NL2007496C2 - MACHINAL SPRING AND CLEANING OF SIDE TILES. - Google Patents

Description

Machine harvesting and cleaning of sidewalk tiles.

This invention relates to the mechanical covering of pavement tiles, for example during re-paving work.

5 By the term sidewalk tile is meant here a tile of about 30 cm * 30 cm or larger, square or rectangular and, as is commonly used in the Netherlands for pedestrian and bicycle paths.

As is known, re-paving work avoids as much as possible that workmen have to lug 10 tiles and paving stones. Especially when tiles and clinkers need to be reused, inventive measures are needed.

In the case of clinkers, the developments have now progressed to such an extent that the harvesting, cleaning and placing in the desired relationship of used clinkers can be carried out completely mechanically, with a sufficient financial return and work rate. The recycling process uses the property of vowels that they can easily roll and tumble without being damaged. As a result, they can be grubbed up and cleaned in a disorder with a machine digger or shovel. rotating drum, only to return in an orderly pattern, without human intervention.

Used sidewalk tiles, on the other hand, cannot roll and tumble and, moreover, are more susceptible to damage. Thus, they cannot be processed in the same way as used vowels.

Sidewalk tiles are now being cleared and laid using vacuum and suction cups (see, for example, US-A-4946335, GB-A-825788, EP-A1-0312696 or NL-C-1033194). For example, a frame hanging from a crane arm comprises a number of suction cups, for example 11 or 12, to receive as many sidewalk tiles in, for example, 3 rows next to each other in one go. Thus, with the frame, a contiguous two-dimensional field of, for example, 3 by 3 or 3 by 4 sidewalk tiles of an existing sidewalk can be completely mechanically rolled up and laid as a single layer on a pallet in three adjacent rows of three or four sidewalk tiles each. With a laying machine, the sidewalk tiles can then be laid back layer by layer in the sand bed.

With this mechanized procedure too much sand 2 and dirt remains on the edges of the curved sidewalk tiles. A small improvement is achieved with the addition of a vibrating motor with which the frame is vibrated in which the suction cups are mounted. This vibration is transmitted weakened via the suction cups to the tiles hanging on the suction cups. Joints with sidewalk tiles on both sides do not become noticeably cleaner. In NL-C-1033194 a two-dimensional field of sidewalk tiles is deposited with a frame with suction cups on a stationary, screen-like horizontal vibrating surface 10, so that a little later the cleanly vibrated tiles can be picked up by another frame with suction cups from the vibrating surface for reuse.

The inventor has found a solution to further mechanize the cleaning of the sidewalk tiles. In addition, the invention can preferably be used at low costs and with high effectiveness.

To this end, it is proposed the invention as defined in the independent claims. The dependent claims relate to preferred embodiments. The invention ensures that the raised tiles are cleaned by rubbing. It has now become possible to adequately clean the joints while the tiles remain attached to the suction cups with which the tiles have been lifted from the road surface. In the known application of a vibrating motor, although there is a vibrating movement of the tiles hanging on the apparatus, sliding and rubbing of the tile edges alongside each other is absent.

In one embodiment the invention is applied to a two-dimensional field of at least two rows, each having at least two adjacent sidewalk tiles, between which sidewalls joints run in two mutually an angle, for example of approximately 90 degrees, including first and second joint directions. The field is cleared using an apparatus equipped with as many suction cups as there are sidewalk tiles in the field, with those suction cups in at least two rows with at least two suction cups per row, one for each sidewalk tile of the field, the suction cups being located suction 3 to the pavement tiles lying in the road surface, so that each pavement tile is sucked in by its own suction cup. After lifting the device with sucked sidewalk tiles, the suction cups are moved or moved relative to each other to slide or rub the sidewalk tiles alongside each other in order to clean the joint between them.

Various manners of cleaning fall within the scope of the invention, for example by rubbing the surface horizontally, i.e. in the plane of the field, past each other or vertically, i.e. perpendicular to the plane of the field. tiles or edges thereof.

