US3824919A - Method of and apparatus for fabricating wood structures - Google Patents

Method of and apparatus for fabricating wood structures Download PDF

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Publication number
US3824919A
US3824919A US00305518A US30551872A US3824919A US 3824919 A US3824919 A US 3824919A US 00305518 A US00305518 A US 00305518A US 30551872 A US30551872 A US 30551872A US 3824919 A US3824919 A US 3824919A
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United States
Prior art keywords
press
wood members
stands
wood
stand
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US00305518A
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English (en)
Inventor
W Moehlenpah
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Gang Nail Systems Inc
Mitek Holdings Inc
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Individual
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Priority to US00305518A priority Critical patent/US3824919A/en
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to CA184,783A priority patent/CA1011933A/en
Priority to GB5144873A priority patent/GB1403335A/en
Priority to JP12614573A priority patent/JPS5430155B2/ja
Priority to FR7339909A priority patent/FR2206159B1/fr
Priority to DE2356939A priority patent/DE2356939A1/de
Publication of US3824919A publication Critical patent/US3824919A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Priority to CA264,982A priority patent/CA1015934A/en
Assigned to MOEHLENPAH INDUSTRIES INC A MO CORP reassignment MOEHLENPAH INDUSTRIES INC A MO CORP ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST. Assignors: WATER G MOEHLENPAH
Assigned to MITEK INDUSTRIES, INC. reassignment MITEK INDUSTRIES, INC. CHANGE OF NAME (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). EFFECTIVE APRIL 17, 1986 Assignors: MOEHLENPAH INDUSTRIES, INC.,
Assigned to GANG-NAIL SYSTEMS, INC. reassignment GANG-NAIL SYSTEMS, INC. MERGER (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: MITEK INDUSTRIES, INC., A CORP. OF MO., (MERGED INTO)
Assigned to MITEK HOLDINGS, INC. reassignment MITEK HOLDINGS, INC. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST. Assignors: MITEK INDUSTRIES, INC.
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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B27—WORKING OR PRESERVING WOOD OR SIMILAR MATERIAL; NAILING OR STAPLING MACHINES IN GENERAL
    • B27F—DOVETAILED WORK; TENONS; SLOTTING MACHINES FOR WOOD OR SIMILAR MATERIAL; NAILING OR STAPLING MACHINES
    • B27F7/00—Nailing or stapling; Nailed or stapled work
    • B27F7/15—Machines for driving in nail- plates and spiked fittings
    • B27F7/155—Machines for driving in nail- plates and spiked fittings for nail plates
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10S100/00—Presses
    • Y10S100/913—Truss presses

Definitions

  • ABSTRACT A method and apparatus for fabricating wood structures utilizing a C-shaped press having an upper platen and a lower platen which are relatively movable toward and away from one another for driving nailing plates into two or more wood members from above and below, in which the wood members are held in position for being nailed together on a plurality of stands arranged on lines bounding the structure.
  • Each such stand includes means for supporting the wood members and has a holder plate adapted to hold a nailing plate for being driven upwardly into the wood member from below by the lower platen of the press.
  • the supporting means and the holder plate are so mounted on the stands as to enable lateral entry of the lower platen of the press from either side of the stand to an operating position below the holder plate.
  • press is mounted for generally lateral movement with respect to the press substantially sidewise into and away from an operating position at each such stand.
  • Means are provided for preventing operation of the press unless it is in an operating position at a stand.
  • This invention relates to the fabrication of wood structures, and more particularly to a method of and apparatus for fabricating wood structures utilizing a C- shaped press to drive nailing plates into two or more wood members.
  • U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,068,484 and 3,069,684 show prior art truss fabricating apparatus utilizing a C-shaped press having an upper platen and a lower platen for driving nailing plates into two or more wood members from above and below having a plurality of pedestals (or stands) for supporting the wood members in position.
  • Each of the pedestals includes a holder or locator 2 upward or downward force thereto.
  • the press is then opened and moved generally laterally with respect to the press substantially sidewise out of the stand and over to the next successive stand.
  • the press is maintained adjacent to the wood members supported by these stands as it is moved and it enters the next successive stand substantially from the side thereof to bring it to its operating position at the next successive stand.
  • the press is again operated to drive the nailing plates into the wood members, and the latter two steps are repeated as the press is moved between successive stands thereby to nail additional wood joints.
