Patent ID: 7913975

Claim:
An apparatus for stacking and unstacking nestable containers comprising: a lifting assembly having a plurality of lifting elements for grasping different types of nestable containers; a base frame onto which said lifting assembly is mounted; and drive means for raising and lowering said lifting assembly in a controlled manner mounted on said base frame; said base frame comprise: a) a rear safety guard and a pair of side safety guards forming three walls with an open end; b) a heavy-duty support frame integral with said rear safety guard; c) a pair of spaced apart elongate feet forming container guides extending from said support frame of said rear safety guard, parallel with and adjacent to said side safety guards, said container guides capable of lateral adjustment to accommodate various sized containers; and d) a pair of vertical cylinders secured to said support frame; said support frame further includes a pump and screw drive motor; said lifting assembly includes an opposing lift arms designed to lift and lower cloth hampers, said lifting apparatus further includes a pair of opposing lift adapters for lifting and lowering plastic hampers; said lifting assembly further includes a pair of opposing lift arms for lifting and lowering BMC and 084C containers; and said lifting assembly further includes vertical plates in communication with a chain drive.