Patent Abstract:
A pallet board removal assembly for providing mechanical assistance to remove any board of a pallet for replacement includes a frame having rollers forming a bed. A pair of jaws are pivoted with staggered distal ends to clamp and subsequently remove a selected board from a pallet. The invention further includes a board cushioning assembly to control movement of the removed board and an optional nail press assembly to drive nail stubble into the stringers of the pallet.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to pallet repair tools and more particularly pertains to a new pallet board removal assembly for providing mechanical assistance to remove any board of a pallet for replacement. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     The use of pallet slat removal tools is known in the prior art. U.S. Pat. No. 6,154,955 issued to Beane describes a device that uses a pivoting paddle coupled to a frame member inserted into a pallet. Another type of pallet slat removal tool is U.S. Pat. No. 5,463,808 issued to Harris having a pusher bar for moving a pallet along a bed. U.S. Pat. No. 5,467,516 issued to DeGeorge provides several power-operated arms for removing end slats on a pallet. U.S. Pat. No. 5,848,459 issued to the present inventor discloses another machine to remove the end board of a pallet. U.S. Pat. No. 5,457,869 issued to Doyle discloses an end slat remover that addresses the problem of nail stubble after the end slat is removed. Additional patents relating to disassembly of pallets, nail stubble removal, and pallet repair include U.S. Pat. No. 4,051,588 issued to Conkle, U.S. Pat. No. 5,375,315 issued to Griffith et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,988,822 issued to Lopez et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,845,825 issued to Gleason, U.S. Pat. No. 4,089,098 issued to DeMarco, U.S. Pat. No. 4,285,110 issued to Fagre, Jr., U.S. Pat. No. 3,846,890 issued to Bielkiewicz, U.S. Pat. No. 5,205,197 issued to Wiltshire, and U.S. Pat. No. 3,512,242 issued to Harvis. 
     While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the need remains for a machine that effectively and efficiently permits removal of any selectable pallet slat without having to remove undamaged slats, effectively and quickly gets nail stubble out of the way of a repair slat, and permits use by a single person to maximize efficiency of a workforce to repair many pallets. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention meets the needs presented above by providing a mechanism for removing any one of the slats of a pallet, providing a safe and effective press for pushing nail stubble into the pallet stringers to permit attachment of a new slat, and by providing a work surface that is designed to permit safe and easy handling by a single worker to maximize worker production. 
     To this end, the present invention generally comprises a frame having rollers forming a bed. A pair of jaws are pivoted with staggered distal ends to clamp and subsequently remove a selected board from a pallet. The invention further includes a board cushioning assembly to control movement of the removed board and an optional nail press assembly to drive nail stubble into the stringers of the pallet. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
     The objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a new pallet board removal assembly according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a side view of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a top view of the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the upper jaw assembly of the present invention. 
     FIG. 5 is a side view of the jaws of the present invention in use. 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the lower jaw assembly of the present invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 6 thereof, a new pallet board removal assembly embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral  10  will be described. 
     As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 6, the pallet board removal assembly  10  generally comprises a frame  20  that includes rollers  22  forming a bed  24 . A pair of jaws  26  extend from the frame  20  such that the jaws  26  are suspended above the bed  24 . A lower jaw  28  of the pair of jaws  26  is insertable into an end  2  of a pallet  4  such that a distal end portion  30  of the lower jaw  28  is alignable with a selectable board  6  of the pallet  4 . The distal end portion  30  of the lower jaw  28  forms a board removal portion  32  of the lower jaw  28 . A distal end  34  of an upper jaw  36  of the pair of jaws  26  forming a clamping portion  38  positioned at an end  40  of the upper jaw  36 . The jaws are of sufficient length to be insertable into the pallet  4  to engage any selected board of the pallet  4 . 
     The clamping portion  38  is positioned staggered from the board removal portion  32  of the lower jaw  28 . Thus, the upper jaw  36  clamps the pallet against the bed  24  and the lower jaw  28  engages and removes a board  6  from the pallet  4  upon closing of the pair of jaws  26 . Actuating means  42  are coupled to the jaws  26  for moving the jaws  26  about a pivot point  44  to close the jaws  26 . The actuating means is preferably a hydraulic system utilizing a hydraulic ram  68 . The necessary hydraulic equipment may be positioned at an end of the frame opposite where the user would typically stand. The hydraulic equipment, or other parts forming the actuating means, may be positioned on a support bracket coupled to the frame such that the invention may be moved as a unit for convenience. 
