Abstract: A lifting assembly for use with vacuum pads or the like includes a hollow load beam having a longitudinal slot in its bottom wall, a cross arm, and means suspending the cross arm below the load beam. The suspending means include a traversing member positioned within the load beam and above the longitudinal slot; roller means attached to the traversing member and in rolling contact with the internal surface of the load beam on either side of the slot; a non-rotatable traverse plate exterior to the load beam and below the traversing member; a rotation plate below and in rotationally sliding contact with the traverse plate, the top surface of the cross arm being attached to the bottom surface of the rotation plate; support means, preferably a vertical bolt, supporting the cross arm, rotation plate, and traverse plate below the traversing member and defining a vertical axis of rotation; and releasable means for locking the cross arm in any desired position along the load beam.

Abstract: A high speed automated injection system for avian embryos is provided which can inject eggs with fluid substances while they are being transferred from setting trays to hatching trays. The device includes suction devices which lift eggs out of engagement with trays, rather than pushing them, before injecting them. By providing separate mechanisms and devices for first forming an opening in the egg shell and then injecting the avian embryo or the surrounding environment with a fluid substance, the device avoids the undesirable mechanical compromise of using a single needle or punch to both puncture the shell of an egg and deliver fluid substances to the interior of the egg.

Abstract: A vacuum lifting arrangement for flat workpieces, such as lumber boards, lumber planks and the like includes a vertically and horizontally displaceable housing which forms a vacuum chamber, and an elastic sealing element arranged at the underside of the housing for conformingly contacting the workpiece and constituted either by a foamed material mat with suction apertures or by individual suction cups. The vacuum chamber is constructed as a vacuum accumulator and a valve plate is interposed between the housing and the sealing element. The interior of the valve plate is subdivided into a plurality of individual vacuum compartments each equipped with a valve and is connected with the vacuum chamber by a suction opening which can be selectively opened and closed. Each of the vacuum accumulator and the valve plate is provided with its own admission opening which communicates with the ambient atmosphere, such openings being openable and closable in unison.

Abstract: A heat softened glass sheet is lifted within a heating furnace by a vacuum pickup and moved to a shaping station adjacent the furnace where it is deposited on an aligning frame. The location of the sheet is identified and the frame is moved to position the supported glass sheet at a predetermined location between a pair of vertically aligned upper and lower full surface press faces. A shuttle frame which moves the vacuum pickup has integral vacuum passageways so that vacuum for the pickup can be drawn through the shuttle frame.

Abstract: A shuttling frame to support and move a vacuum pickup from a heating furnace to a shaping station. Vacuum for the pickup is drawn through the shuttling frame. The frame slidably engages a fixed guide rail along a longitudinally extending edge and slides on a set of rolls along the opposing edge such that the frame can expand both longitudinally and transversely without buckling.

Abstract: A glass sheet positioning system to correctly position a heat softened glass sheet between a pair of vertically aligned upper and lower full surface press faces. A video camera identifies a reference point on an edge of a glass sheet while supported on a frame between the press faces. A programmable computer and controller determine the distance between the reference point and a predetermined set point corresponding to the proper location between the press faces. The controller signals a drive that moves the frame with the glass sheet thereon to the proper predetermined position.

Abstract: A horizontal press bending arrangement wherein heat softened glass sheets are engaged by a shuttling vacuum pickup. The pickup and sheet are transferred out of the furnace and into a shaping station wherein the glass sheet is deposited and repositioned between a pair of vertically aligned full surface press faces.

Abstract: A pair of heat softened overlaying glass sheets are held by vacuum against an apertured engaging surface of a vacuum holder. The overlaying glass sheets can be shaped before, during, or after being held by the vacuum holder.

