Patent ID: 8141856

Claim:
A pallet loader and manipulator for loading a pallet and a workpiece into a machine tool, the pallet loader and manipulator comprising: a generally rectangular base; a plurality of vertical support portions mounted on the base; roller tracks mounted on either side of the pallet loader and manipulator; a pallet carriage guided by the roller tracks; a pallet support plate mounted on the pallet carriage; the pallet support plate configured to receive a pallet and a workpiece; whereby the pallet and the workpiece may be loaded onto the pallet support plate with the pallet carriage and the pallet support plate in the horizontal position, and whereby the pallet carriage, the pallet support plate, the pallet and the workpiece may be re-oriented to the vertical position to load the pallet and the workpiece into the machine tool in the vertical position; and a pallet drive motor coupled to the pallet carriage, whereby the pallet drive motor may be used to drive the pallet off of the pallet carriage and onto the machine tool.