A panel handling device

Abstract

 A handling device (4) for panels (8) suitable for carrying out the vertical handling, of lifting and lowering, of advertising panels or of any other type. The device (4) allows carrying out the handling of the panels (8) in a quick, accurate and inexpensive manner, ensuring accurate handling, limited overall dimensions and construction simplicity.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a handling device for panels, in particular it relates to a device for lifting and lowering, of advertising panels, of the traditional type, electronic or of any type of panels used for advertising or information purposes.

[0002] For example, such panels are used in playing fields or on grounds used for any sports, such as the perimeters of football fields.

[0003] In the field of panels, there is often the need of removing the advertising or information panels, for safety, maintenance, emergency or recovery reasons in a protected environment.

[0004] To date, the solution of lifting or lowering the panels in vertical direction, that is, perpendicular to the ground, is used so as to allow a quick and functional handling of the mechanical or electronic panels. The same can thus be normally placed into recovery channels, generally underground, and quickly exit when they must be used. The lifting and lowering of the electronic or mechanical panels is normally carried out manually through electro-mechanical or hydraulic actuators, generally located at the ends of the panel to be handled.

[0005] One of the problems of such solution is the difficulty of exactly synchronising the lift of the ends of the panel, so in the handling the panel does not keep a perfectly horizontal position.

[0006] To obviate such disadvantage, various solutions are used, such as synchronised motors, precision motors, motors controlled by electronic apparatus connected to position transducers, two side actuators connected to the same motor, two hydraulic pistons powered by a flow divider, a single hydraulic piston or a single electro-mechanical actuator, arranged in the middle and of sturdy dimensions, optionally assisted by vertical side guides, and the like.

[0007] However, such known solutions are quite complicated or cumbersome and the higher the accuracy required, the more sophisticated and expensive the lifting system.

[0008] In the case of applications along the perimeter of sports grounds, the accuracy required is very high since it is often necessary to concurrently lift a sequence of panels, also some dozens, perfectly sided to one another. Therefore, even a little deviation in the parallelism between two adjacent panels could cause frictions and collisions between the various blocks during the handling, with consequent failure of stoppage of the entire system.

[0009] The need of a device capable of allowing the panel handling in an accurate and inexpensive manner, as well as with limited overall dimensions, is therefore felt.

[0010] Such need is met by a handling device according to claim 1.

[0011] Further features and the advantages of the handling device according to the present invention will appear from the following description of a preferred nonlimiting embodiment thereof, wherein:

[0012] figure 1 shows a front view of a poster provided with a handling device according to an embodiment of the invention;

[0013] figure 2 shows an enlarged view of detail II of figure 1;

[0014] figure 3 shows a plan top view of the detail of figure 2;

[0015] figure 4 shows an enlarged view of detail IV of figure 2;

[0016] figure 5 shows an enlarged view of detail V of figure 1;

[0017] figure 6 shows a section view of the detail of figure 5, relative to the section plane VI-VI of figure 5;

[0018] figures 7-10 show schematic front views of a handling device according to the present invention, in different configurations and embodiments;

[0019] figure 11 shows a schematic front view of a handling device and of a poster according to the present invention, in a withdrawn configuration;

[0020] figure 12 shows a side view of the device of figure 11, from the side of arrow XII of figure 11;

[0021] figure 13 shows a schematic front view of a handling device and of a poster according to the present invention, in an extracted configuration;

[0022] figure 14 shows a side view of the device of figure 13, from the side of arrow XIV of figure 13.

[0023] Elements or parts of elements in common between the embodiments described below are referred to with the same reference numerals.

[0024] With reference to the annexed figures, reference numeral 4 globally denotes a handling device for panels 8, such as for example advertising panels, of traditional type, electronic or any type of panels used for advertising or information purposes.

[0025] Panel 8 can be made in a single part or, for example, in two parts 10A and 10B, preferably equal to one another and symmetrically constrained to one another relative to a symmetry axis of panel X, for example by a plate 12.

