EP0578809B1

EP0578809B1 - Method and device for arranging building panels

Info

Publication number: EP0578809B1
Application number: EP93904401A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Jan Van Veen
Original assignee: YTONG NEDERLAND BV
Current assignee: YTONG NEDERLAND BV
Priority date: 1992-01-30
Filing date: 1993-02-01
Publication date: 1997-05-02
Anticipated expiration: 2013-02-01
Also published as: DE69310274T2; WO1993015290A1; EP0578809A1; DE69310274D1

Abstract

In order to arrange building panels (31) in a building frame in easy and ergonomically responsible manner the invention proposes a method for arranging building panels (31) in a building frame wherein use is made of a device (1) for arranging building panels (31) at least comprising a chassis (2) provided with chassis wheels (4) and a supporting table (16) tiltable relative to the chassis (2) and turnable about a standing axis (15), wherein a series of building panels (31) is disposed in a compartment of a building frame, wherein one building panel at a time is removed from the series and the supporting table (16) together with this building panel (31) is removed from the series, wherein the supporting table (16) is tilted with the building panel (31) into a lying position and turned about a standing axis (15) relative to the chassis (2) and wherein the building panel (31) is disposed in its position in the building frame with its long side upright, wherein the supporting table (16) is lifted together with the building panel (31) relative to the chassis (2) by means of a lift mechanism (8, 70, 71) operating between supporting table and chassis, characterized in that the building panel (31) is carried to its position in the building frame while it is held fixedly on the supporting table (16) by means of holding means (88, 89) while leaving free its narrow short side (98) intended as support surface.

Description

The invention relates in the first place to a method as designated in the preamble of claim 1.
Such a method is known from GB-A-2224263.
The invention has for its object to provide an even more practical and more ergonomically responsible method. To this end the characteristic of claim 1 is applied. The building panel in largely standing position can hereby still be displaced using the device so that the building panel can be aligned extremely well in relation to its location in a compartment of a building.
In the method known from EP-A-0413381 the building panel is carried in a more lying position to its place an then raised into its vertical position, which requires human effort. A method has also been used wherein a device was provided with a supporting table with teeth which protruded beneath the narrow short side intended as support surface of the building panel. When the building panel was carried to its position with this device, the teeth of the device under the building panel had to be removed, which was an inconvenient and strenuous operation.
Holding of the building panel on the supporting table can take place with suction cups, although this is preferably done using clamping means engaging on the narrow long sides of the building panel.
The invention also relates to and provides a device as designated in claim 3.
Preferred features of this device are designated in claims 4-8.
The invention will be elucidated in the description following hereinafter with reference to a drawing of a non-limiting embodiment. In the drawing in schematic form:

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a device for performing the method according to the invention;
figures 2-8 show successive side views of the device of figure 1 during performing of the preferred method according to the invention.
figures 9 and 10 show on a larger scale a section respectively along lines IX-IX and X-X of figure 1;
figure 11 shows on a larger scale a perspective view of detail XI of figure 1; and
figure 12 is a side view of the disassembled device of figure 1.

The device 1 according to the invention comprises a chassis 2 with a substantially T-shaped frame 5 and is provided with two front wheels 4 rotatable on an axis 3 and a castor 6 arranged on the rear end of frame 5. The device 1 further comprises a carrier arm 8 which is connected to the chassis 2 for pivoting about an axis 9 using a bolt 10 with nut and which is connected for pivoting about an axis 12 to a table carrier 13 which bears a supporting table 16 via a rotary crown 14 with an axis of rotation 15, which axis 15 stands substantially perpendicular of the plane of the supporting table 16. The swivel carrier 8 has a downward bend 19. The supporting table 16 has three locking holes 21 spaced apart over an angular distance of 90° for receiving a locking pin 20 in respectively a supporting table take-up position (figures 2-4) and a supporting table delivery position rotated through 90° (figures 5-8).
The locking pin 20 is urged into the holes 21 by means of a pressure spring 23 and can be retracted according to arrow 27 by a handle 24 via a Bowden cable 25.
The handle 24 is arranged on a rearward protruding tube 28 fixed to the table carrier 13. The maximum pivoting position of the table carrier 13 relative to the carrier arm 8 is bounded by a chain 29 which is stretched tight in figure 2. In figures 1 and 3 the supporting table 16 has at its bottom means, for instance two teeth 30 and 88, with which the supporting table 16 can grip beneath a foremost building panel 31 of a series 32 of building panels that is disposed for instance on two pallets 33 on a house floor of a building frame.
The chassis 2 carries on its rear end 45 a drive unit 53 consisting of an electric motor 56 fed via a current supply wire 54, a liquid pump 65 driven by motor 56 and liquid valves (not drawn) operated from a control panel 69. Two motors 70 and 71 embodied as double-action piston-cylinder assemblies are driven herewith. Motor 70 is disposed with releasable connections 72 and 73 between chassis 2 and carrier arm 8 and motor 71 is disposed with releasable connections 74 and 75 between carrier arm 8 and a pivoting lever 76 which is pivotally attached with its one end to carrier arm 8 and bears on the other free end a support roller 77 which engages in a guide rail 78 fixed to the table carrier 13.
As shown in figure 11, the device 1 consists substantially of three parts, each of which is readily portable, namely:

