Handling device

A handling device comprising:

• a base;
• a head;
• mounting and positioning means mounting said head on said base and operable for positioning said head along a certain direction relative to said base;
• a linear transfer arm having a major length dimension and a pair of opposed ends, and slideably mounted on said head for sliding relative to said head along the major length dimension from a retracted position with a first of said ends adjacent said head and the second of said ends remote from said head to an extended position with said first end remote from said head and said second end adjacent said head;
• said head comprising means slideably mounting said transfer arm thereon for sliding along the major length dimension between the retracted position and the extended position;
• driving means operable for driving said linear transfer arm to slide along the major length dimension between the retracted position and the extended position, said driving means comprising an elongated housing mounted on said head and having a major length dimension parallel to the transfer arm length dimension and having a length extending from said head approximately equal to a length of a portion of said linear transfer arm extending from said head when said linear transfer arm is in the retracted position, said head comprising means fixedly mounting said driving means thereon and to extend therefrom parallel to and in the same direction as said linear transfer arm when said linear transfer arm is in the retracted position;
• and means for preventing rotation of said linear transfer arm about the major longitudinal dimension thereof, said means for preventing rotation comprising a member fixedly secured to said linear transfer arm at an end portion thereof adjacent said second end, and said member extending toward the housing of said driving means and freely engaging therewith for permitting translational movement of said member relative to said housing along the major length of said housing and for preventing rotational movement of said member relative to said housing thereby to prevent rotation of said linear transfer arm about the major longitudinal dimension thereof.