[0026] The panel is suitable for being handled relative to a handling direction Y parallel to the symmetry axis X and perpendicular to a support surface of the panel itself. Preferably, said support surface comprises a cavity that substantially extends parallel to the handling direction Y of the panel, so as to seat at least partly the panel, when placed in closed or withdrawn configuration. On the other hand, when in lifted or extended position, the panel is substantially fully out of said cavity, so as to be visible by a user.

[0027] The connection between plate 12 and panel 8 can be obtained through threaded connecting elements, such as screws, bolts and the like.

[0028] Panel 8 extends from a first to a second side end 13, 14, opposed to one another relative to a direction perpendicular to the symmetry axis X and to the handling direction Y of the panel.

[0029] The handling device 4 comprises motor means 16 suitable for carrying out the handling of panel 8.

[0030] According to an embodiment, said motor means 16 comprise a hydraulic piston 18, pneumatic or electro-mechanical, advantageously arranged in the middle of the structure, for example constrained to plate 12 and arranged symmetrically relative to said symmetry axis of panel X.

[0031] Said hydraulic piston 18 is for example at least partly guided and contained in a sleeve 20.

[0032] According to further embodiments, the motor means 16 may comprise for example an electrical motor which transmits the motion for example through a rack and pinion transmission. In this case, the rack is advantageously located symmetrically relative to the symmetry axis X.

[0033] The handling device 4 comprises support elements suitable for supporting and constraining said motor means 16 relative to a support surface.

[0034] The handling device 4 advantageously comprises connecting elements 24, suitable for operatively connecting the handling means 16 with panel 8, so as to ensure a controlled handling of the panel itself.

[0035] The connecting elements 24 comprise for example a pair of connecting arms 28, 30 arranged symmetrically relative to the symmetry axis X. Advantageously, said connecting arms 28, 30 are equal to one another.

[0036] Each connecting arm 28, 30 is operatively constrained to said motor means 16, at actuating ends 34, 36 respectively, through first hinge connecting means 40.

[0037] Advantageously, the first hinge connecting means 40 comprised a first pin 41 associated to the motor means 16, for example at the free end of piston 18, suitable for allowing a relative rotation of the connecting arms 28, 30 relative to pin 41 itself. The first pin 41 forms a centre of rotation common to arms 28, 30, advantageously arranged along the symmetry axis X of the panel.

[0038] The first pin 41 is turnably coupled to first slotted holes 42, 44, arranged at the actuating ends 34, 36 of the connecting arms 28, 30 respectively.

[0039] The first slotted holes 42, 44 extend relative to a direction perpendicular to the handling direction Y of panel 8, whereas, relative to a direction parallel to the handling direction Y, the first slotted holes 42, 44 have a dimension substantially equal to the dimension of the first pin 41 of the first hinge connecting means 40.

[0040] In other words, the first slotted holes 42, 44 allow a relative shifting movement between the actuating ends 34, 36 of arms 28, 30 and the first pin 41, and thus between the arms and the panel only relative to a direction perpendicular to the handling direction Y, whereas they substantially ensure a null relative shifting movement relative to a direction parallel to the handling direction Y.

[0041] The connecting arms 28, 30 extend axially between the actuating ends 34, 36, at which they are operatively connected to motor means 16 at handling ends 46, 48 at which they are operatively connected to panel 8 for handling the same.

[0042] At the handling ends 46, 48, arms 28, 30 comprise second slotted holes 52, 54 suitable for receiving second pins 58, 60 constrained to the side ends 13, 14 of panel 8.

[0043] Advantageously, also the second slotted holes 52, 54 extend relative to a direction perpendicular to the handling direction Y of panel 8, whereas, relative to a direction parallel to the handling direction Y, the second slotted holes 52, 54 have a dimension substantially equal to the dimension of the second pins 58, 60 of panel 8.

