Board removal apparatus for a pallet and associated methods

摘要

A board removal apparatus (246) for a wooden pallet (50) includes a frame (400), and a carriage (402) carried by the frame. The carriage (402) includes a pair of spaced apart tables (404) with a fixed gap (406) therebetween. The carriage (402) is movable between a pallet receiving position and a board removal position. The pallet (50) includes spaced apart stringers and boards on top and bottom surfaces thereof. The pallet (50) is positioned on the carriage (402) when in the pallet receiving position so that a board to be removed overlies the fixed gap (406). A board removal assembly (420) is carried by the frame (400) and includes a push rod (428) and a board removal foot pad (422) pivotally coupled thereto. The push rod (428) and the board removal foot pad (422) are inserted between adjacent stringers when the carriage is in the board removal position. The board removal foot pad (422) overlies at least a portion of the board to be removed and overlies at least a portion of the fixed gap (406) between the pair of spaced apart tables (404).