the chassis 2, of which the carrier arm forms part;
the table carrier 13 with the supporting table 16 pivotally connected thereto; and
the drive unit 53 with the motors 70 and 71 connected thereto via liquid hoses 79.

The device 1 can thereby be transported easily in separate units from one work-location to another and is easy to assemble.
The carrier arm 8 has on its free end hooks 80 which engage round pins 81 of the table carrier 13. The hooks 80 are each closed off by means of a retaining piece 82 and a wing nut 83.
The drive unit 53 is mounted as according to figure 10 on the chassis 2 by means of two toggles 84.
The cylinders 70 and 71 are mounted in their position and the chain 29 which is already fastened to the carrier arm 8 is hooked fixedly to table carrier 13.
The control panel 69 is upwardly pivotable from a low position in which it does not come into collision with the supporting table 16 to be arranged at working height so that the panel can optionally be located at an angle adjacent to supporting table 16 at a more readily usable higher level.
Opposite a tooth 88 fixedly connected to the supporting table 13 and forming a fixed clamping jaw 88 the supporting table 13 has an adjustable clamping jaw 89 which is slidable in a handle 91 which is in turn slidable over a rod 90 connected to supporting table 16. As per se known in the case of a glue clamp, this handle 91 can be fixed in place with an eccentric 92 (see figure 11).
The method according to the invention is preferably performed in the steps shown hereinafter in figures 2-8. As in figure 2 the device 1 is moved according to arrow 50 to the series 32 while the supporting table 16 and the table carrier 13 are held pivoted forward with the motor 71, the pivoting lever 76 and chain 29 until the supporting table 16 strikes against the foremost building panel 31 and the teeth 30 and 88 grip thereunder.
The table carrier 13 is subsequently pulled over in arrow direction 51 on tube 28 together with supporting table 16 and building panel 31 and lowered by means of motor 71 into the position drawn in figure 3, and the device 1 is moved away from the series 32 according to arrow 55.
As in figure 4 the device 1 is fixed using brakes 94 which act on chassis wheels 4 and are operated with a foot pedal 93 and the swivel carrier 8 is thereafter swivelled upward with the motor 72, wherein the supporting table 16 moves to working level, that is, to a height h of for example 75 cm above the floor 7.
The supporting table 16 is subsequently turned through 90° on the axis 15 relative to the table carrier 13, wherein the handle 24 of the lock 42 is manipulated in the releasing of the pin 20 relative to hole 21. Locking with another hole 21 takes place automatically by means of spring 23 which presses the locking pin 20 sliding over a pin guiding 58 into the other hole 21.
In the position of fig. 5 the building panel 31 is easy to work on. The building panel 31 is fixed to the carrier table 16 and held fixedly thereon with the clamping jaws 88 and 89. A piece can be sawn off for instance with a hand circular saw along a saw cut parallel to the long side, or a passage for a pipe can be cut out. The supporting table 16 preferably has three replaceable wooden support members 86.
After the optional working(s) of the building panel 31 the swivel carrier 8 is swivelled upward as in figure 6 to a still higher level, this preferably until the swivel axis 12 has a level t above the floor 52 such that when swivelled about the raised axis 12 the building panel 31 arrives in the sheer position of figure 8 with its bottom edge 60 on the floor 7. During this tilting according to arrow 67 the building panel 31 is held in position with the clamping jaws 88, 89, while the device 1 is moved over the floor 7 to the location of this building panel 31. The building panel 31 can be manoeuvred exactly into position practically without personal effort. This operation is therefore not strenuous. Finally, when the building panel 31 is standing on the floor 7 or other support present there with its narrow short side 98 intended as support surface, it is released from clamping jaws 88, 89 and fixed in vertical position and a subsequent building panel 31 is arranged with the device 1.
It should be noted that the centre of gravity of the building panel 31 with the supporting table 16 and table carrier 13 is located slightly in front of the chassis wheels 4.
However, the drive unit 53 arranged on the rear end of chassis 2 provides a sufficient counterweight to ensure a good stability during the positions of figures 2, 7 and 8.

