BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to a device and process or method for moving and transferring onto supports packages or packs of finishing materials for constructing modular walls or partition walls. Such walls comprise profiles for forming columns and upper and lower rails in the walls, insulating plates and finishing boards or wall plates, usually plasterboards. These finishing materials are taken to the work site in packs. Packs of finishing materials may therefore consist of a stack of finishing boards, in particular plasterboards. Other such packs may consist of a (packaged) stack of insulating plates or a (flat) (packaged) pack of profiles supported on beams. The packs usually are elongated, and usually have a width exceeding the height.

Usually by means of a board cart, the finishing boards, in particular plasterboards, are taken from an outside area at the building site to the location of the finishing works and transferred at that location onto supports, also called trestles.

It is known to transport elongated finishing boards to the work site using a mobile board cart, on which the finishing boards are supported with the short end edges straight up, and namely on a lying support and against an upright support at the longitudinal side of the board cart. The board cart has a pair of rear wheels and a pair of front wheels, wherein the pair of front wheels can be steered by means of a pole. At the work site the finishing boards are transferred as a group, while retaining their orientation, onto two trestles providing an L-shaped support, namely a lying support for the bottom edges and an upright support for the flat side of an outermost finishing board of the group. As the trestles have to present the group of finishing boards to the finishing workmen such that they can easily take the finishing boards off of the group, the upright supports need to be positioned on the side of the group of finishing boards, which side faces away from the work. At the board cart that has been put to a standstill, the trestles then need to be slid below the bottom edge of the group of finishing boards, at both longitudinal ends of the board cart, in front of and behind the wheels of the board cart. The space required for that purpose may however be limited due to the presence of a wall and at the front due to the presence of the pole of the board cart.

Furthermore, from EP 1.645.484 a system is known including a board cart and a mobile trestle, wherein the board cart comprises a main frame and an auxiliary frame carrying the stack of boards. The auxiliary frame can be tilted about an axis parallel to the main axis of the board cart, in order to tilt the stack into an upright position for passing through doors and the like. The auxiliary frame can furthermore be tilted about an axis that is transverse to the main axis in view of transferring the stack of boards to the trestle. The trestle's initially upright board supports are put in a horizontal position and put below the pack of boards lying on the auxiliary frame, on both sides of the auxiliary frame. Then the auxiliary frame and (the then lying) upright supports of the trestle are simultaneously tilted into an upright position, wherein the upright supports of the trestle are then located on the side of the stack of boards that faces the cart. If the trestle is positioned near a wall it will need to be turned in order to be able to take a board off of the upright pack. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to provide a device and/or method of the type mentioned in the preamble, with which a pack of finishing materials, in particular a stack of finishing boards, in particular plasterboards, can be transported to the work site and be transferred at that location in an economically advantageous manner onto one or more regular trestles having lying and upright supports. One or more trestles means a trestle that can be handled as one unity or two trestles to be handled individually, that are placed at a distance from each other.

It is an object of the invention to provide a device and/or method of the type mentioned in the preamble, with which a pack of finishing materials, in particular a stack of finishing boards, in particular plasterboards, can be transported to the work site and at that location easily be transferred onto one or more regular trestles having lying and upright supports.

It is an object of the invention to provide a device and/or method of the type mentioned in the preamble, with which a pack of finishing materials, in particular a stack of finishing boards, in particular plasterboards, can be transported to the work site and at that location be transferred onto one or more trestles having lying and upright supports in an upright position, preferably an upright position in which the longitudinal direction of the boards is horizontal.

It is an object of the invention to provide a device and/or method of the type mentioned in the preamble, with which a stack of finishing boards can be transported to the work site and at that location be transferred onto one or more trestles in a position that is advantageous for further handling.

For achieving at least one of these objects the invention, according to one aspect, provides a transport vehicle, in particular a transport vehicle provided with a main drive for propulsion, for moving a pack of finishing materials, in particular finishing boards, in particular plasterboards, which pack has a width in cross-section that exceeds the height, wherein the vehicle comprises:

- a main frame having a front end and a rear end, which main frame has a horizontal main axis extending between both ends;

- an auxiliary frame including a pack support provided with a first support for supporting the pack in a lying position at a first main side of the pack, and with a second support for supporting a first small side of the pack, which, when considered in said cross-section, is transverse to the first main side of the pack;

- wherein at the front end or the rear end the auxiliary frame is movably connected to the main frame for relative erecting motion from a lying transport position of the pack support, in which at the first main side the pack is supported in lying position by the first support, into an upright transfer position of the pack support, in which the pack is supported upright by at least the second support at the first small side,

wherein the pack support in the upright transfer position is oriented such that the second support is at an angle to the main axis of the main frame, which angle exceeds 180 degrees, preferably in the range of approximately 185 to approximately 195 degrees, preferably approximately 190 degrees.

In that way the pack of finishing materials can be tilted forward on the vehicle from a flat, lying orientation into an upright orientation adapted to the orientation of the pack supports of the trestle or trestles, of which the lying supports are usually at an angle of approximately 10 degrees (with deviations therefrom in the range of approximately +5 degrees to -5 degrees) to the horizontal. The trestles can be positioned near a wall with their board or pack support side facing the work area, because they can be approached by the vehicle from the work area and transfer can take place from that side. The trestles can be positioned in advance. The trestles conflicting with the optional pole of the vehicle is prevented. This will considerably reduce the physical load for workmen.

In a simple embodiment the auxiliary frame is connected to the main frame so as to be tiltable about a transverse axis that is transverse to the main axis, preferably near the front end of the main frame, for carrying out said motion from the lying transport position into the upright transfer position.

For easily moving the auxiliary frame from the transport position into the transfer position a first drive may be present on the vehicle.

The vehicle may be provided with a third support for supporting the pack in the transfer position of the auxiliary frame at a second main side of the pack that is opposite the first main side of the pack engaged by the first support. As a result, the pack is held stable during the pack's tilting forward. The pack's stability will be enhanced if the third support can be placed for engaging the second main side near a second small side of the pack that is opposite the first small side.

In one embodiment the third support is multiple and has third support members, wherein, considered in a direction parallel to the second small side of the pack, the mutual distance of the third support members is adjustable. In that way the dimensions of the pack, in particular a pack of finishing boards, can be adapted to, in order to be able to realise an as advantageous location of engagement between the third support and pack as possible.

