Abstract: A shipping platform system may include a top deck, and a top block joined to the top deck. The system may also include a bottom deck, and a bottom block joined to the bottom deck. The system may further include a joint that yields under a predetermined load that joins the top block to the bottom block.

Abstract: A system may include a bottom deck to a shipping platform. The system may also include a block joined to the bottom deck, and a top deck joined to the block. The system may further include a T3 panel carried by the top deck that is structurally different from the top deck and does not extend to two ends of the top deck.

Abstract: A board removal apparatus for a wooden pallet includes a frame, and a carriage carried by the frame. The carriage includes a pair of spaced apart tables with a fixed gap therebetween. The carriage is movable between a pallet receiving position and a board removal position. The pallet is positioned on the carriage when in the pallet receiving position so that a board to be removed overlies the fixed gap. A board removal assembly is carried by the frame and includes a push rod and a board removal foot pad pivotally coupled thereto. The push rod and the board removal foot pad are inserted between adjacent stringers on the pallet when the carriage is in the board removal position.

Abstract: A board removal apparatus for a wooden pallet includes a frame, and a carriage carried by the frame. The carriage includes a pair of spaced apart tables with a fixed gap therebetween. The carriage is movable between a pallet receiving position and a board removal position. The pallet includes spaced apart stringers and boards on top and bottom surfaces thereof. The pallet is positioned on the carriage when in the pallet receiving position so that a board to be removed overlies the fixed gap. A board removal assembly is carried by the frame and includes a push rod and a board removal foot pad pivotally coupled thereto. The push rod and the board removal foot pad are inserted between adjacent stringers when the carriage is in the board removal position. The board removal foot pad overlies at least a portion of the board to be removed and overlies at least a portion of the fixed gap between the pair of spaced apart tables.

Abstract: A pallet includes an upper and lower deck. The upper deck includes first joining members that project downwardly from the upper deck, with each first joining member including an outer sleeve. The lower deck includes second joining members that project upwardly from the lower deck, with second joining member including an inner sleeve. At least one of the upper and lower decks includes channels between top and bottom surfaces thereof, with each channel extending from a side edge to an opposing side edge of the corresponding deck. Sleeved reinforcing rods are in the channels. Each sleeved reinforcing rod includes a reinforcing rod having opposing ends and side surfaces therebetween, and a sleeve enclosing the side surfaces of the reinforcing rod, with there being relative movement between the sleeve and the reinforcing rod. The inner sleeves of the second joining members receive the outer sleeves of the first joining members to define a plurality of support blocks joining the upper and lower decks.

Abstract: An automated pallet inspection and repair apparatus comprises an inspection station and a repair station. The inspection station comprises a laser that illuminates a pallet, a camera that collects the reflected light and a computer system. The computer system analyses the output of the camera and acquires the pallet's geometry and topography. The design of the pallet is determined by the computer software. A decision to repair the pallet is made by comparing acquired pallet data against the design criteria. If the pallet needs repair, a recipe of repair steps is constructed by inspecting each of the pallet's elements. The recipe is transmitted to the automated repair station.

Abstract: A pallet includes an upper and lower deck. The upper deck includes snap-pin openings. First joining members project downwardly from the upper deck, with each first joining member including an outer sleeve surrounding a respective snap-pin opening. Second joining members project upwardly from the lower deck, with each second joining member including an inner sleeve and a snap-pin receiving cavity positioned therein. The inner sleeves receive the outer sleeves to define support blocks joining the upper and lower decks. Snap-pins are inserted into the snap-in openings in the upper deck. Each snap-pin includes a head for engaging a snap-pin opening, and spaced apart tips that extend through the snap-pin receiving cavity for engaging a backside of the inner sleeve associated therewith.

Abstract: An automated pallet inspection and repair apparatus includes an inspection station and a repair station. The inspection station includes a laser that illuminates a pallet, a camera that collects the reflected light and a computer system. The computer system analyzes the output of the camera and acquires the pallet's geometry and topography. The design of the pallet is determined by the computer software. A decision to repair the pallet is made by comparing the acquired pallet data against the design criteria. If the pallet needs repair, a recipe of repair steps is constructed by inspecting each of the pallet's elements. The recipe is transmitted to the automated repair station.

Abstract: A pallet includes a cargo layer for supporting different size cargo cases. The cargo layer includes a pair of spaced apart end deck boards, with each end deck board having a first width. Spaced apart intermediate deck boards are positioned in a pattern between the pair of spaced apart end deck boards for providing deck coverage for the different size cargo cases. The pattern is defined by two pairs of first and second intermediate deck boards, with each intermediate deck board in each pair having a second width. Each pair of intermediate deck boards is adjacent one of the end deck boards. A pair of third intermediate deck boards is between the two pairs of intermediate deck boards, with each third intermediate deck board having a third width. A fourth intermediate deck board is between the pair of third intermediate deck boards, and has the second width.

Abstract: A pallet includes an upper deck, and first joining members that project downwardly from the upper deck. Each first joining member includes an outer sleeve and a post positioned therein. The pallet includes a lower deck, and second joining members that project upwardly from the lower deck. Each second joining member includes an inner sleeve and a post receiving cavity positioned therein. The first and second joining members are coupled together to define pallet blocks joining the upper and lower decks. Each inner sleeve and post receiving cavity of the second joining members receives a corresponding post and outer sleeve of the first joining members.

