Rolling truss joint connector plates

Claim 3

The method of fully embedding toothed connector plates as described in claim 1, in which the assembled components include laterally spaced longitudinal wood chord members supported on the flexible jig bed and pressure is applied laterally to the chord members to hold all the components in assembled position.

Claim 4

The method of fully embedding toothed connector plates as described in claim 2, in which pressure is applied laterally to the chord members to produce a camber therein and to hold all the components in assembled position.

Claim 5

The method of claim 1 in which the nip area of the lower roll is elevated above the plane of the jig bed.

Claim 6

Apparatus for embedding toothed connector plates in opposite faces of assembled truss components including wood truss components, comprising a flexible jig bed, longitudinally spaced means supporting said bed in horizontal position, means clamping said truss components in assembled position on said bed, and a pair of vertically spaced horizontal pressure rolls adapted to press the teeth of the connector plates fully into the top and bottom faces of said wood components, said flexible bed adapted between supports to conform to the upper curved area of the lower roll, the nip of said rolls being positioned relative to the horizontal plane of said bed to conform said bed progressively to the upper curved area of the lower roll during relative movement between the bed and the rolls such as to cause the bed and the assembly thereon to pass through the nip of the rolls.

Claim 7

Apparatus for embedding toothed connector plates in opposite faces of assembled truss components including wood truss components, comprising a flexible jig bed, longitudinally spaced means supporting said bed in horizontal position, means clamping said truss components in assembled position on said bed, and a pair of vertically spaced horizontal pressure rolls adapted to press the teeth of the connector plates fully into the top and bottom faces of said wood components, said flexible bed adapted between supports to conform to the upper curved area of the lower roll, the nip of said rolls being positioned relative to the horizontal plane of said bed to conform said bed progressively to the upper curved area of the lower roll during relative movement between the bed and the rolls such as to cause the bed and the assembly thereon to pass through the nip of the rolls.

Claim 8

Apparatus for embedding toothed connector plates as described in claim 5, in which the assembled components are clamped laterally of the direction of movement between longitudinal vertically flexible members supported on said bed and are adapted to pass through the nip of the rolls with said bed and said assembly.

Claim 9

Apparatus for embedding toothed connector plates as described in claim 6, in which the assembled components include laterally spaced longitudinally chords abutted by said longitudinal members and means are mounted on said bed for applying lateral pressure to one of said longitudinal members.

Claim 10

Apparatus for embedding toothed connector plates as described in claim 7, in which one of said longitudinal members is mounted on said bed with a lateral camber, and means are mounted on said pan for applying lateral pressure to the other of said longitudinal members to produce a corresponding lateral camber therein.

Claim 11

Apparatus for embedding toothed connector plates as described in claim 7, in which a second pair of longitudinal chord members to be used for another assembly is supported laterally of said assembled components and in side-by-side abutting relation, and toothed plates located on the upper faces thereof for being fully embedded during passage between said rolls.

Claim 12

Apparatus for embedding toothed connector plates as described in claim 9, in which the second pair of longitudinal chord members is clamped between longitudinal vertically flexible members supported on a bed, and means are mounted on said bed for applying lateral pressure to one of said second longitudinal members.

Claim 13

Apparatus for embedding toothed connector plates as described in claim 10, in which the longitudinal members clamping the second pair of Longitudinal chord members are supported on the same bed as the truss assembly and a collar is journaled on the upper roll of said pressure rolls for embedding the teeth of said toothed plates into said second pair of longitudinal chord members.

Claim 14

Apparatus for embedding toothed connector plates as described in claim 9, in which the second pair of longitudinal chord members is supported on the same bed as the truss assembly and a collar is journaled on the upper roll of said pressure rolls for embedding the teeth of said toothed plates into said second pair of longitudinal chord members.

Claim 15

Apparatus as described in claim 5, in which the nip area of the lower roll is elevated above the plane of the jig bed.

Claim 18

Apparatus for embedding toothed connector plates in opposite faces of assembled truss components, comprising a flexible bed pan, longitudinally spaced means supporting the pan in horizontal position, means clamping said truss components in assembled position on said pan with the toothed connector plates contacting opposite faces of certain of said components, a pair of vertically spaced horizontal pressure rolls adapted to pass over and under said pan to embed said connector plates in said certain components, said flexible bed pan adapted between supports to conform to the upper curved area of the lower roll, said pan supporting means progressively alternately supporting said pan in advance of and behind said lower pressure roll to allow said pan to ripple as it conforms progressively to the curved upper area of the lower roll during passage of the rolls.

Claim 19

Apparatus for embedding toothed connector plates in opposite faces of assembled truss components, comprising a flexible bed pan, longitudinally spaced means supporting the pan in horizontal position, means clamping said truss components in assembled position on said pan with the toothed connector plates contacting opposite faces of certain of said components, a pair of vertically spaced horizontal pressure rolls adapted to pass over and under said pan to embed said connector plates in said certain components, said flexible bed pan adapted between supports to conform to the upper curved area of the lower roll, said pan supporting means progressively alternately supporting said pan in advance of and behind said lower pressure roll to allow said pan to ripple as it conforms progressively to the curved upper area of the lower roll during passage of the rolls.

Claim 20

Apparatus as described in claim 15 in which said bed pan comprises a longitudinal series of flexible panels supported at their transverse edges on transverse bars.

Claim 21

Apparatus as described in claim 16, in which the transverse bars are spaced apart longitudinally to form slots.

Claim 22

Apparatus as described in claim 17, in which lifting means supported below said pan are adapted to extend through said slots to lift trusses supported on said pan.

Claim 23

Apparatus as described in claim 18, in which the lifting means comprises extensible and retractable scissors levers.