U.S. patent application number 13/242027 was filed with the patent office on 2012-03-29 for apparatus for premounting of locking elements to a panel.
This patent application is currently assigned to AKZENTA PANEELE + PROFILE GMBH. Invention is credited to Hans-Juergen HANNIG.
Application Number | 20120073235 13/242027 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37668264 |
Filed Date | 2012-03-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120073235 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
HANNIG; Hans-Juergen |
March 29, 2012 |
APPARATUS FOR PREMOUNTING OF LOCKING ELEMENTS TO A PANEL
Abstract
The apparatus mounts a locking element into a groove in an edge
of a panel. An advance device feeds a stream of locking elements to
a pressing device which mounts the locking elements into the groove
on the edge of the panel. The locking elements are fed from a line
of locking elements stored on a reel. A separating device cuts the
line of locking elements into individual locking elements. The
separating device is positioned either upstream of the advancing
device or immediately upstream of the pressing device. When the
separating device is immediately upstream of the pressing device, a
spring is used to flex the stream during the short stoppage when
the separating device separates individual locking elements from
the line of locking elements.
Inventors: |
HANNIG; Hans-Juergen;
(BERGISCH GLADBACH, DE) |
Assignee: |
AKZENTA PANEELE + PROFILE
GMBH
Kaisersesch
DE
|
Family ID: |
37668264 |
Appl. No.: |
13/242027 |
Filed: |
September 23, 2011 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
12064945 |
Mar 10, 2008 |
8091238 |
|
|
PCT/EP2006/011684 |
Dec 6, 2006 |
|
|
|
13242027 |
|
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
52/588.1 ;
52/582.2; 52/745.21 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04F 2201/0123 20130101;
E04F 2201/0547 20130101; Y10T 29/49629 20150115; E04F 2201/0535
20130101; E04F 2201/0588 20130101; B27M 3/04 20130101; E04F
2201/0176 20130101; E04F 15/02 20130101; F16B 5/0056 20130101; B27M
3/0066 20130101; E04F 2201/0115 20130101; E04F 2201/0153 20130101;
Y10T 29/49616 20150115; Y10T 29/49623 20150115 |
Class at
Publication: |
52/588.1 ;
52/582.2; 52/745.21 |
International
Class: |
E04C 2/38 20060101
E04C002/38; E04B 1/38 20060101 E04B001/38; E04C 2/40 20060101
E04C002/40 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jan 13, 2006 |
DE |
10 2006 002 027.8 |
Jan 13, 2006 |
DE |
10 2006 002 028.6 |
Mar 15, 2006 |
DE |
10 2006 011 887.1 |
Claims
1. A locking element for a fixing system for quadrangular
plate-shaped panels, comprising: an insertion portion for insertion
of the locking element into a locking groove, provided in the
longitudinal direction of an edge of the panels, of a first panel
in an insertion position; and a locking portion for engagement into
a latching recess of an undercut configuration, which is provided
in a laid configuration of the panels in an opposite edge of a
second panel and extending in the longitudinal direction of said
edge and in opposite relationship to the locking groove, wherein
the locking portion includes a resilient latching tongue which
during assembly of the two panels is automatically latchable into
the latching recess into a latching position, and wherein the
locking element has anchoring means and the locking element can be
captively anchored by the anchoring means with its insertion
portion in the locking groove.
2. The locking element according to claim 1, wherein the locking
element can be inserted remaining loose with the insertion portion
and with the production of a mechanical prestressing effect in the
locking groove.
3. The locking element according to claim 2, wherein insertion
portion at least at a location of its cross-section has an oversize
in relation to the width of the locking groove provided for
insertion of the locking element.
4. The locking element according to claim 3, wherein at least one
projection is provided to afford the oversize at least at one
larger side surface of the insertion portion, which in the
insertion position is towards the inner side surfaces of the
locking groove, wherein the projection extends at least over a
longitudinal portion of the locking element.
5. The locking element according to claim 4, wherein the
longitudinal side surfaces of the projection are arranged
inclinedly relative to each other.
6. The locking element according to claim 5, wherein the
longitudinal side surfaces of the projection converge in a
wedge-shaped configuration.
7. The locking element according to claim 5, wherein the
longitudinal side surface of the projection, which is remote from
the free end of the insertion portion, extends perpendicularly to
the lengthwise extent of the insertion portion or in a distance
component away from the free end from the larger side surface.
8. The locking element according to claim 2, wherein the insertion
portion is of a curved configuration towards its free end.
9. The locking element according to claim 8, wherein in
cross-section the sides formed by larger side surfaces are simply
curved and that the curvature of the larger side surfaces is in
approximately the same direction.
10. The locking element according to claim 2, wherein the free end
of the insertion portion is of a hook-shaped configuration.
11. The locking element according to claim 2, wherein the free end
has a slot which is introduced from the end of the insertion
portion and towards the locking portion, and that at least one of
the slot sides, which delimit the slot, of the free end extends
curvedly away from the slot.
12. A locking element according to claim 2, wherein over its
lengthwise extent the locking element is of an at least partially
curved shape, the radius of curvature of which extends
approximately in the direction of the section straight lines formed
by the cross-sectional plane and the longitudinal sectional
plane.
13. The locking element according to claim 1, wherein the locking
element has an introduction aid for its insertion into the locking
groove.
14. The locking element according to claim 13, wherein the
cross-section of the free end of the insertion portion is of a
narrowing or conically tapering configuration at least from one of
its larger side surfaces which are towards the inner side surfaces
of the locking groove in the insertion position.
15. The locking element according to claim wherein the locking
portion is of a substantially V-shaped cross-section with a first
limb and a second limb, wherein the latching tongue is formed by
the first limb and the second limb is laterally connected to the
insertion portion.
16. The locking element according to claim 15, wherein in the
latching position the first limb can be supported at the end
against a contact surface provided in the latching recess.
17. The locking element according to claim 15, wherein the locking
portion has two latching tongues which extend in mutually spaced
relationship from the second limb and which in the latching
position can be supported against a provided contact surface or
against a respectively provided contact surface.
18. The locking element according to claim 15, wherein there is
provided a contact aid on the locking element for the two limbs to
elastically bear against each other upon assembly of the
panels.
19. The locking element according to claim 18, wherein there is
provided an enlargement in the intermediate space between the limbs
at the location at which the mutually facing inner side surfaces of
the two limbs are brought together.
20. The locking element according to claim 19, wherein the
enlargement is in the form of a round bore.
21. The locking element according to claim 18, wherein the second
limb is of a taperingly enlarging configuration in respect of its
cross-section towards its end connected to the first limb.
22. The locking element according to claim 5, wherein the latching
tongue is of a curved shape with a curvature remote from the other
limb, to increase its specific spring force and for greater
buckling resistance.
23. A fixing system for quadrangular plate-shaped panels,
comprising: holding profiles, which are arranged at the edges of
the panels and of which holding profiles arranged in mutually
opposite relationship fit to each other in such a way that similar
panels can be connected together, in particular for floor panels,
with mutually oppositely disposed first holding profiles which are
of such a configuration that it is possible to lock to a panel
disposed in a first row in a second row a new panel by a procedure,
whereby the new panel is firstly attached to the lying panel in an
inclined position relative to the lying panel and is then pivoted
downwardly into the plane of the lying panel, and mutually
oppositely disposed second holding profiles which have
corresponding hooks, wherein a hook connection can be made with one
of the hooks of the new panel and a hook of a panel which is
already lying in the second row, by the downward pivotal movement
of the new panel, and associated with each hook connection is an
additional locking element which, prior to the hooking of two
panels, can be inserted into a locking groove of one of the hooks
of a first panel into an insertion position such that in the hooked
condition of two panels it prevents release of the hook connection
in a direction perpendicularly to the plane of the laid panels, and
wherein the locking element and the locking groove are provided at
a surface of the hook which in the laid condition of the panels is
oriented approximately perpendicularly to the plane of the panels,
which plane is in the form of the laying plane, wherein the locking
element is of a configuration according to claim 1.
24. The fixing system according to claim 23, wherein the latching
tongue bears under a spring prestressing against an inner side
surface of the latching recess.
25. The fixing system according to claim 23, wherein the inner side
surfaces of the locking groove are arranged in mutually parallel
relationship.
26. The fixing system according to claim 23, wherein the locking
element is glued in the locking groove.
27. Panels of a quadrangular, plate-shaped configuration,
comprising: a panel lying in a first row is lockable to a new panel
for a second row, by a procedure, whereby the new panel is firstly
attached to the lying panel in an inclined position relative to the
lying panel and subsequently pivoted downwardly into the plane of
the lying panel, and wherein the two panels can be connected
together by a fixing system according to claim 23 with a locking
element according to claim 1.
28. A panel of quadrangular shape, comprising: top side, underside
and peripherally extending edges and with holding profiles arranged
at the edges, with the proviso that the holding profiles of two
edges adjacent to a corner form an upper hook which has an opening
directed to the top side and the holding profiles of the other
edges adjacent to a corner are each in the form of a respective
counterpart portion in relation to the oppositely disposed upper
hook in the form of a corresponding lower hook which has an opening
directed to the underside, wherein a new panel can be connected to
similar panels by a movement perpendicularly to its plane, wherein
an additional automatically latching locking element is provided
for arresting the connection to prevent release, and wherein the
edge of the panel is provided with a holding gap, that the locking
element has at least one anchoring tongue and that the anchoring
tongue has a pressing surface which is pressed in by a pressing-in
tool and by way of which a force is applied for pressing the
anchoring tongue of the locking element into the holding gap of the
panel.
29. The panel according to claim 28, wherein at least one edge of
the panel has at least one locking element which is connected by
way of a zip fastener movement to the edge of the panel.
30. The panel according to claim 28, wherein different resilient
locking elements are arranged at two different edges.
31. The panel according to claim 28, wherein at least one locking
element is of a configuration in the manner of a clip with clip
portions arranged in a V-shape or U-shape, wherein the anchoring
tongue is arranged transversely on one of the clip portions.
32. The panel according to claim 28, wherein at least one locking
element is in the form of a curved locking clasp, that the locking
clasp is resiliently movably accommodated in the holding gap,
wherein provided over the length of the locking clasp is at least
one region which forms the anchoring tongue.
33. A method of locking quadrangular panels which have a top side,
an underside and peripherally extending edges with holding profiles
arranged thereat, with the proviso that at least two oppositely
disposed holding profiles of each panel are in the form of
complementary hook profiles so that hook profiles of adjacent
panels can be inserted into each other in a vertical direction,
wherein at least one of the hook profiles is provided with an
additional locking element with a resilient latching tongue which
is latchable into a latching recess of an adjacent panel, wherein
the first row of panels is locked without involving a vertical
movement for the purposes of coupling and without latching
engagement, namely as an alternative by pushing the complementary
hook profiles into each other in aligned relationship.
34. A method of locking quadrangular panels which have a top side,
an underside and peripherally extending edges with holding profiles
arranged thereat, with the proviso that at least two oppositely
disposed holding profiles of each panel are in the form of
complementary hook profiles so that hook profiles of adjacent
panels can be inserted into each other in a vertical direction,
wherein at least one of the hook profiles is provided with an
additional locking element with a resilient latching tongue which
is latchable into a latching recess of an adjacent panel, wherein
the first row of panels is locked by a procedure whereby the hook
profiles to be locked are firstly laid loosely one upon the other
and then the edges are pushed towards each other until the
resilient latching tongue of the locking element is displaced
resiliently inwardly by contact with the adjacent panel, and that
thereafter the panel with the locking element are moved vertically,
namely perpendicularly to the panel plane, into each other until
the inwardly resiliently displaced latching tongue of the locking
element automatically moves resiliently outwardly into the latching
recess of the adjacent panel and arrests the hook connection in the
vertical direction.
35. A method of automatically mounting a locking element to an edge
of a panel, in particular a floor panel, wherein the locking
element in the form of an endless cable-like locking element line
is taken from a storage means and passed into a guide passage and
fed to a separating station which separates the locking element
line into individual locking elements, and wherein each individual
locking element is moved in synchronous movement in relation to a
continuously transported panel to an edge of said panel and pressed
by a pressing device into a receiving region of the edge of the
panel.
36. The method according to claim 35, wherein there is provided an
advance device which pushes the locking elements/locking element
line through the guide passage in the direction of the pressing
device.
37. The method according to claim 36, wherein the locking element
line is separated by a separating station arranged upstream of the
advance device in the transport direction into individual locking
elements which are then pushed by the advance device arranged in
succession in a row through the guide passage to the pressing
device.
38. A method according to claim 36 wherein the locking element line
is separated into individual locking elements by a separating
station arranged downstream of the advance device in the transport
direction.
39. The method according to claim 38, wherein the transport
movement of the locking element line is braked at the separating
location and that the braking action is caused by the engagement of
the separating station into the locking element line.
40. The method according to claim 39, wherein the advance device is
further conveyed during the braking of the transport movement of
the locking element line and that the delivered length of the
locking element line is outwardly buckled and fills a buffer
region.
41. The method according to claim 40, wherein the buckling movement
of the locking element line in the buffer region moves a storage
spring, that a stress is imparted to the storage spring and thereby
spring energy is stored, wherein after the conclusion of the
separating operation of the separating station the stored spring
energy is automatically released and the length of the locking
element line stored by virtue of the outward buckling effect is
advanced.
42. The method according to claim 35, wherein a removal device
conveys the locking element line out of the storage means and that
a given length of the locking element line is retained in a supply
region between the storage means and the advance device.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This is a Divisional application of U.S. patent application
Ser. No. 12/064,945 filed Mar. 10, 2008 which was a National Stage
Entry of International Application No. PCT/EP2006/011684 filed Dec.
6, 2006, which claimed the priority of DE 10 2006 002 027.8 filed
Jan. 13, 2006, DE 10 2006 002 028.6 filed Jan. 13, 2006, and DE 10
2006 011 887.1 filed Mar. 15, 2006, the priorities of these
applications are claimed and these applications are incorporated
herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The invention concerns a locking element, panel with
separate locking element for locking panels, method of installing a
panel covering comprising panels with locking elements and a method
and apparatus for pre-mounting one or more locking elements to a
panel.
[0003] The invention concerns a locking element for a fixing system
for quadrangular plate-shaped panels wherein the locking element is
provided with an insertion portion for insertion of the locking
element into a locking groove, provided in the longitudinal
direction of an edge of the panels, of a first panel in an
insertion position, and a locking portion for engagement into a
latching recess of an undercut configuration, which is provided in
a laid configuration of the panels in an opposite edge of a second
panel and extending in the longitudinal direction of said edge and
in opposite relationship to the locking groove, wherein the locking
portion includes a resilient latching tongue which during assembly
of the two panels is automatically latchable into the latching
recess.
[0004] The locking groove of the edge of the panel is also referred
to hereinafter as the holding gap.
[0005] It primarily concerns a panel which can be connected to a
similar panel by a substantially vertical movement of a fresh
panel, namely, perpendicularly to its plane, with similar panels,
wherein the above-mentioned resilient locking element is used.
[0006] It further concerns a method of automatically mounting a
resilient locking element to an edge of a panel, wherein the panels
are for example those such as wall, floor and ceiling panels which
are used for the fitment to rooms.
[0007] A general state of the art of a locking element is known
from WO 00/47481. A locking element of the general kind set forth
is known from WO 03/016654.
[0008] The locking element of WO 03/016654, prior to the panels
being laid, is inserted with its insertion portion into the locking
groove in a panel. During the mounting operation the latching
tongue of the locking element latches automatically in a latching
recess in an adjoining panel. For that purpose, to produce a spring
energy, the latching tongue will be applied against the spring
force of the latching tongue as far as possible in a direction
towards the insertion portion, which detrimentally requires a
correspondingly high level of application force. In addition, the
locking element can disadvantageously slip due to the handling
procedure involved when laying the panels, whereby proper laying of
the panels with the latching engagement into the latching recess is
at least rendered more difficult.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The object of the invention is to provide a latching
element, also referred to as a locking element, of the kind set
forth in the opening part of this specification, which effectively
counteracts the above-indicated disadvantages, and aims to afford a
panel which can be easily installed, with an additional locking
element, which can be inexpensively produced by machine, more
specifically by means of a method and an apparatus for
automatically pre-mounting the locking element to an edge of the
panel, in which respect industrial mounting is to be possible.
[0010] In accordance with the invention the specified object is
attained in that the locking element has anchoring means and the
locking element can be captively anchored by the anchoring means
with its insertion portion in the locking groove.
[0011] That arrangement provides that the locking element is held
in its insertion position and cannot slip due to the handling
procedure involved when laying the panels.
[0012] Preferably the locking element is made in one piece. Further
preferably the locking element comprises plastic material.
Preferably the locking element is produced by extrusion.
[0013] In an embodiment the anchoring means can provide that the
locking element can be inserted in the locking groove, producing a
mechanical prestressing effect. For that purpose the locking
element can be inserted remaining loose with its insertion portion
in the locking groove. The mechanical prestressing action causes
the insertion portion to be braced in the locking groove, insofar
as it is supported in the insertion position against inner side
surfaces of the locking groove so that it is only with the
application of an elevated level of force that it can be moved
against the prestressing force in the locking groove out of its
insertion position.
