Metal working – Method of mechanical manufacture – Structural member making
Reexamination Certificate
1997-10-20
2001-11-20
Hughes, S. Thomas (Department: 3726)
Metal working
Method of mechanical manufacture
Structural member making
C029S407040, C029S407100, C029S467000, C029S721000, C029S281300, C033S228000, C033SDIG002, C269S910000, C269S037000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06317980
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to assembling trusses and, more particularly, to methods and apparatus for facilitating the set-up of trusses for factory assembly.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Prefabricated trusses are often used in the construction of buildings because of their strength, reliability, low cost, and ease of use. The trusses are typically assembled in factories using automated machinery and large jig tables, and then shipped to construction sites for installation.
One known method for the assembly of trusses includes positioning truss members on the work-surface of a table within outlines projected upon the work-surface by an overhead laser light projection system. One such laser system is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,388,318. An operator then moves jigging hardware into engagement with the truss members laid-out upon the work-surface to securely hold the members in place for subsequent assembly, e.g., embedding connector plates into the truss members to form the truss.
Using known laser systems, an operator typically sets-up a first portion of a truss upon a table work-surface and then secures the jigging hardware in place for that first portion. Once the first portion of the truss is secured by the jigging hardware, the remaining portions of the truss are sequentially set-up and secured, typically in a clockwise or counterclockwise order. This set-up approach is utilized because if the jigging hardware is incorrectly set-up for one portion of the truss, then the set-ups for all subsequently laid-out portions of the truss may be incorrect and have to be scrapped. By sequentially setting-up and securing the set-ups for the portions of the truss, the likelihood of having to scrap an entire set-up is reduced.
After fabricating one complete truss, the truss is removed from the work-surface and another truss of the same configuration can be assembled using the same jigging hardware set-up. Specifically, new truss members are positioned on the table according to the location of the jigging hardware, although the jigging hardware may require minor adjustment from one truss set-up to the next to ensure that the truss members are securely held in place.
The known laser projection systems greatly enhance the speed and precision of, and simplify, the set-up of truss members for factory assembly, as compared with manual systems and methods which depend upon the operator experience and knowledge in setting-up jigging hardware for truss fabrication. However, it would be desirable to provide a laser system and method which even further simplifies and speeds up the fabrication of trusses. It would also be desirable to provide a system and method which further reduces reliance upon operator experience and knowledge in setting up jigging hardware for truss fabrication.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
These and other objects may be obtained by a laser jigging system that projects the location of the jigging hardware on the work-surface so that an operator can easily and quickly position the jigging hardware on the work-surface prior to positioning any truss members on the work-surface. More particularly, and rather than simply projecting an image of the truss members on the work-surface as with known laser projection systems, the subject laser projection system projects puck and other jigging hardware alignment or location guides on the table work-surface at predetermined locations offset from where the component members of the truss will be laid-out for assembly. With the puck and other jigging hardware alignment guides projected on the table, the jigging hardware, which preferably carry complimentary alignment guide means thereon, can be properly located on the table in any desired sequence and secured in place. The truss members can then be located on the table in accordance with the pattern defined by the pucks and other jigging, and connector plates can then be engaged with the truss members.
The above-described system provides the important advantage that the puck and jigging set-up will be exactly in accordance with the engineering specifications for the particular set-up. In addition, an operator can be quickly trained on using the system to provide the desired set-ups. Also, use of the subject system may significantly reduce fabrication costs by reducing the time and thereby the labor costs associated with truss set-up and by increasing throughput.
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Virtek, TrussLine Projected Profits, brochure.
Hughes S. Thomas
MiTek Holdings, Inc.
Nguyen T.
Senniger Powers Leavitt & Roedel
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