TITLE OF THE INVENTION: An arrangement related to a transport system

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates in general to an arrangement related to a transport system.

More specifically, the present invention has its application to an arrangement related to said transport system which is adapted for a horizontal displacement of a number of coordinated platform sets.

Even more specifically the present invention will find its application to one such arrangement, related to a transport system which is adapted for movably permitting the transport, by a horizontally oriented displacement movement, of a number of platform sets, with allocated platform segments or one or more support tables, coordinated within and oriented to form a closed transport path.

The extent of such a transport path and a successive passage of the platform sets and/or the support tables, along an extent of an endless or closed transport path, may then be particularly adapted for an assembly of and/or a production of units and/or modules, such as semi- or complete manufactures, according to an "endless assembly line principle".

Primarily, the present invention is intended for an application as regards transporting or displacing heavy platform sets, intended to support one or more heavy produced units and/or modules, along an endless transport path, where the disclosed transport sequence is to be stepwise and most suitably driven, directly or indirectly, by connectable piston-cylinder arrangements.

The present invention is intended to be advantageously adapted to and applied within a system, which is illustrated and described in greater detail in a Swedish Patent

Application number 07 00441-9 entitled "Transport system adapted to be able to offer a sequential assembly of house bodies", and its corresponding International Patent Application allotted the Serial Number PCT/SE2008/000136.

The contents of said patent application are to be considered as an embodied part of the contents of this patent application, in order to clarify certain details in association with the principle application of the invention.

The present invention is intended for an application in platform sets with an inherent weight of up to and about 200 kg/m ² and with a loading capacity of up to and about 250-300 kg/m ² .

BACKGROUND ART

Methods, arrangements and constructions, related to the above disclosed technical field and with a function and a nature which satisfy set requirements, are previously known in a plurality of different embodiments.

As one example of the background art and the technical field to which the present invention relates mention might be made of a movable transport arrangement, driven by hydraulic piston-cylinder assemblies in order continuously or discontinuously to make for the movement of assembly tables or the like along an ended or endless transport path extent and where each one or said assembly tables is disposed to successively permit stopping at and/or passing one, among several successively accessible, plurality of assembly stations.

In the prior art technology, use has also been intimated of a number of coordinated platform sets and where a desired coordinated displacement takes place with the aid of a single transporting arrangement.

It is also known in the art that a caused movement of very heavy platform sets, with their individual platform segments and very heavy loads and/or details as units and/or modules, carried thereon, meet quite specific challenges in order to be able to

create an exact alignment of the displacement extent (straight displacement extent or angled, such as a displacement extent formed to a right angle), in combination with efficiently being able to master and simply overcome not only a friction at rest but also an occurring sliding friction between the support surface or the substrate.

In such instance, also forming part of the state of the art is the contents in German Patent Publication DE-A1-41 41 829.

Said patent publication discloses an arrangement transforming a first direction of movement to a second direction of a movement oriented at right angles and where a long movement distance for a first movement direction can be transformed over to a short movement distance for a second movement direction.

This transformation here takes place via a pin arrangement which cooperates with a "straight" groove or straight inclined slot in a plate in order, by the movement of the pin arrangement in one direction, to make for the displacement of the plate in another direction and where the relationship between the displacement speeds is constant.

The prior art also include the contents of the Patent Publication DE-A 1-3 344 034 where it is described the use of a factory hall and a production line where in an intermediate section (25) using a moving path for the production of large units by using concrete moulding technique. '

It is here suggested the use of two adjacently oriented heating tunnels (2, 3 in Fig. 3), each exposing tracks or paths (4, 5) and tracks or paths (7, 8).

This publication discloses two parallel oriented production lines (I; II) for the production of pallets.

The Patent Publication DE-A 1-2 338 445 discloses a method and a device for the production of units or arrangements in the form of pallets.

It is here suggested preparatory sections (1-3) in a first production line segment, a perpendicular to said production line arranged transporting line or displacement means to transport the pallets to production sections (4, 5, 6 and 7).

Sections (1-3) within the preparatory transporting line and the sections (4-7) within the production line are oriented in parallel.

Each pallet is exposing a rectangular form and is transported in a direction along the long sides.

