EP1050392A1

EP1050392A1 - Method and means for production of building panels

Info

Publication number: EP1050392A1
Application number: EP99850078A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Mats Brander
Original assignee: Bautech Sweden AB
Current assignee: Bautech Sweden AB
Priority date: 1999-05-07
Filing date: 1999-05-07
Publication date: 2000-11-08

Abstract

The present invention is for method by production of panels from materials which can be nailed and method for positioning of nailing units at a nailing gantry with several nailing units. The invention also is for means for use by the methods. According to the invention the work tables (1, 2) are arranged alongside each other so that turning of the panel also includes moving it from the first to the second work table. The nailing units have means for releasable connection of the first nailing unit (13) with each further single nailing unit (12A-12E) so that the movements of the first nailing unit brings with it corresponding movements of one further nailing unit and means to keep each further unit in desired position.

Description

The present invention is for means and method by the production of building panels from parts which are joined together by nailing, stapling and the like. Other operations such as sawing, drilling and milling may be performed simultaneously. Below nailing is used as a common word for these operations of work.
The manufacture of this kind of building panels is by placing beams on a work table. After that possible insulation, barrier films or the like has been placed in between or on top of the beams covering sheaths are placed on top of them. The sheaths may be intended to form inner or outer walls, floors or other parts of the building. The sheaths are fixed by nailing thereby that a nailing gantry is moved across the panel. The gantry comprises several, usually 4-6, nailing units having automatic nailers which nail the sheaths to the beams. The automatic nailers can be positioned as desired at the gantry and each of them produces one row of nailing. At known nailing gantries the positioning of each nailer has been performed individually by manual methods or by means of a servo motor at each nailer. When the nailing has been completed the panel is turned over and the same procedure is performed at the reverse side. In order to increase the efficiency of the nailing gantry it is known to put two work tables in line with one another so that the gantry may operate alternately over each of the two tables and it moves then along a continuous, straight path. This is however only profitable when there is a very large production as it requires a comprehensive peripheral equipment and huge premises.
One object of the present invention is to advise a method and a means by which a nailing gantry may be more efficiently used to serve to work tables and so render profitability also at smaller productions. It is also an object of the invention to advise a method and a mans for a simpler positioning of all nailers thereby eliminating most of the servo motors. The invention and embodiments thereof have the characteristics which are mentioned in the patent claims.
The invention will below be described more in detail with reference to the example of an embodiment which is shown in the enclosed figures.
Figure 1 is a overview of a plant having a means of the invention.
Figure 2 shows the plant of figure 1 in side view.
Figure 3 shows the plant during turning of a panel.
Figure 4 shows a nailing gantry in a view in its direction of movement
Figure 5 shows the nailing gantry in side view.
Figure 6 shows a nailer being a part of the plant.
The plant as shown in the figures is intended for the production of building panel units up to 12, 5 m long and 3 m wide. In the plant covering sheaths or the like are nailed on to the beams of the panels and some drilling, sawing and other hole making may be performed simultaneously. It is also possible to put out and fasten battens and other parts which are positioned on the outside of the panel. The plant includes two work tables 1, 2 at which the parts which are to be fastened are put on the beams. A movable nailing gantry 11 is then moved across the panel and performs its functions, primarily nailing using the automatic nailers 12 A-E. After that the first side of the panel has been completed the gantry returns to its starting position and the panel is turned over to the second work table as shown in figure 3.
In its starting position the nailing gantry is on a platform 8 which is movably arranged to move between two positions at an outer end of each of the two work tables, thus the same gantry can serve both the work tables. In figure 1 this second position 8A for the platform 8 been drawn with broken lines. The moving of the platform 8 is on rails 32, 33 at right angle to the work tables. Suitably material is put on the first table while nailing is going on at the second table.
The nailing gantry has wheels 17, 18, 19 and is preferably moved on rails 4, 5, 6, 7 which extend themselves along the two work tables 1, 2. The movable platform 8 has rails 9, 10 which form extensions of the rails of each of the work tables when the platforms is in a position at any of the work tables. For moving of the gantry it has two servo motors 21, 23, one on each side, the outgoing shafts of which have gear wheels 22, 24 which intermesh with a rack gearing which is arranged adjacent and parallel to each rail 4-7, 9, 10. Thereby a close control of the position and movement of the gantry is achieved.
A first nailer 13 is movably arranged along a first horizontal bar 15 which is a part of the stand of the gantry and several further nailers 12A-12E are movably arranged along a second bar 14 which is a part of the stand of the gantry and parallel to the first bar. Each nailer includes a frame which has wheels or other means to enable the movements of the nailer along the bar and which carries automatic nailing equipment and nail magazine. These may be moved in vertical direction along the frame be means of an hydraulic or pneumatic piston. The first nailer 13 may move along the entire length of the bar 15 by means of a servo motor 16 on the outgoing shaft of which there is a gear wheel which intermeshes with a geared rack 20 on the bar. The further nailers 12A-12E do not have means for making movements but there are means to keep the nailers in a freely selected position along the second bar 14. These means may comprise a gear rack 31 along the bar 14 and means on the frames of the nailers to insert corresponding locking cams 25 into the cogs or make the locking cams free from the cogs, the movements may be obtained by means of a pneumatic piston 26. The nailers 12A-12E, which take fixed positions in the gantry, are used for nailing in the lengthwise direction of the panel while the first nailer 13 may be moved during the operation and is used for nailing at right angle to the lengthwise direction or in other, oblique-angles directions. A sawing equipment may be connected to the first nailed which will make sawing of oblique openings in the panel possible.
The first nailer 13 is used to position the further nailers 12A-12E along the bar 14. For this purpose the first nailer 13 has a protruding, horizontal member which extends itself in a direction towards the further nailers. On the member there is a vertically movable end 30 the movements of which are achieved by an operating means 29, preferably a pneumatic piston. Each one of the further nailers 12A-12E has a corresponding horizontal member 27 which extend themselves in a direction towards the horizontal member 28 of the first nailer. In the outer part of each of the members 27 there is a hole into which the movable end 30 may be inserted. The length of the members is such that the end and a hole is on the same vertical line when the members 27, 28 are aligned. When the nailers 12A-12E are to be set out along the bar 14 and any one of the nailers 12A-12E shall be put in a certain position then the first nailer 13 is moved to a position just in front of that one of the further nailers which is to be moved and the end 30 is inserted into the hole of the member 27. The cam 25 is made free form the gear rack 31 and the first nailer 13 is moved to the desired position for that of the nailers 12A-12E which is brought along. In this position the cam 25 is again brought to mesh with the gear rack 31 and the end 30 is made free from the member 27 and the positioning of the next nailer may begin.
Preferably there is included in the installation a computer system which controls the positioning procedure and the movements of the gantry during the nailing operation. The zero point which is required as a starting point of the procedure and the control thereof by the computer system is preferably that corner of the panel which is closest to the starting position of the gantry and to the other work table, after the turning of the panel the zero point is maintained with the same definition so that correct nailing of both sides of the panel is achieved. For the moving of the panel to this position there is a moveable bar 3 or the like at the work table.
One embodiment of the invention has been described above and many variations thereof are possible within the frame of the inventive idea. Other embodiments may be directed to the method and means for connecting the first nailer with any of the further nailers at positioning of these or the way of moving the nailing gantry between the work tables.

