Abstract: An apparatus for turning over a package (9) through 180.degree. out of a first position (I) on a supply conveyor (6) into a second position (II) on a removal conveyor (12), a frame (2) mounted on the floor (1) being provided to support a propulsion unit provided with a driving motor (13). To provide a turn-over apparatus for a tubular package, the propulsion unit (15, 20) comprises a movable linear carriage driven between the two positions (I, II) and a stationary slotted guide (20) with a control cam (22) and at least one gripper element is movably mounted in the linear carriage and is rigidly connected to a follower roller (24) guided in the control cam (22).

Abstract: An oil tube bundle positioning device (26) for supporting and restraining oil cooler tube bundles (10) so that they can be safely oriented from one position to another, e.g., from a vertical position to a horizontal position, for cleaning and servicing. The positioning device (26) includes a substantially rigid beam element (28), a first plate (30) fixed to the beam element (28) and a second plate (32) movably supported by the beam element (28) and spaced from the first plate (30). The positioning device is designed to receive an oil tube bundle (10) in the spacing between the first and second plates (30, 32). A plurality of tapered dowels (42) extend from each of the first and second plates (30, 32). Each dowel (42) is positioned to engage an end of a tube (14) of the tube bundle (10) upon the tube bundle (10) being received between the first and second plates (30, 32).

Abstract: An alignment station for elements such as semiconductor wafers on a robot arm uses a rotating support and edge detector which in combination are operative to place a wafer on the rotating support, detect wafer alignment, move the wafer to bring it into alignment either on the rotating support itself or onto a separate station.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for lifting, inverting, and stacking trailer chassis has a pair of support arms engageable with arms of a forklift vehicle and a frame pivotally mounted on outer ends of the support arms. The frame is mounted by engagement of pivot pins on the arm ends with apertures in side members of the frame, the apertures being located inwardly from the center of the length of the side members. This off-center placement of the axis of rotation of the frame enables it to be rotated when the forklift arms are raised without requiring power other than normal forklift lifting power. Clamps including a fixed L-shaped bracket and a cooperating slideable bracket are provided on the underside of the frame for engaging chassis beams of a trailer. A locking pin for securing the frame in a position generally coplanar with the support arms is also provided.

Abstract: A pallet inspection and stacking apparatus having a frame with an upper end. An elevator can index a stack of pallets upwardly in the frame as the uppermost pallet from the stack is subject to an automatic alignment mechanism and then is transferred from the stack to a transversely located inspection mechanism. The inspection mechanism grips the side edges of the pallet and rotates the pallet for inspection purposes. A rejected pallet can be released from the inspection mechanism and deposited on another elevator that is indexed downwardly as rejected pallets are stacked on it until the rejected stack is removed by a conveyor. Accepted pallets are transferred from the inspection mechanism to an outfeed bay where the pallets are gripped and sequentially deposited on an elevator which is indexed downwardly as the stack grows.

Abstract: A roll-over device includes a roll-over frame which pivots about a horizontal axis and includes a counterweight mounted at the end of a counterweight beam, a support plate and a plurality of roller sections, each with a plurality of standard conveyer rollers. Each roller sections is spring-mounted on the support plate. A pair of part clamping mechanisms are mounted on the support plate. Each part clamping mechanism includes a pair of pneumatic cylinders which are bolted to the support plate. The cylinder rods are attached to opposite ends of a clamp bar. Upon actuation of the clamping mechanism the part to be clamped moves the roller sections towards the support plate until the part engages an abutment member which projects from the support plate so that most of the clamping force is absorbed by the abutment member.

Abstract: A pipe centering apparatus is of such a structure that pipes of certain kinds such as aluminum short pipes transported by a conveyor are centered with their longitudinal centers aligned with each other, before the pipes are subjected to chamfering or other processes. The pipe centering apparatus in the invention comprises a pair of right and left gears in mesh with each other and rotatably mounted on a main frame, a pair of right and left racks respectively in mesh with the right and left gears, and a pair of right and left regulators respectively secured to the right and left racks so as to come into contact with ends of the pipes, wherein the gears are rotated to cause the regulators to move towards each other and to contact the pipe ends, thereby precisely centering the pipes even where the pipes are not of strictly the same length.

