Abstract: A walking-beam conveyor has a pair of longitudinally extending, parallel, and transversely spaced fixed support rails, at least one walking beam between and generally parallel to the rails, and at least two lifters underneath the walking beam and operable to raise the walking beam from a return position generally below the rails to a conveying position generally above the rails. In accordance with the invention a first longitudinally extensible hydraulic actuator has opposite longitudinal ends one of which is secured relative to the rails. A second longitudinally extensible hydraulic actuator has opposite longitudinal one of which is secured to the other end of the first actuator and the other of which is secured to the walking beam.

Abstract: A conveyor is disclosed comprising a track having a pair of side rails and a plurality of interconnected carts which are reciprocally moveable along the track by a pneumatic cylinder. Each of the carts includes a pair of air bladders which are selectively inflatable to move a respective load between a lowered position wherein the load rests on upper surfaces of the rails and a raised position wherein the load is lifted clear of the rails. A pneumatic system controls the cylinder and each pair bladders so as to advance a load from a loading position toward an unloading position by cyclically moving the load into the raised position, moving the carts forward, moving the load into the lowered position, and moving the carts back beneath the load. Individual pairs of bladders may be kept from inflating so as to accumulate loads near the unloading position.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved chamber for a module IC handler including a pre-heater for heating module ICs to a set temperature. A receiving piece is installed in a heating chamber and is formed with a plurality of receiving grooves for receiving a carrier holding module ICs. An operating piece is disposed the chamber adjacent the receiving piece. An upper surface the operating piece includes a plurality of receiving grooves of the same interval as the receiving grooves of the receiving piece. In operation, the operating piece raises a module IC carrier from a first groove on the receiving piece and translates the module IC carrier by a distance roughly equivalent to the thickness of the module IC carrier. After translating the module IC carrier, the operating piece lowers the module IC carrier into an adjacent second groove on the receiving piece.

Abstract: An arrangement for conveying plates (4) in particular mother plates with or without a deposited metal layer, in an electrolytic metal refining plant, wherein the plates are intended to be conveyed in the conveyor arrangement (25, 50) along at least one horizontal conveyor path with the plates orientated generally vertical and equidistant from one another therealong, characterized in that the conveyor arrangement is of the walking beam kind and includes fixed supports (28, 54) and at least one walking beam (30, 62) having movable supports (31, 67), wherein the walking beam is arranged to move in a cyclic pattern, including a lifting movement in which all the plates conveyed along the path are lifted by the movable supports from their fixed supports in a first position, a forward movement in which all plates are advanced simultaneously one step while resting on their movable supports, a lowering movement in which the plates are placed on fixed supports in a new, second position, and a return movement, wherein t