  • Apparatus of this invention generally comprises a series of stands for holding the wood members which are plate for holding a lower nailing plate in position below the wood members for being driven upwardly by the lower platen of the press which is adapted to be positioned in a nailing plate driving position within the pedestal.
  • Other prior art fabricating apparatus is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,487,430. Wood members have also been supported in a cantilevered position forforming joints with nailing plates.
  • each such stand has a support and means cantilevered relative to the support for holding wood members with clearance therebelow.
  • a press is provided having an upper platen and a lower platen which are relatively movable toward and away from one another for driving nailing plates into thewood members from above and below.
  • the method of this invention utilizes a C- shaped press having an upper platen and a lower platen which are relatively movable toward and away from one another for driving nailing plates into two or more wood members from above and below, and comprises supporting the wood members, which are to be nailed together at joints to form a wood structure, on a plural ity of stands arranged at the joints, with clearance below the wood members for movement of the lower platen of the press underneath the wood members.
  • the press is brought into an operating position at one of the stands with its lower platen below the wood members.
  • the press is then operated to drive the nailing plate into the wood members without applying any substantial net plates into the wood members held by that stand.
  • Preferably means are provided for preventing operation of the press unless it is at an operating position at one of said stands.
  • FIG. 1 is a plan view showing apparatus of this invention set up to fabricate a W-type truss
  • FIG. 2 is a front elevation of the apparatus, showing a hydraulic press assembly
  • FIG. 3 is an enlarged plan view of a first embodiment of one of the stands with parts broken away;
  • FIG. 4 is a front elevation of the stand of FIG. 3 with the lower portion of the hydraulic press (shown in phantom) in its operating position;
  • FIG. 5 is an enlarged plan view of a second embodiment of one of the stands with parts broken away;
  • FIG. 6 is a front elevation of the stand of FIG. 5 with parts broken away;
  • FIG. 7 is a side elevation of the stand of FIG. 5 showing the press in its operating position, with respect to the stand, and showing means for facilitating positioning of the press in its operating position;
  • FIG. 8 is a hydraulic schematic
  • FIG. 9 is anelectrical schematic
  • FIG. 10 is a semi-diagrammatic view depicting movement of the press (shown in phantom) into and out of its operating position at a Stand of this invention.
  • FIG. 1 l is a semi-diagrammatic view depicting movement as in the prior art of a press into and out of its operating position at a prior art stand.
  • FIGS. 1 and 2 show apparatus of this invention, generally indicated at 1, for fabricating wood structures, e.g., wood trusses, such as indicated'at T.
  • the apparatus comprises a series of stands generally indicated at 3 for holding precut wood members M which are to be secured together'at their joints by upper and lower nailing plates UN and LN, respectively.
  • the stands are arranged at the joints on straight lines bounding the wood structure to be fabricated and each stand has a support or base generally indicated at 5 and means indicated at 7 for holding the wood members cantilevered relative to the support.
  • the apparatus further comprises a C-shaped hydraulic press generally indicated at 9 which has an upper platen 1 1 and a lower platen 13 which are relatively movable toward and away from one another for driving nailing plates into the wood members from above and below.
  • Means generally indicated at 15 carries the press 9 for moving it into an operating position (the position of the lower platen is indicated at A in FIG. for driving the nailing plates into the wood members M at one of the stands, for movement in a generally lateral direction with respect to the press(as shown by the arrows in FIG. 10) substantially sidewise out of its operating position at the one said stand and over the next successive stand and into its operating position at this next successive stand, with the press being maintained substantially adjacent wood members M supported by these stands as it is moved.
  • Means also carries the press in such manner so as to drive the nailing plates into the wood members from above and below without exerting any substantial net upward or downward force (aswill be hereinafter described) on the wood members by the platens.
  • the apparatus 1 is set up to fabricate a W-truss, but it will be understood that the method and apparatus of this invention may be adapted to fabricate a wide variety of triangular or flat trusses. More particularly, the apparatus is shown as comprising a pluralityofthe stands 3 movable to different posi- 4 toward the interior of truss T, and extends up above the top 37.
  • the hollow wall 39' is formed by an outer vertical wall 41 secured as by welding to the upper portions of the side channels 33. This outer vertical wall carries inwardly facing flanges 43 at each side and has an inner vertical wall 45 secured thereto.
  • the wood member holding means 7 includes two cantilever arms, each designated 47, in side-by-side spaced relation and extending forwardly over the base top 37 from the outer sides of hollow wall 39.