[0044] In other words, the second slotted holes 52, 54 allow a relative shifting movement between the handling ends 46, 48 of arms 28, 30 and the second pins 58, 60, and thus between arms 28, 30 and panel 8 only relative to a direction perpendicular to the handling direction Y, whereas they substantially ensure a null relative shifting movement relative to a direction parallel to the handling direction Y.

[0045] At the handling ends 46, 48, arms 28, 30 comprise support plates 64, suitable for allowing a steady support for panel 8. Preferably, said support plates 64 are plane and arranged perpendicular to the handling direction Y of panel 8, so as to ensure the parallelism of the movement of panel 8 with the handling direction Y.

[0046] Between the actuating ends 34, 36 and the handling ends 46, 48, arms 28, 30 are advantageously hinged at hinges or support pins 70, preferably constrained to a support structure of the device (not shown). Arms 28, 30 may comprise cylindrical seats 74 for turnably seating said support pins 70, as shown for example in figure 6.

[0047] Hinges 70 form the hinging fulcrums of arms 28, 30.

[0048] Hinges or fulcrums 70 are always arranged at the same distance relative to the first hinge connecting means 40, and arms 28, 30 have the same dimensions so that, equal shifting of the motor means 16 and thus of the first pin 41 corresponds to equal rotations and equal shifting in particular of the handling ends 46, 48.

[0049] Advantageously, the first and second slotted holes 42, 44, 52, 54 of arms 28, 30 are suitable for compensating the distance variation of fulcrums or hinges 70 of arms 28, 30 from the first pin 41 during the rotation of the arms themselves.

[0050] According to a further embodiment, illustrated for example in figure 9, the motor means 16, for example the piston, may also be placed below the centre of rotation defined by the first pin 41, or in the case of particular actuators or motor means, astride of the same, for example as illustrated in figure 10.

[0051] The operation of the handling device according to the present invention will now be described.

[0052] When panel 8 is not in use, the same preferably is in lowered or retracted position, for example in the relevant recovery channel, underneath the support ground of panel 8.

[0053] If panel 8 must be used, the motor means 16 are actuated through actuations of the hydraulic, pneumatic, electrical and similar types.

[0054] The movement of motor means 16, for example of the piston, concurrently actuates the two connecting arms 28, 30 which, having the same dimensions, in particular the same lengths, and rotating about fulcrums or hinges 70 at the same distance from the same centre of rotation 41, undergo a same rotation. In other words, the handling ends 46, 48 of the two connecting arms 28, 30 lift and lower at the same time, at the same speed and with a same vertical movement, thus ensuring the proper handling of the panel. In other words, they ensure that the side ends 13, 14 of panel 8 move in parallel to one another along the handling direction Y and at the same speed, ensuring the parallelism of panel 8 during the handling thereof.

[0055] The tolerance of the vertical shifting depends on the construction tolerance and it is possible to achieve a high accuracy of the handling of panel 8, intended as difference between the vertical movements, that is, parallel to the handling direction Y, of the two side ends 13, 14 of the same, even less than 0.1% of the overall stroke of panel 8.

[0056] Of course, when panel 8 has to be lowered, it is sufficient to actuate the handling means in the reverse manner, so as to return panel 8 inside the recovery channel.

[0057] As it can be understood from the description, the handling device according to the invention allows overcoming the disadvantages of the prior art devices.

[0058] In fact, the device according to the present invention solves the problem of the concurrent lifting of the two ends of the poster so as to ensure a shifting of all the modules forming the poster, both in lifting and in lowering, perfectly parallel to itself.

[0059] Such simultaneous vertical lifting and/or lowering movement ensures a high accuracy that allows the simultaneous handling of a plurality of posters sided to each other without any risks of contact between the same with consequent system failure.

[0060] The device according to the invention allows carrying out a much wider vertical movement of the panel than the movement of the handling means; it is therefore possible to obtain the desired movement stroke of the poster also using for example a small-sized and limited-stroke piston. In this way, the overall dimensions of the poster structures but also of the related structures, such as the poster recovery channel, actuators, guides, are further reduced.

