Abstract: A guide jig for lifting an outer wall member of a curtain wall is constructed principally of a nearly L-shaped arm having two legs extending in two directions making a predetermined angle therebetween. First and second brackets are connected to tip end portions of the respective legs of the arm so as to be rotatable about respective axes substantially perpendicular to a plane containing the arm, first and second sliders are fixedly secured to the first and second brackets, respectively, and a rope engaging member is provided at a tip end portion of one leg of the arm.

Abstract: Apparatus for the transfer of a module, the module including an outer casing in which is held the stator stage and a turbine rotor constituted by disks supporting blade rows, the disks being held by tie bolts, the apparatus having a holding device of the outer casing on the balancing machine, a temporary interconnection means of the disks of the turbine, and a transport device ensuring the securing of the turbine disks after withdrawal of the holding device.

Abstract: A robot system for use with a machine tool having a spindle, comprising a robot having a body for being mounted on the machine tool, an arm pivotally mounted on the body and rotatable in a plane transverse to an axial direction of the spindle of the machine tool, and a hand mounted on a distal end of said arm for gripping a workpiece for transfer to the machine tool, and a workpiece feeder disposed adjacent to the robot and movably supporting a succession of pallets for carrying unmachined and machined workpieces thereon.

Abstract: An apparatus for unloading a cured tire from a tire vulcanizing press, said apparatus including a tire support member tiltably mounted on a liftable support member; a mechanism for moving the tire support member horizontally toward and away from the center forming mechanism of the tire curing press for receiving and unloading a cured tire; a mechanism for tilting the tire support member toward a tire discharging side of the press at a lifted position over the center forming mechanism thereof; and a guide cam member fixedly located in association with the lifted tilting position of the tire support member for guiding the same toward a lower tire discharge point in a predetermined tilted posture.

Abstract: A robot arm attachment tool for handling workpieces, such as information recording disks. The tool is self aligning, has enhanced load handling load capacities and is able to handle workpieces having sensitive surfaces without damage to same. The tool is attached to the robot arm so as to allow the main portion of the tool to translate freely in a horizontal plane and to freely pivot about a center axis of the tool. The tool centers itself over a workpiece to be lifted, and has a pressurizable chamber having a piston for allowing powered removal of workpieces which is connected to housings which in turn engage workpieces to be lifted. In operation, the robot arm first generally centers and lowers the tool over the workpiece. The tool then precisely centers itself over the workpiece. The free attachment of the tool allows the tool to tilt and translate in a horizontal plane as the tool comes in contact with the workpiece, for a precise fit.

Abstract: Panel-like members are aligned as they are transferred sequentially from a pick-up station to a discharge station by a primary carriage mounted for linear movement selectively to the pick-up position and to a position adjacent the discharge station. At least one extensible, secondary carriage is carried by the primary carriage and is rotatable about a vertical axis selectively to a transport position and to an aligned position and is movable linearly to an extended position and to a retracted position. The secondary carriage and a pick-up head carried thereby is movable selectively to an upper transport position and to a lower pick-up and discharge position. Linear movement of the primary carriage is stopped prior to its reaching the discharge station with the secondary carriage being movable toward an extended position after movement of the primary carriage is stopped.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to an apparatus for removing or replacing a ships underwater propulsion shaft in a dry dock and transporting it from the ship to a work area. It has a mobile vehicular frame and a pair of spaced apart main cylinder ram lifts pivoted at their base to the vehicular frame, each lying beneath a primary and secondary shaft support for carrying the shaft to be removed. The shaft receiving and removing means is mounted at the upper ends of said main cylinder ram lifts. Auxiliary tilt cylinder and ram means each having one end pivoted to said vehicular frame and the other end pivotally connected to tilt the main cylinder and ram lifts toward and away from the ships part to be removed from or replaced on the ship.

Abstract: A material finishing line which includes a plurality of finishing tanks disposed in a linear array and a self-propelled hoist movable along an elongated track extending parallel to the finishing line. The hoist includes a base which contains the propulsion and control mechanism, and a guide fixedly projecting upwardly from the base. A pick-up arm is slidably carried on the guide and is cantilevered therefrom over the finishing line so as to pass over successive tank locations as the hoist is propelled along the track. The pick-up arm is raised and lowered by an hydraulic ram coupled to the base, and is held in horizontal orientation by a pair of chains trained around sprockets affixed to the guide and attached to the pick-up arm.

