Method and apparatus for automatic mounting of a locking element to a panel

摘要

In a locking element (5) for a fixing system (3) for quadrangular plate-shaped panels (1, 2) and comprising a portion (6) for insertion into a locking groove (7) provided in the longitudinal direction of an edge of a first panel (1) and a locking portion (8) for engagement into a latching recess (10) of an undercut configuration provided in an opposite edge of a second panel (2) and extending in the longitudinal direction of said edge and in opposite relationship to the locking groove (7), the locking portion (8) including a resilient latching tongue (9) which is automatically latchable into the latching recess (10) into a latching position, the locking element (5) has anchoring means (18) and can be captively anchored by the anchoring means (18) with its insertion portion (6) in the locking groove (7). The invention concerns also: a panel with holding profiles and an additional automatically latching locking element; methods of locking panels; and a method of mounting a locking element to a panel edge as well as an apparatus therefor.