The Patent Publication US-A-3 962773 relates to methods for the manufacture of prefabricated building section or room units and to factories for the implementation of such methods.

According to the invention, there is provided a method for the manufacture of prefabricated building sections on a production line, the method comprising the steps of assembling prefabricated panels in at least one assembly jig, arranging and holding the panels in the jig in their correct relative positions, securing the panels to one another in those positions to form the sections which are in an at least basically completed structural condition, and moving the assembled sections out of the assembly jig for finishing operations on a further part of the production line.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION TECHNICAL PROBLEM

Taking into account the circumstance that the technical considerations that a person skilled within the art must do in order to be able to offer a solution to one or more set technical problems is on the one hand initially a necessary insight into the measures and/or the sequence of measures to be implemented and, on the other hand, a necessary selection of the means required, in view hereof the following technical problems are likely to be relevant in the evolution of the subject matter of the present invention.

Taking into account the state of the art, as described above, it is probably likely therefore to be seen as a technical problem to be able to realise the importance of, the advantages associated with and/or the technical measures and considerations which will be required in order, in a transporting arrangement, intended for displacement of a number of coordinated platform sets, to disclose the utilisation of a first means, which is directly or indirectly adapted to give its allocated platform set, adapted to rest on slide surfaces, in the form of fixed sliding rails oriented in the selected displacement direction.

There resides a technical problem in being able to realise the importance of, the advantages associated with and/or the technical measures and considerations which will be required in order to cause draw and/or push rods, oriented in parallel and allocated to means to be oriented adjacent and/or between said elongate and fixed sliding surfaces.

There resides a technical problem in being able to realise the importance of, the advantages associated with and/or the technical measures and considerations which will be required in order to cause a second means to be adapted to give its allocated platform set a stepwise displacement movement and in a movement direction connecting to or counter-directed to the movement direction of said first means.

There resides a technical problem in being able to realise the importance of, the advantages associated with and/or the technical measures and considerations which will be required in order to cause said first means, with its allocated platform sets, and said second means, with its allocated platform sets, to be oriented in parallel at an allocated distance between them.

There resides a technical problem in being able to realise the importance of, the advantages associated with and/or the technical measures and considerations which will be required in order to cause a third means to be adapted to make for giving a platform set, allocated to the means, a displacement movement, from said first platform set to said second platform set, oriented in parallel.

There resides a technical problem in being able to realise the importance of, the advantages associated with and/or the technical measures and considerations which will be required in order to cause the displacement movement, created or caused by said third means to be coordinated to one single or only a few platform segments.

There resides a technical problem in being able to realise the importance of, the advantages associated with and/or the technical measures and considerations which will be required in order, with the aid int. al. of said platform sets or segments oriented in parallel to be able to offer a structured, sequential assembly, according to the "assembly line principle".

There resides a technical problem in being able to realise the importance of, the advantages associated with and/or the technical measures and considerations which will be required in order to cause a simultaneous assembly to take place of a plurality of house bodies, product units and/or arrangements, as whole or semi-manufactures, in which event one or more platform segments, coordinated to and for said first platform set, one or more platform segments for said second platform set are by said third displacing means movably disposed in two directions oriented towards one another.

There resides a technical problem in being able to realise the importance of, the advantages associated with and/or the technical measures and considerations which will be required in order to cause a first displacement movement to be, by a first means, allocated to a first platform set and a second counter-directed displacement movement to be, by a second means, allocated to a second platform set, where a third displacement means is adapted to make for the displacement of a few platform segments from a first to a second, alternatively from a second to a first, within a platform set and that a fourth displacing means is to be adapted to cause the displacement of a selected number of platform sets, supporting whole or semimanufactures, from a second to a first alternatively from a first to a second platform set.

There resides a technical problem in being able to realise the importance of, the advantages associated with and/or the technical measures and considerations which will be required in order to cause the first, the second, the third and/or the fourth means to encompass one or more draw and/or push rods, and that these should be recessed in a planar support surface for said slide surfaces.

There resides a technical problem in being able to realise the importance of, the advantages associated with and/or the technical measures and considerations which will be required in order to cause said draw and/or push rods to be given a "U"- shaped cross section, where a central portion interconnecting its shanks of the cross section can display recesses intended and specially formed as a carrier and oriented in series, so that each one of these recesses will be able to be surrounded by and causing a cooperation with its allocated releasing and/or blocking means.

