Abstract: A workpiece handling apparatus includes a workpiece gripper having gripping elements and capable of both internal and external gripping functions rotatably attached to a support arm of a manipulation system. The workpiece gripper is controlled by an actuator capable of overcoming spring tension which is applied to the gripping elements.

Abstract: A loader vehicle boom arm assembly incorporates a pair of box section boom arms in which the top plate of each box section boom arm has a cross sectional shape such that the upper surface is provided with an arcuate surface that directs foreign objects encountering the arcuate top surface off the boom arm.

Abstract: A quick attachment carrier assembly (10) for releasably connecting an attachment (12) to a front end loader (14) comprises a pair of carriers (24) with top and bottom notches therein adapted to receive transverse pins (40, 42) on the implement. Pivotal hooks (46) are provided on the carriers (24) for engagement with the pins (42) for interconnecting the implement (12) to the loader (14). The latch hooks (46) are preferably secured together and controlled in common by means of a single lever (52) and plunger (56) which permit positive locking of both hooks in either the latched or unlatched positions.

Abstract: A rod device for use as an arm of an excavator, so as to be pivotally supported by a boom and inclined relative to the boom by an actuator, including a plurality of tubular elements assembled in a telescoping manner, means for restricting relative axial movement of each two mutually telescoping tubular elements, and a means for drivingly connecting the outermost and the innermost of the plurality of telescoping tubular elements, wherein a clamshell bucket or a rock breaker is directly mounted to the tip end of the rod device so that the rod device serves both as an arm and a cable for suspending the clamshell bucket or the rock breaker.

Abstract: Apparatus for handling a plurality of clad elements of a predetermined configuration formed from a sheet consisting of a layer of an elastomeric material bonded to a layer of inert material and deposited in openings of a die corresponding in number and arrangement to cavities of a mold. The apparatus has a transfer mechanism with a plurality of rods having a pickup face with at least one fluid port. The rods correspond in number and array to the die openings and mold cavities. The fluid port is connected to a source of vacuum to retain a clad element on the pickup face when it engages the element in the die openings and to an air pressure source to discharge the clad element in the cavity of the mold. The apparatus further includes a reciprocating punch having a plurality of punch rods for forming the clad elements from the sheet material and depositing them in the openings of the die. The said die and mold are positioned adjacent one another.

Abstract: A self-contained power-operated manipulator for piping and the like is capable of coordinated movements which approximate those of the human arm and hand. Spaced pairs of cooperative opposing fixed and movable jaws on a common carrier structure can rotate in two directions around the axis of a main support to which the carrier structure is pivoted on crossing relationship. The carrier structure, with the attached pairs of jaws, can be swung in two directions through large angles around the pivot axis of the carrier structure. The pairs of jaws on the carrier structure can be rotated in unison around the axis of the carrier structure and the movable jaws of the opposing pairs can be rotated relative to the fixed jaws around the axis of the carrier structure. Separate power units are utilized for producing the several movements of the manipulator in a coordinated manner. The pipe manipulator can be attached to a crane boom jib or other support.

Abstract: Apparatus for lifting logs from ground level to a bed of a log splitting machine including at least two arms forming a loading rack for the logs and a pivotally mounted lifting arm assembly which is selectively engaged and operated by rearward motion of a slideably mounted sled which is a part of the log splitting machine. The loading rack may be actuated by lifting a catch pin into contact with a pin on the sled of the splitting machine or it may be disengaged at operator's selection.

Abstract: A wrist mechanism for an industrial robot having a robot casing, robot arms capable of extending from and contracting to the robot casing, a robot hand for gripping a workpiece, and a wrist arranged between the robot arms and the robot hand, comprises: two reduction gears with a high reduction ratio connected respectively to each of two high speed rotational driving motors, the two reduction gears cooperating with one another for generating two individual reduced rotational outputs, and; two transmitting mechanisms, connectable to the hand, for transmitting respectively the two reduced rotational outputs to the hand, thereby causing respectively rotational motion and swinging motion of the hand.

Abstract: A double articulated material handling machine that is particularly adapted for use with a rotatable working tool having a cantilevered boom arm. The machine includes a front module, a central module, and a rear module with the front and rear modules being connected to the central module for pivotal motion about vertical axes. Steering of the machine is effected by double acting hydraulic rams which are mounted in symmetrical relation to the longitudinal axis of the machine. A pair of retractable and extensible stabilizers extend laterally from the central module. If the fluid steering rams on one side of the machine are retracted and the rams on the other side of the machine are extended, the front and rear modules are caused to turn through an angle relative to each other for steering or for placing the machine in a working position.

Abstract: An industrial robot having several axes of freedom of movement and comprising an operating members supporting arm pivotally mounted at the top of a supporting column for movement about a horizontal axis from a horizontal angular medium position under the control of a linear actuator pivotally connected with one end to the supporting column and the other to the supporting arm. Preferably the linear actuator is an electromechanical jack having a worm and lead nut, the worm being rotatably mounted within an elongated housing and driven by a motor secured to the housing and the lead nut being coupled to an outer tubular jacket.

Abstract: A load handling and transporting vehicle is provided with a load handling apparatus movable from a compact low profile position to an extended position. The load handling apparatus has a main lift beam pivotally connected to a link and control beam. A second link connects the control beam to the frame. Piston and cylinder assemblies connected to the main lift beam and frame operate to move the main lift beam, links, and control beam from adjacent nested positions to extended positions. A cargo container carrier is mounted on a third link pivotally connected to the forward ends of the main lift beam and control beams.