The third support can be detachably attached to the auxiliary frame, in particular to the pack support, so that it is present in an active position only when required and when it is not required it will not be an impediment for other actions with the vehicle and/or pack.

For transferring the pack onto the one or several trestles, it may be advantageous if the second support in at least the transfer position can be moved between a first position and a lower second position. In that way the pack can be lowered with overview onto the one or several trestles, and one can optionally change the position of a trestle before it takes over the weight of the pack. It is advantageous here if the auxiliary frame can be moved up and down relative to at least a part of the main frame, preferably by means of a second drive.

In one embodiment the second support is multiple and has second support members, wherein, considered in a direction parallel to the first edge of the pack, the mutual distance of the second support members is adjustable. In that way the dimensions of the pack can be adapted to, in order to be able to realise an as advantageous location of engagement between the second support and pack as possible. The adjustability may be such that the pack, in particular a pack of plasterboards, with its centre of gravity is at least located substantially in the centre of the vehicle, resulting in enhancing the manoeuvrability and stability.

The second support can be moved between a stored position and a position engaging the first edge, so that it will not be an impediment for other actions with the vehicle and/or pack.

In a further development of the vehicle according to invention, the pack support can be rotated about a vertical axis relative to the main frame from a position of movement, in which the first support holds the pack with a horizontal pack direction parallel to the main axis, and an intermediate position, in which the first support holds the pack with said pack direction transverse to the main axis. As a result, a pack of elongated finishing boards can be driven to the work site on the vehicle with the short side of the pack (and the boards) leading, and at that location, with the main axis of the vehicle transverse to the trestle(s), be rotated to a transverse position and in said transverse position be transferred to the trestle(s). The finishing boards will then be positioned on the trestle(s) with their length horizontal. For said rotation, the vehicle, in particular the auxiliary frame, can be provided with a third drive, in particular a cylinder, such as a hydraulic cylinder.

In a further development of the vehicle according to the invention the pack support is movable relative to the main frame for a horizontal movement, in particular a shifting, of the pack support, in particular the first support, relative to the main frame in a direction parallel to the main axis. In that way the pack, in particular the pack of finishing boards, and thus its centre of gravity, can be shifted closer towards the trestle(s) without having to move the vehicle. For said movement the vehicle, in particular the auxiliary frame, may be provided with a fourth drive, in particular a cylinder, such as a hydraulic cylinder. In a compact embodiment the third and fourth drive are placed in series, preferably for a consecutive operation.

The third and fourth drive may comprise a first cylinder and a second cylinder, wherein the first cylinder is operational for the horizontal movement and the second cylinder for the rotation, wherein, preferably, the second cylinder is attached with one end to the movable part of the first cylinder, in particular to the end of the piston rod thereof. In that case the second cylinder with the other end may be attached to the pack support at a location that is horizontally spaced apart from the vertical axis.

Optionally a counterweight can be placed on the vehicle, at the end opposite the end where transferring takes place, in order to prevent the vehicle from being lifted at that location as a result of the centre of gravity of the pack moving relative to the main frame.

In a simple embodiment the auxiliary frame has a base frame that is movably connected to the main frame, in particular connected to the main frame so as to be tiltable, and that carries the pack support, wherein the pack support is connected to the base frame so as to be rotatable about a vertical axis and/or connected to the base frame so as to be horizontally slidable for said rotation or horizontal movement, respectively, relative to the main frame. The parts required for the rotatability and slidability of the pack support may therefore be separate from the parts required for the tiltability of the auxiliary frame. The pack support indeed follows the tilting motion of the auxiliary frame as a whole.

For enhancing the stability of the vehicle during transferring, the vehicle may be provided with a prop, preferably at the front end, for supporting the vehicle on a base during the motion of the auxiliary frame from the transport position into the transfer position, wherein the vehicle preferably is provided with a fifth drive for bringing the prop into and out of an active position.

The transport vehicle according to the invention may be designed as a mobile cart, having caterpillar tracks or preferably having wheels.

At the rear end of the main frame the vehicle may be provided with a pole, which is connected to a bogie provided with one or more wheels. Also at the front end the vehicle may be provided with a bogie provided with one or more wheels, preferably coupled to the bogie of the rear end. The drive for the vehicle preferably operates on the wheels situated at the front end.

Preferably near or at a free end of the pole, a remote control may be provided for operating said drives.

According to a further aspect, the invention provides an assembly of a cart according to the invention and one or several trestles for receiving the pack from the auxiliary frame of the vehicle, wherein the one or several trestles have been provided with lying supports for supporting the first small side of the pack and with upright supports for supporting the second main side of the pack.

According to a further aspect, the invention provides a method for moving a pack of finishing materials, in particular a stack of finishing boards, in particular plasterboards, to a work site, wherein the pack is moved to the work site lying flat, supported at a first main side, in a position of movement, on a transport vehicle, in particular an elongated vehicle, in particular a cart, and at the work site is transferred onto one or several trestles, which one or several trestles have been provided with supports for supporting a first small side of the pack and for supporting a second main side of the pack, in order to support the pack in an upright position, wherein the vehicle is placed in front of the one or several trestles, opposite the upright supports thereof, the pack in a tilting motion passing through the vertical being transferred from a lying into an upright transfer position, in upward direction forwardly inclined towards the one or several trestles and is put down with the first small side on the lying supports of the one or several trestles and with a second main side that is opposite the first main side against the upright supports of the one or several trestles.

In one embodiment the pack is elongated and in the position of movement the pack is moved to the work site in a lying position with the longest dimension in drive direction.

In a further development, in which the vehicle has a main axis connecting a front end and a rear end of the vehicle, which main axis is parallel to the vehicle's regular direction of movement or driving direction, the tilting motion takes place about an axis that is transverse to the main axis, therefore at a longitudinal end of the vehicle, preferably the end which is the front end during movement of the vehicle.

In one embodiment at the work site, the pack is rotated about a vertical axis from the position of movement into an intermediate position transverse to the position of movement.

In one embodiment during the tilting motion the pack is supported by the vehicle at the first small side and/or at the second main side, near the second edge of the pack that is opposite the first edge.

Prior to carrying out the tilting motion the pack may be shifted forward, in the direction towards one or several trestles, in order to improve the transfer process. If the pack is subjected to said rotation in the horizontal plane, the step of rotation about the vertical axis can be carried out after shifting the pack forward.

