Patent ID: 8910719

Claim:
An apparatus for handling at least one rod component at a rig comprising: a depositing means for the rod components in which the rod components are deposited, substantially in parallel to a connecting line between a center of a drill hole and a center of a drilling mast, a lifting means including a lift carriage, a guide means for guiding the lift carriage and a drive for displacing the lift carriage in a displacing direction, a pick-up means attached to the lift carriage for picking up the rod component from the depositing means, wherein the pick-up means pivots with respect to the lift carriage at a plane perpendicular to the displacing direction (Z) of the lift carriage such that the rod components are arranged above the drill hole, and a plurality of monitor means in the depositing means, the lifting means, and the pick-up means for automatically monitoring the movement of the rod components amongst the depositing means, the lifting means, and the pick-up means.