Abstract: A bottle handling device comprising a tool for grasping the sides of the bottles, the tool being tiltably mounted to one end of a flexible cord and the other end of the cord is coupled to a balancing device for balancing the grasping tool and developing a balancing force that is adjustable between two values depending on whether the tool is loaded or unloaded. The device also has a support table for supporting a plurality of bottles standing in a row, and a backing piece mounted along the table in order to accommodate the tilting of the bottles while the value of the balance force is changing.

Abstract: The wafer positioning apparatus has an X.multidot.Y axis drive mechanism for moving a mounting stock in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction in the X.multidot.Y coordinates on the horizontal plane; a wafer inserting section is fixed on the mounting stock and has a space for inserting a wafer horizontally; photosensors are installed at the wafer inserting section and arranged at regular intervals on positions corresponding to peripheral portions of the wafer so as to detect edge portions of the inserted wafer; and a rotary section is arranged at the center of the wafer inserting section to be attached to the center of the rear surface of the inserted wafer by suction. The wafer is held on a hand plate or the like of a separate carrier system and inserted horizontally into the center of the space within the wafer inserting section, and the photosensors act in this state and detect peripheral portions of the wafer, and at the same time the X.multidot.

Abstract: A manipulator device for a bending machine includes a pair of elongate die and punch for bending a workpiece. A first manipulator has a first clamping device for clamping the workpiece to be bent, a first support for supporting the first clamping device in a rotatable manner around a rotary axis parallel to the longitudinal direction of the punch and die, and a second support for supporting the first support in a movable manner in a X-axis direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of the punch and die, in a Y-axis direction perpendicular to the X-axis direction, and in a Z-axis direction parallel to the vertical direction. A second manipulator has a second clamping device for clamping the workpiece, an arm for supporting the second clamping device, and a column for supporting the arm in a rotatable manner around a rotary axis parallel to the Y-axis, the column being so constructed as to be movable toward and away from the first manipulator.

Abstract: The apparatus described measures the angle of rotation necessary to rotate a cable end from a first angular position, wherein the cores of the cable end have a certain position independent of their color, to a desired angular position, at a measuring station. The cable end is then brought into an aligning station where a rotational movement through the measured angle occurs. Subsequent to core color identification, the cable end is further turned, if required. There is provided for the scaning of the position of the cores a rotatable and axially slidably mounted scanning element which is coupled with an angle of rotation signal generator, which element contacts individual cores by means of scanning fingers or engages in the external intermediate spaces of the cores. During the scanning process the scanning element is disconnected from all drives.

Abstract: Apparatus for an automatic bottle handling machine (2) operating in conjunction with a bottling line (25), with light material bottles (23) initially orderly arranged on trays or several packings (22) stacked on a pallet (21), comprises a device (1) having grippers (9, 17) for gripping the groups of bottles (23) in a packing (22), transporting (5) the bottles and dumping them out of their packing into a hopper (18) to recover them in bulk, and discharging the packing, an automatic machine (2) to re-erect and align the containers, fed with the bottles in bulk from the device (1), and a bottling line (25) coupled to the automatic machine.

Abstract: An installation for lifting and stacking or unstacking sheets of glass and particularly sheets of small dimension (i.e. one meter by 1.5 meters). The installation has a secondary conveyor (1), an elevator and a panel (24). The elevator has at least one arm (5) provided with suction cups (7) mounted on the sliding support. The arm is driven in rotation through an angle of about 90 degrees by a connecting rod-crank system (13) provided with at least one balancing jack (18) as well as a jack for laterally displacing the elevator and the secondary conveyor. The installation makes it possible to obtain very rapid operating rates (of the order of two seconds) at a reduced power output.

Abstract: A glass plates positioning device for positioning overlapped larger and smaller glass plates on a belt conveyer is disclosed, which includes a light device and pushing portions. The lift device lifts up the glass plates from the belt conveyer and lowers the same onto the belt conveyer. In a lifted position, the glass plates are horizontally universally movably supported by the lift device and positioned by the pushing portions. Each pushing portion is shaped like a spinning top, which includes concentrically connected smaller and larger disc portions. Each pushing portion horizontally abuts against and pushes each side edge of the glass plates to a predetermined position, wherein side surface of the larger disc is in contact with the edge of the smaller glass plate and the side surface of the smaller disc is in contact with the edge of the larger glass plate. After the positioning of the glass plates, the glass plates are lowered onto the belt conveyer by the lift device.

