METHOD THEREFORE

The invention relates to a device for handling of plate-shaped bodies. More specifically the invention relates to a tool for gripping and handling of insulating materials for installation in building constructions.

When insulating building constructions typically mats or boards of fibre glass or rock wool are used. When installing these materials, for example between studs in a house wall, it is common that insulating mats are placed manually without any use of tools. The mats usually have to be dimensioned such that they have an excess length and width, so that when the material is compressed, it exerts a pressure on the studding in which it is placed. This oversizing ensures that there are no openings at the sides of the insulating material. Openings at the sides of the insulating material may function as cold bridges and thereby reduce the effect of the insulation. By oversizing the insulating mats a considerable amount of time goes to push the insulating mats into place. The mats are typically put into the studding after which the edges of the mats are manually pushed in such that they fill the cavity.

Thus there exists a need for a device which may ease the installation of plate-shaped insulating materials by compressing the edges of the material and by simplifying the handling of the insulating material .

From patent publication W09843898 a device is known for lifting of plate-shaped objects. However, the invention is limited to stiff, plate-shaped objects such as metal plates and wooden plates. The device which is described will be unsuitable for lifting or handling yielding materials such as insulating mats.

The invention has for its object to remedy or reduce at least one of the drawbacks of the prior art, or at least to provide a useful alternative to the prior art.

The object is obtained by features disclosed in the description below and in the subsequent patent claims. In a first aspect the invention relates to a device for handling of a plate-shaped body, wherein the device comprises a frame and wherein the frame is provided with at least a gripping body protruding from the frame, and wherein the frame is further provided with a displacement mechanism, and wherein the displacement mechanism is connected to the at least one protruding gripping body, and wherein the displacement mechanism is arranged to be able to cause a displacement of the at least one gripping body.

The plate-shaped body may be of insulating material.

The frame may be provided with two gripping bodies, wherein the length direction of the gripping bodies may be arranged mainly side by side with the length direction of the frame or that the length direction of the gripping bodies may be mainly arranged orthogonally to the length direction of the frame.

The frame may be made of at least two complementary rails which may be displaced relatively to each other.

The displacement mechanism may comprise a handle.

The displacement mechanism may further comprise an electric power supply.

The frame may comprise a protruding bar.

The gripping body may comprise a holding bar.

The gripping body may comprise at least one holding pin.

The gripping body may comprise at least one displaceable bar.

In a second aspect, the invention relates to a method for handling of a body by means of a device as described in the first aspect of the invention, the method comprising : a) to bring the gripping body into engagement with the plate-shaped body by activation of the displacement mechanism;

b) to position the plate-shaped material in a building construction; and

c) to release the engagement with the plate-shaped material by de-activation of the displacement mechanism.

In a third aspect, the invention comprises a use of the described device for handling of plate-shaped bodies, wherein the plate-shaped body may be an insulating material. I the following is described an example of a preferred embodiment which is illustrated in the enclosed drawings, wherein :

Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a device in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 shows in the same scale, the device of Figure 1 and a plate-shaped material ;

Fig. 3 shows in the same scale, the device of Figure 2 in engagement with a plate- shaped material; and

Fig. 4 shows in the same scale, an alternative embodiment of the device in accordance with the invention.

In the description of the drawings the mentioning of some details is left out. These details are not essential for pointing out the new features of the invention. These details may be of importance for the production of the device, but the discussion of these has been left out in order to make the description simpler and the invention clearer.

The same or similar elements will be denoted by the same reference number in the drawings.

Position indications as for example "over", "under", "above", "below", "right" and "left" refer to the position shown in the drawings.

In the following the reference numeral 1 denotes a device for handling of a plate- shaped material in accordance with the invention. In the following the device 1 will be referred to as "installation tool".

The installation tool 1 as shown in Figure 1 comprises a frame 12, wherein the frame 12 furthermore comprises a bar 11, an activation mechanism (not shown) and two gripping bodies 3. The gripping body 3 comprises a holding bar 13, a plurality of dis- placeable bars 17 and holding pins 15. The activation mechanism comprises a handle 19, and a power transmission device (not shown) which connects the handle 19 to the displaceable bars 17 of the gripping bodies 3.

