System for assisting with loading and unloading objects

An apparatus for assisting in lifting and lowering fryer baskets in a kitchen of a restaurant, the apparatus comprising:

• at least one track mounted above one or more stations and defining a length;
• at least one lifting portion mounted to the track for horizontal movement along at least a portion of the length of the track, wherein the lifting portion comprises;
• at least one motor;
• at least one windup drum connected to the motor and configured to rotate therewith;
• at least one windable member secured to the windup drum and configured to be wound and unwound therefrom;
• at least one handle secured to the windable member and configured to be lifted to a retracted position and lowered to an extended position as the windable member is wound and unwound therefrom, wherein the handle is configured to be connected to a fryer basket;
• and
• at least one actuator operably connected to the motor, wherein the actuator is configured to actuate the motor to rotate the windup drum, wind the windable member onto the windup drum, and lift the handle and fryer basket.