Method and apparatus for pallet removal cargo queuing and stowage of stacks of cartons of frozen animal products

Abstract

A method for rapid depalletizing and lifting of stacks of cartons aboard vessels is provided which may include sliding the stacks of cartons from a pallet onto a transport surface at a loading end, moving the stack of cartons along the transport surface to a lifting station having fork channels extending across the lifting station for receiving the blades of a load push lift truck, and lifting the stack of cartons from the lifting station. The transport surface may comprise a plurality of rollers. The stack of cartons may be lifted by cargo slings into the hold of a ship, or lifted from the lifting end on the blades of a load push lift truck. The pallet may be retained on the blades of a load push lift truck while the stack of cartons carried by the pallet is pushed from the pallet by a restraint. The empty pallet may then be carried to and deposited in a pallet accumulation location by the lift truck.

1 . A queuing depalletizer for palletized stacks of cartons of frozen animal products comprising: 
 an elongated transport surface having a loading station at a loading end and an lifting station at a lifting end, the elongated transport surface having a first axis extending from the loading end to the lifting end;    a pallet restraint for limiting movement of a pallet toward the loading end of the transport surface when a stack of cartons is pushed from the pallet onto the loading station;    a stop adjacent the lifting end of the transport surface for stopping movement of stacks of cartons along the transport surface at the lifting end of the transport surface; and    a plurality of spaced channels formed in the transport surface at the lifting station for receiving lifting apparatus.    
     
     
         2 . The queuing depalletizer of  claim 1  wherein the elongated transport surface comprises a plurality of rollers rotatably mounted to a frame with their axes of rotation extending perpendicularly to the first axis of the transport surface.  
     
     
         3 . The queuing depalletizer of  claim 1  wherein the elongated transport surface comprises a plurality of wheels rotatably mounted to a frame with their axes of rotation extending perpendicularly to the first axis of the transport surface.  
     
     
         4 . The queuing depalletizer of  claim 1  wherein the spaced channels are of sufficient depth to receive cargo slings positioned therein while permitting stacks of cartons to be moved along the transport surface over the channels.  
     
     
         5 . The queuing depalletizer of  claim 1  wherein the spaced channels are of sufficient depth to receive the blades of a lift truck positioned therein while permitting stacks of cartons to be moved along the transport surface over the channels.  
     
     
         6 . The queuing depalletizer of  claim 2  wherein the transport surface is of sufficient length to accommodate at least three stacks of cartons of frozen animal products.  
     
     
         7 . A depalletizer for palletized stacks of cartons of frozen animal products comprising: 
 a support surface for receiving a stack of cartons of frozen animal products pushed from a pallet;    a pallet restraint for limiting movement of a pallet when a stack of cartons is pushed from the pallet onto the loading station;    a plurality of channels formed in the support surface of sufficient length and width to receive lifting apparatus for lifting a stack of cartons from the support surface;    
     
     
         8 . The depalletizer of  claim 7  wherein the pallet restraint comprises a back stop for limiting the travel of a stack of cartons being pushed from a pallet onto the support surface.  
     
     
         9 . The depalletizer of  claim 8  wherein the back stop extends to a height above the support surface greater than the height of a stack of cartons.  
     
     
         10 . The depalletizer of  claim 7  wherein the support surface is elongated and includes a loading position adjacent one end and a lifting position adjacent the other end, the channels being positioned at the other end of the support surface, and wherein the support surface comprising a plurality of rollers rotatably mounted to a frame for conveying stacks of cartons of frozen animal products from the receiving position to the lifting position.  
     
     
         11 . The depalletizer of  claim 1  wherein the lifting station of the elongated transport surface compises a plurality of rollers for supporting a stack of cartons in the lifting position and wherein the spaced channels are positioned in gaps between the rollers.  
     
     
         12 . The depalletizer of claim  26  wherein the elongated support surface is inclined between the loading station and the lifting station, and wherein the incline is sufficient that a stack of cartons of frozen animal products can move under the influence of gravity from the loading station to the lifting station.  
     
     
         13 . The depalletizer of  claim 1  wherein the pallet restraint is mounted to the depalletizer adjacent the loading end.  
     
     
         14 . The depalletizer of  claim 1  wherein the pallet restraint is mounted on a lift truck.