Apparatus for premounting of locking elements to a panel

Abstract

The apparatus mounts a locking element into a groove in an edge of a panel. An advance device feeds a stream of locking elements to a pressing device which mounts the locking elements into the groove on the edge of the panel. The locking elements are fed from a line of locking elements stored on a reel. A separating device cuts the line of locking elements into individual locking elements. The separating device is positioned either upstream of the advancing device or immediately upstream of the pressing device. When the separating device is immediately upstream of the pressing device, a spring is used to flex the stream during the short stoppage when the separating device separates individual locking elements from the line of locking elements.

1 . A locking element for a fixing system for quadrangular plate-shaped panels, comprising:
 an insertion portion for insertion of the locking element into a locking groove, provided in the longitudinal direction of an edge of the panels, of a first panel in an insertion position; and   a locking portion for engagement into a latching recess of an undercut configuration, which is provided in a laid configuration of the panels in an opposite edge of a second panel and extending in the longitudinal direction of said edge and in opposite relationship to the locking groove,   wherein the locking portion includes a resilient latching tongue which during assembly of the two panels is automatically latchable into the latching recess into a latching position, and   wherein the locking element has anchoring means and the locking element can be captively anchored by the anchoring means with its insertion portion in the locking groove.   
     
     
         2 . The locking element according to  claim 1 , wherein the locking element can be inserted remaining loose with the insertion portion and with the production of a mechanical prestressing effect in the locking groove. 
     
     
         3 . The locking element according to  claim 2 , wherein insertion portion at least at a location of its cross-section has an oversize in relation to the width of the locking groove provided for insertion of the locking element. 
     
     
         4 . The locking element according to  claim 3 , wherein at least one projection is provided to afford the oversize at least at one larger side surface of the insertion portion, which in the insertion position is towards the inner side surfaces of the locking groove, wherein the projection extends at least over a longitudinal portion of the locking element. 
     
     
         5 . The locking element according to  claim 4 , wherein the longitudinal side surfaces of the projection are arranged inclinedly relative to each other. 
     
     
         6 . The locking element according to  claim 5 , wherein the longitudinal side surfaces of the projection converge in a wedge-shaped configuration. 
     
     
         7 . The locking element according to  claim 5 , wherein the longitudinal side surface of the projection, which is remote from the free end of the insertion portion, extends perpendicularly to the lengthwise extent of the insertion portion or in a distance component away from the free end from the larger side surface. 
     
     
         8 . The locking element according to  claim 2 , wherein the insertion portion is of a curved configuration towards its free end. 
     
     
         9 . The locking element according to  claim 8 , wherein in cross-section the sides formed by larger side surfaces are simply curved and that the curvature of the larger side surfaces is in approximately the same direction. 
     
     
         10 . The locking element according to  claim 2 , wherein the free end of the insertion portion is of a hook-shaped configuration. 
     
     
         11 . The locking element according to  claim 2 , wherein the free end has a slot which is introduced from the end of the insertion portion and towards the locking portion, and that at least one of the slot sides, which delimit the slot, of the free end extends curvedly away from the slot. 
     
     
         12 . A locking element according to  claim 2 , wherein over its lengthwise extent the locking element is of an at least partially curved shape, the radius of curvature of which extends approximately in the direction of the section straight lines formed by the cross-sectional plane and the longitudinal sectional plane. 
     
     
         13 . The locking element according to  claim 1 , wherein the locking element has an introduction aid for its insertion into the locking groove. 
     
     
         14 . The locking element according to  claim 13 , wherein the cross-section of the free end of the insertion portion is of a narrowing or conically tapering configuration at least from one of its larger side surfaces which are towards the inner side surfaces of the locking groove in the insertion position. 
     
     
         15 . The locking element according to claim wherein the locking portion is of a substantially V-shaped cross-section with a first limb and a second limb, wherein the latching tongue is formed by the first limb and the second limb is laterally connected to the insertion portion. 
     
     
         16 . The locking element according to  claim 15 , wherein in the latching position the first limb can be supported at the end against a contact surface provided in the latching recess. 
     