  • the top surfaces of the cantilever arms 47 are positioned above the top of wall 39 and are adapted to support the wood members M in position to be secured together by upper nailing plates UN and lower nailing plates LN.
  • the cantilever arms are located above the base top'37 a sufficient distance to permit the entry of the lower platen 13 of the press 9 from one lateral side or the other of the stand belowthe cantilever arms 47 to its operating position (as shown in FIGS. 4, 7 and 10) in a vertical plane generally midway between the cantilever arms.
  • the top surfaces of the cantilever arms are spaced from the top surface of the tions to correspond to the joints at the intersections of two or more wood members M in their assembled position.
  • the lower chord stands, indicated at 17, and the peak stand '19, are mounted on a lower chord track 21 and a center track 23, respectively.
  • the upper chord stands 25 are slidably mounted on the floor and are adapted (when moved to their desired positions) to be rigidly clamped at those positions by locking extensible telescoping links 27 and 29.
  • the track mounted stands each have a screw clamp 31 for rigidly clamping them in their desired positions on their respective tracks.
  • the stands 17, 19 and 25 generally correspond to the pedestals 9, 13, 17, 19 and 21 shown in U.S. Pat. No.
  • tracks 21 and 23 herein correspond to tracks 11 and 15, and telescoping links 27 and 29 correspond to links 23 and 25, respectively, in the abovementioned patent. It will be understood that the stands 3 of this invention may be mounted on the track arrangement shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,693,542 in which event no telescoping links are used.
  • each stand 3 includes a support or base 5 comprising a pair of inwardly facing channels, each designated 33, which constitute stand side members.
  • the channels 33 are joined at their bottoms by angle members 35 and have a horizontal top 37 extending between theupper portions of the channels constituting the top of the base.
  • a vertical hollow wall 39 is secured to the back of the base, i.e., the side lower platen 13 a distance sufficient to accommodate the lower nailing plate LN arranged with its teeth pointing up for being driven into the wood members from below.
  • the cantilever arms 47 are laterally spaced from one another a distance greater than the width of the lower platen 13 of the press for entry of the lower platen between the arms when the press is in its operating position and the lower platen is moved upwardly to drive the lower nailing plate LN into the wood members.
  • a horizontal member 49 is secured to the upper portion of outer wall 41 with the top surface of member 49 at substantially the same level as the top surface of the cantilever arms.
  • Each arm 47 is cantilever-supported by an angle member 51 secured to the outer wall 41 and extending outwardly therefrom, and member 49 is supported by an angle member 53 welded to the upper portion of the outer wall.
  • the cantilever arms 47 and the horizontal member 49 correspond to the channelshaped guides 103 and 71, respectively, shown in the aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 3,068,484, and are adapted to carry clamping and aligning means (not shown) similar to those indicated by reference numberals 75, 77 and 105 in the last-said patentfor holding the wood members M.
  • Wood member holding means 7 further includes a holder or a locator plate 55 cantilevered outwardly from the support 5 constituting means at each stand for holding a lowernailing plate LN below the wood members M supported on the cantilever arms 47.
  • the holder or locator plate 55 is positioned between the cantilever arms 47 and is carried by the support for upward and downward movement relative thereto for being driven upwardly by the lower platen 13 of the press 9 from a lower retracted position (as shown in FIG. 4) below the top surface of the cantilever arms 47 to drive the lower nailing plate LN positioned thereon into the wood members from below.
  • the operating position e.g., A in FIG.
  • the press is more particularly defined as that position at each of the stands in which the press and its platens are substantially centered between the cantilever arms 47 and the platens are positioned vertically relative to the wood members M and fore and aft relative to wall 45 so as to be above and below the joint in the wood members with lower platen 13 below holder plate 55 when the latter is in its lowered retracted position and with the upper platen 11 above the joint in the wood members.
  • the press may be operated to drive the nailing plates into the wood members without damage to the stand.
  • the operating position of i the press is also shown in FIGS. 4 and 7.
  • Locator plate 55 is cantilever-supported outwardly from the wall 45 by a pair of rods, each designated 57, secured to its lower face adjacent the back edge thereof. Means generally indicated at 58 is carried by the stand for guiding rods 57. More particularly, in one embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, this guide 1 guide rollers 64a, 64b of nylon or the like and which are vertically movable within hollow wall 39 such that the guide rollers and the hollow walltogether constitute guide means 58.
  • the upper edge of wall 45 constitutes a stop and prevents the locator plate from moving substantially below its lowered retracted position, and the locator plate is gravity-biased to remain in its lowered retracted position.