Abstract: A robotic tool is provided for temporarily positioning shearclips against structural members. The device incorporates a movable jaw linkage which provides sufficient clamping force for withdrawing a shearclip from an adhesively retained position in a storage tray. After a shearclip is removed from the storage tray, the movable jaw is displaced to a non-clamping position and vacuum retention of the shearclip is relied upon. The present robotic device achieves two time-saving objectives in the assembly of aircraft. It permits rapid preparation of shearclips as well as rapid mechanical-handling deployment of a prepared shearclip for utilization with a structural member.

Abstract: An end effector (10) is pivotally affixed to a robot arm (12) and comprises a platform (28) and a catcher (42). In operation, the end effector (10) picks up an integrated circuit slice (S), tilts the platform (28) away from the horizontal, causing the slice (S) to slide into an indexing surface (47) of the catcher (42). This places the slice (S) in a predetermined position relative to the robot arm (12) allowing for precise placement of the slice (S) at a workstation (106).

Abstract: A transferring apparatus comprises a vacuum chamber, a carrier member disposed inside a pipe which communicates with the vacuum chamber, magnetic means installed in a support structure which is moved by a driving means. The carrier member is floated and pulled in its axial direction by magnetic force produced by the magnetic means, whereby an object placed on the tip of a manipulator arm which is connected to the carrier member is transferred in the vacuum chamber. Since the carrier member is floated inside the pipe and moved in its axial direction without contact to the pipe or any other parts, there are no portions inside the pipe which relatively move in contact with each other, and thus fine particles are not generated inside the pipe. This effectively eliminates adhesion of fine particles to objects such as semiconductor devices being transferred in a vacuum chamber.

Abstract: A conveying system particularly suitably usable to convey a plate-like article such as a reticle or mask which is usable in transferring a microcircuit forming pattern onto a semiconductor wafer, is disclosed. The conveying system includes a first hand mechanism, a second hand mechanism and a reticle changing mechanism. The first hand mechanism is operable in the neighborhood of a reticle library to load and unload a reticle to and from a reticle cassette and also operable to convey a reticle between the library position and a first midway position. The second hand mechanism is operable to convey a reticle between a reticle setting position within an exposure apparatus and a second midway position. The reticle changing mechanism is operable to hold, at a time, a reticle supported at the first midway position by the first hand mechanism and a reticle supported at the second midway position by the second hand mechanism.

Abstract: The invention aligns rows of blocks extending parallel to one another which are supported by a kiln car. The device provided holds the kiln car in a desired position relative to the device, then an up-and-down movable lifting mechanism provided with clamps is inserted between the rows of blocks, and the device adjusts the lifting mechanism transversely to the longitudinal direction of the rows of blocks until it strikes an adjustable fixed stop then inflates its clamps to thereby align the blocks. The blocks once clamped may be lifted off the car by the lifting mechanism, so that the cart can be treated, i.e. cleaned. The blocks are then replaced on the car in same position from which they were lifted, still aligned. The clamps are then released and the lifting mechanism is removed from between the newly aligned blocks.

Abstract: A wafer positioning apparatus includes at least first, second and third optical position detectors for detecting a circumference portion of a wafer. The first to third optical position detectors are arranged on a circumference of a circle having a diameter identical to that of the wafer. A transportation robot is used for holding the wafer and moving the held wafer with respect to the first to third optical position detectors. A control circuit controls the transportation robot in accordance with output signals of the first to third optical position detectors so that all of the first to third optical position detectors detect the circumference portion of the wafer at the same time.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting an orientation flat of a wafer and centering the wafer includes a hand base, a pair of guide rollers mounted on the hand base, and a stopper mechanism mounted on the hand base. The hand base is operable to be located in opposed relation to one of opposite faces of the wafer, and has an axis therealong. The guide rollers serve to support the wafer located in opposed relation to the hand base, and are symmetrically disposed with respect to the axis of the hand base. The stopper mechanism cooperates with the pair of guide rollers to center the wafer, and are movable along the axis of the hand base and engageable with the orientation flat of the wafer.

