A patient lift and transfer device (130) comprises an elongate base (132), a plurality of wheels (154) attached to a bottom of said base (132), and a transfer table (138) supported by said base (132) and sized to accommodate a person, said transfer table (138) having upper and lower table portions (200, 202) surrounded by respective upper and lower belts (204, 206) which counter-rotate as the table (138) moves between a patient and a support surface.The upper table portion (200) has one or more edge rollers (208) which engage said upper belt (204) and translate between an extended position wherein said upper belt (204) is taut and a retracted position wherein said upper belt (204) has slack.Furthermore, said lower table portion (202) has a first set of pinch rollers (256) affixed thereto, and said upper table portion (200) having a second set of pinch rollers (252) which are movable between an extended position wherein said upper and lower belts (204, 206) are forcibly engaged between said first and second sets of pinch rollers (256, 252) and a retracted position wherein said upper and lower belts (204, 206) are disengaged without relative movement of said upper and lower table portions (200, 202).