There resides a technical problem in being able to realise the importance of, the advantages associated with and/or the technical measures and considerations which will be required in order to cause the platform sets to support, within their undersides, carriers oriented in parallel with recesses, each one adapted to be able to cooperate with its allocated locking and/or blocking means.

There resides a technical problem in being able to realise the importance of, the advantages associated with and/or the technical measures and considerations which will be required in order to cause each one of or selected first, second, third and/or fourth means to include a hydraulically actuable piston-cylinder arrangement outside the platform sets and/or said platform segments in order to impart to said push or draw rods a reciprocal and coordinated pattern of displacement movement.

There resides a technical problem in being able to realise the importance of, the advantages associated with and/or the technical measures and considerations which will be required in order to cause a control unit to be adapted, selectively and temporarily coordinated or temporarily separately, to influence one or more of said

piston-cylinder arrangement in order stepwise to make for the displacement of platform sets and individual or coordinated platform segments, oriented in an endless path.

There resides a technical problem in being able to realise the importance of, the advantages associated with and/or the technical measures and considerations which will be required in order to cause said control unit to be operative to activate said piston-cylinder arrangement in accordance with an activation pattern for a process sequence, controlled by a data program included in a computer unit.

SOLUTION

In such instance, the present invention takes as its point of departure or origin the prior art technology as disclosed by way of introduction in the form of a number of transporting arrangements intended for the displacement of coordinated platform sets, more exactly in accordance with the preamble of the appended Claim 1.

In order to be able to resolve one or more of the above disclosed technical problems, the present invention more specifically discloses that the prior art technology be supplemented in that a first means is to be adapted in order to give its allocated platform set a displacement movement, preferably stepwise, that said platform set is to be adapted to (directly) rest against, slide surfaces, oriented in the selected displacement direction.

Draw and/or push rods or rod arrangements, allocated to the means, oriented in parallel, can then be oriented adjacent and/or between said slide surfaces.

The present invention further relates to the proposed embodiment, falling within the scope of the basic idea of the present invention, to in addition disclose that a second means can be adapted to give its allocated platform set a stepwise displacement movement and in a displacement direction counter-directed to the displacement direction of said first means.

Said first means, with its allocated platform sets and said second means with its allocated platform sets, are then advantageously to be oriented in parallel at an allocated distance between these.

A third means is to be able to be adapted to give its allocated platform set a stepwise displacement movement from said first platform set to said second platform set.

The displacement movement created by said third means is to be coordinated to only one of a few platform segments.

With the aid of said platform sets oriented in parallel there is offered a sequential assembly, structured in accordance with the "assembly line principle".

A simultaneous assembly can now take place of a plurality of house body units, modules or other products, as whole- or semi-manufactures, in which event first coordinated platform segments for said first platform set, and second coordinated platform segments for said second platform set are by said third displacing means to be movably disposed in two directions oriented towards one another.

A first displacement direction may by first means be given to a first platform set and a second counter-directed displacement direction can by second means be allocated to a second platform set, where a third displacing means is adapted to permit displacement of a few platform segments from a first to a second alternatively from a second to a first platform set and a fourth displacement means can then be adapted to displace a selected number of platform sets, supporting whole- or semimanufactures, from the second to the first alternatively from the first to the second platform set.

The first, the second, the third and/or the fourth means are then preferably to encompass one or more draw and/or push rods and that these are recessed in a planar support surface for said sliding surfaces.

Said draw and/or push rods can advantageously be given a "U"-shaped cross section with a central portion interconnecting shanks of the cross section, where the central portion displays recesses formed as carriers and serving oriented in series, so that each one of these recesses will be able to surround and advise cooperation with releasing and/or blocking means.

It is further disclosed that said platform sets support, within its underside, carriers oriented in parallel, with recesses or the like, each one adapted to be able to cooperate with its allocated locking and/or blocking means.

Each one of or selected first, second, third and/or fourth means include an actuating means oriented outside the platform sets and/or the platform segments, such as a hydraulically actuable piston-cylinder arrangement, in order via these to permit imparting to said push or draw rods a reciprocal movement pattern, with a short stroke length, say approx. 2.5 cm.

