A METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR HANDLING FLOOR COVERINGS

Abstract: A method for handling floor covering (2) comprising floor-cover sections provided with a textile outer surface, comprising taking-up the floor-cover sections from a substantially flat support surface (4). The method is characterized mainly by gripping a floor-cover section (2) automatically in conjunction with taking-up the floor-cover sections, by means of a gripping device (5) forming part of a mobile pick-up unit (1). The gripping device includes needle-like gripping elements which are inserted at least into the outer surface of the floor-cover section, which is lifted from the support surface (4) by the needle-like gripping elements and subsequently released from engagement therewith. The invention also relates to apparatus for carrying out the method.

Description: A method and apparatus for handling floor coverings The present invention relates to a method for handling floor coverings of the kind which are laid in sections, and comprises the step of taking-up such sections from underlying support surfaces. The invention also relates to apparatus for carrying out the method. The floors, inter alia, of exhibition halls and similar locations are normally covered with floor coverings made up of floor-cover sections, usually square sections, which are laid on the floor contiguously to one another, such as to cover the floor area concerned. The floor-cover sections are normally of the kind used in so-called wall-to-wall floor coverings or like coverings, and the floor area concerned will normally be large. In those cases where the floor covering is changed or rearranged relatively often, the task of taking-up and laying the floor covering takes a very long time to complete when done manually. The task of taking-up and laying such floor coverings is also very demanding. In the case of exhibition halls where different exhibitions are held in close succession, it is often essential that the floor covering can be replaced or rearranged quickly. The present invention relates to a method and apparatus which will greatly facilitate the task of taking-up floor coverings which are laid in sections, and which will also considerably shorten the time taken herewith. The invention thus relates to a method for handling floor coverings of the kind which comprise section ' s that are provided with a textile outer surface, and comprises the step of taking-up such floor-cover sections from a substantially flat underlying support surface. The method is particularly characterized in that when taking-up said sections, a floor-cover section is gripped automatically by the gripping device of a mobile pick-up machine by inserting needle-like gripping elements mounted on the gripping device into at least said outer surface and lifting said section from said support surface, and thereafter releasing said section from the gripping device. The invention also relates to apparatus for handling floor coverings which consist of floor-cover sections provided with a textile outer surface, comprising the step of taking-up floor-cover sections from a substantially flat support surface. The apparatus is particularly characterized by a gripping device which is mounted on a mobile pick-up machine and intended to grip automatically a floor-cover section when taking-up the floor covering, and includes to this end needle-like gripping elements which are intended for insertion into at least said outer surface, and said gripping device being intended to lift at least a part of the gripped floor-cover section and to release said section, through release of the gripping elements with said floor-cover section. The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to embodiments thereof and to the accompanying drawings, in which - Fig. 1 illustrates schematically one embodiment of a mobile pick-up machine having a driving and lifting truck part; - Fig. 2 is a schematic part view of a first embodiment of an inventive gripping device; - Fig. 3 is a schematic side view of a device substantially according to Fig. 2; - Fig. 4 illustrates the device of Fig. 3 when seen from the left in said figure ; - Fig. 5 illustrates schematically a second embodiment of a gripping device according to the invention; - Fig. 6 is an exploded view of a device essentially according to Fig. 5; - Fig. 7 is a schematic side view of a cam arrangement in a device sub¬ stantially according to Figs- 5 and 6; - Fig. 8 illustrates schematically different stages of rotation of gripping elements essentially according to Fig. 7, in which rotation is seen in relation to a radial direction; - Fig. 9 is a schematic, radial sectional-view taken on the line A-A in Fig. 10, through part of a third embodiment of an inventive gripping device; - Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken on the line B-B in Fig. 9; - Fig. 11 illustrates schematically a gripping device according to Figs. 9 and 10, seen from one side; and - Fig. 12 is a schematic, vertical sectional view of a floor-cover section capable of being