Abstract: The wheeled frame remaining after removal of the detachable cargo container, is gripped by clamping mechanism of a carrying unit mounted on a tractor or lift truck, then elevated above the ground and pivoted from its normal horizontal disposition to vertical position, and then transported to a multiple storage unit where it is deposited and retained in the vertical position removably in one of a plurality of compartments making up the storage unit. A plurality of such wheeled frames may be stored in this manner by deposit in successive ones of the compartments, and they are removed from the compartment in the reverse order of deposit.

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 turnover device has a frame structure with U-shaped runners and movable loading forks for gripping the load, preferably pallets. The overall center of gravity of the load and the device is in the vicinity of the center of curvature of the runners. Rollers are provided to enable the device also to be used as a transporting means. One or more casters can be moved into the area within the runners, so that the latter do not impede the 180.degree. turnover.

Abstract: An apparatus for manipulating a workpiece or the like comprising a pair of inger assemblies mounted on a common support. The finger assemblies have belts with contact surfaces arranged in a confronting relationship. A first operating mechanism is provided for moving the finger assemblies along a first axis towards each other to grip a workpiece between the belt contact surfaces. A second operating mechanism is provided for rotating the belts about the first axis in order to impart a corresponding rotation to the workpiece gripped therebetween. A third operating mechanism is provided for moving the belts in either the same or opposite directions in order to impart either translational movement to the workpiece along a second axis perpendicular to the first axis or rotational movement to the workpiece about the second axis.

Abstract: The invention comprises a load-supporting beam provided with plates at each end which are pivotally mounted to pendants at each end, to which pendants are attached the suspending cables. Each pendant carries a hydraulic cylinder attached at one end to the pendant and at the other end to a crank affixed to the rotating element carrying the pivot for the load. That element is provided with an indexing pin which fits movably in a slot in the adjoining beam end plate. That end plate also has a second slot in line with the slot first mentioned, through which second slot passes the pivot bolt which also passes through the center of rotation of the rotating member. The center of gravity of the rotating load carrier is brought into alignment with the axis of rotation by adjusting the position of the indexing pin and the pivot bolt in the end plate slots.

Abstract: Lead frames with semiconductor microcircuit chips bonded thereto are automatically rapidly precisely loaded onto loading frames for subsequent encapsulation of the chips. The lead frames are contained within magazines, each lead frame resting on a separate rack therewithin. An air-actuated piston causes a plurality of pusher bars to each eject a lead frame from each of a plurality of the magazines, horizontally disposed, onto a nest member which pivots to invert the lead frames ejected thereon onto the loading frame. The lead frames are precisely positioned on the nest member early in the pivot thereof when the lead frame are caused to slide downwardly on the smooth-surfaced nest member to thereby contact an abutment and to be retained in that precise position by vacuum until deposited on the loading frame.

Abstract: A system and apparatus for the handling of cartons such as those in which lettuce heads are packed. The cartons are carried from the field on pallets, through a cooling chamber and mechanically loaded onto transport vehicles for shipment to the market. Special apparatus is provided for removing the pallets from the carton stack and for stacking the cartons at varying heights prior to loading into the transport vehicles. In addition a method and apparatus are provided for mechanically loading the transport vehicles with the cartons being stacked in a stable manner to prevent damage to the contents during shipment.

Abstract: The wheeled frame remaining after removal therefrom of a detachable cargo container is gripped by clamping mechanism of a carrying unit mounted on a lift truck, then raised above the ground and pivoted from its normal horizontal position to a vertical position for transport to a multiple storage unit. The clamping mechanism is mounted for movement along an elongated boom the inner end of which is mounted on the vertically movable carriage of a lift truck for pivotal movement of the boom between horizontal and vertical positions.

Abstract: There is provided a coil upending and transporting apparatus which includes a main frame having means for allowing the frame to be suspended from a suspension means, and a sub-frame pivoted to the main frame at a horizontal axis located below the suspension means. Power means such as hydraulic cylinders are provided for positively pivoting the sub-frame with respect to the main frame about the axis. The sub-frame includes support means for engagement under a coil whose axis is vertical, and an elongate holding mandrel disposed so as to be parallel with the axis of a coil at one end of which the support means is engaged. Control means are also provided for moving the holding mandrel selectively (1) in the direction of its elongation, and (2) perpendicular to both its own elongation direction and the direction of said horizontal axis.

