Abstract: A portable hoist for preferably lifting and moving a trowel machine is disclosed. The portable hoist is comprised of a base and a plurality of legs coupled with the base. A foot is rotatably attached to one end of each of the legs. The rotatable attachment allows the foot to move about the end of the leg that the foot is attached to. The legs and the feet are used to secure the hoist, typically to a foundation wall. Also coupled with the base is a boom, and a winch is further coupled with the boom. The boom and winch allow the hoist to be used to raise and lower an object.

Abstract: The invention relates to a portable load lifting bed including a base frame and a bed frame moveably mounted for movement between an upper position and a lower position. A plurality of guides connect the bed to the base frame and at least one actuator provides force for moving the bed frame between the upper position and the lower position.

Abstract: The within invention concerns a telescopic boom of a crane with a pivot section, telescoping sections that telescope out of the pivot section, and bracing that has at least one guy support housed on one of the sections and a guy cable supported on one of these guy supports. According to the invention, the telescopic crane is characterized by the presence of a guy cable running from the guy support and a cable lock that can be locked to said guy cable, in which the cable lock can be moved by means of an actuator, particularly an hydraulic cylinder, in the longitudinal direction of the guy and the guy cable can be pre-stressed by moving the cable lock.

Abstract: Improvement of the workability in an automatic guided vehicle which carries and transfers a semiconductor wafer between stations in a semiconductor manufacturing plant etc. An automatic guided vehicle 1 is moved to an objective station after storing a wafer 10 in a buffer cassette with a transfer equipment 3, the wafer 10 in a cassette 5 is transferred to a positioning device 4 by taking it up with the transfer equipment 3, an ID information of the wafer 10 is read by a OCR 43 after truing up the position and direction of the wafer 10 by the positioning device 4, the wafer 10 whose ID information is read is retained with a transfer hand 31, another wafer 10 placed on the station then is removed by the other transfer hand 31, the wafer 10 whose ID information is read is transferred to the station in the predetermined position and direction and the ID information is controlled to transmit to the station.

Abstract: The invention relates to an arrangement for placing crane mechanisms, the crane comprising lifting mechanisms (1) with lifting drums (2), lifting ropes (3) in the lifting drums, a lifting trolley (4), a loading element (5) suspended from the lifting trolley (4) by the lifting ropes (3), four auxiliary mechanisms (10) controlling the swaying and twisting of the loading element (5) and the load (9) fastened to it, auxiliary ropes (12) in the rope drums (11) of the auxiliary mechanisms (10), and turning sheaves (13) of the auxiliary ropes (12) in the loading element (5). The lifting mechanisms (1) and lifting drums (2) are fixed to the frame of the crane, the auxiliary mechanisms (10) with their rope drums (11) are located in the lifting trolley (4), and the auxiliary ropes (12) are led from the turning sheaves (13) to a storage drum (14) for the auxiliary ropes in the lifting trolley (4), the storage drum being equipped with an additional mechanism (15) that is independent of the lifting mechanisms (1).

Abstract: An automatic guidance system and method are provided for a gantry crane to permit accurate tracking along a path, including a curved path. The position of the crane is determined from two spaced apart GPS receivers fixed to the crane. A guidance controller determines a plurality of error measurements from respective front, center and rear points of the crane relative to a current tracking line, which is a line tangent to the path at a current position of crane. In an embodiment, the system includes a base station that can be used to transmit data to the crane to specify a particular destination location of the drive path, or to transmit data representing the drive path itself.

Abstract: A receiver frame loads and unloads a batch of semiconductor wafers onto wafer holders in a wafer boat. The wafer holders extends continuously about the perimeter of an overlying wafer. The receiver frame is provided with a plurality of supporting arms which are immovably mounted to a vertically extending structure. The supporting arms are coaxially aligned and vertically spaced in a manner corresponding with the spacing of the wafer holders in the wafer boat. Each supporting arm is configured to be accommodated below a support ring, with its distal end extending to align with the center region of the wafer holder. The distal end of each supporting arm is provided with at least three support pins to support a wafer vertically spaced above a wafer holder. To load wafers onto the wafer holders, after placing the wafers upon the support pins, the wafer holders are moved above the support pins so that the wafer holders contact and lift the wafers off the support pins.

Abstract: Transport accessories useable with a vehicle for supporting cargo and a method of loading cargo onto a transport accessory useable with a vehicle. In one embodiment, the transport accessory includes a base frame connectable to the vehicle, a second frame slidably connected to the base frame and movable between a retracted position and an extended position relative to the base frame, a carriage pivotally connected to the second frame and pivotable between a substantially horizontal position and an inclined position relative to the second frame, a support frame rigidly connected to the carriage and pivotal therewith between the substantially horizontal position and the inclined position and a transport platform slidably connected to the support frame and slidable between a retracted position and an extended position relative to the support frame. Cargo is loadable on and unloadable from the transport platform when the transport platform is in the extended position.

