US 5,314,296 AGranted

Method for feeding a two-way pallet onto a roller path

AssigneeInterroll Holding AG

InventorHans vom Stein

Life of this patent

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Abstract

An arrangement is provided for a roller conveyor for efficiently accommodating two-way pallets. The arrangement includes a interim parking station in proximity to the initial and/or final end region of the roller conveyor. The interim parking station includes a parking surface characterized by a pair of spaced apart recesses to receive the forks of a forklift device. Thus, a two-way pallet can be picked up at a remote location by a forklift device in the conventional manner with the forks of the forklift device passing into spaces between adjacent scantlings of the pallet. The forklift device can then deposit the two-way pallet onto the scantlings. The same forklift device or a separate forklift device passing into spaces between adjacent scantlings of the pallet. The forklift device can then deposit the two-way pallet onto the scantlings. The same forklift device or a separate forklift device can then approach the interim parking station with the forks of the forklift device aligned parallel to the recesses in the parking surface of the interim parking station. The forks can be inserted into these recesses and beneath the bottom surface of the pallet to enable the two-way pallet to be transferred.

Claims8

Dependent claims

A method of using at least one forklift device for feeding a two-way pallet relative to an elongate roller path, said forklift device having a pair of spaced apart forks for selectively lifting the pallet, said pallet having a top, a plurality of parallel spaced apart continuous scantlings connected to the top and a bottom connected to the scantlings, such that a plurality of fork-receiving spaces are defined between the top, the bottom and the respective scantlings, said elongate roller path having an initial region for feeding the pallet to the elongate roller path, the initial region of the roller path having a pair of recesses extending parallel to the elongate roller path, said recesses being dimensioned and disposed for receiving the forks of one said forklift device therein, said method comprising the steps of:

providing at least one interim parking station disposed in proximity to the initial region of the elongate roller path, the interim parking station having a parking surface with a pair of spaced apart elongate recesses disposed and dimensioned for receiving the forks of the forklift device;
inserting the forks of one said forklift device into the fork-receiving spaces of said pallet;
lifting said pallet with said forklift device;
placing the bottom of the pallet on the parking surface of the interim parking station such that the fork-receiving spaces of the pallet are transverse to the elongate recesses of the interim parking station;
inserting the forks of one said forklift device into the elongate recesses of the interim parking station and beneath the bottom of the pallet;
lifting the forks of said forklift device sufficiently for engaging the bottom of the pallet and lifting the pallet from the interim parking station;
moving said forklift device and the pallet thereon to the initial region of the elongate roller path;
moving the forks of said forklift device into the recesses of said initial region of the elongate roller path such that said bottom of said pallet is engaged on the elongate roller path;
and
separating said forklift device from said pallet for permitting said pallet to traverse said elongate roller path.

7 more elements

A method of using at least one forklift device for feeding a two-way pallet relative to an elongate roller path, said forklift device having a pair of spaced apart forks for selectively lifting the pallet, said pallet having a top, a plurality of parallel spaced apart continuous scantlings connected to the top and a bottom connected to the scantlings, such that a plurality of fork-receiving spaces are defined between the top, the bottom and the respective scantlings, said elongate roller path having a final region for removing the pallet from the elongate roller path, the final region of the roller path having a pair of recesses extending parallel to the elongate roller path, said recesses being dimensioned and disposed for receiving the forks of one said forklift device therein, said method comprising the steps of:

providing an interim parking station in proximity to the final region of the elongate roller path, the interim parking station having a parking surface with a pair of spaced apart elongate recesses disposed and dimensioned for receiving the forks of the forklift device;
moving the forks of said forklift device into the recesses of said final region of said elongate roller path and beneath the pallet;
lifting said forks and said pallet;
moving said forklift device and the pallet thereon to the interim parking station;
lowering the forks of said forklift device into the elongate recesses of the interim parking station such that the bottom of the pallet is supported on the parking surface of the interim parking station;
inserting the forks of one said forklift device into the fork-receiving spaces of the pallet and lifting said forks for transferring the pallet from the interim parking station.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 07/984,353Filed 2 Dec 1992 · division
Priority: 26 Mar 1991
Granted: 24 May 1994
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification6 codes

B65G 13/00
Roller-ways
B65H 2301/42256
In or on special supports: pallets; Skids; Platforms with feet, i.e. handled together with the stack
Y10S 414/106
Associated with forming or dispersing groups of intersupporting articles, e.g. stacking patterns: including means for supplying pallet or…
B65G
Transport or storage devices