     
         17 . The locking element according to  claim 15 , wherein the locking portion has two latching tongues which extend in mutually spaced relationship from the second limb and which in the latching position can be supported against a provided contact surface or against a respectively provided contact surface. 
     
     
         18 . The locking element according to  claim 15 , wherein there is provided a contact aid on the locking element for the two limbs to elastically bear against each other upon assembly of the panels. 
     
     
         19 . The locking element according to  claim 18 , wherein there is provided an enlargement in the intermediate space between the limbs at the location at which the mutually facing inner side surfaces of the two limbs are brought together. 
     
     
         20 . The locking element according to  claim 19 , wherein the enlargement is in the form of a round bore. 
     
     
         21 . The locking element according to  claim 18 , wherein the second limb is of a taperingly enlarging configuration in respect of its cross-section towards its end connected to the first limb. 
     
     
         22 . The locking element according to  claim 5 , wherein the latching tongue is of a curved shape with a curvature remote from the other limb, to increase its specific spring force and for greater buckling resistance. 
     
     
         23 . A fixing system for quadrangular plate-shaped panels, comprising:
 holding profiles, which are arranged at the edges of the panels and of which holding profiles arranged in mutually opposite relationship fit to each other in such a way that similar panels can be connected together, in particular for floor panels, with mutually oppositely disposed first holding profiles which are of such a configuration that it is possible to lock to a panel disposed in a first row in a second row a new panel by a procedure,   whereby the new panel is firstly attached to the lying panel in an inclined position relative to the lying panel and is then pivoted downwardly into the plane of the lying panel, and mutually oppositely disposed second holding profiles which have corresponding hooks,   wherein a hook connection can be made with one of the hooks of the new panel and a hook of a panel which is already lying in the second row, by the downward pivotal movement of the new panel, and associated with each hook connection is an additional locking element which, prior to the hooking of two panels, can be inserted into a locking groove of one of the hooks of a first panel into an insertion position such that in the hooked condition of two panels it prevents release of the hook connection in a direction perpendicularly to the plane of the laid panels, and   wherein the locking element and the locking groove are provided at a surface of the hook which in the laid condition of the panels is oriented approximately perpendicularly to the plane of the panels, which plane is in the form of the laying plane, wherein the locking element is of a configuration according to  claim 1 .   
     
     
         24 . The fixing system according to  claim 23 , wherein the latching tongue bears under a spring prestressing against an inner side surface of the latching recess. 
     
     
         25 . The fixing system according to  claim 23 , wherein the inner side surfaces of the locking groove are arranged in mutually parallel relationship. 
     
     
         26 . The fixing system according to  claim 23 , wherein the locking element is glued in the locking groove. 
     
     
         27 . Panels of a quadrangular, plate-shaped configuration, comprising:
 a panel lying in a first row is lockable to a new panel for a second row, by a procedure,   whereby the new panel is firstly attached to the lying panel in an inclined position relative to the lying panel and subsequently pivoted downwardly into the plane of the lying panel, and   wherein the two panels can be connected together by a fixing system according to  claim 23  with a locking element according to  claim 1 .   
     
     
         28 . A panel of quadrangular shape, comprising:
 top side, underside and peripherally extending edges and with holding profiles arranged at the edges, with the proviso that the holding profiles of two edges adjacent to a corner form an upper hook which has an opening directed to the top side and the holding profiles of the other edges adjacent to a corner are each in the form of a respective counterpart portion in relation to the oppositely disposed upper hook in the form of a corresponding lower hook which has an opening directed to the underside,   wherein a new panel can be connected to similar panels by a movement perpendicularly to its plane,   wherein an additional automatically latching locking element is provided for arresting the connection to prevent release, and   wherein the edge of the panel is provided with a holding gap, that the locking element has at least one anchoring tongue and that the anchoring tongue has a pressing surface which is pressed in by a pressing-in tool and by way of which a force is applied for pressing the anchoring tongue of the locking element into the holding gap of the panel.   
     
     
         29 . The panel according to  claim 28 , wherein at least one edge of the panel has at least one locking element which is connected by way of a zip fastener movement to the edge of the panel. 
     
