Truss fabricating machine

Claim 2

A machine for joining two pieces of abutting lumber with a connector plate having prongs projecting therefrom and positioned such that it bridges the line abutment between the two or more pieces; said machine comprising: a platform having a generally flat upper surface for supporting the lumber and parallel channels which open upwardly, the channels having inwardly turned flanges; retaining elements disposed in the channels and being wider than the spacing between the flanges of the channels; jigging pads disposed on the platform and having slots extending generally perpendicular to the channels, the jigging pads being fastened to the platform by connecting means which extend through the slots and engage the retaining elements in the channels; supporting units for supporting the platform in an elevated position, each supporting unit including at least two leading legs which are connected firmly together and move simultaneously from an upright supporting position wherein they support the platform to a depressed position wherein they do not support the platform, and trailing legs which are connected firmly together and are also connected with the leading legs to move to the upright position as the leading legs move to the depressed position; and a gantry press movable along the platform and including a lower beam which passes beneath the platform and moves the leading legs to their depressed positions as it does, an upper beam disposed above the platform, connecting beams interconnecting the upper and lower beams, and press means carried by the upper beam for forcing the prongs of the connector plate into the lumber.

Claim 3

A machine according to claim 1 wherein the platform bears against the lower beam as the press means forces the connector plate into the lumber, whereby the lower beam serves as an anvil for resisting the force applied by the press means.

Claim 4

A machine according to claim 2 wherein the gantry press further includes spring loaded rollers, the circumferential surfaces of which project above the lower beam and support the platform as the gantry press moves, the rollers being shiftable in a downward direction against the spring loading so that they will be depressed when the press means forces the connector plate into the lumber, thus enabling the platform to bear against the lower beam.

Claim 5

A machine according to claim 1 wherein the gantry press further comprises a carriage at each end thereof having wheels which ride along tracks, one of the carriages being mounted rigidly with respect to the upper and lower beams and the other carriage being free to pivot relative to the beams so that the wheels of the carriages will remain engaged with the tracks notwithstanding irregularities in the tracks.

Claim 6

A machine for joining two or more pieces of abutting lumber with a connector plate having prongs projecting therefrom and positioned such that it bridges the line of abutment between the two pieces, said machine comprising: a platform having a generally flat upper surface and including upwardly opening channels provided with inwardly turned flanges; retaining elements in the channels and being wider than the spacing between the inwardly turned flanges so that the elements will slide along the channels but cannot be withdrawn upwardly therefrom; jigging pads on the platform for supporting the lumber, the jigging pads having slots which extend generally perpendicular to the channels; bolts extended through the slots in the jiggIng pads and threaded into the retaining elements in the channels for firmly securing the pads to the platform; support units beneath the platform for supporting the platform intermediate its ends, each support unit including at least one leading leg which moves from an upright position wherein it supports the platform to a depressed position wherein it does not support the platform and a trailing leg which is connected to the leading leg and also moves between an upright supporting position and a depressed non-supporting portion, the trailing leg being in its depressed position when the leading leg is in its upright position, and vice-versa; and a gantry press movable along the platform and including a lower beam which passes beneath a platform and moves the leading legs of the supporting units to their depressed positions as it does, an upper beam disposed above the platform, connecting beams interconnecting the upper and lower beams, and press means carried by the upper beam for forcing the prongs of the connector plate into the lumber.

Claim 7

A machine for joining two or more pieces of abutting lumber with a connector plate having prongs projecting therefrom and positioned such that it bridges the line of abutment between the two pieces, said machine comprising: a platform having a generally flat upper surface and including upwardly opening channels provided with inwardly turned flanges; retaining elements in the channels and being wider than the spacing between the inwardly turned flanges so that the elements will slide along the channels but cannot be withdrawn upwardly therefrom; jigging pads on the platform for supporting the lumber, the jigging pads having slots which extend generally perpendicular to the channels; bolts extended through the slots in the jiggIng pads and threaded into the retaining elements in the channels for firmly securing the pads to the platform; support units beneath the platform for supporting the platform intermediate its ends, each support unit including at least one leading leg which moves from an upright position wherein it supports the platform to a depressed position wherein it does not support the platform and a trailing leg which is connected to the leading leg and also moves between an upright supporting position and a depressed non-supporting portion, the trailing leg being in its depressed position when the leading leg is in its upright position, and vice-versa; and a gantry press movable along the platform and including a lower beam which passes beneath a platform and moves the leading legs of the supporting units to their depressed positions as it does, an upper beam disposed above the platform, connecting beams interconnecting the upper and lower beams, and press means carried by the upper beam for forcing the prongs of the connector plate into the lumber.

Claim 8

A machine according to claim 5 wherein the pads are provided with adjustable abutment bars against which the lumber abuts and is thereby positioned on the platform.

Claim 9

A gantry press to press pronged connector plates into lumber resting on a platform supported on legs which depress to permit passage of the press along the platform; said press comprising: carriages having wheels, a lower beam supported on the carriages and extended beneath the platform, an upper beam extending over the platform, the upper beam having flanges extending laterally from it; connecting beams extended upwardly above the lower beam for supporting the upper beam relative to the lower beam; a press assembly mounted on and movable along the upper beam and including a mounting plate extended beneath the upper beam and provided with end members having rollers which ride on the flanges, a hydraulic cylinder barrel mounted on the plate with its axis extended downwardly toward the lower beam, a piston rod in the barrel, and a platen on the lower end of the piston rod for engaging the connector plates and forcing the prongs of the connector plates into the lumber.