Abstract: An apparatus for stirring cooking ingredients in a vessel or for automatically turning a food item such as a steak or roast provides a stirring or turning action having horizontal and vertical rotation. In one embodiment the horizontal and vertical rotation have a pre-determined time relation to one another such that a spatula portion of the stirring apparatus flips over the ingredients a predetermined number of times as the spatula rotates once horizontally about the vessel. The horizontal rotation action is also used for automatic turning. The turning apparatus includes a rigid bar rotatable with the horizontal axis and a supporting structure such as a wire cage or food-piercing tine structure for supporting the food during turning. The rigid bar and food-supporting structure are connected by flexible links such as steel fiber. The rotating bar drags the food item over or about the rotation axis to effect the turning action. The apparatus is especially suited for use in an automatic cooking system.

Abstract: The inventive manipulator for heavy loads, preferably printing products in loose scale formation and wound up to form rolls, only has a single pivot pin (35) or joint which, according to the invention, is arranged in such a way that the load (5) can be brought into three main positions orthogonal to one another using this single pivot pin or joint. The load is held by a holding device (33,38). The pivot pin (35) passes through the center of gravity of the load, or the center of gravity is located in the pivot point or fulcrum. This makes it possible to grip in frontal or lateral precise manner heavy loads and subsequently to deposit same on a loading device or in a store without great force expenditure using a drive and/or manually. The invention is also characterized by the combination of an industrial truck (10), a lifting device (11) arranged thereon and a mounted implement (31-38) located on the truck and preferably constituted by the inventive manipulator.

Abstract: Large sheets of float glass or other large sheets of material are transferred from a vertical storage position to a horizontal surface automatically. A carriage is mounted on a support frame near the stack of sheets of material, which rest against an inclined surface such that the bottom of each sheet is located forward of the top thereof to cause the plane of the stack of sheets to tilt a few degrees past vertical. A sheet engaging member is located on the carriage for pulling the top sheet of the stack forward, pivoting the sheet on its bottom, to a point where the top of the sheet is moved past vertical on the opposite side from the stack of sheets to an unstable position. In this position, the sheet is released to free fall to a horizontal position on a support surface located in a horizontal plane adjacent the bottom of the sheets in the storage position.

Abstract: A combination transfer/turnover machine has a pair of double-acting transfer arms for quickly retrieving and inserting parts into a pair of metal stamping presses performing sequential operations on a workpiece. A turnover mechanism is provided for inverting the part during its transfer between machines. The transfer arm and turnover mechanism are all carried by a horizontally and vertically moveable bar mounted to a carriage. The entire apparatus can be mounted as a single unit to overhead support structure in a factory between the machines.

Abstract: A supporting head for an apparatus for machining plates of glass, marble and the like, including a main head supporting an auxiliary head; the main head is adapted to support large plates, the auxiliary head is adapted to support small plates. The main head has a main shaft connected to an auxiliary shaft of the auxiliary head by means of gears. The gears and main head may be selectively locked and released to allow for a rotation of the main head or a rotation of just the auxiliary head.

Abstract: A device for centering an object and rotating it to a desired angular position relative to a discerning feature. The centration device is particularly adapted for use as a station in a semiconductor wafer handling apparatus, and includes a rotatably driven chuck on which a wafer may be placed by a robot manipulator arm. The perimeter of the wafer is rotated between a light source and a linear array of charge coupled device elements, casting a shadow on the light sensitive elements as the wafer is rotated. A processor connected to the charge couple devices and to an angular position encoder on a shaft of the chuck rotating the wafer is operative to collect data relating the displacement of the perimeter from a reference point to the angular position of the wafer. The processor determines from the data a distance over which the wafer should be shifted on the chuck to center it relative to the reference point.

Abstract: Individual components (12) in a tube (14) are successively removed and then riented for pickup by first positioning the tube, whose ends are opened, in a horizontal orientation such that the components in the tube are upside down. Thereafter, a component is at least partially expelled from one end of the tube by directing a stream of gas (e.g., air) into the other end of the tube. The component partially expelled from the tube is then withdrawn from the tube to locate the component between a pair of jaws (124) capable of rotation about an arc of 180.degree.. The jaws then engage the component and thereafter rotate it 180.degree. before positioning the component right side up.