     
         30 . The panel according to  claim 28 , wherein different resilient locking elements are arranged at two different edges. 
     
     
         31 . The panel according to  claim 28 , wherein at least one locking element is of a configuration in the manner of a clip with clip portions arranged in a V-shape or U-shape, wherein the anchoring tongue is arranged transversely on one of the clip portions. 
     
     
         32 . The panel according to  claim 28 , wherein at least one locking element is in the form of a curved locking clasp, that the locking clasp is resiliently movably accommodated in the holding gap, wherein provided over the length of the locking clasp is at least one region which forms the anchoring tongue. 
     
     
         33 . A method of locking quadrangular panels which have a top side, an underside and peripherally extending edges with holding profiles arranged thereat, with the proviso that at least two oppositely disposed holding profiles of each panel are in the form of complementary hook profiles so that hook profiles of adjacent panels can be inserted into each other in a vertical direction, wherein at least one of the hook profiles is provided with an additional locking element with a resilient latching tongue which is latchable into a latching recess of an adjacent panel, wherein the first row of panels is locked without involving a vertical movement for the purposes of coupling and without latching engagement, namely as an alternative by pushing the complementary hook profiles into each other in aligned relationship. 
     
     
         34 . A method of locking quadrangular panels which have a top side, an underside and peripherally extending edges with holding profiles arranged thereat, with the proviso that at least two oppositely disposed holding profiles of each panel are in the form of complementary hook profiles so that hook profiles of adjacent panels can be inserted into each other in a vertical direction, wherein at least one of the hook profiles is provided with an additional locking element with a resilient latching tongue which is latchable into a latching recess of an adjacent panel, wherein the first row of panels is locked by a procedure whereby the hook profiles to be locked are firstly laid loosely one upon the other and then the edges are pushed towards each other until the resilient latching tongue of the locking element is displaced resiliently inwardly by contact with the adjacent panel, and that thereafter the panel with the locking element are moved vertically, namely perpendicularly to the panel plane, into each other until the inwardly resiliently displaced latching tongue of the locking element automatically moves resiliently outwardly into the latching recess of the adjacent panel and arrests the hook connection in the vertical direction. 
     
     
         35 . A method of automatically mounting a locking element to an edge of a panel, in particular a floor panel, wherein the locking element in the form of an endless cable-like locking element line is taken from a storage means and passed into a guide passage and fed to a separating station which separates the locking element line into individual locking elements, and wherein each individual locking element is moved in synchronous movement in relation to a continuously transported panel to an edge of said panel and pressed by a pressing device into a receiving region of the edge of the panel. 
     
     
         36 . The method according to  claim 35 , wherein there is provided an advance device which pushes the locking elements/locking element line through the guide passage in the direction of the pressing device. 
     
     
         37 . The method according to  claim 36 , wherein the locking element line is separated by a separating station arranged upstream of the advance device in the transport direction into individual locking elements which are then pushed by the advance device arranged in succession in a row through the guide passage to the pressing device. 
     
     
         38 . A method according to  claim 36  wherein the locking element line is separated into individual locking elements by a separating station arranged downstream of the advance device in the transport direction. 
     
     
         39 . The method according to  claim 38 , wherein the transport movement of the locking element line is braked at the separating location and that the braking action is caused by the engagement of the separating station into the locking element line. 
     
     
         40 . The method according to  claim 39 , wherein the advance device is further conveyed during the braking of the transport movement of the locking element line and that the delivered length of the locking element line is outwardly buckled and fills a buffer region. 
     
     
         41 . The method according to  claim 40 , wherein the buckling movement of the locking element line in the buffer region moves a storage spring, that a stress is imparted to the storage spring and thereby spring energy is stored, wherein after the conclusion of the separating operation of the separating station the stored spring energy is automatically released and the length of the locking element line stored by virtue of the outward buckling effect is advanced. 
     
     
         42 . The method according to  claim 35 , wherein a removal device conveys the locking element line out of the storage means and that a given length of the locking element line is retained in a supply region between the storage means and the advance device.