Metal working – Method of mechanical manufacture – Assembling or joining
Reexamination Certificate
2000-06-16
2003-11-25
Vidovich, Gregory (Department: 3726)
Metal working
Method of mechanical manufacture
Assembling or joining
C029S525010, C029S771000, C029S429000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06651306
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to apparatus for fabricating flat trusses, and more particularly to apparatus for fabricating composite wood and metal flat trusses.
The invention is especially concerned with apparatus for fabricating composite wood and metal flat trusses such as shown in the co-assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,833,222 issued Nov. 10, 1998. Flat trusses in general and flat trusses such as disclosed in said patent are typically used as floor joists in place of solid wood 2×10s, 2×12s, etc. The flat truss disclosed in said patent has parallel top and bottom chords, each comprising a length of lumber (e.g., a 2×4) and generally V-shaped metal web members having integral teeth fastening them to the chords, with said members in inverted relation. It also has vertical wooden web members providing rectangular openings in the truss, as for passage of ductwork through the truss. It is formed to provide on-site flexibility, being capable of being trimmed off at one or both ends to reduce its length to fit the job. This is accomplished by providing a board between the chords at one or both ends, the arrangement being such that the chords and board or boards may be sawn through for the trimming of the truss without sacrificing the structural stability of the truss.
As disclosed in said U.S. Pat. No. 5,833,222, the assembly of the flat trusses having the features above described is carried out manually, by placement of the chords, web members (metal and wooden), and the boards in a jig on a table. The truss is assembled flat, i.e., so that the upper and lower chords are in a horizontal plane. The metal web members are placed both under and on top of the chords so that they will be secured on both sides of the chords in the finished truss. A press is moved over the table (or vice versa) to press the teeth of the metal web members into the chords. Assembling the components is labor intensive. The size of the truss, and hence the jig, make manual assembly difficult and time consuming.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Among the several objects and features of the present invention may be noted the provision of an apparatus for fabricating flat trusses which automatically assembles a completed truss from its base components; the provision of such an apparatus which can build trusses rapidly; the provision of such an apparatus which requires minimal manual labor; and the provision of such an apparatus which can build trusses of different sizes.
The invention involves apparatus for fabricating composite wood and metal flat trusses with each truss having generally parallel top and bottom chords, and a first and a second series of metal web members, the first series on one side and the second on the other side of the truss. The web members of each series are spaced at intervals along the length of the truss. The apparatus includes a conveyor comprising an upper chord conveying run for the feeding endwise in a forward direction the upper chords of trusses to be fabricated, and a lower chord conveying run for the feeding endwise in the forward direction corresponding lower chords of trusses to be fabricated. Each upper chord is paired in lengthwise registry with a lower chord thereby constituting a pair serving as the upper and lower chords of a truss. The upper chord and lower chords are of generally rectangular cross-section having top, bottom, and side surfaces. The conveyor is operable intermittently to feed each pair of chords forward a distance corresponding to the intervals to and past a station for application of web members to opposite side surfaces of the pair at the intervals, the pair dwelling at the station for a dwell period between each forward feed of said pair. A first web member applicator at the station for applying a web member to each pair of chords on one side thereof during a dwell period of the pair at the station, a second web member applicator at the station for applying a web member to each pair on the other side thereof during a dwell period of the pair at the station. Each web member applicator comprises a holder on the respective side of the conveyor for holding a supply of web members, and mechanism for transferring a web member from the supply into position on the respective side of the pair at the station. The web members have fasteners for being driven into the sides of each of the chords constituting the pair. Each applicator has a driver for effecting driving of the fasteners into each of the chords constituting the pair on opposite sides thereof to fasten the web members to the pair.
An aspect of the invention involves the provision of an apparatus for fabricating composite flat trusses with each truss having parallel top and bottom chords, a first and a second series of metal first web members, the first series on one side and the second series on the other side of the truss, the first web members of each series being spaced at intervals along the length of the truss, each truss further comprising at least at one end thereof a trimmable second web member comprising material which may be sawn through for trimming of the truss at the one end thereof thereby to shorten its length, the second web member being secured at the top to the upper chord and at the bottom to the lower chord. The apparatus includes a conveyor comprising an upper chord conveying run and a lower chord conveying run for the feeding endwise in a forward direction the upper and lower chords of trusses to be fabricated with the chords in a predetermined plane. Each upper chord is paired in lengthwise registry with a lower chord and to constitute a pair serving as the upper and lower chords of a truss. Each of the upper and lower chords are of generally rectangular cross-section having top, bottom, and side surfaces. The conveyor is operable to feed a pair of the chords to and past a second web member applying station where there is a second web member transfer device for transferring a second web member from a supply of second web members to a position in the plane for being engaged by the chords as they are fed forward. The apparatus has first devices for effecting securement of the second web member to the chords. The conveyor is operable intermittently to feed the lengths of lumber with the second web member in place between them forward a distance corresponding to the intervals to and past a first web member applying station for application of first web members to opposite side surfaces of the pair at the intervals, the pair dwelling at the first web member applying station for a dwell period between each forward feed of the pair. A first web member first applicator at the station for applying a first web member to each pair of chords on one side thereof during a dwell period of the pair at the station. A first web member second applicator is at the station for applying a first web member to each pair on the other side thereof during a dwell period of each pair at the station. Each applicator includes a holder on the respective side of the conveyor for holding a supply of first web members, and mechanism for transferring a first web member from the supply into position on the respective side of the pair at the station. The first web members have fasteners for being driven into the sides of each of the chords constituting the pair. Each applicator has a driver for effecting driving of the fasteners into each of the chords constituting the pair on opposite sides thereof to fasten the first web members to the pair.
A further aspect of the invention involves the provision of an apparatus for fabricating composite flat trusses with each truss having generally parallel top and bottom chords, and a first and a second series of metal first web members, the first series on one side and the second series on the other side of the truss, the first web members of each said series being spaced at intervals along the length of the truss, and generally vertical second web members each extending generally vertically between the upper and lower chords and fastened thereto, t
Fanty, Jr. Louis A.
Hanneken Douglas S.
Kim Du
LePoire Robert A.
Mabery Randall S.
Kenny Stephen
MiTek Holdings, Inc.
Senniger Powers Leavitt & Roedel
Vidovich Gregory
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