Abstract: A loading device including a guide frame, a drive mechanism and a lift mechanism. The guide frame includes a pair of spaced apart upright members each having a slot formed therethrough. The drive mechanism is coupled to the guide frame and has a shaft received concurrently through the slots of the guide frame, a sprocket mounted on the shaft, a belt member wrapped about the sprocket and having opposing ends anchored to the guide frame, and a motor coupled to the shaft for reciprocating the shaft vertically within the slots between an upper position and a lower position. Movement of the shaft toward the upper position produces rotation of the shaft in a first direction and a movement of the shaft toward the lower position rotates the shaft in an opposing direction. The lift mechanism is coupled to the drive mechanism and includes a pair of arms each having an end coupled to the shaft and another end coupled to a carriage.