Apparatus for mounting a load

Abstract

A deck (10) for mounting a load which may be thin and disposable or returnable. The edge (11) of the deck is adapted (by means of a concave section, for example) so as to engage with shrink or stretch or heat wrap plastic film whereby no plastic film need be wound around the underside of the deck. In this way the plastic film is kept out of contact with, for example, the roller of a roller conveyor.

Description

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention relates to a means for mounting a load.[0002]Conventionally pallets are used to mount a load and enable a forklift truck to engage under the load to lift the load. The forklift truck may be motorised or may be a hand operated forklift truck ie a so called pallet truck. The pallets which are often of wood comprise a top deck and a lower deck spaced from and connected to one another by blocks of wood, the top and lower decks being spaced so as to allow the forks of a forklift truck to enter between the top and lower decks so as to lift the top deck and hence a load mounted on the top deck. Pallets are sometimes made of other materials such as steel.[0003]Pallets when loaded at a factory are then transported bearing the load in trucks to the customer. Once they have been unloaded and the goods removed from the load, the empty pallets have to be returned to the factory. In view of the weight of the pallets, this can be a considerabl...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0012]It will also be understood that by replacing the pallet with a single deck, the weight and indeed volume of the decks to be returned from the retailer to the manufacturer is considerably reduced.

Problems solved by technology

In view of the weight of the pallets, this can be a considerable environmental cost

In practice, retail outlets often collect large numbers of pallets which take up a considerable amount of room and are generally inconvenient.

Another problem is that the loads are commonly held down to the pallets by means of plastic sheeting in the form of shrink wrap sheeting, or stretch wrap sheeting.

A problem with the use of plastic sheeting in this way is that if the pallet passes over a roller conveyor system, then the plastic can get caught up in the rollers and this is highly detrimental in that it may require the roller conveyor to be stopped and repaired or cleaned.

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