AU645178B2

AU645178B2 - Pallet repair device

Info

Publication number: AU645178B2
Application number: AU12848/92A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Ronald Moore
Original assignee: Brambles Australia Ltd
Current assignee: Cleanaway Pty Ltd
Priority date: 1991-03-20
Filing date: 1992-03-12
Publication date: 1994-01-06
Anticipated expiration: 2012-03-12
Also published as: AU1284892A

Description

1178 S F Ref: 205774

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

ORIGINAL

o e r F- Name and Address of Applicant: Actual Inventor(s): Address for Service: Invention Title: Brambles Australia Limited Level 40, Gateway 1 Macquarie Place Sydney New South Wales 2000

AUSTRALIA

Ronald Moore Spruson Ferguson, Patent Attorneys Level 33 St Martins Tower, 31 Market Street Sydney, New South Wales, 2000, Australia Pallet Repair Device *N *N ASSOCIATED PROVISIONAL 131] Application No(s) PK5221 APPLICATION DETAILS [33] Country

AU

[323 Application Date 20 March 1991 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us:- 5815/5 2- BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a device for assisting in the repair of pallets. More particularly, it relates to a device for straightening lead boards of wooden pallets.

Wooden pallets generally comprise at least two, usually three, horizontal bearers having fixed to an edge thereof a number of cross boards, the end ones of which are designated lead boards. In many cases, the lead board is not square with the end edge of the bearers. This may be due either to manufacturing errors or due to accidental movement after use. However, in order to reuse the pallets, it is desirable that the lead board be adjusted so that it is square with the end edge of the bearers.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, the invention provides a pallet repair device 15 comprising a tool body, a longitudinal member comprising a main so a longitudinal portion having a first end fixed to the tool body and extending away from the tool body in a first direction, a force producing 96 means mounted in said tool body and arranged to produce a force along an S: axis substantially parallel to the longitudinal member but spaced therefrom in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction, said longitudinal member further comprising an end portion arranged transversely to the main portion in the second direction but spaced from the axis in a third direction substantially perpendicular to both the first and second directions.

In a preferred embodiment, the force producing means is a ram, 499" which is preferably provided with a gripping face, which is conveniently serrated to engage and grip wood. The ram can be actuated either mechanically, or by means of a hydraulic or pneumatic piston S" arrangement. In the case of hydraulic or pneumatic actuation, a source of hydraulic or pneumatic fluid is also provided, coupled to the piston by a hose.

The longitudinal member preferably comprises a longitudinal bar having a first end section extending from the main portion at the end remote from the tool body in the third direction and a second end section extending from the first end section in the second direction and forming the end portion.

The tool body is preferably provided with a handle. The tool body is preferably also provided with a reinforcing member to reinforce the mounting of the force producing member in the tool body. In a preferred rhk/0369E -3embodiment of the invention, a stop is provided on the ram opposite the end portion of the longitudinal member. However, in some embodiments, no stop is provided.

In a preferred embodiment, the longitudinal member lies along the side of a pallet bearer, the end portion engages the inner edge of the lead board of the pallet and the gripping face of the ram engages the end face of the bearer. Thus when the ram Is actuated, the lead board and the bearer are moved relative to each other until the lead board edge is in line with the end face of the bearer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING One embodiment of a pallet repair device according to the invention will now be more fully described, by way of example, with reference to the drawing, which Is a schematic perspective view of the device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING Thus, as shown in the drawing, the pallet repair device comprises a gre draw bar 1 connected to a tool body 2 at one side thereof. The draw bar 1 comprises a first longitudinal portion 4 extending from a front face of the tool body 2. The end of draw bar 1 distant from tool body 2 is S, provided with an intermediate portion 6 extending substantially perpendicular to longitudinal portion 4 (upwardly in the orientation shown in the drawings). The draw bar 1 Is also provide with an end portion 7 which extends from intermediate portion 6 in a direction ""substantially perpendicular to both the intermediate portion 6 and the 8 longitudinal portion 4 so as to extend substantially opposite the front face 5 of tool body 2.

As can be seen In the drawing, draw bar 1 is therefore shaped such oo that longitudinal portion 4 extends along an outside bearer 8 of pallet 9. The intermediate portion 6 of draw bar 1 then extends across the height of bearer 8 such that the end portion 7 of draw bar 1 fits across r 30 the top of bearer 8 behind a leader board 10, which requires adjustment.

The front face of tool body 2 is thus opposed to the end 16 of bearer 8.

Tool body 2 is also provided with a hydraulic ram 11 which Includes a ram piston having a front face 12 which is movable parallel to draw bar I from the front face of tool body 2, The hydraulic ram Is coupled to a control source of hydraulic fluid via hydraulic hose 13. The front face 12 of the ram piston is preferably serrated so as to provide a good grip on the end 16 of bearer 8. The tool body 2 may also be provided with a handle 3, which may be knurled for ease of handling. However hydraulic ram 11 can also or alternately be used as a handle.

rhk/0369E -4- The tool body 2 is formed of two pieces, a first piece 14 to which are fixed the handle 3, the draw bar 1 and the hydraulic ram 11, and a reinforcing piece 15 which is secured to the first piece 14 and which serves as a support to reinforce the connection of the hydraulic ram to the tool body 2.