For horizontal cleaning, one or more of the following is provided: that at least a number (at least one) of the suction cups, or all suction cups, move successively in the first and the second joint direction, so that the respective sidewalk tile or sidewalk tiles in both joint directions slide along adjacent sidewalk tiles, while preferably a number (at least one) of other suction cups only moves in one of the first and second joint directions; that while sliding the sidewalks the sidewalk tiles move substantially parallel to the surface stretched by their upper side (i.e. substantially horizontal if their position is not changed with respect to their position in the road surface); that the suction cups move over a relative stroke of at least 5 or 10 centimeters or substantially the entire or half length or width of the tile.

For vertical cleaning, it is for example ensured that at least a number (at least one) of the suction cups, or all suction cups, move up and / or down. The movement preferably involves a relative stroke of at least 0.5 or 1 centimeter and / or at most substantially the entire or half or three-quarter thickness of the sidewalk tiles or 3, 4 or 5 centimeters. With the expression 'relative stroke' is meant here the mutual, for example upward and / or downward displacement, which two sidewalk tiles connecting to each other, or edges thereof, make, so that it does not matter for the relative stroke or one of the two tiles 4 does not move, for example vertically, or both tiles, for example vertically, move, for example one downwards and simultaneously the other upwards so that the relative stroke is the sum of the individual strokes of both tiles.

Preferably, the suction cups perform the stroke a number of times, for example at least 3 or 5 or 10 times; and / or the tiles are held pressed together by clamping the device during sliding along each other, while reducing the joint width.

The device is for instance adapted for rubbing or sliding both horizontally and vertically, preferably simultaneously.

Preferably, the device is then brought above a pallet to orderly place the sidewalk tiles on it.

Optionally, as is known per se, the device can be equipped with vibrating means to vibrate the sidewalk tiles and thus stimulate cleaning.

The device preferably has a provision for switching the vacuum of the suction cups on / off, for example a valve. The device is preferably adapted to suck the suction cups substantially simultaneously at resp. to disconnect from the respective sidewalk tiles.

The device will contain at least four suction cups and at least two rows of suction cups. In its most practical embodiment, there are at least nine suction cups in at least three rows, for example three rows, each with three or four suction cups. A suction cup can optionally be subdivided into several smaller ones, so that a sidewalk tile with more than one suction cup is picked up.

In an apparatus for processing nine sidewalk tiles 30 in three rows of three sidewalk tiles each, in a preferred embodiment at least the middle and preferably precisely one single suction cup is moved successively in the first and the second joint direction, while other suction cups in only one of the first and second joint direction are moved.

When sliding past each other, one sidewalk tile can be kept still and the other can be moved. For a compact construction and fast operation, it is preferable to have them both move in the opposite direction. The movement is preferably caused by movement means which are preferably designed hydraulically or pneumatically, such as a piston / cylinder combination. Preferably two or more sidewalk tiles are moved by a common moving means, preferably so that they move substantially in identical fashion simultaneously. For example, the device is such that one or more or all rows of sidewalk tiles move simultaneously, for example adjacent rows counter-current, and optionally that one or more rows of sidewalk tiles are stationary in the meantime.

The device is preferably arranged in such a way that all the suction cups to be displaced at that moment are displaced substantially simultaneously via a common energy supply and thus the sidewalk tiles slide past each other.

This horizontal displacement possibility of the suction cups can also be used to be able to work easily with sidewalk tiles that are shifted transversely to the row length (such as, for example, in the case of connected sidewalk tiles).

The device preferably comprises a control unit for causing the sidewalk tiles to slide along one another, possibly a predetermined number of times, at least partially automatically. For example, an automatic shift cycle is started after a command given by an operator. Or the cycle is started automatically on expiration of a predetermined period of time which is measured, for example, by a timer belonging to the device, which is started, for example, when a predetermined state is reached, for example suctioning the suction cups to the sidewalk tiles 30. Or the cycle starts automatically upon detection of a predetermined condition by a detection means belonging to the device.

