Vacuum assisted machine for handling articles

A machine for assisting in the support of a load which comprises a suction head having a hollow interior, a conduit connected to the hollow interior, means for impressing suction on the conduit, there being a downwardly facing opening in the suction head, the opening being arranged to receive the load with the load closing the opening and the load engaging the head at the opening, cable means supporting the suction head, a pressure cylinder having a piston connected to urge the cable means upwardly to support the suction head and the load, means for supplying fluid under pressure to the pressure cylinder at two selected pressures, one selected pressure being sufficient to substantially counterbalance the weight of the load and of the suction head, the other selected pressure being a lesser pressure sufficient to substantially counterbalance the weight of the suction head, a pressure operated switch connected to the conduit and arranged to impress the first selected pressure on the pressure cylinder when the opening in the suction head is closed by the load and there is a reduced pressure in the conduit and to impress the lesser selected pressure on the pressure cylinder when the opening in the suction head is free of the load and the suction is released.