Method of stowing and deploying wall panels

A method of moving panels from a deployed position, in which the panels are substantially vertically aligned to form a wall, to a stowed position, in which the panels are substantially positioned above a ceiling, the method comprising:

• supporting a first panel on a flexible lift member, the first panel having a first weight, wherein the flexible lift member bears the first weight;
• supporting a second panel on the first panel, the second panel having a second weight, wherein the flexible lift member bears the first weight and the second weight through the connection between the first panel and the flexible lift member;
• moving the first and second panels substantially vertically;
• lifting the second panel off of the first panel with a cam, wherein the cam bears the second weight;
• disengaging the second panel from the first panel by vertically displacing the second panel from the first panel;
• transferring the second panel from the cam to a support rack, wherein the support rack bears the second weight;
• displacing the second panel horizontally from the first panel by transferring the second panel onto the support rack;
• further moving the first panel substantially vertically;
• lifting the first panel with the cam;
• and
• rotating the cam such that the cam bears the first weight.

A wall panel assembly moveable between a stowed position and a deployed position, the wall panel assembly comprising:

• a first wall panel having a first weight and including a first carrier;
• a flexible lift member coupled to the first wall panel;
• a second wall panel having a second weight and including a second carrier;
• a prime mover operable to move the first and second wall panels between the stowed position and the deployed position;
• a support rack, wherein the support rack supports the second carrier and bears the second weight when the second wall panel is in the stowed position, and wherein the flexible lift member bears the second weight when the second wall panel is in the deployed position through the connection between the first wall panel and the flexible lift member;
• and
• a cam having an exterior perimeter defining a recess, the recess sized to receive at least one of the first and second carriers, the cam being rotatable in response to the prime mover, wherein rotation of the cam in a first direction moves the first and second wall panels into the deployed position, and wherein rotation of the cam in a second direction, opposite the first direction, moves the first and second wall panels into the stowed position.