In one embodiment, wherein the vehicle has a main axis connecting a front end and a rear end of the vehicle, which main axis is parallel to the vehicle's regular driving direction or direction of movement, the vehicle is positioned with its main axis transverse to the one or several trestles, prior to transferring the pack onto the one or several trestles. The vehicle can be driven in a direction transverse to the trestles to just in front of the trestles, which can be done with overview.

From a further aspect, the invention provides a method for moving a pack of elongated finishing materials, in particular finishing boards, such as plasterboards, to a work site, wherein the pack is moved to the work site on an elongated transport vehicle, and at that location is transferred onto one or several trestles, wherein the vehicle comprises a main frame supported by wheels and a pack support supported by the main frame, wherein the pack is driven to the work site while being supported on the pack support, in a position of movement in an orientation in which the longitudinal direction is parallel to the direction of movement, and wherein on arrival at the work site, in particular at the one or several trestles, the pack support is rotated relative to the main frame about a vertical axis into an intermediate position transverse to the position of movement. In that way the pack of boards can be put in an advantageous position for storage on trestles and/or for the workmen to pick up the finishing boards. In that case the trailing end of the vehicle, where the pole may be located, will not be an impediment.

As discussed above, the pack, in particular pack of finishing boards, may lie flat on the pack support when in the position of movement.

In one embodiment, in which the pack, in particular pack of finishing boards, may be lying or upright in the position of movement, use is made of one or several trestles that have been provided with supports for supporting a first small side of the pack and for supporting a main side of the pack in order to support the pack in an upright position. The finishing boards are then positioned in an advantageous upright position with the longitudinal axis positioned horizontally for further handling/processing.

In case of lying transport on the pack support, in one embodiment during transferring the pack from the vehicle to the one or several trestles, the pack support is tilted about an axis parallel to the longitudinal direction of the pack in the intermediate position, into an upright position adapted to the orientation of the supports of the one or several trestles.

In that case use can be made of a cart in which the pack support is part of an auxiliary frame, comprising a base frame which for the tilting motion is connected to the main frame so as to be rotatable, wherein the pack support is connected to the base frame so as to be rotatable about a vertical axis.

In accordance with the aspect discussed just above, the invention provides a transport vehicle for moving an elongated pack of elongated finishing materials, in particular finishing boards, in particular plasterboards, which pack has a width in cross-section that exceeds the height, comprising:

- a main frame having a front end and a rear end, which main frame has a horizontal main axis extending between both ends, which axis is parallel to the vehicle's regular direction of movement;

- an auxiliary frame including a pack support for supporting the pack in a position of movement in an orientation in which the longitudinal direction is parallel to the main axis;

- wherein the pack support of the auxiliary frame can be rotated about a vertical axis relative to the main frame for a rotation of the pack support from the position of movement to an intermediate position, in which the longitudinal direction of the pack is transverse to the main axis.

Here, the pack support may comprise a first support for, at a first main side of the pack, in particular a pack of finishing materials, supporting the pack so as to lie flat in the position of movement, and may preferably comprise a second support for supporting a first small side of the pack.

The main side defines the width, the small side defines the height of the pack.

The auxiliary frame including pack support may be tiltable about a horizontal axis relative to the main frame, in particular about an axis transverse to the main axis. The pack support may be a part of an auxiliary frame comprising a base frame connected to the main frame so as to be rotatable for the tilting motion, wherein the pack support is connected to the base frame so as to be rotatable about a vertical axis.

The application furthermore relates to a device and a method for lifting and the placing in situ of finishing boards, in particular finishing boards for modular walls, in particular plasterboards.

Modular walls are usually constructed from a number of columns and optionally a lower rail and an upper rail, all in the form of profiles. Insulation material may be arranged between the profiles. On both sides of the columns, rigid finishing boards, usually plasterboards are attached, in order to form a wall surface on both sides of the series of columns.

Placing and attaching finishing boards against the columns is heavy labour for workmen. Usually the boards have a length of 2.4 m and a width of 1.2 m and a thickness of 1.5 cm and are difficult to manage due to dimensions and weight. This particularly holds good when the boards have to be placed at an elevated level in wall of a ceiling. In this connection it is an object of the invention to provide a device and a method for placing finishing boards such as plasterboards in situ, by which the physical load for workmen can considerably be reduced.

It is an object of the invention to provide a device and a method for placing finishing boards such as plasterboards in situ, by which the boards can be placed in a controlled manner.

It is an object of the invention to provide a device for placing finishing boards such as plasterboards in situ, which can be employed at many locations.

For achieving at least one of these objects, the invention provides a device for lifting a finishing board, in particular a plasterboard, for moving the finishing board from a standby location to a mounting location against a wall, wherein the device comprises:

- a movable main frame;

- a mast supported by the main frame, wherein the mast has been provided with a first guide;

- a carriage that is movable along and guided by the first guide;

- a holder attached to the carriage and provided with suction cups for retaining a finishing board;

- a carriage drive for the carriage;

- a vacuum source for the suction cups;

characterised in that the mast has been built up from several mast members, which are telescopically extendable and retractable relative to each other for extending and reducing, respectively, the length of the mast, wherein the mast members comprise at least a lowermost mast member and an uppermost mast member, in one embodiment three mast members, wherein the uppermost mast member can be telescopically extended to the highest position of the mast, wherein the device has furthermore been provided with a mast drive for telescopically extending and retracting the mast members,

wherein the first guide has been provided at the uppermost mast member.

In a compact embodiment the mast members each comprise a pair of columns, wherein the distance between the columns differs per mast member so that the columns of the one mast member at least partially fit within the columns of the next mast member, preferably the mast member positioned below it, wherein the columns have been provided with second guides for guiding the telescopically extending and retracting motions of the mast members.

The carriage drive may comprise a cable and a motor-driven hoist drum for it, which cable with its one end is attached to the carriage. Likewise, the mast drive may comprise a cable and a motor-driven hoist drum for it, in one embodiment attached to the uppermost mast member.

In a simple and compact embodiment the carriage drive and the mast drive have been combined, wherein the cable for the carriage drive and the cable for the mast drive are the same and the motor/hoist drum for the cable of the carriage and the motor/hoist drum for the cable of the mast are the same, wherein, preferably, when telescopically extending the mast the carriage is part of the mast drive, in particular by taking along the uppermost mast member after stopping against a stop at the uppermost mast member.