Abstract: A controlled temperature deposition device comprising an inner reaction chamber having gas distribution means for introducing gas into inner chamber and removing gas therefrom and a vacuum chamber means surrounding the inner deposition chamber and spaced from the walls thereof for maintaining a medium vacuum therein. Associated with the deposition device is a substrate loading and unloading fork which transfers substrates such as wafer boats from outside the device to a position in the inner deposition chamber and removes them from the inner deposition chamber following deposition.

Abstract: An aerial weapons handling trailer includes a frame comprising longitudinally extending beams and a cross beam interconnecting the front ends of the longitudinally extending beams. The frame is supported on wheels which are pivotable between positions wherein the trailer is movable longitudinally and positioned wherein the trailer is movable laterally. The wheels include drive motors for positioning the trailer. A plurality of lift arms are pivotally supported on the longitudinally extending beams of the frame and in turn support lift beams. The lift arms include inwardly offset portions, and the lift beams are separated by a distance not greater than the width of a weapons package that is lifted and positioned by the trailer. The lift arms are actuated by hydraulic cylinders which are provided with load lock valves to prevent inadvertent lowering of the load carried by the lift beams.

Abstract: A head for an industrial robot comprising, a head body mounted on an end of an arm of the industrial robot, an internal motor, a nut member and a guide member rotatably supported by the head body. A belt drive device is provided between the motor and the nut member. A screw rod passes through and threadedly engages with the nut member. A spline shaft has at a lower end an operating chuck. A connecting device connects the screw rod and the spline shaft to each other in a sealable manner and slide members for preventing rotation of the screw rod. A fluid is supplied to operate the chuck through passages formed in the screw rod and the spline shaft.

Abstract: A lifting device and method of using the device is disclosed. The device and method may be used to stock a structure such as a high-rise building under construction or an off-shore gas or oil drilling rig. The device in the preferred embodiment contains a pair of booms carried by a pair of boom carriages which are pivoted on a frame attached to the outside of the structure. The booms are capable of moving transversely on the frame and longitudinally within the boom carriages. A trolley and disappearing cargo block are positioned in the booms. Self-climbing features may also be incorporated in the device for stocking several elevations of the structure. The novel device also allows longer cargo to be lifted and turned approximately 90.degree. and moved into the structure. The device may also be installed permanently on the structure and positioned in a non-operative vertical position and pivoted to an operative horizontal position.

Abstract: A vehicle and method for raising elongated objects, especially for raising pipes and the like to a ceiling structure in the construction of a building. The vehicle has a pair of transversely extending support stands and a lift such as a scissors lift adjacent each. On top of each lift is a saddle for supporting an object to be raised and a transversely extendable rod with a hook end. A platform may be removably attached to each lift. In the method of operation of the invention to lift an elongated pipe, the rod and the lifts are utilized to engage a pipe in a stockpile and lift the same onto the support stands. Thereafter the lifts are lowered, the elongated pipe is rolled to be over the saddles of the lifts, and the lifts are raised to raise the pipe up to its desired position in the ceiling structure.

Abstract: A gripping mechanism is mounted on a carriage and is adapted to be shifted back and forth along an inverted L-shaped path to pick up and transfer parts. Inverted L-shaped cam tracks are formed in a main support member and receive and guide rollers which support the carriage. The cam tracks and the rollers are arranged to allow the rollers to roll freely without skidding while preventing radial play between the rollers and the tracks. A flexible drive linkage is connected between the carriage and its actuator and is capable of yielding in both directions in order to prevent damage to the actuator if the carriage becomes jammed when the carriage is being either advanced or retracted. Before being picked up by the gripping mechanism, the parts are held in a track by an escapement having spring-biased fingers adapted to move between open and closed positions.

Abstract: A cargo container handling assembly mounted on the lift beam of a mobile vehicle to transport and stack a cargo container. A bridge secured to the lift means accommodates a pair of vertically movable supports. Struts carried by the supports have balls on their upper and lower ends for movably supporting a carrier adapted to be locked onto a cargo container. Fluid operated cylinders are selectively operable to provide the carrier with tilt, skew, lateral shift, and fore and aft movements. Fluid motors are operable to selectively raise and lower the supports to change the elevation of the spreader independent of the lift beam and provide the carrier with pile slope movements.

