Abstract: Apparatus for retrieving and depositing a load, in particular to and from racks, includes a pair of elongated guides in parallel relationship and a grabbing device having at least two grippers movably guided in the elongated guides for traveling in a horizontal plane in an operating direction from a ready position into an operative position in which the grippers are positioned on both sides of the load substantially parallel to the sides of the load. Each of the grippers has at least one plate-shaped gripping area, with the gripping area of one gripper confronting the gripping area of the other gripper, and with the gripping areas of the grippers extending parallel to one another. Operatively connected to the elongated guides is a force-applying unit for moving the guides in synchronism relative to one another to thereby urge the grippers against the sides of the load.

Abstract: A working pressure control mechanism for lapping, honing, and grinding machines having a rotatably mounted shaft bearing the tool within an axially translatable housing such that the shaft is carried along by the housing in the direction of the tool advance, comprising a spring capable of axially translating the housing, a signal producer capable of producing a signal corresponding to the magnitude of axial displacement caused by the workpiece and connected to the spring, and a mechanism advance control capable of receiving a signal from the signal producer, and advancing the housing to compensate for the degree of axial displacement.