U.S. patent number 3,667,379 [Application Number 05/105,253] was granted by the patent office on 1972-06-06 for apparatus for prefabricating wood structures.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Templin Associates, Inc.. Invention is credited to Gail H. Templin.
United States Patent |
3,667,379 |
Templin |
June 6, 1972 |
APPARATUS FOR PREFABRICATING WOOD STRUCTURES
Abstract
Apparatus for fabricating wood trusses providing a moving jig
upon which the metal truss plates are placed in proper position on
the tops and bottoms of the joints of the wood truss, and are
conveyed by the jig through a first pressure means which partially
drive the truss plates into the wood truss at the joints thereof,
only forcing penetration sufficient to hold the plates in proper
position. A set of pressure rollers through which the truss, with
the truss plates partially inserted in the truss, passes for
forcing the truss plates into the wood truss into their final joint
holding positions. The jib is provided with means for properly
positioning the properly maintaining the truss thereon, certain of
which are automatically disengaged when the means is reached.
Inventors: |
Templin; Gail H. (Vero Beach,
FL) |
Assignee: |
Templin Associates, Inc. (Vero
Beach, FL)
|
Family
ID: |
22304814 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/105,253 |
Filed: |
January 11, 1971 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
100/139; 100/153;
100/176; 100/913; 269/200; 100/154; 100/210; 227/152; 269/910 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B27F
7/155 (20130101); Y10S 100/913 (20130101); Y10S
269/91 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B27F
7/00 (20060101); B27F 7/15 (20060101); B30b
007/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;100/137,139,210,176,154,153,Dig. 13/ ;227/152 ;269/321F
;144/288.6 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Wilhite; Billy J.
Claims
I claim:
1. Apparatus for prefabricating wooden truss members into a
completed truss, including in combination, a conveyor for
supporting wooden truss members and pronged metallic truss plates
positioned below and on top of said wooden truss members and
extending across the joints between said wooden truss members,
means for imparting movement to said conveyor, the wooden truss
members and metallic truss plates being movable with said conveyor,
an initial pressure station adjacent the forward end of said
conveyor for partially embedding said metallic truss plates into
the wooden truss plates, and a final pressure station spaced from
said initial station and beyond said conveyor for fully embedding
said metallic truss plates into said wooden truss members to
complete the fabrication of the truss.
2. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein a rigid supporting
surface is provided at said initial pressure station, and said
truss members and metallic truss plates are supported thereon when
they pass through the initial station.
3. Apparatus in accordance with claim 2, wherein said rigid
supporting surface comprises said conveyor and a fixed rigid member
disposed thereunder, said conveyor being in sliding engagement with
said fixed rigid member.
4. Apparatus in accordance with claim 3, wherein a pressure roller
is provided at said initial pressure station, said pressure roller
being rotatively mounted above said conveyor and adapted to apply
partial embedding pressure to the metallic truss plates.
5. Apparatus in accordance with claim 4, wherein at least a portion
of said fixed rigid member is in a vertical plane projected from
the axis of said pressure roller.
6. Apparatus in accordance with claim 3, wherein means depends from
the upper surface of said conveyor and is movable therewith, and
said means slidably engages said fixed rigid member.
7. Apparatus in accordance with clam 1, wherein said final pressure
station comprises a pair of vertically aligned and spaced apart
pressure rollers.
8. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said final
pressure station is spaced from said initial pressure station a
distance less than the length of a truss being fabricated.
9. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein means are
adjustably mounted on said conveyor and are in engagement with said
truss members maintaining them in position as they travel with the
conveyor.
10. Apparatus in accordance with claim 9, wherein certain of said
means are releasable pressure means and the other of said means
remain in maintaining engagement with certain truss members.
11. Apparatus in accordance with claim 10, wherein said releasable
pressure means engage and maintain the truss members comprising the
trailing half of the truss, and said the other means engage and
maintain the truss members comprising the leading half of the
truss.
12. Apparatus in accordance with claim 10, wherein the pressure on
said certain of said means is automatically released at said
initial pressure station.
13. Apparatus in accordance with claim 10, wherein each of said
certain of said means is provided with a swingable operating
handle, said operating handle being in upstanding position when in
operative position causing said means to engage and maintain a
truss member, and a pressure roller at said initial station, said
operating handle being engageable with said pressure roller and
swingable thereby into inoperative position.