Abstract: A lift unit for a punch press comprising of a housing having a back plate mountable upon the press. A pair of upright tracks are mounted upon the back plate and spaced from a feed screw journaled upon the back plate. Spaced bearing blocks are secured upon outer edges of the carriage plate, each bearing block supporting a plurality of right angularly related cam followers operatively engaging opposite sides of the tracks and adjacent outer edges thereof for guidably mounting the carriage plate upon the tracks for reciprocal movements. A nut is secured to the carriage plate and threaded onto the feed screw. An encoder is connected to the feed screw. A programmable control or computer numerical control is connected to the motor and an electronic encoder feedback circuit interconnects the encoder with the programmable control or the computer numerical control.

Abstract: A movable frame slidably supported on a mobile chassis, pivot points on each of opposite sides of the movable frame, a pair of extendable members pivotally mounted at one end to each of said pivot points, the other ends of each extendable member being pivoted at spaced points on the chassis and means for individually and independently actuating the extendable members to position the movable frame about the top side of the chassis. The movable frame can rotatably support a load-carrying table and polytetrafluoroethylene plates may be used as bearing surfaces between the chassis and the movable frame and the movable frame and the rotatable table.

Abstract: An industrial robot, having a manipulative robot hand for mounted on a vertically movable portion thereof moved by a vertical drive, provided with a load reducing pneumatic cylinder for applying a constant upward force to the vertically movable portion during the vertical movement of the portion and an air storage tank or tanks directly connected to the pneumatic cylinder for continuously supplying air under a desired fixed pressure. The upward force contributes to reducing a load applied to the vertical drive. The air storage tank or tanks contributes to ensuring mechanical rigidity of the industrial robot.

Abstract: A lifting and positioning apparatus particularly suited for use in the installation of wing-mounted airplane engines includes superposed upper and lower load-bearing support platforms that are connected to one another by means of a jack mechanism operable to raise and lower the upper platform while supported by the lower platform. The lower platform includes and is movably supportable on fluid cushion bearings. The upper platform supports a plurality of resilient elastomeric elevator bellows that are positioned and adapted to receive and support a heavy object, such as an aircraft engine, while cushioned against application of excessive lifting force. The bellows are independently inflatable and deflatable to effect raising and lowering of selected portions of the aircraft engine and thereby rotate the engine to desired angular orientations. Alternatively, the bellows may be actuated conjointly to effect uniform vertical raising or lowering of the aircraft engine.

Abstract: An adapter for use with lift forks or the like of a lift truck to allow v accurate positioning of ordnance and the like for attachment to aircraft. The adapter comprises a base which is supported or secured to the lift forks and includes an ordnance load carrying cradle carried on a trolley mechanism that allows degrees of freedom in the fore/aft and lateral directions.

Abstract: A lift unit is mountable upon a press or machine tool and comprises a housing having a back plate mounting a pair of upright guide rods and journal an upright feed screw. A carriage has a carriage plate guidably mounted upon the rods and threadably engaging the feed screw. A programmable DC motor upon the housing has a drive shaft coupled to the feed screw. An angularly adjustable support cradle depends from the carriage below the housing and is adapted to mount a workpiece gripper tool adapted for programmed transverse controlled reciprocal movements relative to the press. An electronic encoder upon the motor controls the direction and number of rotations of its drive shaft for effecting a programmed repetitive cycle of predetermined feed movements of the carriage.

Abstract: A hydro-pneumatic positioner for a trailer for the support and transport of a wing engine, to be used for the removal/or installation of the wing engines of aircrafts or the like, comprising a basic structure fixed to four air-cushion devices, and supporting, by means of four hydraulic lifting cylinders or jacks and hoisting chains, a frame for the support of the trailer and of the engine. The front cylinders of said hydraulic cylinders are fixed to the basic structure, while the rear cylinders can be selectively simultaneously brought and held in vertical position, or turned over to contact the ground by means of a third pair of double-acting hydraulic cylinders or jacks. The basic structure also houses or supports: the hydraulic and pneumatic devices for the actuation of the positioner mechanisms; the adjustment devices for control means and protection means; and at least one air supply pipe to be connected to an external compressed air source.

Abstract: A heavy and elongate recumbent load, such as a missile, is floatingly supported by two pairs of hydraulic pistons engaging it forwardly and rearwardly of its center of gravity, the pistons of each pair being oppositely inclined at 45.degree. to the horizontal. Each piston is part of a single-acting jack whose cylinder has its bottom end connected via a pair of antiparallel check valves to a source of hydraulic fluid, such as a pump in parallel with an accumulator, whose pressure substantially balances the component of the load bearing upon the respective piston. Each check valve has a bising spring so adjusted that it allows the valve to open in response to a manual force applied to the load near the point of attack of the associated piston whereby the load can be reoriented by hand, e.g. for alignment with a launching tube into which a missile is to be inserted with the aid of a carriage equipped with the four hydraulic jacks.

