cylinders are also controlled by the arithmetic unit provided in the control device for performing calculation necessary to move the sharp edge of the bucket along a straight line of predetermined inclination in accordance with detected pivoted angles of the boom, arm and bucket.

Abstract: An adapter rigidly attached to a hay bale feeder enables the feeder to be transported by means of the forks of a conventional bale mover. The adapter is attached to the exterior of the feeder and includes a pair of pockets or openings for receiving the forks of the bale mover. The adapter can be retrofitted to preexisting feeders, or can be integrally attached to the feeder during a manufacturing process.

Abstract: The invention refers to a manipulating device, particularly for industrial obots, comprising an articulated gripping arm located and extending from a support, of the kind in which the articulated gripping arm comprises a lever system with at least a first, a second and a third member pivotally connected with the pivot axes parallel to each other, the first member being pivotally connected at the support. Such manipulating devices are equipped with at least two drive units to move a driven member to a predetermined angular relationship with respect to a preceding member or to the support as the case may be. A gripper or tool is located at the free end of the last (outermost) member. The invention particularly concerns manipulating devices for the purposes of the watch industry where relatively small parts must be precisely manipulated.

Abstract: A bucket assembly and operating system for a conventional front end loader that increases the dump height for a given boom length. The bucket assembly includes a cradle pivotally attached to the end of a boom and a bucket rotatably supported by the cradle. Rotative movement in the cradle and bucket between rollback and dump positions is accomplished by fluid pressure operated actuators controlled by a fluid pressure control system. Sequence valves forming part of the control system are utilized to delay the application of fluid pressure to certain actuators so that sequential motion in the cradle and bucket is achieved without the necessity of additional operator controls. A bucket latching mechanism mechanically locks the bucket in its rollback position until the bucket dump sequence is initiated.

Abstract: A coil handling device which orientates heavy coils between two positions, e.g. vertical and horizontal. The device is constructed to cause the center of gravity of the coil and a turning coil support to coincide with the axis of rotation. Hence, forces of resistance caused by weight are eliminated and only friction forces have to be overcome. Hence, a manual device is possible. In one arrangement, the device is adjustable to accommodate coils of different weights and sizes.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for producing rapid movement and smooth braking and a precisely defined final position of a movable robot arm. For moving the robot arm from a first operative position to a second operative position the robot arm is first driven by a rapidly rotating motor until it comes close to its second operative position, at which time a slowly rotating motor with an associated coupling takes over the drive and reduces the driving speed of the robot arm progressively. When the robot arm reaches its final position a brake is actuated so as to clamp said robot arm.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a self-stabilizing load lifting and handling vehicle, wherein the chassis thereof is composed of two elements bearing, respectively, the rear axle and the front axle, these two elements being pivoted on each other about a horizontal pivot pin located above and parallel to the axles, in linear travel position.

Abstract: A work transfer assembly including a transfer car movable along a path for transporting a workpiece carrier between separate processing stations positioned along the path. The car includes a push-pull chain made up of a plurality of links with one of the links defined by a pair of spaced support plates having upwardly extending support flanges interconnected by a shaft which rotatably supports a coupler member. The coupler member is a single unitary member having a pair of side plates interconnected by an abutment plate below which is an L-shaped plate defining a hook. The coupler member is rotatably supported for movement between a hook position with the hook in position for hooking a tray for removing the tray from a station and an abutment position with the abutment plate in position for abutting the tray for pushing the tray into the station.

Abstract: An unloader for removing hollow articles packed for shipment in nested layers is disclosed. The unloader includes retainer elements configured to engage interior surfaces of the hollow articles. Retentive forces arising from engagement of surfaces of the retainer elements with interior surfaces of the hollow articles as the retainer elements are inserted into the hollow articles are utilized to hold the articles on the retainer elements. Such forces can result from the deformation of elastic retaining elements as they are inserted into the article. A member or members associated with the unloader disengage the hollow articles from the unloader in a manner such that the hollow articles can be set down in an organized fashion. The embodiment disclosed is hand-manipulable.

Abstract: The electrical spot welding manipulator is assembled of a base, a rotary support on the base, an arm hinged to the support and rotatable at right angles to the support, a rotatable hollow member inside the arm, a column arranged inside the hollow arm for rotation about its axis, a working head mounted on the column and being rotatable about two secondary axes, movable welding grips mounted on the head, actuator elements, for activating respective movable members, and a welding transformer arranged in the arm and connected to the welding grips by flexible conductors.

Abstract: A gear rack pivotally mounted on the ram of a metal working press extends downwardly at an angle to the vertical in driving relation with a laterally offset drive gear on a device for transferring workpieces to successive stations in the press.