14. Apparatus for prefabricating wooden truss members into a
completed truss, including in combination, a conveyor for
supporting wooden truss members and pronged metallic truss plates
positioned below and on top of said wooden truss members and
extending across the joints between said wooden truss members,
chain means for imparting movement to said conveyor, the wooden
truss members and the metallic truss plates being movable with said
conveyor, means applying pressure to said metallic truss plates as
they are moved by the conveyor to embed them in the truss members,
and said conveyor composed of a plurality of elongated slats having
portions depending therefrom, mounting means fixed to said
portions, rollers rotatably carried on said mounting means, a track
for said rollers and said rollers being connected to a chain.
15. Apparatus in accordance with claim 14, wherein said chain
includes links and each roller is connected to a link rearwardly
thereof with respect to the direction of travel of the conveyor.
Description
This invention relates broadly to an apparatus for prefabricating
wood trusses, and in its more specific aspects it relates to a
unique jig, or conveyor means, for conveying wood trusses to an
initial set of pressure means, and then to a set of pressure
rollers, the initial pressure means operating to partially set, or
cause partial penetration of the teeth of the metallic truss plates
into the joints of the wood truss, and the set of pressure rollers
function to fully set and cause complete penetration of the teeth
of the metallic truss plates into the wood truss at the joints
thereof to permanently hold the elements of the truss in their
proper relative positions; and the nature and objects of the
invention will be readily recognized and understood by those
skilled in the arts to which it relates in the light of the
following explanation and detailed description of the accompanying
drawings illustrating what I at present believe to be preferred
embodiments or mechanical expressions of my invention from among
various other forms, arrangements, combinations, and constructions,
of which the invention is capable within the spirit and scope
thereof.
The conventional metallic truss plate comprises a body portion from
which are struck up a plurality of teeth or prongs which are
adapted to be pressed into the elements of a wood truss at the
joints thereof to hold such elements together in truss forming
position. The teeth, or wood penetrating prongs, of the metallic
truss plate are conventionally arranged in rows, and it has been my
experience in this field that in pressing metallic truss plates of
this character, into the wood trusses by rolling, it is highly
desirable, to produce a proper finished product, to roll one row of
teeth or projections into the wood, at a time. This fact, that it
is necessary, or at least highly desirable, to pressure roll one
row of teeth at a time into final wood penetrating position has
presented certain problems, particularly where the wood truss and
the properly positioned metallic truss plates are supported on a
jig, or the like.
In the apparatus of this invention, the properly positioned trusses
and metallic truss plates are supported on a solid flexible jig
which functions, not only to properly position the truss plates
with respect to the wood truss for the final pressing action, but
also functions to convey the trusses and metallic truss plates to
the initial partial pressing station and then to the final pressing
or rolling station. In view of the comments above, it will be
appreciated that the final pressing operation cannot be
accomplished while the trusses and the truss plates are supported
on this solid flexible jig, since with these elements so supported
one row of teeth or projections could not be rolled, one at a time,
into final wood penetrating position, because of the solid jig
which provides a solid supporting surface for these elements.
I have successfully overcome this problem by providing a first
partial pressure station into which the flexible solid jig passes
to convey the wood trusses and the metallic truss plates thereinto,
and the pressure mechanism at this first station is so arranged
that the final metallic truss setting or rolling operation will not
take place at this first station, instead the mechanism at this
first station functions to partially set the metallic truss plates
in position at the joints of the truss, such partial setting being
only sufficient to maintain the metallic truss plates in proper
position on the wood truss when, it is moved from this first
station, to the second finalizing station, or pair of pressure
rollers, which act to finally set and cause complete penetration of
the teeth or prongs of the metallic truss plates into the wood
truss. As this description proceeds, it will be evident that when
each truss and its metallic truss plates are travelling through the
first station where mechanism functions to partially set the
metallic truss plates in the truss, such trusses and metallic truss
plates will be supported on the solid flexible jig, so that it will
not be possible at this station of the apparatus to press the teeth
of the metallic truss plate, one row at a time, into the truss. It
is to be recognized that the pair of pressure rollers at the second
station is spaced beyond the solid flexible jig, so that when the
final pressing operation is done, the truss, with the partially set
metallic truss plates therein, will not be supported on the solid
flexible jig. Thus, since the truss, with the partially set
metallic plates therein, passes between the set of pressure rollers
at the second station in a progressive manner, and at this point is
not supported on a solid surface, the teeth or projections of the
metallic truss plate will be finally set or pressed into the wood
truss one row at a time.