Abstract: A handling apparatus adapted for transferring machined pieces from one station to another. A hollow cylindrical arm is mounted vertically movable upon a frame which is laterally movable along a guide rail. Within the hollow arm are positioned an operating rod and a coaxial inner cylinder with a spring disposed between the ends of the inner cylinder and the cylindrical arm for biasing the inner cylindrical arm downwardly. A clamper including fingers which are spreadable by operation of the operational rod is formed at the lower position of the inner cylinder. Control switches for vertically moving the assembly are mounted alongside a control device positioned atop the inner cylinder and controlling the movement of the operational rod.

Abstract: A dolly for use in the installation of a jet engine in an aircraft compartment. The dolly has longitudinal guide rails placed in the compartment and a device including two lateral guide rails and a lower, median guide rail; a foldable and removable front cradle carrying two runners and capable of being attached to the front of the engine, the runners cooperating with the lateral guide rails; a rear cradle that is removable and equipped with a runner cooperating with the lower median guide rail; a frame to which the lateral guide rails are adjustably attached; means for the vertical displacement and the longitudinal displacement of the frame.

Abstract: An apparatus for accurately positioning an object such as a radiation probe within a defined three dimensional space has a pair of support bars extending along each of three perpendicular axes defining said space with bearing block supports slidably mounted along each set of support rods. A cable drive for each direction of movement is provided to move these bearing blocks including a drive motor, a drum assembly including a capstan and cable guide, a drive cable, and a plurality of pulleys spaced along the system to achieve a balanced movement of the system in the associated direction. The cable is aligned so that each section of its run is either perpendicular or parallel to its other sections and is arranged with the capstan and cable guide so that there is an increase of tension as the cable is reeled in and a decrease of tension as the cable is payed out to reduce the stretching of the cable as the apparatus is operated.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to an apparatus for removing or replacing ships underwater parts such as a screw from the propulsion shaft or the rudder of a ship in a dry dock and transporting it from the ship to a work area. It has a mobile vehicular frame and a pair of spaced apart main cylinder ram lifts pivoted at their base to the vehicular frame, one lying to each side of the ships part either screw or rudder to be removed. The part receiving and cradling apparatus is mounted at the upper ends of said main cylinder ram lifts. Auxiliary tilt cylinders and rams each having one end pivoted to said vehicular frame and the other end pivotally connected to tilt the main cylinder and ram lifts toward and away from the ships part to be removed from or replaced on the ship.

Abstract: This invention relates to a hoist suitable for elevation or lowering of articles such as vehicle transmissions. The hoist includes a support member, a frame and an actuating cable anchored to the frame. There is also provided control means for controlling movement of the cable. The actuating cable operably engages with the support member so as to cause elevation of lowering thereof.

Abstract: The invention has hoist means to elevate or lower Panels, such as sheetrock, wall board and plywood and the like, and, exactly place and fit panels of same on the ceilings of rooms in a building. The hoist means is supported on a platform having rollers thereunder to facilitate moving the same about on the floor opposite the ceiling in a room. On top of activated hoist post is an I-frame on top of which is a slidable sliding frame both lengthwise and sidewise activated by rope means wound around a drum whereby said sliding frame may be shifted lengthwise on said I-frame, and, other rope means wound around said drum after freeing the first named rope means from said drum whereby said H-frame is slidable sidewise over said I-frame.

Abstract: An operator member erection system having a laterally remote center including an operator member having a longitudinal axis; support means for defining a remote center of compliance laterally spaced from a longitudinal axis of the operator member and including means for interconnecting the operator member with support means for enabling the operator member to move about a remote center to vary the orientation of the operator member longitudinal axis relative to the support means as the operator member moves between an extended and a retracted position; and an insertion system which utilizes the operator member erection system in combination with a remote center compliance device.

Abstract: A battery changing apparatus for replacing a spent battery with a charged one on an electrically powered vehicle including a support with at least two battery support sections for supporting batteries adapted for use on an electrically powered vehicle. A spent battery is removed from the vehicle and transferred to one of the support sections. The relative positions of the apparatus for removing and transferring the battery and the support can be changed so that a charged battery can be removed from another support section. The apparatus for removing and transferring the battery can remove the charged battery from the other support and transfer it to the vehicle.