Abstract: The invention deals with a gripping mechanism which is pivotable about an axis having a horizontal component, in particular a welding tong, with gripping members which can be moved toward one another, between which a workpiece can be clamped, and with a clamping drive, which is supplied with energy from an energy source and produces relative movement between the gripping members. An angle indicator determines the angular position of the gripping mechanism with respect to a vertical reference and a modulator responsive to an output signal of the angle indicator is connected between the energy source and the clamping drive and regulates the energy supplied to the clamping drive in dependence on the position of the gripping mechanism with respect to the vertical reference, so that the gripping members are held closed with a clamping force which is dependent in a predetermined manner on such angular position.

Abstract: A bar stock feeder has a pneumatic circuit with positive feed and vacuum circuits and uses an air pump to provide vacuum from a pressure line, and is entirely mounted within a single base pedestal to present a readily operable control panel.

Abstract: A mechanical hand for use with a door-opener and having a pair of pivotable members, one of which is insertable into the window pane slot of a vehicle door, and the other of which engages the inner panel of the vehicle door so that the latter is capable of being opened and closed by the door-opener.

Abstract: A grapple operating mechanism (12) is attached to a vehicle (10), such as a front end loader, and includes a boom (26) rotatably attached to the vehicle (10) and a pipe and pole type grapple (11) attached to the other end of the boom (25). A boom actuating mechanism (29) is connected between the vehicle (10) and the boom (25) for moving the boom (25) relative to the vehicle (10) and a grapple actuating mechanism (33,35,36,37,38,40) is connected between the vehicle (10) and grapple to rotate the grapple (11) on the boom (25). The grapple actuating mechanism has one or more actuating cylinders (33) connected to a first set of arms (36) attached to the boom (25).

Abstract: Support and discharge apparatus (10) includes a pair of forward legs (20) which are pinned to the forward edge portion of a rectangularly-shaped table (14) and a pair of rear legs (22) pinned to the rear end portion of the table. Legs (20) and (22) are in turn supported by fluid cylinders (24) and (26) which are pivotally connected to the lower end portions of the legs. When cylinders (24) and (26) are retracted, table (14) is supported in horizontal position. Table (14) is tilted forwardly by extending forward cylinders (24) and maintaining rear cylinders (26) retracted. Alternatively, table (14) is tilted rearwardly by extending rear cylinders (26) and maintaining forward cylinders (24) retracted. When rear cylinders (26) are in retracted positions, rear legs (22) are retained against rotation by spaced apart studs (122) which press against the edges of the legs (22).

Abstract: A conventional front end loader bucket has a horizontal bottom plate, an upper inclined plate and a curved joining plate between them; each of a pair of support arms is pivotally connected at one end to the inner side of the loader bucket, at the juncture of the upper plate and the joining plate, and at the other end pivotally supports a tine. The arm may be channel shaped, and the tine pivots to a stored position within the channel of the support arm, and tine support arm pivots to a stored position adjacent the top plate. The support arm may be straight, or may have an angled portion at the end which supports the tine.

Abstract: An operating arm for a manipulator with length adjustment by telescoping means has a transmission carriage slidably disposed in an outer telescopic tube and a number of concentric tubes are rotatably supported in the center of the transmission carriage for transmitting motion for various functions of the operating arm by means of bearings which are supported coaxially and on top of each other on a roller housing rotatably supported in the transmission carriage. The innermost of the concentric tubes is connected to the roller housing while the others have circumferential spur gear structure in engagement with spur gears and drive shafts extending into the outer tube outside said spur gear structures for operating said other concentric tubes.

Abstract: A bar feed mechanism for a machine tool comprising at least one cylindrical tube adapted to be aligned with a spindle of the machine tool, a piston movable in the tube, a shaft rotatably secured to the piston, a centering sleeve rotatably mounted on the shaft and axially movable thereon, center elements secured to the shaft at the end remote from the piston, a bushing at the end of the tube adjacent the machine tool having an orifice which permits passage of the center means therethrough but retains the centering sleeve, an hydraulic pressure inlet for admitting pressure fluid behind the piston to cause movement thereof in a feeding direction, apparatus to admit pressure fluid between the piston and centering sleeve, and pressure relief apparatus to permit discharge of pressure fluid from the tube between the piston and centering sleeve when the sleeve abuts the bushing, thereby permitting continued movement of the piston, shaft and center elements in the feeding direction.

Abstract: An improved vehicle includes a truck mounted material-handling mechanism having a main cab or operator's station from which the vehicle is driven over a road or highway and a second cab or operator's station from which the material-handling mechanism is operated. When the vehicle is being driven over the road, power is transmitted to the driving wheels of the vehicle from a main engine by a main drive line which includes a main transmission assembly. When the material handling mechanism is being operated, a control means in the second cab or operator's station is selectively operable to drive the vehicle with power transmitted from an auxiliary engine to the main transmission assembly in the main drive line by an auxiliary drive line. The auxiliary drive line includes a pump which is driven by the auxiliary engine to provide fluid under pressure to operate a fluid motor which is drivingly connected with the main transmission assembly.