Material handler

Abstract

A material handler for use by a self-propelled machines to handle elongate panels of sheet material comprises a support adapted to receive and support the elongate panels. A base mounts the support for pivotal movement of the support relative to the base about a tilt axis which is transverse to the length of the elongate panels when held on the support. The base is adapted for connection to the self-propelled machine. A mover drives the pivotal movement of the support relative to the base to selectively tilt the support about the tilt axis so that when the elongate sheets are held by the support the elongate sheets assumes a desired slope along their lengths.

1 . A material handler for use by a self-propelled machines to handle elongate panels of sheet material, the material handler comprising: 
 a support adapted to receive and support the elongate panels;    a base mounting the support for pivotal movement of the support relative to the base about a tilt axis which is transverse to the length of the elongate panels when held on the support, the base being adapted for connection to the self-propelled machine;    a mover for driving the pivotal movement of the support relative to the base to selectively tilt the support about the tilt axis so that when the elongate sheets are held by the support the elongate sheets assumes a desired slope along their lengths.    
   
   
       2 . A material handler as set forth in  claim 1  further comprising a pivot connecting the support to the base.  
   
   
       3 . A material handler as set forth in  claim 2  wherein the pivot comprises a hinge connecting the support to the base for pivoting about the tilt axis.  
   
   
       4 . A material handler as set forth in  claim 3  further comprising a linkage connecting the support to the base, the linkage being adapted to extend and retract to permit the pivotal movement of the support on the hinge.  
   
   
       5 . A material handler as set forth in  claim 4  wherein the base comprises a platform underlying the support, the hinge connecting the support to the platform along a first side thereof and the linkage connecting the support to a second side of the platform opposite the first side.  
   
   
       6 . A material handler as set forth in  claim 4  wherein the support is adjustable for receiving the elongate sheets of different widths.  
   
   
       7 . A material handler as set forth in  claim 6  wherein the support comprises plural support arms spaced apart from each other, each support arm having an adjustable length for accommodating elongate panels of different widths.  
   
   
       8 . A material handler as set forth in  claim 7  wherein the support is adjustable for receiving elongate panels of different lengths.  
   
   
       9 . A material handler as set forth in  claim 8  wherein the base comprises a platform and the support comprises a telescoping member mounted on the platform for extending and retracting relative to the platform to adjust the support for receiving elongate panels of different lengths.  
   
   
       10 . A material handler as set forth in  claim 9  wherein the base further comprises another telescoping member mounted on the platform for extending and retracting relative to the platform to adjust the support for receiving elongate panels of different lengths, the telescoping members being arranged on the platform to extend in different directions.  
   
   
       11 . A material handler as set forth in  claim 10  wherein each telescoping member mounts a plurality of the support arms thereon.  
   
   
       12 . A material handler as set forth in  claim 1  further comprising a retainer located at an end of the support for holding the elongate panels, when held by the support in a tilted position, from sliding in one direction off of the support.  
   
   
       13 . A material handler as set forth in  claim 12  wherein the retainer is pivotally mounted on the support for movement between a retaining position and a non-retaining position.  
   
   
       14 . A material handler as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the mover comprises a hydraulic cylinder.  
   
   
       15 . A material handler as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the base is adapted for releasable connection to the self-propelled machine.  
   
   
       16 . A material handler as set forth in  claim 1  in combination with the self-propelled machine.  
   
   
       17 . A method of sheathing a pitched roof on a structure using elongate panels of sheet material having a length and a width, the method comprising: 
 loading a plurality of elongate sheet material panels onto a support, the panels lying in a stack on the support;    raising the support to a height corresponding to that of the pitched roof to be sheathed;    tilting the support to an angle such that the sheet material panels held by the support are inclined along their lengths;    sliding sheet material panels lengthwise from the stack on the tilted support onto the structure and securing them to the structure for sheathing the pitched roof.    
   
   
       18 . A method as set forth in  claim 17  wherein tilting the support comprises tilting the support to an angle corresponding to a pitch angle of the pitched roof to be constructed.  
   
   
       19 . A method as set forth in  claim 18  further comprising arranging the support so that the support is next to the structure and a longitudinal axis of the sheet material panels extends transversely to the structure.  
   
   
       20 . A method as set forth in  claim 19  wherein the support is attached to a forklift, and wherein raising the support comprises extending a telescoping boom of the forklift.  
   
   
       21 . A method as set forth in  claim 18  further comprising attaching the support to a forklift.  
   
   
       22 . A method as set forth in  claim 17  further comprising adjusting the width of the support for holding sheet material panels of different widths.  
   
   
       23 . A method as set forth in  claim 22  further comprising adjusting the length of the support for holding sheet material panels of different lengths.  
   
   
       24 . A material handler for use by a self-propelled machine to handle elongate panels of sheet material, each elongate sheet having a length and a width, the material handler comprising a base adapted for connection to the self-propelled machine and a support adapted to receive and support the elongate panels, the support being adjustable relative to the base in a direction to accommodate elongate panels of different widths.  
   
   
       25 . A material handler as set forth in  claim 24  the support comprises plural support arms spaced apart from each other, each support arm having an adjustable length for accommodating elongate panels of different widths.  
   
   
       26 . A material handler as set forth in  claim 25  wherein the support is adjustable for receiving elongate panels of different lengths.  
   
   
       27 . A material handler as set forth in  claim 26  wherein the base comprises a platform and the support comprises a telescoping member mounted on the platform for extending and retracting relative to the platform to adjust the support for receiving elongate panels of different lengths.  
   
   
       28 . A material handler as set forth in  claim 27  wherein the base further comprises another telescoping member mounted on the platform for extending and retracting relative to the platform to adjust the support for receiving elongate panels of different lengths, the telescoping members being arranged on the platform to extend in different directions.  
   
   
       29 . A material handler as set forth in  claim 28  wherein each telescoping member mounts a plurality of the support arms thereon.