The suction cups preferably have a possibility of movement relative to the device, so that adaptation to local differences between the sidewalk tiles of the row is possible, for example one is slightly higher than the other or is slightly skewed. For this purpose, for example, a 6 suction cup is swiveling over a preferably limited free stroke and / or is movable in height (based on the operating position during the reception of sidewalk tiles from the road surface) on the device, for instance to be pressed against the spring suspension against the suspension. .

The device can be equipped with a handle or a turning means, such as a rotor, to turn the device into the desired position in the plane of the hanging sidewalk tiles.

The apparatus is preferably adapted to be attached to the free end of the boom of an excavator. The device can use hydraulic pressing means therefrom for, for example, generating the vacuum and / or sliding the sidewalk tiles alongside each other. The excavator can provide one or more of the functionalities of the device, such as activating sliding the sidewalk tiles alongside each other. Preferably, the device is pivotally attached to the boom about the vertical, either freely rotating or via a turning means.

The scope of protection, non-limiting and exemplary embodiments shown in the drawing are as follows.

FIG. 1 and 2 schematically show horizontal sliding in top view;

FIG. 3 shows special corner clamps in top view; FIG. 4 shows a clamp in perspective;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the device above tiles;

FIG. 6 shows the device of FIG. 5 with included tiles;

FIG. 7 shows vertical sliding schematically from the side.

Viewed from the top view, the apparatus comprises three parallel rows of three suction cups on a straight line, each with a diameter of approximately 20 cm. Figure 1 shows the position of these nine suction cups with an 'O'. The suction cups have such a spacing that when the appliance is placed right above nine, 30 * 30 cm tightly placed sidewalk tiles in a square of three sidewalk tiles per side, each suction cup is located above the center of one of the nine sidewalk tiles is located.

7

Four suction cups form the corner points of an imaginary square with three suction cups on each side, which, viewed in top view, is clamped by the nine suction cups. The remaining five suction cups are slidably mounted. These five suction cups are located on an imaginary plus sign, with one of them (represented in Figure 1 with an "X" located at the intersection of the plus sign and the other four each on one of the four legs of the plus sign, which four also each of which is located on one of the sides of the imaginary square In order to shift the five slidable suction cups, the two legs of the plus sign, which are in line with each other, are mounted on a respective subframe, for example an elongated profile (standing or lying respectively). profile (not shown) which is mounted and driven in a slidable manner parallel to itself 15. The suction cup located at the intersection of the plus sign is mounted such that it can be alternately carried by the standing or lying profile from its position in the center of the plus sign (neutral position) The standing and lying profiles are alternately moved back and forth, so that each time three suction lines are located on a straight line Apples (of which the suction cup located at the intersection of the plus sign is always moved) so that the three sidewalk tiles sucked onto them slide along the remaining six sidewalk tiles and thus the two joints between the moving and stationary sidewalk tiles are scraped clean.

FIG. 1 shows, from left to right, the three successive phases during the sidewalk movement of the sidewalk tiles. On the left the starting position, in the middle the sliding in the first direction, on the right the sliding in the second direction (the sliding direction is indicated by an arrow). After sliding in the first direction, the system returns to the starting position and then starts sliding in the second direction. FIG. 1 shows that only the central suction cup 'X' moves in both directions, while the four suction cups 'O' at the four corner points never move.

A hydraulic cylinder is associated with each subframe.

8

By withdrawing resp. When the piston rod is extended, the subframe is shifted so that, when a sidewalk tile is sucked onto each suction cup, the sidewalk tiles in their plane make a sliding movement alongside each other.

The two hydraulic cylinders are connected to their own hydraulic line, so that they can be activated one after the other by supplying press medium.

