Tilting mechanism

Apparatus for handling an open top kettle or bowl having loop handles on opposite sides, on a diameter of the kettle, each with an elongated horizontal outer element perpendicular to said diameter, the kettle holding a content of caramel or batter, said apparatus being operable for tilting the kettle for emptying the content therefrom,

• said apparatus comprising,
• a stand,
• a lift truck having a vertically movable fork mounted thereon, the fork having horizontally spaced arms which in operation straddle the kettle or bowl and extend to a working position where their free ends are adjacent to the middle of the kettle at said diameter,
• a tilting unit on the extended end of each arm,
• each tilting unit including a double tab latching member having latching elements spaced along the length of the outer element of the handle, and
• the tilting units being operable for receiving the corresponding outer elements of the handles, and the latching elements being operable for gripping said outer element,
• one of the tilting units being a drive unit and the other being an idler unit, and
• the drive unit in cooperation with the idler unit being operable for rotating on a transverse axis adjacent said kettle diameter for tilting the kettle.