Abstract: A transfer boom assembly for panel type workpieces adapted for suspension from a reciprocal shuttle carriage comprises an elongated boom arm of circular cross section having a plurality of continuous parallel passages formed within and along the length thereof. An air fitting is selectively connected to one end of at least one passage and connected by a conduit to an air control valve connected to a source of pressurized air. A plurality of variably spaced air fittings are connected to the arm along its length respectively in communication with at least one pressurized passage. A plurality of variably spaced vacuum boom mounts are adjustably mounted upon the boom arm adjacent the outlet fittings respectively. Each mount includes a clamp mounted on and secured to the boom arm. A spreader bar at one end is connected to each clamp and adjustably mounts along its length a venturi vacuum cup assembly for supporting registry with a workpiece.

Abstract: The invention concerns a peripheral auxiliary system for the automatic feeding and unloading of a stamping/nibbling machine. In machines of this kind, the blanks have previously beed fed in by automatic devices. Other transport or depositing devices have been provided for the stamped parts and the stamped-out blanks. For these purposes, an industrial robot with a gripping mechanism is be used. According to the invention, the gripping mechanism of the robot is also designed to remove the stamped parts, and a stacking means is provided, whose delivery surface can be swiveled and displaced uniformly in one operation.

Abstract: An end effector apparatus for attachment to an industrial robot for transferring prepressed windshields to an autoclave tub. Vacuum cups engage and secure the windshield to the end effector for transfer of the windshield from an upender conveyor to the tub. A combination spacer clip sensing device and spacer clip retaining device senses the presence of a spacer clip on the top edge of the windshield and holds the clip in place during transfer.

Abstract: A vacuum mold for shaping hot glass sheets having a rigid back plate, a flexible perforated lower shaping wall, adjustable spacers positioned between the back plate and shaping wall and easily removable side wall members that seal the vacuum chamber and allow easy access to the internal adjustable spacers. The peripheral edge portions of a refractory cloth which covers the mold is coated with heat resistant silicone rubber to seal the vacuum chamber of the mold.

Abstract: A vacuum press for shaping both left and right hand sidelights, quarterlights and the like which are asymmetric in bend and mirror images of each other. The shaping surfaces of the mold have certain overlapping shaping areas that shape both the left and right hand windows and additional shaping areas bend only the left or right hand window. A timing sequence positions each glass sheet to be bent at the correct location between the shaping surface of the molds.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed using a robot to load and unload precut pieces of sheet molding compound and the like between an upper die and a lower die of a sheet molding press.

Abstract: A device can be applied to a lifting and/or transporting unit for the controlled support of loads by generating a vacuum in one or more suction pads. The device includes a vacuum gauge measuring the vacuum level in at least one of the suction pads and safely controlling movement of the device. A safety system prevents erroneous dropping of the suspended load. The suction pads for gripping the load can be mounted on a holding frame which can be changed and/or lengthened for accommodating various types of loads.

Abstract: A vacuum gripper for holding objects having curved surfaces includes a plurality of hollow arms extending outwardly from a flex axis. The arms are individually flexible with respect to the flex axis and normally lie in the same plane. Each arm supports a vacuum cup at the free end thereof. The arms individually flex when the cups contact a curved surface so that all cups grasp the object firmly irrespective of the configuration of the curved surface.

Abstract: The invention relates to a variable-configuration head for seizing and handling objects, which head comprises a frame from which are suspended supports for seizing members through the medium of three links swivelled both to the supports and to the frame, the supports being geometrically equivalent to two identical articulated parallelograms having opposite angles at one common vertex, so as to allow the supports to be joined together transversely or longitudinally to modify the configuration of the group of objects held by the seizing members.

Abstract: An extensible head for seizing and reorienting a group of objects includes a frame to which is swivelled a member which drives swivelled first links to cause the translation of carriages on which are rotatably mounted supports for gripping members, these supports being connected to a plate by second links swivelled to the plate and to lugs provided on the supports.

