An improved vacuum material handler having an onboard drive engine powering a vacuum pump and a hydraulic pump. The vacuum material handler also having a frame with integrated forklift lugs.

A traffic barrier lifter mountable on a boom and having a gearbox with a first and a second rotating axis; a pair of opposing arms directly mounted to the first and second rotating axis and a rotator capable of rotating the lifter relative to the boom, wherein the gearbox is capable of moving the pair of opposing arms from an open position to a closed position such that the arms can clamp onto a traffic barrier. The rotator being capable of rotating the arms and traffic barrier relative to the boom.

A method for controlling the operation of a vacuum material handler providing secure communication between the wireless remote control and the receiver of a controller on the vacuum material handler. The method providing a haptic confirmation of a valid command. The method also providing a battery life extending sleep mode when left inactive for a predetermined length of time. The method further including a pendant remote in communication with the wireless remote control. The pendant remote being operable to command the vacuum material handler.

A traffic barrier lifter mountable on a boom and having a gearbox with a first and a second rotating axis; a pair of opposing arms directly mounted to the first and second rotating axis and a rotator capable of rotating the lifter relative to the boom, wherein the gearbox is capable of moving the pair of opposing arms from an open position to a closed position such that the arms can clamp onto a traffic barrier. The rotator being capable of rotating the arms and traffic barrier relative to the boom.

A vacuum gripper comprises a rigid base element and a loop-shaped vacuum seal element. The base element has first and second opposite sides. The seal element is attached at least indirectly to the second side and protruding therefrom in a direction away from the first side. The seal element comprises a contact surface that at least partially contacts with an object surface and an encircling surface oriented transversely to the contact surface so as to define a chamber. The seal element is elastically deformable at the contact surface to enable conforming to the object surface when pressed thereagainst. The vacuum gripper comprises an air extraction means mounted to the first side to be in fluid communication with the chamber through the base element, and configured to continuously extract air from the chamber to cause the contact surface to be urged towards and grip the object surface when pressed thereagainst.

A vacuum gripper comprises a rigid base element and a loop-shaped vacuum seal element. The base element has first and second opposite sides. The seal element is attached at least indirectly to the second side and protruding therefrom in a direction away from the first side. The seal element comprises a contact surface that at least partially contacts with an object surface and an encircling surface oriented transversely to the contact surface so as to define a chamber. The seal element is elastically deformable at the contact surface to enable conforming to the object surface when pressed thereagainst. The vacuum gripper comprises an air extraction means mounted to the first side to be in fluid communication with the chamber through the base element, and configured to continuously extract air from the chamber to cause the contact surface to be urged towards and grip the object surface when pressed thereagainst.

A system and method for controlling the operation of a vacuum material handler providing secure communication between the wireless remote control and the receiver of a controller on the vacuum material handler. The system providing a haptic confirmation of a valid command. The system also providing a battery life extending sleep mode when left inactive for a predetermined length of time. The system further including a pendant remote in communication with the wireless remote control. The pendant remote being operable to command the vacuum material handler.

A vacuum gripper comprises a rigid base element and a loop-shaped vacuum seal element. The base element has first and second opposite sides. The seal element is attached at least indirectly to the second side and protruding therefrom in a direction away from the first side. The seal element comprises a contact surface that at least partially contacts with an object surface and an encircling surface oriented transversely to the contact surface so as to define a chamber. The seal element is elastically deformable at the contact surface to enable conforming to the object surface when pressed thereagainst. The vacuum gripper comprises an air extraction means mounted to the first side to be in fluid communication with the chamber through the base element, and configured to continuously extract air from the chamber to cause the contact surface to be urged towards and grip the object surface when pressed thereagainst.

A traffic barrier lifter mountable on a boom and having a gearbox with a first and a second rotating axis; a pair of opposing arms directly mounted to the first and second rotating axis and a rotator capable of rotating the lifter relative to the boom, wherein the gearbox is capable of moving the pair of opposing arms from an open position to a closed position such that the arms can clamp onto a traffic barrier. The rotator being capable of rotating the arms and traffic barrier relative to the boom.

An attachment that incorporates a vacuum mechanism along with one or more grab arm assemblies. The vacuum mechanism and each grab arm assembly are configured to hold an object at the same time. In other embodiments, the object can be held solely by the vacuum mechanism or solely by the grab arms. In case of failure of the vacuum mechanism, for example a loss of suction or vacuum power or the vacuum is not properly centered on the object, the grab arm assembly acts as a back-up lifting mechanism to hold the object so that the object is not dropped. In addition, the grab arm assembly permits the attachment to hold the object in orientations, such as vertical, that are not possible using the vacuum mechanism by itself.