Attachment for a telescopic material handler for manipulating a load with five degrees of freedom

1. An attachment for a telescopic material handler enabling support and manipulation of a load, the attachment comprising:

a coupling section coupleable with the telescopic material handler;

a gripping system that securely holds the load;

a manipulation assembly supporting the gripping system and connected to the coupling section, the manipulation assembly being movable in at least five degrees of freedom independent from additional degrees of freedom provided by movements of the telescopic material handler; and

an operator-controlled control system effecting control of the manipulation assembly, wherein the operator-controlled control system comprises a primary radio transmitter and a secondary radio transmitter, and wherein control of the load is transferable between the primary and secondary radio transmitters such that only one of the primary and secondary radio transmitters has control of the load at a time, the attachment further comprising control indicators providing a visual indication of which radio transmitter is in control of the load,

wherein the manipulation assembly is pivotable about a first axis generally perpendicular to a ground plane, defining a first degree of freedom,

the manipulation assembly comprising a main arm supporting the gripping system, wherein the main arm is pivotable about a second axis generally parallel to the ground plane, defining a second degree of freedom,

the manipulation assembly further comprising a panel rotator assembly attached to the main arm via a four bar mechanism, wherein the four bar mechanism pivots the panel rotator assembly about a third axis generally parallel to the ground plane and the second axis, defining a third degree of freedom and effecting rotation of the load,

wherein the gripping system is rotatable relative to the main arm by the panel rotator assembly about a fourth axis generally perpendicular to the second and third axes, defining a fourth degree of freedom and effecting rotation of the load about a normal axis, and

wherein the gripping system is translatable relative to the main arm, defining a fifth degree of freedom.

2. An attachment according to claim 1 , wherein the load comprises one of building panels and pipes.

3. A method of manipulating a load via an attachment to a telescopic material handler, the method comprising:

coupling the attachment to the telescopic material handler via a coupling section;

holding the load with a gripping system; and

supporting the gripping system with a manipulation assembly connected to the coupling section for movement in at least five degrees of freedom independent from additional degrees of freedom provided by movements of the telescopic material handler via an operator-controlled control system,

wherein the load comprises a cladding panel, the method further comprising flipping the cladding panel over prior to installation, wherein the flipping step comprises attaching the gripping system to a first side of the cladding panel, rotating the cladding panel about an axis generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the cladding panel, releasing the cladding panel onto a support member, and attaching the gripping system to a second side of the cladding panel.

4. A method according to claim 3 , comprising pivoting the manipulation assembly about a first axis generally perpendicular to a ground plane, defining a first degree of freedom,

wherein the manipulation assembly includes a main arm supporting the gripping system, and wherein the method comprises pivoting the main arm about a second axis generally parallel to the ground plane, defining a second degree of freedom,

wherein the manipulation assembly further includes a panel rotator assembly attached to the main arm via a four bar mechanism, wherein the method comprises pivoting the panel rotator assembly via the four bar mechanism about a third axis generally parallel to the ground plane and the second axis, defining a third degree of freedom and effecting rotation of the load,

wherein the method further comprises rotating with the panel rotator assembly the gripping system relative to the main arm about a fourth axis generally perpendicular to the second and third axes, defining a fourth degree of freedom and effecting rotation of the load about a normal axis, and

wherein the method further comprises translating the gripping system relative to the main arm, defining a fifth degree of freedom.

5. A method according to claim 3 , wherein the gripping system further includes a vacuum switch that measures a vacuum level, the method further comprising generating a first signal indicating that sufficient vacuum has been achieved based on output from the vacuum switch.

6. A method according to claim 5 , wherein the gripping system comprises a vacuum pump, a plurality of vacuum cups, and a vacuum reservoir, wherein the vacuum cups are divided into at least two independent circuits, and wherein each independent circuit includes a vacuum reservoir, each independent circuit of the gripping system further comprising a manifold valve that separates its respective vacuum reservoir from the vacuum pump, and wherein upon failure of the vacuum pump, the method comprising closing each of the manifold valves to preserve vacuum in its respective reservoir.

7. A method according to claim 5 , further comprising activating a second signal when the vacuum level is below a predetermined level.