Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for lifting and manipulating a load. The system includes a gantry crane having a support rail, a support gantry, and a gantry beam connected to and traversing a space between the support rail and the support gantry. The gantry crane also includes a trolley disposed with the gantry beam. The system further includes a lifting platform secured to a top surface of the gantry beam, and a lifting device disposed with the lifting platform.

Abstract: A conveying apparatus for an industrial robot in which a first arcuate rail is fixed to a ceiling and extends parallel to a turning locus of a robot arm suspended form a ceiling surface. A second linear rail is attached to the first rail and is rotatable therearound while maintaining an orientation normal to the first rail. A gripper mounted on a forward end portion of the robot arm is suspended by a balancer from the second rail, or alternatively by a first link having one end rotatably fixed to the ceiling and connected at its other end to one end of a second link with the gripper suspended by a wire from a balancer mounted on the other end of the second link. With this arrangement, not only is the vertical load due to objects conveyed by the robot reduced, but the horizontal load due to the same is also reduced, even in a horizontal conveying operation.

Abstract: An apparatus for lowering articles from a building including a tower having a boom extending therefrom. A transfer carriage is slideably mounted on the boom and has a latching mechanism for engagement with an end plate on the boom. The carriage also has a mechanism for engaging a cage as the cage is raised by a cable to the carriage and disengaging the cage when the cage reaches the outer end of the boom. A cable mechanism in cooperation with powered drum members lowers and raises the cage while alternately raising and lowering a second cage which is on a boom with a transfer carriage identical to the first mentioned boom and transfer carriage. The rate of movement of the cable and therefore the rate of travel of the cages is controlled by a hydraulic motor connected to a closed loop conduit, the conduit having an orifice preset to regulate the flow of oil to and from the motor which in turn regulates the speed of the cable drums.

Abstract: A carriage is provided for guided movement along a skyline and includes guide structure for supporting a dragline for longitudinal shifting relative to the carriage. A skyline stop is provided for coaction with the carriage to limit downward movement of the carriage along the skyline and latch structure is shiftably supported from the carriage for movement between applied and released positions and is spring biased toward the applied position. The latch structure is engageable with the skyline stop to prevent upward movement of the carriage along the skyline from its lower limit position established by the stop upon movement of the latch structure to the applied position. Further, abutment structure is carried by the lower end of the dragline depending downwardly from the carriage and is engageable with the latch structure for swinging the latter to its released position.