In Figure 2 the installation tool 1 is shown in position above an insulating board 2. In order to grip the insulating board 2, the installation tool is positioned over the insulating board 2. The gripping bodies 3 are displaced in the directions R3 by operation of the handle 19 of the activation mechanism in the direction Rl. When the gripping bodies 3 have reached contact with the edges of the insulating board 2, the gripping bodies 3 are displaced further such that the insulating board 2 is compressed in its width direction. Figure 3 shows the installation tool 1 in engagement with the insulating board 2. When the insulating tool 1 has come into engagement with the insulating board 2, a person may grab the bar 11 and subsequently lift the installation tool 1 such that the releasably connected insulating board 2 may be positioned, for instance in a framework (not shown) in a wall or in a ceiling. When the insulating board 2 is positioned in the framework, the activation mechanism is deactivated and the gripping bodies 3 of the installation tool 1 lose their engagement with the installation board 2. Furthermore, the installation tool is removed from the framework. The insulating board 2 will thereafter expand and fill the cavity in the framework. Thereby a quicker positioning of the insulating board 2 is obtained than for any known method where the edges of the insulating board 2 have to be pushed in manually.

It shall be understood from the invention that the insulating board 2 may be any yielding insulating material, for instance any insulating material made from fibre glass or rock wool or other materials known in the art.

The activation mechanism may be visualized in a number of different embodiments. The activation mechanism in the example embodiment comprises a handle 19 and a not shown power transmission mechanism which connects the handle 19 and the dis- placeable bar 17 of the gripping bodies 3. The power transmission mechanism may be visualized to be exerted in a number of different professional ways. For instance the handle 19 may be connected to the displaceable bars 17 through wires, wherein the wires are positioned by means of sheaves. The wires and the sheaves may alternatively be positioned on the outside of the frame 12, or more appropriately, be housed by the frame 12. Power transmission mechanisms comprising worm gear, music wires, chains or other suitable solutions can be imagined. The power transmission mechanism is considered to be of a kind known in the art, and is thus not further described herein.

Furthermore, the activation mechanism may comprise a power source. The power source may for instance be an electric motor or an electric actuator. The power source may also be a pneumatic or hydraulic power source. The power source may be fastened to the frame, for instance positioned essentially where the handle 19 in Figure 1 is shown. The power source may also be housed by the frame 12, for instance in an embodiment where electrical linear actuators are connected to the displaceable bars 17.

The bar 11 is shown in the Figures as fastened to the frame 12, for instance by means of a welded connection. However, it shall be understood from the invention that the bar 11 may be further connected to the frame in a way which allows the angle of the bar 11 with regards to the frame to be adjusted, for instance by the bar 11 being provided with an axle in the end portion closest to the frame 12, and wherein the axle is furthermore connected to a bracket which is connected to the frame 12. Devices for adjustment of angles and locking of a bar are considered to be known in the art, and are thus not described further herein.

Figure 4 shows an alternative embodiment of the invention. The elements in the Figure are similar to the elements shown in Figures 1-3. In Figure 4 the frame is shown as made up of a first 181 and a second rail 182. The second rail 182 is shown as a square tube, where the outer dimensions of the second rail is adapted to the inner dimensions of the first rail 181. The second rail 182 is shown displaceably arranged in the first rail. An activation mechanism (not shown) causes displacement of the second rail 182, such that a similar effect is obtained to that described for the first embodiment where an insulating board situated between the gripping bodies will be securely held and compressed. In Figure 4 the frame 12 is shown as being composed of two complementary displaceable rails 181, 182, but it shall be understood from the invention that the frame 12 may comprise more than one rail, for instance three rails. The rails 181, 182 in the Figure are shown as square tubes, but it shall be understood that any type of complementary displaceable rails are comprised by the invention, for instance rails having complementary dovetail slots, complementary T-slots or rails comprising wheels.