Claims

Method for arranging building panels (31) in a building frame, wherein use is made of a device (1) for arranging building panels (31) at least comprising a chassis (2) provided with chassis wheels (4) and a supporting table (16) tiltable relative to the chassis (2) and turnable about a standing axis (15), wherein a series (32) of building panels (31) is disposed in a compartment of a building frame, wherein one building panel (31) at a time is removed from the series (32) and the supporting table (16) together with this building panel (31) is removed from the series (32), wherein the supporting table (16) is tilted with the building panel (31) into a lying position and turned about a standing axis (15) relative to the chassis (2) and wherein the building panel (31) is disposed in its position in the building frame with its long side upright, wherein the supporting table (16) is lifted together with the building panel (31) relative to the chassis (2) by means of a lift mechanism (8, 70, 71) operating between supporting table (16) and chassis (2), wherein the building panel (31) is carried to its position in the building frame while the panel is held fixedly on the supporting table (16) by means of holding means (88, 89) while leaving free its narrow short side (98) intended as support surface, and wherein the supporting table (16) is rotated relative to a table carrier (13) which by means of a piston cylinder assembly (71) is swung about a horizontal axis relative to a carrier arm (8), characterized in that the carrier arm (8) by means of a piston cylinder assembly (70) is swung relative to the chassis frame (5), which is T-shaped and has two front wheels (4) rotatably mounted at the transverse front part of said T-shaped chassis frame (5) and a castor (6) rotatably arranged at the rear end of said T-shaped chassis frame (5), wherein a drive unit (53) for powering said piston cylinder assemblies (70, 71) is arranged at the rear end of said T-shaped chassis frame (5).
Method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that during holding of the building panel on the supporting table (16) the narrow long sides (99) of the building panel (31) are gripped with clamping means (88, 89).
Device (1) for arranging building panels (31) in a building frame using the method as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, comprising a chassis (2) provided with chassis wheels (4) and a supporting table (16) tiltable relative to the chassis (2), turnable about an axis (15) substantially perpendicular to its plane and raisable relative to the chassis (2) by means of a lift mechanism (8, 70, 71) operating between supporting table (16) and chassis (2), said device comprising holding means (88, 89) for fixedly holding the building panel (31) on the supporting table (16) while leaving free the narrow short side (98) of this building panel (31) intended as support surface, wherein the supporting table (16) is rotatable relative to a table carrier (13) which by means of a piston cylinder assembly (71) is swingable about a horizontal axis relative to a carrier arm (8), characterized in that the carrier arm (8) by means of a piston cylinder assembly (70) is swingable relative to the chassis frame (5) which is T-shaped and has two front wheels (4) rotatably mounted at the transverse front part of said T-shaped chassis frame (5) and a castor (6) rotatably arranged at the rear end of said T-shaped chassis frame (5), wherein a drive unit (53) for powering said piston cylinder assemblies is arranged at the rear end of said T-shaped chassis frame (5).
Device (1) as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the holding means consist of clamping means (88, 89) gripping the narrow long sides of the building panel.
Device (1) as claimed in claims 3 or 4, characterized in that the device (1) can be disconnected into and transported in substantially three parts, namely:
a) a chassis (2);

b) a table carrier (13) with the supporting table (16) rotatably connected thereto; and

c) a motor unit fixable to the chassis (2).
Device (1) as claimed in any of the claims 3-5, characterized in that the motor unit is connected via hoses to a piston cylinder assembly (70) which is arranged releasably between chassis (2) and carrier arm (8) and a piston cylinder assembly (71) which is arranged releasably between table carrier (13) and carrier arm (8).
Device (1) as claimed in any of the claims 3-6, characterized in that a piston cylinder assembly (71) engages on one side onto the carrier arm (8) and on the other side onto a pivoting lever (76) which is pivotally connected to the carrier arm (8) and which supports the table carrier (13) with a support member (77) preferably embodied as a roller.
Device (1) as claimed in any of the claims 3-7, characterized in that control means (69) for controlling the motor unit (53) are connected to the chassis (2) for displacement relative thereto.