Abstract: An automatic pallet inspection cell (10) comprises one or two multi axis robot arms (14, 15) which terminate in either internal or exterior pallet grippers. The robots are used to transport a gripped pallet (12) through an automated inspection station (16) which compiles a three dimensional data map of a pallet surface. A processor interprets the map and producing a recipe for the robot or robots. One or more stations (17, 18, 19) conduct pallet repair operations that are specified by the recipe. A method for levelling a pallet prior to board removal by a band saw (17) is also disclosed, characterised by rolling the pallet relative to a blade of the band saw to a first and a second roll angle, and positioning the pallet at a position which is an average of the first and second roll angles.

Abstract: A valve for a liner bag includes a valve seat having an opening extending therethrough to be aligned with an opening in the liner bag, and a flange extends outwardly from the valve seat and is to be placed inside the liner bag so that the valve seat projects outside the liner bag. A valve member is within the opening of the valve seat for controlling egress of liquids or flowable solids from the liner bag. An operating lever is outside the liner bag for operating the valve member. A fixed protective cage is coupled to the flange for protecting the opening of the valve seat from inside the liner bag when the liner bag collapses.

Abstract: A board removal apparatus for a wooden pallet includes a frame, and a carriage carried by the frame. The carriage includes a pair of spaced apart tables with a fixed gap therebetween. The carriage is movable between a pallet receiving position and a board removal position. The pallet includes spaced apart stringers and boards on top and bottom surfaces thereof. The pallet is positioned on the carriage when in the pallet receiving position so that a board to be removed overlies the fixed gap. A board removal assembly is carried by the frame and includes a push rod and a board removal foot pad pivotally coupled thereto. The push rod and the board removal foot pad are inserted between adjacent stringers when the carriage is in the board removal position. The board removal foot pad overlies at least a portion of the board to be removed and overlies at least a portion of the fixed gap between the pair of spaced apart tables.

Abstract: A pallet inspection and repair system includes a pallet in-feed for receiving pallets for inspection, and an automated pallet inspection system for inspecting the pallets. A processor cooperates with the automated pallet inspection system to generate a repair recipe for each pallet based on the inspecting, and compares the repair recipes to determine at least one performance repair parameter for the pallets. The at least one performance repair parameter corresponds to a type of repair to be made to the pallets.

Abstract: A method for wringing fluids from a flexible container positioned within a rigid structure is based on the use of a wringing device. The wringing device includes a sup ort frame having a pair of spaced apart side supports, at least one rotatable take-up shaft extending between the pair of spaced apart side supports, and a carriage coupled to the support frame. The carriage includes a pair of spaced apart side members, a nip shaft extending between the pair of spaced apart side members, and a movable nip shaft adjacent the nip shaft and also extending between the air of spaced apart side members. The method includes passing the flexible container between the nip shaft and the movable nip shaft, and securing the flexible container to the at least one take-up shaft. The at least one take-up shaft is rotated for wrapping the flexible container therearound after having passed between the nip shaft and the moveable nip shaft so that the fluids are wringed out of the flexible container.

Abstract: A pallet includes a cargo layer and a base layer. The base layer includes a pair of spaced apart end deck boards, and a pair of spaced apart connector boards orthogonal to the pair of spaced apart end deck boards, with each connector board and each end deck board having respective ends. A strength plate is coupled to each respective end of the connector boards in the base layer. Spaced apart support blocks are between the base and cargo layers, and form a gap therebetween for receiving a lifting member. First fasteners couple the cargo layer to an upper surface of the support blocks. Second fasteners couple the base layer to a lower surface of the support blocks so that the ends of the connector boards and the corresponding strength plates are coupled to a first area of the lower surface of the support blocks, and so that the ends of the end deck boards are coupled to a second area of the lower surface of the support blocks.

Abstract: A pallet includes a base layer and a cargo layer. The cargo layer includes a pair of spaced apart end deck boards, and a pair of spaced apart connector boards orthogonal to the pair of spaced apart end deck boards. Spaced apart support blocks are coupled between the base and cargo layers and form a gap therebetween for receiving a lifting member. Each support block includes a stepped top surface having a first level for receiving an end deck board and second level for receiving a connector board.

Abstract: A wringing device for expelling materials from a flexible container. In at least one embodiment, the wringing device may be used to expel fluids from a flexible container contained within an intermediate bulk container (IBC). The wringing device may be formed from a support frame and a carriage movably coupled to the support frame for supporting components of the wringing device, The wringing device may include a nip shaft coupled to the carriage and a movable nip shaft movably coupled to the carriage proximate to the nip shaft. The movable nip shaft may be biased toward the nip shaft with a biasing device. The wringing device may include one or more drive devices for driving a take-up shaft, a wringing device transport system, or the carriage, or any combination thereof. The wringing device may also include a transport vehicle for transporting the wringing device between different intermediate bulk containers.

Abstract: An RFID tag is configured to contain identification information in at least three forms. For instance, the RFID tag may include an RFID system, and a human readable number and a bar code that may be visible on an outer surface of the RFID tag. The RFID system, the human readable number and the bar code may generate the same asset identification number. The RFID tag may also be formed from two or more layers having a thickness sufficient to substantially eliminate interference caused by a shipping container to which the RFID tag is attached.

Abstract: A wringing device is used to expel fluids from a flexible container contained within an intermediate bulk container (IBC). The wringing device includes a support frame and a carriage movably coupled to the support frame for supporting components thereof. The wringing device includes a nip shaft coupled to the carriage, and a movable nip shaft movably coupled to the carriage proximate to the nip shaft. The movable nip shaft may be biased toward the nip shaft with a biasing device. The wringing device may include one or more drive devices for driving a take-up shaft and the carriage. The wringing device may also include a transport vehicle for transporting the wringing device between different intermediate bulk containers.