Patent ID: 6763567
Filing Date: 2004-07-20
Classification: B27M,Y10T

Abstract:
A method of assembling a pallet comprising:providing an automated pallet assembly apparatus having an assembly path, a slat dispensing station, and a block dispensing station, the assembly path operatively connecting the slat dispensing station to the block dispensing station; providing a plurality of slats to the slat dispensing station of the assembly apparatus, each of the plurality of slats having a longitudinal length, a lateral width, and a transverse thickness, the longitudinal length of each of the plurality of slats defining first and second longitudinal ends of the respective slat; providing a plurality of blocks to the block dispensing station of the assembly apparatus; utilizing the assembly apparatus to automatically longitudinally move a first one of the plurality of slats along the assembly path from the slat dispensing station toward the block dispensing station and to automatically stop the movement of the first slat at a first position along the assembly path, the first position being such that the first longitudinal end of the first slat is positioned adjacent the block dispensing station along the assembly path; automatically biasing a first block of the plurality of blocks into engagement with the first slat via the assembly apparatus, the engagement of the first block with the first slat occurring with the first slat stopped in the first position such that the first block engages the first slat adjacent the first longitudinal end of the first slat; automatically fastening the first slat to the first block while the first slat and the first block are being biased into engagement with each other; utilizing the assembly apparatus to automatically longitudinally move the first slat from the first position and to automatically stop the movement of the first slat at a second position along the assembly path, the second position being further along the assembly path from the slat dispensing station than the first position; automatically biasing a second block of the plurality of blocks into engagement with the first slat via the assembly apparatus, the engagement of the second block with the first slat occurring with the first slat in the second position such that the second block engages the first slat intermediate the first longitudinal end and the second longitudinal end of the first slat where the second block is spaced apart from the first block; and automatically fastening the first slat to the second block while the first slat and the second block are being biased into engagement with each other.