Pallet return assembly
AssigneeWalmart Apollo, LLC
InventorsJames P. Thomas, Jacob A. Vesterfelt
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A pallet return assembly includes at least one support member, a bracket member, a base member including a stopper member, and a lever that, when actuated, moves the base member and its stopper member from a pallet catch position to a pallet release position. In the pallet catch position, the stopper member catches a bottom of a pallet positioned on the roller tracks of the pallet bay and restricts the pallet from moving along the roller tracks. In the pallet release position, the stopper member no longer catches the bottom of the pallet positioned on the roller tracks and no longer restricts the pallet from moving along the roller tracks.
Claims20
A method of using a pallet return assembly, the method comprising:
- applying a force to a lever of the pallet return assembly to a base member of the pallet return assembly from a pallet catch position toward a pallet release position;
- applying, when the lever is in the pallet release position, a force to at least one pallet located on roller tracks of a pallet bay, to move the at least one pallet along the roller tracks in a direction away from a first load beam of the pallet bay;
- and
- releasing the force applied to the lever to permit the lever to return to the pallet catch position, where a portion of a stopper member extending from the base member protrudes above a pallet-supporting surface of the roller tracks.
A method of using a pallet return assembly, the method comprising:
- applying a force to a lever of the pallet return assembly to a base member of the pallet return assembly from a pallet catch position toward a pallet release position;
- applying, when the lever is in the pallet release position, a force to at least one pallet located on roller tracks of a pallet bay, to move the at least one pallet along the roller tracks in a direction away from a first load beam of the pallet bay;
- and
- releasing the force applied to the lever to permit the lever to return to the pallet catch position, where a portion of a stopper member extending from the base member protrudes above a pallet-supporting surface of the roller tracks;
- wherein:
- the pallet return assembly comprises a first support member attached to the first load beam of the pallet bay, a second support member attached to the first load beam of the pallet bay, and a bracket member attached to the first support member and to the second support member so as to interconnect the first support member and the second support member;
- the bracket member is L-shaped and has a vertical portion and a horizontal portion and is attached to at least one of the roller tracks of the pallet bay;
- the vertical portion of the bracket member is attached to the first support member by at least one fastener and the horizontal portion of the bracket member is attached to at least two of the roller tracks of the pallet bay;
- a first portion of the base member is fixedly attached to at least two of the roller tracks of the pallet bay and a second portion of the base member located opposite the first portion is movably coupled to the at least two of the roller tracks of the pallet bay;
- and
- the stopper member is coupled to the base member via a strengthening member that restricts the stopper member from bending relative to the base member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.