taken-up in accordance with the invention. In Fig. 1 the reference numeral 1 identifies a mobile pick-up machine for automatically taking-up a floor covering 2 comprising floor-cover sections provided with a textile outer surface 2'. The floor-cover sections are normally of the kind used to totally cover a floor surface, e.g. wall-to- wall carpeting, Fig. 12, and are provided with an undersurface 3 which is intended to lie against the surface 4 of the floor concerned. The machine 1 has mounted thereon a gripping device 5, illustrated schematically in broken lines, which is intended to grip at least one floor-cover section and to transfer said section to a feed arrangement 6 incorporated in the machine 1, said feed arrangement being constructed to feed gripped floor- cover sections to a collecting table 7, in the illustrated case a loading- pallet arrangement 7" carried by lifting forks 7' mounted on a truck unit 8 adapted for driving and lifting adjacent the machine 1. The gripping device 5 of the embodiments illustrated in Figs. 2-4 com- prises needle-like gripping elements 9 which are disposed on carrier bars 10 capable of being displaced in the direction of their longitudinal axes, such axial displacement corresponding to a gripping or a release action. The carrier bars extend substantially transversally to the direction in which the gripping device is intended to be moved. The gripping elements 9 of this embodiment, and also with the other il¬ lustrated embodiments are directed obliquely downwards and are intended to be inserted into a floor-cover section in a direction which forms an acute angle with the main extension frame of the floor-cover section. In this respect, the gripping device 5 is constructed so that when picking-up a floor-cover section, certain first gripping elements will be displaced in a direction which has a predetermined horizontal directional component and such that second certain gripping elements will be displaced in a direction which has a predetermined horizontal directional component of essentially opposite directional sense to the first-mentioned predetermined horizontal directional component when inserting said device, the gripping elements thus coacting in mutually opposite directions when gripping a -floor-cover section. The carrier bars 10 form part of an assembly which comprises a rotatable part 11, or endless belt 11, as described more clearly hereinafter, said part being arranged to roll against the floor-cover section to be gripped, wherein corresponding rotational axes are arranged substantially transv- ersally to the direction in which the gripping device is intended to be moved. Thus, two kinds of carrier bars 10 are provided, Fig. 3, one in which the gripping elements 9 carried thereby are directed in one of said direc¬ tions having a sub-stantially horizontal direction component opposed to the direction of the other horizontal direction component, said carrier bars being so arranged said different kinds of carrier bars are displaced in mutually different directions when gripping and releasing a floor-cover section respectively. The carrier bars 10 are arranged in substantially parallel relationship in respective carrier profiles 12, each of which incorporates a longitudi¬ nally extending channel 13 in which a carrier bar is intended to move. In the case of the illustrated embodiment, the carrier profiles are hinged together sequentially to form said endless belt 11, which is carried for rotation by a carrier device 14. In accordance with one Illustrated embodi¬ ment, the belt is rotated by being displaced along a non-circular path on the carrier device 14, said path having an substantially planar section 15 which faces the support surface and along which said carrier barss of the belt are intended to be in contact with the support surface when advancing the gripping device. According to one illustrated embodiment, the carrier profiles include two longitudinally extending external channels 16, one on each opposite long side 17, each of said channels 16 being intended for co-action, with an adjoining channel of a neighbouring profile via a flexi¬ ble, springy connecting part 18, Fig. 2. In this instance the connecting part 18 comprises a tube 18" or the like of resilient material, such as rubber or plastics, which is inserted Into and protrudes trout respective channels 16 and is held in said channels by means of a latching rod 19 arranged in the tube and channel, said latching rod in combination together with the tube walls being unable to pass through the channel opening 20 transversely to the longitudinal axis of the carrier profile. The carrier device 14 includes cam parts 21 for co-action with the carrier bars, such as to achieve desired displacement of said bars when gripping and releasing a .floor-cover section respectively. According to the illu- strated embodiment, each carrier bar can be displaced longitudinally, by means of a cam part 21, against a spring force, and is returned under the action of said spring force, co-action with said cam par-t being effected by means of