The conveying jig for the trusses which are being fabricated in my
apparatus is unique in several respects. It will be appreciated
that the various elements of the truss which are positioned on the
conveyor must be maintained in proper positions thereon as they are
moved through the initial partial pressing station and then through
the final pressing station. I have so arranged and constructed the
conveyor of this invention that it will removably receive in
adjustable positions means engaging the truss elements to maintain
them in proper positions. It is also of significance to recognize
that certain of these maintaining means which are located in a
specific area of the truss are automatically released from their
truss member maintaining positions as the truss begins its travel
through the initial pressing station. As this description proceeds,
it will become clear that the said maintaining means which are
located in a different area of the truss need not be automatically
released from their truss member maintaining positions, and the
reasons for such operations will be fully explained
hereinafter.
The jig of this invention includes a conveyor body to which motion
is imparted by means of moving chains. The conveyor is mounted on
rollers which in turn are affixed to the chains and it is
significant to appreciate that the rollers are affixed to every
other chain link. The conveyor is composed of a plurality of what I
shall term "slats" which extend transversely with respect to the
direction of travel of the conveyor, and each roller which is
affixed to each slat is connected to a link of the chain which is
that link which is behind the direction of travel of the conveyor.
Since the conveyor, which is composed of the slats, is flexible
along planes which are transverse to the direction of travel of the
conveyor, the conveyor at the end of a run curves downwardly. Thus,
if the rollers which mount the slats were not attached to the
following links with respect to each slat, the curving of the
conveyor at the end of a run would occur too soon so that the
proper operation at the initial partial embedding station would not
occur.
With the foregoing general objects, features, and results in view,
as well as certain others which will be apparent from the following
explanation, the invention consists in certain novel features in
design, construction, mounting and combination of elements, as will
be more fully and particularly referred to and specified
hereinafter.
Referring to the accompaning drawings:
FIG. 1 is a view in side elevation of the jig, with parts thereof
broken away, and particularly illustrating the tail end
thereof.
FIG. 1A is a side view in elevation of the jig, with parts thereof
broken away, and particularly illustrating the drive means for the
conveyor and the initial pressing station and the final pressing
station.
FIG. 2 is a transverse sectional view through the conveyor
illustrating the mounting and operating means for the slats of the
conveyor and a fixing and maintaining means which is removably and
adjustably mounted on a slat and is engageable with a truss
member.
FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a slat of the conveyor, with parts
thereof broken away, and particularly illustrating the maintaining
and engaging means for a truss member.
FIG. 4 is a bottom view, with parts thereof broken away, of the
mounting and operating means for the slats of the conveyor.
FIG. 5 is a view taken on the line 5--5 of FIG. 4.
FIG. 6 is an exploded view of a slat and the mounting means
therefor.
FIG. 7 is a top plan view illustrating a truss member maintaining
and clamping means.
FIG. 8 is a view taken on the line 8--8 of FIG. 6.
FIG. 9 is a view taken on the line 9--9 of FIG. 3.
FIG. 10 is a top plan view of a pair of trusses mounted in proper
positions on the conveyor of the jig, parts thereof broken
away.
In the accompaning drawings, and particularly in FIGS. 1 and 1A
thereof, I have used the numeral 1 to designate, in its entirety,
the conveyor of the apparatus upon which the members of the trusses
are positioned for embedment of the metal truss plates therein in
the proper positions. The numeral 3 designates generally the tail
end of the conveyor, while the numeral 5 generally designates the
motive power and embedding end of the conveyor. The numeral 7 has
been selected to generally indicate the initial pressing station of
the apparatus, at which the metal truss plates are partially
embedded into the truss members at the joints thereof. The numeral
9 has been used to designate, in its entirety, the final truss
plate embedding station at which the metal truss plates are
completely embedded in the members of the truss at the joints
thereof to permanently maintain said numbers in proper truss
forming positions.