Abstract: A device for both lifting and dumping of core material from long hollow core concrete panels. The device utilizes a pair of retractable clamp members to engage the longitudinal groove in the side of the panel.

Abstract: A crane for lifting and transporting a load such as a heavy metal coil. An overhead winch lifts and lowers a load carriage and the load attached thereto, and a powered wheeled trolley moves the load horizontally above a floor. Attached to the carriage is a clamp, which engages the coil through its center aperture and its periphery. The clamp has two jaws, one movable with respect to the other, the movable jaw also having a movable gripping surface that moves on an inclined surface of the movable jaw towards the fixed jar to ensure a tight wedging engagement of the load. The jaws and gripping surfaces provide a nonpowered, mechanically firm grip on the load once it has been engaged by the jaws. The coil may be lifted with the jaws when its center aperture is vertically or horizontally disposed, and the load may be placed for storage in either position as well.

Abstract: Apparatus for turning an elongated billet on a mill table about its longitudinal axis without displacing it laterally of the table comprises a U-shaped billet rotating head mounted on a car movable below the mill table transversely thereof. Means are provided for simultaneously rotating the billet-turning head and moving the car in the direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the billet rotating head.

Abstract: A lift fixture (10) for holding and centering a workpiece (93) includes a handling ring (16) defined by a yoke (17) and a clamp slide (20) mounted on the yoke, means (48) for closing the clamp slide (20), a support apparatus (12) for positioning the handling ring (16), and a plurality of angularly spaced holding mechanisms (33,34,40,41) for gripping the workpiece (93). The holding mechanisms (33,34,40,41) are movably mounted to the handling ring (16) so as to move relative to the ring along a line generally tangent to the workpiece (93). The holding mechanisms (33,34,40,41) are biased to a centered position, as by springs (87,88), so that when the workpiece (93) is lifted, it is urged to a centered position within the ring (16).

Abstract: A transfer device of the opposed finger type is disclosed for transferring an article along an arcuate path of travel between two stations while rotating the article, so that transfer from one station to another is effected while simultaneously turning the article 180 degrees about an axis substantially normal to the path of travel. The transfer device has a subframe with a fixed reaction element mounted thereon and an elongated transfer arm mounted on the subframe in a manner which allows the transfer arm to rotate about its longitudinal axis as well as pivot with respect to the subframe. One end of the transfer arm has a rotating element which is engaged with the fixed reaction element which causes the transfer arm to rotate about its longitudinal axis as the transfer arm pivots.

Abstract: Apparatus for removing bottles from a case wherein the bottles are in a 3.times.4 pattern and depositing the bottles in a 2.times.6 pattern on a conveyor. The apparatus includes a center carriage having a 2.times.3 pattern of lifting devices and two outboard carriages having 1.times.3 patterns of lifting devices with mechanism for moving the outboard carriages toward each other as the center carriage is moved longitudinally with respect to the outboard carriages, thereby converting a 3.times.4 pattern to a 2.times.6 pattern.

Abstract: A mold handler for flaskless foundry molds made up basically of a horizontal support beam and two clamping arms supported for movement along the beam toward and away from each other. Each clamping arm has rotationally mounted pads with gripping surfaces having serrations thereon. The pads are self-aligning. The clamping arms move via a fluid circuit operably connected thereto. The entire structure is suspended by apparatus lying substantially within a plane containing the center of gravity of the beam and the structure it supports. The clamping arms are maintained at equal and opposite distances from the center of gravity at all times during operation of the mold handler by means of an interconnecting synchronizing linage. The fluid circuit controls and actuates fluid cylinders to urge the clamping arms toward and away from one another selectively to engage and release the gripping surfaces with and from a flaskless mold positioned therebetween.

Abstract: A completed, shaped and uncured tire is off-loaded from the tire building machine on which the tire has been built by first engaging the completed tire coaxially within a ring having radially movable segments and then moving the ring with the tire coaxially off the building machine to a chucking device engageable with the inner peripheries of the respective bead portions of the tire. The ring is then expanded and moved coaxially from the tire and the chucking device now holding the tire is rotated to place the tire axis in vertical orientation and elevated to a position above the tire machine where the exterior surface of the tire is grasped by a pair of palms mounted on a swing arm. After the chucking device is moved downwardly clear of the tire, the tire is then moved horizontally by the swing arm and deposited on an overhead belt conveyor to be transported thereby to further processing.