[0014] For that purpose the insertion portion, at least at a
location of its cross-section, can have an oversize in relation to
the width of the locking groove provided for insertion of the
locking element. In that way, the insertion portion in the
insertion position can be deformed at that location of its
cross-section, with elastic or plastic-elastic deformation of the
locking element, and can press against the inner side surfaces of
the groove, whereby material delimiting the locking groove can be
elastically and/or plastically-elastically deformed. As a
consequence, a corresponding anchoring force can be achieved for
anchoring the locking element in the insertion position and thus
for affording a force-locking connection between the insertion
position and the locking groove. In addition at the location of its
oversize the insertion portion can dig fast, hook or bore into the
inside walls of the locking groove, whereby a positively locking
connection can be afforded between the insertion portion and the
locking groove. As a further advantage, compensation in respect of
dimensional inaccuracies between the insertion portion and the
locking groove can be implemented by way of the oversize portion.
It will be appreciated that a plurality of locations or one or more
portions or points on the insertion portion can also be provided
with an oversize and, with insertion of the insertion portion into
the locking groove, can result in a force-locking and/or positively
locking connection between the insertion portion and the locking
groove.
[0015] To provide the oversize, at least one projection can be
provided at least at a larger side surface of the insertion
portion, which side surface is towards the inner side surfaces of
the locking groove in the insertion position. In that case the
projection can project beyond the larger side surface to provide
the location having the oversize portion. In that way the
projection, in the insertion position of the locking element, can
bear at the end against the inner side surface of the locking
groove, which is towards the larger side surface, and, by virtue of
its oversize, can produce a corresponding bracing effect for the
insertion portion in the locking groove. In regard to a uniform
bracing effect and in regard to production of the locking element
which should preferably be extruded from plastic material, it is
proposed that the projection is to extend at least over a
lengthwise portion of the locking element, preferably over the
entire lengthwise extent of the locking element. To provide for
mechanically more stable support for the locking element in the
locking groove, the arrangement preferably has a plurality of
projections which are in parallel mutually spaced relationship on
at least one of the two larger side surfaces, which can be applied
at the end against the inner side surface, that is towards the
larger side surface, of the locking groove with the oversize, and
thus can produce corresponding bracing for the insertion portion in
the locking groove. Projections or the like can also be provided on
both larger side surfaces to afford a locally limited oversize.
[0016] The projection can be of a configuration which decreases
towards its end face. By virtue of that configuration its
cross-section can be trapezoidal. In that case, only one
longitudinal side surface of the projection can be inclined towards
the centre line of the projection while the other longitudinal side
surface is perpendicular to the insertion portion. The trapezium of
the cross-section can also be of an equilateral configuration. The
longitudinal side surfaces of the projection can also be of a curve
configuration perpendicularly to the longitudinal extent thereof.
Preferably the cross-section is of a part-spherical shape.
[0017] In a preferred development of the projection the two
longitudinal side surfaces of the projection converge in a wedge
shape. In that case the cross-section can be of a triangular
configuration, preferably an isosceles or right-angled triangle,
the longitudinal side surfaces being flat while the free tip of the
respective triangle preferably includes an acute angle.
[0018] Preferably the longitudinal side surface remote from the
free end of the insertion portion can extend perpendicularly to the
longitudinal extent of the insertion portion or in a directional
component away from the free end from the larger side surface.
Accordingly, with the two longitudinal side surfaces converging to
afford a wedge configuration, in cross-section this can form a
right-angled triangle or a sawtooth-like triangle or, with curved
longitudinal side surfaces, a shark's fin-like triangle each with a
respective longer side. That permits the insertion portion to be
easily pressed into the locking groove in an insertion direction
over the longer side in the direction towards the free end of the
insertion portion or towards the base of the locking groove and
permits the projection to dig fast or hook into the inside walls of
the locking groove upon release of the insertion portion in
opposite relationship to the insertion direction.
[0019] The longitudinal side surfaces can also converge in a curved
configuration and in cross-section can define a tip with a
preferably over-acute angle, whereby plastic-elastic deformation of
the tip is facilitated with insertion of the locking element into
the locking groove to compensate for inaccuracies in respect of
shape and for simultaneously clamping the locking element fast in
the locking groove.
[0020] The insertion portion can be of a curved configuration
towards its free end. In other words, in its larger side surfaces
the insertion portion can be of a curved configuration. That
curvature causes the insertion portion to be preferably elastically
braced in the locking groove. Preferably, in cross-section the
sides formed by larger side surfaces are simply curved and
curvature of the larger side surfaces is in approximately the same
direction, wherein the radius of curvature preferably extends
approximately in the direction of the section straight lines formed
by the cross-sectional plane and the longitudinal sectional plane
or perpendicularly to the larger side surfaces of the insertion
portion.
[0021] In an alternative configuration the free end of the
insertion portion can additionally or alone be of a hook-shaped
configuration. In that case the free end can be braced in the
insertion position in the locking groove.
[0022] Furthermore the free end can additionally or alone have a
slot which is provided from the end of the insertion portion and
approximately parallel to the lengthwise extent of the insertion
portion or towards the locking portion. Furthermore at least one of
the sides which delimit the slot at the free end of the slot can
extend in a curved configuration away from the slot. Preferably the
slot is V-shaped, wherein, at the location at which the sides of
the slot converge, there can preferably be provided an enlargement
which for easier insertion of the insertion portion into the
locking groove makes it easier for the sides of the slot to be
pressed or brought together. For insertion purposes the sides of
the slot can preferably be compressed by way of a guide which is
provided, and in the insertion position they can be supported
against and braced against the inner side surfaces of the locking
groove.
[0023] The locking element can be at least in part over its
lengthwise extent of a curved shape, the radius of curvature of
which extends approximately in the direction of the section
straight lines formed by the cross-sectional plane and the
longitudinal sectional plane. With insertion into the locking
groove which is of a linear configuration, the locking element is
straightened in opposite relationship to its curvature and thus in
the insertion position bears in a stressed condition against the
inner side surfaces of the locking groove.
[0024] For easier insertion of the locking element into the locking
groove, the locking element can have an introduction aid,
particularly when it has an oversize portion as described
hereinbefore. For that purpose the cross-section of the free end of
the insertion portion can be of a decreasing configuration,
preferably of a taperingly decreasing configuration, at least from
one of its larger side surfaces which in the insertion position
faces towards the inner side surfaces of the locking groove. For
the purposes of more secure fixing in the locking groove, the
bottom of the locking groove can have an opening which is adapted
to the free end for receiving the free end with the introduction
aid.
[0025] In a preferred development the locking portion can be of an
approximately V-shaped cross-section with a first and a second
limb, wherein the latching tongue is formed by the first limb and
the second limb is laterally connected to the insertion portion. In
that respect attention is directed to the V-shaped locking element
also described in WO 03/016654 and the disclosure of WO 03/016654
in respect of the V-shaped locking element is hereby incorporated
into the present disclosure.
[0026] In the latching position the first limb can bear at its end
against a contact surface provided in the latching recess. With
insertion of the locking element into the insertion position and
latching of the locking tongue in the latching recess, the end
contact against the contact surface provides that, as is described
in greater detail hereinafter, the second panel can be lifted off
the first panel in opposite relationship to its assembly direction
so that locking of the two panels can be achieved by the end
contact of that arrangement. That procedure is also described in WO
03/016654 and clearly illustrated therein for example in FIGS. 18
and 19, the disclosure of WO 03/016654 in regard to laying the
panel also being incorporated herein.
[0027] In a development of possible embodiments, the locking
portion can have two or more latching tongues which extend in
mutually spaced relationship from the second limb and which in the
latching position can be supported against a provided contact
surface or against a respective contact surface. In that way the
two latching tongues, with the second limb, can form a double
V-profile with two first limbs.
[0028] Preferably, an application aid can be provided on the
locking element for elastically applying the two limbs, the first
and the second limb, against each other upon assembly of the
panels. The latching tongue is prestressed by way of the elastic
application procedure and stores a specific spring energy. In the
assembly procedure described hereinafter, which involves locking to
a panel disposed in a first row a new panel in a second row,
elastic application is effected by the new panel firstly being
attached to the lying panel in an inclined position relative to the
lying panel and then pivoted downwardly into the plane of the lying
panel. For that purpose the new panel has the locking element which
in the insertion position is positioned in the locking groove
arranged in the edge which is towards the lying panel but which has
not yet been completely lowered, in which case the V-shaped profile
of the locking portion faces with its tip towards the lying panel.
When the mutually facing edges of the two panels move past each
other, the first limb is pressed with the latching tongue against
the second limb, producing a spring stressing force, and is
preferably caused to bear against the second limb. When the new
panel is moved downwardly, the locking tongue at least partly
relaxes into the latching recess in the lying panel. For that
purpose the end of the latching tongue, for locking purposes, can
bear against its contact surface associated therewith.
[0029] In that respect it can be provided that the latching tongue
engages directly on the insertion portion and in the relaxed
condition includes an angle of greater than 90.degree. with the
insertion portion. In that case, in the same manner as described
hereinbefore in relation to the V-shaped profile, the latching
tongue with its attachment to the insertion portion, can first be
moved past the lying panel and braced at an angle relative to the
insertion portion, which is preferably somewhat greater than
90.degree., equal to 90.degree. or somewhat less than
90.degree..
[0030] The fact of the two limbs bearing against each other at the
location at which the mutually facing inner side surfaces of the
two limbs are fed onto each other can lead to deformation which
causes difficulty in applying the two limbs against each other. It
can therefore be provided that at that location the locking element
has an application aid in the form of an enlargement in the
intermediate space between the limbs. The enlargement can be in the
form of a round bore.
[0031] In addition or alone, for the application aid, the second
limb can be of a configuration in respect of its cross-section such
as to enlarge conically towards its end connected to the first
limb. That means that it is possible to enlarge the intermediate
space between the limbs, which facilitates application of the limbs
for laying the panels in the usual fashion. Preferably the latching
tongue should be pivotable towards the second limb to such an
extent that it is perpendicular to the surface on which the panels
are to be laid.
[0032] Preferably the latching tongue in the relaxed position can
be at an angle relative to the second limb which is greater than
that in the latching position of the latching limb. In that way the
latching tongue in its latching position can bear in a prestressed
condition laterally against a side surface of the latching recess.
That can provide that the first limb or the latching tongue can
still be supported at the end against a contact surface provided in
the latching recess, even upon slight movement away from each other
of two panels connected by way of the locking element, insofar as,
in that slight movement away from each other of the panels, the
resilient latching tongue, by virtue of further relaxation, remains
laterally against the side surface of the latching recess and thus
at the end against the contact surface.
[0033] To increase its potential spring force and to afford a
greater degree of safeguard against kinking, the latching tongue or
the first limb can be of a curved shape with a curvature which
faces away from the second limb.
[0034] To strengthen and increase the stability of the V-shaped
profile, the portion of the V-shaped profile, which is formed by
both limbs jointly, is large in comparison with the height of the
limbs. in that respect that portion can be up to a half of the
total height of the V-shaped profile. That is also a way of
adjusting the potential spring force of the latching tongue.
[0035] It will be appreciated that the above-described features of
the locking element when combined together can also lead to
advantageous configurations of the locking element.
[0036] To attain the object of the invention, there can be provided
a fixing system for quadrangular plate-shaped panels with holding
profiles which are arranged at the edges of the panels and of which
holding profiles arranged in mutually opposite relationship fit to
each other in such a way that similar panels can be connected
together, in particular for floor panels, with mutually oppositely
disposed first holding profiles which are of such a configuration
that it is possible to lock to a panel disposed in a first row in a
second row a new panel by a procedure whereby the new panel is
firstly attached to the lying panel in an inclined position
relative to the lying panel and is then pivoted downwardly into the
plane of the lying panel, and mutually oppositely disposed second
holding profiles which have corresponding hooks, wherein a hook
connection can be made with one of the hooks of the new panel and a
hook of a panel which is already lying in the second row, by the
downward pivotal movement of the new panel, and associated with
each hook connection is an additional locking element which, prior
to the hooking of two panels, can be inserted into a locking groove
of one of the hooks of a first panel into an insertion position
such that in the hooked condition of two panels it prevents release
of the hook connection in a direction perpendicularly to the plane
of the laid panels, wherein the locking element and the locking
groove are provided at a surface of the hook which in the laid
condition of the panels is oriented approximately perpendicularly
to the plane of the panels, which plane is in the form of the
laying plane, and wherein the locking element can be of one of the
above-described configurations. In other respects in regard to the
configuration of the fixing system and here in particular regarding
the configuration and function of the hook connections attention is
directed to the disclosure of WO 03/16654 which is also
incorporated into the disclosure of the present invention.
[0037] As already described hereinbefore the latching tongue can
bear under a spring prestressing against an inner side surface of
the latching recess.
[0038] It is further provided that the inner side surfaces of the
locking groove are arranged in mutually parallel relationship, for
conformity with the above-described embodiments of the insertion
portion, so that the insertion portion can engage into the locking
groove without any problem.
[0039] For anchoring thereof or in addition to the above-described
anchoring options, the locking element can also be glued in the
locking groove.
[0040] Furthermore there are provided panels in particular floor
panels, of a quadrangular, plate-shaped configuration, wherein a
panel lying in a first row is lockable to a new panel for a second
row, by a procedure whereby the new panel is firstly attached to
the lying panel in an inclined position relative to the lying panel
and subsequently pivoted downwardly into the plane of the lying
panel, wherein the two panels can be connected together by a fixing
system according to one of the above-described embodiments with a
locking element according to one of the above-described
embodiments.
[0041] A further embodiment by way of example for a locking element
stands out from the known locking element by virtue of its
substantially simpler structure. The locking element is made from
material which is in strip form or in the form of an elongate line,
and is of a for example flat straight cross-section. In order to
mount it to a panel, a part of the cross-section of the locking
element is inserted into a holding gap provided for same in an edge
of a panel while the other part of the cross-section projects
freely from the edge of the panel. The projecting part acts as a
resilient latching tongue. The latching tongue is bent over, in the
assembled condition of two panels. The latching tongue then extends
into a latching recess which must be provided on a coupled adjacent
panel. That blocks the return movement, that is to say the panels
are prevented from moving away from each other in a direction
perpendicularly to the plane of the panels.
[0042] In order to simplify insertion and automatic latching
engagement, the locking element, instead of a straight flat
cross-section, can alternatively involve a cross-section with a
bend or kink. In that case the latching tongue already faces, in
the neutral position, in that direction in which it is further bent
during the joining movement, before it springs back by a short
distance into the latching recess and comes into latching
engagement.
[0043] Each of the above-described locking elements can either be
provided on a lying panel and can come into latching engagement in
a latching recess in a panel which is moved vertically thereto, or
can be provided on that panel which is moved vertically to a panel
which is in a lying position, depending on which panel has the
holding gap for anchoring the locking element. Panels can also be
latched with two locking elements if both the edge of a panel in a
lying position and also the edge of a panel which is moved
vertically thereto have a holding gap, in which a respective
locking element is anchored.
[0044] A further embodiment of a locking element is in the form of
a resilient locking clasp. For use, that locking clasp is fitted
into a holding gap in a panel edge. The locking clasp can spring
back into that holding gap when the locking clasp is pressed flat
due to an external action thereon. A concept of that kind is known
from WO 2005/054599. Preferably the locking clasp according to the
invention however is in the form of an extruded plastic member. If
the extrusion process produces an elongate straight profile, the
profile, preferably when it has issued from the extruder and is
still in a warm-deformable condition, is shaped with an additional
device to form a curved clasp which cools and sets in that form.
The extruded profile can be cut up into separate locking clasps
prior to or after the operation for shaping the clasp.
[0045] As mentioned in the opening part of this specification the
invention relates predominantly to a panel which can be joined to
similar panels by a substantially vertical movement of a new panel,
more specifically perpendicularly to the plane thereof, with
similar panels.
[0046] Panels can be made up from wood or wood materials such as
chipboard, MDF (medium density fiberboard), HDF (high density
fiberboard) or other standard wood panel materials and at the top
side and underside can have coatings which have decorative
functions and which in addition, at least on the top side, form a
resistant duty surface. The panels are produced by means of usual
production installations. The production installations effect in
particular profiling of the panel edges because the panel edges
generally have complementary edge profiles so that similar panels
can be joined together. Usual thicknesses for the panels are in the
range of 3 mm to 20 mm.
[0047] A panel of the general kind set forth of quadrangular shape,
with a top side, underside, peripherally extending edges and with
holding profiles at the edges is known from DE 299 24 454 U1. This
involves a panel whose holding profiles of two edges adjacent to a
corner form an upper hook which has an opening directed towards the
top side and whose holding profiles of the other edges adjacent a
corner are respectively in the form of a counterpart portion in
relation to the oppositely disposed upper hook, as a corresponding
lower hook which has an opening directed towards the underside,
wherein, as mentioned above, a new panel can be connected to
similar panels by a vertical movement, namely perpendicularly to
its plane, and wherein an additional automatically latching locking
element is provided or mounted on the panel for arresting the
connection to prevent it from coming loose.
[0048] The structure of a locking element as known from DE 299 24
454 U1 is inexpedient. It requires a great deal of structural
space. In addition the structural shape of the sole embodiment of
the additional locking element, which is disclosed in DE 299 24 454
U1, is considered to be disadvantageous. It is disadvantageous for
example when the situation involves fitting the locking element to
a panel edge by machine and automatically during operation of a
panel production installation.
[0049] As discussed in the opening part of this specification the
invention aims to provide a panel which is simple to install, with
an additional locking element which can be inexpensively produced
by machine.
[0050] In accordance with the invention that object is attained in
that the edge of the panel is provided with a holding gap, also
referred to as a locking groove, that the locking element has at
least one anchoring tongue, also referred to as an insertion
portion/insertion tongue, and that the anchoring tongue has a
pressing surface which is pressed by a pressing-in tool and by way
of which a force was applied for pressing the anchoring tongue of
the locking element into the holding gap of the panel.
