Automatic roof shingle removal and installation system

• US 9,945,128 B1
• Filed: 07/26/2017
• Issued: 04/17/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robonail LLC
• Original Assignee: Robonail LLC
• Inventors: Baird, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Michener, Joshua J
• Assistant Examiner(s): Walraed-Sullivan, Kyle J.
• Application Number:
  US15/659,630
• Time in Patent Office: 265 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: E04D 15/003 for removing roof material for floor coverings E04G23/006
• CPC Class Codes: E04D 15/02 for roof coverings comprising tiles, shingles, or like roofing elements E04D15/003 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E04D 15/07 for handling roofing or sealing material in bulk form

Abstract

A system for installing shingles on a roof is provided. One embodiment includes a navigational apparatus for traversing the roof and a roof shingle installation apparatus attached to the navigational apparatus for installing the shingles. The roof shingle installation apparatus is designed to remove a shingle from a bundle of shingles, and position the shingle, and fasten it to the roof.

Claims

1. An automatic roof shingle installation system comprising:

a navigational apparatus configured to traverse a roof, wherein the navigational apparatus comprises a structural body housing an integrated circuit comprising a microcontroller, a gyroscope, and an accelerometer; and

,

a roof shingle installation apparatus comprising a tray configured to hold at least one bundle of shingles, wherein each shingle in the at least one bundle of shingles is oriented in an opposite direction to each adjacent shingle, such that every other shingle of the at least one bundle of shingles is oriented to face a same direction, and a rotatable shingle peel member configured to separate a shingle from the at least one bundle of shingles and flip only every other shingle.

2. The automatic roof shingle installation system of claim 1, wherein the roof shingle installation apparatus further comprises a shingle position member and at least one fastening member, wherein the shingle position member is configured to position the shingle into position for fastening and the at least one fastening member is configured to fasten the shingle to the roof, wherein the at least one fastening member is movable enabling precise position control of the at least one fastening member.

3. The automatic roof shingle installation system of claim 1, wherein the roof shingle installation apparatus further comprises a cutting device configured to cut the shingle at an angle and length necessary for installation.

4. The automatic roof shingle installation system of claim 2, wherein the navigational apparatus comprises at least one movable drill assembly including at least one independently actuated drill configured to drill a screw into the roof to prevent the navigational apparatus from slipping off the roof, and a mounting bracket configured to attach the roof shingle installation apparatus to the navigational apparatus such that the roof shingle installation apparatus is enabled to traverse the roof via the navigational apparatus.

5. The automatic roof shingle installation system of claim 4, wherein the navigational apparatus is controlled and monitored by a user via a mobile device.

6. The automatic roof shingle installation system of claim 4, wherein the navigational apparatus further comprises proximity sensors configured to detect an edge of the roof and a plurality of wheels, wherein the at least one movable drill assembly, the proximity sensors, and the position of the plurality of wheels enable the navigational apparatus with the attached roof shingle installation apparatus to overhang the edge of the roof allowing for the installation of shingles on an entire row of the roof.

7. The automatic roof shingle installation system of claim 4, wherein the navigational apparatus can traverse a hip roof and avoid obstructions without the use of guide rails, pulleys, or armatures.

8. The automatic roof shingle installation system of claim 5, wherein the at least one movable drill assembly is a movable horizontal drill assembly and a movable vertical drill assembly, wherein the movable horizontal drill assembly and the movable vertical drill assembly each include two independently actuated drills.

9. The automatic roof shingle installation system of claim 8, wherein the gyroscope is configured to detect an angle of the navigational apparatus and the microcontroller can fasten one of the two independently actuated drills of the vertical drill assembly, and push the navigational apparatus back into a level horizontal position such that the navigational apparatus is auto-leveling ensuring the navigational apparatus traverses in straight lines.