Provided is a workpiece retention device that retains a frame which includes a workpiece main body and a lip flange and a base flange that are provided to the workpiece main body, wherein: the workpiece retention device comprises a plurality of grippers that are aligned in the lengthwise direction of the frame, and a horizontal movement mechanism and a vertical movement mechanism that move the plurality of grippers; the gripper each include: a lower block, a workpiece support pin that is provided to the lower block and that supports the frame, an upper block that can move toward the base flange of the supported frame, a block movement mechanism that moves the upper block; and a suction mechanism that is provided to the upper block and that suctions the workpiece main body on the base flange side.

A truck-mounted vacuum material handler and quick disconnect for use on a truck with a with a boom for handling plate steel. The handler includes a coupler [32] that has a boom connector [44], a removable carrier [36, 38] with a carrier connector [60], and a base [34] located between the boom connector and the removable carrier. A locking mechanism [66] located in the base is arranged to move between an unlocked position and a locked position relative to the carrier connector. In the unlocked position the carrier connector is removable from the base. In the locked position the carrier connector is secured in the opening and opposing face surfaces [48, 50, 62] of the base and removable carrier are mated to one another. The removable carrier may include a rotator-receiving recess [42] or a rigging hardware eyelet [40] arranged opposite the carrier connector.

Provided is a workpiece retention device that retains a frame which includes a workpiece main body and a lip flange and a base flange that are provided to the workpiece main body, wherein: the workpiece retention device comprises a plurality of grippers that are aligned in the lengthwise direction of the frame, and a horizontal movement mechanism and a vertical movement mechanism that move the plurality of grippers; the gripper each include: a lower block, a workpiece support pin that is provided to the lower block and that supports the frame, an upper block that can move toward the base flange of the supported frame, a block movement mechanism that moves the upper block; and a suction mechanism that is provided to the upper block and that suctions the workpiece main body on the base flange side.

A truck-mounted vacuum material handler and quick disconnect for use on a truck with a with a boom for handling plate steel. The handler includes a coupler [32] that has a boom connector [44], a removable carrier [36, 38] with a carrier connector [60], and a base [34] located between the boom connector and the removable carrier. A locking mechanism [66] located in the base is arranged to move between an unlocked position and a locked position relative to the carrier connector. In the unlocked position the carrier connector is removable from the base. In the locked position the carrier connector is secured in the opening and opposing face surfaces [48, 50, 62] of the base and removable carrier are mated to one another. The removable carrier may include a rotator-receiving recess [42] or a rigging hardware eyelet [40] arranged opposite the carrier connector.