The pallet repair device is used when repairing pallets 9 in which the lead board 10 is not square with bearer 8. In the drawing, it can be seen that lead board 10 has been fixed to bearer 8 a short distance 17 from the end 16 of bearer 8. In order to adjust the position of lead board 10, the end portion 7 of draw bar 1 is placed to abut the inner edge of lead board 10 whereupon the front face 12 of the hydraulic ram 11 is opposed to the edge 16 of bearer 8. When hydraulic ram 11 is actuated, the serrated front face 12 comes into contact with and grips the end 16 of bearer 8 and, as force continues to be applied, the fixings of lead board 10, such as nails, are sheared and the lead board 8 is moved until it is square with the end of bearer 8.

In some cases it may be appropriate for the lead board 10 to be moved until it is slightly forward of the end 16 of bearer 8 so that, 9.

when the hydraulic ram is de-actuated, it relaxes back into a square 20 position.

Alternatively, a stop can be provided on the ram face 12 which extends above the end 16 of bearer 8 so that the front edge of lead board 10 abuts the stop when it is square with the end 16.

Although the present invention has been more fully described with referGnce to one particular embodiment, it will be apparent to those **too* skilled in the art that various modifications and improvements can be 099 made without departing from the scope of the invention.

rhk/0369E

Claims

1. A pallet repair device comprising a tool body, a longitudinal member comprising a main longitudinal portion having a first end fixed to the tool body and extending away from the tool body in a first direction, a force producing means mounted in said tool body and arranged to produce a force along an axis substantially parallel to the longitudinal member but spaced therefrom in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction, said longitudinal member further comprising an end portion arranged transversely to the main portion in the second direction but spaced from the axis in a third direction substantially perpendicular to both the first and second directions.

2. A pallet repair device according to claim 1, wherein the force producing means comprises a ram.

3. A pallet repair device according to claim 2, wherein the ram is provided with a gripping face.

4. A pallet repair device according to claim 3, wherein the gripping face is serrated to engage and grip wood.

5. A pallet repair device according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the force producing means further comprises means for actuating 20 the ram.

6. A pallet repair device according to claim 5, wherein the actuating means is mechanical.

7. A pallet repair device according to claim 5, wherein the S actuating means comprises a hydraulic piston arrangement.

8. A pallet repair device according to claim 7, furt'.sr comprising a source of hydraulic fluid coupled to the piston by a hose.

9. A pallet repair device according to claim 5, wherein the actuating means comprises a pneumatic piston arrangement.

10. A pallet repair device according to claim 9, further comprising a source of pneumatic fluid coupled to the piston by a hose.

11. A pallet repair device according to any preceding claim, wherein the longitudinal member comprises a longitudinal bar having a first end section extending from the main portion at the end remote from the tool body in the third direction and a second end section extending from the first end section in the second direction and forming the end portion.

12. A pallet repair device according to any preceding claim, wherein the tool body is provided with a handle. rhk/0369E 6

13. A pallet repair device according to any preceding claim, wherein the tool body is provided with a reinforcing member to reinforce the mounting of the force producing means in the tool body.

14. A pallet repair device according to any preceding claim, further comprising a stop provided on the force producing means opposite the end portion of the longitudinal member.

A pallet repair device according to any preceding claim, wherein the longitudinal member lies along a side of a pallet bearer, the end portion engages the inner edge of a lead board of the pallet and the force producing means engages an end face of the bearer.

16. A pallet repair device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawing. DATED this TWELFTH day of MARCH 1992 Brambles Australia Limited Patent Attorneys for the Applicant SPRUSON FERGUSON g t S rhk/0369E ABSTRACT Pallet Repair Device A pallet repair device comprises a draw bar connected to a tool body at one end thereof. The draw bar comprises a first longitudinal portion extending from a front face of the tool body The other end of draw bar is provided with an intermediate portion extending substantially perpendicular to longitudinal portion The draw bar is also provided with an end portion which extends from intermediate portion in a direction substantially perpendicular to both the intermediate portion and the longitudinal portion so as to extend substantially opposite the front face of tool body Tool body is also provided with a hydraulic ram (11) which includes a ram piston having a front face (12) which is movable parallel to draw bar from the front face of tool body The pallet repair device is used when repairing pallets in which the lead board (10) is not square with bearer In order to adjust the position of lead board the end portion of draw bar is placed to abut the inner edge of lead board (10) whereupon the front face (12) of the hydraulic ram (11) is opposed to the edge (16) of bearer When hydraulic ram (11) is actuated, the serrated front face (12) comes into contact with and grips the end (16) of bearer and, as force continues to be applied, the fixings of lead board such as nails, are sheared and the lead board (10) Is moved until it is square with the end of bearer 1 .4 OGOQ rhk/0369E