Material handling device

A material handling device comprising:

• a pedestal;
• a pantograph track plate supported by said pedestal, said pantograph track plate including at least two cam tracks;
• at least one pantograph assembly movably connected to said pedestal and having at least one end of said pantograph assembly receivable within each of said at least two cam tracks;
• a material holder connected to said pantograph assembly;
• an actuator connected to said material holder;
• a cam follower coupled to said pantograph assembly and receivable within each of said at least two cam tracks for guiding the direction of said material holder during operation;
• and
• a switching element for switching said cam follower between said at least two cam tracks, whereby said material holder moves along a path of movement corresponding to the cam track in which said cam follower is positioned.

A method for handling material comprising the steps of:

• providing a material handling device comprising a pedestal;
• a cam track plate movably supported by said pedestal, said cam track plate having at least one cam track;
• a working arm movably connected to said pedestal and partially received within said at least one cam track;
• an actuator assembly connected to said pedestal and said working arm for moving said working arm along a predetermined path;
• and a cam follower coupled to said working arm and partially received within said at least one cam track for guiding said working arm along said predetermined path within said at least one cam track;
• placing a payload to be transferred in a loading position adjacent to said working arm;
• transferring said payload to be transferred to said working arm;
• actuating said actuator assembly to move said working arm carrying said payload to be transferred from said loading position to an unloading position;
• and
• transferring said payload to be transferred on to said unloading position.