Individual shelves are provided on the load transport vehicle, which may be a trailor or self-propelled steerable vehicle, so that the shelves may be dropped down adjacent to the roadway for loading and unloading, and lifted up above the clearance height of the vehicle for storage and transport. Guides and bearings are provided between the shelf and body of the vehicle so that the horizontal portion of the shelves will be parallel to the roadway in their lower loading and unloading position to facilitate such loading and unloading, and they will tilt during their travel between such positions so that in the storage position the generally horizontal portion of the shelf will extend downwardly and inwardly to maintain the load on the vehicle with the help of gravity. The frame of the vehicle is provided with a central vertical and longitudinal rib carrying the guides for supporting shelves on each side. The shelves are L-shaped, and are provided with hydraulic cylinders for individually raising and lowering.
Improved handling of multi-wafer cassettes in automated wafer processing machines is accomplished by means of an improved cassette elevator. The design of the cassette elevator is such that the receiver/sender portion of the wafer processing machine can be easily configured to accommodate single or multiple cassette elevators served by a single wafer loading spatula without increasing the width of the receiver/sender units. In addition, an automatic tilt feature of the cassette elevator substantially reduces the likelihood of wafer breakage during the cassette loading and unloading operation.
A tank handling apparatus which is usable for loading and unloading of a tank such as an oxygen tank with respect to a location of usage such as an emergency vehicle. The handling apparatus is capable of securely locking the tank in place at the storage or usage position while at the same time easily allowing it to be detached therefrom and transferred to a tank service position for removal and replacement or servicing. The apparatus includes a unique locking mechanism including a locking hook construction and a locking housing with a locking slide movably mounted therein wherein a locking handle is secured thereto for movement of the locking slide between the position of engagement and the position of release of the locking hook. Multiple locking hooks and locking slides can be utilized for further secure attachment of the tank in the storage position.
