Abstract: A pallet includes a top deck having upper tower openings therein, and a bottom deck. Spaced apart support blocks are coupled between the top and bottom decks so as to form a gap therebetween for receiving a lifting member. Each support block includes an outer wall enclosing a center area, a core structure within the center area, and an upper tower extending outwards from the core structure and into a corresponding upper tower opening in the top deck. This is to provide a shear load transfer during impact with the lifting member. First ribs are within an interior area of the upper tower.

Abstract: A reconfigurable pallet/dolly platform includes a top deck that includes a product support surface and an opposing underside. The underside includes pallet support leg attachment areas for receiving pallet support legs when configured as a pallet, and dolly wheel attachment areas for receiving dolly wheels when configured as a dolly. The product support surface includes pallet support leg receiving areas aligned with the pallet support leg attachment areas and configured to engage the pallet support legs from an identical platform stacked thereon when configured as a pallet. The product support surface also includes dolly wheel receiving areas aligned with the dolly wheel wells and configured to engage the dolly wheels from an identical platform stacked thereon when configured as a dolly. Each dolly wheel receiving area partially overlaps with one of the pallet support leg receiving areas.

Abstract: A pallet includes a top deck, a bottom deck, and spaced apart support blocks coupled between the top and bottom decks. The top deck has grommet openings extending therethrough, with each grommet opening including a recessed shelf. Grommets are inserted into respective grommet openings. Each grommet includes an upper section comprising a lower lip resting on the recessed shelf, and an outer exposed surface of the upper section extending in height above the top deck. At least one mid-section is adjacent the lower lip and extends from the upper section to an underside of the top deck. At least one lower section extends from the at least one mid-section, and includes a pair of spaced apart lips resting on the underside of the top deck. An outer exposed surface of the at least one lower section extends in height below the underside of the top deck.

Abstract: A pallet includes a top deck, a bottom deck, and spaced apart support blocks coupled between the top and bottom decks. Each support block includes an outer block having an open top surface exposing an inner block receiving area therein, and an inner block inserted into the inner block receiving area of the outer block.

Abstract: A pallet includes a base layer and a cargo layer. The cargo layer includes a pair of spaced apart end deck boards, and intermediate deck boards between the pair of spaced apart end deck boards. Each end deck board and an immediately adjacent intermediate deck board are butted against one another. Spaced apart support blocks are coupled between the base and cargo layers and forming a gap therebetween for receiving a lifting member.

Abstract: A reconfigurable pallet/dolly platform includes a top deck that includes a product support surface and an opposing underside. The underside includes pallet support leg attachment areas for receiving pallet support legs when configured as a pallet, and dolly wheel attachment areas for receiving dolly wheels when configured as a dolly. The product support surface includes pallet support leg receiving areas aligned with the pallet support leg attachment areas and configured to engage the pallet support legs from an identical platform stacked thereon when configured as a pallet. The product support surface also includes dolly wheel receiving areas aligned with the dolly wheel wells and configured to engage the dolly wheels from an identical platform stacked thereon when configured as a dolly.

Abstract: A pallet includes a top deck having a rectangular shape, a bottom deck having a rectangular shape, and spaced apart corner support blocks and spaced apart intermediate support blocks coupled between the top and bottom decks and forming a gap therebetween for receiving a lifting member. Centerline markings are carried by at least one of the top deck, the bottom deck, and the corner and intermediate support blocks so as to provide a visual aid to an operator of the lifting member.

Abstract: A nail plater apparatus includes a board magazine configured to hold stacked boards, and a pair of spaced apart nail plate magazines, with each nail plate magazine configured to hold stacked nail plates. The nail plater apparatus includes a pair of spaced apart nail plate extractor assemblies, with each nail plate extractor assembly associated with a respective nail plate magazine and configured to position a nail plate therefrom to a respective nail plate pressing area. A board feeder is configured to position a board from the board magazine to a board receiving area, with ends of the board being aligned with the nail plates positioned in the respective nail plate pressing areas. A pair of spaced apart nail plate presser assemblies overlie ends of the board receiving area and is aligned with the respective nail plate pressing areas to press the nail plates into the ends of the board.

Abstract: A pallet tester includes a pallet positioning station for positioning a pallet on a conveyor, and a pallet impact station adjacent the conveyor and aligned with the pallet positioning station. The pallet positioning station includes a pallet push arm movable between a retracted position and a pallet positioning position. The pallet impact station includes a carriage assembly to impact the pallet, and a latching mechanism coupled to the carriage assembly. A controller moves the pallet push arm to the retracted position to receive the pallet for positioning, and moves the pallet push arm to the pallet positioning position to move the pallet towards the pallet impact station until an impact side of the pallet is aligned with an impact reference plane.

Abstract: A pallet impact station includes a frame, at least one pendulum swing arm rotatably coupled to the frame, and a carriage assembly carried by the at least one pendulum swing arm. A latching mechanism extends between the frame and the at least one pendulum swing arm, and engages the at least one pendulum swing arm when the carriage assembly is in a lowered position, raises the carriage assembly to a raised positon, and disengages the at least one pendulum swing arm at the raised positon so that the carriage assembly strikes a pallet. A sensor generates a signal corresponding to how high the carriage assembly is raised. A controller operates the latching mechanism, including disengaging the at least one pendulum swing arm when a height of the carriage assembly corresponds to a desired release height so that a predetermined impact force strikes the pallet.