In one embodiment with improved ease of placement and accuracy, the holder is attached to the carriage in a manner so as to be tiltable about a horizontal axis parallel to the holder (and the finishing board to be retained by it), and can be selectively set in a forwardly tilted position and in a rearwardly tilted position relative to the vertical and preferably also an intermediate vertical position, wherein the forward tilt and/or rearward tilt is approximately 10 degrees.

The holder may be adapted to take up a forwardly tilted position relative to the vertical or a rearwardly tilted position relative to the vertical.

In a further development of the device according to the invention, remote controlled attachment means, preferably screwdrivers, preferably pneumatically operated attachment means, have been provided on the holder in order to arrange attachment elements, such as screws, through the board in order to attach the board to a column. The attachment means, preferably screwdrivers, may have been attached to an auxiliary frame that has been attached to the holder, preferably in a detachable manner. The attachment means, such as screwdrivers, may be of the type having a cartridge for attachment elements and operating according to a continuously loading system.

A panel can thus be placed and attached without a workman having to work at an elevated level.

In one embodiment, the uppermost mast member has a transversely turned end portion at its upper end, wherein the first guide fluently continues into the turned end portion for supporting and guiding the carriage according to a substantially horizontal orientation, wherein the turned end portion is oriented transverse to the plane of the holder when the carriage is in the vertical part of the mast, preferably is oriented in a direction away from the engagement side of the suction cups. According to a further aspect, the invention provides a method for placing elongated finishing boards, in particular plasterboards, against columns of a modular wall, wherein the boards are attached to the columns with their longitudinal direction horizontal, and the boards are arranged staggered against the columns per in vertical sense consecutive series over a part of the board length, preferably over half the board length.

In one embodiment the series of boards are arranged in an order from the bottom up. In that case the board to be placed can be introduced in the work tilted rearward, with the bottom edge against the columns and/or be placed on the top edge of boards in the series of boards situated below it, and is subsequently tilted towards the columns up against the columns.

Alternatively, the series of boards can be arranged in an order from the top down. In that case the board to be placed can be introduced in the work tilted forward, with the top edge against the columns and/or be placed against the bottom edge of boards in the series of boards situated above it, and is subsequently tilted towards the columns up against the columns.

The device described above is a useful tooi in this process.

Further embodiments of the device and method according to the invention have been described in the attached description of the figures and in the attached claims, the content of which should be considered inserted here.

The aspects and measures described in this description and the claims of the application and/or shown in the drawings of this application may where possible also be used individually. Said individual aspects may be the subject of divisional patent applications relating thereto. This particularly applies to the measures and aspects that are described per se in the sub claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be elucidated on the basis of an exemplary embodiment shown in the attached drawings, in which:

Figures 1A-C show a side view, a top view and an end view, respectively, of an exemplary embodiment of a board cart according to the invention;

Figure 2 shows the board cart according to figures 1A-C provided with a pack of finishing boards;

Figures 3A-G show consecutive steps in transferring the pack of finishing boards from the board cart of the preceding figures onto a pair of trestles;

Figures 4A-E show a side view, three consecutive stages in use and an end view, respectively, of an alternative exemplary embodiment of a board cart according to the invention;

Figure 5 shows a view of an exemplary embodiment of a board lift and placement device according to the invention, in transport condition;

Figures 6A-F show the board lift and placement device of figure 5 in a standby position inclined from the front, the standby position inclined from the rear, a view inclined from above and from the front and a top view, respectively;

Figure 7 shows depictions of the arrangement of some components of the board lift and placement device according to figure 5;

Figures 8A-C show the board lift and placement device according to figure 5 when in use; and

Figures 9A-C show a few steps in a process of placing a finishing board in a wall.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The transport device shown in figures 1A-C has been executed as a board cart 1 and is intended and designed for transporting a stack of finishing boards, in particular plasterboards for modular walls, from a storage or supply, such as lorry, to the location of finishing, to the work site where the boards will be mounted for forming a partition wall in a building.

The board cart 1 has a front end and a rear end and a notional main axis X connecting said ends, and comprises an elongated main frame 2, onto which two bogies 3a,3b with wheels 4 have been mounted. A pole 5 has been attached to the bogie 3a situated at the rear end, in order to manipulate it. At the outer end of the pole 5 an operation unit 12 is situated, from where the operation lines extend, through the inside of the tube of the pole 5 towards the components to be operated on the board cart 1. Both bogies 3a, 3b have been connected to each other by a coupling rod 6 for simultaneous opposing rotation for improving the manoeuvrability of the board cart 1.

The main frame 2 comprises an upper part 7 having a pair of longitudinal girders 7a and cross girders 7b, also see figure 3G. Near the rear end of the board cart 1 a counterweight 8 has been attached to the main frame 2. Plates 9 have been attached at the front end of the longitudinal girders 7a for holding hinges 10a,b. The upper part 7 comprises column sections 17a, that can be moved up and down on column sections 17b that are integral with lower part 70 of main frame 2. The bogies 3a, b have been attached to the lower part 70. A hydraulic cylinder 18 has been provided for lifting and lowering the upper part 7 relative to the lower part 70.

Further arranged on the lower part 70 of the main frame 2, at the front, is a prop 19, which can be moved up and down and pushed against a base by a fifth drive, hydraulic cylinder 13.

Arranged at the lower part 70 of the main frame 2 are an electromotor 11 including differential for driving the wheels 4 at bogie 3b and a hydraulic motor 14 for the hydraulic cylinders 13, 18 and 23a,b (yet to be discussed), as well as, if present, for the cylinders 125 and 126 yet to be discussed. A battery 50 ensures power supply.

The upper part 7 of the main frame 2 supports an auxiliary frame 20, which at the location of the hinges 10a, b is connected the main frame 2 so as to hinge about axis Y. The auxiliary frame 20 comprises a base part 21 and a pack support or board support 22 supported thereon. The pack support 22 comprises an H-shaped tube set 22a and a set of transverse tubes 22b attached thereto, to the upper surface of which wooden laths have been attached which thus form a first support 28 for instance for a pack of elongated finishing boards, for a main side thereof. By means of a second drive, here the aforementioned cylinder 18, the auxiliary frame 20 can be moved up and down along with the upper part 7, relative to the lower part 70 of main frame 2.