Abstract: An apparatus for transferring articles, such as eggs, from one station to another. The eggs are arranged in a predetermined configuration at the first or transfer station, and deposited at a second station in a different array or configuration. The transfer head, which contains egg engaging and lifting members in the form of vacuum cups, includes a first and second carrier section, each of which retains one-half of the array or egg engaging positions. The carrier sections are interconnected by linkage members which, when rotated, change the array configuration from a first position to a second position without the need for rotating the entire transfer head and the articles being carried.

Abstract: An apparatus for transferring individual trays of eggs from the top of adjacently spaced stacks onto a conveyor member. A lifting head is provided for each stack of egg trays and includes thereon vacuum cups which are engagable with each of the individual eggs in the uppermost tray. A vacuum actuated gripper is further provided with each lifting head assembly for engaging and lifting the uppermost tray away from the remainder of the stack. Each lifting head assembly is associated with a rotatable drive to effect rotation during transfer while also moving adjacently spaced lifting head assemblies with respect to one another in order to avoid contact during simultaneous rotation of adjacent lifting head assemblies. Relative movement between each head assembly and the respective support platform is also provided to accommodate variations in height between adjacent stacks to insure proper engagement with the uppermost tray to be transferred.

Abstract: A flow regulating valve comprising a cylinder and a valve rod telescopically fitted within said cylinder, and a flow passage of small sectional area being formed therebetween so as to control flow of the fluid by adjusting depth of the fitting of the valve rod within the cylinder.The valve is capable of fine and accurate adjustment of the flow rate over a wider range than in the conventional needle valve regulator. A flow regulating valve capable of controlling flow of one direction and permit rapid flow of the opposite direction is also provided by using a check valve together.Further, a fluid feeding apparatus which is capable of feeding the fluid for a predetermined time interval is provided, by using such flow regulating valve, and a fast acting vacuum chuck device is provided by using such a fluid feeding apparatus.

Abstract: A frame has (1) a pair of arms parallel to one another and normal to a third arm, each arm having a movable dog for orienting a sheet and (2) a plurality of arms each having cups through which a vacuum is pulled to secure the oriented sheet to the frame and through which pressurized fluid is moved to bias the sheet away from the frame.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for automatically constructing prefabricated wall sections of brick wall panels with a tile lining. A prefabricated brick wall panel has columns of mortar disposed in parallel strips thereon, a lining panel of unconnected tile members is assembled, proper spacing being introduced between each of the tile members, and the tile members are transferred in groups or en masse to a position over the wall panel. The lining panel members are then firmly pressed into engagement with the wall panel with mortar columns therealong, thereby forming a completed wall section. Preferred apparatus includes vacuum grippers, scissor-connected link spacing means, and flatbed cars movable on tracks to a position below automatic mortar applying means.

Abstract: A frame has (1) a pair of parallel arms normal to a third arm with each arm having a rotating L-shaped member for orienting a sheet and (2) a plurality of cups through which a vacuum is drawn to secure the oriented sheet to the frame and through which fluid is moved under pressure to bias the sheet away from the frame.

Abstract: A vacuum suspension for handling large size plates, especially concrete building parts that are still of low strength and brittle. The suspension is a stiff case forming the carrying structure frame having the vacuum pumps on its top. The inside of the case is divided by a baffle into a work vacuum chamber and decompression chamber. The latter is separated by a holed plate from a foam rubber sheet, having suction cups shaped therein. The holed plate of the suspension has self controlled fluidic disk valves of low inertia.

Abstract: The invention relates to plate handling apparatus of the type essentially comprising a plurality of vacuum suction cups for gripping a sheet of metal, plastic, glass or the like and wherein power cylinders respectively support and power the suction cups for bodily movement to and from a plate to be lifted and wherein additionally, the suction cups are attached to the end of their piston rod by a ball and socket connection with a member being provided to prevent rotation while permitting swivelling action.

Abstract: This invention relates to a new and useful apparatus for efficiently collating flanged packages at a high speed and then positioning them in a packing carton. The apparatus comprises a collator head assmbly having a plurality of collator heads adjacent one another in a preset configuration. A plurality of air cylinders coupled to the collator heads move the heads in an inward-outward relationship relative to each other enabling collation of the packages attached to the collator heads. Means are provided to enable the collator heads to pick up packages in a preset configuration, transport them to a packaging carton and place them therein.

