Positioning cradle for mine roof supports

A cradle for placing a support in a mine, the cradle attaching to a platform for holding the mine support, the platform being associated with a mechanism for moving the platform, the cradle comprising:

• a holder for holding the mine support;
• an arm mechanism rotatably attached to the holder which has an open position that allows the support to enter the holder and a closed position which prevents the support from leaving the holder, the arm mechanism includes an arm rotatably attached to the holder which has an open position that allows the support to enter the holder and a closed position which prevents the support from leaving the holder, and a handle connected to the arm which moves the arm when the handle is moved, the arm having a locked position which holds the arm in the closed position, the holder includes a housing which is maintained in a position parallel with the surface of the platform when the arm mechanism is in the open position;
• and
• an attachment mechanism connected to the holder for rotatably attaching the holder to the platform, the attachment mechanism maintaining the holder in a horizontal position relative to the platform so the mine support can roll from the platform to the holder and enter the holder or in a vertical position relative to the platform, the attachment mechanism has a spring loaded bolt and a plurality of holes in which the spring loaded bolt can be disposed to maintain the holder in the horizontal or vertical position.