AU2006200111B2

AU2006200111B2 - A panel handling apparatus

Info

Publication number: AU2006200111B2
Application number: AU2006200111A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Edgar Vermeer
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-01-13
Filing date: 2006-01-12
Publication date: 2010-01-07
Anticipated expiration: 2026-01-12
Also published as: AU2006200111A1

Description

AUSTRALIA PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT A PANEL HANDLING APPARATUS The following statement is a full description of this invention including the best method of performing it known to me: 2 A PANEL HANDLING APPARATUS FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a panel handling apparatus. More particularly, this invention relates to a handling apparatus for handling panels such as building and door panels. 10 BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION It is notoriously difficult for workmen to transport panels, such as door panels on and around worksites. This is particularly so where the panels are heavy and require accurate installation. Some attempts have been made to address this problem. For example, wheeled devices are available upon which panels can be placed for transport about a worksite. However, these do not provide adjustability for accurate installation which can be critical for door members. 20 Some devices do provide adjustability. An example is the "Door Jak" ® supplied by American Micro Industries. However, this device is heavy and is not collapsible, making transport of the device itself difficult, particularly in high-rise buildings. Furthermore, this device does not positively grip a lower portion of the panel. Thus, it is necessary for the panel to be positioned at an angle to ensure that the panel does not tip off the device. This is inconvenient, particularly for installation. The Applicant has conceived the present invention in order to provide a convenient means for transporting and manipulating panels and to address the 30 problems associated with the presently available devices.

3 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the invention, there is provided a handling apparatus which includes a support structure; wheel assemblies fast with the support structure to facilitate displacement of the support structure relative to a substrate, the wheel assemblies being configured to permit two dimensional movement of the support structure; a gripping assembly on the support structure releasably to grip an edge 10 of a panel; and a displacement mechanism operatively arranged with respect to the gripping assembly and operable to raise or to lower the gripping assembly and thus the panel. The support structure may be a framework. The framework may include frame members, the wheel assemblies being mounted on the framework. The wheel assemblies may be in the form of castor assemblies that are mounted on the frame members with swivel mechanisms in a conventional 20 manner. In some situations, it is necessary to transport panels from a vehicle to suitable locations on a site. Thus, wheel assemblies may be configured to be detachable from the frame members, in use. The wheel assemblies may include two sets of wheel assemblies, one set being larger than the other, so that a ground clearance of the framework can be increased or decreased depending on the set of wheel assemblies being used. With the larger set, transport to the various locations is facilitated due to the increased clearance. With the smaller set, once all the panels are at the locations where they are to be fitted, the larger set 30 can be replaced with the smaller set to lower the support structure so that positioning of the panels for mounting is facilitated.

4 The gripping assembly may include at least one carrier mounted on the framework to permit the edge of the panel to rest on the, or each, carrier. The gripping assembly may include a clamping mechanism arranged on the, or each, carrier to clamp the panel in position. The displacement mechanism may include a jacking assembly that is operable to raise or to lower the gripping assembly. 10 The handling apparatus may include at least two pairs of wheel assemblies, with the gripping assembly interposed between the pairs. The framework may be generally triangular with the gripping assembly positioned along one side of the framework. A further wheel assembly may be positioned at an apex of the framework, opposite the gripping assembly. The apparatus may include a handle assembly to facilitate manipulation of the 20 device. The invention is now described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings. The following description is intended to describe the best manner of performing the invention known to the Applicant at the time of filing the application. As such, the following description is not intended to limit the broad scope of the preceding paragraphs. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 shows a front view of a first embodiment of a panel handling 30 apparatus, in accordance with the invention. Figure 2 shows a plan view of the panel handling apparatus of Figure 1.