Abstract: A system including a hitch adapted for pivotal connection to a boom or dipperstick and including a downwardly projecting hook, and cooperating structure secured to a materials handler and having a cross-member for engaging the hook. A bearing plate secured to the body of the hitch above the hook defines a downwardly-facing bearing surface and engages an upwardly-facing bearing surface secured to the materials handler cooperating structure. In one embodiment, the hitch and materials handler are relatively rotatable about a pin assembly which both connects the relatively rotatable hitch portions and forms the hydraulic cylinder carrying a piston controlling a locking pin.

Abstract: A system for the automated handling and transfer of wafers individually and repetitively to and between processing stations and cassettes. A track-like conveyor engages a cassette holding a plurality of wafers in vertically facing alignment, to move same horizontally past a loading station of a processing chamber. A vertically moveable blade passes between the conveyor tracks and through the cassette to engage a wafer edgewise from below and move same upwardly to the processing chamber entrance. Vacuum means mounted to the door of the chamber entrance engages and holds the wafer during insertion into the chamber by closure of the door. Clip means are mounted within the periphery of an aperture of a vertical support plate just within the chamber entrance, to engage edgewise the wafer and support it within the plate aperture while in the processing chamber. The wafer is removed after processing by operating the foregoing apparatus in reverse order.

Abstract: A trash handling system including apparatus to pick up, dump, compact and store refuse material, all of which may be provided on a single vehicle such as a trailer assembly. The trailer assembly may be connected through a suitable trailer coupling to a pickup vehicle or other prime mover. Trash material is placed in a trash bin which is designed to be picked up and transported by an easily operated hand truck. The trash bin is wheeled to the vehicle on the hand truck and both the trash bin and hand truck are connected to a folding and elevating chute located on the trash haul system. The trash bin and hand truck are raised by the folding and elevating chute and the contents of the automatically opening trash bin are dumped into a receiving trough. Once inside the receiving trough, the trash is compacted by a hydraulic ram, and is thereafter pushed into a storage chamber for further compaction.

Abstract: In a machine system for continuous formation of molecularly oriented plastic bottles by blowing heat-conditioned parisons comprising a plurality of parison-forming stations, i.e., sixteen (16); a plurality of blowing stations, but fewer in number than the number of parison-forming stations, i.e., four (4); and a storage area between the parison-forming and parison-blowing stations, improvements are described primarily in the storage area and in the mechanisms for transferring hot parisons from the parison-forming station to the storage area and from the storage area, sequentially in multiples, to the blowing station.

Abstract: A material handling element or bucket is formed from two sidewalls and a backwall. The backwall has one or more apertures postioned in such a manner that the operator manipulating the bucket can see a portion of the leading edge of the bucket. In one embodiment, the apertures are positioned in such a manner that the leading edge can be viewed directly or in combination with one or more mirrors. In another embodiment, the apertures are positioned in such a manner so that the operator can sight one or more of the sidewalls of the bucket using those sidewalls as a guide for positioning the leading edge of the bucket.

Abstract: A load handling vehicle includes a bucket side tilt mechanism with a supporting H-framework comprised of first and second side frame members and a cross-frame member. The side frame members are each coupled at a first end to the body of the vehicle and at a second end to the bucket, while the cross-frame member is pivoted at each end to a respective one of the side frame members so that the cross-frame member pivots during tilting of the bucket and relieves stress on the framework. A pair of dump cylinders coupled between the framework and bucket are provided for emptying the bucket. In addition, a hoist cylinder extends between the framework and the body of the vehicle, at each side of the vehicle, for raising and lowering the framework and thereby the bucket. A tilt cylinder is tandem with one of these hoist cylinders is extended and retracted to tip the framework and in turn tilt the bucket relative to horizontal as desired.

Abstract: Swing motors employed on backhoes and like constructions vehicles are interconnected between a tractor frame and a mast frame to selectively rotate the mast frame relative to the tractor frame. In addition to posing assembly and disassembly problems, conventional mounting arrangements for swing motors of this type oftentimes subject various spline connections, pins, and bearings to undue wear. The swing motor mounting arrangement (10) of this invention overcomes the above problems by providing a pair of first brackets (20) fro pivotally mounting a mast frame (15) on a tractor frame (16) and a pair of second brackets (26) for securing opposite ends (14) of a shaft (13) of a swing motor (11) to the mast frame (15). A housing of the swing motor (11) is connected to the tractor frame (16) whereby pressurization of the motor will rotate the shaft (13) relative to the housing (12) to selectively swing the mast frame (15) relative to the tractor frame (16).