Pallet blocking apparatus and related method and system

A pallet blocking apparatus for use with a pallet dispenser comprising:

• a first wall;
• a second wall;
• a pallet blocker for blocking a pallet in a pallet stack, the pallet blocker spanning, at least in part, the first wall and the second wall on a first side of the walls opposite a second side of the walls where the pallet stack is located, and
• a pallet storage area positioned outside the pallet stack between the pallet blocker and the pallet stack for storing a pallet and configured to allow a pallet transporter to engage and remove the pallet stored in the pallet storage area.

A method for dispensing pallets comprising:

• engaging a first pallet in a first plane in a pallet storage area of a pallet blocking apparatus and a second pallet in the first plane in a pallet dispenser spaced from the pallet storage area with a pallet transporter, the second pallet being a bottom pallet of a pallet stack and a third pallet being positioned immediately above the second pallet in a second plane;
• lifting the first pallet and the second pallet with the pallet transporter from a work surface;
• lowering the first pallet, the second pallet, and the third pallet with the pallet transporter towards the work surface, the pallet stack being held by the pallet dispensing apparatus;
• and
• removing the first pallet, the second pallet, and the third pallet from the pallet dispensing apparatus, the third pallet being blocked by the pallet blocking apparatus and stored in the pallet storage area of the pallet blocking apparatus following removal of the first and second pallets.

A method for dispensing pallets comprising:

• engaging a first pallet in a first plane of a pallet stack held by a pallet dispensing apparatus, a second pallet being positioned in a second plane immediately above the first pallet;
• lifting the first pallet with the pallet transporter from a work surface;
• lowering the first pallet and the second pallet with the pallet transporter towards the work surface, the remaining pallet stack being held by the pallet dispensing apparatus;
• removing the first pallet from the pallet dispensing apparatus, the second pallet being blocked by a pallet blocking apparatus from being removed from the pallet blocking apparatus and stored in a pallet storage area in the first plane and outside the pallet stack once the first pallet is removed from the pallet dispensing apparatus;
• engaging the second pallet in the pallet storage area with the pallet transporter so that the second pallet is adjacent to the first pallet on the pallet transporter;
• and
• removing the second pallet from the pallet dispensing apparatus.

A pallet blocking apparatus for use with a pallet dispenser comprising:

• a first wall;
• a second wall substantially parallel to the first wall and spaced apart for allowing movement of a pallet stack with a first pallet and a second pallet, the pallet stack being dispensed from the pallet dispenser;
• a pallet storage area outside the pallet stack defined by the space between the first wall, the second wall, and a pallet blocker;
• and
• the pallet blocker spanning the first wall and the second wall on a first side of the walls opposite a second side of the walls where the pallet stack is located and substantially perpendicular to the first wall and the second wall, the pallet blocker for blocking the second pallet in the pallet stack and urging the second pallet into the pallet storage area.