Importance

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Abstract

An improved workpiece storage and shuttle apparatus is fabricated of a base into which a carousel is journaled for indexable movement. Located about the periphery of the carousel are a plurality of workpiece storage pedestals, each pedestal having a pair of spaced apart guides thereon, each of the guides being parallel to a carousel radii. Affixed on the carousel is at least one and preferably two pairs of spaced apart guides, each of the guides of each pair of carousel guides extending from the center of the carousel beyond the carousel periphery so as to be parallel to a carousel radii. Between each pair of carousel guides is a pallet shuttle arm which is extendable out from and retractable into the guides by a hydraulic cylinder. A hook is attached to the distal end of each pallet shuttle arm and is operative to releasably engage a workpiece carrying pallet, when, following extension of the pallet shuttle arm, the carousel is indexed to move the hook against a latch on the pallet, thereby enabling pallets to be pulled onto and pushed off of the carousel by each pallet shuttle arm.

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First Claim