[0061] Advantageously, the device according to the invention envisages a single motor means for the entire panel, thanks to the connection of the motor means itself, through the lever arms, to the ends of the panel. The device therefore does not require the use of control means for coordinating the movement of separate motor means, as happens in some panels of the prior art.

[0062] Moreover, such device does not require the use of precision motors, synchronised motors, position transducers and the like, which are expensive and complex to set up.

[0063] Moreover, the use of lever arms (using the lever principle) allows using little handling force of the motor means for shifting the panel itself in vertical direction.

[0064] According to a further advantageous aspect, the lever arms form handling members but also guides for the panel itself, with the advantage that such guides are retractable and have side or horizontal overall dimensions comprised within the overall side width of the panel.

[0065] This is a fundamental advantage when it is necessary to place dozens of panels sided to one another because any vertical guides, that is, perpendicular to the ground, arranged at the sides of the panel, could not only prevent the close approach between two adjacent panels, but also interfere with each other during the handling of the same.

[0066] Of course, a man skilled in the art may make several changes and adjustments to the handling devices described above in order to meet specific and incidental needs, all falling within the scope of protection defined in the following claims.

Claims

1. A handling device (4) for panels (8) suitable for handling said panels (8) relative to a handling direction (Y), comprising motor means (16) of said panel (8) and connecting elements (24) of the motor means (16) to the panel (8)
characterised in that the connecting elements (24) comprise a pair of connecting arms (28, 30), each arm (28, 30) being operatively connected to the motor means (16) and to one of two side ends (13, 14) of said panel (8), opposed relative to a direction perpendicular to the handling direction (Y), the arms (28, 30) being hinged relative to fixed hinges (70) and arranged symmetrically relative to a symmetry axis (X) of the panel (8), parallel to the handling direction (Y).

2. A handling device (4) for panels (8) according to claim 1, wherein each of said arms (28, 30) is connected to a same hinge connecting means (40, 41) moving under the action of the motor means (16), said hinge connecting means (40, 41) being arranged symmetrically relative to said symmetry axis (X) of the panel (8).

3. A handling device (4) for panels (8) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said connecting arms (28, 30), at actuating ends (34, 36), comprise first slotted holes (42, 44) suitable for carrying out a turnable coupling with said hinge connecting means (40, 41) moving under the action of the motor means (16).

4. A handling device (4) for panels (8) according to claim 3, wherein the first slotted holes (42, 44) extend relative to a direction perpendicular to the handling direction (Y) of the panel (8), whereas, relative to a direction parallel to the handling direction (Y), said first slotted holes (42, 44) have a dimension substantially equal to the dimension of the hinge connecting means (40, 41).

5. A handling device (4) for panels (8) according to claim 3 or 4, wherein said connecting arms (28, 30), at handling ends (46, 48), comprise support plates (64) suitable for allowing a rest and a support for the panel (8).

6. A handling device (4) for panels (8) according to claim 5, wherein said support plates (64) are substantially plane and arranged perpendicular to the handling direction (Y) of the panel (8).

7. A handling device (4) for panels (8) according to any one of the previous claims, wherein said connecting arms (28, 30), at handling ends (46, 48), comprise second slotted holes (52, 54) suitable for carrying out a turnable coupling with second pins (58, 60) connected to side ends (13, 14) of said panel (8).

8. A handling device (4) for panels (8) according to claim 7, wherein the second slotted holes (52, 54) extend relative to a direction perpendicular to the handling direction (Y) of the panel (8), whereas, relative to a direction parallel to the handling direction (Y), said second slotted holes (52, 54) have a dimension substantially equal to the dimension of the second pins (58, 60) of the panel (8).

9. A handling device (4) for panels (8) according to any one of the previous claims, wherein said connecting arms (28, 30) comprise cylindrical seats (74) suitable for turnably seating the hinges (70).

10. A handling device (4) for panels (8) according to any one of the previous claims, wherein said motor means (16) comprise a hydraulic, pneumatic or electro-mechanical piston.

Drawing