Patent ID: 8365898

Claim:
A pick-up assembly for moving an object off a surface, the pick-up assembly comprising: a conveyor subassembly extending between lower and upper ends thereof; the conveyor subassembly comprising a conveying means extending between the lower and upper ends, for moving the object to the upper end; at least two engagement devices positioned proximal to the lower end of the conveyor subassembly for engaging opposing sides of the object respectively, to move the object onto the conveying means; the conveying means being an endless conveyor belt and the conveyor subassembly comprises lower and upper conveyor rollers positioned substantially at the lower and upper ends respectively, for engaging the conveyor belt; the lower and upper conveyor rollers defining at least one conveyor plane therebetween; each of said at least two engagement devices being rotatable about an engagement device axis therefor; each said engagement device axis being positioned at a preselected angle therefor relative to said at least one conveyor plane, for lifting the object at least partially over the lower end of the conveyor subassembly as the object is moved onto the conveyor belt; each of said at least two engagement devices being a roller; each said roller being mounted in a bracket movable between an inner position, in which said roller is located proximal to the lower end of the conveyor subassembly, and an outer position, in which said roller is located distal to the lower end of the conveyor subassembly; and each said bracket slidably engaging the stop element therefor as each said bracket moves between the inner and outer positions.