Claim 10

A gantry press to press pronged connector plates into lumber resting on a platform supported on legs which depress to permit passage of the press along the platform; said press comprising: carriages having wheels, a lower beam supported on the carriages and extended beneath the platform, an upper beam extending over the platform, the upper beam having flanges extending laterally from it; connecting beams extended upwardly above the lower beam for supporting the upper beam relative to the lower beam; a press assembly mounted on and movable along the upper beam and including a mounting plate extended beneath the upper beam and provided with end members having rollers which ride on the flanges, a hydraulic cylinder barrel mounted on the plate with its axis extended downwardly toward the lower beam, a piston rod in the barrel, and a platen on the lower end of the piston rod for engaging the connector plates and forcing the prongs of the connector plates into the lumber.

Claim 11

A gantry press according to claim 7 wherein the press assembly is one of two press assemblies mounted on the upper beam.

Claim 12

A gantry press according to claim 7 wherein the gantry press includes a pump carried thereby for raising the pressure of hydraulic fluid, and a control valve for directing the high pressure hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic cylinder; and wherein the upper beam is a box beam, the interior of which serves as a reservoir for hydraulic fluid.

Claim 13

A gantry press according to claim 7 wherein the lower beam carries spring loaded rollers which normally project slightly above the upper surface of the lower beam and support the platform as the press moves along it, the rollers being depressable in the downward direction against the spring load, whereby the press assembly acts against the lumber and forces the platform and rollers downwardly until the platform bears against the lower beam so that the lower beam resists the force applied by the press assembly.

Claim 14

A gantry press according to claim 7 wherein one carriage is fastened rigidly to the lower beam and the other carriage is provided with a bridge bearing on which the lower beam rests, the axis of the bridge bearing being transverse to the direction of movement, whereby the wheels of the carriages will remain against irregular track surfaces.

Claim 15

A machine for joining two pieces of abutting lumber with a connector plate having prongs projecting therefrom and positioned such that it bridges the line of abutment between the two pieces, said machine comprising: a platform having a generally flat upper surface for supporting the lumber; a plurality of supporting units beneath the platform for supporting the platform in an elevated position, each supporting unit having at least two spaced apart leading legs located at opposite sideS of the platform at least two spaced apart trailing legs also located at opposite sides of the platform, and connecting members extending transversely of the platform and joining the legs together into a generally rigid unit, each supporting unit being capable of pivoting between two supporting positions about an axis spaced downwardly from the platform and extended transversely with respect thereto, each supporting unit when in the first supporting position being engaged with the underside of the platform at the ends of the leading legs and supporting the platform through the leading legs, each supporting unit when in the second supporting position being engaged with the underside of the platform at the ends of the trailing legs and supporting the platform through the trailing legs, the trailing legs being spaced downwardly from the underside of the platform when the platform is supported by the leading legs and the leading legs being spaced downwardly from the underside of the platform when the platform is supported by the trailing legs; parallel tracks extended longitudinally of the platform outwardly from the supporting units; and a gantry press having wheels on the tracks and a motor connected to at least one of the wheels for driving that wheel so as to move the gantry press along the tracks, the gantry press being adapted to move the supporting units from one supporting position to the other supporting position as it moves past them along the tracks, whereby the legs which support the platform are changed, the gantry press further having a lower beam which extends beneath the platform, an upper beam which extends over the platform, connecting beams interconnecting the upper and lower beams at the sides of the platform, and press means carried by the upper beam for forcing the prongs of the connectors into the lumber, the lower beam supporting the platform as the press means forces the connectors into the lumber and being configured to fit between the leading and trailing legs of each supporting unit as that supporting unit changes positions.

Claim 16

A machine for joining two pieces of abutting lumber with a connector plate having prongs projecting therefrom and positioned such that it bridges the line of abutment between the two pieces, said machine comprising: a platform having a generally flat upper surface for supporting the lumber; a plurality of supporting units beneath the platform for supporting the platform in an elevated position, each supporting unit having at least two spaced apart leading legs located at opposite sideS of the platform at least two spaced apart trailing legs also located at opposite sides of the platform, and connecting members extending transversely of the platform and joining the legs together into a generally rigid unit, each supporting unit being capable of pivoting between two supporting positions about an axis spaced downwardly from the platform and extended transversely with respect thereto, each supporting unit when in the first supporting position being engaged with the underside of the platform at the ends of the leading legs and supporting the platform through the leading legs, each supporting unit when in the second supporting position being engaged with the underside of the platform at the ends of the trailing legs and supporting the platform through the trailing legs, the trailing legs being spaced downwardly from the underside of the platform when the platform is supported by the leading legs and the leading legs being spaced downwardly from the underside of the platform when the platform is supported by the trailing legs; parallel tracks extended longitudinally of the platform outwardly from the supporting units; and a gantry press having wheels on the tracks and a motor connected to at least one of the wheels for driving that wheel so as to move the gantry press along the tracks, the gantry press being adapted to move the supporting units from one supporting position to the other supporting position as it moves past them along the tracks, whereby the legs which support the platform are changed, the gantry press further having a lower beam which extends beneath the platform, an upper beam which extends over the platform, connecting beams interconnecting the upper and lower beams at the sides of the platform, and press means carried by the upper beam for forcing the prongs of the connectors into the lumber, the lower beam supporting the platform as the press means forces the connectors into the lumber and being configured to fit between the leading and trailing legs of each supporting unit as that supporting unit changes positions.

Claim 17

A machine according to claim 12 wherein each support unit includes a pivot shaft to which the leading and trailing legs are firmly attached, and wherein fixed bearings are provided in which the pivot shaft rotates.

Claim 18

A machine according to claim 13 wherein the connecting members include a cross bar extended across the ends of the leading legs, and another cross bar extended across the ends of the trailing legs.

Claim 19

A machine according to claim 14 wherein the cross bars are located over center relative to the axis of the pivot shaft when the legs to which they are attached are in their upright supporting positions.