Abstract: Adjustable load leveler apparatus and related methods for use with automotive manufacturing systems are disclosed. A disclosed automotive manufacturing system includes a hoist supported by a support structure and configured to carry a vehicle component. The automotive manufacturing system also includes a load leveler mechanism attached to the hoist. The load leveler mechanism includes a frame, a weight movably coupled to the frame, and an actuator operatively coupled to the weight. The automotive manufacturing system also includes control circuitry connected to the actuator and an input device connected to the control circuitry and configured to generate input data in response to a user interacting with the input device. The control circuitry is configured to move, via the actuator, the weight relative to the hoist based on the input data to adjust a levelness of the hoist.

Abstract: A robot base assembly that supports a robot assembly above a floor. The robot assembly engages with a work piece having a locating component. The robot base assembly includes a base plate coupled to the floor, a support member slidably coupled to the base plate for linear displacement, a clamp assembly coupled to the support member, and a lock mechanism. The clamp assembly is movable between an engaged state and a disengaged state. In the engaged state the clamp assembly engages with the locating component. The lock mechanism is movable between a locked state and an unlocked state. In the locked state the support member is inhibited from linear displacement, and in the unlocked state the support member is permitted for linear displacement. The lock mechanism switches from the unlocked state to the locked state in response to the clamp assembly moving from the disengaged state to the engaged state.

Abstract: A robot base assembly that supports a robot assembly above a floor. The robot assembly engages with a work piece having a locating component. The robot base assembly includes a base plate coupled to the floor, a support member slidably coupled to the base plate for linear displacement, a clamp assembly coupled to the support member, and a lock mechanism. The clamp assembly is movable between an engaged state and a disengaged state. In the engaged state the clamp assembly engages with the locating component. The lock mechanism is movable between a locked state and an unlocked state. In the locked state the support member is inhibited from linear displacement, and in the unlocked state the support member is permitted for linear displacement. The lock mechanism switches from the unlocked state to the locked state in response to the clamp assembly moving from the disengaged state to the engaged state.

Abstract: Adjustable load leveler apparatus and related methods for use with automotive manufacturing systems are disclosed. A disclosed automotive manufacturing system includes a hoist supported by a support structure and configured to carry a vehicle component. The automotive manufacturing system also includes a load leveler mechanism attached to the hoist. The load leveler mechanism includes a frame, a weight movably coupled to the frame, and an actuator operatively coupled to the weight. The automotive manufacturing system also includes control circuitry connected to the actuator and an input device connected to the control circuitry and configured to generate input data in response to a user interacting with the input device. The control circuitry is configured to move, via the actuator, the weight relative to the hoist based on the input data to adjust a levelness of the hoist.

Abstract: A slide rail assembly for moving an object on a transfer path, includes a rail, a slide arm, and a finger. The rail extends in a transfer direction of the transfer path. The slide arm is slidably connected to the rail. The slide arm is moveable in the transfer direction between a retracted position and an extended position. The finger is connected to the slide arm. The finger is moveable between an engaged position and a disengaged position upon movement of the slide arm between the retracted position and the extended position. In the engaged position the finger is engaged with the object such that upon movement of the slide arm from the retracted position towards the extended position the object is moved in the transfer direction along the transfer path.

Abstract: A robotic dolly transfer system configured to transport dollies includes a full dolly transfer system and an empty dolly transfer system. The full dolly transfer system and the empty dolly transfer system individually include a rail assembly and a carriage. The carriage is slidably attached to the rail assembly and includes a bottom surface that has a post extending outwardly. The rail assembly includes a rail actuator assembly having an actuator and a receiver attached to the actuator. The receiver includes an opening that receives the post such that the post floats within the opening to permit the carriage to move a predetermined amount independent from the receiver. The actuator is configured to displace the receiver such that receiver contacts the post to slide the carriage with respect to the rail assembly. A end effector is pivotally connected to a transfer arm assembly and is configured to engage the dolly.

Abstract: A slide rail assembly for moving an object on a transfer path, includes a rail, a slide arm, and a finger. The rail extends in a transfer direction of the transfer path. The slide arm is slidably connected to the rail. The slide arm is moveable in the transfer direction between a retracted position and an extended position. The finger is connected to the slide arm. The finger is moveable between an engaged position and a disengaged position upon movement of the slide arm between the retracted position and the extended position. In the engaged position the finger is engaged with the object such that upon movement of the slide arm from the retracted position towards the extended position the object is moved in the transfer direction along the transfer path.

Abstract: A robotic dolly transfer system configured to transport dollies includes a full dolly transfer system and an empty dolly transfer system. The full dolly transfer system and the empty dolly transfer system individually include a rail assembly and a carriage. The carriage is slidably attached to the rail assembly and includes a bottom surface that has a post extending outwardly. The rail assembly includes a rail actuator assembly having an actuator and a receiver attached to the actuator. The receiver includes an opening that receives the post such that the post floats within the opening to permit the carriage to move a predetermined amount independent from the receiver. The actuator is configured to displace the receiver such that receiver contacts the post to slide the carriage with respect to the rail assembly. A end effector is pivotally connected to a transfer arm assembly and is configured to engage the dolly.

