Wheeled load transfer device with automatically-foldable barriers

A transfer device installable on a structure having a floor raised from a ground reference level adapted to facilitate the loading and unloading of a load, the transfer device comprising:

• a support structure fixed to the floor;
• A shoulder member;
• A pair of arms rotatably hinged to the support structure and to the shoulder member, and coupling therebetween such that the support structure and the shoulder form a pair of opposing sides of a quadrilateral and the two arms form a second pair of the quadrilateral;
• a platform coupled to the shoulder, and rotatable from a parallel to substantially orthogonal thereto, the platform and shoulder being movable at least between a deposit position at ground level and an access position at the floor level, the platform transitioning from the deposit to access positions while maintaining substantially horizontal orientation orthogonal to the shoulder;
• at least one side safety barrier coupled to a side of the platform the side safety barrier comprising an articulated quadrilateral having a first arm formed by a corresponding side edge of the platform, an opposed arm constituting a railing of the side barrier and connecting side arms, the side barrier being movable between a locked and an unlocked position;
• a front safety barrier constrained to the platform, and movable between a locked and an unlocked position;
• a first and a second kinematic mechanism, the first kinematic mechanism being coupled to the front safety barrier and the second kinematic mechanism being coupled to the at least one side barrier, the first and second kinematic mechanisms being operative to transition their respective barriers between the locked position when the barrier extends vertically and upwardly from the platform, to the unlocked position where the barrier does not extend above the platform;
• a slider coupled to at least the first and the second kinematic mechanisms and by contacting the ground when the platform is in the deposit position act on the first and second kinematic mechanisms to transition their respective barriers to an unlocked position;
• and
• at least one actuator operative for moving the platform at least between the deposit and access positions.