For carrying out the rotation of the auxiliary frame 20 about axis Y, directions A, a first drive has been provided, here in the form of two hydraulic cylinders 23a, b. They have been attached with one end to the lower part 70 of the main frame 2, at a level below the longitudinal girders 7a, and with the other end they have been attached to the base part 21.

The pack support 22 can be shifted (directions B) relative to the base part 21 , in longitudinal direction X. At the location of hinge 24, the pack support 22 is furthermore rotatable relative to base part 21 , about an axis Z (directions C) that is perpendicular to the main plane of the pack support 22, in the lying position shown in figure 1A the vertical axis Z. The hinge 24 between base part and pack support has been arranged so as to be movable in X direction, on a slide 71 guided by longitudinal girders 21a, b of base part 21. A latch 25 has been provided for releasing the slide 71 with pack support for sliding or for blocking it against sliding, respectively. A latch 26 has been provided for releasing the pack support for rotation about axis Z or for blocking it against rotation, respectively.

The pack support 22 furthermore comprises a second support in the form of L-shaped second supports or support members 27, which with one leg 27a extend in one end of the transverse tubes 22b of pack support 22. The second supports 27 can be secured to the transverse tubes 22b in two positions, namely a flat position, in which the leg 27a has been fully accommodated in the transverse tube 22b, and an upright active position, in which the other leg 27b extends upwards and the former leg has been telescopically extended out of the tube 22b, over an adjustable distance. The setting can be such that the pack support surfaces of the second legs 27b are situated at a horizontal distance S (see figure 1 B) to a vertical longitudinal surface (M, in figure 1 B) containing the centre of gravity of the board cart 1 of half a pack width, thus 0.6 m at a plasterboard width of 1.2 m.

Furthermore, a third support, in the form of U-shaped third supports or support members 29, is present on the board cart, which support members with one leg 29a can be slid into the other end of transverse tubes 22b in a removable manner, in order to extend upwards with the bottom 29b of the U and with the other leg 29 extend parallel again to the former leg. The position of the other leg 29c along the bottom of the U is adjustable. Said supports are shown in stripes in figures 1 B and 1C.

The board cart 1 can be used for transportation of a pack of finishing materials to a finishing works and transferring the pack onto trestles at that location. In particular, it regards a pack of elongated finishing boards, plasterboards, that are usually 1.2 m (width) by 2.4 m (length), wherein the pack height is for instance 30 cm, in case of 20 boards of a 1.5 cm thickness. A pack may also consist of a foil-enveloped pack of for instance three stacks of insulating plates sitting adjacent each other in longitudinal direction, each 0.6 m high, 1 m wide and 1 m long, therefore having a pack length of 3 m. In this case the pack has a first main side and a second main side opposite thereto, a first small side and a second small side opposite thereto, and transverse thereto, a third small side and a fourth small side opposite thereto. The first small side P1 and second small side P2 form the long sides and the third small side P3 and fourth small side P4 form the short sides of the pack.

When used in this example, a pack of boards P is placed lying flat on a board cart 1 , see figure 2, wherein the lowermost, first main side Pa of the pack P lies on the first support 28 of the pack support 22. The longitudinal sides P1 and P2 are parallel to X. Prior to placing the pack P on the board cart 1 , the L-shaped second supports 27 have been telescopically extended from the transverse tubes 22b, tilted upwards and then with the legs 27b upright adjusted to half a pack width or board width from the centre plane M, so that the first side or edge P1 of the board pack P abuts the second support (upright legs 27b of pack support 22). The board pack P is then properly aligned and with its centre of gravity also lies in the plane M. The supports 29 are as yet not used.

In that condition the board cart 1 is driven to the work site, according to regular direction of movement X, parallel to the main axis, by operating the electromotor 1 1 , from operation unit 12 on pole 5. Once arrived in the work area the board cart 1 is driven in front of two trestles 40 (see figure 3D and further) placed at a short distance in front of a wall, with the front end near the trestles 40, the longitudinal direction of the board cart transverse to the notional line connecting the trestles to each other.

Then the latch 25 is operated (deactivated) and subsequently the pack support 22 with board pack P lying on it is shifted forward (direction X1), figure 3A. The latch 25 is then activated again. The longitudinal sides P1 ,2 of the pack P are then transverse to the direction X

Subsequently the latch 26 is operated (deactivated), after which the pack support 22 with board pack P is rotated 90 degrees about axis Z, direction C1 , into the position of figure 3B. The latch 26 is then activated again.

In a next step the lifting cylinder 18 is activated from the operation unit 12, as a result of which the upper part 7 of the main frame 2 and the auxiliary frame 20 are moved upwards, direction D, see figure 3C.

Then the third supports 29 are placed, by sliding the legs 29a thereof into the transverse tubes 22b. The legs 29c are brought into engagement with the upper surface, second main side, of the board pack P and then secured in that position, also see figure 3.

The board cart 1 is then put in the correct position in front of the schematically shown trestles 40, after which the cylinder 13 is operated from the operation unit 12 for pushing the prop 19 against the floor, also see figure 3C (please note that in the previous figures the prop 19 has also been shown in extended position, but that is not the case there). The prop 19 is pushed down such that the weight of the board cart 1 at that location is largely taken over and the wheels 4 of bogie 3b are relieved. In that way it is prevented that the wheel shafts and drive 1 1 are overloaded.

The board cart 1 is then ready for transferring the board pack onto trestles 40a,b. The trestles 40a, b (see figure 3E) have lying support surfaces 41a,b and upright support surfaces 42a, b, which are at an angle of 90 degrees to the lying support surfaces. Instead of two trestles 40a,b a trestle that can be handled as one unity can also be used, for instance having one lying support surface for supporting a bottom edge of a board pack over a sufficient length.

Then the cylinders 23a, b are operated from the operation unit 12, as a result of which the auxiliary frame 20 will start rotating about axis Y, in a tilting motion A1 , figure 3D, into a vertical position and beyond it into a tilted through position, at an angle approximately corresponding with the angle of the upright supports 42a, b, figures 3E and 3F. This angle may be 190 degrees to the initial position of the board pack.

