Pallet Inverters

The challenge with  pallet inverters is to make them work with all types of loads

Pallet inverters in one form or another have been in existence for over 30 years now, but as with all forms of technology, things move on.

FS (Free Standing) Turner. Firstly, it is notable that the FS style of inverter (also called pallet inverter) with a single clamping table and accessed by forklift truck, remains the most popular model on the market. As operators prefer not to leave the cab to control the machine, there is a move now to remote control and especially infra-red; however, the basic inversion function remains the same. More loads these days need to be re-inverted into the upright position for better presentation. Using the FS from a forklift truck means the original pallet has to be lifted off first before placing the new one on. This can be problematic.

Pallet Changer.  Therefore, ideas are switching towards systems which recline the load temporarily and return just the pallet to its original position for exchange. The Premier Pallet inverters do just this. It begins by gripping the pallet and enclosing the load from top and sides then reclining everything through 105 degrees. The pallet can now be detached from the product and returned to ground level for removal.

The importance of this operation is that it is no longer necessary to touch the pallet by hand. Increasingly, companies are instituting systems which preclude any manual lifting of loads over 25 kgs, especially anything as awkward to handle as a pallet. The Pallet inverter can be used in conjunction with a pallet stacker and dispenser, one to accumulate the old pallet and the other to dispense the new one.

The challenge with this style of inverter is to make it as universally workable with all types of load and sizes of pallet if it is to become a serious competitor to the traditional machines. One option is to tip the product back into a ‘V’. This works well with some goods, but forces everything to one corner of the pallet; also bagged goods tend to collapse when resting on their edge in this way.

Cost is obviously a big factor in the decision making process when buying a pallet inverter / exchanger. Again, the newer styles of Pallet inverters rely heavily on multiple hydraulic functions and quite sophisticated control systems. With anything up to 5 moving features on a machine, the use of PLC control is inevitable and proportional hydraulics make the sequence relatively fast. This comes at a price which up until now has mostly only been affordable to the pharmaceutical industry.

Inline conveyor fed: Premier’s latest project is to rationalise this process and produce a more simple and universal model with options to upgrade additional features.

Customers are also increasingly interested in conveyor-fed, fully automated pallet exchange systems. The ideal scenario in most warehouse keepers’ minds is that a pallet stack can simply be placed on the end of a conveyor and picked off at the other end on a new pallet. Of course, this is feasible, but the challenge for exchanger system designers is to do it at a justifiable price. Loads which can be exchanged once onto a new pallet are relatively easy to handle. However, when the load has to be re-inverted onto a new pallet the original way up, this involves a lot of extra movement and handling. Solutions are being found and Premier Pallet Systems maintain their pledge to stay at the forefront of this technology.