A pallet has a deck, a skid and a plurality of blocks, spacing the skid from the deck. The blocks comprise spacer portions and sleeve portions, wherein the sleeve portions may extend above and below the spacer portions. The pallet constructed in this way can advantageously be made in any conventional size to meet the relevant norm or standard, while benefitting from the fact that the sleeve portions protect the edges of the deck and/or skid from impact. Furthermore, any impact imparted on the blocks is transmitted by the respective sleeve to the deck and/or skid. A logistic system is also described.

A pallet top deck, a bottom deck, and spaced apart support blocks coupled between the top and bottom decks. Each support block includes an inner wall surrounding an interior opening, an outer wall surrounding the inner wall, and a plurality of ribs extending between the inner and outer walls. First and second upper tabs extend outwards from upper surfaces of the inner wall, with each upper tab comprising an angled contact surface for engaging the top deck. The angled contact surfaces of the first and second upper tabs are oriented in a first direction. First and second lower tabs extend outwards from lower surfaces of the ribs, with each tab comprising an angled contact surface for engaging the bottom deck. The angled contact surfaces of the first and second lower tabs are oriented in a second direction that is orthogonal to the first direction.

A bin assembly includes a container and a pallet. The container has a base and sidewalls that extend upwardly and outwardly from the base. The base includes a centrally disposed alignment means and at least one spaced apart locking portion. The pallet includes a centrally disposed alignment means that is complementary to the container alignment means and at least one spaced apart locking mechanism disposed on the pallet and that is complementary to the at least one spaced apart locking portion. The at least one spaced apart locking mechanism is configured to engage or disengage the at least one spaced apart locking portion upon relative rotation between the container and the pallet to respectively lock or unlock the pallet and the container.

A slider configured to move in a predetermined direction between a setup area and a pickup area is provided in a vicinity of a loading machine that supplies a workpiece W to a working machine. The slider is recessed to form a placing part for placing a pallet. Guide mechanisms for supporting the slider so as to be movable in the predetermined direction are respectively arranged on both sides in a lateral direction orthogonal to the predetermined direction in the placing part of the slider. A drive mechanism for moving the slider in the predetermined direction is arranged on at least one side in the lateral direction of the placing part.

A pallet assembly includes a support assembly and a base assembly. The support assembly has a deck molded from a plastic shell material and male fittings that extend away from a lower surface of said deck. The base assembly includes a stringer that defines a plurality of openings which extend through the entirety of the stringer. A female fitting extends completely through each of the openings in the stringer so that the base of each of the female fittings is flush with or extends beyond the bottom surface of said stringer. Each of the male fittings corresponds to a female fitting, attaching said support assembly to said base assembly.

The invention relates to a plastic pallet having an underside provided with skids and an upper side, wherein one skid runs along the centre of the plastic pallet and the skid along the centre has a handle which may be gripped from the underside of the pallet. The handle is preferably arranged on the underside of the central skid preferably parallel to the surface of the upper side and preferably along the central longitudinal axis of the central skid.

A pallet top deck, a bottom deck, and spaced apart support blocks coupled between the top and bottom decks. Each support block includes an inner wall surrounding an interior opening, an outer wall surrounding the inner wall, and a plurality of ribs extending between the inner and outer walls. First and second upper tabs extend outwards from upper surfaces of the inner wall, with each upper tab comprising an angled contact surface for engaging the top deck. The angled contact surfaces of the first and second upper tabs are oriented in a first direction. First and second lower tabs extend outwards from lower surfaces of the ribs, with each tab comprising an angled contact surface for engaging the bottom deck. The angled contact surfaces of the first and second lower tabs are oriented in a second direction that is orthogonal to the first direction.

A block assembly for connecting a first section and a second section of a load bearing assembly includes a male fitting and a female fitting. The male fitting includes a male fitting body and a projection extending from the male fitting body. The female fitting includes a female fitting body and defines a fitting cavity extending within an interior of the female fitting body. The male fitting couples with the female fitting by inserting the male fitting body within the fitting cavity and moving the male fitting body toward a base of the female fitting. The projection on the male fitting interacts with an interlocking joint on the female fitting to resist detachment of the male fitting with respect to the female fitting.

A system and technique has been developed to print graphics on a pallet. In one form, the graphics are printed on one of the decks of the pallet. The graphics in one variation are printed on a deck that is in the form of a flat, contiguous surface via a flatbed printer. The flatbed printer has a printer head that forms a gap that is able to accommodate the deck of the pallet. After printing, the deck is assembled with the rest of the pallet. The graphics can include text and images. In one form, the graphics include a packing template that shows how at least one packing layer should be packed on the pallet.

A pallet includes a top deck, a bottom deck, and spaced apart support blocks coupled between the top and bottom decks and forming an opening therebetween for receiving a lifting member. The top deck includes at least one deck scoop area on an underside thereof. A thickness of the top deck is reduced in the at least one deck scoop area to reduce influence of top deck deflection on ability of the lifting member to pass through the opening between the top and bottom decks.