[0051] Another important development of the solution to the
technical problem involved provides that at least one edge of the
panel has at least one locking element strip which is brought into
connection with the edge of the panel by way of a zip fastener
movement.
[0052] It appears to be an important innovation for a panel to be
developed in such a way that automatic fitment of a locking
element, as synchronously as possible, becomes a possibility.
Synchronous means that the feed and attachment of the locking
element takes place synchronously with the conveyor movement of the
panels in a production installation.
[0053] That is achieved because the components involved can be
processed, on the basis of the zip fastener principle. In
accordance with the invention that means that a locking element
strip is moved to the edge of a panel in such a way as occurs in
principle with a zip fastener edge which is moved towards a second
zip fastener edge and deflected and connected by a slider of the
zip fastener. The locking element is of such a configuration that
it can be moved in a similar manner towards the edge of a panel and
deflected with suitable means. In that case however anchorage of
the locking element to the edge of the panel is effected easily
without being based on the principle of zip fastener hooks which
are meshingly dovetailed together.
[0054] As the panel is intended preferably to be connected to
father panels by a pure vertical movement, resilient locking
elements are arranged at least at two edges. It is desirable if
required to provide different resilient locking elements depending
on the respective loading at the edges.
[0055] It is also desirable if at least one locking element is in
the form of a clip with clip portions arranged in a V-shape or
U-shape, wherein the anchoring tongue is arranged transversely at
one of the clip portions.
[0056] At least one other locking element is in the form of an
extruded curved locking clasp, the locking clasp is accommodated
resiliently movably in the holding gap, wherein provided over the
length of the locking clasp is at least one region which forms the
anchoring tongue.
[0057] The invention concerns a method of installing a floor
comprising panels having locking elements. Methods are separately
set forth, which relate exclusively to locking a first row of
panels because, for laying a first row of panels, depending on the
respective installation situation involved, it is possible to apply
different laying steps which are not possible in a following
row.
[0058] The basic starting point adopted is that of locking
quadrangular panels which have a top side, an underside and
peripherally extending edges with holding profiles arranged
thereat, with the proviso that at least two oppositely disposed
holding profiles of each panel are in the form of complementary
hook profiles so that hook profiles of adjacent panels can be
fitted one into the other in a vertical direction, wherein at least
one of the hook profiles is provided with an additional locking
element with a resilient latching tongue which can be latchingly
engaged into a latching recess in an adjacent panel.
[0059] In that situation the first row of panels can be locked
without involving a vertical movement for coupling purposes and
without latching engagement, more specifically as an alternative by
inserting the complementary hook profiles into each other in
mutually aligned relationship.
[0060] It is possible to dispense with a vertical movement for
coupling purposes and for latching engagement purposes, only for
locking the first row of panels. The hook profile with locking
element is laid in aligned relationship behind the complementary
hook profile of an adjacent panel and the hook profiles are then
pushed one into each other. For the beginning of the pushing
movement, the locking element can be somewhat deformed resiliently
so that it fits into the latching recess in the adjacent panel.
[0061] Alternatively the first row of panels is locked by a
procedure whereby the hook profiles to be coupled are firstly laid
loosely one upon the other and then the edges of the panels are
pushed towards each other until the latching tongue of the
resilient locking element is pushed resiliently inwardly by contact
with the adjacent panel and the panel with the locking element is
thereafter moved vertically, namely perpendicularly to the plane of
the panel, into the hook profile of the adjacent panel until the
resiliently inwardly moved latching tongue of the locking element
automatically moves resiliently out into the latching recess of the
adjacent panel and arrests the hook connection in a vertical
direction.
[0062] The hook profiles to be locked are desirably in the form of
an upper hook and a lower hook, with the upper hook being laid
loosely on the lower hook. The locking element can be arranged
either on the upper hook or the lower hook. As soon as the edges of
the panel are pushed towards each other by a substantially
horizontal movement and the latching tongue of the locking element
is moved resiliently inwardly, the upper hook is hooked into the
lower hook by a substantially vertical movement. In that situation
the inwardly moved latching tongue of the locking element
automatically moves resiliently outwardly in the latching recess of
the adjacent panel and arrests the hook connection.
[0063] The way in which panels in following rows are laid depends
on what kind of holding profiles is provided on those edges with
which the panels of different rows of panels are connected
together. A first general kind of holding profiles for connecting
rows of panels is designed for a joining movement in a vertical
direction, namely perpendicularly to the plane of the panel. That
situation preferably involves using a hook profile provided with
one of the resilient locking elements according to the invention.
In a poorer design configuration, it is also possible to use one of
the known locking elements. At any event a new navel is attached
from above to panels which have already been installed. The new
panel can be moved downwardly either in a parallel position in
relation to the panels which have already been installed or it is
first moved downwardly somewhat more deeply at one corner until the
hook profiles partially engage into each other and it is then
progressively brought into hooking engagement on the basis of the
zip fastener process. Panels which are flexible and can be bent and
twisted favor the zip fastener process. In that way panels which
for hooking engagement require a substantially vertical motion
component can be particularly easily connected.
[0064] Another general kind of holding profiles is of such a nature
that a positively locking connection is made by inclinedly
attaching a new panel to panels, which are in a lying condition, in
a front row, and then pivoting the new panel downwardly into the
plane of the panels which are in the lying position. Modified
tongue-and-groove profiles are provided for that purpose at the
edges for connection to a front row.
[0065] The invention concerns a method of automatically mounting a
locking element to an edge of a panel. The panels are for example
wall, floor or ceiling panels which are intended for fitting in
rooms.
[0066] Panels which are suitable for locking with a locking element
comprise for example wood or wood materials such as chipboard, MDF
(medium density fiberboard), HDF (high density fiberboard) or other
standard wood panel materials. The panels are produced by means of
conventional production installations. The production installations
implement in particular profiling of the panel edges because the
panel edges generally have complementary edge profiles so that
similar panels can be joined together.
[0067] An example for an automatic locking element is known from WO
00/016654 (EP 1 415 056 B1), the disclosure of which in respect of
the configuration of the loose locking element is incorporated
herein by the foregoing reference.
[0068] The known locking element serves for arresting two panels.
It is of a V-shaped cross-section, wherein provided at one end of
the V-shaped cross-section is a laterally projecting insertion
tongue which can be fitted into a groove in an edge of a panel in
order to join the locking element to the panel.
[0069] The object of the present invention is to propose a method
and an apparatus for mounting the known locking element
automatically to an edge of the panel, in which respect industrial
mounting is to be a possibility.
[0070] According to the invention that object is attained in that
the locking element in the form of an endless cable-like locking
element line is taken from a storage means and passed into a guide
passage and fed to a separating station which separates the locking
element line into individual locking elements, and wherein each
individual locking element is moved in synchronous movement in
relation to a panel continuously transported by the panel
production installation to an edge of said panel and pressed by a
pressing device into a receiving region of the edge of the
panel.
[0071] The new method can be integrated without any problem into
conventional production installations for wall, floor and ceiling
panels because it requires a small amount of space for it to be
carried into effect. Because those production installations usually
transport panels at high speed in a continuous movement, each
locking element is respectively moved to the panel edge at the same
speed as that at which the production installation is operated at
that time.
[0072] Desirably, the locking element is formed from plastic
material and for example extruded. In that case it is processed in
the form of an endless line of locking elements.
[0073] As the locking element is so small that it fits within a
connecting location of wail, floor and ceiling panels, it is of a
relatively small cross-section. It is desirable if the heightwise
dimension of the locking element is no greater than half the
thickness of the panel. Embodiments with a larger locking element
have a detrimental effect because the strength of the edge of the
panel is worsened because of portions which are milled away to
receive the locking element, and the panel edges become susceptible
to breakage.
[0074] Because of the small cross-section of the locking element,
special precautions must be taken for applying a transport movement
to the locking element line. A tensile loading on the locking
element line is possible without any problem. Applying pressing
forces for the purposes of transmitting movement by a pushing
action however is difficult because the locking element line is
susceptible to kinking or buckling.
[0075] In order to prevent a buckling effect, there is provided a
guide passage for the locking element line, which prevents lateral
outward buckling of the locking element line. The guide passage is
of a cross-sectional shape which also prevents unwanted rotation of
the locking element line.
[0076] In order to obtain individual locking elements, the locking
element line is guided to a separating station which separates the
locking element line into individual locking elements.
[0077] The individual locking elements are advantageously moved to
the edge in question of the panel at an acute angle of about
10.degree. and are pressed into the receiving region of the edge of
the panel by the above-mentioned pressing device. The receiving
region of the panel edge has the receiving groove into which the
insertion tongue of the locking element is pressed and preferably
anchored in frictionally locking relationship.
[0078] A variant of the method provides a pushing advance device
which pushes the locking elements or the locking element line
through the guide passage in the direction of the pressing
device.
[0079] In accordance with a development of the method the locking
element line is separated into individual locking elements by a
separating station which is arranged upstream of the advance device
in the direction of through movement of the locking element line.
The separated locking elements are then pushed in a row by the
advance device successively through the guide passage to the
pressing device. The advantage of this method is that transmission
of a transport movement from the advance device to the row of
locking elements occurs continuously.
[0080] A preferred method transposes the working steps in such a
way that the locking element line is separated into individual
locking elements by a separating station which in the
through-travel direction is arranged downstream of the advance
device. That involves a change in the transmission of movement. The
locking element line is transported in a pushing mode by the
advance device into the guide passage. As soon as the locking
element is cut off however, it is transported out of the guide
passage by a pulling force applied by the pressing device. The
locking element is therefore cut off near the location at which the
locking element is fed to the edge of the panel. The separating
operation takes place at a time when the locking element is already
in contact with the pressing device. For that reason the separating
operation takes place so close to the panel edge that the front end
of the locking element is already forced in between the pressing
device and the panel edge because then the transport movement for
the locking element can be transmitted from the pressing device
into the locking element. That case involves a pulling force which
is applied to the locking element by the pressing device.
[0081] Desirably, the transport movement of the locking element
line is braked at the separating location, the braking action being
produced by the engagement of the separating station, for example
with a cutting blade, into the locking element line, because the
cutting blade closes the guide passage. That ensures that the
separating operation is not impeded by any transport movement and
the cutting edge can precisely cut during the stoppage phase of the
locking element line.
[0082] Furthermore, it is desirable in terms of a high production
speed if the advance device conveys further locking element line
during the braking of the transport movement without stopping. With
the high production speed intended, constantly decelerating and
accelerating the advance device in order thereby to implement a
cyclic stopping action for the separating operation would be
problematical.
[0083] The length of the locking element line which is conveyed
during the separating operation must be put into intermediate
storage. A buffer region is provided for that purpose. The
arrangement dispenses with a rigid narrow guide passage in the
buffer region. Instead, there is provided space in which the
supplied length of the locking element line can move out of its
regular travel path by a buckling movement.
[0084] In a simpler fashion a storage spring provided in the buffer
region is actuated by the outward buckling movement of the locking
element line. In that way a stress is imparted to the storage
spring and spring energy is stored. That stored spring energy is
automatically liberated after termination of the separating
operation of the separating station, in which case the length of
the locking element line which has been stored by virtue of the
outward buckling thereof is advanced with a jerk.
[0085] Desirably the storage spring operates automatically in the
buffer region so that there is no need for a particular control for
buffer storage of the locking element line.
[0086] Another desirable development of the method provides that a
given length of the locking element line is retained in a stock
supply region between the storage means and the advance device.
[0087] The removal device, acting on the same principle as the
advance device, can transmit a transport movement to the locking
element line, in which case the locking element line is retained in
the storage means in such a way that it is to be removed in as
twist-free condition as possible. If removal is to be implemented
from time to time at a reduced removal speed in order to keep the
locking element line twist-free, the downward loop-forming part of
the locking element line forms a supply zone in which a sufficient
length of the locking element line is retained in order to process
same at the required advance speed and to feed it to the separating
station and the pressing device.
[0088] An apparatus is provided for carrying out the method. The
apparatus serves for automatic mounting of a locking element to an
edge of a panel, in particular a floor panel, wherein the locking
element is in the form of an endless bucklable line which can be
fed from a storage means, wherein there are provided a guide
passage, an advance device, a separating station and a pressing
device, and wherein the locking element line can be separated into
individual locking elements by means of the separating station and
pressed into a receiving region of the edge of the panel by means
of the pressing device in synchronous movement with a panel
continuously transported by the panel production installation.
[0089] In order to guarantee reliable guidance of the locking
element line the guide passage is of a free cross-section which is
almost coincident with the cross-section of the locking element
line. Therefore the guide passage has a V-shaped cross-sectional
region and a laterally projecting cross-sectional region, wherein
the laterally projecting cross-sectional region adjoins an end of
the V-shaped cross-sectional region.
[0090] Desirably the advance device has at least one advance roller
with which a rotary movement can be transmitted to the locking
element line by way of a frictional contact. In order to guarantee
good transmission of movement, the advance roller is provided with
a contour which forms a negative of that side of the locking
element line, with which the advance roller is in frictional
contact. The advance device is particularly reliable if there are
provided two mutually opposite advance rollers which are driven in
opposite directions and between which the locking element line is
engaged.
[0091] The pressing device can have at least one pressing roller,
by means of which a pressing force can be produced in
perpendicularly relationship to the edge of a panel, and wherein
with the pressing roller, if necessary, the rotary movement thereof
can be converted by frictional contact into a transport movement of
the locking element.
[0092] Preferably servomotors can be used for all driven rollers of
the entire apparatus, servomotors being advantageous because of
their positionally accurate controllability.
[0093] Desirably the separating station for the locking element
line is arranged downstream of the advance device in the
through-travel direction. That design configuration guarantees
problem-free feed of the locking element line through the guide
device and provides that the separating operation is effected only
just before the position at which the locking element is fitted to
the edge of the panel. In this embodiment the separating operation
is effected only when the front portion of the locking element is
already in frictional contact with the pressing device. That is
because the transport movement for the locking element, after being
cut away from the locking element, can only still be transmitted by
the pressing device pulling the locking element. In this embodiment
of the apparatus therefore there must be a change in the transport
mode, namely from pushing transport by the advance device into
pulling transport by the pressing device.
[0094] Desirably there is provided a buffer region for the locking
element line, which is further conveyed thereto, while the
separating station is in an engagement condition.
[0095] In a simpler fashion the buffer region has an elastically
deformable storage element and spring energy can be stored in the
elastically deformable storage element by virtue of outward
buckling of the locking element line, in which case the spring
energy can be delivered or liberated by the elastically deformable
storage element. The spring energy is liberated as soon as the
separating operation at the separating station is concluded and the
conveyor cross-section of the guide passage which the separating
station closed off during the separating operation is opened again.
The spring energy then causes a jerk advance movement of that part
of the locking element line which was fed to the buffer region
during the separating operation and which brought about mechanical
stressing of the storage element with spring energy.
[0096] A simple construction of a buffer region with a storage
element has a conveyor passage which is elastically deformable and
in particular variable in length. By virtue of its elastic
deformability such a conveyor passage stores on the one hand spring
energy and on the other hand stores a length of the locking element
line, insofar as the conveyor passage is elastically increased in
length by virtue of the outward buckling effect of the locking
element line.
[0097] Desirably the conveyor passage is formed from a helical
cylindrical spring. The helical cylindrical spring can be connected
between the advance device and the pressing device.
[0098] Desirably the conveyor passage is arranged in a neutral
position in an arc, whereby the locking element line is deflected.
The deflection effect promotes the buckling action and also allows
the entire apparatus to be of a construction which saves on space.
In that way the apparatus can be integrated in a very small space
into conventional production installations for wall, floor and
ceiling panels.
[0099] A further helpful measure is found in the fact that there is
provided at least one means for synchronization of the transport
movement of the locking elements with the transport movement of the
panels in the production installation.
[0100] The means for synchronization of the transport movement can
have a movement pickup. The movement pickup detects the transport
movement of the panels in the production installation, wherein the
information for synchronization can be transmitted from the
movement pickup to a control means with which the transport
movement of the locking elements is controllable.
[0101] If a panel is to be provided at one or more further edges
with a locking element or a plurality of locking elements, by way
of example an additional apparatus as described hereinbefore can be
integrated into the production installation for each further edge.