During this tilting motion the board pack P finds stable support on (initially) the first support 28, with main side Pa, the second supports 27, with the first small side P1 , and after passing through the vertical also the third supports 29, with second main side Pb. Stability of the board cart 1 is ensured by the counterweight 8 and by the prop 19.

The cylinder 18 is then operated from the operation unit 12 for lowering the assembly of upper part 7 of main frame and auxiliary frame 20, direction D2, and therewith the second support 27 and therewith the board pack P, until it rests on the lying supports 41 a, b figure 3F. Once the board pack P rests stably on the trestles 40, with the second main side Pb against the upright supports 42a, b, the third supports 29 can be removed, the prop 19 lifted and the board cart driven back, wherein the second supports 27 due to the inclined position can be moved rearward without problems, figure 3G. An additional lowering motion of the auxiliary frame 20 in direction D2 will not be required then. Alternatively, the lowering motion can also be continued down to the fully lowered initial position after the board pack P contacting the lying supports 41a,b, when the third supports can be freely telescopically extendable with their legs 29a out of the transverse tubes 22b.

The pack support 22 can be rotated back, direction C2, into an orientation in line with the longitudinal direction of the board cart 1 and be slid back into the direction X, all this by operating the latches 25, 26. The board cart 1 is now ready again to pick up a next board pack.

The invention limits physical load for workmen to a minimum. In cases in which also the shifting and rotation of the pack support takes place by means of drives, a workman does not even need to exert any particular force on the finishing boards during the transfer. The invention is ideal for a finishing process in which on a work floor first the profiles required for modular walls, insulating plates and plasterboards are taken to the work floor and -with little physical exertion- are positioned on trestles, and not until then will the profiles be set and the insulation plates be arranged.

In figures 4A-E an alternative embodiment 101 of a board cart according to the invention has been shown, in which a drive has been provided for the horizontal movement in the directions X of the pack support 122 relative to the base part 121 and a drive for the rotation in directions C of the pack support relative to the base part 121. Said drives replace the manually performed slide and rotary motions to be released and blocked again by latches 25 and 26.

The counterweight 108 is divided (108a, 108b) to provide room to a cylinder 125 to be operated by the said hydraulic motor (14). The cylinder 125 (fourth drive) has been attached to a cross beam 121c and extends through it with a piston rod 160. A transverse-plate 161 has been attached to the end of the piston rod 160. At a location above the end of the piston rod 160 a longitudinal beam 162 has been attached, extending back over the piston rod 160 and over the cross beam 121c. At the end of said longitudinal beam 162 a transverse strip 163 has been attached, to which the end of a cylinder 126 (third drive) has been attached. The cylinder 126 has piston rod 167.

Hinge 124 has been attached to transverse-plate 161 , which hinge forms the connection between the base part 121 and the pack support 122. The hinge 124 comprises a shaft 164 and a plate 165 rotation-fixedly connected thereto, attached to the bottom side of the pack support 122, and an arm 166 extending radially away from it, which arm is hinged to the end of the piston rod 167.

The hinge 124 is supported on a slide 171 , guided so as to slide in directions X in two longitudinal beams 121a,b of base part 121.

In operation, first the cylinder 125 is activated from the operating unit 12 on the pole 5, as a result of which the piston rod 161 is extended and the carriage 170 with hinge 124 is shifted in direction X1 (figure 4B), guided by longitudinal beams 121a,b of the base part 121. When the carriage 170 abuts a stroke limiter provided for that purpose, the cylinder 125 is kept in the resulting condition and the cylinder 126 is subsequently activated automatically or by operating the operating unit 12. As a result, its piston rod 167 is extended, direction K (figure 4C). Due to the hinge attachment of the cylinder 126 at 163 the end of the piston rod 167 is able to follow the circular path L of arm 166, see figure 4C, so that the arm 166 is rotated 90 degrees, direction L, into the position of figure 4D. This movement is also limited by a stroke limiter.

Due to the rotary-fixed connection of pack support 122 to the arm 166 the pack support 122 has also been rotated a quarter of a turn, direction C1 , in order to take up the position of figure 3C. The pressure on the cylinders 125 and 126 is maintained so that the pack support 122 remains in the resulting position.

In figure 4E the position reached is shown in front view. In figures 4A and 4E it can be seen that due to the cylinder 126 and longitudinal beam 162 extending over the cross beam 121c, the pack support 122 is situated relatively higher than the pack support 22 does relative to base part 21 in the previous exemplary embodiment, but this will be no objection to the stability, as the centre of gravity of the pack support including the pack placed on it, coincides with the hinge axis Y or at least be situated quite close to it.

Instead of cylinders 125 and/or 126 other suitable third and fourth drives may have been provided, for instance in the form of a gear rack or worm and a gear or worm wheel cooperating therewith, respectively, actuated by an electromotor.

The exemplary embodiment of figures 5 and further will now be gone into.

The device 1 of figure 5 is a combined board lift and board placement device, for handling finishing boards, in particular plasterboards for modular walls.

The device 1 comprises a frame 2 that has been provided with castors 3 for mobility, wherein at least a number of the wheels have been provided with blockers that have not been shown. A reinforced casing 4 has been arranged on the frame 2, in which casing the components to be discussed with figure 7, have been housed. A hinge 6 is situated on top of the casing 4, by which a mast 5 has been connected to casing 4 so as to hinge about horizontal axis X1. In figure 5 the mast 5 lying on the top side of the casing 4 is locked in said transport position by knobs 22 that extend through locking plates 20 of the casing 4 and in threaded holes in the mast 5. In this condition with mast 5 lying, the device is low and can easily be transported in a company van.

The mast 5 comprises three members, a lowermost mast member 7, a middle mast member 8 and an uppermost mast member 9. the uppermost mast member 9 has a main section 9a that is parallel to the mast members 7 and 8, and an auxiliary section 9b that has been turned 90 degrees.

Mast member 9 has two guides 10a, b situated opposite each other, for guiding a carriage 11 along the mast member 9. The guides 10a,b continue up to the outer end of the auxiliary section 9b.

The mast 5 has been provided with a set of brackets 19 extending on both sides of the mast 5, with which brackets a workman is able to move the device 1 , both in the transport position of the mast in figure 5 and in the operational position of the mast in figures 6A, 8A.