The invention discloses the utilisation of a program memory controlled control unit, particularly adapted to selectively and temporarily coordinated or temporarily separately actuation of said means, such as utilised piston-cylinder arrangements, in order to displace platform sets and individual platform segments along an endless path.

Said control unit is disposed to activate said piston-cylinder arrangements in accordance with a process sequence, controlled by a software, included in a computer unit.

ADVANTAGES

Those advantages which may principally be deemed to be characteristic of the present invention and the special significative characterising features disclosed thereby are that there have hereby been created or caused the preconditions in order, in a transporting arrangement intended for displacement of a number of coordinated platform sets, to make for the utilisation of a support surface or support or sliding

rails in order to support per se heavy platform sets for a sliding movement with heavy, successively assembled, semi- or fully units and/or manufactures, such as house bodies with furnishings in the form of modules, resting on selected platform sets and/or platform segments included virtually formed selected platform sets and segments.

That which may principally be deemed to be characteristic of the present invention is disclosed in the characterising clause of appended Claim 1.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

One currently proposed application and its related embodiment of the present invention within a transport system and one preferred embodiment of a transport related arrangement, displaying the significative characterising features associated with the present invention will now be described in greater detail hereinbelow for purposes of exemplification with reference to the accompanying Drawings, wherein: Fig. 1 shows a proposed and preferred endless conveyor path in plan view within a transport system, with a number of platform sets and platform segments related thereto in a first position and a first process sequence;

Fig. 2 shows a proposed and preferred endless conveyor path in plan view within a transport system, with a number of platform sets and platform segments related thereto in an illustrated second position and a second process sequence; Fig. 3 shows a proposed and preferred endless conveyor path in plan view within a transport system, with a number of platform sets and platform segments related thereto in an illustrated third position and a third process sequence; Fig. 4 is a perspective presentation of the principles of a platform set, which within a transport system is coordinated with a number of eight platform segments, where Fig. 5 is a perspective presentation and exploded view of draw and/or push rods or rod arrangements, oriented to a right angle (90°), included in a transport-related arrangement, according to the disclosures of the invention, where each one of these rods is to be in cooperation each with its rod displacing means, such as a first means and a fourth means;

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of a blocking means, built into a rod, and assuming an upper position in order thereby to block its cooperation with a hole-formed rail, where the rail is fixedly related to a platform set or to a platform segment;

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the blocking means, built into the rod, according to Fig.

6, assuming a lower position, depressed by the hole-formed rail, in order thereby to release its blocking cooperation with the holes of the hole-formed rail, where the rail is fixedly related to a platform set or to a platform segment;

Fig. 8 shows schematically, in plan view and in block form, a transport system with a transport related arrangement, which makes for illustration of the principle control of the invention with four sets of reciprocally displaceable means, where each one is connected to a guide device;

Fig. 9 shows an unambiguous coordination, valid for the present invention, between a first support and running rail and a platform segment (to the left) and between a second support and running rail and a platform segment (to the right) with the blocking means in a fully depressed position;

Fig. 10 is a perspective presentation of a single platform segment, partly resting directly or indirectly against four drawn parallel-oriented planar support and running i rails, supported by a support surface, and related at right angles to the elongate side of the platform segment, on the other hand resting against hole-formed rails or rail . sections directly secured to the platform segment and oriented there between, where , these rails or rail sections are adapted in addition to cooperate in directly resting fashion with two rails formed to a "U" form in cross section, with upwardly directed with blocking means, also these secured to said support surface as well as corresponding, but simplified, arrangements for support and running rails, related at right angles to the short side of the platform segment;

Fig. 11 is a side elevation of an alternative embodiment of a blocking means, illustrated in Fig. 6, assuming a blocking position and which, against the action of a spring unit, may assume a lowered and a non blocking position; and

Fig. 12 illustrates one embodiment where a first movement direction is transformed, via an arrangement, to a second movement direction oriented at right angles thereto, under the utilisation of a curved form, where a beginning movement is selected little,

an intermediate oriented movement is selected larger and a terminating movement once again is selected little.

