GB2271310A

GB2271310A - Apparatus for and method of dismantling a pallet

Info

Publication number: GB2271310A
Application number: GB9220989A
Authority: GB
Inventors: James Robert Pick
Original assignee: PICK DAVID WILLIAM
Current assignee: PICK DAVID WILLIAM
Priority date: 1992-10-06
Filing date: 1992-10-06
Publication date: 1994-04-13
Also published as: GB9220989D0; WO1994007647A1

Abstract

An apparatus and method for dismantling a pallet comprising a decking (D) and a plurality of bearers, (E,F) the apparatus comprising a first blade member (11) and a second blade member (13) mounted on a base structure (12), the blade members being relatively movable by powered means in a working plane towards and away from each other, the first blade member being adapted to retain the pallet such that a joint J between the decking D and a bearer E is located in the working plane P whereby as the blade members are moved relatively towards one another, the decking and bearer are prised apart. At least one fluid operated actuator, such as a hydraulic or pneumatic actuator, or a suitable motive means such as an electric motor or internal combustion engine, may be used as powered means. <IMAGE>

Description

Title: Apparatus for and method of dismantling a pallet Description of Invention This invention relates to an apparatus and method to facilitate at least partially, dismantling a pallet.

Pallets conventionally comprise a decking supported on a plurality of bearers. Pallets become damaged in use, the most severely damaged pallets being conventionally dismantled by hand to enable any undamaged components of the pallets to be reused to repair other pallets.

According to one aspect of the invention we provide an apparatus to facilitate at least partially dismantling a pallet comprising a decking and a plurality of bearers, the apparatus comprising a first blade member and a second blade member mounted on a base structure, the blade members being relatively movable by powered means in a working plane towards and away from each other, the first blade member being adapted to retain the pallet such that a joint between the decking and a bearer is located in the working plane whereby as the blade members are moved relatively towards one another, the decking and bearer are prised apart.

Such an apparatus has been found to enable a damaged pallet to be dismantled quickly and efficiently and without causing serious damage to the bearer or decking so that the bearer and/or decking can be reused for example to repair another damaged pallet.

The base structure of the machine may comprise a framework providing a working bed. The first blade member may conveniently be fixed relative to the base structure and located in the bed, the second blade member being movable towards and away from the first blade member. The first blade member preferably presents a generally horizontally extending edge which extends across the bed and is generally in the plane of movement of the second blade member.

The second blade member may also present a generally horizontally extending edge which may be generally parallel to the edge of the first blade member at least when the second blade member is moved in the plane to a position immediately adjacent or in contact with the first blade member.

The second blade member may be slidable relative to the base structure towards and away from the first blade member, the base structure having guide means to guide the second blade member during its movement.

The first blade member may include a carriage which slides in the guide means and a blade which may be adapted to perform a wedging action to facilitate prising apart the decking and bearer.

The first and second blade members may together be capable of performing a cutting action to cut any nail or the like fastener fastening the decking and bearer together. Preferably the first and second blade member together perform a nipping action to cut such fasteners.

The power means may comprise at least one linear fluid operated actuator, such as a hydraulic or pneumatic actuator, or a suitable motive means such as an electric motor or internal combustion engine, with a suitable transmission to enable power to be transmitted to the first blade member.

According to a second aspect of the invention I provide a method of dismantling a pallet utilising the apparatus of the first aspect of the invention, the method comprising the steps of relatively moving the blade members away from one another, placing the pallet in a position such that a bearer is between the first and second blade members and decking secured to the bearer is above the first blade member so that a joint between the bearer and decking is located in the working plane, operating the powered means to cause the blade members relatively to move towards one another and thus prise apart the bearer and decking, and continuing to move the blade members towards one another until the decking and bearer are separated.

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: FIGURE 1 is a plan view of an apparatus in accordance with the invention with guarding removed, FIGURE 2 is a side elevation of the apparatus of Figure 1, FIGURE 3 is a rear elevation of the apparatus of Figures 1 and 2, FIGURE 4 is a front elevation of the apparatus of Figures 1 to 3 and, FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary illustrative sectional view taken along the lines 5-5 of Figure 1 to an enlarged scale, showing the apparatus in use.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown an apparatus 10 to facilitate at least partially dismantling a pallet A which comprises a decking D and a plurality of bearers E,F, the apparatus comprising a first blade member 11 which is fixed relative to a base structure 12 of the apparatus, and a second blade member 13 which is movable relative to the base structure 12 parallel to a plane P towards and away from the first blade member 11. This movement is achieved by a powered means which comprises in this example, a single hydraulic actuator 14 which may conveniently be powered for example from an electric motor M or another motive means such as an internal combustion engine.

The first blade member 13 comprises a carriage C including a pair of guide rails 15 which are guided by corresponding guide means 16 of the base structure 12 so that the first blade member 13 can be moved towards and away from the first blade member 11 by a sliding action.