The panels are transported in the usual manner for processing in a
longitudinal direction and the transport direction is altered for
processing in a transverse direction, for example being deflected
through 90.degree.. The speeds can vary. They depend substantially
on the ratio of the edge lengths. If the panel is a square panel
the edges in the longitudinal and transverse directions are of the
same length. The transport speeds are preferably the same. If in
contrast a panel has oppositely disposed long and short edges, then
the transport speed is appropriately adapted to the ratio of the
different edge lengths. The transport speed in a direction parallel
to the long edges is usually higher than in a direction parallel to
the short edges of a panel.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0102] The present invention is described in greater detail
hereinafter by means of a number of embodiments illustrated in a
drawing. In the drawing:
[0103] FIG. 1 shows a part of a sectional view of two panels which
are laid together, with a fixing system with a locking element;
[0104] FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of a locking operation
for the two panels in first step;
[0105] FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the two panels in the
locking operation in a second step;
[0106] FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view of the locking element 5
in the relaxed position;
[0107] FIGS. 5a and b show a perspective plan view of the locking
element of FIG. 1, but prior to insertion thereof into the fixing
system;
[0108] FIG. 6 shows a perspective plan view of the locking element
in a second embodiment;
[0109] FIGS. 7a and b show a perspective plan view of the locking
element in a third embodiment.;
[0110] FIGS. 8a-i show cross-sectional views of the locking element
in a further embodiment;
[0111] FIGS. 9a-c show cross-sectional views of the locking element
in fundamentally different embodiments;
[0112] FIGS. 10a-d show cross-sectional views of the locking
element in further fundamentally different embodiments;
[0113] FIG. 11 shows a diagrammatic view from three sides of a
panel with hook profiles at all edges;
[0114] FIGS. 12-14 show cross-sections through panels with a lower
hook and an upper hook provided with a locking element, wherein the
upper hook is shown in different joining positions in relation to
the panel with the lower hook;
[0115] FIG. 15 shows a cross-section through an alternative panel
with locking element in the upper hook-arrested condition;
[0116] FIGS. 16-18 show cross-sections through panels with an upper
hook and a lower hook provided with a locking element, wherein the
lower hook is shown in different joining positions in relation to
the panel with the upper hook;
[0117] FIG. 19 shows a cross-section through an alternative panel
with locking element in the lower hook-arrested condition;
[0118] FIG. 20 shows a cross-section through panels with two
locking elements prior to the locking action;
[0119] FIG. 21 shows a cross-section through panels as shown in
FIG. 20, after the locking action;
[0120] FIGS. 22-25 show cross-sections through panels with a
simplified locking element at a lower hook, wherein an upper hook
is shown in different joining positions relative to the panel with
the lower hook;
[0121] FIGS. 26-29 show cross-sections through panels with a
simplified locking element on an upper hook, wherein the upper hook
is shown in different joining positions relative to the panel with
the lower hook;
[0122] FIG. 30 shows a cross-section through panels with two
locking elements, prior to the locking action;
[0123] FIG. 31 shows a cross-section through panels as shown in
FIG. 30, after the locking action;
[0124] FIGS. 32-35 show cross-sections through panels with a
locking element on a lower hook, wherein a panel with an upper hook
is shown in different joining positions relative to the panel with
the lower hook;
[0125] FIG. 36 shows a plan view of a panel edge as indicated at
XXXVI in FIG. 32;
[0126] FIG. 37 shows a plan view of a panel edge as indicated at
XXXVII in FIG. 34;
[0127] FIGS. 38-41 show cross-sections through panels with a
locking element at an upper hook, wherein the panel with the upper
hook is shown in different joining positions relative to a panel
with a lower hook;
[0128] FIG. 42 shows a cross-section through panels with a lower
hook and with an upper hook provided with a locking element;
[0129] FIG. 43 shows a locking element;
[0130] FIG. 44 shows a perspective view with hook profiles of a
first row of panels which are pushed into each other in aligned
relationship;
[0131] FIG. 45 is a perspective view in relation to the method of
installing panels with hook profiles which are hooked vertically
with a locking element;
[0132] FIG. 46 shows a panel for carrying out the method shown in
FIG. 45;
[0133] FIG. 53 is a diagrammatic view of an apparatus for
automatically mounting a locking element to an edge of a panel;
[0134] FIG. 54 is a view onto a transfer passage in accordance with
in FIG. 1;
[0135] FIG. 55 is a view onto two advance rollers in accordance
with in FIG. 1;
[0136] FIG. 56 is a plan view of the advance rollers of FIG. 3;
[0137] FIG. 57 is a view of a guide passage in accordance with V-V
in FIG. 1;
[0138] FIG. 58 is a view of a separating station in accordance with
VI-VI in FIG. 1;
[0139] FIG. 59 is a view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 with a
reel storage means for a locking element line;
[0140] FIG. 60 is a side view of the apparatus of FIG. 7; and
[0141] FIG. 61 is a diagrammatic view of an alternative embodiment
of an apparatus for automatically mounting a locking element to an
edge of a panel.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0142] FIG. 1 shows a part of a cross-sectional view of two panels
1, 2 of a quadrangular, plate-shaped configuration, wherein the
illustrated part reproduces a fixing system 3 having a locking
element 5, by way of which the two panels 1, 2 are connected
together and locked together at their edges or narrow sides by
means of a hook connection 4 and a locking element 5 according to
the invention. The hook connection 4 has two hooks 4.1, 4.2 which
in the locking position are hooked into each other in such a way
that the panels 1, 2 cannot be displaced horizontally relative to
each other in the position which here is horizontal.
[0143] The locking element 5 is inserted with a portion in the form
of an insertion portion 6 in a locking groove 7 which extends in
the longitudinal direction of the edges of the panel 2, which edges
extend in the plane of the drawing. The locking element 5 also has
a portion in the form of a locking portion 8 with a resilient
latching tongue 9 which is latched into a latching recess 10 and
which with its end 11 bears against a contact surface 12 in the
latching recess 10. As will be described in greater detail
hereinafter, the latching tongue 9 is elastically pivotable about
its attachment 13 to the rest of the locking portion 8 about an
axis parallel to its longitudinal extent and in the position shown
here bears under a spring bias against the contact surface 12. So
that the latching tongue 9 finds its appropriate contact point
against the contact surface 12 with its pivotal movement into the
latching recess 10, the contact surface 12 is inclined out of the
horizontal. That makes it possible for the latching tongue 9 to
reliably bear against the contact surface 12, in spite of slight
changes in the dimensions within given tolerance ranges. Even in
the event of the two panels 1, 2 moving slightly away from each
other within a given tolerance range, the latching tongue 9 can
still remain against the contact surface 12, by virtue of the
prestressing of the latching tongue 9, insofar as the latching
tongue 9 is further pivoted by virtue of its end 11 sliding down
against the inclined plane formed by the contact surface 12. That
arrangement prevents the two panels from being able to come loose
from each other, perpendicularly to the surface V on which they are
laid. The inclination of the contact surface 12 is substantially
determined by the pivot radius of the latching tongue 9 about its
attachment 13 and the force against which the latching tongue 9
bears against the contact surface 12. The depth of the latching
recess 10, which is shown here, is only to be viewed as being by
way of example and, in order to satisfy larger tolerance
fluctuations in the dimensions of the panels 1, 2, it can also be
made deeper into the narrow side or edge of the panel 1. The
contact surface 12 which in the embodiment illustrated here opens
straight into the edge of the panel 1 can additionally have a
projection which is provided at the mouth opening and which does
not project laterally beyond the narrow side of the panel 1 and
which can serve as an abutment for the latching tongue 9 to ensure
that the latching tongue 9 cannot slip out of the latching recess
10 under particularly high forces in opposite relationship to the
force P for locking the panels and in perpendicular relationship to
the laying surface.
[0144] FIGS. 2 and 3 each show a cross-sectional view illustrating
the assembly of the two panels 1, 2 in two steps, wherein here the
hook 4.1 is of a somewhat different design configuration from FIG.
1, which however is not of crucial significance in terms of the
mode of operation of the locking element 5 according to the
invention. Assembly of the two panels 1, 2 is also described in
greater detail in WO 03/016654 to which reference is explicitly
directed here and the disclosure of which in regard to the assembly
of the two panels 1, 2 is expressly also incorporated here.
[0145] In order to lock a panel 1 which is lying in a first row to
a new panel 2 for a second row, then, as described in greater
detail and illustrated in WO 03/016654, firstly the new panel 2 is
attached to the lying panel 1 in an inclined position relative to
the lying panel 1 and subsequently pivoted downwardly into the
plane of the lying panel 1 in the direction of the force P. In that
situation the locking element has already been inserted with its
insertion portion 6 into the locking groove 7, prior to the locking
procedure 5. When the new panel 2 is pivoted downwardly into the
plane of the lying panel 1, the edges with the fixing system 3
slide past each other over their length and brace the locking
element 5.
[0146] In the structure shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the locking portion
8 is of an approximately V-shaped cross-section with a first limb
14 and a second limb 15, wherein the latching tongue 9 is formed by
the first limb 14 and the second limb 15 is laterally connected to
the insertion portion 6. When the new panel 2 is pivoted downwardly
and the two edges of the panels 1, 2 slide down against each other,
the latching tongue 9 is pressed out of the relaxed condition shown
in FIG. 4, a cross-sectional view of the latching element 5 in the
relaxed condition, against the second limb 15 and in that case is
prestressed like a leaf spring with a specific spring energy. When
the locking position of the two panels 1, 2 is reached, which is
shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the hooks 4.1 and 4.2 engage into each
other to afford the hook connection 4. At the same time the
latching tongue 9 is partially relaxed into the latching recess 10:
in a latching position the latching tongue 9 comes to bear with its
end 11 against the contact surface 12 and bears against it in a
prestressed condition.
[0147] In that situation the surface regions of the panels 1, 2,
which surface regions are away from the laying surface V, are of a
convergent configuration at the edges in such a way that they
completely close the gap 16 between the two panels 1, 2 upwardly.
For that purpose the hook 4.1 engages over the locking portion 8 in
the position shown in FIG. 2 in which the two limbs 14, 15 bear
against each other, almost completely from above, so that the two
edges can slide as tightly against each other as possible for
locking the two panels 1, 2, upon pivotal movement of the new panel
2.
[0148] In the locking operation the hooks 4.1, 4.2 slide against
each other at inclined surfaces 17 and thereby draw the edges of
the two panels 1, 2 towards each other, as is also described in
greater detail in WO 03/016654, to which reference is made. In that
way the two panels 1, 2 which are connected together by way of the
fixing system 3 cannot be unlocked in the plane of the drawing
without destroying parts of the panels 1, 2 or the fixing system
3.
[0149] The locking element 5 additionally has anchoring means 18 by
which it can be captively anchored with its insertion portion 6 in
the locking groove 7. The anchoring means 18 thus hold the locking
element 5 in the locking groove 7 so that the locking element 5
cannot be unintentionally and undesirably displaced in the locking
groove 7 prior to and during the locking operation.
[0150] In terms of the production procedure the anchoring means 18
should satisfy the condition that the locking element 5 can be
anchored in the locking groove 7 without any problem. For that
purpose, as is not further shown here, the locking element 5 can be
glued with its insertion portion 6 into the locking groove 7.
Hereinafter however further different solutions in regard to the
configuration of the anchoring means 18 will be described in
greater detail with reference to FIGS. 5 to 10.
[0151] FIGS. 5 to 7 each show a perspective view of the locking
element 5 in different embodiments. In this case the locking
element 5 which is shown loose is still in the latching position
shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, in which the locking element is not yet
completely relaxed, as is shown in FIG. 4. For the sake of enhanced
clarity the locking element 5 is shown as being transparent in
FIGS. 5 to 7. That corresponds at the same time to a possible
embodiment in which the locking element 5 is extruded from a
transparent plastic material. The locking element 5 shown in FIG.
5a corresponds to the locking element 5 shown in FIG. 1.
[0152] To provide an oversize, three projections 19 are provided at
a larger side surface of the insertion portion 6, being the side
surface which in the insertion position of the locking element 5
faces towards the inner side surfaces of the locking groove 7, in
other words, in the embodiments of the locking element 5 which are
shown in FIGS. 5a+b, the three projections 19 are provided at the
top side of the insertion portion 6. The projections 19 extend over
the entire lengthwise extent of the locking element 5. The
longitudinal side surfaces 20 of the projections 19 are arranged
inclinedly relative to each other. As a result the projections 19
which are arranged towards the free end of the insertion portion 6
converge in a wedge configuration to provide a tip 21. In that
respect it is provided in accordance with the invention that the
height h of the insertion portion 6 is somewhat greater than the
width by of the locking groove 7 (FIG. 1) so that the tips 21 are
elastically or plastically-elastically deformed upon insertion of
the locking element 5 into the locking groove 7 and by way thereof
clamp the locking element 5 fixedly in the locking groove 7 and dig
fixedly into the inner side surfaces of the locking groove 7.
[0153] FIG. 5b shows a modification of the configuration of the
locking element 5 shown in FIG. 5a, which is distinguished in that
over its longitudinal extent the locking element 5 is of a curved
shape, the radius of curvature r of which extends approximately in
the direction of the section line formed by the cross-sectional
plane and the longitudinal sectional plane, that is to say in the
embodiment illustrated here, the locking element 5 is curved
downwardly.
[0154] When now the curved locking element 5 is inserted into the
locking groove 7 which is of a linear configuration, the locking
element 5 is straightened in opposite relationship to its bend and
bears in an elastically prestressed condition against the inner
side surfaces of the locking groove 7, thereby providing for
additional anchorage of the locking element 5 in the locking groove
7.
[0155] In a configuration which is not shown here, the insertion
portion 6 can also be designed without an oversize in respect of
its height h relative to the width by of the locking groove 7 so
that the locking element 5 is anchored in the locking groove 7
solely by virtue of its elastic prestressing as a consequence of
its previous curvature (as described above).
[0156] In both the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 5a and 5b,
there is provided an introduction aid 22 for easier introduction of
the locking element 5 into the locking groove 7, which is here
formed by the longitudinal side surface 20 of the projection 19,
which is closest to the free end of the locking portion 8. In this
case the longitudinal side surface 20 serves as an inclined plane,
over which the insertion portion 6 can be easily pushed into the
locking groove 7, in spite of its oversize. An introduction aid can
be provided in the same manner on the other embodiments still to be
described.
[0157] Referring to FIG. 6 an insertion portion 6 is of a curved
configuration towards its free end so that a hook 23 is formed at
the free end, the hook elastically bracing the insertion portion 6
upon the insertion thereof into the locking groove 7, thereby
achieving an anchoring effect for the locking element 5 in the
locking groove 7. It will be appreciated that in this case also the
locking element 5 can be curved as described above.
[0158] The embodiment of the locking element 5 shown in FIGS. 7a
and b has a slot 24 which extends from the end of the insertion
portion and in the direction of the locking portion 8, the sides 25
delimiting the slot 24 being curved away from the slot 24. The end
of the insertion portion 6 is beveled towards the slot 24 to form
the introduction aid 22 and thus, as in the embodiments of FIGS. 5
and 6, forms inclined planes for easier introduction of the
insertion portion 6 into the locking groove 7. Upon introduction of
the insertion portion 6 into the locking groove 7 the two slot
sides 25 are moved towards each other whereby the insertion portion
6 is elastically braced in the locking groove.
[0159] Further possible embodiments of the locking element 5 are
shown in following FIGS. 8 to 10, showing however only a
cross-sectional view of the respective locking element 5. In this
case, in FIGS. 8 and 10, the latching tongue 9 is shown in a
completely relaxed position (broken lines) and in the latching
position (solid lines) in a partially stressed condition.
[0160] In FIGS. 8a to e the locking portion 8 of the respective
locking element 5 is still in the V-shaped form already described
above. The individual embodiments differ however in various details
which are now to be described.
[0161] In FIG. 8a the insertion portion 6 has three projections 19
each with a respective asymmetrical tip 21, in which the
longitudinal side surface 20 of the projection 19, which is remote
from the free end of the insertion portion 6, extends
perpendicularly to the lengthwise extent of the locking portion 8,
that is to say perpendicularly in the Figure here. As a consequence
of that arrangement, the respective other longitudinal side
surfaces 2G of the projections 19 form an inclined plane which is
operative upon introduction of the insertion portion 6 so that the
insertion portion 6 can be easily pushed into the locking groove 7.
In an opposite movement in relation thereto however, that is to say
in the event of a movement of the insertion portion 6 out of the
locking groove 7, the tips 21 of the projections 19 dig into the
inner side surfaces of the locking groove 7 by virtue of the
oversize of the insertion portion 6 and the direction of the tips
21, and thereby hold the locking element 5 fast in the locking
groove 7. In FIG. 8b the hooks are disposed at the underside of the
insertion portion 6, whereby they are better protected prior to
insertion into the locking groove 7, than those in FIG. 8a. In FIG.
8c the projections 19 are disposed on both sides of the insertion
portion 6, in which case for example the projections 19 here have
symmetrical tips 21.
[0162] The embodiments of the insertion portion 6, which are shown
in FIGS. 8f to i, are of a curved shape, whereby the insertion
portion 6 is elastically braced in the locking groove 7 when it is
inserted thereinto. In addition, the embodiment of FIGS. 8h and 8i
has projections 19 which impart an oversize to the insertion
portion 6 and by way thereof, upon insertion of the insertion
portion 6 into the locking groove 7, provide that the insertion
portion 6 digs fast into the inner side surfaces of the locking
groove 7. In this arrangement the projection shown in FIG. 8i is of
a design such as to face in a direction away from the free end of
the insertion portion 6, whereby the projection 19 acts like a barb
which, when the insertion portion 6 is being pulled out of the
locking groove 7, hooks into the inner side surface of the locking
groove 7.
[0163] Crucial aspects in regard to the effectiveness of the
locking element 5 are inter alia the spring energy which can be
stored when the first limb 14 or the latching tongue 9 bears
against the second limb 15 and the possible spring travel which is
available due to complete relaxation of the locking element 5. Both
parameters can be generally adjusted by way of the configuration of
the profile of the locking portion 8 and the locking element 5
respectively, so that, depending on its purpose of use, the locking
element 5 can be designed with a suitable potential spring energy.
More specifically, for example in FIGS. 8a and b, the two limbs 14,
15 converge at different heights h.sub.1 of the locking portion 8
so that the latching tongue 9 in FIG. 8a can be more easily caused
to bear against the second limb, than the latching tongue 9 in FIG.
8b.
