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US 11,230,442 B2Granted
Pallet exchanger and load splitter
OwnerPaul Redmaninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A pallet exchanger and load splitter apparatus and method are provided. The apparatus has a pallet-receiving assembly with a pallet-receiving zone configured to receive, at least in part, a pallet supporting a pallet load; a clamp assembly connected to the pallet-receiving assembly having a clamping zone configured to secure a first side, a second side, and a rear of the pallet load once the clamp assembly is activated by a pneumatic circuit so that the pallet load is supported by the clamp assembly; and the pneumatic circuit is for controlling a clamping pressure of the clamp assembly.
Claims17
An apparatus comprising:
- a pallet-receiving assembly having a frame defining a pallet-receiving zone configured to receive, at least in part, a pallet supporting a pallet load;
- a clamp assembly comprising clamping mechanisms connected to the pallet-receiving assembly and cooperating to define a clamping zone configured to secure a first side, a second side, and a rear of the pallet load once the clamp assembly is activated by a pneumatic circuit so that the pallet load is supported by the clamp assembly, at least one of the clamping mechanisms including first and second extension assemblies connected to a pressure plate and independently actuatable to move in a direction towards and away from the clamping zone to adjust the angle of the pressure plate relative to the clamping zone;
- and the pneumatic circuit is for controlling a clamping pressure of the pressure plate of the clamp assembly.
A method, comprising:
- activating a clamp assembly so that a pallet load on a pallet is supported by the clamp assembly, the pallet load in a clamping zone and the pallet in a pallet-receiving zone;
- and
- wherein the clamp assembly includes at least one clamping mechanism having a pressure plate and first and second extension assemblies connected to the pressure plate and independently actuatable to adjust an angle of the pressure plate by advancing a first end of the pressure plate further into the clamping zone than a second end of the pressure plate to secure the pallet load.
An apparatus comprising:
- a frame defining a pallet-receiving zone configured to receive, at least in part, a pallet supporting a pallet load having a first side, a second side, and a rear;
- clamping mechanisms comprising a first-side clamping mechanism attached to a first side of the frame, a second-side clamping mechanism attached to a second side of the frame, and a rear-clamping mechanism attached to a rear of the frame and cooperating to define a clamping zone,
- each of the first-side clamping mechanism and the second-side clamping mechanism including at least one extension assembly connected to a pressure plate, at least one of the extension assemblies being actuated to adjust an angle of the pressure plate to move a first end of the pressure plate in a horizontal direction towards the clamping zone further than a second end of the pressure plate;
- and
- a pneumatic circuit for controlling a clamping pressure of the clamping mechanisms so that the pallet load is supported by the clamping mechanisms, wherein the clamping mechanisms are configured to move inwardly towards the clamping-zone once the pneumatic circuit is activated to secure the pallet load so that the pallet does not support the secured part of the pallet load, wherein the first-side clamping mechanism, the second-side clamping mechanism, or both adjusts the pressure plate angle to match a shape of a pallet load once the first-side clamping mechanism, the second-side clamping mechanism, or both are activated, wherein the first-side clamping mechanism and the second-side clamping mechanism includes.
- a front assembly having a front pivot and a front extension assembly;
- a rear assembly having rear pivot and rear extension assembly;
- and
- the front assembly and the rear assembly move independently of each other in a horizontal direction towards and away from the clamping zone for adjusting the angle of the pressure plate.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.