A method of delivering a substrate includes moving a holder configured to hold the substrate in a substrate transfer device above a region where an elevating member configured to be capable of being raised/lowered is arranged; and delivering the substrate from the holder to the elevating member by simultaneously performing lowering of the holder and raising of the elevating member, or delivering the substrate from the elevating member to the holder by simultaneously performing lowering of the elevating member that supports the substrate and raising of the holder.

A transfer device for self-propelling workpiece trolleys of a transport system allows ends of one or more route sections to be continuously or intermittently connected. The ends of the route sections are either connected via transfer sections that are rigid and bent at least in sections, or a transfer section—which can be moved along a straight or curved track curve and supporting one or more workpiece trolleys—can be temporarily arranged before the ends of the route sections, which transfer section can be moved back and forth between the ends via a driveable gear unit. At least one transfer device for a transport and/or processing system is developed, with which the workpiece trolleys are transferred from one route section to another.

The invention relates to a moving system (100) for moving workpieces that are provided for gear cutting on a workpiece spindle (200) and have a workpiece axis of rotation, from a first position (A), taken up while they are being fed, into a third position (C) that differs from the first position by at least a smaller distance between the workpiece axis of rotation and the workpiece spindle axis, having a first movement unit (36, 32, 34) which moves a workpiece from the first position into a second position (B), different from the first and the third position, along a first movement path (AB), and a second movement unit (35) which moves the workpiece from the second position into the third position along a second movement path (BC), wherein the moving system is also designed to move machined workpieces back out of the third position and to hold and move more than one workpiece at the same time, wherein, while it is being moved on the first and on the second movement path, the workpiece is held by one and the same holding unit (10, 10′) that directly holds the workpiece, without a movement caused by the second movement unit entailing a movement of the first movement unit.

A lifting device for lowering a substrate onto and for lifting it off from a substrate carrier in a process chamber. The lifting device had a lifting rod and a linear drive, for moving the lifting rod along a linear lifting movement path, and a plurality of adjustment screws for adjusting the position of the lifting movement path. The lifting device has a drive housing for the linear drive, and a drive housing flange and a passage opening surrounded by this flange. The lifting rod is guided through the passage opening, and the adjustment screws are each screwed through an adjustment screw receiving opening in the drive housing flange. The adjustment screw receiving openings are spaced apart in the drive housing flange, and a protrusion of the respective adjustment screw over the drive housing flange is adjustable by screwing that adjustment screw through the respective receiving opening at differing depths.

Devices, systems, and methods used to assemble a structural member, such as a floor truss, are disclosed. The systems include a structural member assembly table including a worktable and a drop-down platform pivotably coupled to the worktable. The drop-down platform includes an end datum and a drop-down mechanism coupled to the support surface. The drop-down mechanism is configured to transition the support surface from an operational position to an eject position to drop the end datum below a work surface of the worktable to eject the assembled structural member from the worktable.

A load lifting device for lifting a load. The load lifting device includes a primary plate, a lifting attachment that receives a hook of an overhead suspender, and a clamping system that can clamp a load onto the lifting device between two jaws. The clamping system can have a coarse adjustment and a fine adjustment. The coarse adjustment selectively connects a jaw to the primary plate at a plurality of discrete connection points, and the fine adjustment mechanism selectively moves a contact point of the first jaw toward a first end portion of the load. A method for lifting a load includes positioning the load lifting device horizontally above a load, clamping the load with a clamping system, and imparting a vertical force on an end portion of the load lifting device to rotate it from horizontal to vertical.

A method for transporting a workpiece from an initial work cell to a subsequent work cell in a manufacturing environment having a plurality of work cells, the workpiece is supported by a support beam. The method includes monitoring the initial work cell for presence of a ready-to-move condition and monitoring the subsequent work cell for presence of a ready-to-receive condition. When both the ready-to-move condition and the ready-to-receive condition are present, the method includes interfacing the support beam with a gantry and, after the interfacing, moving the support beam with the gantry from the initial work cell to the subsequent work cell.

An advancing-retracting member (3) which is tubular is hermetically inserted into a housing (1) so as to be movable in an vertical direction. An advancing-retracting mechanism (13) is provided to the housing (1) so as to move the advancing-retracting member (3) in the vertical direction. A support cylinder (17) is provided in a manner so as to protrude upward from the advancing-retracting member (3) and be insertable into a hole (21) formed in a workpiece (20). A pressing surface (4) formed in a top end portion of the advancing-retracting member (3) is able to push the workpiece (20) up. In a case where the advancing-retracting mechanism (13) moves the advancing-retracting member (3) upward, the advancing-retracting member (3) causes the support cylinder (17) to be inserted into the hole (21) of the workpiece (20) from below, and the advancing-retracting member (3) presses against the workpiece (20) via the pressing surface (4) so as to move the workpiece (20) upward.

Workpiece handling apparatus for handling at least one panel-type workpiece which preferably consists at least in part of wood, wood-containing material, composite material or plastics material, comprising a lifting unit and a gripping unit, wherein the gripping unit is adapted to perform a displacement movement parallel to at least a first direction, and the gripping unit has a workpiece pick-up device which is so configured that it is able to enter into a reversible, force-based and/or form-fitting connection with at least one panel-type workpiece, characterised in that the gripping unit is so configured that the workpiece pick-up device can perform a displacement movement parallel to a second direction which is different from the first direction, and the lifting unit has at least one guide element which is configured to perform a displacement movement parallel to the second direction, and which is additionally configured to limit at least one degree of freedom of movement of the at least one panel-type workpiece.

An advancing-retracting member (3) which is tubular is hermetically inserted into a housing (1) so as to be movable in an vertical direction. An advancing-retracting mechanism (13) is provided to the housing (1) so as to move the advancing-retracting member (3) in the vertical direction. A support cylinder (17) is provided in a manner so as to protrude upward from the advancing-retracting member (3) and be insertable into a hole (21) formed in a workpiece (20). A pressing surface (4) formed in a top end portion of the advancing-retracting member (3) is able to push the workpiece (20) up. In a case where the advancing-retracting mechanism (13) moves the advancing-retracting member (3) upward, the advancing-retracting member (3) causes the support cylinder (17) to be inserted into the hole (21) of the workpiece (20) from below, and the advancing-retracting member (3) presses against the workpiece (20) via the pressing surface (4) so as to move the workpiece (20) upward.