AU2002100472A4 - The pallet's doctors - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION INNOVATION PATENT THE PALLET'S DOCTORS The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: THE PALLET'S DOCTORS At the end of 1993, when my workplace introduced the use of the automatic strapping machine I realized that the construction of a wooden pallet in the traditional way by using nails to join the timbers together to form a pallet was not good enough.

For over 14 years I have been working as a strapping machine operator for a big company who manufactures corrugated cardboard boxes. Everyday I watch hundreds of pallets carrying loads of boxes come from the production line go through and become strapped by the automatic strapping machine. I have noticed that when the size of the load is bigger than the pallet, we do not see any sign of damage done to the pallet.

However, if the size of the load is smaller than the pallet, we can see that the board on both side's tyne entry always be very easily pulled off by the two plastic pallet bands. Why? Because before the strapping machine starts to strap the pallet, the compression of the machine needs to go down and press the boxes on the pallet to flatten them before the machine ties up the boxes with two plastic pallet bands. After the strapping procedure is finished, the compression of the machine goes back up and all the boxes on the pallet try to stretch back to their normal size.

In cases like this, the boxes always create a very strong tension between the two pallet bands enabling them to pull up the boards on both side's tyne entry and cause damage to the pallet instantly.

During the late 1990's under the company's modernization programme, the factory where I had been working installed the load palletizing machine.

Just like the automatic strapping machine, the load palletizing machine also produced a lot of damaged pallets. While picking up an old pallet, the connection of nails to the lead board on both side's tyne entry were not strong enough to support the weight of the pallet and thus, they would just come apart from the pallet.

In order to overcome this problem, I had devoted all my spare time over a few years to study and search for a solution. Finally, I got the idea to create the Pallet's Doctors, which is a set of metal protectors made from sheet metal and used as the additional parts for a wooden pallet to protect it from damage dealt by the automatic strapping and load palletizing machines.

6-02;12!05 ;THE BUSINESS VILLAGE :612 2/ 2 The idea of the present invention is based on the ancient chinese theory of "WUU SIUNG" -h-ITT which is also biTiefly explained in another attatchment.

The invention may be better imderstood with reference to the illustrations of the embodiments of the inventions which:-- Drawing No. 1 is showing three different models of the metal protectors, which should be benat on the indicated dotted lines.

Drawing No. 2 is showing how to apply the design of Model No. 1 on to a standard pallet, In order to prevent the metal protectors from. causing the problems of damaging goods and huffing people, as well. as damaging the conveyors. Before installing them on to the pallet, the pallet's manufacturers should peel off the surface of the timber to make a shallow gutter for the insertion of the metal protectors. This means that the timber and the metal protectors should be level with the surface of the pallet.

Also, during the construction of the pallet, only one nail should be used to connect on the board which will be covered by the metal protector, leaving the rest of the nails for using at the time of installation. For safety and rust protection reasons, flat head galvenized nails or screws should be used for the installation. Nails should not be used for Fig. I because it has the function of dealing with the shrinkage of the green undress hard woods. So when the pallet is shrinking, the small piece of sheet metal. can be used to 611 up the gaps in the side of Fig. 1. Fig. 2 also has the same function when shrinkage problems occur. The nails can be hit down to adjust the tension of the metal protectors.

6-02;12:05 ;THE BUSINESS VILLAGE ;612 3/ 3 Drawing No. 3 is showing bow to apply the design of Model No. 2 on to a heavy duty pallet. Unlike the standard pallet, the heavy duty pallet has a much larger sized lead board on both side's tyne entry and also has a smaller gap between the lead board and the second board. The process of installation of this model is very similar to that of Model No. 1, the only difference is the metal protectors only cover on the top of the lead board.

For a better result, the nails or screws on Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 should have a distance of no less than 2.5cm from the edge of the board. Like Model No, 1, Fig. 1 is also used for tension adjustment.

Drawing No. 4 is the design of Model No. 3. This particular design is for the people who also want to protect the second board on their pallets. Like the other two models, Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 are also used for tension adjustment.

6-02;12:05 ;THE BUSINESS VILLAGE 612 4/ 4 The Theory Of Wuu ShynE ilL

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lfleqLin.$ The theory of "WIJU SHYNG" means the five primary elementsmetal, wood, water, fire and earth. Thousands of years ago, the Chinese philosophers believed that all creations of nature including the human, are originated from. ie five elements. They generate one to another and can also control one to another. The metal can generate water, the water can generate wood, the wood can gencrate fire, the fire can generate earth and the earth can generate metal. On the other hand, the metal can control the wood, the wood can control the earth, the earth can control the water, the water can control the fire and the fire can control the metal. The ancient Chinese people used this theory to create their traditional medication and the method for telling the fortunes- The drawing above is showing us how the five primary elements are working according to the theory of "WUI SHYNG".

Claims (4)

1. The Pallet's Doctors is a set of metal protectors comprising of metal strips and pieces which are used as extra components to protect a wooden pallet.

2. The Pallet's Doctors as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pallet of application of the protectors is grooved before the installation of the protectors.

3. The Pallet's Doctors as claimed in claims 1 and 2, wherein the strips of metal are bent in a curvature manner which allows for the securing of the lead boards of both the top and bottom of a wooden pallet and ensuring they are better able to stay in position.

4. The Pallet's Doctors as claimed in claims 1-3, wherein the set of metal strips and pieces are made from sheet metal. The Pallet's Doctors are substantially as herein before described with reference to accompanying drawings and documents. Nam Huy Tang 1l JUNE 2002 (Name of Applicant) (Date)