Manipulator for a lift truck

A manipulator for manipulating a lift truck attachment comprising:

• a guide assembly adapted for mounting on a mast of a lift truck and having first and second parallel rails extending horizontally in a widthwise direction of the lift truck when the guide assembly is mounted on the mast of the lift truck;
• a carriage assembly supported by the guide assembly for movement along the guide assembly in a lengthwise direction of the guide assembly and including rollers engaging with the rails of the guide assembly;
• a chain drive for moving the carriage assembly along the guide assembly including a chain supported by the guide assembly and connected to the carriage assembly, and a drive motor mounted on the guide assembly and drivingly connected to the chain;
• an arm assembly having a first arm connected to the carriage assembly and extending from the carriage assembly in a fore-and-aft direction of the lift truck when the guide assembly is mounted on the mast of the lift truck, a second arm connectable to the lift truck attachment a joint rotatably connecting the second arm to the first arm, and a drive mechanism located at the joint for rotating the second arm about the joint with respect to the first arm and comprising a horizontally coplanar drive sprocket and driven sprocket connected by a chain, the first arm maintaining a constant height as the carriage assembly moves along the rails of the guide assembly, the second arm being rotatable by the drive mechanism with respect to the first arm by approximately 180° by rotation of the sprockets between a first position in which the second arm is substantially perpendicular to the first arm and extends from the first arm in a first direction parallel to the lengthwise direction of the guide assembly and a second position in which the second arm is substantially perpendicular to the first arm and extends from the first arm in a second direction opposite to the first direction and parallel to the lengthwise direction of the guide assembly.