US3688965A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Machine for fabricating walls
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1969-10-13
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Granted: 1972-09-05
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Expires: 1989-10-13
Abstract
Abstract A machine for fabricating walls from wood framing materials, particularly suited for use in fabricating walls of a type normally employed in constructing frame structures and the like, characterized by an employment of a series of sequentially actuated machine systems electrically interconnected for selecting and feeding components and for selectively assembling the components into walls having adjustably regulated dimensions and selectively controlled spaced and dimensioned openings defining doors, windows and the like, a particular feature of the invention being a combination of an electrical control system interconnected with a series of operative systems for driving the machine through a predetermined sequence of machine events, in redundant or non-redundant modes, for fabricating a series of walls to be erected into frame structures.
Inventors
- 👤 Raymond M Kellner
- 👤 Minor E Gee
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 20:20
CPC Classifications
B; B27; B27M; B27M3/00; B27M3/0013; B27M3/0073; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49826; Y10T29/49828; Y10T29/49829; Y10T29/53; Y10T29/53004; Y10T29/53313; Y10T29/53317
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
149 words
In a machine for fabricating a series of walls of individually predetermined dimension and configuration comprising: A. intelligence storage means including means bearing encoded intelligence defining each wall of a series of walls in terms of structural component configuration, number of structural components required, component spacing and orientation; B. means for decoding the stored intelligence and providing electrical output signals indicative of the stored intelligence; C. means defining a machine control device including electrical circuits for converting the output signals into a series of machine control signals; and D. a series of machine stations electrically connected with the control device, including a plurality of component hoppers each of said stations including therein special purpose operative devices including means responsive to the control signals for effecting a selective delivery of said components and a joining of selected structural components for thereby forming a wall in accordance with the encoded intelligence.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
149 words
In a machine for fabricating a series of walls of individually predetermined dimension and configuration comprising: A. intelligence storage means including means bearing encoded intelligence defining each wall of a series of walls in terms of structural component configuration, number of structural components required, component spacing and orientation; B. means for decoding the stored intelligence and providing electrical output signals indicative of the stored intelligence; C. means defining a machine control device including electrical circuits for converting the output signals into a series of machine control signals; and D. a series of machine stations electrically connected with the control device, including a plurality of component hoppers each of said stations including therein special purpose operative devices including means responsive to the control signals for effecting a selective delivery of said components and a joining of selected structural components for thereby forming a wall in accordance with the encoded intelligence.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
The machine of claim 1 further comprising: A. operatively associated conveyor means for advancing the wall between the series of stations; and B. control means responsive to said output signals connected with said conveyor means for interrupting the advancement of the wall.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
173 words
A machine for fabricating a wall of a predetermined configuration from a plurality of structural components sequentially selected from a source of components, each having predetermined configurations comprising: A. feed means for feeding a pair of wall plates to the machine; B. means for maintaining the pair of plates in a coplanar and parallel relationship; C. a selectively operable component hopper for feeding to said machine a plurality of wall components of predetermined configurations including means responsive to control signals for initiating a selective feeding of the components; D. selectively operable control means connected with said hopper for providing a series of control signals for initiating a feeding of the components; E. means for receiving the components as they are fed to said machine and for advancing the components along a path extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of symmetry of said plates to preselected positions between said plates; and F. means for coupling the components with the plates for thereby forming a wall having a configuration dictated by the control means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
173 words
A machine for fabricating a wall of a predetermined configuration from a plurality of structural components sequentially selected from a source of components, each having predetermined configurations comprising: A. feed means for feeding a pair of wall plates to the machine; B. means for maintaining the pair of plates in a coplanar and parallel relationship; C. a selectively operable component hopper for feeding to said machine a plurality of wall components of predetermined configurations including means responsive to control signals for initiating a selective feeding of the components; D. selectively operable control means connected with said hopper for providing a series of control signals for initiating a feeding of the components; E. means for receiving the components as they are fed to said machine and for advancing the components along a path extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of symmetry of said plates to preselected positions between said plates; and F. means for coupling the components with the plates for thereby forming a wall having a configuration dictated by the control means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
135 words