[0164] In FIGS. 8d and e, a respective additional enlargement 26 is
provided in the form of a round bore 27 which, in comparison with
an acute-angled V-shaped profile, in the pivotal movement of the
two limbs 14, 15 towards each other, prevents an accumulation of
material at that location, so that here the latching tongues can be
more easily caused to bear against the second limb 15, in
comparison with the acute-angle V-shaped profile. A similar but
attenuated effect is achieved by the profiles shown in the other
embodiments of FIG. 8, by means of a rounded configuration 28.
[0165] In FIGS. 9a to c, the embodiments of the locking element 5
have an additional latching tongue 9 which is also intended to bear
against a contact surface provided for same in the latching recess,
in the latching position of the locking element 5.
[0166] FIGS. 10a to d show four further fundamentally different
embodiments of the locking element 5 which differ from the other
embodiments of the locking element 5 which have been described by
way of example, in particular in regard to the configuration of
their locking portion 8. In this case the latching tongue 9 is
connected directly to the insertion portion 6. For locking the two
panels 1, 2 together, the latching tongue is pressed against the
edge of the panel 2 carrying it and thus prestressed and, as in the
other embodiments of the locking element 5, when the latching
recess 10 is reached, it can relax into the intended latching
position into the latching recess 10, in which respect it is also
provided here that in the latching position the latching tongue 9
bears in a prestressed condition against the contact surface 12
associated therewith.
[0167] All embodiments of the locking element 5 which are described
herein are integrally produced from plastic material by
extrusion.
[0168] FIG. 11 shows a diagrammatic view of a panel 30 of
rectangular shape. The panel 30 has hook profiles 31 and 32 at all
four edges. The panel 30 can be connected to similar panels by
means of the hook profiles 31 and 32. Two of the hook profiles
which come together in an L-shape at a first corner have a lower
hook 31 while the other two hook profiles which are also arranged
in an L-shape relative to each other each have a respective upper
hook 32. That hook profile which, when a panel 30 is lying flat on
a surface, has an upwardly directed hook end 31a and a hook opening
31b is identified as the lower hook 31. The upper hook 32 forms a
co-operating portion for the lower hook 31 and has a hook opening
32b which, when the panel 30 is in the lying condition, is directed
downwardly, more specifically faces towards a laying surface. At
least one of the hook profiles is provided with an additional
locking element which has been omitted in the diagrammatic view in
FIG. 11 for the sake of simplicity.
[0169] In order to fit two edges together in a vertical direction
or with a motion component in perpendicular relationship to the
plane of the panels and to secure them against movement in the
reverse direction by means of an additional locking element 33, a
number of embodiments of panels with locking elements 33 are set
forth with reference to FIGS. 12 to 42. In this respect different
locking elements 33 are provided, as well as special hook profiles
which co-operate with the locking elements 33. In addition
embodiments of locking elements as shown in FIGS. 1 to 10d can be
used.
[0170] The Figures generally show a connecting location between two
panels 30a and 30b so that the complementary hook profiles and the
function thereof can be clearly seen. The rest of the panels is not
illustrated. Provided at the respectively omitted end of each panel
30a and 30b respectively there is always a complementary hook
profile. One of the oppositely disposed edges of a panel is in the
form of an upper hook and the other is in the form of a lower hook.
The two panel portions 30a and 30b when fitted together give a
complete panel 30.
[0171] An embodiment of a panel with a locking element 33 on the
upper hook 32 will now be described with reference to FIGS. 12 to
14.
[0172] That panel 30b with the lower hook 31, as shown in FIG. 12,
is disposed on a support surface U. The lower hook 31 has an
upwardly facing hook end 31a and an upwardly directed opening 31b,
that is to say which is facing away from the surface U. The upper
hook 32 provided with the locking element 33 has a downwardly
facing hook end 32a and a downwardly directed opening 32b. The hook
ends 31a/32a and openings 31b/32b are of such a configuration that
a hook end 32a of the upper hook 32 of the one panel 30a can always
be inserted into the opening 31b of the lower hook 31 of the other
panel 30b. The lower hook 31 has a latching recess 31c for the
locking element 33. The cross-section of the locking element 33 is
of a V-shaped configuration in the manner of a clip. It has two
clip portions 33a and 33b. The clip portion 33a forms a resilient
latching tongue 33a. The other clip portion 33b is provided with an
anchoring tongue 33c which has anchoring means and which is
inserted into a holding gap 32d provided for same in the upper hook
32. The latching tongue 33a of the locking element 33 projects from
the edge of the panel 30a in the neutral condition, without spring
stressing.
[0173] The two panels 30a and 30b are arranged in mutually
superposed relationship or overlap each other in FIG. 12. The panel
30a with the upper hook 32 is arranged higher than the panel 30b
prior to the locking involvement.
[0174] The two hook ends 31a and 32a of the panels 30a and 30b have
inclinedly arranged undercut surfaces H1 and H2 which, in the
locked condition of the panels 30a and 30b, prevent the panels 30a
and 30b from moving away from each other in the plane thereof and
perpendicularly to the edges.
[0175] FIG. 13 shows an intermediate position during the connection
of the hook profiles. The upper hook 32 is arranged over the lower
hook 31 in such a way that edge surfaces 31e and 32e which form a
join at the top side of the panels are in contact in a vertical
plane. The downward movement of the upper hook 32 causes the
resilient latching tongue 33a of the locking element 33 to be
automatically folded together. The latching tongue 33a is
resiliently stressed by virtue of the contact of the latching
tongue 33a with the edge surface 31e of the lower hook 31. The edge
surface 31e of the lower hook 31 thus acts as a clamping surface
31e for the latching tongue 33a.
[0176] Upon a continuation of the joining movement the latching
tongue 33a slides completely past the clamping surface 31e until
the end of the latching tongue 33a becomes free and automatically
moves resiliently outwardly into the latching recess 31c of the
lower hook 31. The latching recess 31c has a latching surface R
along which the latching tongue 33a slides. The latching surface R
is arranged inclinedly to such a degree as to limit the spring
travel of the latching tongue 33a before the latching tongue 33a is
completely displaced resiliently outwardly. Latching engagement of
the latching tongue 33a can already start before the end position
of the hook profiles 31 and 32 as shown in FIG. 14 is reached.
[0177] In the end position the latching tongue 33a preferably still
has a residual portion of the spring stressing and as a result
provides for resilient contact with the latching recess 31c. The
clip portions 33a and 33b of the locking element 33 are therefore
closer together in FIG. 15 than in the neutral position shown in
FIG. 12.
[0178] The undercut surface H1 of the lower hook 31 is in contact
with the undercut surface H2 of the upper hook 32. The inclined
positioning of the undercut surfaces H1/H2 provides, during the
joining process, a motion component in a horizontal direction,
namely, parallel to the plane of the panels 30a and 30b. In that
way the edge surface 31e of the panel 30a is moved against the edge
surface 32e of the panel 30b. Depending on the respective nature of
the production tolerances for the individual dimensions of the hook
ends 31a/32a, the edge surface 31e/32e can either be caused to bear
exactly snugly against each other, have a gap, or be pressed
against each other with a certain pressure under elastic biasing by
the hook profiles 31/32.
[0179] As shown in FIG. 14 the hook end 31a of the lower hook 31 is
in contact with a bottom 32f of the opening 32b of the upper hook
32. In that way, a loading on the surface of the panel 30a can be
absorbed in the thinnest region of the upper hook 32 and is stably
supported by surface contact with the hook end 31a of the lower
hook 31.
[0180] The hook end 32a of the upper hook 32 in contrast does not
extend as far as a bottom 31f of the opening 31b of the lower hook
31. Instead, there is a gap S here. That assists with manufacture
as only the opening 32b and the associated hook end 31a have to be
produced with a high level of dimensional accuracy. The high level
of dimensional accuracy ensures a smooth surface for connected
panels 30a and 30b without a heightwise displacement at the join
34. In addition any dust which may be present or other particles
can be received in the gap S so that precise positioning of the
hook profiles is not adversely affected by foreign bodies which are
clamped therein.
[0181] In addition a dust chamber M is formed in FIG. 14. It is
disposed between the bottom 32f of the opening 32b of the upper
hook 32 and the hook end 31a of the lower hook 31. Any dust which
may be present is displaced thereinto and in that way does not
prevent contact between the hook end 31a and the bottom 31f of the
opening 32b of the upper hook 31.
[0182] FIG. 15 shows an alternative structure which has only one
modification in relation to FIG. 14. The modification is that the
contact location between the opening and the hook end is
interchanged. In FIG. 15 it is not the hook end 31a of the lower
hook 31 but the hook end 32a of the upper hook 32 which is in
contact, namely against the bottom 31f of an opening 31b of the
lower hook 31. The hook end 31a of the lower hook 31 does not
involve any contact with the bottom 32f of the opening 32b of the
upper hook 32. In that way a loading on the upper hook 32 near the
join 34 of two panels 30a and 30b is particularly well supported
because the hook end 32a of the upper hook 32 is supported in flat
surface contact in the opening 31b of the lower hook 31.
[0183] In addition a dust chamber M is formed in FIG. 15. It is
disposed between the bottom 31f of the opening 31b of the lower
hook 31 and the hook end 32a of the upper hook 32. Any dust which
may be present trickles thereinto and in that way does not impede
contact between the hook end 32a and the bottom 31f of the opening
31b of the lower hook 31. In contrast the opening 32b of the upper
hook 32 does not involve any contact at its bottom 32f with the
hook end 31a of the lower hook 31. Instead a gap S is provided
here. The depth of the opening 31b of the lower hook 31 and the
corresponding dimension of the hook end 32a are also the sole
important functional dimensions which are important for ensuring a
common floor surface and for avoiding a heightwise displacement at
a join 34.
[0184] Another panel, namely with a locking element 33 at a lower
hook 31, is described with reference to FIG. 16 which shows two
panels 30a and 30b laid one upon the other with some heightwise
displacement, as in FIG. 12. A panel 30b is disposed on a support
surface U. That panel 30b has a hook profile with a lower hook 31.
The lower hook 31 has an upwardly directed opening 31b, that is to
say which faces away from the support surface U. The hook profile
of the second panel 30a has an upper hook 32 provided with a
downwardly directed opening 32b. Both hook profiles have hook ends
31a and 32a which respectively fit into the opening 31b and 32b
respectively of the associated hook profile co-operating
portion.
[0185] At its free end the lower hook 31 is provided with an
additional locking element 33 which has a resilient latching tongue
33a. The latching tongue 33a projects from the edge of the panel
30b. The upper hook 32 of the adjacent panel 30a is provided with a
latching recess 32c with a latching surface R co-operating with the
latching tongue 33a of the locking element 33.
[0186] The locking element 33 is the same as in FIG. 12. Its
cross-section is of a V-shaped configuration in the manner of a
clip. It has two clip portions 33a and 33b which are visible at the
outside edge of the hook profile 31 and which are resilient in the
bend of the V-shape. Provided at one of the clip portions 33b is an
anchoring tongue 33c with anchoring means which is fitted into a
holding gap 31d of the lower hook 31. The locking element 33 is
captively connected to the lower hook 31.
[0187] FIG. 17 shows an intermediate position during the connection
of the hook profiles. The upper hook 32 is arranged over the lower
hook 31 in such a way that edge surfaces 31e and 32e which form a
join 34 at the top side of the panels 30a/30b are in contact in a
vertical plane. The resilient latching tongue 33a is automatically
folded together by the movement of the upper hook 32 towards the
locking element 33. In that case the latching tongue 33a is in
contact with a surface of the upper hook 32, which acts as a
clamping surface 32g for the latching tongue 33a.
[0188] As soon as the clamping surface 32g has slid completely past
the latching tongue 33a upon a continuation of the joining movement
and the end of the latching tongue 33a becomes free, it
automatically springs into the latching recess 32c of the upper
hook 32. That process can already take place before the definitive
position of the hook profiles as shown in FIG. 18 is reached.
[0189] In the end position the latching tongue 33a is preferably
still in a spring-stressed condition and as a result causes secure
contact and latching in the latching recess 32c. The clip portions
33a and 33b of the locking element 33 are therefore closer together
in FIG. 18 than in the neutral position shown in FIG. 16.
[0190] The two hook ends 31a and 32a of the panels 30a and 30b have
inclinedly arranged undercut surfaces H1 and H2 which, in the
locked condition of the panels 30a and 30b, prevent the panels 30a
and 30b from moving away from each other in their plane and
perpendicularly to the edges, as in the embodiment in FIG. 14.
[0191] As shown in FIG. 18 the hook end 32a of the upper hook 32 is
in contact with a bottom 311 of the opening 31b of the lower hook
31. In that way a loading on the surface of the panel 30a in the
region of the hook end 32a of the upper hook 32 can be absorbed by
surface contact in the opening 31b of the lower hook 31. The
opening 32b of the upper hook 32 in contrast does not involve any
contact at its bottom 32f with the hook end 31a of the lower hook
31. Instead there is a gap S here. The depth of the opening 31b of
the lower hook 31 and the corresponding dimension of the hook end
321 are in addition the sole important functional dimensions which
are important for ensuring a common floor surface and for avoiding
a heightwise displacement at the join 34.
[0192] A dust chamber M is also formed in FIG. 18. It is between
the bottom 32f of the opening 32b of the upper hook 32 and the hook
end 31a of the lower hook 31. Any dust which may be present is
displaced thereinto and accordingly does not impede contact between
the hook end 32a and the bottom 31f of the opening 31b of the lower
hook 31.
[0193] FIG. 19 shows an alternative structure of a panel which has
only one modification in relation to FIG. 18. The modification is
that the contact location between the opening and the hook end is
interchanged. In FIG. 19 the hook end 31a of the lower hook 31
bears against a bottom 32f of the opening 32b of the upper hook 32
whereas the hook end 32a of the upper hook 32 does not involve any
contact with the bottom 311 of the opening 31b of the lower hook
31. Instead there is a gap S there. Providing contact precisely at
that location affords the advantage that that region of the upper
hook 32, which is of the thinnest cross-section, is always
supported by the hook end 31a of the lower hook 31 when a loading
occurs on the floor surface at that location. In addition any dust
which may be present or other particles can be received in the gap
S so that precise positioning of the hook profiles is not adversely
influenced by foreign bodies which are jammed therein.
[0194] A dust chamber is also formed in FIG. 19. It is disposed
between the bottom 32f of the opening 32b of the upper hook 32 and
the hook end 31a of the lower hook 31. Any dust which may be
present is displaced thereinto and accordingly does not interfere
with contact between the hook end 31a and the bottom 32f of the
opening 32b of the upper hook 31.
[0195] A particular embodiment of a panel is described with
reference to FIGS. 20 and 21. FIG. 20 shows the connecting location
of two panels 30a and 30b. The panels 30a and 30b have hook
profiles. Each complete panel has the complementary hook profiles
which are shown in FIG. 20, at opposite edges. Furthermore each of
the opposite hook profiles is provided with a locking element 33.
In that way two panels 30a and 30b are always arrested at a join 34
by means of two locking elements 33. The locking elements 33 used
are of a cross-section which has clip portions 33a and 33b which
are of a V-shaped configuration in the manner of a clip and of
which one is provided with an anchoring tongue 33c with anchoring
means. A first one of the locking elements 33 is anchored to a
lower hook 31 of a panel 30b. The second locking element is
arranged at an upper hook 32 of the adjacent panel 30a. Automatic
latching of the locking elements 33 takes place automatically.
Latching engagement of the locking element 33 on the upper hook 32
substantially corresponds to the process described with reference
to FIGS. 12 to 14. Latching of the locking element 33 on the lower
hook 31 corresponds to the process described with reference to
FIGS. 16 to 18.
[0196] An alternative embodiment of a panel with another locking
element 33 is described with reference to FIGS. 22 to 25. FIG. 22
shows panels 30a and 30b with hook profiles, namely a lower hook 31
and an upper hook 32, wherein the lower hook 31 is provided with
the locking element 33 which can be resiliently bent. As FIG. 22
shows the locking element 33 is of a narrow rectangular
cross-section. It is anchored with an end 33b in a holding gap 31d
of the lower hook 31. The other end of the locking element 33
projects freely and forms a resilient latching tongue 33a. For
latching engagement the latching tongue 33a is automatically bent
over by a joining movement of the upper hook 32. The panel 30b with
the lower hook 31 lies on a support surface U. The lower hook 31 is
provided with an upwardly facing hook end 31a and with an upwardly
directed opening 31b, that is to say which faces away from the
support surface.
[0197] As shown in FIG. 22 the upper hook 32 has a latching recess
32c co-operating with the latching tongue 33a of the locking
element 33 when the panels 30a and 30b are locked.
[0198] Furthermore FIG. 22 indicates an alternative configuration
of a locking element 33' in broken line. The broken-line locking
element 33', in the neutral condition, is already of a bent or
curved shape. That facilitates the assembly procedure and can
improve stability and durability of the locking element 33' in
relation to the locking element 33 because the locking element 33'
has to be bent less than the straight locking element 33.
[0199] FIG. 23 shows the embodiment of FIG. 22 in a first
intermediate position in which the upper hook 32 is in contact with
the latching tongue 33a of the locking element 33 and urges it in
the direction of the opening 31b of the lower hook 31. In that
situation the locking element 33 stores elastic spring energy.
