Abstract: A Transport apparatus includes a vertically extending frame, three plate assemblies mounted on the frame and three assembly drives connected to the plate assemblies for vertically moving the plate assemblies in the frame. The frame surrounds a transport column which includes a bottom work position, a middle storage position and a top storage position. Each plate assembly includes a carriage adjacent a side of the frame, a rectangular plate, a hinge between the carriage and plate and a pair of hinge drives for rotating the plate between a horizontal load supporting position in the transport column and a vertical position adjacent the column. The assemblies are lowered to the under position with horizontal plates supporting pallets filled with work parts. After the work parts and pallets are removed, the plates are rotated to the vertical and moved up to storage positions.

Abstract: Apparatus for loading and unloading objects including a base (10, 30); a gantry (20, 40) mounted on the base (10,30) and projecting upwardly therefrom; a first carriage (12,32) mounted on the base (10,30); a drive mechanism for moving the first carriage (12,32) back and forth in a straight line on the base (10,30) between a first position and a second position: a second carriage (16,36) mounted on the gantry (20,40); a second drive mechanism for moving the second carriage (16,36) back and forth between a first position that is at least substantially identical to the second position of the first carriage (12,32) and a second position that is at least substantially vertically spaced from the first position of the first carriage (12,32); and a mechanism for interrelating the first drive mechanism and the second drive mechanism such that, when the first carriage (12,32) is in its first position, the second carriage (16,36) is in its first position; as the first carriage (12,32) moves from its first position to it