contact devices 22, preferably rotatable contact devices such as the illustrated rollers 22. Fig. 2 illustrates in full lines a position in which the illustrated carrier bar is slightly withdrawn from its carrier profile, for the sake of clarity. Shown in broken lines is a position of the roller 22 in which the roller is in contact with its associated cam part. The roller 22 is mounted on an arm 23 and protrudes from the bar end and the profile end into a groove 24 provided in the profile and facing towards said cam part, wherewith a stop member may be provided at the end of the bar for action against the end of the profile. According to one preferred embodiment, two cam parts 21 are provided, the one being provided for co-action with given carrier bars, such as each alternate carrier bar, and the other being intended for coaction with remaining carrier bars. In this case, the carrier device includes two flange parts 25 which project out in mutually opposite directions and form the closed path in which the endless belt 11 is intended to move. Each carrier profile 12 is in abutment with said flange parts 25 through the intermediary of a contact part 26, such as a wheel 26 which engages the radially inner surface of one of said flange parts, and through the intermediary of a surface 27 which faces towards said flange parts. Furthermore, each carrier bar 10 is spring- biased into abutment with the edge surface of one flange part, by means of a roller 22 or the like, wherewith the belt assembly 11 is floatingly mounted on the carrier device and the edge surfaces of respective flange parts form camming surfaces. The aforesaid spring force can be provided in a number of ways. There is shown schematically one embodiment in which tension springs 28 are mounted between an attachment 29 located at the end of the carrier bars outwardly of said rollers 22 and a.! attachment 30 located on the carrier profiles spaced from the end of said profiles, such as an attachment 30 mounted on the contact part 26. Figs. 5-8 illustrate an embodiment of a gripping device which has a sub ¬ stantially cylindrical configuration and which is intended to roll against floor-cover sections for the purpose of picking-up said sections. The cylindrical gripping device has arranged around its periphery axially extending rows 31 of gripping elements 9 which are raised slightly from the peripheral surface of said device and extend in the circumferential direction thereof. The gripping elements 9 are arranged for rotation about an axis which extends substantially parallel with the cylinder axis of the device and are arranged to be rotated when located substantially at a lowest point adjacent a floor-cover section to be picked-up, at which point the gripping elements are intended to form an acute angle with the main plane of the floor-cover section and where rotation of said gripping elements is intended to take place In a plane which extends substantially at right angles to said axial direction, and where the gripping elements are so arranged in relation to the rotational axis that rotation of said elements causes the pointed part 9 l of respective elements to be displaced in the direction in which the gripping device is intended to move, said rotation being intended to drive said pointed part 9' inco an underlying floor-cover section. In this case, the gripping elements 9 are mounted on a rotatable part which includes, inter alia, wheel-like parts 32 intended to roll on the floor- cover sections, and axially extending carrier parts 33 wnlch carry the gripping elements. Attached to the gripping device are cam parts 34 which, via sensing devices 35, co-act with the carrier parts 33 in a manner to cause said rotation. Fig. 6 is an exploded view which illustrates the structural components of the gripping device. Fig. 8 shows an example of the movement produced by rotation of the gripping elements. Figs. 9-11 illustrate an embodiment of a gripping device in which gripping elements are arranged on the periphery 36 of a substantially circular wheel assembly 37 which is intended to roll on the floor-cover sections. The gripping elements extend transversally to the intended rolling direc¬ tion, seen axially, substantially in mutually opposite directions and are intended to be inserted forcibly Into the floor-cover section in substan¬ tially opposite directions. As will best be seen from Fig. 9, the gripping device includes cam parts 38 which are effective in displacing the gripping elements axially in a direction substantially opposite t:_ the direction in which they were forcibly inserted into the floor-cover sertion, this displacement of the gripping elements being effected against a spring force and preferably in conjunction with releasing a floor-cover section. The forcible axial displacement and insertion of the gripping elements is effected by means of said spring force. The gripping elements of the illustrated embodiment move in and are guided in the wheel assembly, in part. Although not shown, it is expedient in many cases to mount a plurality of wheel assemblies 37 