The conveyor of the jig is composed of a plurality of slats
designated generally by the numeral 11, such slats in forming the
conveyor being transversely arranged with respect to the travel
direction of the conveyor, and each slat comprises an upper surface
13 which is mounted on and fixed to, as by welding or the like, the
head 15 of a generally T-shaped member 17 which is provided with a
stem or upright 19. Consideration of FIG. 5 of the drawings clearly
indicates that a T-shaped member 17 is provided which extends
longitudinally along each under surface of the slat upper surface
13, the longitudinally extending vertical edges 21 of the head 15
are disposed in the same vertical planes as the longitudinally
extending edges of the slat surface 13. It will thus be apparent
that each slat 11 has affixed thereto and depending therefrom
adjacent each longitudinal edge thereof a T-shaped member 17.
Extending the full width between every stem or upright 19 of each
slat is a mounting member 23 for the slats, such mounting member
being welded at each end, or otherwise affixed, to each upright 19
of each slat. It should be recognized that the width of each
mounting member 23 is substantially reduced relative to the length
of each slat so that a mounting member 23 is provided at each
transverse end of each slat. Intermediate the ends of each slat, I
provide further mounting means for the slats which I have
designated by the numeral 25 (see FIG. 2). Such mounting means 25,
as will become apparent as this description proceeds, provides an
additional mounting and supporting means for the slats of the
conveyor as well as a drive means.
Each mounting means 23 adjacent the trailing end thereof is
provided with a pair of longitudinally spaced holes 27 therein, and
I provide for each slat an angled member having a base section 29
and an angularly disposed and depending section 31. The base
section 29 being drilled to provide two holes therein which, when
the base is in proper position relative to the mounting means, are
in alignment with the holes 27. Any suitable means for fixing the
base section 29 to the undersurface of the mounting means 23 may be
provided, and as an example, I disclose headed screws 35 which
extend through the holes in base section 29 and those in the
mounting means 23, and on the extending end thereof I may employ
nuts 35 so that when the nuts are threaded on the screws, the base
portion 29 will be affixed to the mounting means 23 and the
depending arm 31 will depend downwardly therefrom and beyond the
vertical plane of the transverse edge of each slat. Consideration
of FIG. 2 of the drawings clearly illustrates that an angle member
having the base 29 and the depending arm 31 will be affixed to each
end of the slat. Each depending arm 31 rotatively mounts a roller
41, such mounting arrangement may be of any type, such as is well
known in the art. The pintle 43 which extends through the roller 41
and the depending arm 31 also extends through and is fixed to links
45 of the actuating chain for the conveyor. As I have stated
hereinabove, each slat, through the mounting means 23, its
depending arm 31 and a roller and pintle 43, is fixed to and driven
by the following link 45 of the drive chains. This will be evident
particularly in view of the disclosure of this characteristic of my
invention as presented in FIG. 4 of the drawings.
At each side of the conveyor, I provide generally E-configured
members designated generally by the numeral 47 and these supporting
members 47 provide a roller track or supporting means 49 upon which
the rollers 41 operate when the chains are moving and causing the
links to travel. The members 47 may be supported in any suitable
position as by means of legs or the like 51, the members 47 being
affixed thereto in proper vertical positions thereon by any
suitable means. I have found that in most fabrication work of this
nature, it is desirable to have three or even more drive chains for
the conveyor and in the example shown herein, I provide three of
such drive means for the conveyor and these three means not only
cause movement of the conveyor but also function to support the
conveyor. Centrally of the conveyor, I provide a further chain
having links 53 to which rollers 55 are fixed, such rollers 55
being rotatably mounted on a pintle 57 which extends through a
depending arm 59 of a base portion 61 which is fixed to the
intermediate mounting member 25, in the same manner that the base
portion 29 is fixed to dependent arm 31. It is to be understood
that variations in the construction of the roller mountings and
means of attachment to the links of the chain may be used, and that
such variations will fall within the spirit and scope of my
invention. It is significant, however, that each slat be affixed to
and driven by a following link in the chain. The intermediate
rollers 55 are moveably supported on an angle element 63 which may
be supported from legs, post or the like in the general manner of
supporting means for the E shaped supporting members 47.
