Ergonomic tool lifting machine and method

An ergonomic method for transferring a milling cutter between a pick-up and drop-off position and an installation and removal position, comprising:

• providing an ergonomic lift assist machine, said machine comprising:
• a manually displaceable articulating arm having a fixed end and a free end,
• a powered vertical lift mechanism coupled to said fixed end of said articulating arm, said vertical lift mechanism for raising and lowering said articulating arm,
• a tool holder attached to said free end of said articulating arm, said tool holder having a gripper for grasping and retaining a milling cutter, said tool holder being manually rotatable by an operator of said machine between a pick-up and drop-off position wherein a longitudinal axis of said milling cutter is substantially perpendicular to the ground and an installation and removal position wherein said longitudinal axis of said milling cutter is substantially parallel to the ground, and
• a position lock associated with said tool holder, said position lock including a retractable spring-loaded pin that extends through a plate attached to the tool holder and enters into a receiving hole in a plate attached to said free end of said articulating arm when said tool holder is in either said pick-up and drop-off position or said installation and removal position, said position lock operable to secure said tool holder in said pick-up and drop-off position or said installation and removal position;
• and
• using said ergonomic lift assist machine to manually transfer a milling cutter between said pick-up and drop-off position and said installation and removal position while the weight of said machine tool is supported by said articulating arm.

An ergonomic method for transferring a milling cutter between a storage position wherein a longitudinal axis of said milling cutter is substantially perpendicular to the ground and an installation position in a milling machine spindle wherein a longitudinal axis of said milling cutter is substantially parallel to the ground, comprising:

• providing an ergonomic lift assist machine, said machine comprising:
• a manually displaceable articulating arm having a fixed end and a free end, a longitudinal axis of said articulating arm being substantially horizontally oriented with respect to the ground,
• a powered vertical lift mechanism coupled to said fixed end of said articulating arm, said vertical lift mechanism for raising and lowering said articulating arm,
• a tool holder attached to said free end of said articulating arm, said tool holder having a gripper for grasping and retaining a milling cutter, said tool holder being manually rotatable by an operator of said machine so as to rotate said milling cutter between said storage position and said installation position associated with said milling cutter, and
• a position lock associated with said tool holder, said position lock including a retractable spring-loaded pin that extends through a plate attached to the tool holder and enters into a receiving hole in a plate attached to said free end of said articulating arm when said tool holder is in either said pick-up and drop-off position or said installation and removal position, said position lock operable to secure said tool holder in said storage position or said installation position;
• and
• using said ergonomic lift assist machine to manually transfer said milling cutter between said respective storage and installation positions while said articulating arm supports the weight of said milling cutter.