GB1420949A - Position defining panel installer - Google Patents

Abstract

1420949 Handling panels AQUARIUS Inc 2 Nov 1972 [28 July 1972] 50474/72 Heading B8H [Also in Divisions E1-E2] A porter's trolley for use in constructing walls from a number of similar polygonal panels glued together edge-to-edge without gaps by contact adhesive is provided with a panel holder frame which has gripper means arranged to engage along or parallel to one edge of the panel and is movable along a predetermined path in a direction parallel to the plane of the panel and at an acute angle to the said edge and a drive means which is mounted on a support structure adapted to engage a reference base and is arranged to displace the panel holder frame along the predetermined path. This apparatus allows a panel to be offered up against another panel, moved away along the predetermined path and then the edges which are to abut coated with adhesive, the panel then being returned to spread the adhesive evenly over the abutting edges, withdrawn to allow partial curing or setting of the adhesive, and finally returned to bond the panels together. Typically for a lightweight wall panel 11 having a marginal frame, a suitable panel holder frame 81 (Figs. 4, 5) has slidable hollow pins 85, 87 for engaging in holes 27, 29 through the panel faces and a further pin 83 for engaging in a hole 31 in the panel frame. Each of the hollow pins 85, 87 is formed as an extension of one piston 121 of a double piston pneumatic cylinder 111 and bears at its outer end pivoted fingers 141, 143, the second piston 147 having an extension formed as a rod 145 which is a sliding fit within the hollow pin. The pin is first passed through the hole 29 in the panel by supplying air via the hollow stem 125 attached to the piston 147. Next air supplied via inlet 149 drives the piston 147 to move the rod 145 through the hollow pin so that soft iron fingers 141, 143 are turned outwardly. On slightly withdrawing both pistons the fingers grip the panel against the frame 81. To release the panel, further withdrawal of the rod 145 causes its magnetized tip to attract the fingers back into alignment with the bore of the tubular pin 87. Displacement of the frame 81 at an acute angle to the panel edges is effected by mounting it by its diagonal member 207 on locating rollers (see Figs. 8, 9, not shown) on a carriage 251 which is provided with a ring strap to which is secured the casing of a pneumatic cylinder 213 extensions 216, 217 to the piston of which are fixed to the diagonal member 207 of the frame. The carriage 251 is itself pivotally secured to a base 301 having vacuum feet for fixing it to a floor, a piston and cylinder 350, 351 being arranged to pivot the carriage 251 between vertical and horizontal positions. The trolley 1001 (Fig. 28) supports a carriage 251<SP>1</SP> (Figs. 33, 35, not shown) similar to carriage 251 via slots 1012, bolts 1013 and a control panel 1014. The carriage in turn supports a frame 81<SP>1</SP> similar to frame 81. The framework 1003, 1007, &c. of the trolley carries an upper platform 1006, and this platform can move up and down and laterally on a lower, wheeled platform 1015 via wheels 1017 which can be moved vertically relative to guide blocks 1019. When the upper platform is at its lowest position, a panel held by carriage 251<SP>1</SP> just touches the floor. The weight of the carriage, the frame 81<SP>1</SP> and the panel (if present) is taken, in the position referred to, on vacuum cups 1021, 1022 (Fig. 37) fixed to the carriage via a lateral rod 1020, the pressure in the control system being sufficient to lift the carriage and frame but not a panel as well. The vacuum cups incorporate feet 1030 and 1031 which can be moved up and down and locked in position by a pressure control circuit. The trolley also incorporates mechanisms whereby movement backwards of a handle 1033 lifts platform 1006; with a panel on it, lowers a wheel 1010, and takes weight off wheels 1008. (Figs. 30-32, Fig. 30, shown). A foot-operated device 1032 can be lowered for the final assembly operation, and the simple device shown in Fig. 30 can be replaced by that shown in Fig. 43, which employs a longitudinally slotted cylinder (1305) carrying a spring-loaded extension (1317) which is gripped in an extended position by the cylinder wall when the slot 1335 is closed up by pressure put on pins, e.g. 1315 by a diagonal slot in the foot lever (1311). The frame 811 on the trolley is modified by the addition of a vertical arm (1081), Fig. 35 (not shown), spaced from the arm carrying the vertically-downwardly directed pin (83<SP>1</SP>), the arm (1081) carrying a sensor (1082) for the other hole in the top of a panel, and a diagonal arm (1079) carrying a locating wheel (1080) at its upper end. The lateral bar 1020 also carries a third horizontal projection for locating engagement with an adjacent panel. Lateral movement of platform 1006 of the trolley is obtained by lateral movement of a handle 1066 (Fig. 28) when the panel is almost in position, the feet 1030, 1031 are raised to allow panel to orientate itself slightly and then lowered again. The handle 1066 can be employed to provide sideways pressure additional to that obtained from the cylinder 213<SP>1</SP>.