Patent ID: 8057374

Claim:
An ergonomic method for transferring a machine tool between a storage position and a installation 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 designed to grasp and retain a machine tool and adapted for manual rotation about a substantially horizontal axis by an operator of said machine between a storage position and an installation position associated with said machine tool, 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 storage position or said installation 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 a machine tool between said storage position and said installation position without the need for any lifting of said tool by a human operator.