  • the guide means 58 of both of the above-described embodiments accurately maintains the holder plate in a substantially horizontal position as the holder plate is moved from its lower retracted position to drive the lower nailing plate LN positioned thereon into the wood members M from below.
  • the teeth of the lower nailing plate are maintained in substantially perpendicular relation to the lower surface of the wood members M so that they engage the lower surface of the wood members at substantially the same time thereby to facilitate forming tight, strong joints.
  • Locator strips 65 are optionally provided on the top surface of the locator plate to accurately position the lowernailing plate LN relative to the respective wood members supported thereabove.
  • the hydraulic press 9 may correspond to the press indicated at 35 in US. Pat. No. 3,068,484, and it is herein-shown to be supported for universal movement by mounting means which comprises a yoke 66, a cable 67 attached to the yoke and to one end of a boom 69.
  • the latter is counterbalanced by a hydraulic pump and electric motor assembly 71 at the other end of the boom.
  • a pivotal hanger 73 suspends the boom from a carriage 75 which is movable along an overhead l-beam 77 suspended from the ceiling, or from other overhead structure.
  • the hanger 73, the counterbalanced boom 69, and the movable carriage 75 permit horizontal movement of the press from stand to stand for nailing plate driving purposes and permit vertical movement during driving of the nailing plates into the wood members without exerting any substantial net upward or downward force on the wood members.
  • a substantial net upward or downward force on the wood members is one which would move the wood members relative to each other to open the joints therebetween, or would force a wood member out of its clamps, or would deflect the cantilever arms 47.
  • Such a substantial force may be applied to the wood members by one platen of the press exerting a greater force on thewood members than the other, or by supporting all or a significant part of the weight of the press on the wood members.
  • press 9 may also be carried by a movable gantry, and in instances where a significant upward or downward force on the wood members is not critical, the press may be mounted for movement in a horizontal plane but without being free to move vertically.
  • the press 9 comprises a C-shaped frame 79 on which the lower platen 13 is fixed and carries the upper platen 11 which is movable via a hydraulic power cylinder 81.
  • the hydraulic cylinder is interconnected to the hydraulic pump of assembly 71 by hydraulic fluids lines 83 and 84 (FIG. 8) for providing hydraulic fluid under pressure to move the upper platen toward and away from the lower platen.
  • Pistol grip handles 85 are provided on opposite sides of frame 81 (only the left-hand handle 85 is shown in FIG. 7) so as to enable the press operator readily to control the movement and operation of the press.
  • Push button electrical switch PB1 is mounted on one of the handles 85 and switch PB2 is positioned on the other for controlling movement of the carriage along I-beam 77.
  • Push button electrical switches PB3 and PB4 are also respectively provided on handles for controlling operation of the platens of the press. Hydraulic and electrical circuits (FIGS. 8 and 9) including the abovementioned push button switches will be more fully explained herein
  • means generally indicated at 87 is provided for preventing operation of theplatens of press 9 to drive nailing plates into the wood members except when the press is in its operating position (see FIGS. 4 and 7) thus insuring that the press will not damage the stand by being operated when it is improperly positioned relatively to the holder and the stand, and further insuring that nailing plates LN and UN will be properly driven into the wood members from above and below to form a tight, strong joint.
  • means 87 facilitates positioning of the press in its operating position at each of the stands 5.
  • means 87 includes a magnetic switch 89 (e.g., a magnetic reed switch such as manufactured by Cutler-Hammer) and a magnet 91 (a permanent magnet) together constituting proximity sensing means responsive to movement of press 9 into its operating position at each of the stands 5.
  • Magnetic switch 89 is mounted on the nose of press frame 79 below lower platen 13 and is actuable in response to a magnetic field of a predetermined strength.
  • the magnetic switch is connected in series with push buttons PB3 and PB4 to prevent operation of the press unless the magnetic switch is also actuated.
  • Magnet 91 is mounted on inner wall 45 of the stand in the vertical central plane between arms 47 (see FIGS. 4 and 5) so that it is adjacent the magnetic switch when the press is in its operating position.
  • Magnet 91 produces a magnetic field of sufficient strength (i.e., the effective field of the magnet) to actuate the switch when the switch 7 is within the effective field. Typically, this effective field extends from the magnet about 1% inches in all directions. Thus, unless the press is properly positioned at a stand in its operating position with its switch 89 in the effective field of magnet 91, operation of the 'press is prevented.