Abstract: A disk file apparatus including a transfer member disposed at the upper side of a shelf for accommodating a multiplicity of cartridges each receiving a disk both sides of which are able to be subjected to recording and reproducing, each cartridge having a forward extending groove formed in the rear portion thereof. The transfer member has lever means which is arranged such that, when a cartridge having the same rating as that of said cartridges is inserted into the transfer member, the lever means detects whether or not there is a groove which is formed in the rear portion of the cartridge.

Abstract: The manipulator for sheet-metal pieces is used in conjunction with a sheet-metal working machine and has two rotatable holding members (20) displaceable in three dimensions. The holding members (20) each have both clamping tongs (22), which act on the surface of the sheet-metal piece (24) to be worked, and a clamping strip (23) exerting pressure parallel to the sheet surface. It thereby becomes possible for the sheet-metal piece to be worked, in a first working phase when it is still plane, to be grasped along two parallel edges by means of tongs and, after the first working, to be held only by means of the clamping strips.

Abstract: A machine tool comprises a tool exchange mechanism for transferring various tool holders from a magazine position into a working position of a rotating spindle of the machine tool. In order to minimize tool change times for standardized and non-standardized tool holders, frictional means between the tool holders and grippers of the tool exchange mechanism are provided as well as locking mechanism for maintaining a predetermined rotational position of the tool holders in the tool exchange mechanism. Thus, the tool holders may be inserted into the rotating receiving opening of the spindle with a predetermined rotational position or, if the tool holder rotational position deviates from another predetermined rotational position of the rotating spindle, the search time for establishing a form-locking driving relation between the spindle and the tool holder is minimized.

Abstract: A cassette pulley is assembled from a flange part having three assembly pins which are received in corresponding holes of a hub part. The hub part has a number of reinforcing ribs which divide the bottom of the hub part into a number of recesses which are conveniently employed to hold the hub part on a group of hub holding stub shafts during assembly. Because there are more recesses than holding stub shafts, the hub may assume more than one orientation relative to the stub shafts. In order to achieve proper relative orientation of hub and flange, the hub holder is formed with a hole that is aligned with one of the hub holes when the hub is in one of a selected group of orientations. Optical sensing of such alignment enables the flange to be positioned in an orientation appropriate for assembly of the flange pins into the hub holes.

Abstract: An apparatus for stacking a plurality of folded box blanks such that alternating groups of a predetermined number of folded blanks are superimposed in opposite orientations. The apparatus includes a lower rail device having a stacking position, a second rail device above the first rail device and terminating at a position above an intermediate portion of the lower rail device, an inverting and transferring device for inverting alternating stacks of a predetermined number of folded blanks stacks at the stacking position onto the second rail device, a stopper device for allowing alternating stacks to move along the lower rail device, and a conveying device for conveying both the stacks on the lower rail device and the upper rail device simultaneously so that each stack on the upper rail device falls onto a stack on the lower rail device at the end of the upper rail device, whereby the desired combined stack is formed on the lower rail device.

Abstract: There is disclosed an apparatus for positioning a silicon wafer which comprises: two pieces of supporting boards, fixed to an upper plate, for supporting both side portions of the silicon wafer; an adsorbing disk, disposed in a vertically movable and rotatable manner between the supporting boards, for supporting the silicon wafer in its central position, this adsorbing disk having its upper surface formed with adsorbing holes; a holding member disposed in a vertically movable manner on the circumference of the adsorbing disk between the supporting boards, this holding member having a movable holder which moves inwards by pushing the edge of the silicon wafer when going up while raising the silicon wafer supported on the adsorbing disk; and a photoelectric detector, fitted to a part of the supporting boards, for detecting the edge of an orientation flat of the silicon wafer. The silicon wafer loaded on the supporting boards is raised while being adsorbed by the adsorbing disk.

Abstract: Handling apparatus for the transfer of sheets, particularly of glass, from a horizontal conveyor belt to a container for vertical sheets and vice versa, comprising a rotating and translating device having transfer arms rotating by about 170.degree., supporting a counter rotating shaft, which supports a frame provided with suction pads, as well as a carriage which supports the container, the container being moved into the required exact loading/unloading relationship by the action of a feeling device which detects the position of the last sheet in the container.

