US 12,006,707 B2
Machine for removing formwork from ceiling structure
Mark A. Pietila, Atlantic Mine, MI (US); Trevor Eenigenburg, Houghton, MI (US); and Ryan Kangas, Calumet, MI (US)
Assigned to Somero Enterprises, Inc., Ft. Myers, MI (US)
Filed by Somero Enterprises, Inc., Ft. Myers, FL (US)
Filed on Aug. 3, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/364,499.
Application 18/364,499 is a division of application No. 17/933,129, filed on Sep. 19, 2022, granted, now 11,719,008.
Application 17/933,129 is a division of application No. 17/247,371, filed on Dec. 9, 2020, granted, now 11,447,966, issued on Sep. 20, 2022.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/198,227, filed on Oct. 5, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/705,839, filed on Jul. 17, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/947,663, filed on Dec. 13, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2023/0374799 A1, Nov. 23, 2023
Int. Cl. E04G 19/00 (2006.01); E01C 19/00 (2006.01); E04F 21/24 (2006.01); E04G 21/00 (2006.01); E04G 21/06 (2006.01)
CPC E04G 19/003 (2013.01) [E01C 19/006 (2013.01); E04F 21/244 (2013.01); E04G 21/066 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A machine for removing formwork from underneath a concrete slab, the machine comprising:
a wheeled base movable on and supported at a support structure;
a raisable and lowerable structure disposed on the wheeled base;
a formwork-removal device attached to the raisable and lowerable structure, the formwork-removal device comprising (i) an arm extending from the raisable and lowerable structure and (ii) at least one pneumatic gripper disposed at a distal end of the arm;
wherein, with the raisable and lowerable structure adjusted to position the at least one pneumatic gripper under the formwork and engaged with the formwork, and when the at least one pneumatic gripper is activated, the at least one pneumatic gripper applies a suction to secure the formwork at the at least one pneumatic gripper; and
wherein, with the formwork secured at the at least one pneumatic gripper, and when the at least one pneumatic gripper is lowered, the at least one pneumatic gripper applies a separating force to the formwork to remove the formwork from the concrete slab.