Active Lifting supply a range of Pallet Inverters that are robust and proven in a variety of environments. Users benefit by avoiding double handling of products and reducing the risk of injury to workers by eliminating manual stacking and restacking of pallets. Our pallet inverters are capable of handling widely varying load dimensions and weights of up to 2000kgs.

What do Pallet Inverters do?

Pallet Inverters are used for the rotation of pallet loads where exchange of pallets or inversion of product is required. Without a pallet inverter it is necessary to load and unload the pallets by hand which is slow and difficult and potentially a source of worker injury. An inverter eliminates the need for manual intervention and therefore eliminates the injury risk whilst significantly increasing cycle times and productivity.

Pallet Inverters are physically quite large and usually stand alone machines although they can be integrated into a conveyor line and comprise part of a pallet inversion and transfer system.

How do Pallet Inverters work?

Our pallet inverters consist of a fixed baseframe with a rotating frame incorporating a clamp mechanism. The clamp is hydraulically actuated while the rotation occurs through the large precision bearing and torque boosted electric drive motor. All functions of the inverter are controlled by the on-board PLC controller and provide consistent, trouble free operation. The operator (usually the forklift driver) needs to press only one button to initiate a full cycle.

Click here to see how it operates

Applications

• Food manufacturers who wish to eliminate wooden pallets from the processing floor. The timber pallet can be swapped for an in-house plastic or steel pallet, which conforms to "clean room" standards.
• In automated storage and retrieval systems where pallets are routinely checked and defective pallet loads are flagged for exchange.
• When goods earmarked for export are sitting on rental or in-house pallets and must be transferred to another pallet (or slip sheet) suitable for export.
• Pallet loads which need to be straightened and "squared up" on the pallet.
  

Pallet Inverter Operation

Our pallet inverters consist of a fixed baseframe with a rotating frame incorporating a clamp mechanism. The clamp is hydraulically actuated while the rotation occurs through the large precision bearing and torque boosted electric drive motor. All functions of the inverter are controlled by the on-board PLC controller and provide consistent, trouble free operation. The operator (usually the forklift driver) needs to press only one button to initiate a full cycle.

The Safetech pallet inverter is designed and manufactured in Australia and extensive support and service facilities are available to ensure a long life and trouble-free performance.

Options

Inverter installations often include feature or accessories such as:

• Full height fencing to prevent personnel from inadvertently standing too close during operation.
• Remote control to minimise the need for the forklift driver to leave his seat.
• Light curtain with interlock in addition to safety fencing.
• High speed operation.
• Bi-Directional load rotation (standard on INV2000).
• Forklift bump edge.
  

Safety

Pallet inverters operate on automatic cycles and operators and other workers in the vicinity need to be protected from any contact with the inverter as it rotates. Safety fences are essential and interlock electronic curtains add extra security to workplaces.

Limitations

As pallet inverters are large they require dedicated floor space to allow rotation and the placement of the safety fences around the inverter.
The pallet inversion cycle takes 25 – 40 seconds, depending on the product weight, so this must be taken into account in high volume applications.
Pallet loads with irregular sides or tops may not invert well.

Generally inverters operate slowly and smoothly. If the load is placed correctly, there should be no movement during the cycle so even delicate items can be inverted with confidence. If there is a wide variety of product types to be inverted, some may still need to be transferred by hand. This is particularly the case where the packaging material is weak.

Best Buying

Like all equipment, the major features required determine the purchase price. Although more expensive, bi-directional operation is much more convenient and in high volume applications, essential. Inverters are not yet a major sales item so their manufacture tends to be on an "as-needed" basis instead of a production line. This means that their price does not benefit from volume manufacture. On the other hand, this usually means that the unit can be tailored to the user’s needs without too much additional expense.

Options

• Remote Control
• Photo Eye emg. stop
• Safety Fencing with Interlock
• Forklift Wheel stop
  

Using a Pallet Inverter

There are two common techniques employed when using a pallet inverter. The first results in the inverted load sitting on a new pallet. The second technique will return the load back to it’s original non-inverted position.

The first method is as follows:

• At the beginning of a batch of pallets to be exchanged, start by inverting an entire stack of good quality or replacement pallets.
• Set this upside down stack to one side.
• Place the pallet load with the defective pallet into the Inverter.
• Place an inverted replacement pallet into the Inverter on top of the load.
• Retract the forklift and press the "Start" button.
• After inversion, remove the discard pallet and place it onto a discard stack.
• The inverted pallet is now sitting on the new pallet and can be removed from the Inverter.

The second technique would be as follows:

• Invert a stack of good, replacement pallets.
• Set this upside down stack to one side.
• Place the pallet load with the defective pallet into the Inverter.
• Retract the forklift and press the "Start" button.
• After inversion, remove the discard pallet from the top and place it onto a discard stack.
• Place an inverted replacement pallet into the Inverter on top of the load.
• Retract the forklift and press the "Start" button.
• The inverted pallet is now sitting on the new pallet and can be removed from the Inverter.