adjacent one another and with their rotational axes in parallel, such as to form a substantially cylindrical configuration. The inventive method and the modus operandi of the inventive apparatus will be understood essentially from the aforegoing. Active components thus comprise the gripping elements 9 which are inserted into respective floor- cover sections when picking-up said sections and are withdrawn from said sections when releasing the same. It will be understood from the aforegoing that the invention enables floor-cover sections to be handled much more rationally than known prior art methods and apparatus. Although the invention has been described with reference to exemplifying embodiments thereof, it will be understood that other embodiments are conceivable and that minor modifications can be made without departing from the concept of the invention. Thus, as will be understood from the aforegoing, the floor-cover sections are gripped with the gripping elements located substantially in a lowest level adjacent the floor-cover sections while release of the sections is effected subsequent to lifting the gripping elements relative to this lowest position, the gripping device 5 being displaced in the rolling direction between the gripping and release stages. Subsequent to lifting a floor-cover section, a rear edge part of the section, as seen in the direction of movement of the gripping device, is engaged by the feed arrangement 6. According to one preferred embodiment, displacement of the gripping elements 9 is effected indirectly by driving, displacing, the d ive arrangement, e.g. by means of a truck unit, wherein energy Is transmitted to the gripping elements 9, inter alia, via friction against at least one floor-cover section on which the gripping device rolls. The invention should not therefore be considered restricted to the illustrated embodiments, which can be modified within the scope of the following claims.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A method for handling a floor covering comprising floor-cover sections provided with a textile outer surface, said method comprising taking-up floor-cover sections from a substantially flat support surface, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that in conjunction with taking-up a floor- cover section (2) said section is gripped automatically by a gripping device (5) of a mobile pick-up unit (1), as a result of the insertion into at least said outer surface (2') of needle-like gripping elements (9 ) carried by the gripping device, the floor-cover section being lifted from the support surface (4) and subsequently released from the gripping device (5). 2. A method according to Claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the gripping elements (9) are inserted into the floor-cover section at an acute angle to the main extension plane of the floor-cover section (2). 3. A method according to Claim 1 or 2, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that upon being inserted into said floor-cover section, given gripping elements (9) are displaced in a direction having a first predetermined horizontal directional component whereas other given gripping elements (9) are dis¬ placed in a direction having a second predetermined horizontal directional component which is substantially opposite to the first predetermined horizontal directional component upon said insertion, wherein the gripping elements (9) mutually co-act in opposite directions when gripping said floor-cover section. 4. A method according to Claim 1, 2 or 3, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that said gripping device (5) is mounted on a rotatably arranged part (11, 37) for rolling on the floor-cover section to be gripped, wherein cor¬ responding rotational axes extend substantially transversally to the direction in which the device is advanced. 5. A method according to Claim 4, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the floor-cover section is gripped with the gripping elements (9) located substantially in a lowest position and said section is released subsequent to lifting said gripping elements relative to said lowest position, the gripping device C5) being displaced in the rolling direction between the gripping and release locations. 6. A method according to Claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that gripping elements (9) are disposed in rows substantially transver ¬ sally to the rolling direction of a gripping device intended to roll on a floor-cover section, and in that the floor-cover section is gripped sub ¬ stantially simultaneously at a plurality of locations along a part of the floor-cover section extending transversally to the rolling direction. 7. A method according to Claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6, c h a r a c¬ t e r i z e d i n that the gripping elements (9) are displaced indirectly by driving the gripping device (5), energy being transmitted to the gripping elements via friction against at least one floor-cover section on which the gripping device rolls. 