Abstract: A portable device is provided for turning billets supported on stands for inspection. The device has a frame, a crank arm mounted in the frame for movement through a quadrant by a hydraulic cylinder, a billet engaging bracket on the end of the crank, and further billet engaging frames extending from the frame to either side of the crank so as to sustain on adjacent billets the reaction from the crank arms as its bracket turns a billet. The turning action is improved by inclusion of a lost motion link between the crank arm and the cylinder. To make the device easier and lighter to handle, it is spring suspended from a movable stand which also supports a power pack for operating the cylinder.

Abstract: An apparatus for adjusting direction of two component fasteners having a head element and a backing element for attachment to garment. The apparatus is a reciprocable driving device (8) for receiving the head element (7a) fed in from a hopper feeder (4a) through a chute (5) and charging it into a clamping device (12). The apparatus comprises an interlocking mechanism for rotating a support seat (9) for the head element (7a) in synchronism with the reciprocating movement of the driving device (8), a stopper (56) for stopping the rotation of the head element (7a), and a stopper exchanging device. The stopper exchanging device is a head element pressing section (43) comprising two layers (49, 50). The upper layer (50) having the stopper (56) is rotatable relative to the lower layer (49).

Abstract: A transport cart for material carriers such as bobbins or drums having threads or other elongated material wound thereon, has a cart frame with wheels and a tilting frame journalled in said cart frame. The tilting frame carries two parallel skids for supporting a material carrier on its rollers. The tilting frame is tiltable between a first position in which the skids extend horizontally for loading a material carrier onto the cart, and a second position in which the skids extend vertically for unloading a material carrier, or vice versa.

Abstract: A tension spring takeout device for use in an automatic tension spring mounting apparatus for automatically mounting tension springs for mounting a pad receive member to a seat frame forming an automotive seat. The tension spring takeout device comprises a stock mechanism into which the tension springs are discharged from a part feeder having a separation mechanism for separation of the tension springs that are successively supplied, and which are arranged in a line and stocked; a takeout mechanism comprising a predetermined number of takeout means located in the stock mechanism so as to correspond to the mounting intervals of the tension springs to the seat frame and operable to push out a predetermined number of tension springs simultaneously; and a transfer device adapted to catch the tension springs pushed out by the takeout means of the takeout mechanism as well as to transfer and mount the tension springs to the mounting portions of the seat frame.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for automatically restacking palletized tiers of adjacent rows of loosely cubed laden produce boxes in a continuous fashion by recubing the boxes while automatically retrieving and stacking the successive pallets during the continuing recubing process.

Abstract: A method of feeding a work, in which a jig having an attitude controlling groove formed therein is prepared. A first work is controlled to assume a predetermined attitude by placing the work in the attitude controlling groove. The jig is conveyed to a first position so that the attitude controlling groove is located at a second position. Then, the first work is moved to a third position in the controlling groove and the first work at the third position is transferred to a processing device.

Abstract: Apparatus for transporting flat objects having first and second faces between a first carrier and a second carrier, the apparatus comprising a mechanism for supporting the first and second carriers, a pickup mechanism for picking up the objects and transporting the objects between the first carrier and the second carrier, and intermediate station having a mechanism for receiving the objects from the pickup mechanism with the faces in a first orientation and for changing the orientation of the faces before the objects are removed by the pickup mechanism.

Abstract: Frusto-conical or cylindrical reels or cones are first oriented with their axes perpendicular or parallel to the axis of a conveyor belt. Then, by a tilting device actuated by a detector device for detecting the position of a through hole in a reel, the reels or cones are all arranged with their axes parallel to the axis of the conveyor belt. In the case of frusto-conical reels or cones a further detector actuates a device for rotating the reels or cones about a vertical axis. The system includes a slanting plate for rectifying the position of the reels or cones, the tilting device and relative detector and the rotating device and relative detector. All these devices can be removed selectively and a flag-shaped device is provided for fitting to the system in order to adapt it for use with disk-shaped reels.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically restacking palletized tiers of adjacent rows of loosely cubed laden produce boxes in a continuous fashion by recubing the boxes while automatically retrieving and stacking the successive pallets during the continuing recubing process.