  • means 87 may be constituted by components other than a magnet and magnetic switch. For example, photoelectric'or induction-type proximity switches carried by the press may also be used to signal when the press is in its operating position.
  • the hydraulic pump and electric motor assembly 71 heretofore described includes a conventional hydraulic pump 93 mounted in a tank or sump 95 on the right end of hanger beam 69 (as viewed in FIG. 2).
  • An electric motor 97 is mounted on the sump for driving the pump.
  • the motor is supplied with current from an electrical source(not shown) via line 99.
  • Carriage 75 is driven along I-beam77 by a hydraulic carriage motor 101 supplied with hydraulic fluid under pressure frompump 93 via lines 103 and 105, this arrangement being similar to the carriage drive shown in'FIGS. 13-15 of the'previously mentioned US. Pat. No. 3,068,484.
  • F IG'. 8 shows the hydraulic circuit for press 9 and carriage motor 101.
  • Pump 93 is supplied with hydraulic fluid from sump 95 via a line 107.
  • the pump via a line 109 directs hydraulic fluid under pressure to an inlet port Vla of a three-way valve V1.
  • the spool of valve motor via line 105.
  • Valves V7 and V8 together constitute means for regulating the speed of motor 101.
  • Check valves V9 and V10 are included in lines 103 and 105, respectively, and are connected in parallel to their respective metering valves V7 and V8 to permit low pressure fluid from the motor to drain to the sump without passing through the metering valves. These check valves each block the flow of pressurized fluid to the motor and thus force the liquid through their respective metering valve.
  • pump motor 97 is supplied with power from an electric power source via line 99 including lines L1, L2 and L3.
  • the primary of a step-down transformer 113 is connected across lines L2 and L3 by lines 115 and 117.
  • the secondary of the transformer supplies electrical power to lines 119 and 121.
  • Switch P131 is connected across lines 119 and 121 in a line 123 including solenoid Z.
  • Switch PB2 is connected across lines 119 and 121 in a line 125 including solenoid Y.
  • Push buttons PB3 and PB4 and magnetic switch 89 are connected in series across lines 119 and 121 in a line 127 including a time delay relay TD1 which prevents operation of carriage motor 101 while the press is hydraulically actuated.
  • This time delay relay includes contacts C1, C2, C3 and C4 with contact C1 included in a line 129, contacts C2 and C3 included in a line 131, and
  • V1 included in line 121.
  • This valve has I a pressure outlet'port Vlb connected to the upper end of hydraulic cylinder 81 via line 83 .for supplying hydraulic fluid-under pressure to the press for effecting movement of the platens toward one another, a second outlet port Vlc. connected to the lower end of the hydraulic cylinder via line 84 for supplying hydraulic fluid to the lower end of the hydraulic cylinder to effect movement of the platens away from one another after the joint in the woodmembers has been formed, and a third outlet port Vld connected to the inlet port V2a of a valve V2.via a line 111 for supplying hydraulic fluid to motor 101.
  • Pressure relief valves V3 and V4 are provided in line 109 to return hydraulic fluid to sump 95 in the event pressure in the hydraulic system exceeds a predetermined .value. More particularly, valve V3 is adjustable to control the pressure supplied to the press to thus vary the maximum force the platens may exert on the wood members, and valve V4 is a safety valve preset to limit the maximum pressure in. the system.
  • An unloader valve V5 is included in line 83 operable in response to increase in pressure in line 84 to drain fluid from the hydraulic cylinder to the sump as the platens are moved apart from one another.
  • a relief valve V6 is provided in line 84 to relieve pressure therein and thus limit the force applied to the hydraulic cylinder when the upper platen is fully retracted and to limit the pressure of the fluid supplied to motor 101.
  • Valve V2 is a three-way valve whose spool is controlled by solenoids Y and Z.
  • valve V2 has an outlet port V2b connected to one side of carriage motor 101 via line 103, a second outlet port V2c connected to the other side of the motor by line 105, and a drain port V2d in communication with sump 95.
  • Line 103 includes an adjustablemetering valve V7 for controlling the flow of hydraulic fluid to motor 101 via line 103, and a similar metering valve V8 is included in line 105 to control the flow of fluid to the relay TDl (which can only occur when the press is in its operating position at a stand Sand magnetic switch 89' is actuated and when both push buttons PB3 and PB4 are depressed), contacts Cl and C2 close, and contacts C3 and'C4 open.