Claims

Method by the production of building panels from materials which can be nailed characterized therein that a first side of the panel is nailed using a nailing gantry which is moved over the panel in its lengthwise direction, that the panel is turned over 180 degrees and moved parallel to its lengtwise direction, that the gantry is moved at right angle to its direction of operation to the panel and that nailing is performed on the second side of the panel whereby the gantry again is moved over the panel in its lengthwise direction.
Means for use by the production of building panel from materials which can be nailed, comprising a first and a second work table, means to move a nailing gantry along the work tables, a means to turn the panel 180 degrees over one of its long sides and a nailing gantry for nailing and/or other operations at the panel characterized therein that the work tables (1, 2) are arranged alongside by each other so that turning of the panel also includes moving it from the first table to the second table and means (8) to transfer a nailing gantry (11) from one work table to the other work table.
Means according to claim 2 characterized therein that the means for transferring the gantry is a platform (8) which is arranged at one end of the work tables movable at right angle to the lengthwise direction of the work tables.
Means according to claim 3 characterized therein that the platform has means (9, 10) for carrying the gantry (11) whereby these means form extensions of the means which are arranged along the work tables.
Means according to claim 4 characterized therein that the means for moving of the gantry are rails or runways for wheels which are arranged on the gantry.
Method for positioning of a nailing unit at a nailing gantry having several nailing unit (12A-12E) characterized in that a first unit (13) is arranged to be connected to one of everyone of the second units and by moving the first unit (13) the thereto connected further unit is moved to the desired position whereupon the connecting means is released.
Device at a nailing gantry for positioning of nailing units whereby a first nailing unit (13) is movable along a first bar (15) and further nailing units (12A-12E) are movable arranged at a second bar (14) characterized in that the nailing units comprise means for releasable connection of the first nailing unit (13) with each single one of the further nailing units (12A-12E) so that the movements of the first nailing unit brings with it corresponding movements of one further nailing unit and means to keep each one of the further nailing units at the desired position.