Abstract: A pallet dismantler includes cantilevered supports to support a pallet by its deck boards, which automatically aligns the pallet with a band saw blade.

Abstract: A method for dismantling pallets includes hanging a pallet on the upstream end of a cantilevered support having a substantially horizontal top surface with the bottom surfaces of the upper deck boards of the pallet resting on the top surface of the cantilevered support and with the stringer boards and lower deck boards extending downwardly from the top surface, advancing the hanging pallet in a downstream direction along the cantilevered support toward a band saw blade which lies directly on the top surface of the cantilevered support and defines a cutting plane aligned with the top surface of the cantilevered support, thereby automatically aligning the band saw blade with the pallet joints between the upper deck boards and the stringer boards; and advancing the pallet past the band saw blade to separate the upper deck boards from the stringer boards at the pallet joints.

Abstract: A method for dismantling pallets includes hanging a pallet on the upstream end of a cantilevered support having a substantially horizontal top surface with the bottom surfaces of the upper deck boards of the pallet resting on the top surface of the cantilevered support and with the stringer boards and lower deck boards extending downwardly from the top surface, advancing the hanging pallet in a downstream direction along the cantilevered support toward a band saw blade which lies directly on the top surface of the cantilevered support and defines a cutting plane aligned with the top surface of the cantilevered support, thereby automatically aligning the band saw blade with the pallet joints between the upper deck boards and the stringer boards; and advancing the pallet past the band saw blade to separate the upper deck boards from the stringer boards at the pallet joints.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for applying an adhesive laminate to a plate are disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, the invention comprises a cylindrical drum having a circular periphery of a porous material, a connection for applying a vacuum to the interior of the drum, and a laminate supplying assembly to supply an adhesive laminate, adhesive side outward, to the periphery of the drum where it is securely retained in place by the vacuum. A cutter assembly cuts the laminate into a segment having a desired length which is then positioned in place by a rotation of the drum. A walking beam conveyor conveys individual plates onto a vertically movable platform located at an operating station. The platform is then raised to contact an end of the plate with an end of the positioned laminate segment and then is lowered to an intermediate position so as to remove only the end of the segment adhering to the plate from the drum. A roller assembly then rolls the laminate segment onto the plate.