Mast member 9 can be telescopically extended and retracted in a controlled manner into mast member 8, which in turn can be telescopically extended and retracted in a controlled manner into mast member 7. Mast member 7 cannot be moved linearly relative to hinge 6, at that location only hinge relative to casing 4. Mast member 9 is then guided within two profiles of mast member 8, mast member 8 is then guided within two profiles of mast member 7. As can be seen mast member 9 is for the larger part situated within the transverse contour of mast member 8 and mast member 8 is for the larger part situated within the transverse contour of mast member 7, also see figure 6D.

The carriage 11 , in particular a carrier 11a (figure 6D) integrally formed therewith, is an H-shaped holder 12 composed of tubes, onto which holder suction cups 13 have been attached, by means of clamping sleeves 23, that can be adjusted as to location in direction D (figure 6C). The suction cups 3 have each been pre-biassed to an extended position by a spring 3a, so that a finishing board, such as a plasterboard, engaged by the suction cups 13 is able to assume an inclined position relative to the holder 12, when picking up the board and when pressing the board against the columns of a modular wall.

Each pair of suction cups positioned diagonally opposite each other forms a pair that each time via two individual vacuum lines 14a,b, is connected to a related vacuum tank 37 (figure 7) in casing 4. The underpressure in the tanks 37 is provided by a vacuum pump 36, also housed in casing 4. An underpressure sensor 38 has been provided on each tank 37, which sensor detects the underpressure dropping away (alarm) and furthermore that the underpressure in a vacuum line 14 drops below a desired underpressure value, following which the underpressure can be corrected.

A frame 15 has been attached to the holder 12. A number of pneumatically driven screw drivers 17 have been attached thereto, which screw drivers 17 comprise cartridges and operate according to a continuously loading system. As an alternative a circumferentially driven supply belt 16 for screws has schematically been shown. The required compressed air is supplied via compressed-air lines 18, connected to a compressor 40 in casing 4. In figures 6A-C the mast 5 has been tilted about axis Y into a vertical position, locked in that position by knobs 22 that extend through locking plates 21 on the casing 4 and in the threaded holes in the mast 5. The mast 5 is in the fully retracted position. The carriage 11 is in the lowest position, in which a finishing board can be picked up from a trestle or the like.

Figures 6C-F (please note that figures 6E and 6F show more and optionally extra features) show that the holder 12 has several freedoms of movement relative to the carriage 11 , or at least the carrier 11a, and namely in the first place a tiltability in the horizontal plane, about hinge 28 with axis Z, also see figures 6D and 6E, in directions B, within stops 78 on bracket support 77 (forming one unity with 11 , 11a), between for instance +30 degrees and -30 degrees. The holder 12 is one unity with plates 79 that are hinged to bracket support 77.

In figure 6F a possible extra setting of the holder 12 is shown, and namely about axis X2. The bracket support 77 forms one unity with bushes 72a, b, that have been attached to rods 70a, b attached in carrier 11a. The lowermost rod 70b is fixed and defines axis X and the uppermost rod 70a is detachably attached to carrier 11a, in holes 71a or 71b. As a result, the holder 12 is tiltable and adjustable in directions G, in the vertical plane about axis X2, between a forwardly tilted position (figure 6F) and a rearwardly tilted position, each of for instance 10 degrees to the vertical. In case it is opted for to hold the holder and board to be arranged vertical, attachment holes -not shown- for the rod 70a may be provided between the holes 71a and 71b.

There is furthermore question of a 360-degree rotatability, directions C, in the vertical plane, about axis Y about a hinge 29. The rotation position in the direction C can be adjusted and locked, in particular in a horizontal position of holder 12, for handling elongated finishing boards with the longitudinal direction horizontal, and a vertical position of the holder 12, for handling such finishing boards with the longitudinal direction vertical. For the adjustability the hinge 29 comprises a vertical hinge plate 73 attached to the plates 79, which hinge plate has been provided with adjusting holes74 arranged regularly distributed over the circular perimeter, in which adjusting holes a spring-biassed locking pin 75 (arrows M) is able to engage selectively so as to block. Said locking pin 75 has been attached to the holder 12. Adjusting holes 74 are present at least at positions 90, 18, 270 and 360 degrees, relative to the horizontal. The hinge 29 comprises a chamber 76 that is fixed with holder 12, onto which chamber the vacuum lines 14a (two) and 14b (two) and compressed- air line 18 have been connected. The lines that form the connection between the vacuum tanks and the compressor with hinge 29 have been connected to disk 73. In a manner known per se, using annular chambers, an at least substantially leakage-proof connection between the inbound and outbound lines has been realised within continuous hinge 29.

The holder 12 can furthermore be shifted relative to the carriage 11 in the horizontal directions H (figure 6C), parallel to the plane of holder 12, for instance over 0.4 m, and can be locked in the desired position, in a manner that is not shown. For that purpose, the bushes 72a,b can be shifted in direction H on rods 70a,b which have been attached in carrier 11a. The adjustment and locking may for instance take place using a gear wheel-gear transmission, activated by an electromotor in casing 4.

For moving the carriage 11 along mast member 9 as well as for telescopically extending the mast members 8 and 9, a drum 30 has been arranged in the casing 4, see figure 7. For driving the drum 30 a reductor 31 and a 24V electromotor 32 have been provided. A cable 50 has been attached to the drum 30 with one end, then runs upwards, about pulley 51 that has been attached in transverse part 61 at the upper end of fixed mast member 7, and downwards again towards pulley 52 in transverse part 62 at the lower end of mast member 8, then upwards towards pulley 53 in transverse part 63 at the upper end of mast member 8, downwards towards pulley 54 on transverse part 64 at the lower end of mast member 9, upwards towards pulley 55 on transverse part 65 near the upper end of mast member 9a and then downwards to be attached with the end to the carriage 11 at the location of 67.

Further housed in the casing are a number of batteries 33, a battery charger 34, a driver 35 for the motor 32, said vacuum pump 36, vacuum tanks 37 and adjustable vacuum pressure sensors 38 for controlling the magnitude of the underpressure applied to the suction cups 13, and electronics 39 for them, as well as the compressor 40 for the pneumatic screw drivers 7. A power regeneration unit 42 has furthermore been provided, which is operationally connected to the motor 32 and the batteries. Its function is shown in figure 7, wherein the unit 42 is used for passing on to the batteries, energy that has been generated by the motor 32, via the cable 50 and the drum 30, when lowering the carriage and telescopically retracting the mast members, the motor 32 in that case operating as a generator.