8. Apparatus for handling floor coverings In the form of floor-cover sections provided with a textile outer surface, said handLing process comprising taking-up floor-cover sections from a substantially flat support surface, c h a r a c t e r i z e d by a gripping device C5) which is mounted on a mobile pick-up unit (1) and which is intended to grip a floor-cover section C2_ automatically when taking-up said floor covering; in that the gripping device includes needle-like gripping elements (9) • which are intended for insertion Into at least said outer surface (2'); in that the gripping device (5) Is constructed to lift at least a part of the gripped floor-cover section and to release the engagement of the gripping elements C9) with said floor-cover section, such as to release said section. 9. Apparatus according to Claim 8, c h a r a c t e r i z e d I n that the gripping elements (9) are arranged so as to be inserted in a direction which forms an acute angle to the main extension plane of the floor-cover section. 10. Apparatus according to Claim 8 or Claim 9, ch a r a - t e r i z e d i n that when inserted into a floor-cover section certain gripping elements (9) are arranged to be displaced in a direction having a first predetermined horizontal directional component, whereas certain gripping elements (9) are arranged to be displaced in a direction having a second horizontal directional component which is substanU ally opposite to the first pre-determined horizontal directional component, the gripping elements (9) thus co-acting in mutually opposite direction during said gripping process. 11. Apparatus according to Claim 8, 9 or 10, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the gripping device (5) is caused to roll on the floor-cover section to be gripped by means of a rotatably mounted part (11, 37), corresponding rotational axes being arranged substantially transversally to the direction in which the gripping device is advanced. 12. Apparatus according to Claim 8, 9, 10 or 11, c h a r a c ¬ t e r i z e d i n that the gripping device (5) is constructed such that activa tion of the gripping elements (9) for the purpose of gripping a floor-cover section is initiated when the gripping elements (9) are located substantially in a lowest position during rolling of the device on said section; and in that activation of the thus activated gripping elements for the purpose of releasing said floor-cover section is initiated sub¬ sequent to lifting said section relative to said lowest position; and in that the gripping device (9) is arranged to be displaced in the rolling direction between the gripping and release stages. 13. Apparatus according to Claim 8, 9, 10, 11 or 12, c h a r a c¬ t e r i z e d i n that the gripping elements (9) are disposed in rows sub- stantially transversally to the intended rolling direction of a gripping device intended to roll on a floor-cover section; and in that gripping elements are provided for gripping the floor-cover section substantially simultaneously at a plurality of locations along a part of said section extending substantially transversally to the rolling direction. 14. Apparatus according to Claim 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 or 13, c h a r a c¬ t e r i z e d i n that gripping elements (9) are mounted on carrier bars (10) which extend substantially transversally to the direction in which the gripping device (5) is intended to be advanced; and in that the carrier bars are displaceable in the direction of their longitudinal axes, said displacement corresponding to the gripping or release of a floor-cover section. 15. Apparatus according to Claim 14. c h a r a c t e r i z e d by two kinds of carrier bars CIO), a first kind having gripping elements (9) which are directed according to one of said mutually opposed, horizontal directional components and a second kind having gripping elements directed according to the other of said mutually opposed, horizontal directional components; and in that the carrier bars are arranged such that said different kinds of carrier bars are displaced in mutually different directions when gripping and releasing a floor-cover element respectively. 16. Apparatus according to Claim 14 or 15, c h a r a c t e r i z e d I n that the carrier bars (10) are carried individually in respective substantially parallel carrier profiles (12), each of which includes a longitudinally extending channel (13) in which a carrier bar is intended to move. 17. Apparatus according to Claim 16, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the carrier profiles (12) are hingedly connected in rows to form an endless belt (11) which is carried for rotation by a carrier device (14). 18. Apparatus according to Claim 17, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that said endless belt (11) is arranged for rotation by displacement along a non- circular path incorporated in the carrier device (14); and in that said path has a substantially flat part (15) which faces towards the support surface (4> and along which said carrier bars (10) of the endless belt (11) are Intended to be in contact with the support surface. 