Load manipulator

A manipulator for moving a load laterally with respect to a vehicle comprising:

• a support frame adapted for mounting on the vehicle so as to be raised and lowered with respect to the vehicle;
• a movable guide having first and second lengthwise ends, a front side which faces away from the vehicle when the support frame is mounted on the vehicle and a rear side which faces towards the vehicle when the support frame is mounted on the vehicle,
• the guide being supported by the support frame for lateral translation with respect to the support frame from the front side of the guide by a plurality of first rollers mounted on the support frame and from the rear side of the guide by a plurality of second rollers mounted on the support frame,
• the guide comprising first and second elongated rigid guide members rigidly secured to each other and extending parallel to each other at the same height as each other when the support frame is mounted on the vehicle, a space which extends in a lengthwise direction of the guide being formed between the first and second guide members, the first guide member sitting directly on the first rollers and the second guide member sitting directly on the second rollers;
• and
• a carriage for supporting a load engaging attachment capable of supporting a load, the carriage being supported by the guide for translation with respect to the guide in the lengthwise direction of the guide as the guide is translating with respect to the support frame,
• the carriage including a portion which is disposed in the space between the two guide members, the carriage being supported from opposite sides of the space by the first and second guide members through a plurality of rollers mounted on the portion of the carriage disposed in the space.