Abstract: A handling system supports a closure member, e.g. a manway cover or tensioner ring, for maintaining it in position when opening or closing operations are performed thereon and for moving it conveniently into or out of engagement with a mating member without damage to supporting studs. Gimbaling means include first and second attachable connections each vertically supported to a pneumatic cylinder assembly whose internal pressure is set to generate an upward force equal to the weight supported. An operator may provide a force to overcome damping forces at each support point to move the closure member in all degrees of freedom, and the member appears essentially weightless to the operator. The vertically movable connections are supported for translational movement on a cart which is also movable. Reliable movement of a closure member with respect to a pressure vessel is provided without the need for alignment or calibration of a path defined by the closure member support means.

Abstract: An apparatus for placing electronic and/or electrical components on a substrate, comprising a first carriage which is movable in an X direction and a second carriage which is movable in a Y direction at right angles to the X direction and which carries a number of pick-up devices each capable of picking up a component. A first supporting beam (10) fixedly connected to the Y carriage is provided with a number of rotatable platforms (12) and each of these platforms is coupled via a transmission (36, 38) with a common drive (32) for a rotary movement. Each of the platforms (12) is provided with an operable locking mechanism by which a pick-up device (14) can be locked to each of the platforms (12).

Abstract: Apparatus for manipulating the upper and lower dies of a die set comprising first and second fixtures mounted in laterally spaced relation for movement toward and away from each other. The first fixture has a mechanism providing a die-supporting surface and is in the form of a cradle rockable between a loading position in which its die-supporting surface is generally horizontal and a transfer position in which its die-supporting surface is generally upright and faces the second fixture. The second fixture has a die-supporting surface and also is in the form of a cradle rockable between a transfer position in which its die-supporting surface is generally upright and faces the first fixture and a position in which its die-supporting surface is generally horizontal. Clamps are provided to clamp the lower die of a die set to the die-supporting surface of the first fixture and for clamping the upper die to the die-supporting surface of the second fixture.

Abstract: A method for positioning seamed balls each having an endless curved seam line, comprising steps of: supporting each ball to locate its center at an origin of a three-dimensional orthogonal coordinate consisting of two horizontal axes X, Y and one vertical axis Z; rotating the ball on at least one of the axes X, Y until an optical sensor disposed on the axis Z specifies such a particular locus that intersects the seam line at four points during one full rotation of the ball to provide four arcs along the locus; finding the shortest arc among the four and locating its mid point on the axis Z by rotating the ball on the axis X; rotating the ball on the axis Y so that an intersection of a bisector and a part of the seam line is located on the axis Z; and rotating the ball on the axis Y until a hip center of the ball is located on the axis Z.

Abstract: An apparatus for inspecting slide fasteners is disclosed. The apparatus includes a slide fastener suspension device having a horizontal rotary member provided with a plurality of equally-spaced clips for supporting each of the slide fasteners in a suspended condition, and a drive means adapted to intermittently rotate the horizontal rotary member. A first gripper is provided at a first position along a movement path of the horizontal rotary member so as to feed in succession the slide fasteners to the clips of the suspension device in a suspended condition. The apparatus also includes a second gripper provided at a second position along the path of the horizontally rotating member so as to remove the slide fasteners from the clips transferred by the horizontal rotary member in succession. The path of the horizontal rotary member between the first position and the second position provides a visual inspection region for the slide fasteners.

Abstract: A container chassis handling attachment for a lift truck having a lift carriage includes a frame for attachment to the lift carriage. It also includes a pair of upper and lower laterally-spaced forks independently mounted to the frame by separate four-bar linkages and movable by separate hydraulic cylinders. A clamp-positioning means cooperates with the forks to rotate the forks and any chassis gripped thereby through 180.degree.. The attachment is used to store a chassis by clamping from one side opposing top and bottom surfaces of the chassis, lifting the chassis, rotating the chassis about 90.degree. to a substantially upright position, and depositing the chassis in such position against a support. Alternatively, the chassis may be rotated 180.degree. to an upside-down position and deposited onto an underlying right-side-up chassis, eventually to form a stack of alternating right-side-up, upside-down chassis.