The suction cups are mounted with some play so that their distance and position relative to the main frame of the device can adjust to the uneven location of the sidewalk tiles in the path.

A vibrating motor is mounted on the main frame.

With this device, sidewalk tiles are cleared as follows: from his cab, the operator positions the device mounted on the boom above nine sidewalk tiles in a square and then lowers the device, by manipulating the boom, rotor, and tracks of his excavator. He then switches on the vacuum so that each suction cup sucks itself onto an associated sidewalk tile. The operator then lifts the device by manipulating the boom. The operator then switches on the vibrating motor and operates a number of times the trade with which press medium is supplied to the two cylinders driving the two subframes, first in one direction and then in the direction perpendicular thereto. Thus, the sidewalk tiles slide alongside each other with all their edges. The operator then switches off the vibrator motor and operates the drive of the subframes such that the nine sidewalk tiles hang substantially aligned with the device. Then he brings the device above a pallet, lowers the device onto it and interrupts the suction action of the suction cups to leave the sidewalk tiles on the pallet.

The vibrating motor may be switched on continuously. For the suction action of the suction cups it is conceivable that it is substantially continuous and is only briefly interrupted when the apparatus has placed the sidewalk tiles on the pallet. For sliding the edges of the sidewalk tiles alongside each other, it is conceivable that the relevant drive (for example, the movement of the subframes) is substantially continuous and is only briefly interrupted when the apparatus picks up sidewalk tiles from the path and when the apparatus sidewalk tiles on the pallet. In this way the control tasks of the operator are kept to a minimum.

An alternative embodiment with nine suction cups is described with reference to Fig. 2 (which shows three phases comparable to Fig. 1): The central suction cup 'X' now moves in only one direction, the two suction cups 'O' moving in both directions and the two '+' suction cups do not move at all. Three movable subframes are required for this version.

An explanation now follows of the clamps of the device which press on the outside of the package consisting of a single layer of stones. The conventional clamps extend along substantially the entire length of the edges, such as FIG.

4 with numbers 3 and 5. In FIG. 3, the terminals 3 and 5 are operated by the cylinders 4 and 4, respectively. 6. The device is suspended from the boom 2 of a construction machine. As is also the case with the invention, the clamps can be moved towards each other (for example hydraulically) to press the bricks against each other and preferably be operated in pairs independently of each other, so that optionally or simultaneously against the two pairs of 25 opposite outer edges are pressed.

In an alternative embodiment, each clamping edge forms a corner piece, so preferably four corner pieces per device, so that the edges are substantially free over the entire length, with the exception of the corner region. A corner piece simultaneously engages both edges that meet in the corner. With clamps, the package is more or less compressed diagonally.

With sidewalk tiles, a corner piece will as a rule act on a single sidewalk tile. Thus with a package of 3 by 3 sidewalk tiles the middle sidewalk tile along one edge will in each case be out of engagement with the corner pieces and thus be free to slide while all four corner pieces engage clampingly on the four sidewalk tiles in the package corners.

10

Clamping with corner pieces therefore offers an advantage in any case when sliding the sidewalk tiles alongside each other while they hang from the suction cups of the device. Also for other applications, the clamping corner pieces offer an advantage with respect to the straight clamping edges, for instance for sliding the sidewalk tiles alongside each other, or also vowels, to bring them into a desired relationship while the brick package is received by the apparatus.

FIG. 3 shows schematically the application of the clamping corner pieces on a package of a single layer of sidewalk tiles in a square pattern of 3 by 3, so in total 9 sidewalk tiles. As can be seen, there is a corner piece at every corner of the package. These corner pieces are moved towards each other in diagonal direction (represented by the diagonally directed arrows) to clamp the package. Shifting the sidewalk tiles as shown in Fig. 1 is possible while the four corner pieces are constantly clamped by all four corner pieces.

