Article handling apparatus

Abstract

An article handling apparatus for gripping and moving an article such as a large tire or other vehicular component of a mining, earthmoving or like vehicle. The article handling apparatus includes a base frame for movement of the apparatus over a substrate surface, and a handling frame for gripping the article, such as a tire. The apparatus has a pair of moveable arm members on the base frame, and a pair of moveable arm members on the handling frame. The apparatus can be compactly stored by contraction of the arms, can be manipulated through tight spaces, and is extremely stable while handling large and heavy articles.

1 . An article handling apparatus adapted to grip, lift and rotate an article in any direction, including:
 a central body portion, formed as a substantially upstanding frame which is slidably extendable in height, and having a central wheel at the lower end thereof for movement over a substrate surface;   a base frame, including a pair of articulated base arms extending outwardly from said lower end of said central body, each base arm having a wheel at or near its extremity for movement movable over a substrate surface;   a handling frame, including a pair of articulated handling arms, extending substantially outwardly from an upper end of said central body, each handling arm including gripping means at or near its extremity for gripping supported on said base frame, having means for gripping and moving said article in any direction; and,   a controller integrally formed in said apparatus to control the operation of each arm member and the extension/contraction of said base frame and handling frame.   
   
   
       2 . An article handling apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each wheel is adapted to be rotated 360°, for movement of said apparatus in any direction over said substrate surface. 
   
   
       3 . An article handling apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein, to compactly store said apparatus, said arms are outwardly extended to a position as shown in  FIGS. 6 and 8 . 
   
   
       4 . An article handling apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said gripping means includes a pair of plates whereby said article is gripped by being pressed between said plates. 
   
   
       5 . An article handling apparatus as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein said plates are rotatable to allow orientation of said article in any direction. 
   
   
       6 . An article handling apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said article is a tire or other component of a vehicle, earthmoving or mining equipment. 
   
   
       7 . An article handling apparatus adapted to grip, lift and rotate an article in any direction, said apparatus including:
 a central body portion, formed as a substantially upstanding frame which is slidably extendable in height, and having a central wheel at the lower end thereof for movement over a substrate surface;   a base frame, including a pair of articulated base arms extending outwardly from said lower end of said central body, each base arm having a wheel at or near its extremity for movement over said substrate surface;   a handling frame, including a pair of articulated handling arms, extending substantially outwardly from an upper end of said central body, each handling arm including gripping means at or near its extremity for gripping and moving said article in any direction;   a first controller integrally formed in said apparatus to control the operation of each arm member and the extension/contraction of said base frame and handling frame;   at least one additional controller carried by each base arm adjacent to each wheel carried by said base arm; and,   wherein, said apparatus may be compactly stored, manipulated in tight spaces, and handle articles of large variation in size/weight, whilst being self-balancing.   
   
   
       8 . An article handling apparatus, including:
 a base frame, movable over a substrate surface, said base frame including a central body portion and a pair of base frame arms, wherein each base frame arm is movable with relation to said central body and wherein said central body portion includes a wheel and each base frame arm carries at least one wheel; and,   a handling frame supported on said base frame, said handling frame including a pair of arm members extending from said central body portion, wherein the extremity of each arm includes opposed gripping means for gripping said article when said article is located between said opposed gripping means.