Metal working – Method of mechanical manufacture – Structural member making
Patent
1995-09-14
1999-02-09
Schwartz, Larry I.
Metal working
Method of mechanical manufacture
Structural member making
29729, B23P 1500
Patent
active
058679057
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The invention relates to apparatus for manufacturing a truss, a press head for use therein and a method of connecting timber members together.
Until recently, roof trusses have exclusively been manufactured manually. However, over the years, various developments have been made which have assisted in the manufacturing process. For example, machines having a plurality of press heads each having an integral platen have been developed wherein the press heads and platens are manually positioned at the joints of the truss and locked in position. The members forming the truss are positioned on the platens and all of the press heads are then operated simultaneously and from a central control to press connectors into the joints to form a self supporting structure. Another type of known jig consists of separate platens and press heads wherein the platens are first laid out at their required joint locations (often they are strung together to form long continuous sections for ease), and suspended or floor mounted press heads are then individually moved into position at each joint and operated. A further type of known jig consists of a solid roller used to press connector plates into the joints. The plates are loosely fixed at the joints by hammering and then the entire truss assembly is fed into the roller mechanism which acts rather like a mangle to press the connectors into the joints and fix the truss members together.
It is also known to provide a large truss table whereon stops are manually located at required positions, continuous platens are laid at and between all joints and then a travelling beam press traverses the truss stopping at each joint under manual control and presses the joints together. U.S. Pat. No. 4,943,038 discloses a similar truss assembly table having a plurality of sections in each of which a plurality of jig stops is provided which can be positioned to enable the truss members to be accurately positioned with respect to one another on the table prior to connection. The jig stops are each positioned by means of a lead screw driven by a manually operated drill. However, although each jig stop is positioned by a power-operated device, these devices are manually operated and each jig stop therefore requires individual attention.
The known apparatus for assisting in the manufacture of trusses is therefore time consuming to operate and labour intensive. The average time taken to set up suitable apparatus for manufacturing a run of identical trusses is half an hour to an hour. Pressing a run of 8 to 10 trusses will also typically take about half an hour. Thus the setting up of the jig usually occupies at least 50% of the production time and hence a considerable proportion of the cost. It is an object of the present invention to provide apparatus which enables a truss to be accurately and swiftly manufactured. It is a further object of the invention to reduce the labour costs involved in manufacturing trusses.
The invention provides apparatus for manufacturing a truss, comprising a plurality of press heads arranged in a single plane about a fixed datum point and movable within the plane about the datum point, wherein the press heads are each connected to powered driving means and to control means for controlling the powered driving means and for automatically determining the desired position of each head with respect to the datum point such that each head can be automatically driven to its desired position, characterised in that each press head comprises a platen and a retractable trolley, each trolley having a trolley head and being movable between a retracted position wherein the upper surface of the trolley head is level with or below the upper surface of the platen, and an operating position wherein the lower surface of the trolley head is located above the upper surface of the platen so that, when the trolley is in the operating position, the platen can be raised towards the trolley head to carry out a pressing action on any truss members and connectors located therebetween.
Preferably, the pl
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patent: 3599562 (1971-08-01), Hutchens, Sr.
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patent: 4998336 (1991-03-01), Papsdorf
patent: 5092028 (1992-03-01), Harnden
Beale Leonard Michael
Goebel James Francis Pirrie
McCully Michael Anthony
Shuttle Alan Peter
Whale Luke Richard John
Butler Marc W.
Carrier Joseph P.
Gang-Nail Systems Limited
Schwartz Larry I.
Weiner Irving M.
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