# US 11,897,717 B2 · Apparatus and method for pallet transfer

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- Number: US 11,897,717 B2
- Document ID: US11897717B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/415,285
- Filed: 2019-07-26
- Published: 2022-05-12
- Granted: 2024-02-13
- Earliest claimed: 2019-07-26
- Assignees: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
- Applicants: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
- Inventors: Assaf Barel; David Mazar; Dudi Gutman; Boaz Eden
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11897717B2

## CPC

- B65H 31/3063: {by special supports like carriages, containers, trays, compartments, plates or bars, e.g. moved in a closed loop}
- B65H 2301/42256: Pallets; Skids; Platforms with feet, i.e. handled together with the stack
- B65H 2403/41: Rack-and-pinion, cogwheel in cog railway
- B65H 2801/21: Industrial-size printers, e.g. rotary printing press
- B65H: HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES

## Abstract

An apparatus is disclosed comprising first and second pallet supports to engage pallets in at least a first and a second pallet location. The first pallet location positions a pallet to receive output from a print press. The second pallet location is a pre-use pallet holding location. The apparatus further comprises an actuator to move the first and second pallet supports to transfer a first pallet away from the first pallet location and a second pallet from the second pallet holding location to the first pallet location. A method of transferring pallets is also disclosed.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An apparatus comprising:
first and second pallet supports to engage pallets in at least first and second pallet locations, wherein:
the first pallet location positions a pallet to receive output from a print press, and the second pallet location is a pre-use pallet holding location; the apparatus further comprising
an actuator to move the first and second pallet supports to transfer a first pallet away from the first pallet location and a second pallet from the second pallet location to the first pallet location,
wherein the actuator comprises a frame and a linearly translating chassis, the chassis supporting the first and second pallet supports,
wherein the actuator translates the first and second pallet supports along a linear path,
wherein the first pallet support and the second pallet support each comprise a pair of support beams, each pair of support beams being spaced apart in a direction transverse to a linear movement direction of the actuator, and
wherein the first pallet support and the second pallet support are at least partially nestable.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first pallet support is movable between the first pallet location and a position external to the apparatus.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second pallet support is movable between the first pallet location and the second pallet location.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the actuator provides concurrent movement of the first and second pallet supports.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the actuator further comprises a rack associated with one of the chassis and the frame and a pinion associated with the other of the frame and the chassis.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the actuator further comprises a linearly movable connection between at least one of the first and second pallet supports and the chassis.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the actuator further comprises a lifting mechanism to raise and lower the first and second pallet supports for movement of the pallets.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

A print press stacker comprising an apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an elevator to accumulate print output and wherein the first pallet location is below the elevator.