[0200] A further intermediate step in the joining movement is shown
in FIG. 24. In that position edge surfaces 31e and 32e have come
into contact, more specifically in the region of a join 34 which
occurs at the surface of the panels 30a and 30b. In addition the
latching tongue 33a of the locking element 33 bears against a
clamping surface 32g of the upper hook 32. The latching tongue 33a
of the locking element 33 involves its maximum spring stressing in
that position. After the clamping surface 32g of the upper hook 32
has slid completely past the latching tongue 33a the latching
tongue 33a of the locking element 33 automatically snaps into the
latching recess 32c of the upper hook 32 by virtue of the effect of
the spring stressing of the latching tongue. The structure is
preferably so designed that, in the latched end position, there
still remains a residual portion of the spring stressing in the
locking element 33 so that, in the FIG. 25 position, contact is
always ensured between the latching tongue 33a of the locking
element 33 and the latching recess 32c.
[0201] The two hook ends 31a and 32a of the panels 30a and 30b have
inclinedly arranged undercut surfaces H1 and H2 which, in the
locked condition of the panels 30a and 30b, prevent the panels 30a
and 30b from moving away from each other in their plane and
perpendicularly to the edges, as in the embodiment of FIG. 14.
[0202] It can further be seen from FIG. 25 that the hook end 32a of
the upper hook 32 is in contact with a bottom 31f of the opening
31b of the lower hook 31. That guarantees load transmission from
the hook end 32a of the upper book 32 into the lower hook 31. The
hook end 31a of the lower hook 31 in contrast does not involve any
contact with a bottom 32f of the opening 32b of the upper hook 32.
At this juncture attention is to be directed to an alternative
which is not shown and in which the contact location in respect of
the opening/hook end between the upper hook 32 and the lower hook
31 can be interchanged so that the hook end 31a of the lower hook
31 bears against the bottom of the opening of the upper hook 32 and
conversely the hook end 32a of the upper hook is not in contact
against the bottom 31f of the opening 31b of the lower hook 31.
Instead, there is a gap S. The advantages and disadvantages of such
a configuration are as described hereinbefore with reference to
FIG. 19.
[0203] A further embodiment of a panel with hook profiles at
opposite edges is described with reference to FIGS. 26 to 29. This
again involves a panel with lower hook 31 at one edge and upper
hook 32 at the opposite edges. In this case the upper hook 32 is
that which is provided with an additional locking element 33.
[0204] The locking element 33 corresponds to the locking element 33
of FIG. 22. It is of a narrow rectangular cross-section. The
rectangular cross-section has a part which serves as an anchoring
tongue 33b and which is anchored in a holding gap 32d. The other
part 33a of the locking element projects out of the holding gap, in
the form of a resilient bendable latching tongue 33a.
[0205] A dust chamber M is also formed in FIG. 25. It is between
the bottom 31f of the opening 31b of the lower hook 31 and the hook
end 32a of the upper hook 32. Any dust which may be present is
displaced thereinto and accordingly does not impede contact between
the hook end 32a and the bottom 31f of the opening 31b of the lower
hook 32.
[0206] FIG. 26 also indicates an alternative embodiment of a
locking element 33', shown more specifically in broken line. This
involves a locking element 33' which, in its neutral position, is
of a curved or bent form. The curve/bend points in the direction in
which the locking element 33' has to be bent for latching
engagement.
[0207] In FIG. 26 the panel 30b illustrated with the lower hook 31
rests on a support surface U. The upper hook 32 of an adjacent
panel 30a is disposed above the support surface U. There is not yet
any contact between the panels 30a and 30b.
[0208] In FIG. 27 the upper hook 32 has been moved downwardly by a
distance so that the locking element 33 has come into contact with
the hook end 31a of the lower hook 31 and the latching tongue 33a
is bent. Upon further downward movement of the upper hook 32 the
bending of the latching tongue 33a of the locking element 33
increases until it slides along a clamping surface 31g of the lower
hook 31. The bending of the latching tongue 33a of the locking
element 33 is at its greatest when its free end is in contact with
the damping surface 31g of the lower hook 31. Insofar as the
clamping surface 31g is arranged in parallel relationship with the
direction of movement, the prestressing of the locking element 33
remains constant during the joining movement, and that applies
moreover in regard to all embodiments. It will be appreciated that
the prestressing can also be of a variable nature insofar as a
suitable shape and arrangement is imparted to the clamping surface
31g, which afford a change in the spring travel of the latching
tongue 33a while the joining movement is taking place.
[0209] In the present case the prestressing effect changes when the
latching tongue 33a of the locking element 33 has slid down as far
as the end of the clamping surface 31g automatically. That is
because the latching tongue 33a then springs out into a latching
recess 31c in the lower hook 31. In that situation the level of
spring energy decreases. Desirably however the structure is so
designed that a residual portion of the spring energy always
remains stored in the locking element. That thus ensures that the
latching tongue 33a of the locking element 33 always exerts a
certain spring pressure against the latching recess 31c and ensures
a secure latching effect.
[0210] It can be further be seen from FIG. 28 that the two panels
30a and 30b come into contact in the region of a join 34 which is
at the surface of the panels. Upon a further downward movement of
the upper hook 32 edge surfaces 31e and 32e slide past each other
in the region of the join 34.
[0211] The two hook ends 31a and 32a of the panels 30a and 30b have
inclinedly arranged undercut surfaces H1 and H2 which, in the
locked condition of the panels 30a and 30b, prevent the panels 30a
and 30b from moving away from each other in their plane and
perpendicularly to the edges, as in the FIG. 14 embodiment.
[0212] The end position of the hook profiles is shown in FIG. 29 in
which the locking element 33 is in latching engagement. The hook
end 31a of the lower hook 31 is in contact with a bottom 32f of the
opening 32b of the upper hook 32 whereas the hook end 32a of the
upper hook 32 does not involve any contact with a bottom 31f of the
opening 31b of the lower hook 31. Here there is a gap S. As is
already the case with the above-described embodiments, however,
that can be interchanged. The possibility of the two hook ends and
bottoms of the openings being so-to-speak brought into contact with
each other is also proposed because this involves a particularly
stable configuration if there is no gap at all. This configuration
(not shown) presupposes a high level of manufacturing quality.
[0213] A dust chamber M is also formed in FIG. 29. It is between
the bottom 32f of the opening 32b of the upper hook 32 and the hook
end 31a of the lower hook 31. Any dust which may be present is
displaced thereinto and accordingly does not prevent contact
between the hook end 31a and the bottom 32f of the opening 32b of
the upper hook 31.
[0214] A further embodiment of a panel is described with reference
to FIGS. 30 and 31. FIG. 30 shows two panels 30a and 30b which have
hook profiles at opposite sides. The panel 30b is provided with a
lower hook 31 to which an additional locking element 33 is
anchored. The panel 30a is provided with an upper hook 32 to which
an additional locking element 33 is also anchored. At the edges
which are not shown, the panels 30a and 30b are each provided with
the respective complementary hook profile. As a panel is provided
with a locking element at each of the opposite edges, two locking
elements 33 are always involved at a connecting location between
two panels 30a and 30b.
[0215] The two hook ends 31a and 32a of the panels 30a and 30b have
inclinedly arranged undercut surfaces H1 and H2 which, in the
locked condition of the panels 30a and 30b, prevent the panels 30a
and 30b from moving away from each other in their plane and
perpendicularly to the edges, as in the embodiment of FIG. 14.
[0216] Latching engagement of the locking element 33 provided on
the lower hook 31 corresponds to the process which is described
with reference to FIGS. 22 to 25. Latching engagement of the
locking element 33 provided on the upper hook 32 substantially
corresponds to the process described with reference to FIGS. 26 to
29.
[0217] In the intermediate position shown in FIG. 30 the locking
elements 33 involve maximum spring stressing. Latching engagement
of the two locking elements occurs automatically and, with the
symmetrical structure by way of example in respect of the hook
profiles, almost simultaneously.
[0218] A further embodiment of a panel is shown in FIGS. 32 to 37.
This is a panel with hook profiles at opposite edges. As shown in
FIG. 32 a panel 30b is provided with a lower hook 31 and a panel
30a is provided with an upper hook 32. The lower hook 31 has an
additional locking element 33 in the form of a locking clasp
33.
[0219] The locking clasp 33 has anchoring tongues 33c with which it
is anchored in a holding gap 31d of the lower hook 31. In order to
clearly show the configuration of the locking clasp 33, attention
is directed to FIGS. 36 and 37. FIG. 36 shows a plan view on to the
edge of the panel 30b. The curved shape of the locking clasp 33 is
shown in broken line. It is possible to see the anchoring tongues
33c which are inserted deeply into the holding gap 31d to the
bottom thereof. As shown in FIG. 36 the locking clasp 33 is in a
neutral condition without spring stressing. The locking clasp 33
has a latching tongue 33a which projects out of the holding gap 31d
as shown in FIG. 36. The neutral initial position of the locking
clasp 33 shown in FIG. 36 is the same as the position shown in FIG.
32.
[0220] In FIG. 33 the upper hook 32 has been moved downwardly by a
distance and as a result has pressed against the latching tongue
33a of the locking clasp 33. As a result the latching tongue is
deflected back a distance into the holding gap 31d. Upon a
continuation of the joining movement of the upper hook 32 the
latching tongue 33a is further pressed into the holding gap 31d and
clears the way for the upper hook 32.
[0221] The two hook ends 31a and 32a of the panels 30a and 30b have
inclinedly arranged undercut surfaces H1 and H2 which, in the
locked condition of the panels 30a and 30b, prevent the panels 30a
and 30b from moving away from each other in their plane and
perpendicularly to the edges, as in the FIG. 14 embodiment.
[0222] When the locking clasp 33 assumes the position shown in FIG.
34, the maximum level of spring stressing is reached, which can be
imparted to the locking clasp 33 in the present structure. A plan
view of that position of the locking clasp 33 is shown in FIG. 37.
The latching tongue 33a of the locking clasp 33 is pushed back into
the holding gap 31d as far as the edge thereof.
[0223] In a further joining movement the latching tongue 33a moves
automatically out of the holding gap 31d again by virtue of the
spring energy stored in the locking clasp 33 and engages into a
latching recess 32c in the upper hook 32.
[0224] The definitive position of the hook profiles 31/32 is shown
in FIG. 35 in which the latching tongue 33a of the locking clasp 33
presses with a residual portion of the spring stressing against the
latching recess 32c in the upper hook 32 and securely arrests the
hook profiles.
[0225] A dust chamber M is also formed in FIG. 35. It is between a
bottom 311 of an opening 31b of the lower hook 31 and a hook end
32a of the upper hook 32. Any dust which may be present or other
particles trickle thereinto and accordingly do not impede contact
between the hook end 32a and the bottom 31f of the opening 31b of
the lower hook 31.
[0226] In contrast an opening 32b of the upper hook 32 does not
have any contact at a bottom 32f with a hook end 31a of the lower
hook 31. Instead, there is a gap S here. The depth of the opening
31b of the lower hook 31 and the corresponding dimension of the
lower hook 32a are also the sole important functional dimensions
which are important for ensuring a common floor surface and for
avoiding a heightwise displacement at a join 34.
[0227] A further embodiment of a panel is shown in FIGS. 38 to 41.
This involves a panel with hook profiles at opposite edges. As
shown in FIG. 38 a panel 30b is provided with a lower hook 31 and a
panel 30a is provided with an upper hook 32. The upper hook 32 has
an additional locking element 33 in the form of a locking clasp
33.
[0228] The locking clasp 33 has anchoring tongues 33c with which it
is anchored in a holding gap 32d of the upper hook 32. In order to
clearly show the configuration of the locking clasp 33 attention is
directed to FIGS. 36 and 37. FIG. 36 shows the principle of the
locking clasp 33 based on the viewing direction XXXVI as shown in
FIG. 38, namely a view from below on to the edge of the panel 30a.
FIG. 37 shows the principle of the locking clasp 33 based on the
viewing direction XXXVII as shown in FIG. 40, namely also a view
from below on to the edge of the panel 30a. The locking clasp 33
has anchoring tongues 33c which are inserted into a holding gap 32
deeply as far as the bottom thereof. The locking clasp 33 again has
a latching tongue 33a which, as shown in FIG. 38, projects out of
the holding gap 32.
[0229] The upper hook 32 has been moved downwardly by a distance in
FIG. 39. The latching tongue 33a of the locking clasp 33 has been
pressed against a hook end 31a of the lower hook 31 and deflected
back into the holding gap 32d by a distance. Upon a continuation of
the joining movement of the upper hook 32 the latching tongue 33a
is further pressed into the holding gap 32d and clears the way for
the upper hook 32 to be introduced completely into the lower hook
31.
[0230] When the locking clasp 33 assumes the position shown in FIG.
40 the maximum level of spring stressing is reached, which can be
imparted to the locking clasp 33 in the present construction. A
view of that position of the locking clasp 33 from below
corresponds to the view in FIG. 37. The latching tongue 33a of the
locking clasp 33 is pushed back into the holding gap 32d as far as
the edge thereof.
[0231] The two hook ends 31a and 32a of the panels 30a and 30b have
inclinedly arranged undercut surfaces H1 and H2 which, in the
locked condition of the panels 30a and 30b, prevent the panels 30a
and 30b from moving away from each other in their plane and
perpendicularly to the edges, as in the embodiment of FIG. 14.
[0232] In a further joining movement the latching tongue 33a
automatically moves out of the holding gap 32d again by virtue of
the spring energy stored in the locking clasp 33 and engages into a
latching recess 31c provided on the lower hook 31.
[0233] The definitive position of the hook profiles 31/32 is shown
in FIG. 41, in which the latching tongue 33a of the locking clasp
33 presses with a residual portion of the spring stressing against
the latching recess 31c of the lower hook 31 and securely arrests
the hook profiles.
[0234] A dust chamber M is also formed in FIG. 41. It is between
the bottom 32f of an opening 32b of the upper hook 31 and a hook
end 31a of the lower hook 31. Any dust which may be present or
other particles trickles thereinto and accordingly does not impede
contact between the hook end 31a and the bottom 32f of the opening
32b of the lower hook 32.
[0235] In contrast an opening 31b of the lower hook 31 does not
involve contact at a bottom 31f with a hook end 32a of the upper
hook 32. Instead, there is a gap S here. The depth of the opening
32b of the upper hook 32 and the corresponding dimension of the
hook end 31a of the lower hook 31 are also the sole important
functional dimensions which are important for ensuring a common
floor surface and for avoiding a heightwise displacement at a join
34.
[0236] FIG. 42 shows an intermediate position during the operation
of connecting two panels 30a and 30b having hook profiles. An upper
hook 32 is arranged over a lower hook 31 in such a way that edge
surfaces 31e and 32e which form a join at the top side of the
panels are in contact in a vertical plane. A resilient latching
tongue 33a of a locking element 33 has been automatically folded
together by a relative movement of the hook 32 towards the panel
30b. The latching tongue 33a is resiliently stressed by virtue of
the contact of the latching tongue 33a with the edge surface 31e of
the lower hook 31. The edge surface 31e of the lower hook 31 thus
acts as a clamping surface 31e for the latching tongue 33a.
[0237] Upon a continuation of the joining movement the latching
tongue 33a slides completely past the clamping surface 31e until
the end of the latching tongue 33a becomes free and automatically
springs out into a latching recess 31c in the lower hook 31. The
latching recess 31c has a latching surface R along which the
latching tongue 33a slides. The latching surface R is arranged
inclinedly at an extent which limits the spring travel of the
latching tongue 33a before the latching tongue 33a has moved
completely outwardly resiliently. The neutral relaxed position of
the latching tongue 33a of the locking element 33 is shown in
broken line.
[0238] The locking element in FIG. 42 is shown in cross-section in
FIG. 43. The locking element is in a neutral relaxed condition. Its
cross-section is of a V-shaped or U-shaped configuration in the
manner of a clip. It has two clip portions 33a and 33b. The clip
portion 33a forms a resilient latching tongue 33a. The other clip
portion 33b is provided with an anchoring tongue 33c. A curved clip
portion 33d is provided between the clip portions 33a and 33b. The
curved clip portion 33d is thinner than the clip portions 33a and
33b in order to assist with spring mobility. The anchoring tongue
33c is shaped in the manner of a harpoon leg. It has two prongs 33e
as anchoring means. The prongs 33e provide a good anchoring effect
on the part of the locking element when it is fitted into a holding
gap 32d provided for same in the upper hook 32, as in FIG. 42. The
anchoring tongue 33c has a pressing surface which is pressed by a
pressing-in tool and by way of which a force is applied for
pressing the anchoring tongue of the locking element into a holding
gap of a panel. The pressing surface is intended and designed to
receive a pressing force from the pressing-in tool E and to
transmit it into the anchoring tongue 33c. The pressing-in surface
is provided on the clip portion 33b in the embodiment of the
locking element shown in FIG. 42. The clip portion 33b has the
property of being able to carry a pressing force without being bent
by that pressing force. For that purpose, the material and the
material thickness of the clip portion 33b are so selected that the
desired function of transmitting the force is performed without the
clip portion 33b being put at risk of breaking off or thus
bending.
[0239] In general terms locking elements 5 or 200 which are of a
different shape can also have a pressing surface. The pressing
surface has to be provided at a region of the locking element 5 or
200, whose quality and thickness of material are adapted to permit
transmission of a force which is applied to the locking element by
a pressing-in tool E.
[0240] A pressure roller is diagrammatically illustrated in FIG. 43
as the pressing-in tool E. That corresponds in principle to the
pressing roller 600a shown in FIGS. 53 and 61.
[0241] The pressing surface can be provided with means which
promote force transmission in frictionally locking relationship,
for example a structured surface. For example that can prevent slip
between a pressing roller E which transmits a pressing-in force to
the locking element 33 by means of a rotary movement.