5 Figure 3 shows a sectioned side view of the panel handling apparatus of Figure 1, taken along A-A in Figure 2. Figure 4 shows a front view of a second embodiment of a panel handling apparatus, in accordance with the invention. Figure 5 shows a plan view of the panel handling apparatus of Figure 4. 10 Figure 6 shows a side view of the panel handling apparatus of Figure 4. Figure 7 shows a front view of a third embodiment of a panel handling apparatus, in accordance with the invention. Figure 8 shows a plan view of the panel handling apparatus of Figure 7. Figure 9 shows a side view of the panel handling apparatus of Figure 7. Figure 10 shows a rear view of the panel handling apparatus of Figure 7. 20 Figure 11 shows a three dimensional view of the panel handling apparatus of Figure 7. Figure 12 shows a schematic side view of a gripping assembly of the panel handling apparatus of Figure 7. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings, reference numeral 10 generally indicates a first embodiment of a panel handling apparatus, in accordance with the invention. 30 The apparatus 10 includes a support structure in the form of a framework 12. The framework 12 includes three frame members 14 fixed together to define a 6 triangular shape. The frame members 14 are steel angle members welded together. Wheel assemblies in the form of three castor assemblies 16 are fast with an underneath surface 18 of the framework 12. Each castor assembly 16 is positioned at an apex 20 of the framework 12. A gripping assembly 22 is fast with one of the frame members 14.1. The gripping assembly 22 includes a channel member 24 that is fast with the frame 10 member 14.1. The channel member 24 is dimensioned to accommodate an edge portion 26 of a door panel 28. The channel member 24 is dimensioned so that a floor 30 of the channel member 24 can be received between a substrate and the edge portion 26 once the panel 28 is installed. A support beam 31 is fast with the frame member 14.1, with the channel member 24 fastened between the frame member 14.1 and the support beam 31. The gripping assembly 22 includes a pair of carriers 32, one carrier 32 at each end of the channel member 24. Each carrier 32 includes a lifting portion 34 and a jacking portion 36. The lifting portion 34 defines a wall 38 and a ledge 40 that 20 extends from the wall 38 and provides a bearing surface for the edge portion 26 of the door panel 28. The jacking portion 36 extends from the wall 38. The jacking portion 36 has a threaded collar 42. A jacking bolt 44 is threadedly engaged with the collar 42 and bears against the frame member 14.1. Thus, rotation of the jacking bolt 44 results in raising or lowering of the carrier 32. The jacking bolt 44 has a handle 45 to facilitate rotation of the jacking bolt 44. The jacking portion 36 has a guide opening 46 defined on each side of the 30 collar 42. Guide bars 48 are fast with the frame member 14.1 and are received through respective openings 46.

7 The gripping assembly 22 includes a pair of clamping mechanisms 50 to clamp the edge portion 26 against the walls 38. Each clamping mechanism 50 includes a threaded collar 52 mounted on the support beam 30. A power screw 54 is threadedly engaged with the collar 52. A clamping plate 56 is positioned above the ledge 40 so that the screw 54 engages the clamping plate 56. Thus, rotation of the screw 54 results in the clamping plate 56 being urged against the edge portion 26. A further pair of castor assemblies 58 is mounted on the support beam 30 so 10 that, in use, the edge portion 26 is interposed between the pair of castor assemblies 58 and the castor assemblies 16. It will be appreciated that this provides stability to the apparatus 10 when the panel 28 is mounted on the apparatus 10. A support post 66 is positioned on each side of each wall 38 further to stabilize the door panel 28. The framework 12 includes a bracing member 60 that extends from the apex 20.1 to a point approximately midway along a length of the frame member 14.1. 20 A handle 62 is fast with the bracing member 60 and extends to a convenient position. The handle 62 is demountable to facilitate transport and storage of the apparatus 10. Reinforcing members 64 extend between the handle 62 and the framework 12. In use, the panel 28 can simply be pushed off a stack of such panels to tip into the channel member 24. The gripping assemblies 22 are then manipulated so that the edge portion 26 is clamped into position. The apparatus 10 is then wheeled to a point of installation. The swivelling castor assemblies 16 permit sideways adjustment while rotation of the jacking bolts 44 provides both vertical 30 and tilt adjustment. In the case of the door panel 28, it will be appreciated that the door panel 28 can be fully adjusted into position and secured without the requirement for physical positional adjustment by a user. Once the door panel 8 28 is secured, the carriers 32 are lowered with the jacking bolts 44 allowing the apparatus 10 to be moved away while the door is in the open position. In Figures 4 to 6, reference numeral 70 generally indicates a second embodiment of a panel handling apparatus, in accordance with the invention. With reference to Figures 1 to 3, like reference numerals refer to like parts, unless otherwise specified. As can be seen in Figures 1 to 3, the apparatus 10 has two gripping assemblies 10 22. Furthermore, the power screws 54 of the clamping mechanisms 50 are accessible from a distal side of the panel 28, relative to the user. Applicant has determined that there may be instances where it would be advantageous for the power screws 54 to be accessible from a proximal side of the panel 28. Accordingly, in this embodiment, the apparatus 70 has a single gripping assembly 72 located centrally on the channel 24, between the carriers 32. The gripping assembly 72 is substantially identical to the gripping assemblies 22, with the exception that the power screw 54 is accessible from a proximal side of the panel 28. 20 It will also be appreciated that the apparatus 70 is used both for conveying the panel 28 to various locations on a site and for actually positioning the panel 28 for mounting purposes. In many cases, the terrain to be covered can be too rough for the castor assemblies 16, 58. Thus, the apparatus 70 includes two further pairs of castor assemblies 74. These assemblies 74 are significantly larger than the assemblies 16, 58. The assemblies 74 are detachable so that they can be used when conveying the panel 28 to locations on the site and can then be removed when it is necessary to install the panel 28. 30 In Figures 6 to 12, reference numeral 80 generally indicates a third embodiment of a panel handling apparatus, in accordance with the invention. With reference 9 to Figures 1 to 6, like reference numerals refer to like parts, unless otherwise specified. In this embodiment, the framework 12 includes the frame members 14 in the form of three flat bars 82 connected end to end to form a triangle. The framework 12 further includes a pair of flat bars 84 fast between a front flat bar 82.1 and respective side flat bars 82.2. Each gripping assembly 22 is mounted on a respective flat bar 82. 10 Also in this embodiment, the gripping assembly 22 includes a pair of spaced support members 86 fast with the front flat bar 82.1. Each support member 86 includes an operatively vertical member 88 and an operatively horizontal member 90, the horizontal members 90 serving to bear the weight of the panel. A cross bar 92 is fast with and spaced from the front flat bar 82.1. A pair of plates 94 are fast with the cross bar 92 and aligned with respective vertical members 88. Thus, in use, the clamping mechanism 98 serves to urge the panel against the plates 94. 20 Applicant has found that manual installation of heavy door panels is often a cause of injury to workers. This injury can be in the form of back injury as the door panels require physical lifting to be transported and adjusted. This injury can also be caused by fingers or hands being caught between the door panel and a wall during adjustment. It will be appreciated that the apparatus can significantly alleviate the risk of injury, since physical transport and adjustment of the door panels is not required. In many high-rise buildings, door panels, such as those used for fire or security, can be extremely heavy. As a result, transport and installation of such doors can be difficult, time consuming and can carry a significant risk of injury. The apparatus 10 provides a means whereby 30 both transport and installation of such door panels is both safer and faster. In large buildings with a high number of heavy door panels, the added safety and speed would be significant.

