# US 8,783,675 B2 · Apparatus having paired lifting members for separating stacked pallets

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- Number: US 8,783,675 B2
- Document ID: US8783675B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 12/924,578
- Filed: 2010-09-30
- Published: 2011-08-25
- Granted: 2014-07-22
- Earliest claimed: 2009-09-30
- Applicants: James R. Buck; Larry White
- Inventors: James R. Buck; Larry White
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8783675B2

## CPC

- B65D 19/38: Details or accessories
- B65D 2519/00955: stackable
- B65D: CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES

## Abstract

An apparatus for vertically separating stacked pallets a sufficient distance such that each pallet in the stack can be cleaned, with the pallets then immediately restacked after cleaning.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A pallet separating apparatus adapted to expand a stack of pallets in the vertical direction such that each pallet is separated a short distance from adjoining pallets and then restack the pallets, the apparatus comprising:
a plurality of lifting members, each lifting member comprising a pair of carriage members, an extended bar member, a mounting flange and at least two horizontally-oriented insertion arm members, and at least one post member positioned on the side of the carriage member;
a plurality of spacing link members each comprising an elongated extension slot, said spacing link members being retained on said post members of adjoining lifting members;
a first array of said lifting members disposed in a first frame assembly and a second array of said lifting members disposed in a second frame assembly;
lateral translation means for reciprocating said first and second frames toward and away from each other;
separating means for raising and lowering each array of lifting members such that vertically adjoining lifting members are separated;
whereby with a stack of pallets positioned between said first and second frame assemblies, said frame assemblies are laterally moved together such that said insertion arm members of said lifting members are inserted into or between individual pallets in said stack, the uppermost set of opposing lifting members are raised, thereby raising the uppermost pallet from the stack and separating the uppermost sets of opposing lifting members from the next adjacent set of opposing lifting members, continuing to raise said uppermost set of lifting members until said extension slots of said link members abut the post members of the next lower adjacent set of opposing lifting members, such that the next adjacent set of opposing lifting members and the next adjoining pallet are raised, and continuing this operation until all said pallets in said stack are separated from adjoining pallets, performing a cleaning operation on the separated pallets, lowering the lifting members and pallets to reform the stack, and separating said first and second frame assemblies.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first array is raised to a higher position than said second array.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said separating means comprise a hydraulic system.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising cleaning equipment adapted to spray liquid onto said pallets.