US2016023852A1PendingUtilityA1

Pallet dispenser and method thereof

44
Individually held — no corporate assignee on recordPriority: Jul 16, 2013Filed: Oct 8, 2015Published: Jan 28, 2016
Est. expiryJul 16, 2033(~7 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Paul Redman
B65G 61/00B65G 2201/0267B65G 59/063B65G 59/067B65G 59/00B65G 57/302
44
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Claims

Abstract

An apparatus includes a pallet dispensing system, including a movable frame being configured to movably hold, at least in part, a pallet stack between a pallet-storage position and a pallet-dispensation position. The movable frame is also configured to hold the pallet stack relative to a pallet transporter in such a way that the pallet transporter is permitted to vertically lift, at least in part, the pallet stack as the movable frame is provided, at least in part, with vertical-lift assistance through stored potential energy.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
1 - 30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a pallet dispensing system, including:
 a movable frame being configured to movably hold, at least in part, a pallet stack between a pallet-storage position and a pallet-dispensation position, and 
 the movable frame also being configured to hold the pallet stack relative to a pallet transporter in such a way that the pallet transporter is permitted to vertically lift, at least in part, the pallet stack as the movable frame is provided, at least in part, with vertical-lift assistance through stored potential energy; and 
   wherein the pallet dispensing system further includes:
 a stationary support frame for supporting the movable frame; and 
 wherein a front side of the movable frame and the stationary support frame is configured to be opened so that the pallet dispensing system can be serviced or reloaded with additional pallets. 
   
     
     
         32 . The apparatus of  claim 31 , further comprising:
 a locking device for ensuring that the front side of the stationary support frame does not open when the pallet dispensing system is in operation.   
     
     
         33 . The apparatus of  claim 31 , further comprising:
 a pallet-stack enclosure for preventing the pallet stack from tipping, collapsing or falling.   
     
     
         34 . The apparatus of  claim 33 , further comprising:
 supports being attached to a top of the pallet dispensing system.   
     
     
         35 . The apparatus of  claim 34 , further comprising:
 restraints being positioned between the supports, and the restraints being configured to prevent the pallet stack from tipping, collapsing or falling.   
     
     
         36 . The apparatus of  claim 35 , wherein:
 the restraints include any one of gates and doors.   
     
     
         37 . The apparatus of  claim 35 , wherein:
 the restraints include any one of solid walls, mesh walls and webbing detachably connected to the supports.   
     
     
         38 . The apparatus of  claim 35 , wherein:
 the restraints include any one of a bar and a pipes connected to the supports via hinges.   
     
     
         39 . The apparatus of  claim 35 , wherein:
 the restraints are substantially the height of the supports.   
     
     
         40 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a pallet dispensing system, including:
 a movable frame being configured to movably hold, at least in part, a pallet stack between a pallet-storage position and a pallet-dispensation position, and 
 the movable frame also being configured to hold the pallet stack relative to a pallet transporter in such a way that the pallet transporter is permitted to vertically lift, at least in part, the pallet stack as the movable frame is provided, at least in part, with vertical-lift assistance through stored potential energy; and 
   wherein the pallet dispensing system further includes:
 a side-loading pallet-enclosing assembly including:
 restraints being configured to prevent the pallet stack from tipping, collapsing or falling; and 
 the restraints being orthogonal to a direction that the pallet is dispensed. 
 
   
     
     
         41 . The apparatus of  claim 40 , wherein:
 the restraints being not in-line with the direction that the pallet is dispensed in such a way that the pallet dispensing system is usable while another pallet is added to the pallet stack.   
     
     
         42 . The apparatus of  claim 40 , wherein:
 the restraints include:
 bars being connected to supports via hinges; and 
 the bars being substantially the height of the supports; and 
 the bars being used to keep the pallet stack from tipping, collapsing or falling when the pallet stack is placed in the pallet dispensing system. 
   
     
     
         43 . The apparatus of  claim 42 , wherein:
 the bars are configured to be moved so that pallets can be added to the pallet stack.   
     
     
         44 . The apparatus of  claim 42 , further comprising:
 a pallet-stack enclosure oriented so that the bars are in-line with the direction that the pallet is dispensed.   
     
     
         45 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a pallet dispensing system, including:
 a movable frame being configured to movably hold, at least in part, a pallet stack between a pallet-storage position and a pallet-dispensation position, and 
 the movable frame also being configured to hold the pallet stack relative to a pallet transporter in such a way that the pallet transporter is permitted to vertically lift, at least in part, the pallet stack as the movable frame is provided, at least in part, with vertical-lift assistance through stored potential energy; and 
   wherein the pallet dispensing system further includes:
 a detection assembly being configured to detect dispensation of the pallet from the movable frame. 
   
     
     
         46 . The apparatus of  claim 45 , wherein:
 the detection assembly is configured to detect once the pallet has been dispensed.   
     
     
         47 . The apparatus of  claim 45 , wherein:
 the detection assembly includes:
 a limit switch assembly; and 
 an actuator. 
   
     
     
         48 . The apparatus of  claim 45 , wherein:
 the detection assembly includes:
 an electrical photo-eye device used to open an electric valve in such a way as to allow the movable frame to travel downward. 
   
     
     
         49 . The apparatus of  claim 45 , wherein:
 the detection assembly includes:
 an electrical photo-eye device being powered by a battery, and is used to open an electric valve in such a way as to allow the movable frame to travel downward. 
   
     
     
         50 . The apparatus of  claim 45 , wherein:
 the detection assembly includes:
 an operator-independent de-latching mechanism usable with a latch; and 
 the operator-independent de-latching mechanism being configured to de-latch the latch from a latched state to an un-latched state. 
   
     
     
         51 . The apparatus of  claim 45 , wherein:
 the detection assembly includes:
 an operator-independent de-latching mechanism usable to prevent an operator from having to de-latch a latch. 
   
     
     
         52 . The apparatus of  claim 45 , wherein:
 the detection assembly includes:
 an actuator, and the actuator is only activated once the pallet has been dispensed.

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