Patent ID: 6279716
Filing Date: 2001-08-28
Classification: B65G,F16C

Abstract:
An apparatus for movably supporting an article, comprising a plurality of raising units and a mount on which said raising units are adapted to be mounted in a row with outer side surfaces of adjacent ones of said raising units contacting each other;wherein each of said raising units comprises:a vertically movable lifting member including a piston and a freely rotatable ball disposed on top of said piston;a casing having a cylinder bore therein opening in the upper surface of said casing, said lifting member being disposed in said cylinder bore in a vertically movable manner such that a portion of said ball can protrude above the upper surface of said casing when said lifting member is in an elevated position thereof, said casing including a pressure chamber beneath said piston; andan air path extending from one side surface to the opposing side surface of said casing through said pressure chamber; andwherein a plurality of such raising units are mounted in a row on said mount in such a manner that said air path of one rasing unit can communicate with said air paths of adjacent raising units, whereby when compressed air is supplied to said pressure chamber of the raising unit at one end of the row of raising units through said air path thereof, the compressed air is also supplied to said pressure chambers of the remaining raising units in said row through said respective air paths.