With the device of Fig. 5, the clamps are open and the device is ready to be lowered onto the tiles. As soon as the suction cups have sucked themselves onto the tiles, the middle row of suction cups is moved to align all the tiles and a square package of tiles, seen in top view, is created. Subsequently, the clamps 3 and 5 close, so that the condition of fig. 6 arises. The suction cups are then moved vertically so that the tiles slide along their joint edges.

FIG. 7 shows in the end view three tiles next to each other, the middle one of which is moved vertically. Shown is the lower extreme line with 30 solid lines and the upper extreme position of the middle tile with dotted lines. The relative stroke is approximately the thickness of the tile.

Thus, in one embodiment, the invention relates to a method for mechanically grubbing and cleaning sidewalk tiles that lie in a two-dimensional field of at least three rows with at least three adjacent sidewalk tiles, between which sidewalls join run in two mutually first and second joining directions enclosing an angle of about 90 degrees, using an apparatus equipped with at least as many suction cups as there are sidewalk tiles, with those suction cups in at least three rows with at least three suction cups per row, one for each pavement tile of the field, wherein the suction cups suck onto the pavement tiles lying in the road surface, so that each pavement tile is sucked in by its own suction cup, and wherein, after lifting the device with sucked pavement tiles, a cleaning cycle is carried out with the device, while the tiles are suspended from the suction cups, whereby the device at least a number of the suction cups move up and down over a relative stroke of at least half the tile thickness and at most the entire tile thickness, so that no tile comes entirely above or below an adjacent tile sharing the joint with it during sliding, which stroke is repeated at least five times while during the cleaning cycle clamps 20 (3, 5) of the device hold the tiles pressed against each other during sliding along, while reducing the joint width, so that the tiles with their joint edges bear firmly against each other and the joint width further decreases by the disappearance of dirt between them during the cleaning cycle so that the suction cups are displaced relative to each other to slide all sidewalk tiles vertically alongside each other so as to clean all joints between them, so that all joints are cleaned by relatively vertical movement , And after completion of the cleaning cycle he The device is brought above a pallet to orderly place the sidewalk tiles on it.

Optionally, it is applicable here that, during the cleaning cycle, a number of the suction cups, or all suction cups, are successively displaced in the first and the second joint direction by drive means of the apparatus, so that the respective sidewalk tile or sidewalk tiles in both 12 joint directions along sliding adjacent sidewalk tiles, while at least one other suction cup is only moved in one of the first and second joining directions; which movement in the joint direction is such that, if the vertical movement is absent, the sidewalk tiles move parallel to the surface stretched by their upper side (ie substantially horizontal if their position is not changed with respect to their position in the road surface), and the suction cups move in the joint direction about half the size of the tile 10 in the relevant joint direction and this movement is repeated at least five times during the cleaning cycle, so that the suction cups are moved relative to each other to slide all sidewalk tiles horizontally alongside each other to thus to clean all the joints 15 between them, so that all joints are cleaned by relatively vertical and horizontal movement.

However, all other embodiments are also part of the invention in which it is understood that the joints between the tiles are cleaned by the tiles, or edges thereof, being rubbed past each other by drive means belonging to the apparatus while they are lifted, hanging on the suction cups. with which they have been taken from the road surface.

Claims (21)

