Abstract: A vacuum wall walking apparatus includes an annular body frame, a plurality of leg mechanisms extending downward from the body frame, and a plurality of suction cups attached to fore ends of the respective legs. The body frame is composed of a flexible member. The body frame thus constructed is bendable to conform to the profile of a curved surface when the vacuum wall walking apparatus is used with a wall having such curved surface. With this bending or deformation of the body frame, the suction cups are always able to retain an optimum posture to insure that the vacuum wall walking apparatus is stably held on the curved surface of the wall by a vacuum formed in the suction cups. The vacuum wall walking apparatus may include a surface treatment mechanism, in which instance a winch is provided to minimize or substantially eliminate the load exerted from the surface treatment mechanism to the vacuum wall walking apparatus.

Abstract: A system for automatically distributing and supplying parts includes a parts distributing device for delivering an array of parts, and a parts supplying device for feeding the parts to a parts installing device at spaced intervals corresponding to parts installing positions. The parts supplying device has a first positioning member for receiving the delivered array of parts, a second positioning member connected to the first positioning member through flexible tubular members for spacing the parts at the spaced intervals, and a parts feed mechanism movable selectively into confronting relation to the second positioning member and the parts installing device for receiving the parts from the second positioning member and feeding the parts to the parts installing device.