At the tail end 3 of the conveyor where the slatted conveyor system
returns for another run, I provide any suitable type beam and
bearing system.
I have illustrated one sprocket wheel 65 over which the chain at
one side of the conveyor runs and, of course, there is a sprocket
wheel for each of the three or more chains which produce travel in
the conveyor. Any suitable bearing arrangement 67 for the sprocket
wheels may be employed and an adjusting means 69 of any suitable
type may be used for adjusting the sprocket wheels to maintain the
conveyor with the proper degree of tautness.
The operational or motive power end 5 of the conveyor is
particularly illustrated in FIG. 1A. A side chain of the conveyor
passes over a powered sprocket wheel 71. While only one sprocket
wheel is disclosed, it will be apparent that one is provided for
each chain which is used in the conveyor apparatus. The motive
power sprocket wheel 71 is fixed to an axle 73 which extends
transversely across the conveyor apparatus and a further sprocket
wheel for each chain is fixed to the axle 73 at the proper position
thereon. It will be appreciated that rotation of the axle 73 in a
manner to be described will cause rotation of the additional
sprocket wheels which are affixed to the axle. Fixedly mounted on
the axle 73 is a pulley 75 having a groove therein for an operating
strap, or the like, 77 which extends from the pulley 75 to a pulley
79 which is fixed to the operating shaft 81 of an electric motor
83. The pulley 75 is formed with an additional groove around which
an operating strap 85 extends and passes around a further pulley 87
which pulley is fixed to a shaft 89 so that when the pulley 87 is
rotated by means of the strap 85, the shaft 89 will be rotated.
Fixed to, and rotatable therewith, is an initial pressing or
partial embedding roller 91. The strap 85 extends from the pulley
87 and around a further pulley 93 which is fixed to a shaft 95, and
fixed to said shaft for rotation therewith is an upper pressure
roller 97. The strap 85 is continuous and extends from the pulley
93 to a pulley 99 which is fixed on a shaft 101 to cause rotation
thereof. A lower pressure roller 103 is fixed to the shaft 101 for
rotation therewith. The strap 85 extends from the pulley 99 about a
pair of spaced idlers 105 and 105' and from idler 105' the strap
returns to the sprocket motor powered pulley 75. The strap 77
travels in the direction of the dotted line arrow in FIG. 1A so
that the strap 85 travels in the direction of the arrow adjacent
the upper run of said strap. Thus, each of the rollers 91, 97, and
103 rotate in the direction of the arrow adjacent each roller.
I provide a fixed pressure plate 107 which extends transversely of
the conveyor from one side to the other and is in independent
transverse sections with a space therebetween of sufficient width
to permit the intermediate chain of the conveyor drive to pass
therebetween. The pressure plate 107 is mounted on an I-beam 109,
such I-beam being positioned directly below the roller 91 so that a
projected vertical plane from the I-beam will extend through the
axis of the roller 91. The pressure plate 107 is also mounted and
supported by an angle bar, or the like, 111. As will become
apparent as this description proceeds, the partial embedding roller
91 and the pressure plate 107 coact with one another to cause
partial embedment of the metallic truss plates into the members of
the truss at the joints therebetween, when the apparatus is in
operation. The partial embedding roller 91 is vertically adjustable
toward and from the pressure plate 107 by any suitable means
designated generally by the numeral 113. This vertical adjusting
mechanism may comprise a block 115 in which the shaft 89 is mounted
and the block is vertically adjustable on a pair of posts 117, such
vertical adjustment being imparted to the block by means of a screw
mechanism 119.
Mounted on a beam 121 is a guide plate 123. The beam 121 may be
mounted and supported in the apparatus in any suitable manner, and
the guide plate 123 extends transversely of the apparatus from side
to side thereof and the upper surface of the guide plate is in
substantially the same horizontal plane as the upper surface 13 of
the conveyor slats.
