Patent ID: 8595909

Claim:
A method for removing a board from a pallet using a board removal apparatus comprising a frame, a carriage carried by the frame and comprising a pair of spaced apart tables with a fixed gap therebetween, the carriage being movable between a pallet receiving position and a board removal position, the pallet comprising a plurality of spaced apart stringers and a plurality of boards on top and bottom surfaces thereof, and at least one board removal assembly carried by the frame and comprising at least one push rod and at least one board removal foot pad pivotally coupled thereto, the method comprising: positioning the pallet on the carriage in the pallet receiving position so that the board to be removed overlies the fixed gap between the pair of spaced apart tables; moving the carriage to the board removal position, with the at least one push rod and the at least one board removal foot pad being inserted between adjacent stringers, and with the at least one board removal foot pad overlying at least a portion of the board to be removed and overlying at least a portion of the fixed gap between the pair of spaced apart tables; and moving the at least one push rod for transferring a board removal force to the at least one board removal foot pad for removing the board from the pallet.