Importance

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Abstract

A vacuum pickup device which includes: (1) a tubular outer member having one of its ends open and one of its ends sealed and having one or more ports, between its ends, that provide communication between its interior and exterior and that are in communication with a source of vacuum; (2) a tubular inner member, positioned within the outer member and extending outwardly of the outer member through its open end; the inner member having one or more ports, between its ends, that provide communication between its interior and exterior; the inner member also being adapted to move through the open end of the outer member, between an extended position, in which an open end of the inner member extends a predetermined maximum distance outwardly of the open end of the outer member, and a retracted position, in which the open end of the inner member extends less than the predetermined maximum distance outwardly of the open end of the outer member; and (3) a spring, adapted to urge the inner member from its retracted position to its extended position. In the extended position of the inner member, its ports are located between the ports in the outer member and the open end of the outer member but are not in communication with the ports in the outer member, and in the retracted position of the inner member, its ports are in communication with the ports in the outer member.

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First Claim