  • the closing of contact C1 energizes solenoid W and the opening of contact C4 prevents energization of solenoids Y and Z and thus prevents movement of carriage along beam 77.
  • Energization of solenoid W shiftsthe spool of valve V1 from the position shown in FIG.
  • the stands 3 are arranged to correspond to the joints of the wood members M which are to be nailed together by nailing plates UN and LN to form the desired wood structure T.
  • the lower nailing plates LN with their teeth pointing up are then placed on the holder or locator plates 55 of the several stands in proper position as determined by locator strips 65.
  • the precut wood members M are then placed in position and supported on the cantilever arms 47 and clamped in position to be secured together by the above said clamping and aligning means.
  • the upper nailing plates UN with their teeth pointing down are then manually placed over the joints of the various wood members as shown in FIG. 4. It will be noted that operation of the press is prevented by magnetic switch 89 unless the press is in its operating position at one of the stands, thereby facilitating rapid and efficient positioning the press in its working station.
  • the hydraulic press 9 is moved to one of the stands 3, e.g., the stand at the end of one of the straight lines of stands that bound the wood structure T, and the lower platen 13 of the press is moved sidewise from a position laterally of the stand, as indicated at B, below arms 47 of the stand to its operating position A.
  • the press 9 is then opened by moving the upper platen 11 away from the lower platen 13 by releasing push buttons PB3 and PB4 and thus reversely actuating the hydraulic cyliner 81.
  • the holder 55 is gravitybiased to return to its lower retracted position as the lower platen moves downwardly relative to the wood members.
  • the press is moved sidewise out of the stand from its operating position A through a position such as indicated at C below arms 47 and then moved completely clear of the stand and along the line of stands adjacent the wood members M to the next successive stand to assume its operating position therein.
  • the press is then again operated to drive the respective nailing plates into the wood members. Due to the cantilever arms 47 permitting lateral or sidewise entry of the lower platen of the press into each stand, the press may be moved directly from stand-to-stand in one continuous movement without any significant in and out movement relative to the wood structure (i.e., it is maintained closely adjacent the wood members) as it is moved into and out of its sequence of operating positions at successive stands.
  • FIG. 11 movement of the press of typical prior art apparatus in the same general field as the apparatus of the present invention, for example, such prior art apparatus as is shown in my above mentioned U.S. Pat. No. 3,068,484, is illustrated in FIG. 11 (the reference characters in FIG. 11 corresponding to the reference characters in my above-mentioned patent).
  • This prior art apparatus included stands 17, 19 (as illustrated in FIGS. 3, 4, 7 and 8 in the above-mentioned patent) having two guides 67, 69 at the sides of the stand and a bar 71 at the rear thereof for supporting wood members T on the stand (these guides and bar corresponding to arms 47 and bar 49 of the present invention).
  • Guides 67 and 69 are supported by stand side walls 41 and 43, respectively, so that the lower platen of press 35 may enter the stand only from the front thereof. More particularly, movement of the lower platen of press 35 of such prior art apparatus into its operating position, as indicated at D in FIG. 11, at successive stands or pedestals 17 or 19 required that the press be moved sidewise (as shown by the arrows in FIG. 11 herein) from a position E at the side and in front of the stand to an entry/exit position F directly in front of the stand. The operator then moved the press inwardly toward its operating position D in the stand until the platens were properly positioned at the stand above and below the wood members supported by the stand.
  • Apparatus for fabricating wood structures comprising a series of stands for holding wood members which are to be secured together at joints by nailing plates to form a wood structure, said stands being arranged at said joints, each such stand having a support and means cantilevered relative to the support for holding wood members with clearance therebelow, a C- shaped press having an upper platen and a lower platen which are relatively movable toward and away from I one another for driving nailing plates into the wood members from above and.
  • said press being mounted to permit vertical movement during driving the nailing plates into the wood members, and means mounting said press for movement of the press into an operating position at one of said stands for driving nailing plates into the wood members held by said one stand, for movement in a generally lateral direction with respect to the press substantially sidewise out of its operating'position at said one stand, and over to the next successive stand, and into its operating position at said next successive stand with said press being maintained substantially adjacent the wood members supported by these stands as it is moved, and for driving said nailing plates into the wood members from above and below without exerting any substantial net upward or downward force on the wood members by the platens, the said clearance below the holding means being sufficient for lateral passage of the lower platen of the press below the holding means.
  • said holding means includes a holder cantilevered outwardly from said support for holding a lower nailing plate to be driven into the wood members from below, said cantilevered holder being carried by the support for upward and downward movement relative to the support.
