Roll-on, roll-off handling device and element for containers or the like

Roll-on, roll-off handling device adapted to lift one end of a container and to maintain it in the raised position during handling and displacement of the container, said device comprising:

• a chassis;
• means for supporting the chassis upon the ground which means permits pivotal movement of said chassis with respect to the ground about a first axis parallel to the ground, said chassis pivoting about the first axis from a tilted position in which a first end of the chassis is adjacent to the ground and a raised position in which said first end is spaced from the ground;
• a carriage mounted on said chassis and displaceable along the longitudinal axis of said chassis, said longitudinal axis being transverse to said first axis;
• an apron removably attachable to one face of a container, said apron being connected to said carriage and adapted for pivotal movement with respect to both said carriage and said chassis about a second axis substantially parallel to said first axis;
• means for pivotally displacing said apron with respect to said chassis about said second axis;
• means for moving said carriage and said chassis with respect to each other along the longitudinal axis of said chassis, said carriage being movable between an advanced carriage position in which said second axis is adjacent said first end of the chassis and spaced from said first axis, and a container supporting position in which the second axis is displaced toward an opposed second end of the chassis, thereby to allow movement of a container from a position in which said container rests on the ground with the chassis in its tilted position and the carriage in its said advanced carriage position, to a position in which, after movement of the chassis to said raised position and of the carriage to its container supporting position, said end of the container is raised and overlies part of the chassis.