Material handling device

A material handling system for inverting a substantially planar panel, comprising:

• a frame;
• a panel-engaging member rotatably mounted on said frame and having a slot configured with fixed opposed panel engaging surfaces to receive and hold less than two thirds of a panel in said slot during rotation as the panel is subjected to a rotation from a first horizontal position wherein the panel-engaging member is in proximate alignment with the direction of engagement of the panel to a second horizontal position wherein the panel-engaging member is in proximate alignment with the direction of disengagement of the panel;
• and
• a rotating assembly that imparts an angular rotation about a longitudinal axis of the assembly and onto the panel-engaging member, said rotating assembly comprising a first stop associated with said first horizontal position and a second stop associated with said second horizontal position.

A material handling apparatus for inverting a panel, comprising:

• a frame:
• a panel-engaging member rotatably mounted on said frame and having a slot configured with fixed opposed panel engaging surfaces to engage and hold less than one-half of the length of a panel during rotation as the panel is subjected to an angular rotation;
• a first stop associated with said panel being in a first horizontal position and a second stop associated with said panel being in a second horizontal position;
• and
• a rotating assembly that imparts no more than a one-hundred and eighty degree rotation between said first and second stops about a longitudinal axis of the assembly and onto the panel-engaging member.

A material handling system for transferring and inverting a generally planar panel, comprising:

• a frame;
• means for engaging less than one-half of the length of a panel thereby retaining the panel as the panel is subjected to an angular rotation, said engaging means being defined by a panel-engaging member rotatably mounted on said frame and having a slot configured with fixed opposed panel engaging surfaces for engaging and holding less than one-half of the length of a panel for transferring and inverting the panel;
• means for imparting no more than a one-hundred and eighty-degree rotation about a longitudinal axis of the assembly onto the panel-engaging member;
• and
• means for stopping said imparting means at a first position associated with the panel being in a first horizontal position and means for stopping said imparting means at a second position associated with the panel being in a second horizontal position.