In a machine for fabricating walls the improvement comprising: A. plate delivery means for delivering and orienting wall plates in a parallel, substantially horizontal and spaced relationship; B. plate indexing means for advancing the plates in a horizontal plane to a first operative station; C. means for sequentially delivering a plurality of horizontally oriented, vertical support members to the first operative station into coplanar relationship with said plates as they are supported in said plane whereby the selected vertical support members are horizontally extended between the plates as the members come to rest; D. means operatively associated with said first operative station for joining said vertical support members with said plates whereby structure defining a wall is fabricated; and E. wall advancing means for advancing the wall through the machine at a preselected incremental rate.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
135 words
In a machine for fabricating walls the improvement comprising: A. plate delivery means for delivering and orienting wall plates in a parallel, substantially horizontal and spaced relationship; B. plate indexing means for advancing the plates in a horizontal plane to a first operative station; C. means for sequentially delivering a plurality of horizontally oriented, vertical support members to the first operative station into coplanar relationship with said plates as they are supported in said plane whereby the selected vertical support members are horizontally extended between the plates as the members come to rest; D. means operatively associated with said first operative station for joining said vertical support members with said plates whereby structure defining a wall is fabricated; and E. wall advancing means for advancing the wall through the machine at a preselected incremental rate.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
The machine of claim 4 wherein said vertical support members includes stud-trimmers and trimmer-studs.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
71 words
The machine of claim 5 further comprising means for selecting the vertical support members in a manner such that each delivery of a stud-trimmer is followed by a delivery of a trimmer-stud, whereby the wall being fabricated is provided with a door defined between a pair of trimmers arranged in adjacent and parallel relationship with adjacent distal ends of the trimmers being disposed in coplanar alignment to receive a door header.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
47 words
The machine of claim 6 further comprising: A. means responsive to the advancing of the wall for delivering a header to the distal ends of said trimmers; and B. means associated with the wall advancing means for securing the header to the distal ends of the trimmers.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
49 words
The machine of claim 7 further comprising: A. means associated with the wall advancing means for delivering window boxes to said wall being formed; and B. means for securing said window boxes in place within said wall, whereby a wall having window and door openings formed therein is provided.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
179 words
The machine of claim 4 wherein the wall advancing means includes: A. a motor adapted to drive the plate indexing means; B. a first switch adapted to close to impart a first rate of rotation to said motor; C. a second switch adapted to close to impart a second rate of rotation to said motor; D. switch actuating means including a worm and a rectilinearly reciprocating block coupled with the wOrm adapted selectively to be shifted in response to a selected directional rotation of the gear from sequentially closing said first and second switches; E. a first drive means connected with said shaft adapted to be actuated to drive the shaft in a first direction for effecting a closing of said switches; and F. a second drive means connected with the plate indexing means and with said shaft adapted to be actuated to drive the shaft in a second direction as the plates are indexed past said station for effecting a sequential opening of said first and second switches when the plates have been advanced through a preselected interval.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
32 words
The machine of claim 9 wherein the first drive means comprises an electrically energizable, stepping motor and the second drive means includes an interconnected drive operatively coupled with the plate indexing means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
The machine of claim 10 wherein the first and second drive means operatively are interconnected through a differential drive coupling.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
87 words
The machine of claim 4 wherein the plate indexing means includes: A. a pair of tracks comprising a first endless track having a first substantially horizontal pressure surface, and a second endless track having a second substantially horizontal working surface vertically spaced a predetermined distance from said first pressure surface; B. means for adjusting the distance between said first and second pressure surfaces; and C. intermittently operably means for simultaneously advancing the first and second pressure surfaces in a common direction and through common increments of travel.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
78 words
In a machine for fabricating walls, the improvement comprising: A. plate advancing means for simultaneously advancing a pair of plates along substantially coplanar, linear and parallel paths extending through an assembly station; B. component delivery means for delivering structural members along a path extending between the linear paths of the plates into a contiguous relationship with said plates as the plates are advanced through said assembly station; and C. means for affixing the structural members to said plates.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
78 words
In a machine for fabricating walls, the improvement comprising: A. plate advancing means for simultaneously advancing a pair of plates along substantially coplanar, linear and parallel paths extending through an assembly station; B. component delivery means for delivering structural members along a path extending between the linear paths of the plates into a contiguous relationship with said plates as the plates are advanced through said assembly station; and C. means for affixing the structural members to said plates.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-09-05 | 1976-03-06 | 1976-09-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-09-05 | 1980-03-06 | 1980-09-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-09-05 | 1984-03-06 | 1984-09-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |