Method for inserting springs into a groove

• US 8,650,738 B2
• Filed: 06/29/2009
• Issued: 02/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Guido Schulte
• Original Assignee: Guido Schulte
• Inventors: Schulte, Guido
• Primary Examiner(s): ARBES, CARL J
• Application Number:
  US13/000,249
• Publication Number:
  US 20110094083A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,695 Days
• Field of Search: 294/51, 294/67
• US Class Current: 29/451
• CPC Class Codes: B27M 3/0066 characterised by tongue and groove or tap hole connections
• CPC Class Codes: B27M 3/04 of flooring elements, e.g. parqueting blocks assembling wooden elements on backings of other substances B32B, e.g. B32B21/042, E04F15/16; furniture joints F16B12/00
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 15/02038 characterised by tongue and groove connections between neighbouring flooring elements
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 2201/0138 by moving the sheets, plates or panels perpendicular to the main plane
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 2201/0153 by rotating the sheets, plates or panels around an axis which is parallel to the abutting edges, possibly combined with a sliding movement
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 2201/0523 Separate tongues; Interlocking keys, e.g. joining mouldings of circular, square or rectangular shape
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 2201/0541 adapted to be moved along the joint edge
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49863 with prestressing of part
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49872 Confining elastic part in socket
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49901 Sequentially associating parts on stationary aligning means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53613 Spring applier or remover

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for inserting a spring (3) into a longitudinal-side or head-side groove (4) of element panels (5) which can be laid in combination, wherein the element panels (5) can be locked together by means of a movement of the spring (3) relative to the element panels (5), having the following steps: a) providing springs (3) on a supply belt (6), wherein the springs (3) are releasably connected to the supply belt (6); b) detaching the springs (3) from the supply belt (6); c) moving the springs (3) into the groove (4) of a provided element panel (5).

Claims

1. A method for inserting a spring into a longitudinal-side or head-side groove of element panels constructed to be installed in an interlocked fashion through movement of the spring relative to the element panels, comprising the steps of:

a) providing springs on a supply belt, wherein the springs are releasably attached to the supply belt;

b) detaching the springs from the supply belt; and

c) moving the springs into the groove of an element panel.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the springs are releasably attached to the supply belt at least in regions by adhesive bonding.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the springs are releasably attached to the supply belt at least in regions by clamping.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the supply belt with the springs is provided as a wound coil.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein moving the springs into the groove further comprises the steps of:

transferring the springs from the supply belt to a belt conveyor;

transferring the springs from the belt conveyor to a transport rail; and

delivering the springs via the transport rail to an insertion unit for insertion into the groove.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the belt conveyor has catches arranged on a transport band, with the catches grasping the springs and moving the springs towards the transport rail.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the supply belt is carried along by the belt conveyor by way of the adhesively bonded springs.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the supply belt is pulled at a speed that is synchronized with a speed of the belt conveyor.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the springs are free from adhering adhesive when inserted into the groove of the element panel.