Abstract: An industrial robot, having a robot hand mounted on a vertically movable body which is vertically moved by a vertical feed motor being provided with a load reducing means which includes a cylinder means for applying a constant upward force to the vertically movable body during the vertical movement of the body. The upward force contributes to reducing a load applied to the vertical feed motor.

Abstract: An arrangement for assembling and conveying a number of elongated cylindrical loads such as aerial bombs, the loads being collectively supported in a carrier, includes an elongated single load supply track for delivering single ones of the loads to a collecting location. A positioning device at the collecting location arranges three of the loads from the supply track in a triangular configuration so that the axes of the single loads extend parallel to one another. The positioning device includes first and second load stands each arranged to support a different one of the single loads at the same level as the single loads on the supply track. A third load stand between the first and second load stands supports a third single load, and a mechanism associated with the third load stand lowers the third load from the level of the supply track to a certain level below that of the loads supported on the first and second stands.

Abstract: A workpiece transfer apparatus for transferring a workpiece for a machine tool. A first crank arm is rotatably supported and rotatably supports a planet gear engaging with a stationary gear and a driven gear engaging with the planet gear. A second crank arm is secured to the driven gear and fixedly supports a crank pin. A connecting member for lifting and lowering a workpiece grip device is pivotably connected to the crank pin. The crank pin has a cam member secured thereto. An operating member is provided with a cam follower engaging with the cam member and is operatively connected to the workpiece grip device for opening and closing the same in accordance with the shape of the cam member.

Abstract: A general purpose assembly machine of linear indexing type comprising a pallet guide for indexing a plurality of pallets, an elevator block making a rise and fall motion, and a pair of tool plates attached to the elevator block and making a linear and reciprocal motion in a direction parallel to or in a direction making a predetermined angle against an indexing direction of the pallets, wherein a plurality of working heads fixed at the tool plates make a combined horizontal and vertical motion thereby transferring parts from and onto the pallets.

Abstract: Installation apparatus for installing pre-assembled escalators having upper and lower ends in an operating position between upper and lower landings, including wheeled support apparatus for supporting and transporting an escalator. Scissors lift apparatus mounted on the wheeled support apparatus, and a pivotal escalator truss support and locater assembly mounted on the scissors lip apparatus, cooperate to provide both vertical and angular adjustment of the escalator, in order to permit the upper end to be aligned with and then supported by a support wall associated with the upper landing, and to permit its lower end to be subsequently lowered into a pit associated with the floor of the lower landing.

Abstract: An end position control robot constituted by a compound robot comprising a weight control apparatus a weight control robot having a link arm robot and a position control apparatus of a position control robot, both the apparatus being mechanically associated. The weight control apparatus is constructed so as to bear vertical load to control a vertical position and the position control apparatus is constructed in such a manner that a working end portion of the weight control apparatus is moved in a horizontal direction to carry out positioning, which leads to a precise positioning of the end portion of the arm in the case of load being transferred.

Abstract: A telephone central office main frame system is disclosed in which jumper wire terminations are placed by an automatic mechanism in response to control signals. The terminals are laid out in vertical lines having troughs therebetween in which the jumper wires lie. By alternating rows of input and output terminals, a large degree of flexibility of interconnection is obtained. In particular, a rotating pick-up head secures a twisted jumper wire pair from a reel source, automatically terminates one end of the wire pair in one set of preselected terminals, runs the jumper wires through the trough to the vicinity of the other terminals and, finally, automatically terminates the other ends in the preselected terminals.

Abstract: An apparatus for and a method of nesting pipes of varying diameters or unnesting the resulting assembly into individual pipes for efficient transport of the pipes. The apparatus comprises a support arm for supporting a pipe with the arm extending therethrough, a support member for supporting the pipe thereon, a lift for raising or lowering one of the support arm and the support member, e.g. the support member, and a carriage movable axially of the pipe and equipped with the above-mentioned one support element, e.g. the liftable support member. By the movement of the carriage, a pipe on one of the support arm and support member is fitted around the other or around another pipe thereon, or nested pipes are separated. In the above-mentioned example, a pipe on the support member is fitted around the support arm or another pipe thereon.

Abstract: In order to facilitate the retrieval and launching of a pipeline scraper, as well as intermediate handling including transportation and cleaning, a trailer-mounted cradle apparatus is employed. The cradle is vertically adjustable to accomodate different heights of incoming and launching traps. An integral reel and cable unit is provided to assist in pulling a scraper from an incoming trap into the cradle and, optionally, to start the scraper into a launching trap.

