Abstract: A manipulator for transporting a load laterally with respect to a vehicle includes a support frame adapted for mounting on a vehicle. A movable guide is supported by the support frame for lateral translation with respect to the support frame. A carriage which is capable of supporting a load engaging attachment for supporting a load is supported by the guide for translation with respect to the guide in the lengthwise direction of the guide. The carriage can translate with respect to the guide in the lengthwise direction of the guide at the same time that the guide is translating laterally with respect to the support frame.

Abstract: A manipulator for transporting a load laterally with respect to a vehicle includes a support frame adapted for mounting on a vehicle. A movable guide is supported by the support frame for lateral translation with respect to the support frame. A carriage which is capable of supporting a load engaging attachment for supporting a load is supported by the guide for translation with respect to the guide in the lengthwise direction of the guide. The carriage can translate with respect to the guide in the lengthwise direction of the guide at the same time that the guide is translating laterally with respect to the support frame.

Abstract: A clamping apparatus includes a frame adapted for mounting on a forklift so as to be raised and lowered along a mast of the forklift, a carriage supported by the frame for movement with respect to the frame in the widthwise direction of the forklift, two lifting arms supported by the carriage and extending in the widthwise direction of the frame, and a drive mechanism operatively connected to one of the lifting arms for producing relative movement of the lifting arms in the fore-and-aft direction of the frame to enable the lifting arms to grasp and release a load. The clamping apparatus can lift a portion of the objects in a closely-spaced layer and remove them from the layer without disturbing other objects in the layer. The clamping apparatus is particularly suitable for handling buckets.

Abstract: A clamping apparatus includes a frame adapted for mounting on a forklift so as to be raised and lowered along a mast of the forklift, a carriage supported by the frame for movement with respect to the frame in the widthwise direction of the forklift, two lifting arms supported by the carriage and extending in the widthwise direction of the frame, and a drive mechanism operatively connected to one of the lifting arms for producing relative movement of the lifting arms in the fore-and-aft direction of the frame to enable the lifting arms to grasp and release a load. The clamping apparatus can lift a portion of the objects in a closely-spaced layer and remove them from the layer without disturbing other objects in the layer. The clamping apparatus is particularly suitable for handling buckets.

Abstract: A clamping apparatus has a frame and a plurality of clamping arms mounted on the frame for grasping and releasing a load. The frame defines an opening through which a load grasped by the clamping arms can pass to above the frame.

Abstract: A pallet for use in transporting merchandise includes a pallet body having a top surface for supporting merchandise. A foot-driven winch is mounted on the pallet body, and a flexible tie-down for restraining merchandise on the pallet body is connected to the winch. In a preferred method of using the pallet, a plurality of such pallets are disposed inside a vehicle with the pallets defining a surface which substantially spans the width of the floor of the vehicle and on which a delivery person can stand to access merchandise on the pallets. The delivery person can remove merchandise from the pallets while remaining inside the vehicle and then can move the merchandise to outside the vehicle without having to perform any lifting. As a result, sickness of delivery persons due to exposure to the weather during delivery and injuries due to lifting of merchandise can be decreased.

Abstract: A clamping apparatus includes a frame and a pair of opposing clamping arms mounted on the frame for movement towards and away from each other to grasp or release a load. In one embodiment, each clamping arm defines a four-bar linkage which controls the angle with respect to the vertical of a contact portion of the clamping arm. The clamping apparatus may be mounted on a lift truck or other support member by a connector which permits the angle of the clamping apparatus with respect to the horizontal to be adjusted and which enables the clamping apparatus to pivot about an axis between a position in which it is disposed outboard of the axis and a position in which is it disposed forward of the axis.

Abstract: A clamping apparatus has a frame and a plurality of clamping arms mounted on the frame for grasping and releasing a load. The frame defines an opening through which a load grasped by the clamping arms can pass to above the frame.

Abstract: A clamping apparatus includes a frame and a pair of opposing clamping arms mounted on the frame for movement towards and away from each other to grasp or release a load. In one embodiment, each clamping arm is guided for movement with respect to the frame by an adjustable bushing which can be rotated to adjust the position of the bushing with respect to the clamping arm. In another embodiment, each clamping arm defines a four-bar linkage which controls the angle with respect to the vertical of a contact portion of the clamping arm. The clamping apparatus may be mounted on a lift truck or other support member by a connector which permits the angle of the clamping apparatus with respect to the horizontal to be adjusted and which enables the clamping apparatus to pivot about an axis between a position in which it is disposed outboard of the axis and a position in which is it disposed forward of the axis.

Abstract: A clamping apparatus includes a frame and a pair of opposing clamping arms mounted on the frame for movement towards and away from each other to grasp or release a load. In one embodiment, each clamping arm is guided for movement with respect to the frame by an adjustable bushing which can be rotated to adjust the position of the bushing with respect to the clamping arm. In another embodiment, each clamping arm defines a four-bar linkage which controls the angle with respect to the vertical of a contact portion of the clamping arm. The clamping apparatus may be mounted on a lift truck or other support member by a connector which permits the angle of the clamping apparatus with respect to the horizontal to be adjusted and which enables the clamping apparatus to pivot about an axis between a position in which it is disposed outboard of the axis and a position in which is it disposed forward of the axis.

