Patent ID: 6058586
Filing Date: 2000-05-09
Classification: B23P,Y10T

Abstract:
A method for repairing pallets, each pallet having spaced parallel stringers, upper and lower deckboards secured to the stringers, the deckboards being disposed perpendicular to the stringers, comprising the steps of:orienting the pallets so that the lower deckboards face upwardly;sorting the pallets into four groups, the first group having two or more damaged stringers, the second group having one damaged stringer, the third group having no damaged stringers and no damaged lower deckboards, and the fourth group having no damaged stringers and one or more damaged lower deckboards;as to pallets in the first group:removing a damaged stringer from a pallet;replacing the damaged stringer with a new stringer;repeating the steps of removing and replacing until all damaged stringers have been removed and replaced with new stringers;sorting the stringer-repaired pallets into fifth and sixth groups, the fifth group having no damaged lower deckboards and the sixth group having one or more damaged lower deckboards;adding pallets from the fifth group to the third group;removing any damaged lower deckboards from pallets in the sixth group;replacing any damaged lower deckboards from pallets in the sixth group with new lower deckboards;inverting the pallets in the sixth group so that the upper deckboards face upwardly;removing any damaged upper deckboards from pallets in the sixth group; andreplacing any damaged upper deckboards from pallets in the sixth group with new upper deckboards;as to pallets in the second group:removing the damaged stringer from each pallet;replacing the damaged stringer with a new stringer;sorting the stringer-repaired pallets into seventh and eighth groups, the seventh group having no damaged lower deckboards and the eighth group having one or more damaged lower deckboards;adding pallets from the seventh group to the third group; andadding pallets from the eighth group to the sixth group;as to pallets in the third group:inverting the pallets so that the upper deckboards face upwardly;removing any damaged upper deckboards;replacing any damaged upper deckboards with new upper deckboards; andas to pallets in the fourth group:removing any damaged lower deckboards;replacing any damaged lower deckboards with new lower deckboards;inverting the pallets so that the upper deckboards face upwardly;removing any damaged upper deckboards; andreplacing any damaged upper deckboards with new upper deckboards.