Abstract: A multi-function end effector for performing operations on equipment located in areas where human access is limited comprises a vertical support capable of being supported in the equipment on which the operations are to be performed, such as a nuclear steam generator, along with a table attached to the vertical support. The table is capable of positioning tools in relation to the equipment and is capable of driving the tools. The table comprises a centering device for positioning the tools in proper relation to the equipment.

Abstract: A pallet positioner is used to locate a pair of pallets in selected positions on the turntable of a concrete pipe making machine. The pallet positioner has a frame supported for vertical movement on upright supports below the turntable. A hydraulic cylinder connected to the frame operates to move the frame up and down. A pallet guide and positioning structure connected to the frame is moved up through holes in the turntable to support pallets above the turntable. The form assembly having two jackets is placed over the raised pallets and locked into the bell sections of the jackets. The form assembly has lock structures which hold the pallets in the bell section of the jackets. The frame and pallet guide and positioning structure is then lowered away from the turntable. The form assembly is moved by the turntable to locate the jackets in vertical alignment with two packerheads. A gear box mounted on a cross head is connected to downwardly directed packerhead shafts operable to rotate the packerheads.

Abstract: An auxiliary device for use with vertical turning and boring machine tools having rotary work surfaces. The auxiliary device has a generally circular-shaped pallet and a support or mounting frame for supporting the pallet. The pallet has a hub for centering the pallet on a rotary work surface of a machine tool or for centering the pallet on the mounting frame. The pallet is fixed in such manner to the mounting frame that it can rotate with respect to the mounting frame and is fixed to the machine tool in such manner that it rotates with the rotary work surface. The pallet includes a plurality of radially extending openings which are engageable by clamping devices to position one or more workpieces in a desired position on the pallet. The mounting block has a central portion for supporting the hub of the pallet and radially extending arms having rollers engageable with a circular track positioned on the bottom surface of the pallet. One of the rollers is driven to rotate the pallet.

Abstract: A jacking assembly for positioning portable structures, mobile homes or the like includes at least two vertically operating jacks arranged as a pair on an elongated roller bed, which may be arranged in a parallel fashion with a second pair of jacks on a second roller bed. A horizontal operating jack associates one vertically operating jack with the roller bed to provide movement thereto. An adjustable link interconnects the one vertically operating jack on the roller bed so that the movement imposed upon the one vertically operating jack of the pair by the horizontal jack is translated to the other vertically operating jack. A hydraulic control system is provided to selectively actuate individual jacks from a position remote of the roller beds.

Abstract: A horizontally adjustable shuttle mount includes a main frame mountable upon a column of a press which has a bed. The frame includes a pair of horizontal vertically spaced tubes of square cross section with the upper tube having a pair of top walls inclined at 45 degrees to the vertical. The lower tube has an upright side wall. An upright carriage plate spans said tubes and is adapted to mount an automation unit for loading blanks and unloading formed panels from the bed of the press. A pair of 90-degree related cam roller followers are journalled upon opposite end portions of the carriage plate upon axes inclined at 45 degrees to the vertical and are supportably mounted upon the upper tube top walls. A pair of laterally spaced cam roller followers are journalled upon lower portions of the carriage plate and operatively engage the lower tube side wall.

Abstract: A supporting and handling device located adjacent a tire processing machine for positioning and/or removing a tire, either in its cured or uncured state, to or from the holding device of said machine. The device is provided with an adjustable contoured surface that may be raised and lowered for handling said tire while same is being positioned upon or removed from the building drum or mandrel and while being moved to a position for further handling.

Abstract: An improved setting and stacking arrangement for setting and stacking articles in a cross-bracing manner. The arrangement has a gripping mechanism which is movable in a transverse and longitudinal direction and rotatable about a vertical axis and also can be lowered and lifted in a vertical direction. The gripping mechanism includes at least one pair of gripper arms having rotary gripper plates at their free ends. The gripper arms are slidably movable on a guide rod of the gripping mechanism and one gripper plate can be rotated by a rotary drive mechanism.

Abstract: A motorized carriage for depositing and removing heated metal articles such as cast or rolled slabs, into and from adjacent compartments of an enlongated cooling basin. The carriage consists of a movable carrier crossbeam which has several vertical downwardly extending rotatable spaced-apart fingers, each having two horizontal perpendicular extensions. Upon a 90.degree. rotation the fingers release a hot slab and grasp a cooled slab.