[0242] All locking elements 33 shown in FIGS. 12 to 42 are
preferably provided only for locking the panels 30a and 30b in a
direction substantially perpendicular to the plane of the
panels.
[0243] Other means are provided for affording a locking action to
prevent connected panels 30a and 30b from moving away from each
other in a direction parallel to the plane of the panels 30a and
30b, namely substantially horizontally. Preferably the undercut
surfaces H1/H2 which are common to all hook profiles themselves
form the means for horizontal locking, which in the locked
condition prevent the panels from moving away from each other.
[0244] The hook profiles can be produced in such a way that contact
surfaces of an undercut configuration which are effective to
provide for horizontal locking are either forced against each other
with elastic deformation of the panel material or a gap is present
between the contact surfaces of the undercut configuration. A gap
affords a connection which involves play in a horizontal direction.
Otherwise, if undercut surfaces of the hook profiles can be
assembled with pressure and with elastic deformation thereof, the
result achieved is a connection in which there is no play at the
join between two panels, but there is an elastic prestressing
action between the connected panels.
[0245] Alternatively it is possible to provide between undercut
surfaces an additional element which for example in turn forces the
edges of the panels 30a and 30b against each other by an elastic
action, so that a join 34 at the surface of a panel covering is
closed as much as possible.
[0246] FIG. 44 shows perspective views of parts of two panels 30a
and 30b with different locking elements. There is also a
diagrammatic view which shows the arrangement of the panels 30a and
30b as a whole within a row of panels P1. The foremost panel of the
row P1 is shown in broken line. Besides the top side and the
underside, the panels 30a and 30b have peripherally extending edges
on which holding profiles are disposed. The oppositely disposed
holding profiles of each panel are formed as complementary hook
profiles in paired relationship, for the purposes of a vertical
component in the joining movement.
[0247] FIG. 45 diagrammatically shows a plurality of panels 35, 36,
37, 38 and 39 arranged in two rows P1 and P2 of panels. The panels
35, 36, 37, 38, 39 are already locked with locking elements which
are not shown in the simplified diagrammatic view. A new panel 40
has to be locked as shown in FIG. 45 at two edges which are
arranged at an angle relative to each other, namely both with the
edge 40a to panels 37 and 38 of the row P1 and also with the edge
40b to a panel 39 in the same row P2.
[0248] As shown in FIG. 44, a new panel 30b is connected to a panel
30a of the first row P1. There is no row of panels disposed in
front of the row P1 of panels. The new panel 40 is locked with one
of its edges only to a panel 30a in the same row P1. For that
purpose the panel 30b is moved in aligned relationship as indicated
by F with the panel edges. The panels 30a and 30b lie in that case
on a support surface.
[0249] The panel 30a has hook profiles which are arranged at an
angle to each other, namely an upper hook 32 and a lower hook 31.
The upper hook 32 has a holding gap 32d. A locking element 33 with
a resilient latching tongue 33a is anchored in the holding gap 32d.
The lower hook has a holding gap 31d. A locking clip 33 is anchored
in the holding gap 31d. A resilient latching tongue 33a of the
locking clip 33 projects out of the holding gap 31d. Respective
complementary hook profiles are provided at the opposite edges (not
shown) of the lower hook 31 and the upper hook 32.
[0250] The panel 30b also has hook profiles arranged at an angle to
each other. Of those, the two upper hooks 32 and 35 are to be seen
in the part shown in FIG. 44. The upper hook 32 of the panel 30b
corresponds to the upper hook 32 of the panel 30a. The panel 30b
thus also has a holding gap 32d in which a locking element 33 is
anchored. A resilient latching tongue 33a of the locking element 33
projects from the edge of the panel 30b. The shape of the upper
hook 35 of the panel 30b is the complementary counterpart of the
lower hook 31 and vice-versa. The respective complementary hook
profiles as referred to above are provided at the opposite edges
(not shown) of the upper hook 32 and the lower hook 35.
[0251] For the purpose of locking the panels 30a and 30b of the
first row of panels, the panel 30b is pushed in a flat movement
with its upper hook 32 from the side into the complementary lower
hook of the panel 30a. At the beginning of that movement the upper
hook 32 of the panel 30b should be moved towards the edge of the
panel 30a in such a way that the latching tongue 33a of the locking
element 33 is moved resiliently inwardly by the contact with the
panel 30a. The inward resilient movement of the latching tongue 33a
provides that the cross-section of the locking element 33 assumes a
position which fits into the internal cross-section of the latching
recess of the complementary lower hook of the panel 30a. As soon as
the panel 30b has been fitted in that way the panels 30a and 30b
are connected by a simple pushing movement until the upper hook of
the panel 30b is connected over the entire length of the
corresponding edge to the lower hook of the panel 30a. In that
situation the latching tongue 33a is progressively automatically
resiliently displaced into the latching recess at the location of
entry.
[0252] The process for locking the first row of panels is obviously
not limited to those locking elements which are shown in FIG. 44.
Alternatively it is possible to use at least each locking element
as shown in FIGS. 12 to 42 as well as the hook profile
configuration specified therein.
[0253] A process which uses the steps of FIGS. 12 to 14 and FIGS.
16 to 18 respectively is equally simple. In that case firstly a
substantially horizontal component of movement is used to feed the
resilient latching tongue of a locking element not from above but
from the side, to bring it into contact with the adjacent panel.
That can be easily performed because the upper hook 32 of the panel
30a, as shown in FIGS. 12 and 16, can be laid loosely on the lower
hook 31 of the panel 30b and thereafter the panel 30a can be pushed
against the edge surface 31e of the panel 30b, whereby the latching
tongue 33a moves resiliently inwardly and bears tightly against the
hook profile.
[0254] It is only when the latching tongue 33a has been displaced
resiliently inwardly that the panel 30a with its upper hook 32 is
moved vertically downwardly, namely hookingly engaged into the
lower hook of the adjacent panel 30b perpendicularly to the plane
of the panel, until the inwardly displaced latching tongue 33a of
the locking element 33 automatically springs out against a latching
surface R of a latching recess of the respective adjacent panel and
arrests the hook connection.
[0255] A process for locking a panel having hook profiles at
opposite edges and a locking element with a resilient latching
tongue, wherein a fresh panel 40 has to be connected both to panels
of a first row P1 and also to a panel 39 of the same row P2, is
shown with reference to diagrammatic FIG. 45. FIG. 46 shows a plan
view and a side view of the panel 40 shown in FIG. 45. The edges
40a and 40b are in the form of upper hooks while the two edges 40c
and 40d are in the form of lower hooks. Basically it is possible to
use any hook profile configuration as shown in FIGS. 12 to 42 for
the hook profiles in FIG. 46. In the present case the lower hooks
40c and 40d correspond to the embodiment of FIGS. 32 to 35.
[0256] As shown in FIG. 45 a new panel is locked by a procedure
whereby it is laid with a corner, here the corner of the upper
hooks 40a/40b, on lower hooks of the row P1 of panels and a lower
hook of the panel 39 of the same row P2 respectively. The upper
hook 40b is then inserted on the basis of the zip fastener
principle, over the entire length thereof. The insertion operation
can be simplified if the panel 40 is flexed somewhat. As can be
seen from FIG. 45 a curvature has been imparted to the edge 40b. In
that way it is possible for the upper hook 40b to be connected to
the lower hooks of the panels 37 and 38 of the row P1 in the manner
of a zip fastener, because a progressing point of the upper hook
always engages into a lower hook. If the panel 40 were not actively
flexed, a pivotal movement of the straight edge 40b would provide
that the upper hook comes simultaneously into contact over the
entire length with the lower hook of the row P1. In that case a
slight lateral displacement can easily make it difficult to fit the
components one into the other in a scissor-like configuration
because the upper hook and the lower hook at the end of the scissor
movement still have to be adjusted and brought into exact overlap
with each other. That adjustment problem is countered with the zip
fastener process applied to the laying procedure, with active
flexing of the panel 40.
[0257] The same applies to the edge with the upper hook 40a, in
which case the zip fastener process is of greater significance for
a long edge than for a short edge.
[0258] It will be appreciated that the zip fastener process can
also be applied for the edge 40b in the opposite direction, namely
beginning at the edge 40c in the direction of the edge 40a, in
which case however there is no installation assistance for correct
positioning of the panel 40 and it is therefore more difficult for
the zip fastener process to be caused to end exactly at the panel
39. It can happen that a gap remains in relation to the panel 39 or
that the panel 39 is overlapped by the panel 40.
[0259] During insertion of the upper hooks 40a and 40b into the
lower hooks of the panels 37, 38 and 39 latching engagement of the
locking clasps 33 takes place automatically, as in FIGS. 32 to
35.
[0260] FIG. 47 shows alternative panels 46, 47, 48, 49 and 50 as
well as a laying process intended for same. The panels form a part
of a panel covering. They have two kinds of holding profiles. The
interlocked panels 46, 47 and 48 are shown in a front row V1 of the
panel covering. Shown in a following row V2 is a panel 49 which is
preferably positively lockingly connected to the panels 46 and 47
of the front row. A new panel 50 is inclinedly attached with an
edge 50c to the panels 47 and 48 of the front row V1. The new panel
50 still has to be pivoted downwardly into the plane of the lying
panels 46, 47, 48 and 49.
[0261] Those edges of the panels 46, 47, 48, 49 and 50 which are
provided for connecting the rows V1 and V2 of panels to each other
must have a holding profile which is suitable for inclined
attachment and subsequent locking by downward pivotal movement into
the plane of the lying panels. Such a holding profile is known from
WO 00/63510 A1. The disclosure thereof in respect of those panel
edges which serve for connecting different rows of panels is hereby
incorporated as an embodiment. WO 00/63510 A1 discloses in that
respect a special hook profile which connects a new panel to panels
of a front row, by a pivotal movement. In either respects hook
profiles are also provided for locking the panels of the same row.
More specifically those hook profiles are fitted into each other by
a scissor-like pivotal movement and thus automatically come into
hooking engagement in one movement.
[0262] In addition FIGS. 48 to 52 show suitable holding profiles
which are suitable for locking by inclined attachment and
subsequent downward pivotal movement into the plane of lying
panels. These examples involve modified tongue-and-groove profiles.
The groove 61 has at least one undercut surface 62. The same
applies for the tongue 63 which is provided with an undercut
surface 64. In regard to FIG. 49 attention is directed to WO
97/47834. In regard to FIG. 52 attention is directed to DE 79 28
703 U1. The holding profiles with a tongue-and-groove profile
desirably provide for a positively locking connection which locks
the panels both perpendicularly to their plane and also within
their plane and also perpendicularly to a groove edge or tongue
edge respectively.
[0263] During the downward pivotal movement of the panel 50 from
the inclined position shown in FIG. 47 the edge 50a of the panel 50
is moved scissor-like towards the edge 49b of the panel 49. The
edges 50a and 49b involve complementary hook profiles which are
secured with at least one locking element according to the
invention, namely to prevent them from moving away from each other
perpendicularly to the plane of the panels. The edge 49b has a
lower hook and the edge 50a has an upper hook as a counterpart
portion.
[0264] The hook profiles 50a/49b are secured against coming loose
perpendicularly to the plane of the panels by means of a locking
element with a resilient latching tongue.
[0265] Structural configurations which are known from the state of
the art can be used. Structural configurations which have been
found to be expedient are those which provide for resilient locking
only in regard to the panels moving away from each other
perpendicularly to the plane of the panels but which do not have a
resilient action in relation to the panels moving away from each
other parallel to their plane. It will be appreciated that any
locking element according to the invention can be used, which has
been mentioned in the present description, as well as the
respective hook profile configuration suited thereto.
[0266] Locking of the edges 49b and 50a takes place simultaneously
with the scissor-like pivotal movement of the panel 50. Prior to or
during the pivotal movement, a translatory motion component can
take place, with which exact overlap of the upper hook of the edge
50a of the panel 50 with the lower hook of the edge 49b of the
panel 49 is achieved. That translatory movement takes place along
the edge of the front row of panels, in which the edge 50b of the
panel 50 is inclinedly inserted. The translatory movement can be
influenced for example by the hook profiles of the edges 49b and
50a. That can be when surfaces slide against each other, which for
example are arranged inclinedly and thereby produce a component of
motion parallel to the edge 50b, while they come into contact in a
scissor-like manner.
[0267] The upper hook of the edge 50a is moved with a substantially
vertical component of motion, on to the complementary lower hook of
the edge 49b of the panel 49. An integral component part of the
resulting hook connection is a locking element with a resilient
latching tongue in accordance with one of the described
embodiments. The locking element will not be set forth at this
juncture.
[0268] FIG. 53 shows a substantial part of an apparatus 1 for
mounting a locking element 200 to panels, on the basis of which the
method according to the invention is also described.
[0269] The apparatus 100 is intended for retro-fitment to a
conventional production installation A for wall, floor or ceiling
panels. FIG. 53 shows portions of three panels 300a, 300b and 300c.
The through-travel direction T of the panels 300a, 300b and 300c in
the production installation A is indicated by an arrow.
[0270] A locking element is firstly supplied in the form of an
endless locking element line 400. FIG. 53 does not show a storage
means from which the locking element line 400 is removed. An
example of a storage means is described hereinafter with regard to
FIGS. 59 and 60.
[0271] FIG. 53 shows a locking element line 400 which is firstly
moved in perpendicular relationship to the through-travel direction
T of the panels 300a, 300b and 300c to the panels 300a, 300b and
300c and, shortly before reaching the panels 300a, 300b and 300c,
is deflected in an arcuate configuration so that the locking
element line 400 is brought up to an edge 500 of a panel 300a, at a
preferably acute angle .alpha..
[0272] There is provided a pressing device 600 having a pressing
roller 600a which presses the front end of the locking element line
4 against the panel edge 500 of the panel 300a. The panel edge 500
is provided with a receiving region N co-operating with a locking
element 200, as is known from the disclosure of WO 00/016654 (EP 1
415 056 B1), incorporated herein by reference. In the phase in
which the pressing device 600 presses the locking element 200
against the panel edge 500, a front part of the locking element
line 400 is cut off and affords the separated locking element 200.
The diagrammatically illustrated separating station 700 is provided
for that purpose. From the moment in time at which the locking
element 200 is cut off the locking element line 400, further
transport of the locking element 200 is effected by frictional
contact with the pressing roller 600a. The pressing roller 600a is
driven in such a way that its peripheral speed is synchronized with
the transport speed of the panel 300a in the production
installation A.
[0273] In order to transport the locking element line 400 to the
panel 300a, the apparatus has an advance device 800 with advance
rollers 800a, 800b, 800c and 800d, which by way of frictional
contact convert a rotational movement into a rectilinear transport
movement of the locking element line 400. The illustrated
embodiment has two pairs of advance rollers, namely the advance
roller pair 800a/800b and the advance roller pair 800c/800d. All
advance rollers 800a, 800b, 800c and 800d are driven by way of a
pulling means 900. The pulling means 900 is passed around the
advance rollers 800a, 800b, 800c and 800d in such a way that the
advance roller pair 800a/800b rotate in mutually opposite
relationship. The same applies to the advance roller pair
800c/800d. Each of the advance rollers 800a, 800b, 800c and 800d
has substantially two regions, namely a region with a running
surface 1000 for the pulling means 900 and a region with a friction
surface 1100 for the transmission of movement to the locking
element line 400. The other two rollers of the advance device 800
involve a drive roller 1200 which is driven by a motor M1 and a
tensioning roller 1300 with which the desired tensile stress can be
produced in the pulling means 900.
[0274] Provided in the region of the advance device 800 is a guide
passage 1400 with which the locking element line 400 is held in a
straight transport path. Particularly downstream of the advance
device 800 in the direction of transport of the locking element
line, it is necessary for the locking element line 400 to be
stabilized with a guide because the locking element line 400
already buckles at low levels of pressure forces, because of its
small cross-section. The locking element line 400 which is
preferably made from plastic material, because of its small
cross-section, can admittedly carry high tensile forces but, in
comparison therewith, only low pressure forces, without a change in
its shape. The locking element line 400 behaves mechanically like a
tensile bar because it can carry high levels of tensile forces. It
is unsuited as a compression bar because just low pressure forces
already result in buckling or kinking thereof.
[0275] Downstream of the advance device 800 in the transport
direction, the locking element line 400 is guided in a conveyor
passage 1500 arranged in an arcuate configuration. The conveyor
passage 1500 opens into a further portion of conveyor passage which
is to be referred as the transfer passage 1600. The transfer
passage 1600 has a gap 1600c. The separating station 700 extends
into that gap 1600c. The separating station 700 cuts off a
respective advanced front portion of the locking element line 400
as soon as the front portion is in contact with the pressing roller
600a. That ensures that, after the separating operation, the
transport movement is transmitted from the pressing roller 600a to
the locking element 200 which has been cut off.
[0276] When the separating station 700 carries out the separating
operation and is in engagement with the locking element line 400,
the front portion of the locking element line 400 is braked by the
engagement of the separating station 700 and can come to a complete
halt. The separating station 700 is provided in the present
embodiment with a cutting blade 700a which is arranged on a
rotatable blade carrier 700b. The engagement of the cutting blade
700a into the locking element line 400 provides that the transport
movement of the locking element line 400 is braked in the region of
the transfer passage 1600. An exact separating cut is performed in
that way.
[0277] Subsequent separating operations thus take place
cyclically.
