Abstract: A freight manipulator includes a mobile chassis positioned on a pair of guide tracks and have an articulated cantilever boom extending forwardly thereof. A tool carriage is mounted at the end of the boom and has a pair of freight engaging tools thereon for engaging freight articles. The boom is connected to a two-axis gimbals at the rear of the chassis which allows swinging of the boom about a vertical axis and tilting of the boom about a horizontal tilt axis to increase the positioning range of the freight engaging tools. A boom bearing assembly at the front of the chassis supports the boom on the chassis during movement thereof. A pair of swing cylinders are connected to the chassis and have a chain connecting the ends of their rams to the bearing assembly. The swing cylinders work in opposition to swing the boom. A pair of boom tilt cylinders are connected between the bearing assembly and the boom and operate in unison to tilt the boom.

Abstract: A freight manipulation includes a tracked chassis with an articulated cantilever boom extending therefrom which is capable of swinging about a horizontal tilt axis. A tool carriage, mounted at the end of the boom by a multiple stage lift mast, has a pair of freight engaging tools thereon. the telescoping mast includes an upper frame connected to the boom for pivoting about a vertical axis, a middle frame, and a lower frame having the tool carriage slidably mounted thereon. A pair of secondary lift cylinders are connected between the upper and middle frames. A pair of secondary lift chains are connected between the upper and lower frames and engage pulleys on the middle frame such that as the secondary cylinders extend or retract to respectively lower or raise the middle frame, the lower frame is lowered or raised relative to the middle frame.

Abstract: A mixed freight handling system, particularly for limited access areas such as an end-opening trailer at a dock, includes a telescoping conveyor overlapping a fixed conveyor and translatable into the trailer to receive hand liftable articles. A freight manipulator includes an appropriate and changeable freight manipulator tool mounted on an extendible boom and is translatable adjacent and along the conveyors to the dock edge. The tool is extendible into the trailer for engaging and supporting manually nonliftable freight for transfer to or from a freight conveyor extending alongside the path of the manipulator. The telescoping conveyor includes a base section engaged with a track, an inclinable lift section, and a liftable and laterally swingable head section. The manipulator includes a chassis engaged with a track straddling the fixed and telescoping conveyors and has a tunnel formed therethrough, allowing the passage of articles on the conveyors therebeneath.

Abstract: A mixed freight handling system, particularly for limited access areas such as an end-opening trailer at a dock, includes a telescoping conveyor overlapping a fixed conveyor and translatable into the trailer to receive hand liftable articles. A freight manipulator includes an appropriate and changeable freight manipulator tool mounted on an extendible boom and is translatable adjacent and along the conveyors to the dock edge. The tool is extendible into the trailer for engaging and supporting manually nonliftable freight for transfer to or from a freight conveyor extending alongside the path of the manipulator. The telescoping conveyor includes a base section engaged with a track, an inclinable lift section, and a liftable and laterally swingable head section. The manipulator includes a chassis engaged with a track straddling the fixed and telescoping conveyors and has a tunnel formed therethrough, allowing the passage of articles on the conveyors therebeneath.

Abstract: A mixed freight handling system, particularly for limited access areas such as an end-opening trailer at a dock, includes a telescoping conveyor overlapping a fixed conveyor and translatable into the trailer to receive hand liftable articles. A freight manipulator includes an appropriate and changeable freight manipulator tool mounted on an extendible boom and is translatable adjacent and along the conveyors to the dock edge. The tool is extendible into the trailer for engaging and supporting manually nonliftable freight for transfer to or from a freight conveyor extending alongside the path of the manipulator. The telescoping conveyor includes a base section engaged with a track, an inclinable lift section, and a liftable and laterally swingable head section. The manipulator includes a chassis engaged with a track straddling the fixed and telescoping conveyors and has a tunnel formed therethrough; allowing the passage of articles on the conveyors therebeneath.