Vertical lift assembly

A vertical lift assembly comprising a framework including top and bottom plates, side plates and a back plate, and open at the front;

• an upright air cylinder on said bottom plate bearing against and secured to said back plate;
• and
• including a reciprocal piston rod projecting from said cylinder;
• a lift arm at one end secured to the upper end of said piston rod and parallel to said bottom plate;
• a pair of spaced upright guide rods extending between said top and bottom plates and secured to said framework;
• a vertically reciprocal carriage mounting a pair of bearing blocks with internal bushings guidably mounted upon said guide rods, and adapted to mount a horizontally disposed workpiece gripper;
• an upright movable rack gear mounted upon the interior of said carriage;
• an upright stationary rack gear opposed to and spaced from said movable rack gear interposed between said top and bottom plates and secured to said framework;
• a vertically reciprocal carrier having a pair of opposed upright side plates;
• and
• a series of vertically spaced pinions journalled upon said carrier between said side plates, in meshing engagement with said stationary rack gear;
• at least one pair of pinions at all times being in meshing engagement with both of said rack gears;
• the other end of said lift arm being secured to said carrier, whereby reciprocal movements of said piston rod and lift arm effect corresponding movements of said carrier, in turn, effecting corresponding raising and lowering movements of said carriage.