Abstract: A lift truck includes a guide member secured to a mast of the lift truck and a guided member secured to a carriage vertically movable along the mast. The guided member engages with the guide member to resist twisting moments acting on the carriage and enable the carriage to move smoothly along the mast. A lift truck attachment for mounting on a lift truck includes a latching member which can restrict movement of the attachment with respect to the lift truck in a fore-and-aft direction of the lift truck.

Abstract: A manipulator for use with a lift truck includes a guide assembly mountable on a mast of a lift truck, a carriage assembly supported for movement along the guide assembly, and an arm assembly mounted on the carriage assembly for supporting a lift truck attachment such as a clamping apparatus. The arm assembly may include two arms pivotable with respect to each other about a substantially vertical axis. The manipulator can move a load in a widthwise direction of a lift truck and between opposite widthwise sides of a lift truck.

Abstract: A clamping apparatus includes a frame and a pair of opposing clamping arms mounted on the frame for movement towards and away from each other to grasp or release a load. In one embodiment, each clamping arm is guided for movement with respect to the frame by an adjustable bushing which can be rotated to adjust the position of the bushing with respect to the clamping arm. In another embodiment, each clamping arm defines a four-bar linkage which controls the angle with respect to the vertical of a contact portion of the clamping arm. The clamping apparatus may be mounted on a lift truck or other support member by a connector which permits the angle of the clamping apparatus with respect to the horizontal to be adjusted and which enables the clamping apparatus to pivot about an axis between a position in which it is disposed outboard of the axis and a position in which is it disposed forward of the axis.

Abstract: A pallet for use in transporting merchandise includes a pallet body having a top surface for supporting merchandise. A foot-driven winch is mounted on the pallet body, and a flexible tie-down for restraining merchandise on the pallet body is connected to the winch. In a preferred method of using the pallet, a plurality of such pallets are disposed inside a vehicle with the pallets defining a surface which substantially spans the width of the floor of the vehicle and on which a delivery person can stand to access merchandise on the pallets. The delivery person can remove merchandise from the pallets while remaining inside the vehicle and then can move the merchandise to outside the vehicle without having to perform any lifting. As a result, sickness of delivery persons due to exposure to the weather during delivery and injuries due to lifting of merchandise can be decreased.

Abstract: A clamping apparatus includes a frame and a pair of opposing clamping arms mounted on the frame for movement towards and away from each other to grasp or release a load. In one embodiment, each clamping arm is guided for movement with respect to the frame by an adjustable bushing which can be rotated to adjust the position of the bushing with respect to the clamping arm. In another embodiment, each clamping arm defines a four-bar linkage which controls the angle with respect to the vertical of a contact portion of the clamping arm. The clamping apparatus may be mounted on a lift truck or other support member by a connector which permits the angle of the clamping apparatus with respect to the horizontal to be adjusted and which enables the clamping apparatus to pivot about an axis between a position in which it is disposed outboard of the axis and a position in which is it disposed forward of the axis.

Abstract: A clamping apparatus includes a frame and a pair of opposing clamping arms mounted on the frame for movement towards and away from each other to grasp or release a load. In one embodiment, each clamping arm is guided for movement with respect to the frame by an adjustable bushing which can be rotated to adjust the position of the bushing with respect to the clamping arm. In another embodiment, each clamping arm defines a four-bar linkage which controls the angle with respect to the vertical of a contact portion of the clamping arm. The clamping apparatus may be mounted on a lift truck or other support member by a connector which permits the angle of the clamping apparatus with respect to the horizontal to be adjusted and which enables the clamping apparatus to pivot about an axis between a position in which it is disposed outboard of the axis and a position in which is it disposed forward of the axis.

Abstract: A lift truck includes a guide member secured to a mast of the lift truck and a guided member secured to a carriage vertically movable along the mast. The guided member engages with the guide member to resist twisting moments acting on the carriage and enable the carriage to move smoothly along the mast. A lift truck attachment for mounting on a lift truck includes a latching member which can restrict movement of the attachment with respect to the lift truck in a fore-and-aft direction of the lift truck.

Abstract: A lift truck includes a guide member secured to a mast of the lift truck and a guided member secured to a carriage vertically movable along the mast. The guided member engages with the guide member to resist twisting moments acting on the carriage and enable the carriage to move smoothly along the mast. A clamping apparatus for use with the lift truck is engageable with the forks of the lift truck so that the weight of the clamping apparatus can be supported by the forks. A bracket mounted on the lift truck can be detachably connected to the clamping apparatus to prevent movement of the clamping apparatus in the fore-and-aft direction of the lift truck.

Abstract: A manipulator for use with a lift truck includes a guide assembly mountable on a mast of a lift truck, a carriage assembly supported for movement along the guide assembly, and an arm assembly mounted on the carriage assembly for supporting a lift truck attachment such as a clamping apparatus. The arm assembly may include two arms pivotable with respect to each other about a substantially vertical axis. The manipulator can move a load in a widthwise direction of a lift truck and between opposite widthwise sides of a lift truck.

Abstract: A lift truck includes a guide member secured to a mast of the lift truck and a guided member secured to a carriage vertically movable along the mast. The guided member engages with the guide member to resist twisting moments acting on the carriage and enable the carriage to move smoothly along the mast. A clamping apparatus for use with the lift truck is engageable with the forks of the lift truck so that the weight of the clamping apparatus can be supported by the forks. A bracket mounted on the lift truck can be detachably connected to the clamping apparatus to prevent movement of the clamping apparatus in the fore-and-aft direction of the lift truck.