  • said holding means comprises two cantilever arms in sideby-side spaced relation adapted to support wood members in position for being secured together by the nailing plates at a location between the arms, said support being adapted for lateral entry of the lower platen of the press from one side or the other thereof below said cantilever arms to its operating position between said arms with the plane of the top surface of said arms spaced from the top surface of the lower platen a distance sufficient to accommodate a nailing plate arranged with its teeth pointing upwardly for being driven into the wood members from below, the cantilever arms being laterally spaced from one another a distance greater than the width of the lower platen of the press for entry of the lower platen of the press between the arms when the lower platen is moved upwardly to drive a nailing plate upwardly into the wood members.
  • said holding means further includes a holder for holding a lower nailing plate to be driven into the wood members from below, said holder being .carried by the support for upward movement between said arms by the lower platen of the press from a lowered retracted position below the plane of the top surface of said arms to drive a nailing plate positioned thereon into the wood members from below.
  • said support includes a base, said arms being cantilevered forward over the base and spaced above the base for the lateral entry of the lower platen of the press from one side or the other of the stand between the base and the arms.
  • Apparatus as set forth in claim 9 having means for supporting said holder movable upwardly and downwardly at one side of the base constituting the back of the base, said holder being a plate cantilevered forward over the base, the lowered retracted position of the holder plate being generally below the level of the top surface of said arms a distance sufficient to accommodate a nailing plate with its teeth pointing upwardly for being driven into the wood members from below and being spaced above the base a distance sufficient for entry of the lower platen of the press.
  • said holder plate supporting means comprises a pair of vertical rods secured to said holder plate with the latter extending forwardly from the upper ends of said rods, and guide means carried by the stand for guiding said holder plate during movement between its lowered retracted position and a raised operative position in which a nailing plate held thereby is driven into wood members from below.
  • said supporting means for said arms comprises a hollow wall extending upwardly from the base at the back thereof, said arms extending forwardly over the base from the sides of said wall at the top thereof and being located above the top of said wall, said apparatus further having a bar at the level of said arms extending between the back ends of said arms, said rods being movable up and down in said wall and the holder plate extending forwardly therefrom over the top of said wall.
  • said guide means comprises a pair of grooved rollers carried by said support for each of said rods, said rollers of each pair being disposed on opposite sides of their respective rod for guiding the rod as said holder plate is moved between its lowered retracted position and said raised position for driving said nailing plate into the wood members from below.
  • said guide means comprises a pair of rollers carried by each of said rods, said rollers being engageable with a portion of said support for guiding the rod as said holder plate is moved between its lowered retracted position and said raised positionfor driving said nailing plate into the wood members from below.
  • Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 further comprising means for preventing operation of the press unless the press is at an operating position at one of said stands. 1
  • Apparatus as set forth in claim 16 wherein the last-said means includes proximity sensing means responsivev to movement of the press into its operating position at each of said stands.
  • said proximity sensing means comprises a proximity switch actuable in response to a magnetic field of a predetermined strength, and means for producing a magnetic field of sufficient strength to actuate said proximity switch when said press is at its operating position at one of said stands thereby to permit operation of the press,
  • Apparatus as setforth in claim 19 which further includes a circuit for initiating movement of said press platens toward one another for driving nailing plates into the wood members, said proximity switch being connected in said circuit whereby said press may be operated only when the press is at its operating position at one of said stands and said proximity switch is actuated to energize said circuit.
  • circuit includes at least one manually operable switch, said proximity switch being serially connected in said circuit with said manually operable switch whereby said press may be operated only when the press is at its operating position at one of said stands and both of said switches are actuated.
  • Apparatus for fabricating wood structures comprising a series of stands for holding wood members which are to be secured together at joints by nailing plates to form a wood structure, said stands being arranged at said joints, a press having an upper platen and a lower platen which are relatively movable toward and away from one another for driving nailing plates into the wood members from above and below, means mounting said press for generally lateral movement of the press substantially sidewise into and away from an operating position at each of said stands, and means for preventing operation of the press unless the press is at an operating position at one of said stands.
  • each such stand includes a support and holding means cantilevered relative to the support for holding wood members with clearance therebelow.
  • said holding means includes a holder cantilevered outwardly from said support for holding a lower nailing plate to be driven into the wood members from below, said cantilevered holder being carried by the support for upward and downward movement relative to the support.
