Load handling apparatus

摘要

A pallet 100 is formed from a single blank 12 of material, the material being creasable and foldable about crease means 4' formed therein to form a sleeve with the major surfaces 11, 12, 13 superposed and with one surface displaced with respect to the other during erection of the pallet 100. The pallet 100 may be made from a fluted material which may be corrugated cardboard. The pallet 100 may have upper 12 and lower 13 surfaces, which in the in use position, are separated by walls W and are supported by support devices 6 which are substantially the same height as the walls W. There are areas 5, 10 in the pallet 100 which are secured together with adhesive. The lower 13 in use surface may have apertures 9 for receiving the wheel of a pallet truck. There may also be recessed areas 6 in the walls W for the fork of a fork lift truck to be inserted. The pallet 100 may have four walls. Also disclosed is a method for making a pallet from a single blank, by cutting, creasing and folding and securing the overlapped parts. Also apparatus for forming a sleeve from a single blank for a pallet comprising a feeder, die cutter, creasing to form support members, station for securing the overlapping parts, folding unit and a stacker for receiving a formed sleeve.