DESCRIPTION OF A CURRENTLY PROPOSED EMBODIMENT

By way of introduction, it should be emphasised that in the following description of one currently proposed embodiment which displays the significative characterising features associated with the invention and which is clarified by means of the figures shown in the accompanying Drawings, we have selected terms and a special terminology with the intention in such instance principally of making for clarification of the inventive idea.

With reference to accompanying Figs. 1-4 there are thus schematically and in detail illustrated the basic preconditions for a transport system.

Thus, Figs. 1, 2 and 3 show a transport system 1, built up from a platform construction with coordinated platform sets, where each such set consists of an equal or unequal number, but a plurality, of platform segments and allocated different transport sequences, and which system is intended to be able to move, continually or stepwise, an elongate set of platform segments Al to A8 transversely oriented in relation to the transport direction "Dl" and "D2", applicable for each one of the platform sets IA, 2A, 3 A .... 9A.

With the aid of a transport device "T", which cooperates with a plurality of platform segments Al, A2, A3 ... A8, oriented in parallel coordinated to individual platform sets, such as IA, where the movement pattern, for these platform sets 1A-9A and platform segments Al .... A8 (platform IA and further platforms), is adapted to be able to offer a sequential assembly, structured according to the "assembly line principle" of a plurality of house bodies or wholly or partly finished products, units and/or modules.

Initially this takes place by placing, on platform segment A6 and A7 (Fig. 4) within platform set IA, a metal frame 5 and coordinated module profiles 8, 8' and on site

making for the manufacture of floor elements 2, as well as thereafter positioning on the floor element 2 and its concrete slab 4 house-associated modules, construction units, construction parts etc. (not shown), and under the utilisation of a movably disposed platform set, which is to move successively from IA to 9A, for supporting of an illustrated 2 or more (2) floor elements, for one or more house bodies.

The floor element (2) accommodates the platform segments Al, A2, A3 and A4.

Said platform construction, with its platform sets IA ... 9 A and where each platform set IA is composed of a selected plurality of platform segments Al, A2, ... A8 are by displacing means, associated with the transport system, movably disposed in two directions oriented towards one another, where a first direction "Dl" is given a first platform set IA, 2 A, 3 A, 4A and 5 A and a second direction "D2" is given a second platform set 6A, 7A, 8A and 9A, under the exposure of a buffer zone, (here located under the platform set 6A).

It is to be noted that a platform set may be virtual as it may contain one or more platform segments.

Fig. 2 illustrates how a coordinated set, in the form of a selected number of platform segments 5Al ... 5A8 within the platform set 5 A, included in said first platform set IA ... 5 A, have been displaced by the transport device "T" to the left, in order to assume the place of the selected buffer zone and thereby coordinatedly be able to be included in a second orientation of platform set 6A ... 9 A.

Fig. 3 illustrates an intermediate position where a platform set 9A empty of house bodies, units and/or modules allocated the platform segments 9A8, 9A7 is displaced over so as to form a new platform set (IA).

Fig. 1 is intended to illustrate that, on a complete platform set IA with its platform segments Al to A8, there are manufactured or positioned one or more floor elements 2, (2) with an outer "U"-shaped metal frame 5, with transversely oriented

metal profiles 8, 8' with through-going holes, a subjacent insulation panel or mat 7 and a concrete slab 4, divided into sections 4', 4" and forming an upper wear surface 4a.

The construction of this floor element is illustrated and described in greater detail in a filed Swedish Patent Application 07 00440-1 designated "Floor element" and its corresponding International Patent Application allotted the Serial Number PCT/SE2008/000134.

According, as this or these floor elements 2, (2) are displaced in said first direction of movement "Dl" there are applied to these floor elements 2, (2) separate modules, construction units, construction details, modules etc. within said first platform set IA which during the displacement is allotted the position of the platform sets 2A, 3A, 4A and 5A.

When the displacement distance along the first direction "Dl" is completed for the platform set Al, downstream to platform set of reference numeral 4 A, a coordinated number (eight) of platform segments, such as 5Al to 5A8 or less, is displaced over so as to form part of an adjacent second platform set and there be given the second displacement direction "D2", according to Fig. 2, and that during this transport distance the virtual platform sets 6A, 7A, 8A and 9A, the not shown house bodies and/or semi-manufactures thereof are complemented further to a finished product, still resting against their own platform segments A6, A7 and Al, A2, A3 and A4, respectively, although being displaced as a virtual platform set from one platform set position to an adjacent platform set position.