The base structure 12 further comprises side members 17 and 18 between which there is defined a working bed B, the first and second blade members 11,13, extending generally across the entire width of the bed B.

Further transversely extending base structural members 19 are provided to give the base structure 12 rigidity, and the base structure 12 further comprises legs 20 to support the working bed B from the floor.

As illustrated in figure 3, if desired, guarding may be provided as indicated at G to guard an operator as the apparatus is in use.

The first blade member 11 presents a generally horizontally extending edge 22 and the second blade member 13 comprises on a blade 23 thereof, a further generally horizontally extending edge 24, the edges 22 and 24 lying generally in the working plane P. The edges 22 and 24 remain generally parallel to one another during the entire extent of movement of the second blade member 13. The blade 23 is cranked so that if any part of the pallet A to be dismantled is located in or above plane P, this will not obstruct movement of carriage.

Use of the apparatus will now be described.

Pallet A which comprises a decking D carried on a bearer E is positioned over the first blade member 11 as indicated in figure 5, such that a joint J between the bearer E and the decking D, is located at the working plane P of the apparatus. Of course the second blade member 13 would need to be moved away from the first blade member 11 to enable the pallet A thus to be located.

The second blade member 13 is then moved by actuator 14 along the working plane P to bring edge 24 of the blade 23 into engagement with the joint J. By virtue of the configuration of the blade 23, the leading edge of which is inclined relative to the remainder of the blade, the second blade member 23 performs a wedging action to prise apart the decking D and the bearer E to separate the decking D from the bearer E.

This prising action takes place along the entire length of the bearer E.

Any nails or other fasteners such as are indicated at N in figure 5, which may be securing the bearer E and decking D together, will be cut as the edge 24 of the second blade member 13 moves closer towards the edge 22 of the first blade member 11, as the two edges 22 and 24 of the blade members 12,13, both being in the same plane P will perform a nipping action on the nails N thus to sever them and permit the bearer E to be separated from the decking D.

When the bearer E is separated from the decking D the bearer E will be removed by falling in the bed B downwardly between the blade members 11,13, into a catching basket 25, and the second blade member 13 can be moved away from the first blade member 11.

It will be appreciated that each of the bearers E,F, of the pallet A can in turn be separated from the decking D by moving the decking D in the bed B to bring the next bearer F for example to the position shown in figure 5 occupied by bearer E.

The hydraulic apparatus H is controlled from a control lever 30 which may be mounted on a support S close to the bed B of the machine.

Various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, instead of providing a single linear hydraulic actuator 14 to power the second blade member 13 towards the first blade member 11, any other suitable powered means such as pneumatic powered means, may be provided. Further alternatively, the second blade member 13 may be driven directly from a motive means such as an electric or internal combustion engine via a suitable transmission.

The base structure 12 may be of any desired configuration to provide the necessary support for the working bed B of the machine.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of am means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, or a class or group of substances or compositions, as appropriate, may, separately or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims

1. An apparatus to facilitate at least partially dismantling a pallet comprising a decking and a plurality of bearers, the apparatus comprising a first blade member and a second blade member mounted on a base structure, the blade members being relatively movable by powered means in a working plane towards and away from each other, the first blade member being adapted to retain the pallet such that a joint between the decking and a bearer is located in the working plant whereby as the blade members are moved relatively towards one another, the decking and bearer are prised apart.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the base structure of the machine comprises a framework providing a working bed.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the first blade member is fixed relative to the base structure and located in the bed, the second blade member being movable towards and away from the first blade member.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the first blade member presents a generally horizontally extending edge which extends across the bed and is generally in the plane of movement of the second blade member.

5. An apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the second blade member presents a generally horizontally extending edge.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said edge of the second blade member is generally parallel to the edge of the first blade member at least when the second blade member is moved in the plane to a position immediately adjacent or in contact with the first blade member.

7. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the second blade member is slidable relative to the base structure towards and away from the first blade member, the base structure having guide means to guide the second blade member during its movement.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the second blade member includes a carriage which slides in the guide means and a blade which is adapted to perform a wedging action to facilitate prising apart the decking and bearer.

9. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the first and second blade members together are capable of performing a cutting action to cut any nail or the like fastener fastening the decking and bearer together.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the first and second blade member together perform a nipping action to cut such fasteners.

11. Apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the powered means comprises at least one linear fluid operated actuator.

12. A method of dismantling a pallet comprising a decking supported on bearers, utilising the apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, the method comprising the steps of relatively moving the blade members away from one another, placing the pallet in a position such that a bearer is between the first and second blade members and decking secured to the bearer is above the first blade member so that a joint between the bearer and decking is located in the working plane, operating the powered means to cause the blade members relatively to move towards one another and thus prise apart the bearer and decking, and continuing to move the blade members towards one another until the decking and bearer are separated.

13. Apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

14. A method of dismantling a pallet, substantially as hereinbefore described.

15. An novel feature or novel combination of features described herein and/or in the accompanying drawings.