Abstract: A self-cleaning, non-clogging seed-planting valve which functions in an alternating cycle of applied vacuum and atmospheric pressure. The valve is formed from an elongated housing, having a hollow core, and to the lower end of which a nozzle is attached. The nozzle has an upper internal diameter less than that of the hollow core, and a reduced lower internal diameter which provides a flat valve-seating surface. A center shaft, coaxially-disposed and vertically movable within the hollow core, has a reduced cross section at its lower end which terminates as a cleaning wire capable of extending into and through the nozzle. A flat gasket valve slidably engages the cleaning wire and contacts the valve-seating surface as the center shaft moves downwardly through the hollow core. The seed planter constitutes a box-like vacuum chamber to the lower surface of which a plurality of the seed-planting valves are connected in spaced-apart relationship.

Abstract: The invention shows a device for displacing an egg-tray filled with eggs, provided with supporting members bearing the weight of the tray and a suction device sucking the eggs and bearing their weight during the displacement of the egg-tray.

Abstract: A storage installation comprising a plurality of automatic pick-up devices for article picking operations. The automatic pick-up device having a frame cross beam with mounted gripping mechanisms on the bottom side depending in construction on the articles to be picked up. The automatic pick-up device is moved by means of automatic load gripping devices within a load area of a storage installation. Four horizontally extendable locking arms are mounted on the frame cross beam of the automatic pick-up device. For an operation cycle of the load gripping device with pick-up device, the telescopable elements of the load gripping device effect an activator circuit for extension of the locking arms which then engage in locking counterparts mounted on the telescopable elements. After this, the load gripping device moves with suspended pick-up device to table rollers or empty pallets within the load area for article entrance and exit operation.

Abstract: A load-lifting device comprises a generally horizontal frame to be lifted and a plurality of load-engaging carriers movable by means of actuators along said supporting frame in a direction, in which the carriers form a row. Every two adjacent carriers are interconnected by a group of actuators that is operable independently of all the other actuator groups, and only one of said interconnected carriers is connected to the frame by actuator means defining the position of all said interconnected carriers relative to the frame.

Abstract: A vacuum lifting device for lifting articles having curved surfaces comprises at least one suction cup having a vacuum chamber subdivided into a plurality of segments which are displaceable relative to one another to conform to the surface of the article and means to automatically lock the segments at this position. More specifically, as a vacuum is formed in a vacuum chamber on the upper side of the segments and lifting force is applied to the vacuum cup, the segments are automatically locked into position at the predetermined configuration corresponding to the curvature of the article being lifted. Upon release of the lifting force, a biasing means returns the segments from their locked configuration to a released position.

Abstract: Apparatus for lifting tightly spaced bottles from cases, spreading the rows of bottles apart and placing the bottles on a bottle conveyor having spaced lanes. The apparatus includes a carriage having a plurality of elongated manifolds, each supporting rows of bottle grippers, the carriage having means for shifting the manifolds laterally with respect to each other to vary the spacing between rows of grippers.

Abstract: An article transfer apparatus and method is provided wherein a plurality of article pickup heads mounted on a movable support means is operative to pick up a plurality of spaced articles at a transfer station and move the articles to an output area while the array of articles is being compacted or spread, as desired. The adjustment of the space between the articles is accomplished by making the pickup heads in the form of collapsible suction cups with anti-collapse stiffening means on one side of the cups to tilt the articles either inwardly or outwardly with respect to the original article pattern. The stiffening means in the suction cup includes wedge members mounted in annular folds of the cup and interconnecting beads between the wedge members. The bottom fold is normally not provided with a wedge member and the lip serves to seal the cup on the article. A bifurcated wedge member is provided on the top of the cup and serves to cooperate with index means on the movable support.