The final truss plate embedding station 9 is positioned at the end
of the apparatus where the trusses are in final fabricated form and
emerge from the apparatus. It is at this station that the partially
embedded metallic truss plates are fully and completely forced into
and embedded in the truss members at the joints thereof. The
pressure means for this final embedment comprises the upper roller
97 and the lower roller 103. The lower roller 103 is fixed, as to
its vertical position, while the upper roller is vertically
adjustable with respect thereto, such adjusting mechanism being
designated in its entirety by the numeral 125. This mechanism will
not now be described in detail as it is the same as the adjusting
mechanism 113 for the partial embedding roller 91.
It will be appreciated that it is necessary to position and
maintain the truss forming elements in their proper and desired
positions on the conveyor. While there are several means which may
be employed for accomplishing the purpose of maintaining the truss
in proper position on the conveyor, I have evolved one form of such
means which achieves the purpose thereof in a highly advantagous
manner. Since trusses of differing spans and cambers may be
fabricated on this apparatus, it is necessary that any truss member
maintaining means be adjustable to conform to these different
trusses. In FIGS. 6 and 8, particularly, I have disclosed one such
adjustable medium which my work in this discipline indicates is
highly satisfactory. The slats 11 are spaced apart from each other
along their longitudinal edges, as is clearly shown at 127 in FIG.
1. This spacing between the longitudinally extending sides of
adjacent slats permits the maintaining means to be movably or
adjustably mounted on any slat. Such maintaining means comprises a
pair of clamping means, designated generally by the numeral 129,
and each of these clamping means 129 is of the same structure and
comprises a base plate 131 having an element 133 upstanding from
one end thereof and at the other end a flange 135 extends
downwardly having an inwardly extending flange 137 extending from
the lower end thereof. The space between the inwardly extending
flange 137 and the lower surface of the base 131 is substantially
equal to the thickness of the slat 13 and the head 21 of the T 17.
In using the maintaining mechanism, each clamping means is
positioned in the desired location on a slat with the base 131
resting on the slat and the members 135 and 137 embracing the ends
of the slat and the head 21 while the flange 137 hooks under the
head 21. Thus, it will be apparent that the two parts A and B, of
the maintaining means, are positioned as especially illustrated in
FIG. 8. In order to firmly hold the members A and B in their proper
adjusted positions, I form threaded aligned holes in the upstanding
members 133 into which are threaded screws 139. It will thus be
apparent that upon tightening the screws, the upstanding members
133 of the parts A and B will be urged together thereby firmly
clamping the members A and B to the slat.
The maintaining means 129, as has been explained, is removably
clamped to a slat in any desired position thereon, and affixed to
either base portion 131 is a truss member engaging and maintaining
apparatus in the nature of a pressure means, and I have designated
this pressure means in its entirety by the numeral 141. The
pressure means 141 comprises a flat base 143 which is welded or
otherwise affixed to either of the bases 131 of the maintaining
means 129. I provide a journal bracket 145 into which extends one
end of a shaft 147 which extends outwardly therefrom, as at 149.
The bracket 145 is supported by the shaft 147-149 and is slidable
relative to the base 143. A projected end or length of the shaft
149 rotatably extends into a fixed sleeve 151 which is fixed into
any suitable manner to the base 143. The shaft extends beyond the
confines of the sleeve 151, as at 153, and is provided with a
working nose 155 which is adapted to engage a truss member when the
pressure means is in operative truss member maintaining position.
The projecting portion 153 of the shaft has affixed thereto and
thereabout an element 157 which is provided at its rear and with an
annular cam surface 159 which mates with and is cammed by a cam
surface 159 which is provided on the forward end of the sleeve 151.
The length of the shaft 147 which extends through the arms 161 of
the bracket 145 is provided with a shaft operating handle 163. The
shaft operating handle 163 is fixed to the shaft so that upon
manipulation of the handle from the full line position of FIG. 8 to
the dotted line position of FIG. 8 will result in rotation of all
the lengths of the shafts 147, 149, and 153, as well as rotation of
the element 157 which is fixed to the portion 153 of the shaft. Due
to the mating cam surfaces 157 and 159, the portion of the shaft
153 with its nose 155 will be projected when the handle 163 is
moved into the dotted line position of FIG. 8. In this position, as
will be explained hereinafter, the nose 155 will be in pressure
maintaining engagement with a truss member at the desired and
preselected point thereon. It is to be recognized that various
types of pressure fixtures for adjustable mounting on the conveyor
and for maintaining engagement with the truss members may be used,
and such pressure fixtures will still fall within the spirit and
scope of my invention.