Abstract: A tool exchanger wherein an exchange arm fixed on one end of a rotatable and axially slidable shaft is formed with a pair of semi-circular openings at opposite ends thereof. A pair of gripping plungers slidably received in the exchange arm are spring-biased toward opposite ends of the arm for gripping tools held in the semi-circular openings. A pair of guided pins are protruded respectively from the gripping plungers. A cam engageable with the guided pins is disposed in position to inwardly retract either of the gripping plungers which approaches a tool socket of a tool magazine, against the force of an associated bias spring, when the exchange arm is pivoted from a parked position toward a grip position for gripping tools received respectively in a machine tool spindle and the tool socket.

Abstract: An automated device comprising an arm, a supporting case mounted on the end of the arm, a rotary actuator mounted on the end of the supporting case and a wrist with a hand rotatably held by the rotary actuator, wherein the rotary actuator has a replaceable stopper on the shaft thereof, and the supporting case has a pair of static members for setting the rotational range of the stopper. In the device, the rotary actuator stops rotating at two positions, i.e., the hand stops rotating at two positions.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for handling signature bundles. The apparatus is particularly designed to place one signature bundle in end-to-end relationship with another. The apparatus includes a clamping plate at one end of a frame and a pair of pivotal arms at the other end of the frame which can engage and disengage a signature at the end of the bundle without damaging it. This enables a new signature bundle to be stacked on another one at feeding equipment which separates and collates the bundles with other bundles, by way of example.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for handling signature bundles. The apparatus includes an inverted U-shaped frame with legs rotatably carrying clamping pads. The frame has a fluid-operated ram thereon for moving one leg toward and away from the other. One clamping pad is connected to a driven sprocket engaged by a chain. The chain is connected to a drive sprocket mounted on a drive shaft of a motor which is mounted on the frame. The frame also has a locator plate to aid in centering the clamping pads with the signature bundles.

Abstract: Apparatus for handling truck frames in production line assembly including a frame engaging and turning machine elevatable at a work station to a selected position for installation of components and parts at various stations of rotation of the frame which may then be lowered onto a pallet or the floor. The device for engaging and rotating such frames is of inverted U-shape having a fixed leg with an attached rotatable frame engaging pad, and an adjustable leg with an attached translatable frame engaging pad.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the precise positioning of a body exhibiting a flat face, said latter requiring to be aligned, or in other words brought into coincidence with a mechanically indexed reference plane. The loading device in accordance with the invention comprises a levelling stage associated with a loading flap which can pivot about an axis. The stage comprises a base containing a cylindrical bore, and a lockable supporting stand equipped with a spherical-walled sleeve located in said cylindrical bore. The flap and the stage are equipped with mechanical indexing means which cooperate with those defining the reference plane.

Abstract: A machine for cutting tenon ends on logs to be used as floor joists, the machine including transfer devices for depositing each log on a pair of conveyor belts, cut-off saws for cutting the log ends to a fixed length, sets of parallel and angled saws for cutting tenons on both ends of the log, and delivery devices for removing the sawed logs from the conveyors.

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: An arrangement for turning and multiple placing on top of each other and for alignment of paper stacks which are located on the rear contact plate of a turning stacker in a position preferably turned by 90.degree.. Intermediate members in the form of a rake are placed between the individual paper stacks and are adjusted at the carrying column of carrying plate of the stacker. After introducing the paper stack and the intermediate member, the paper stack is preferably turned by about 90.degree.. The entire surface of the rear contact plate of the turning stacker is thereupon vented by uniform air discharge. The paper stack is loosened and aligned by forming an air cushion under the stack and then turned to a final position. The carrying plates or carrying forks between which the stack to be turned is held, is provided each with one yoke, or connected by one yoke having rear spindle nuts fastened on a left- and right-hand spindle.

Abstract: A reciprocating transfer mechanism having grippers for grasping and extracting a row of upholstery spring coils from a coil feeder and thrusting the coils into a spring assembly machine in a continuous composite coil-reorienting delivery movement which simultaneously conditions alternate grippers for the succeeding transfer cycle without reorientation thereof on the return movement.

Abstract: After curing, cementitious blocks carried on a pallet are moved by a conveyor to a transfer apparatus which removes the blocks from the pallet and transfers them to another conveyor for delivery to a cubing mechanism. The transfer apparatus is provided with a block lift turn-over mechanism and a block push-off mechanism with those mechanisms selectively operable to provide two distinctive operational modes as necessitated by the types of blocks being transferred and the desired block attitude.