In operation, as mentioned, with the device in the standby position of figures 6A and 6B, a finishing board P is picked up from a trestle. The board P is a plasterboard, for instance having a length of 2.4 m, a width of 1.2 m and a thickness of 1.5 cm. Prior to that, by operating two buttons 81 , the vacuum pump 36 has been activated to activate the suction cups 13 and suck the board P firmly to the holder 12. Because of the adjustable pressure sensors 38 it is ensured that the vacuum suffices and a reliable engagement by the suction cups 13 onto the plasterboard is effected, despite the plasterboard, contrary to a sheet of glass, being porous.

A workman engaging the brackets 19 then drives the device 1 to a position either in front of or below the location when the board P has to be placed in/on a wall 101 of an interior space 100, with blocked castors. The workman then operates the continuously variably controlled motor 32, in order to activate the drum. The carriage 11 will as a result be urged towards the end of the mast member 9a, against transverse part 65, and subsequently the mast members 9 and then 8 are telescopically extended, wherein the mast 5 is vertical. The workman operates the motor 32 by switch 80, until the carriage 11 has put the board P at the desired height. By manoeuvring the device 1 to limited extend, for instance driving the device 1 closer to the wall, direction I, and by using the rotatability in directions B, within stops, and the driven slidability in direction H, the board P can be placed against the structure of the wall 101 , pressed against the columns 103, which over the full height may have been provided with double- sided adhesive tape 104. The workman can subsequently activate the compressor 40, button 82, and operate the pneumatic screw drivers 17 with it to screw down the board P. If present, screw supply 16 can be operated by button 83.

Once all screws have been arranged the vacuum pump 36 and the compressor 40 are switched off. This can also be done earlier due to the presence of the adhesive tapes 104. The castors 3 are unblocked and the device 1 is driven away from the wall over a small distance. The motor 32 is converted, so that the cable 50 on the drum 30 is released and the mast members 8 and 9 can be telescopically retracted, as well as the carriage 11. The energy this releases is converted into voltage via motor/generator 32 and supplied to the batteries 33 via unit 42.

As a result, the device 1 can be used off the grid for a longer period of time. When not being used the batteries can be charged by temporarily connecting them to the grid via a cable from the battery charger 34.

If the board P is supposed to be placed against a ceiling 102, the movement path of the carriage 1 1 can be extended towards turned portion 9b, see figure 8B. Transverse part 65 including pulley 55 are then detached from the upper end of mast member 9a and moved to the outer end of mast member 9b, positions 55' and 65'. The cable 50 is then passed along the guides 56 in the transition between mast members 9a and 9b. The carriage 11 is designed to follow the transition between mast members 9a and 9b smoothly. The guides 10a,b merge according to a curve of 90 degrees from mast member 9a into mast member 9b. Pulley 55' thus takes over the end function of pulley 55. As can be seen in figure 8C, after the carriage 11 has been taken near to the pulley 55' by activating the drum 30, with the board P in horizontal position by further telescopically extending the mast 5, the carriage 11 including the holder 12 and the board P can be lifted until the board P has been put at the correct position against the structure of the ceiling and the pneumatic screw drivers can be activated.

In operation it can be opted for to hold the boards vertical, that means not tilted about a horizontal axis. However, in particular when so-called horizontal boarding is carried out, wherein the largest dimension of the elongated boards is horizontal, it may be advantageous to hold the board tilted in order to control the placement of the boards. For that purpose, depending on the work order when placing the boards P in the wall, the inclination of the holder 12 in the vertical plane transverse to the holder 12 is set, as discussed in figure 6F. If work is carried out from the top down, that means the uppermost row of boards P is placed first and then working downwards row by row, according to the invention the position of figure 6F will be opted for, in which the holder 12 is forwardly inclined. In case work is carried out from the bottom up, the rod 70a is set in the holes 71b, so that the holder 12 will tilt rearward. This will be further gone into with figures 9A-C.

Figure 9A schematically shows placing a plasterboard P2 having a long bottom edge (2.4 m) connecting to the long upper edge of a plasterboard P1 that has already been attached to the columns 103. Double-sided adhesive tapes 104 have been attached to the columns 103. The order of placement in this case is as follows: first a bottom, horizontal series of boards are attached to the columns (which are usually spaced apart at 0.6 m, that means a quarter of a board length), subsequently a horizontal series of boards connecting to them above them is attached to the columns, offset over half a board length, that means 1.2 m, so that a kind of stretcher bond is obtained. The series above them are also offset over half a board length, etc.

For that purpose, the holder 12 has been set with the largest dimension horizontally, by hinge 29 and locked by locking pin 75, and the rod 70a has been attached in holes 71b, figure 6F. As a result, the boards will be held rearwardly inclined by the holder 12.

By operating the drum 30 the workman brings the carriage 11 and as a consequence the holder 12 and thus the board P2, to the correct location at sight, assisted therein by markings on the boards. The workman then drives the device 1 to the wall to be made, direction T, wherein the bottom edge of board P2 only just contacts the upper edge of board P1. The device 1 is further pushed, as a result of which the board P2 tilts about its bottom edge abutting the columns 103 and tilts on the upper edge of board P1 , in direction V, until the board P2 vertically abuts the (four) columns 103, figure 9B. Due to the resilient attachment of the suction cups onto the holder 12 the bottom suction cups are able to relatively move towards the holder 12, so that despite the inclined position of the holder 12 the upper part of the board P2 can also be pressed against the columns 103. The board then adheres to adhesive strips 104 on the columns 103. If the board then has to be screwed down this can be done using separate tools, wherein it is advantageous that the board P2 already remains in its place due to the adhesion.

However, if present, the screw facility on device 1 can also be used. By pushing the device 1 further towards the wall, wherein the suction cups spring further back towards the holder 12, the screw drivers 17 and the screws supplied by them are put against the board P1, which is subsequently screwed down (figure 9C).

In view of the tilted position of the holder, the screw drivers can be attached to frame 15/plate 16, so as to be adjustable in axial direction, or be arranged to it in a resilient manner in accordance with the suction cups.

The above description is included to illustrate the operation of preferred embodiments of the invention and not to limit the scope of the invention. Starting from the above explanation many variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention will be evident to an expert.