Displacement of one or more platform segments from the terminating ninth platform set 9A to the first platform set (IA), according to Fig. 3, can take place piecewise and/or pairwise depending upon need.

A displacement of platform segments, from the ninth platform set to the first platform set, normally takes place as coordinated, such as with 5-10, platform

segments. Displacement from the fifth platform set to the sixth platform set also takes place as coordinated, such as with 5-10, say 8, platform segments.

When the platform set IA with its two floor elements 2, (2) is displaced to a position designated the reference number 5A, the platform segments A1-A4 can of course, as a unit, be displaced to the left while the platform segments A6 and A7 are displaced a selected time interval later to the left, in which event the floor elements 2 and (2) can change place in the production line 6A to 9A.

With reference to accompanying Figs. 5 to 12, there are thus illustrated schematically and in detail not only the basic preconditions associated with the transport related arrangement, disclosed for the present invention, but moreover the significative properties associated with the invention have been given concrete form, as a result of the currently proposed embodiment described in greater detail hereinbelow.

Thus, Fig. 5 is a perspective presentation and exploded view of draw and/or push rods or rod arrangements oriented at a right angle (90°) included in the transport related arrangement, where each one of these rods, the rod 50 and the rod 51, are to be in cooperation with its rod displacing means, such as a first means "Ml" and a fourth means "M4" as piston-cylinder-arrangements, illustrated in Fig. 8.

Fig. 5 then shows, in a perspective presentation and in an exploded view, draw and/or push rods 50, 51 reciprocally displaceable and oriented to a right angle (90°), where each one of these rods is to be in cooperation with its rod displacing means, such as said first means (Ml) and said fourth means (M4) and where Fig. 8 illustrates a presence of the other means (M2) and (M3).

Fig. 8 is intended to illustrate a clockwise displacement of the individual virtual platform sets, but there is nothing to prevent instead creating the preconditions for a counter-clockwise displacement movement.

Fig. 8 illustrates schematically and in top plan view a transport system (See Figs. 1 to 3) with four sets of, such as the arms 50, 51, displacing means, where each one is connected to only one, schematically illustrated, guide device 81, with a computer unit 82 and program memory 83 and a control memory 83'.

With renewed reference to Fig. 5, it is further illustrated that the arm 50, and also other arms oriented in parallel (not shown), are straight and display a number of sequentially oriented, blocking means 50a, 50b and which blocking means are intended to be able to cooperate with holes in a hole-formed rail 53.

Selected arms, such as pairwise or more, are to be coordinated for a common movement. (See Fig. 12.)

Fig. 5 further illustrates that the arm 51, as well as also other arms (not shown)', oriented in parallel, in principle' are straight, but with a "U"-shaped portion 51', in order thereby to be able to expose and cause the free reciprocal movement of the arm 50 in the same plane as the arm 51.

This arm 51 displays a number of sequentially oriented, blocking means 51a, 51b, 51c and 5 Id and which blocking means 51a, 51b are intended to be able to cooperate with formed holes 53a, 53b in a hole-formed rail 53, where the distance between the holes 53a, 53b is here selected to 2.5 cm.

The blocking means 50a, 50b are in their upper position intended to cooperate with allocated holes in the hole-formed rail 53.

Fig. 6 schematically illustrates a blocking means 51a, built into an arm or rod 51, and assuming an upper position, in order thereby to block its cooperation with the hole 53a of the hole-formed rail 53 and more specially its edge 53a', where the rail 53 is to be fixedly related to a platform set or to a platform segment.

Fig. 7 then shows another position for the blocking means 51a, built into the rod 51 according to Fig. 6, and assuming a lower, a position depressed by the hole-formed rail 53, in order thereby to permit release of its blocking cooperation with the hole 53a of the hole-formed rail 53 and its edge 53a', where the rail is fixedly related to a platform set or to a platform segment.

Fig. 9 now illustrates an unambiguous coordination valid for the invention between a first support and running rail 55a and a platform segment (to the left) and orientable between a second support and running rail 55, 55a and the platform segment with the blocking means 51a in a depressed position.

