Installation system and positioning system associated with fence assembly

Abstract

An installation system for a board associated with a fence assembly includes a machine to hold the board and insert the board into at least one beam of the fence assembly. The at least one beam defines a channel that extends along a vertical axis and receives a portion of the board therein. The channel has a first size. The installation system also includes at least one guiding device coupled to the at least one beam. The at least one guiding device guides the board towards the channel. The at least one guiding device includes at least one side wall that is disposed at an oblique angle relative to the vertical axis. The at least one guiding device defines a first opening that is spaced apart from and in communication with the channel. The first opening has a second size that is greater than the first size of the channel.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An installation system for a board associated with a fence assembly, the installation system comprising:
 a machine to hold the board and insert the board into at least one beam of the fence assembly, the at least one beam defining a channel that extends along a vertical axis, wherein the channel of the at least one beam receives a portion of the board therein, and wherein the channel has a first size; and   at least one guiding device, wherein the at least one guiding device is adapted to be coupled to the at least one beam, wherein the at least one guiding device guides the board towards the channel, wherein the at least one guiding device includes at least one side wall that is disposed at an oblique angle relative to the vertical axis, wherein the at least one guiding device defines a first opening that is spaced apart from and in communication with the channel of the at least one beam, and wherein the first opening has a second size that is greater than the first size of the channel.   
     
     
         2 . The installation system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one guiding device includes a first guiding device and a second guiding device, wherein the at least one beam includes a first beam and a second beam spaced apart from the first beam, and wherein the first guiding device is coupled to the first beam and the second guiding device is coupled to the second beam. 
     
     
         3 . The installation system of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one sensor configured to generate a position signal indicative of a current position of at least a part of the board relative to the at least one guiding device, wherein a position of the board relative to the at least one guiding device is adjusted, based on the position signal received from the at least one sensor. 
     
     
         4 . The installation system of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one sensor is disposed on at least one of the machine, the at least one beam, and the at least one side wall of the at least one guiding device. 
     
     
         5 . The installation system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one side wall includes a first side wall and a second side wall that is angularly disposed relative to the first side wall. 
     
     
         6 . The installation system of  claim 1 , wherein the machine includes a linkage assembly and a grappler, and wherein the grappler is coupled to the linkage assembly by a pivot assembly. 
     
     
         7 . The installation system of  claim 6 , wherein the grappler includes a pair of arms, each of the pair of arms defining a first end and a second end, wherein each of the pair of arms is coupled to the pivot assembly at corresponding first ends, wherein each of the pair of arms engages with the board at corresponding second ends, and wherein each of the pair of arms includes a ball and socket joint at corresponding second ends. 
     
     
         8 . A method of installing a board associated with a fence assembly, the method comprising:
 providing at least one guiding device, wherein the at least one guiding device is adapted to be coupled to at least one beam of the fence assembly, wherein the at least one beam defines a channel that extends along a vertical axis, wherein the channel has a first size, wherein the at least one guiding device guides the board towards the channel, wherein the at least one guiding device includes at least one side wall that is disposed at an oblique angle relative to the vertical axis, wherein the at least one guiding device defines a first opening that is spaced apart from and in communication with the channel of the at least one beam, and wherein the first opening has a second size that is greater than the first size of the channel;   coupling the board with a machine, wherein the machine is adapted to hold the board and insert the board into at least one beam of the fence assembly, and wherein the channel of the at least one beam receives a portion of the board therein;   positioning the machine proximate to the at least one beam of the fence assembly;   aligning the board with the first opening of the at least one guiding device;   guiding, by the at least one side wall of the at least one guiding device, the board towards the channel of the at least one beam; and   inserting, by the machine, a portion of the board into the channel of the at least one beam.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one guiding device includes a first guiding device and a second guiding device, wherein the at least one beam includes a first beam and a second beam spaced apart from the first beam, and wherein the first guiding device is coupled to the first beam and the second guiding device is coupled to the second beam. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the step of aligning the board with the first opening of the at least one guiding device includes:
 generating, by at least one sensor, a position signal indicative of a current position of at least a part of the board relative to the at least one guiding device; and   adjusting a position of the board relative to the at least one guiding device, based on the position signal generated by the at least one sensor.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one side wall includes a first side wall and a second side wall that is angularly disposed relative to the first side wall. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the machine includes a linkage assembly and a grappler, and wherein the grappler is coupled to the linkage assembly by a pivot assembly. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the grappler includes a pair of arms, each of the pair of arms defining a first end and a second end, wherein each of the pair of arms is coupled to the pivot assembly at corresponding first ends, wherein each of the pair of arms includes a ball and socket joint at corresponding second ends, and wherein the step of coupling the board with the machine further includes engaging the board with each of the pair of arms at corresponding second ends. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the step of inserting the board into the channel of the at least one beam includes:
 operating the linkage assembly of the machine in a float state; and   sliding, by the ball and socket joint of the corresponding arm from the pair of arms, the board towards the channel of the at least one beam to insert the portion of the board into the channel of the at least one beam.   
     
     
         15 . A positioning system for a beam associated with a fence assembly, the positioning system comprising:
 a tool including a bracket, the bracket defining a bracket slot to receive a portion of the beam therein, and wherein the bracket slot has a first size; and   a guiding device, wherein the guiding device is adapted to be coupled to the bracket of the tool, wherein the guiding device is configured to guide the beam towards the bracket slot, the guiding device including at least one side wall that is disposed at an oblique angle relative to a portion of the bracket, wherein the guiding device defines a first opening that is spaced apart from and in communication with the bracket slot of the bracket, and wherein the first opening has a second size that is greater than the first size of the bracket slot.   
     
     
         16 . The positioning system of  claim 15 , further comprising at least one sensor configured to generate a position signal indicative of a current position of at least a part of the beam relative to the guiding device. 
     
     
         17 . The positioning system of  claim 16 , further comprising a machine coupled to the beam to hold the beam relative to the guiding device, wherein the machine adjusts a position of the beam relative to the guiding device, based on the position signal received from the at least one sensor. 
     
     
         18 . The positioning system of  claim 17 , wherein the at least one sensor is disposed on at least one of the machine, a frame of the tool, the bracket of the tool, and the at least one side wall of the guiding device. 
     
     
         19 . The positioning system of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one side wall includes a first side wall and a second side wall that is angularly disposed relative to the first side wall. 
     
     
         20 . A method of positioning a beam associated with a fence assembly, the method comprising:
 providing a tool, wherein the tool includes a bracket defining a bracket slot to receive a portion of the beam therein, and wherein the bracket slot has a first size; and   providing a guiding device, wherein the guiding device is adapted to be coupled to the bracket of the tool, the guiding device including at least one side wall that is disposed at an oblique angle relative to a portion of the bracket, the guiding device defining a first opening, wherein the guiding device is coupled to the bracket such that the first opening is spaced apart from and in communication with the bracket slot of the bracket, and wherein the first opening has a second size that is greater than the first size of the bracket slot;   aligning the beam with the first opening of the guiding device;   guiding, by the at least one side wall of the guiding device, the beam towards the bracket slot; and   receiving a portion of the beam within the bracket slot based on the guiding of the beam towards the bracket slot.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising generating, by at least one sensor, a position signal indicative of a current position of at least a part of the beam relative to the guiding device. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein a machine is coupled to the beam to hold the beam relative to the guiding device, and wherein the step of aligning the beam with the first opening of the guiding device includes:
 adjusting, by the machine, a position of the beam relative to the guiding device, based on the position signal generated by the at least one sensor.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the at least one side wall includes a first side wall and a second side wall that is angularly disposed relative to the first side wall.