19. Apparatus according to Claim 17 or 18, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that said carrier device (14) includes cam parts (21) intended for co- action with said carrier bars (10) in a manner to effect axial displacement thereof in conjunction with gripping and releasing a floor-cover section. 20. Apparatus according to Claim 16, 17, 18 or 19, c h a r a c- t e r i z e in that said carrier profiles (12) include two longitudinally extending, external channels (16), one on each opposite long side (17); and in that each channel (16) of one carrier profile (12) is intended to co-act with an adjacent channel (16) of a neighbouring carrier profile ( 12) via a flexible, resilient connecting part (18). 21. Apparatus according to Claim 20, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the connecting part (18) comprises a tube (18') of resilient material, such as rubber or plast; and in that the connecting part is inserted into and projects from respective channels (16) and is held in place in the channel by means of a latching rod (19) arranged in said tube and said channel, which rod together with the tube walls is unable to pass through the channel opening (20) transversally to the longitudinal direction of the carrier profile. 22. Apparatus according to Claim 14, 15, 16,17,18, 19, 20 or 21, c h a r a c t e r i z e d by a cam part (21) which is effective in displac¬ ing each carrier bar (10) in the direction of its longitudinal axis against a spring force, said spring force being effective in returning said each carrier bar (10); and in that co-action with said cam part (21) is intended to be effected by means of a contact device (22), preferably a rotatable contact device, such as rollers (22) or the like. 23. Apparatus according to Claim 22, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that two cam parts (21) are provided, of which one is intended to co-act with certain ones of said carrier bars (10), such as each alternate carrier bar, and the other is intended to co-act with remaining carrier bars. 24. Apparatus according to Claim 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22 or 23, c h a r a c- t e r i z e d i n that said carrier device (14) includes two flange parts (25) which project out in opposite directions and which correspond to said closed path in which said endless belt-. (11) is intended to move; in that each carrier profile has a contact part (26) which abuts one of the flange parts on a radially inward surface thereof, and a surface (27) which abuts the opposite surface of said flange parts; in that each carrier bar is spring-biased into abutment with an edge surface of one of the flange parts (25) by means of a roller (22) or like device, said bias being effected by said spring force; in that the endless belt assembly (11) is mounted floatingly on said carrier device; and in that the edge surfaces of said flange parts form said cam parts. 25. Apparatus according to Claim 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 or 13, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that gripping elements (9) are disposed on the peripheral surface (36) of a substantially circular wheel assembly (37) intended for rolling on floor-cover sections and arranged with an axial direction substantially transverse to the intended rolling direction where, seen in an axial direction, counter-directional gripping elements (9) are arranged to be forcibly Inserted into a floor-cover section from mutually opposite directions; in that thus co-acting gripping elements (9) are arranged to be displaced away from one another by said cam parts (13) against the action of a spring force, when caused to release their grip on a floor-cover section; and to be freed when gripping and in that said forced insertion of the gripping elements is effected by means of said spring force. 26. Apparatus according to Claim 25 , c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that a plurality of parallel-axle wheel assemblies (37) are arranged in mutually adjacent relationship, to form a substantially cylindrical configuration. 27. Apparatus according to Claim 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 or 13, c h a r a c¬ t e r i z e d i n that said gripping device (5) has a substantially cyl¬ indrical configuration, arranged to roll on floor-cover sections, and has arranged on the periphery thereof axially extending rows (31) of gripping elements (9) which extend substantially in the circumferential direction and which are pivotally arranged in a direction essentially parallel to the axial direction of the gripping device and intended to form an acute angle with the main extension plane of the floor-cover section; and in that the gripping elements are arranged to be rotated when located at a lowest point so that given insertion of gripping elements into a floor- cover section takes place.

Inventors: CAMITZ PETER, GADELIUS ICHI STEFAN, CAMITZ, PETER, GADELIUS, ICHI, STEFAN
Applicants: PROCLINO GOLV AB
Application year: 1989
Main classification: E04F21
IPC codes: A47G27