An actuator includes first and second structural units arranged independently of one another. An engagement means is arranged in the first structural unit. A drive motor is in driving relationship to the engagement means and arranged in the first structural unit. An anti-backbend chain is in engagement with the engagement means, and a chain depot is arranged in the second structural unit.

Thrust chain device, includes a thrust chain with a straight portion along an axis and a curved portion, and links hinged on shafts, a chain guide, a driving sprocket with chain interlocking teeth, the sprocket being in contact with the chain via contact surfaces in the shape of an involute of a circle, the contact surfaces belonging to the teeth, a tooth engaging with the chain while defining a line of action having an angle with the shaft of the straight portion of between −10° and 10°, the sprocket in contact with the straight portion and not the curved and is mounted such that it can rotate on a shaft on the side of the chain opposite the curved portion's center of curvature, the contact surfaces including a convex front surface directed towards the straight portion and a rear surface directed towards the curved portion when the tooth is interlocking.

A robot apparatus includes a base, a strut unit, and a linear expansion mechanism 1 rotatably supported on the strut unit. The linear expansion mechanism includes: a plurality of cylindrical bodies assembled in series to each other; a block train including a plurality of blocks coupled to each other in a row, the block at the leading end being connected to the cylindrical body at the leading end; and a housing part that houses the block train along an arc-shaped trajectory, the housing part being arranged below the cylindrical body at the trailing end and above the strut unit.

The invention relates to an actuator with an anti-backbend chain, a drive motor, and a worm which can be driven by the drive motor and which comprises a helical groove. The anti-backbend chain has engagement means and is guided along the worm, and the chain is in engagement with the worm by means of the engagement means and the helical groove to drive the anti-backbend chain. Such an actuator should have a more compact design and should optionally exhibit less wear. For this purpose, the core diameter of the worm is larger than twice the distance from the motor axis to the motor exterior along which the anti-backbend chain is guided, and the anti-backbend chain is guided at least partly along the drive motor by means of the engagement means.

A linear extension and retraction mechanism that is mounted in a robot arm mechanism includes: a plurality of first pieces having a flat plate shape which are bendably connected to each other at front and rear end faces; a plurality of second pieces having a groove shape which are bendably connected to each other at front and rear end faces of a bottom part, with the first and second pieces becoming linearly rigid when superposed, and the first and second pieces returning to a bent state when separated from each other; a head section which joins a leading first piece of the plurality of first pieces and a leading second piece of the plurality of second pieces; and a sending-out mechanism section including a plurality of rollers and for firmly superposing the first and second pieces and supporting the first and second pieces movably to front and rear. At least one groove section that extends from front to rear is formed in the surfaces of the first and second pieces that contact the rollers.

A robot apparatus includes a base, a strut unit, and a linear expansion mechanism 1 rotatably supported on the strut unit. The linear expansion mechanism includes: a plurality of cylindrical bodies assembled in series to each other; a block train including a plurality of blocks coupled to each other in a row, the block at the leading end being connected to the cylindrical body at the leading end; and a housing part that houses the block train along an arc-shaped trajectory, the housing part being arranged below the cylindrical body at the trailing end and above the strut unit.

Disclosed is a tracked lifting platform for vehicles (14), comprising at least two tracks (16), wherein each track (16) engages at least at a respective end region of a lifting platform (18) for lifting and lowering the track (16) between a basic position (19) and a working position (21), wherein the lifting platform (18) comprises a push column (21) with multiple push members (23), which can be arranged one above the other so as to be resistant to pressure in the vertical direction.

A rigid drive chain comprises a plurality of links connected end-to-end. The links have a block end including a pair of receptacles, a driving face and a driven face. The links have a connector end including a tongue. The block end and connector end are one-piece members that include a plurality of gear teeth along one side of both the block end and connector end. A plurality of protrusions or pins connect the tongues to the receptacles. The links are adapted to be pivoted by a driving gear between a driving orientation of the links with the driving face engaging the driven face of an adjacent link in a forward direction.

A linear extension and retraction mechanism includes a plurality of first pieces shaped like a plate and coupled bendably with one another by first hinge sections, and a plurality of second pieces C-shaped or hollow square-shaped in transverse section. Each of the first hinge sections is made up of a shaft, columnar in shape, and bearing sections for the shaft, the bearing sections being provided on front and rear ends of each of the first pieces. A flange, non-circular in shape, is provided at a rear end of the shaft. A receiving section shaped as a recess and configured to accommodate a shape of the flange is provided in the bearing section at the front or rear end of the first piece. The flange is fitted in the receiving section.

A retort system includes a vessel having an access opening accessible via a movable door, a basket supporting assembly within the vessel and along which container baskets are movable for loading into the vessel and unloading from the vessel and a heating system for heating containers for treatment within the vessel. A container basket load/unload system moves container baskets into the vessel and for moving container baskets out of the vessel, and includes a rigid chain unit aligned or alignable with the access opening such that a rigid chain can be moved along a chain feed path into the vessel via the access opening.