1. Method for mechanically harvesting and cleaning sidewalk tiles lying in a road surface in a two-dimensional field of sidewalk sideways and adjacent to one another, between which sidewalls join run in two mutually an angle, for example of approximately 90 degrees, including first and second joint directions to be grubbed up using a device equipped with suction cups, the suction cups 10 sucking onto the pavement tiles lying in the road surface, so that each pavement tile is sucked in by its own suction cup and the field hanging from the suction cups in is completely lifted from the road surface by the device, and then, still hanging from the suction cups, a cleaning cycle is carried out with the device, while the tiles are hanging on the suction cups, during which cleaning cycle by means of the device drive means the tiles move be brought to clean the joints, characterized in that during the cleaning cycle by pressing device means the tiles are set in motion so that the tiles slide along their edges or edges defining the joints and thereby the joints are rubbed clean by those same edges or edges. A method according to claim 1, wherein during the cleaning cycle the rubbing edges of the tiles move along a relative stroke of at least 5 or 10 centimeters or substantially the entire or half length or width of the tile. 30 3. Method as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein during the cleaning cycle the rubbing sides of the tiles move upwards and / or downwards. A method according to any one of claims 1-3, wherein during the cleaning cycle the rubbing edges of the tiles move along a relative stroke of at least 0.5 or 1 centimeter. 5. A method according to any one of claims 1-4, wherein during the cleaning cycle the rubbing edges of the tiles move along one another over a maximum of substantially the whole or half or three-quarter thickness of the sidewalk tiles. A method according to any one of claims 1-4, wherein during the cleaning cycle the rubbing edges 10 of the tiles move along a maximum of 3, 4 or 5 centimeters. 7. Method as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein during the cleaning cycle no tile with its rubbing side comes entirely above or below an adjacent tile sharing the joint with it while rubbing along each other. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the stroke is repeated at least five times during the cleaning cycle. 20 9. Method as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein during the cleaning cycle by clamping (3, 5) of the device the tiles are held pressed together while rubbing against each other, while reducing the joint width, so that the tiles with their joint edges strong support against each other and the joint width further decreased due to the disappearance of dirt during the cleaning cycle. 10. Method as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the suction cups are moved relative to each other to slide all sidewalk tiles along their sides so as to clean all joints between them, so that all joints are cleaned by relatively moving. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein after completion of the cleaning cycle the device is brought above a pallet to orderly place the sidewalk tiles thereon. 12. Method as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein, during the cleaning cycle, a number of the suction cups, or all suction cups, are successively moved by the device's drive means 5 in the first and the second joint direction, so that the respective sidewalk tile or sidewalk tiles in slide both joints along adjacent sidewalk tiles. 10 Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one suction cup is only moved in one of the first and second joint directions. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein during the cleaning cycle the device is vibrated by a vibrating motor to enhance the cleaning cycle. Apparatus for carrying out the method according to one of the preceding claims, equipped with suction cups, which are adapted to suck onto the pavement tiles lying in the road surface, so that each pavement tile is sucked in by its own suction cup and the field hanging on the suction cups, can be lifted in its entirety by the device; and with drive means for moving the tiles for the purpose of a cleaning cycle, while still hanging from the suction cups, to clean the joints between the tiles, characterized in that the drive means of the apparatus are adapted to move the tiles so that the tiles with their edges or edges delimiting the joints slide alongside each other and thereby the joints are rubbed clean by the same edges or edges. Apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein the drive means are adapted such that during the cleaning cycle the rubbing sides of the tiles move over a relative stroke of at least 5 or 10 centimeters or substantially the entire or half length or width of the tile. Device as claimed in claim 15 or 16, wherein the drive means are adapted such that during the cleaning cycle the rubbing sides of the tiles move upwards and / or downwards. Apparatus as claimed in any of the claims 15-17, wherein the drive means are adapted so that during the cleaning cycle the rubbing sides of the tiles move over a relative stroke of at least 0.5 or 1 centimeter. 15 19. Device as claimed in any of the claims 15-18, wherein the driving means are adapted so that during the cleaning cycle the rubbing sides of the tiles move over at most substantially the entire or half or three-quarter thickness of the sidewalk tiles. 20. Device as claimed in any of the claims 15-19, wherein the drive means are adapted such that during the cleaning cycle the rubbing sides of the tiles 25 move over a maximum of 3, 4 or 5 centimeters. 21. Device as claimed in any of the claims 15-20, wherein the drive means are arranged so that during the cleaning cycle no tile with its rubbing side comes entirely above or below an adjacent tile sharing the joint with it during rubbing alongside each other.