초록 ▼

A material handling system includes a support assembly, a cup assembly comprising a cup and a mounting assembly. The mounting assembly includes a post extending from the cup, and a mounting collar movably attached to the post and adjustably attached to a support arm of the support assembly. The moun

A material handling system includes a support assembly, a cup assembly comprising a cup and a mounting assembly. The mounting assembly includes a post extending from the cup, and a mounting collar movably attached to the post and adjustably attached to a support arm of the support assembly. The mounting assembly may include a level indicating element for indicating an orientation of the mounting assembly. The mounting collar is adjustable relative to the support arm to establish a first or level orientation of the mounting assembly. The level indicating element provides an indication when the mounting assembly is generally at the first or level orientation, and the mounting collar is securable relative to the support arm when the mounting assembly is in the first or level orientation.

대표청구항 ▼

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property is claimed are defined as follows: 1. A material handling system for moving an object, said material handling system comprising: support assembly having at least one support arm; at least one cup assembly comprising a cup and a mountin

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property is claimed are defined as follows: 1. A material handling system for moving an object, said material handling system comprising: support assembly having at least one support arm; at least one cup assembly comprising a cup and a mounting assembly, said cup having a perimeter seal for engaging and substantially sealing at an object; said mounting assembly comprising a post extending from said cup and a mounting collar movably attached to said post; said mounting collar being adjustably attached to said at least one support arm of said support assembly, said mounting collar being attached to said at least one support arm such that movement of said support assembly moves said cup toward and into engagement with the object, said mounting collar being movable along said post when said cup is engaged with the object and said support arm moves further toward the object; said mounting assembly comprising a level indicating element for indicating an orientation of said mounting assembly; and wherein said mounting collar is adjustable relative to said support arm to establish a level orientation of said mounting assembly, said level indicating element providing an indication when said mounting assembly is generally at said level orientation, said mounting collar being securable relative to said at least one support arm when said mounting assembly is in said level orientation. 2. The material handling system of claim 1, wherein said level indicating device provides an indication that said post is in a substantially vertical orientation. 3. The material handling system of claim 1, wherein said level indicating element is positioned at said mounting collar and provides an indication that said mounting collar is at a substantially horizontal orientation. 4. The material handling system of claim 3, wherein said post is substantially normal to said support arm when said mounting collar is mounted to said support arm, said level indicating element providing an indication that said post is in a substantially vertical orientation. 5. The material handling system of claim 1, wherein said level indicating element is recessed within a surface of said mounting collar. 6. The material handling system of claim 1, wherein said mounting collar comprises a post mounting portion that receives said post through an aperture thereof and a support arm mounting portion that receives said support arm through an aperture thereof, said support arm mounting portion being securable at said support arm. 7. The material handling system of claim 6, wherein said movable support arm comprises a generally cylindrical support rod and said mounting collar receives said movable support rod through a rod receiving portion of said mounting collar, said mounting collar being adjusted relative to said support rod via pivoting said rod receiving portion and said mounting collar about a longitudinal axis of said support rod to adjust said mounting collar and said vacuum cup relative to said support rod, said rod receiving portion being selectively securable to limit movement of said mounting collar relative to said support rod. 8. The material handling system of claim 6, wherein said mounting collar is adjustable to rotate said support arm mounting portion approximately 180 degrees about a generally horizontal pivot axis that is generally transverse to a longitudinal axis of said support arm, whereby rotation of said support arm mounting portion adjusts an initial distance between said support arm receiving portion and said cup. 9. The material handling system of claim 8, wherein said at least one support arm comprises a first support arm at a first level and a second support arm at a second level above said first level, said at least one cup assembly comprising a first cup assembly mounted to said first support arm and a second cup assembly mounted to said second support arm, said mounting collar of said first cup assembly being at a first orientation and said mounting collar of said second cup assembly being at a second orientation wherein said mounting collar of said second cup assembly is rotated approximately 180 degrees about said generally horizontal pivot axis relative to said mounting collar of said first cup assembly, whereby said cups of said first cup assembly and said second cup assembly are at substantially the same level when said mounting collars are at an upper end of said post of said respective one of said first and second cup assemblies. 10. The material handling system of claim 1, wherein said post includes a biasing member to urge said mounting collar away from said cup. 11. The material handling system of claim 1 including an object sensing device positioned at least partially through said cup. 12. The material handling system of claim 1, wherein said cup is attached to a swivel member and said post is attached to and extends from a receiving collar, said swivel member being pivotally received in said receiving collar. 13. The material handling system of claim 1, wherein said level indicating element comprises a fluid level indicating element. 14. A material handling system for moving an object, said material handling system comprising: a support assembly having a first support arm at a first level and a second support arm at a second level, said second level being above said first level; a first cup assembly mounted to said first support arm and a second cup assembly mounted to said second support arm, said first and second cup assemblies each comprising a cup and a mounting assembly, said cup having a perimeter seal for engaging and substantially sealing at an object, said mounting assembly comprising a post extending from said cup and a mounting collar movably attached to said post; said mounting collar of said first cup assembly being set at a first orientation and said mounting collar of said second cup assembly being set at a second orientation wherein said mounting collar of said second cup assembly is rotated approximately 180 degrees about a generally horizontal pivot axis relative to said mounting collar of said first cup assembly; said mounting collar of said first cup assembly being attached to said first support arm and said mounting collar of said second cup assembly being attached to said second support arm, said vacuum cups of said first and second cup assemblies being at substantially the same level when said first and second cup assemblies are mounted to said first and second support arms, respectively; and wherein said mounting collars are attached to said first and second support arms such that movement of said support assembly moves said cups of said first and second cup assemblies toward and into engagement with the object. 15. The material handling system of claim 14, wherein said mounting assembly of said first cup assembly comprises a level indicating element for indicating an orientation of said mounting assembly, said mounting collar of said first cup assembly being adjustable relative to said first support arm to establish a level orientation of said mounting assembly, said level indicating element providing an indication when said mounting assembly of said first cup assembly is generally at said level orientation, said mounting collar being securable relative to said first support arm when said mounting assembly is in said level orientation. 16. The material handling system of claim 15, wherein said level indicating device provides an indication that said post of said first cup assembly is in a substantially vertical orientation. 17. The material handling system of claim 15, wherein said level indicating element is positioned at said mounting collar and provides an indication that said mounting collar is at a substantially horizontal orientation. 18. The material handling system of claim 15, wherein said level indicating element is recessed within a surface of said mounting collar. 19. The material handling system of claim 14, wherein said mounting collars are movable along said posts when said cups are engaged with the object and said support arms move further toward the object.