Abstract: The semiconductor device is inserted between a power source and a load. A current flowing between an external drain terminal D and an external source terminal S is controlled in accordance with a control voltage applied between an external gate terminal G and the external source terminal S. In addition, the semiconductor device has a main MOSFET 1 and a detecting MOSFET 2 each of which is inserted between the external drain terminal D and the external source terminal S, a protective circuit 3 which protects the main MOSFET 1 by a protective transistor 5 when the abnormality is detected thereby, and an impedance element 4 inserted between the protective MOSFET 5, and a junction connecting the external gate terminal G to a gate electrode of the detecting MOSFET 2.

Abstract: The semiconductor device is inserted between a power source and a load. A current flowing between an external drain terminal D and an external source terminal S is controlled in accordance with a control voltage applied between an external gate terminal G and the external source terminal S. In addition, the semiconductor device has a main MOSFET 1 and a detecting MOSFET 2 each of which is inserted between the external drain terminal D and the external source terminal S, a protective circuit 3 which protects the main MOSFET 1 by a protective transistor 5 when the abnormality is detected thereby, and an impedance element 4 inserted between the protective MOSFET 5, and a junction connecting the external gate terminal G to a gate electrode of the detecting MOSFET 2.

Abstract: A hydrogen separation membrane having a good hydrogen selective permeance and a high stability, without any deterioration, even if exposed to a high temperature atmosphere or steam, which comprises a porous ceramic membrane with SiO.sub.2 deposited and filled into pores on the surface of the membrane and a SiO.sub.2 thin film formed on the surface of the membrane as a hydrogen selectively permeable film is produced by introducing a vaporized SiO.sub.2 source into pores on the surface of a porous ceramic membrane by suction established by providing a pressure difference between both sides of the membrane and thermally decomposing the SiO.sub.2 source, thereby forming, depositing and filling SiO.sub.2 into the pores and fully coating the outer surface of the membrane with a SiO.sub.2 thin film simultaneously where the SiO.sub.2 source is preferably a tetra(lower alkoxy)silane and the deposition of the SiO.sub.2 source is preferably carried out by a chemical vapor deposition process.

Abstract: A composite porous ceramic hollow fiber obtained by dipping a porous ceramic hollow fiber into a carbon precursor-forming solution, picking up and drying the dipped porous ceramic hollow fiber, heating the thus deposited carbon precursor-forming film, thereby obtaining a carbon precursor thin film, and heating the carbon precursor thin film at a carbon precursor thermal decomposition temperature, thereby forming a carbon thin film on the porous ceramic hollow fiber has a permeance about 100 to about 1,000 times as high as that of an organic thin film and a separation coefficient as high as that of the organic thin film.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an apparatus for blowing off a thread end from a full cheese formed by an open-end spinning and winding machine. The apparatus includes a pipe conduit which is provided midway along a transport path through which the full cheese passes. The pipe conduit is provided with a plurality of nozzles which inject high speed air from the inner surface of the pipe conduit toward the outer surface of the full cheese which is passing through the pipe conduit. The injected air causes the thread end to be raised from the full cheese surface and to flutter in back of the full cheese.

Abstract: An apparatus for supplying bags of pliable or easily flexible material includes a vacuum mechanism for successively picking up the uppermost bag in a stack of the bags and transporting the same to a take-up roll mechanism. A delivering mechanism picks up the respective bag held by a holding mechanism at predetermined position and transports the same to the next processing station. The holding mechanism comprises an inclined holding plate having a stopper plate at the lower transverse edge so as to permit the respective bag received at the upper transverse edge to slide down along the upper surface of the holding plate until it is arrested by the stopper plate. An air discharge pipe extends longitudinally on the upper surface of the holding plate in the direction of transport of the bag. Air is discharged through a plurality of air discharge holes formed in the wall of the air discharge pipe between the upper surface of the holding plate and the bag sliding down the plate.

Abstract: A gas detector for detecting the leak of fuel gases, such as hydrogen gas, methane gas, butane gas, with improved reliability in detecting the gas leak. Said gas detector includes a main gas sensing element showing the change in resistance to target gases, such as methane, butane, hydrogen, as well as to non-target gases, such as alcohol, steam, smoke; an auxiliary gas sensing element showing change in resistance rather to non-target gas than to target gas; the first comparator receiving the output induced by resistance change in main gas sensor, as input; the second comparator with reference voltage set at lower level than that for the first comparator; and a gate circuit for blocking the alarm driving signal of the second comparator by the output induced by resistance change in auxiliary gas sensor. The output obtained from either said gate circuit or the first comparator is used for alarm driving signal of alarm circuit.

Abstract: A gas detector comprising a main gas sensing element showing the resistance change to both the detection target gases, such as methane, butane, hydrogen gases, and non-target gases such as alcohol steam, smoke; an auxiliary gas sensing element showing the resistance change primarily to non-target gases along; the first comparator to which the output based on the resistance change of main gas sensing element is received as input in parallel form; the second comparator with lower reference electric power than that of the first comparator; a gate circuit to cut off the alarm actuating signal from the second comparator by means of output induced by the resistance change of auxiliary gas sensing element. Either the output from said gate circuit or the output from said first comparator is used for alarm actuating signal of alarm circuit.