Method and device for removing pallet runners
AssigneeSP Holdings, Inc.
InventorsRonald L. Waechter, Thomas A. Waechter
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A device and method for severing fasteners securing deck boards to pallet runners. A band saw extends across a table recess. The band saw is spaced above the tabletop aligning the saw between the deck boards and runners. The recess includes stop surfaces enabling the pallet to be pivoted from a horizontal position through a vertical position and then to an upside down position while the saw blade remains within the pallet for severing fasteners securing the opposite top deck board from the pallet.
Claims16
The combination:
- a pallet having a first end and a second end, said pallet having top deck boards and bottom deck boards extending generally horizontally between said first end and said second end and further having a runner at said first end extending generally perpendicularly to and located between and spacing apart said top deck boards and said bottom deck boards, said pallet including a plurality of fasteners securing said top deck boards and said bottom deck boards to said runner, said pallet having a first horizontal position when said bottom deck boards are positioned beneath said top deck boards, a vertical position when said bottom deck boards and said top deck boards are positioned vertically, and a second horizontal position when said top deck boards are positioned beneath said bottom deck boards;
- a table having a surface for supporting said pallet when extending in said first horizontal position, said table having a recess opening upwardly through said surface for said first end of said pallet to rest as said pallet moves from said first horizontal position, via said vertical position, to said second horizontal position;
- and,
- a saw to sever said fasteners securing said bottom deck boards to said runner when said pallet is in said first horizontal position and said first end is moved in a first direction past said saw which is spaced from said surface adjacent said recess and being aligned between said bottom deck boards and said runner, said pallet movable in said recess from said first horizontal position to said vertical position while said saw is located within said pallet and then from said vertical position to said second horizontal position and moved in said first direction for said saw to sever said fasteners securing said top deck boards to said runner.
A saw for removing a runner of a pallet with the pallet having top deck boards and bottom deck boards secured to the runner by fasteners, said pallet having a normal horizontal position, an upside down horizontal position and when on end a vertical position comprising:
- a table having a table surface for supporting a pallet in a normal horizontal position and further having a stop surface beneath said table surface for supporting the pallet when on end in a vertical position;
- and,
- a band saw movably mounted to said table and having teeth movable across said table surface, said band saw located a first distance apart from said table surface for severing fasteners holding bottom deck boards to a runner of the pallet as said pallet is moved in a first direction past said saw, said band saw is located a second distance greater than said first distance apart from said stop surface allowing the pallet to be pivoted to a vertical position and then to an upside down horizontal position while said saw remains within said pallet between the deck boards to be moved in said first direction severing fasteners securing said runner to said top deck boards.
A method of removing a damaged runner secured by fasteners to top deck boards and bottom deck boards of a pallet comprising the steps:
- providing a device with a pallet supporting surface, a stop surface spaced from said supporting surface and a saw movable across said pallet supporting surface;
- positioning said pallet upon said supporting surface;
- aligning said pallet with said saw so said saw passes between said bottom deck boards and said runner when said pallet is moved thereby;
- initially moving said pallet past said saw in a first direction severing said fasteners securing said bottom deck boards to said runner;
- pivoting said pallet upon said stop surface to an upside down position while said saw remains within said pallet between said top deck boards and said bottom deck boards;
- aligning said pallet when upside down so saw passes between said top deck boards and said runner when said pallet is moved thereby;
- and,
- additionally moving said pallet past said saw in an upside down position in said first direction severing said fasteners securing said top deck boards to said runner.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.