Abstract: A pallet includes a top deck and a bottom deck, and spaced apart support blocks coupled between the top and bottom decks and forming a gap therebetween for receiving a lifting member. Each support block includes a mid-section having spaced apart upper and lower surfaces, an upper tower extending from the upper surface of the mid-section, and a lower tower extending from the lower surface. The upper towers are inserted into corresponding upper tower openings in the top deck, and the lower towers are inserted into corresponding lower tower openings in the bottom deck.

Abstract: A pallet includes a base layer, a cargo layer and spaced apart support elements positioned between the base layer and the cargo layer and forming a gap therebetween for receiving a lifting member. The cargo layer includes a pair of spaced apart connector boards and a pair of spaced apart end deck boards orthogonal to the pair of connector boards. Each support element extends in length between the pair of spaced apart end deck boards and is configured as a one-piece skid, and includes an open recessed channel therein to receive a respective connector board from the cargo layer.

Abstract: A pallet positioning station for positioning a pallet on a roller conveyor to be impacted by a pallet impact station includes a frame adjacent the roller conveyor, and a pallet lift assembly carried by the frame and positioned below the roller conveyor. The pallet lift assembly includes a lift grate moveable between a retracted position and an extended position. A pallet push arm assembly is carried by the frame and includes a pallet push arm movable between a retracted position and a pallet positioning position. A controller is configured to move the pallet push arm and the lift grate to the retracted positions to receive the pallet for positioning, and move the lift grate to the extended position when the pallet is to be positioned for impact by the pallet impact station, with the pallet being lifted off of the roller conveyor by the lift grate.

Abstract: A pallet includes a top including a product support surface and an opposing underside, with outer sides extending between the product support surface and the underside. Four feet each extend away from the underside of the top, and each foot has a first opening facing out through the product supporting surface of the top. The feet thus allow stacking of such pallets with the feet of a first such pallet extending into the first openings of a second such pallet. Product tab receiving areas are for receiving respective product tabs, with each product tab receiving area having a slot within the top adjacent a respective outer side of the top. The slot has a pair of spaced apart opposing long sidewalls and a pair of spaced apart opposing short sidewalls adjacent to the pair of long sidewalls, with one of the long sidewalls including a laterally extending tongue for engaging an opening in one of the product tabs.

Abstract: A pallet includes a top deck that includes a product support surface and an opposing underside, and with the product support surface including a pair of pallet support leg receiving areas. A pair of pallet support legs is on the underside of the top deck and aligned with the pallet support leg receiving areas. Each pallet support leg including a center leg section having a first end adjacent the underside of the top deck and a second end opposite the first end, and a pair of leg extensions extending outwards from the second end of the center leg section. An underside of the center leg section and the pair of leg extensions are configured to engage one of the pallet support leg receiving areas of an identical pallet when stacked thereon.

Abstract: A reconfigurable pallet/dolly platform includes a top deck that includes a product support surface and an opposing underside. The underside includes pallet support leg attachment areas for receiving pallet support legs when configured as a pallet, and dolly wheel attachment areas for receiving dolly wheels when configured as a dolly. The product support surface includes pallet support leg receiving areas aligned with the pallet support leg attachment areas and configured to engage the pallet support legs from an identical platform stacked thereon when configured as a pallet. The product support surface also includes dolly wheel receiving areas aligned with the dolly wheel wells and configured to engage the dolly wheels from an identical platform stacked thereon when configured as a dolly.

Abstract: A pallet includes a top deck, a bottom deck, and spaced apart support blocks coupled between the top and bottom decks. Each support block includes an outer block having an open top surface exposing an inner block receiving area therein, and an inner block inserted into the inner block receiving area of the outer block.

Abstract: A pallet includes a top deck, a bottom deck and spaced apart corner support blocks coupled between corners of the top and bottom decks and forming a gap therebetween for receiving a lifting member. Each corner support block includes a single column aligned with one of the corners of the top and bottom decks, a lower ledge extending from a bottom end of the single column and defining a lower perimeter of the corner support block, and an upper ledge extending from a top end of the single column and defining an upper perimeter of the corner support block. Exposed side surfaces extend between the upper and lower ledges. The exposed side surfaces are recessed from the defined lower and upper perimeters of the corner support block so as to form a pocket for receiving an end of the lifting member to allow the pallet to be spun around.

Abstract: A pallet includes a top deck having upper tower openings therein, and a bottom deck. Spaced apart support blocks are coupled between the top and bottom decks so as to form a gap therebetween for receiving a lifting member. Each support block includes an outer wall enclosing a center area, a core structure within the center area, and an upper tower extending outwards from the core structure and into a corresponding upper tower opening in the top deck. This is to provide a shear load transfer during impact with the lifting member. First ribs are within an interior area of the upper tower.

Abstract: A pallet includes a top deck and a bottom deck, and spaced apart support blocks coupled between the top and bottom decks and forming a gap therebetween for receiving a lifting member. Each support block includes a mid-section having spaced apart upper and lower surfaces, an upper tower extending from the upper surface of the mid-section, and a lower tower extending from the lower surface. The upper towers are inserted into corresponding upper tower openings in the top deck, and the lower towers are inserted into corresponding lower tower openings in the bottom deck.