[0278] Although the separating station 700 operates cyclically the
present embodiment does not provide that the advance device 800 is
controlled in such a way that it produces a cyclic transport
movement of the locking element line 400. In terms of designing the
apparatus 100, it was assumed that the through-travel speed of the
panels 300a, 300b and 300c in the production installation A is so
high that, with the drive technology which is usual nowadays and
which could be used for the advance device, it is not possible, or
it is possible only at a high level of complication and
expenditure, to implement a cyclic transport movement of the
locking element line 400 at a suitably high cycle frequency. For
that reason the advance device 800 of the present embodiment
continuously drives the locking element line 400. That is even
during the period of time in which the separating station 700 is
carrying out the separating operation and is braking the transport
movement of the locking element line 400 in the transfer passage
1600.
[0279] The length of the locking element line 400 which is
delivered by the advance device 800 during the separating operation
passes into the conveyor passage 1500 which is disposed between the
advance device 800 and the transfer passage 1600. The conveyor
passage 1500 is in the form of a buffer region P in which the
delivered length of the locking element line 400 is put into
intermediate storage during the separating operation. The buffer
region P is provided with a storage spring 1700. The storage spring
1700 is actuated by an outward buckling movement of the locking
element line 400 in the buffer region P. In that way spring energy
is stored in the storage spring 1700. The spring energy
progressively rises with increasing buckling and increasing length
of the locking element line 400 which is in intermediate storage.
The absorption of spring energy ends as soon as the separating
operation is concluded and the separating station 700 opens the
transfer passage 1600 again. At that moment the storage spring 1700
abruptly unleashes its spring energy and moves back into its
arcuate initial position F1. In that situation the length of the
conveyor passage is reduced because the outwardly buckled position
F2 of the conveyor passage 1500 is longer than the neutral arcuate
initial position F1 of the conveyor passage 1500. The difference
between the outwardly buckled length and the initial length of the
conveyor passage corresponds to the length in intermediate storage,
of the locking element line 400, that length being transported with
a jerk into the transfer passage 1600 by virtue of the unleashing
of the spring energy of the storage spring 1700.
[0280] As shown in FIG. 53 the storage spring 1700 is a cylindrical
coil spring which is so arranged that the cylindrical interior of
the coil spring forms a free conveyor cross-section 1500a of the
conveyor passage. The storage spring 1700 is shown both in its
initial position F1 and also in an outwardly buckled position F2,
in FIG. 53.
[0281] FIG. 53 also shows a movement pickup D with which the travel
speed of the panels 300a, 300b and 300c in the production
installation A is detected. The movement pickup D detects any
change in the travel speed and transmits that information to a
control C. The control C is in turn connected to a drive motor M1
for the advance device 800, a drive motor M2 for the pressing
device 600 and the drive motor M3 for the separating station. All
those drives M1 to M3 are in that way automatically synchronized
with the panel production installation. That provides that the
apparatus can advantageously be operated without intervention in
the installation control of the production installation A. In spite
of the fact of being independent of the production installation the
apparatus implants any change which occurs in the travel speed of
the production installation A. The motors are servomotors which are
desirable because of their positionally accurate controllability.
It will be appreciated that alternatively other precise drives can
be used.
[0282] FIG. 54 shows the cross-section of the transfer passage 1600
in accordance with II-II in FIG. 53. The transfer passage 1600 is
formed from three passage elements U1, U2 and U3 which are
releasably connected together. It has a free cross-section which is
almost coincident with the cross-section of the locking element
line 400. More specifically the transfer passage 1600 has a
V-shaped cross-sectional region 1600a, wherein an apex point 1600b
of the V-shape is provided with a rounding. The transfer passage
1600 is arranged on a table 1800. The rounding of the V-shaped
cross-sectional region is on the side of the transfer passage 1600,
which is remote from the table 1800. Provided at an end of the
V-shaped cross-sectional region 1600a is a laterally projecting
cross-sectional region 1600d into which an insertion tongue 400a of
the locking element line 400 projects. In the present embodiment
the insertion tongue 400a has two claw prongs 400b, for which
reason the projecting cross-sectional region 1600d of the transfer
passage 1600 is provided with pointed spaces 1600c for the claw
prongs 400b of the locking element line 400.
[0283] The position of the locking element line 400 shown in FIG.
54 corresponds to that position in which the locking element 200 is
pressed by the pressing device 600 against the edge 500 of the
panel 300a. In the present embodiment it is assumed that the panel
production installation A transports the panels 300a, 300b and 300c
with their rear side upwardly. In other words, the surface of the
panels 300a, 300b and 300c which is shown in FIG. 53 is the rear
side of each of the panels. An oppositely disposed front side of
the panels is usually provided with a decoration and is directed
downwardly, that is to say towards the table 1800, in the views in
FIGS. 53 and 54.
[0284] In order to clearly show how the pressing roller 600a of the
pressing device 600 operates, FIG. 54 diagrammatically indicates by
a dash-dotted line the position in which the pressing roller 600a
reaches the locking element 200 at the end of the transfer passage
1600 and causes a transport movement of the locking element 200 in
frictionally locking relationship.
[0285] FIG. 55 is a view in accordance with III-III in FIG. 53,
namely showing a pair of advance rollers 800a/800b. Each advance
roller 800a and 800b has two regions, namely a running surface 1000
for a pulling means 900 and a friction surface 1100 for
transmitting the transport movement to a locking element line 400.
The cross-section of the locking element line 400 is shown on an
enlarged scale beneath the advance rollers 800a and 800b in order
to clearly show the position in which the locking element line 400
is forced in between the two advance rollers 800a and 800b. The
insertion tongue 400a of the locking element line 400 is arranged
in that position in parallel relationship with the axes of rotation
a and b of the advance rollers 800a and 800b respectively. The
overall width r of the locking element line 400, which is to be
measured between the two advance rollers 800a and 800b, is less in
the illustrated enlarged position than the overall height h of the
locking element line 400, which is to be measured in parallel
relationship with the axis of the advance rollers 800a and 800b.
That position is desirable because the friction surfaces 1100 of
the advance rollers 800a and 800b have regions which are of radii
of different sizes from the respective axis of rotation a and b
respectively of the advance rollers. The differing radii result in
different peripheral speeds at different regions of a friction
surface 1100. That leads to a slippage between the friction surface
1100 and the locking element line 400 and thus wear of the advance
rollers 800a and 800b. In order to minimize the slippage, the
locking element line 400 is arranged in that position between the
advance rollers 800a and 800b, in which the locking element line
400 is of the smallest dimension (r1<h1) in order thereby to
minimize differences in the peripheral speed of the friction
surface 1100 of a respective advance roller 800a and 800b
respectively.
[0286] In order to improve the frictionally locking transmission of
the movement from the advance roller 800a, 800b, 800c, 800d to the
locking element line 400, it can be provided that at least one of
the advance rollers of a pair thereof is provided with a roughened
or microprofiled surface.
[0287] FIG. 56 shows a plan view of the advance rollers 800a and
800b shown in FIG. 55. It will be seen that the running surfaces
1000 for the pulling means 900 are provided with a toothed
configuration 1900. The pulling means 900 of the present embodiment
is therefore a toothed belt. The toothed belt is provided with
teeth 900a and 900b on both sides, so that drive in opposite
relationship of the advance rollers of a pair 800a/800b and
800c/800d respectively is possible by the belt passing around the
advance rollers 800a, 800b, 800c and 800d in the manner shown in
FIG. 53.
[0288] FIG. 57 shows the cross-section through a guide passage 1400
in accordance with V-V in FIG. 53. The guide passage is formed from
three passage elements K1, K2 and K3 which are releasably connected
together. It will be clear that the locking element line 400 is
enclosed in the guide passage 1400 in a position which is rotated
through 90.degree. with respect to the position of the locking
element line 400 within the transfer passage 1600. The FIG. 57
position corresponds to the position in which the locking element
line 400 passes through the advance device. As soon as the locking
element line 400 has passed the guide passage 1400 and moves into
the resilient conveyor passage 1500 shown in FIG. 53, the locking
element line 400 is gradually twisted through an angle of
90.degree. and passed into the transfer passage 1600.
[0289] The transfer passage 1600 is shown in FIG. 58 in the same
position on a table 1800, as in FIG. 54. In addition FIG. 58 shows
a side view of the separating station 700. The separating station
700 has a blade carrier 700b, to which a single cutting blade 700a
is mounted. In the present embodiment this involves a rotatable
blade with which severing cuts are implemented to cut the locking
element 200 off the locking element line 400.
[0290] A further part of the apparatus is shown in FIGS. 59 and 60.
FIG. 59 shows a plan view of the entire apparatus 100. The Figure
also indicates a transport path of the production installation A,
by reference to the panels 300a, 300b and 300c which are
transported in the through-passage direction T. A panel 300a has
reached the pressing device 600 and is just being fitted with a
locking element 200. In addition the Figure indicates the advance
device 800 and the guide passage 1400. FIG. 59 also shows a storage
means 2000 for the locking element line 400. In the preferred
embodiment this involves a reel storage means 2000 in which a very
long locking element line 400 is wound up.
[0291] In the full state of the reel storage means 2000 it is of a
high mass. It would therefore be inappropriate to use the advance
device 800 to remove the locking element line 400 from the heavy
reel storage means 2000 because in that situation the locking
element line 400 could easily tear away. For that reason it is
provided that the reel storage means 2000 itself is driven. A drive
motor M4 is provided for that purpose. The motor M4 is desirably an
exactly controllable servomotor. As can best be seen from FIG. 60,
the locking element line 400 is not fed directly to the advance
device 800 but is firstly guided into a loop-forming supply region
2100 in which the locking element line 400 forms at least one loop
in the manner of a block-and-tackle arrangement. The illustrated
embodiment involves three mutually juxtaposed loops 2200, 2300 and
2400. In order to lay the locking element line 400 in three loops
2200, 2300 and 2400, arranged on an upper fixed spindle 2500 are
four storage rollers 2600 while arranged on a lower loose spindle
2700 are three storage rollers 2800. The loose spindle can be moved
up and down in a defined adjustment region 2900, whereby the length
of the loops 2200, 2300 and 2400 of the locking element line 400 is
changed. A minimum value and a maximum value are predetermined for
the loop length. Detectors Q are provided which detect the minimum
and the maximum loop length and control the drive for the reel
storage means 2000 in dependence on the loop length. When the
minimum loop length is reached, the stored length of the locking
element line 400 is excessively short and the reel storage means
2000 is set in operation in order to provide a make-up supply of
locking element line. As soon as the maximum loop length is reached
the drive of the reel storage means 2000 is automatically
stopped.
[0292] From the supply region 2100 the locking element line 400 is
fed to the advance device 800. As a result, in operation of the
apparatus, the advance device 800 can always pull locking element
line 400 out of the supply region 2100 and transport it to the
pressing device 600.
[0293] Reference will also be made to FIG. 59 to explain how panels
are firstly conveyed through the production installation in their
longitudinal direction L and are then transported displaced through
an angle of 90.degree. in a transverse direction to the pressing
device 600, namely in the passage direction T. The preceding
conveying movement in the longitudinal direction L is effected at a
given speed G1. If the production installation were operated in the
passage direction T at a speed G2=G1, there would be large
intermediate spaces between the panels 300a, 300b and 300c. The
speed G2 in the passage direction T is therefore reduced so that
the panels 300a, 300b and 300c are transported with a smaller
spacing therebetween. The reduced speed G2 is favorable in terms of
applying the locking element 200 by machine. It will be appreciated
that the problem arises only when the situation involves
rectangular panels of different edge lengths in the longitudinal
and transverse directions. The speeds and intermediate spacings in
contrast do not differ if the panels are of a square shape.
[0294] An alternative embodiment of an apparatus for mounting a
locking element 200 to panels is shown in FIG. 61. It is first to
be noted that the apparatus shown in FIG. 61 is preferably provided
with the reel storage means 2000 described with reference to FIGS.
59 and 60.
[0295] The difference between the apparatus of FIG. 53 and the
apparatus of FIG. 61 is that the separating station 700 which
separates the locking element line 400 into individual locking
elements 200 is arranged upstream of the advance device 800 in the
transport direction of the locking element line 400. The advance
device in other respects does not differ from the advance device
800 shown in FIG. 53, the design configuration of which is thus
incorporated into the embodiment shown in FIG. 61. There is
provided a guide passage 1400 which guides the locking element line
in the region of the advance device 800. The guide passage 800 has
a curve and merges into a transfer passage 1600 which leads to a
pressing device 600. It is provided that the position of the
locking element in the region of the transfer passage 1600
corresponds to the position shown in FIG. 54. In the region of the
advance device 800 the position of the locking element is rotated
through 90.degree. and corresponds to the position shown in FIG.
57. Provided between the guide passage 1400 and the transfer
passage 1600 is a region in which the locking element line 400
experiences a twist.
[0296] As shown in FIG. 61 the guide passage 1400 or the transfer
passage 1600 is filled with a row of locking elements 200 which
have already been cut up. The transport movement of the locking
elements 200 is guaranteed because a locking element 200 pushes
forward the respective next locking element 200 within the narrow
guide passage 1400.
[0297] It is advantageous in this embodiment that a separate
transport operating in cyclic fashion can be provided for the
separating station 700 and therefore it is possible to dispense
with a buffer region between the advance device 800 and the
pressing device 600, with which intermediate storage of additional
locking element line 400 has to be implemented, as in the
embodiment shown in FIG. 53.
LIST OF REFERENCE CHARACTERS
[0298] 1 panel [0299] 2 panels [0300] 3 fixing system [0301] 4 hook
connection [0302] 4.1 hook [0303] 4.2 hook [0304] 5 locking element
[0305] 6 insertion portion [0306] 7 locking groove [0307] 8 locking
portion [0308] 9 latching tongue [0309] 10 latching recess [0310]
11 end [0311] 12 contact surface [0312] 13 attachment [0313] 14
first limb [0314] 15 second limb [0315] 16 gap [0316] 17 inclined
surface [0317] 18 anchoring means [0318] 19 projection [0319] 20
longitudinal side surface [0320] 21 tip [0321] 22 introduction aid
[0322] 23 hook [0323] 24 slot [0324] 25 slot side [0325] 26
enlargement [0326] 27 bore [0327] 28 rounded portion [0328] V/U
laying surface [0329] P force [0330] h height [0331] h.sub.1 height
[0332] b width [0333] r radius of curvature [0334] 30 panel [0335]
30a panel [0336] 30b panel [0337] 31 lower hook [0338] 31a hook end
[0339] 31b opening [0340] 31c latching recess [0341] 31d holding
gap [0342] 31e edge surface [0343] 31f bottom [0344] 31g clamping
surface [0345] 32 upper hook [0346] 32a hook end [0347] 32b opening
[0348] 32c latching recess [0349] 32d holding gap [0350] 32e edge
surface [0351] 32f bottom [0352] 32g clamping surface [0353] 33
locking element [0354] 33a resilient latching tongue [0355] 33b
clip portion [0356] 33c clamp portion/anchoring tongue [0357] 34
join [0358] 35 upper hook [0359] 36 panel [0360] 37 panel [0361] 38
panel [0362] 39 panel [0363] 40 panel [0364] 40a edge [0365] 40b
edge [0366] 46 panel [0367] 47 panel [0368] 48 panel [0369] 49
panel [0370] 49b edge [0371] 50 panel [0372] 50a edge [0373] 50b
edge [0374] 50c edge [0375] E pressing-in tool [0376] H1 undercut
surface [0377] H2 undercut surface [0378] M dust chamber [0379] P1
first row of panels [0380] P2 second row of panels [0381] R
latching surface [0382] S gap [0383] U/V support surface [0384] V1
front row [0385] V2 following row [0386] 100 apparatus [0387] 200
locking element [0388] 200a front part [0389] 300a panel [0390]
300b panel [0391] 300c panel [0392] 400 locking element line [0393]
400a insertion tongue [0394] 400b claw prong [0395] 500 edge [0396]
600 pressing device [0397] 600a pressing roller [0398] 700
separating station [0399] 700a cutting blade [0400] 700b blade
carrier [0401] 800 advance device [0402] 800a advance roller [0403]
800b advance roller [0404] 800c advance roller [0405] 800d advance
roller [0406] 900 pulling means/toothed belt 900a tooth [0407] 900b
tooth [0408] 1000 running surface [0409] 1100 friction surface
[0410] 1200 drive roller [0411] 1300 tensioning roller [0412] 1400
guide passage [0413] 1500 conveyor passage [0414] 1500a conveyor
cross-section [0415] 1600 transfer passage [0416] 1600a V-shaped
cross-sectional region [0417] 1600b apex point [0418] 1600c gap
[0419] 1600d projecting cross-sectional region [0420] 1700 storage
spring [0421] 1800 table [0422] 1900 tooth configuration [0423]
2000 reel storage means [0424] 2100 supply region [0425] 2200 loop
[0426] 2300 loop [0427] 2400 loop [0428] 2500 fixed spindle [0429]
2600 storage roller [0430] 2700 loose spindle [0431] 2800 storage
roller [0432] 2900 adjustment region [0433] .alpha. angle [0434] A
production installation [0435] a axis of rotation [0436] b axis of
rotation [0437] T through-travel direction [0438] P buffer region
[0439] D movement pickup [0440] C control [0441] G1 speed [0442] G2
speed [0443] L longitudinal direction [0444] M1 drive motor [0445]
M2 drive motor [0446] M3 drive motor [0447] M4 drive motor [0448] N
receiving region [0449] r1 overall width [0450] h1 overall height
[0451] Q detector [0452] K1 passage element [0453] K2 passage
element [0454] K3 passage element [0455] U1 passage element [0456]
U2 passage element [0457] U3 passage element
* * * * *