Barrel elevator including shielded actuation mechanisms

An elevator system positionable within an elevator shaft having a loading side and a storage side for vertically moving barrels between a plurality of floors, comprising:

• a support frame extending between a upper end and a lower end, the support frame being located in the elevator shaft;
• a pair of spaced lifting chains extending between the upper end and the lower end;
• a plurality of cradle assemblies each connected to the pair of lifting chains for movement along a movement path between the upper end and the lower end, each of the cradle assemblies including at least a pair of cradle arms spaced from each other for supporting one of the barrels;
• at least one loading station located at a loading opening on the loading side of the elevator shaft, wherein the loading station includes a rail section coupled to a handle section such that the handle section is operable to move the rail section between a loading position to load or unload barrels from the plurality of cradle assemblies and a storage position;
• a plurality of unloading stations located at an unloading opening at each floor and on the storage side of the elevator shaft, wherein the plurality of unloading stations each include a rail section coupled to a handle section such that the handle section is operable to move the rail section between a loading position to load or unload barrels from the plurality of cradle assemblies and a storage position;
• and
• a shield assembly positioned at each of the plurality of unloading stations and the loading station, the shield assembly including a barrel opening sized to allow the barrels to pass through the shield assembly.