Vehicle mounted loader and unloader

Load transfer mechanism adapted for mounting on the side of a vehicle having a width limit and adapted for the transfer of load articles between the vehicle bed and a location adjacent the vehicle comprising:

• a base attached to the side of the vehicle;
• a sub-base;
• an inner boom having first and second ends;
• a first pivotal coupling between said inner boom first end and said sub-base;
• means mounting said sub-base for movement relative to said base over a range of motion which includes a first position in which said first pivotal coupling and said inner boom first end are within said vehicle width limit and beneath the vehicle bed and a second position in which said first pivotal coupling and said inner boom first end are located beyond the width limit of said vehicle;
• first operating means for driving said inner boom around said first pivotal coupling;
• an outer boom having first and second ends;
• a second pivotal coupling between said inner boom second end and said outer boom first end, said second pivotal coupling being spaced from said outer boom second end a distance within the width limit of the vehicle when said sub-base is in said first position and being spaced from said inner boom first end a distance less than the height of said first coupling above ground level when said sub-base is in said second position;
• means attached to said outer boom second end for engaging load articles to be transferred;
• and
• second operating means connected to said outer boom and adapted to drive said outer boom second end in an arc around said second pivotal coupling.