Fig. 10 now shows in perspective presentation a single platform segment, on the one hand resting directly or indirectly against four drawn planar support and running rails 55, 55a, 55b and 55c oriented in parallel and supported by the support surface "S",, and related at right angles to the elongate side "IA" of the platform segment "Al".

The platform segment "Al" resting against hole-formed rails 53, 53' or rail sections oriented therebetween and directly secured to the platform segment, where these rails or rail sections are adapted moreover to cooperate directly in rest with two rails 51, 51' formed as a "U" form in cross section, provided with upwardly directed, blocking means 51a, 51b, also these secured to said support surface "S" and corresponding, but simplified the arrangements for the support and running rails are related at right angles to the short side IAa of the platform segment.

Finally, Fig. 11 is a side elevation of an alternative embodiment of a blocking means 51a, illustrated in Fig. 6 and in Fig. 9, assuming a blocking position and which, against the action of a spring unit 5 Ie can assume a collapsed and non- blocking position.

More specially, the present invention thus discloses an arrangement for the displacement and transporting of a number of coordinated platform sets.

According to the invention, a first means should thus be adapted to impart to its allocated platform set, via two or more draw or push rods, a stepwise displacement movement, where said platform set is to be adapted to rest against slide surfaces, oriented in the selected displacement direction.

More specially, it is disclosed that draw and/or push rods 51, 51' allocated to the means M4 and oriented in parallel are to be oriented adjacent and/or between said sliding surfaces.

A second means is to be adapted to impart to its allocated platform set a stepwise displacement movement and in a displacement direction counter-directed to the displacement direction of said first means.

Thus, said first means Ml is, with its allocated platform sets, and said second means M2, with its allocated platform sets, are to be oriented in parallel at a given distance between these.

A third means M3 is now to be adapted to impart to its allocated platform set a displacement movement from said first platform set to said second platform set.

More specially, the displacement movement created by said third means M3 is to be coordinated to a single or a few platform segments.

However, with the aid of on said platform sets oriented in parallel there is offered a structured, sequential assembly according to the "assembly line principle" where a simultaneous assembly can take place of a plurality of house bodies or products, such as whole or semi-manufactures, in which event platform segments for said first platform set, platform segments for said second platform set are by said third displacing means M3 to be movably disposed in two directions oriented towards one another.

A first displacement direction is then, by a first means Ml, to be given a first platform set and/or its platform segments and a second counter-directed displacement movement can be allocated by a second means M2 to a second platform set and/or its platform segments, where a third displacing means M3 is adapted to displace a few platform segments from a first to a second, alternatively from a second to a first, virtual platform set position and a fourth displacing means M4 can then be adapted to displace a selected number of platform sets and/or its platform segments, supporting whole or semi-manufactures, from a second to a first alternatively from the first to a second platform set and/or its platform segments.

The first Ml, the second M2, the third M3 and/or the fourth M4 means can then actuate two or more draw and/or push rods and that these advantageously will be able to be recessed in a planar support surface for said sliding surfaces.

Said draw and/or push rods should be given a "U"-shaped cross section with a central portion interconnecting the shanks of the cross section, displaying recesses oriented in series formed as carriers, so that each one of these recesses will be able to surround and the cooperation with releasing and/or blocking means.

The platform sets support within their underside parallel-oriented carriers with recesses, each one adapted to be able to cooperate with its allocated locking and/or blocking means.

Each one of or selected first, second, third and/or fourth means are advantageously to include a hydraulically actuated piston-cylinder arrangement outside the platform sets and/or platform segments in order via these to permit imparting to said pairwise push- or draw rods a reciprocal movement pattern.

A control unit is then to be programmed such that and directly adapted to selectively and temporarily in coordination or temporarily separately actuate said piston-cylinder arrangement in order to displace platform sets and individual platform segments in an endless or coordinated end related paths.

Said control unit is then to be disposed to activate said piston-cylinder arrangement in accordance with a process sequence, controlled by a program 83, 83' included in a computer unit 82.

The invention is naturally not restricted to the embodiment described above by way of example but can undergo modifications within the frame of the inventive concept illustrated in the appended Claims.

Specially it should be observed that every illustrated unit and/or circuit can be combined with every other illustrated unit and/or circuit within the scope in order to be able to attain the desired technical function.