Apparatus for manipulating a pallet
AssigneeHoogovens Groep B.V.
InventorElbert Zoeten
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus for manipulating a two-part pallet which includes at least one pair of first and second engagement members displaceable relative to each other along an axis. The first engagement member is provided with a first clamp for clamping a portion of the first pallet part and the second engagement member is provided with a second clamp for clamping a portion of the second pallet part. Actuation of the first clamp on the first engagement member couples the first pallet part to the first engagement member and actuation of the second clamp on the second engagement member couples the second pallet part to the second engagement member. The engagement members may be formed by first and second portions of forks or by legs which engage and clamp the pallet parts.
Claims16
An apparatus for manipulating a two-part pallet, the pallet being adapted for supporting and carrying a product on first and second pallet parts to be secured together, wherein the apparatus includes means to horizontally position said two-part pallet, coupling means supported on said means for releasable engagement with the pallet, the coupling means comprising at least one pair of engagement members, each pair comprising first and second engagement members which are displaceable relative to each other along an axis, each first engagement member being provided with first clamping means for clamping a portion of the first pallet part and each second engagement member being provided with second clamping means for clamping a portion of the second pallet part, whereby actuation of the first clamping means on the first engagement member couples the first pallet part to the first engagement member and actuation of the second clamping means on the second engagement member couples the second pallet part to the second engagement member.
A method of manipulating a pallet which comprises first and second pallet parts to be secured together and applying the pallet to a product to be supported and carried comprising bringing coupling means into engagement with said pallet parts and actuating first and second clamping means to clamp a first pallet part to a first engagement member of said clamping means and a second pallet part to a second engagement member of said coupling means, applying said pallet held by the coupling means to the product to be supported, and displacing said first and second engagement members of each pair relative to each other to engage the product.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.