Roll handling apparatus for fork lift trucks

An apparatus for lifting and rotating a roll of material having an accessible axial core opening, comprising:

• a rectangular frame comprised of four or more frame members of varying size welded together and designed to fit onto the forks of a conventional fork lift truck, each member comprising a rectangular tube;
• an "L" shaped arm;
• a probe having first and second ends, the first end constructed for insertion into the core opening of a said roll and including gripping means comprising expansion means for expanding and gripping the inside of the core opening, said second end being connected to said arm;
• a first flexible vertical support means having first and second ends and being pivotally connected to a pivot point on said arm at said first end of said support means and connected to said frame at said second end of said support means;
• a second flexible vertical support means having first and second ends, said second end of said second support means being connected to said probe through a pivoting lever that assures that an axial force is applied to the probe during lifting and turning;
• control and power means connected to said frame and operatively connected to said first end of said second support means to permit controlled extension and retraction of the second support means to thereby provide for rotation of a handled said roll from vertical to horizontal or the reverse;
• wherein said control and power means comprises an electric hoist, and said first support means comprises a chain.