Abstract: This crane control apparatus and method with swing control and variable impedance is intended for use with overhead cranes where a line suspended from a moveable hoist suspends a load. It is responsive to operator force applied to the load and uses a control strategy based on estimating the force applied by the operator to the load and, subject to a variable desired load impedance, reacting in response to this estimate. The human pushing force on the load is not measured directly, but is estimated from measurement of the angle of deflection of the line suspending the load and measurement of hoist position.

Abstract: A magazine for rod-shaped articles comprises a storage unit having at least one inlet for receiving at least one of the articles supplied to the storage unit and at least one outlet for discharging at least one of the articles positioned in the storage unit. A variable length belt element disposed in the storage unit has a length which defines a fixed storage unit for accommodating a predetermined number of articles. The length of the belt element is expandable for defining a working storage unit, the volume of which can be changed with the expansion of the belt element.

Abstract: A hoist system can be used to raise articles. The hoist system can include a composite pole member having a bend, a mounting structure attachable to the composite pole member and a winch assembly. The winch assembly has at least one component attached to the pole. The winch assembly is capable of winding a flexible line. The hoist system can be utilized to raise and lower vinyls, other signage equipment or tools to billboard structures. The composite pole can be a single piece unit having a bend.

Abstract: An agricultural transfer table enables rapid transfer of harvested agricultural material from a dump truck to a silo or the like. The agricultural transfer table comprises a box with an open front end. Apron chains in the box propel the material to the box back end, where cross chains discharge the material out a selected side. A prime mover and hydraulic system are part of the agricultural transfer table, so no source of external power is required to operate it. A tongue is closeable to enable the agricultural transfer table to be towed by a tractor. The tongue is openable to allow the truck to back up close to the agricultural transfer table front end. The front end is tiltable downwardly toward the ground. The truck back wheels back up ramps at the front box end. The ramps are storable inside the box when the agricultural transfer table is towed.

Abstract: A sweep auger having an auger that is rotated about its longitudinal axis by a power means and a drive assembly having at least three reduction gears that operatively connect the auger to a drive wheel such that the drive wheel rotates at a speed that is substantially less than the rotational speed of the auger.

Abstract: A fork lift truck is provided having a vehicle frame (1) and a lifting mechanism (6). An axle body (3) of a front axle of the fork lift truck is fastened to the vehicle frame (1) by at least one elastic bearing. The lifting mechanism (6) is connected with the axle body (3) by a non-elastic bearing or by a rigid connecting element. The elastic bearing is configured such that a relative movement that takes place in the event of a tilting of the lifting mechanism (6) between the axle body (3) and the vehicle frame (1) can be equalized by the elastic bearing.

Abstract: An industrial vehicle has an armrest. The armrest extends in a front-and-rear direction of the vehicle. A plurality of operating members for controlling a loading operation of the vehicle is arranged on a front side of the armrest. The operating members include a first operating member for controlling an actuator for loading and a second operating member for controlling the actuator. The first operating member and the second operating member are separately arranged.

Abstract: A patient support and powered transport apparatus are provided. The powered transport apparatus is provided to assist a caregiver in moving the patient support from one location in a care facility to another.

Abstract: A stability measurement system is provided for a lifting vehicle including a vehicle frame, a turntable secured to the vehicle frame and supporting lifting components of the vehicle frame, and a turntable bearing disposed between the vehicle frame and the turntable. The stability measurement system includes a plurality of load sensors secured to the turntable bearing that measure vertical forces on the turntable bearing. A controller calculates a rotational moment applied to the vehicle frame from the turntable by processing the vertical forces on the turntable bearing measured by the plurality of load sensors. The forces are directly related to the stability of the machine. By monitoring the resulting moment according to a predetermined upper bound and lower bound, operation of the lifting machine can be controlled to substantially eliminate a tipping hazard.

Abstract: A collapsible, portable hoist that can be assembled and operated by a single individual, for lifting and conveying heavy objects onto and off of trucks, especially pickup trucks. When not in use, the hoist collapses down to a flat storage configuration that rests on, and is secured to, the truck's cargo walls without any portion extending beyond the truck. In order to deploy the hoist, one rotates its support frame up from the stowed position and then suspends from it the rail along which a trolley or other implement used to convey the object will travel. When the hoist is fully deployed, the trolley rail is mounted high above the bed, permitting tall objects to be manipulated. The hoist is constructed so as to be readily removable from the truck.

Abstract: An apparatus for transporting a flat object from one position to another position. The apparatus includes an end effector having a base portion and at least one finger extending from the base portion. The finger having a top surface and a bottom surface, and the finger including a free end. The top surface includes a substantially flat portion extending from the base portion, and wherein the finger includes a tapered portion extending from the substantially flat portion towards the free end.

Abstract: A load port includes an adapter-detecting sensor arranged at an upper portion of an opener. When the opener opens a lid of a FOUP, the adapter-detecting sensor detects whether a wafer adapter is mounted in the FOUP, and notifies a control unit of a semiconductor manufacturing apparatus of the result of the detection. The control unit determines the size of semiconductor wafers based on the result of the detection and carries out processing operation dependent on the size of the wafers in a processing chamber.