In the initiation of the wooden truss prefabricating operation, one
or more trusses T and T' (see FIG. 10) may be operated upon at one
time. In preparing the various materials and elements for
fabrication into a truss, the metallic connector plates are first
placed on the conveyor 1 with the prongs or teeth thereof in
upright position. It will be appreciated that these plates are
placed on the conveyor at prelocations, such locations being where
the joints between truss members will be as at 165. When the
metallic truss plates have been so placed in proper positions on
the conveyor, the wooden truss elements are then placed on the
conveyor in the proper positions for the final application of the
wooden truss. When this operation is completed, a metallic truss
plate is placed at every joint 165 between members of the truss,
the teeth or prongs of each plate facing downwardly in engagement
with the truss members. The leading half of each truss, which is
that portion of the truss markedL, which extends from the peak P of
the truss in the direction of travel of the conveyor may be
maintained by fixtures marked generally by the numeral 167 such
fixtures not being provided with means which is automatically
released as the truss passes through the initial station 7. These
fixtures 167 may be made in a variety of forms but preferably
embody a maintaining means 129 (see FIG. 6 and 8) upon which may be
mounted and fixed a truss member engaging and maintaining shaft in
the nature of the shaft 153, however, the shaft in these fixtures
167 is not movable relative to the maintaining means 129 in order
to apply maintaining pressure on the truss members T in the leading
half of the truss. Instead, the fixtures 167 are movable into
position engaging a truss member by positioning the maintaining
means 129 relative to a slat upon which it is mounted. Thus, it
will be recognized that by moving the maintaining means 129, the
truss member engaging shaft may be moved into engagement with said
truss member.
The trailing half of each truss which follows the leading half L
thereof in the direction of travel of the trusses on the conveyor,
I have marked with the letter H, and this trailing half extends
from the peak P of each truss rearwardly to the end thereof. In
this trailing half of each truss, I use as the maintaining means
the pressure means 141 which has been particularly illustrated in
FIGS. 6-8 of the drawings. As was explained, when the shaft which
engages the truss member to maintain it in proper position is
projected, the operating or manipulating handle 163 is in upright
position as illustrated in dotted lines in FIG. 8.
When the truss members and metallic truss plates have been
positioned on the conveyor and maintained in proper positions
thereon by the fixtures 167 and the pressure fixture 141, the
electric motor 83 is energized so that the conveyor with the truss
members, etc., thereon will move in the direction of the arrow and
towards the initial station 7. At this station the metallic truss
plates will be partially embedded in the truss members at the
joints thereof. As the conveyor moves in the direction of the
arrows, the bottom edges of the uprights 19 of the slats will be in
sliding engagement, at the initial station 7, with the pressure
plate 107 which is in alignment with the axis of the roller 91.
Thus, during this partial embedding operation, there will be a
solid surface for the truss members and this is provided by the
rigid pressure plate 107. When the trailing half of the truss
reaches the initial station 7, each handle 163 of the pressure
means 141 will engage the roller 91 and will be moved into
inoperative position as illustrated in full lines in FIG. 8, so
that each pressure operating nose 155 will be retracted and not in
maintaining engagement with its particular truss member. This is
essential for those fixtures on the trailing half of each truss.
For if this type of automatic release of these pressure fixtures
was not provided, a piece of the wood of the truss members would be
snapped or broken as the conveyor curves downwardly on its return
run to the tail end of the apparatus. From the initial station 7,
the trusses with the partially embedded metallic plates therein
slide across the guide plate 123 and then pass between the pressure
rollers 97 and 103 at the final station 9 of the apparatus. It will
be understood that at this station, the pressure rollers 97 and 103
fully embed the metallic truss plates into their final truss
maintaining positions.
It will now be clear that at the initial station 7 the entire body
of the metallic truss plate is on a rigid supporting surface formed
by the slats of the conveyor which are rigidly supported by the
uprights 19 which are in sliding engagement with pressure plate
107. At the final station 9 the rows of teeth will be fully
embedded, one at a time, since each row will progressively pass
between pressure rollers 97 and 103.
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