     A control mechanism  52  is provided. The control mechanism  52  is most preferably positioned adjacent to an end  54  of the bed  24  opposite the jaws  26  for facilitating use of the jaws  26  by a user standing at the end  54  of the bed  24  opposite the jaws  26 . Thus, the user may load and align pallets for board removal from the same position used to control the invention resulting in greater efficiency. This also positions the user sufficiently distant from the jaws to prevent undue risk. Further, the controls are sufficiently distant from the jaws that accidental operation of the jaws is virtually impossible when the user moves to a position immediately adjacent to the jaws. 
     The rollers  22  are oriented to move the pallet  4  along a longitudinal axis of the bed  24  to facilitate positioning of the pallet  4  by the user. 
     Typically, the pallets are of a standardized size having outer stringers and a central stringer board  9  supporting a medial portion of each of the boards of the pallet. The lower jaw  28  includes a plate  56  that has a slot  58  for receiving the central stringer board  9  of the pallet  4 . The slot  58  defines a pair of segments  60 , 62  for engaging the board  6  being removed on each side of the central stringer board  9 . Each of the segments  60 , 62  has a length less than a distance between adjacently positioned stringer boards of the pallet  4  to facilitate insertion of the segments  60 , 62  into the pallet  4 . Preferably, each of the segments  60 , 62  has a length greater than about 90% of the distance between the adjacently positioned stringer boards of the pallet  4  to more evenly distribute the jaw force on the board  6  to prevent additional breakage or damage to the board  6  as it is removed. 
     In an embodiment, the upper jaw  36  has a length from the pivot point  44  greater than that of the lower jaw  28 . A board cushioning assembly  64  is coupled to the upper jaw  36  such that the board cushioning assembly  64  is aligned with the board removal portion  32  of the lower jaw  28 . The board cushioning assembly  64  includes a biased panel  66  positioned such that a board  6  being removed from the pallet  4  is urged into the biased panel  66  compressing the board cushioning assembly  64  to stabilize the board  6  during removal. This prevents the board  6  from popping off the pallet violently, splintering in a dangerous fashion, and generally restricts the board from becoming a hazard during removal. 
     Optionally, a nail press assembly  46  is coupled to the frame  20 . The nail press assembly  46  is designed for driving nail stubble into stringers  8  of the pallet  4 . The nail press assembly  46  includes bottom bar  48  and an upper panel  50  aligned with each other. The bottom bar  48  and the upper panel  50  are movable to clamp the pallet  4  between the bottom bar  48  and the upper panel  50  such that the upper panel  50  drives any nail stubble into the stringers  8  of the pallet  4 . The bottom bar  48  is recessed into the bed  24  and is movable upwardly from the recessed position to engage a bottom of the pallet  4 . Thus, movement of the pallet  4  along the bed  24  is restricted during driving of the nail stubble into the stringers. The top panel  50  is movable downwardly towards the bottom bar substantially simultaneously with the movement of the bottom bar  48  such that the top panel  50  engages a top of the pallet  4  just after the bottom bar has engaged the bottom of the pallet  4 . Thus, the pallet  4  remains substantially on the bed  24  but is prevented from moving on the rollers. The bottom bar  48  and the top panel  50  are preferably spaced to provide sufficiently clearance for a standard sized pallet and nail stubble, but sufficiently close to facilitate easy alignment of the pallet  4 . The top panel  50  is also sized to cover an area at least as large as the area of the removed board to permit pressing all potential nail stubble in one action. 
     The entirety of the device is approximately 101 inches in length, 56 inches tall, and 57 inches wide. 
     In use, a pallet having a damaged or weak board is positioned on the bed and rolled into place such that the board removal portion of the lower jaw is aligned with the damaged or weak board. Quick manipulation of the controls causes the upper jaw to engage the pallet and the lower jaw to provide a relatively quick and powerful upward force on a substantial area of the damaged or weak board to lift the damaged or weak board away from the stringers of the pallet. The board cushioning assembly is automatically positioned atop the damaged or weak board as the upward force is applied and prevents uncontrolled movement of the removed board. The pallet is then moved along the bed to align the area of the removed board with the top panel of the nail pressing assembly. Quick manipulation of the controls causes the lower bar to engage and hold the pallet as the top panel provides a downward force onto any nail stubble from the removed board forcing the nail stubble into the stringers. The process may be repeated if additional boards are to be replaced. Once all undesired boards have been removed, the pallet is removed from the bed and may be refurbished by attachment of new boards to replace those that were removed. 
     With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

Technology Classification (CPC): 8