10 Although the present invention has been described in terms of preferred embodiments, it is not intended that the invention be limited to these embodiments. Equivalent methods, structures, arrangements, processes, steps and other modifications apparent to those skilled in the art will fall within the scope of the invention described herein.

Claims

1. A handling apparatus which includes a support structure; wheel assemblies fast with the support structure to facilitate displacement of the support structure relative to a substrate, the wheel assemblies being configured to permit two dimensional movement of the support structure; a gripping assembly on the support structure releasably to grip an edge 10 of a panel; and a displacement mechanism operatively arranged with respect to the gripping assembly and operable to raise or to lower the gripping assembly and thus the panel.

2. A handling apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the support structure is a framework.

3. A handling apparatus as claimed in claim 2, in which the framework includes frame members, the wheel assemblies being mounted on the frame 20 members.

4. A handling apparatus as claimed in claim 3, in which the wheel assemblies are in the form of castor assemblies that are mounted on the frame members with swivel mechanisms in a conventional manner.

5. A handling apparatus as claimed in claim 3, in which the wheel assemblies are configured to be detachable from the frame members, in use.

6. A handling apparatus as claimed in claim 5, in which the wheel 30 assemblies include two sets of wheel assemblies, one set being larger than the other, so that a ground clearance of the framework can be increased or decreased depending on the set of wheel assemblies being used. 12

7. A handling apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the gripping assembly includes at least one carrier mounted on the framework to permit the edge of the panel to rest on the, or each, carrier.

8. A handling apparatus as claimed in claim 7, in which the gripping assembly includes a clamping mechanism arranged on the, or each, carrier to clamp the panel in position. 10

9. A handling apparatus as claimed in claim 7, in which the displacement mechanism includes a jacking assembly that is operable to raise or to lower the gripping assembly.

10. A handling apparatus as claimed in claim 7, which includes at least two pairs of wheel assemblies, with the gripping assembly interposed between the pairs.

11. A handling apparatus as claimed in claim 10, in which the framework is generally triangular with the gripping assembly positioned along one side of the 20 framework.

12. A handling apparatus as claimed in claim 11, in which a further wheel assembly is positioned at an apex of the framework, opposite the gripping assembly.

13. A handling apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the apparatus includes a handle assembly to facilitate manipulation of the device.

14. A new handling apparatus, substantially as described herein, with 30 reference to the accompanying drawings. 13 DATED THIS DAY OF 2006 By my patent attorneys EAGAR & BUCK