  • said proximity sensing means comprises a proximity switch actuable in response to a magnetic field of a predetermined strength, and means for producing a magnetic field of sufficient strength to actuate said proximity switch when said press is at its operating position at one of said stands thereby to permit operation of the press.
  • Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 which further includes a circuit for initiating movement of said press platens toward one another for driving nailing plates into the wood members, said proximity switch being connected in said circuit whereby said press may be operated only when the press is at its operating position at one of said stands and said proximity switch is actuated to energize said circuit.
  • circuit includes at least one manually operable switch, said proximity switch being serially connected in said circuit with said manually operable switch whereby said press may be operated only when the press is at its operating position at one of said stands and both of said switches are actuated.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Forests & Forestry (AREA)
  • Dovetailed Work, And Nailing Machines And Stapling Machines For Wood (AREA)
  • Automatic Assembly (AREA)
  • Veneer Processing And Manufacture Of Plywood (AREA)
US00305518A 1972-11-10 1972-11-10 Method of and apparatus for fabricating wood structures Expired - Lifetime US3824919A (en)

Priority Applications (7)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US00305518A US3824919A (en) 1972-11-10 1972-11-10 Method of and apparatus for fabricating wood structures
CA184,783A CA1011933A (en) 1972-11-10 1973-11-01 Method of and apparatus for fabricating wood trusses
GB5144873A GB1403335A (en) 1972-11-10 1973-11-06 Method of and apparatus for fabricating wood structures
JP12614573A JPS5430155B2 (en:Method) 1972-11-10 1973-11-09
FR7339909A FR2206159B1 (en:Method) 1972-11-10 1973-11-09
DE2356939A DE2356939A1 (de) 1972-11-10 1973-11-12 Verfahren und vorrichtung zur herstellung von holzaufbauten
CA264,982A CA1015934A (en) 1972-11-10 1976-11-05 Method of and apparatus for fabricating wood trusses

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US00305518A US3824919A (en) 1972-11-10 1972-11-10 Method of and apparatus for fabricating wood structures

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3824919A true US3824919A (en) 1974-07-23

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ID=23181116

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US00305518A Expired - Lifetime US3824919A (en) 1972-11-10 1972-11-10 Method of and apparatus for fabricating wood structures

Country Status (6)

Country Link
US (1) US3824919A (en:Method)
JP (1) JPS5430155B2 (en:Method)
CA (1) CA1011933A (en:Method)
DE (1) DE2356939A1 (en:Method)
FR (1) FR2206159B1 (en:Method)
GB (1) GB1403335A (en:Method)

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3896717A (en) * 1973-08-13 1975-07-29 Jack N Schmitt Roof truss machine
US3939764A (en) * 1973-09-20 1976-02-24 Mccormack Gerald M Apparatus for manufacturing wooden trusses and the like
US4754910A (en) * 1986-01-16 1988-07-05 Makron Oy Press for assembling a roof trestle
US5048409A (en) * 1990-04-23 1991-09-17 Schulz Jack A Truss fabrication machine with joystick controls
US6571841B1 (en) * 2002-04-15 2003-06-03 Arliss Patton Unit and method for bending wood
US20040181936A1 (en) * 2003-03-20 2004-09-23 Mitek Holdings, Inc. Press for assembling structures
US20080300713A1 (en) * 2007-06-01 2008-12-04 Brett Leith Truss assembly systems and methods
US10975571B1 (en) * 2020-04-06 2021-04-13 Dragomir Smoljo Truss plates for joining members

Families Citing this family (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CH628278A5 (de) 1977-06-21 1982-02-26 Lega Norm Ag Verfahren zum positionieren einer nagelplatte auf einem zurichtetisch und selbstklebendes halteelement zur durchfuehrung des verfahrens.
SE425554B (sv) * 1979-01-30 1982-10-11 Skf Ab Spikpress
EP0028983A1 (fr) * 1979-11-09 1981-05-20 Jean-Marie Guislain Dispositif destiné à la fabrication de charpentes, notamment d'ossatures en bois
FR2469253A1 (fr) * 1979-11-09 1981-05-22 Guislain Jean Marie Dispositif destine a la fabrication de charpentes, notamment d'ossatures en bois
JP2559168B2 (ja) * 1991-01-31 1996-12-04 ミサワホーム株式会社 屈曲梁の製造用接合装置

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3068484A (en) * 1961-12-13 1962-12-18 Hydro Air Eng Inc Apparatus for fabricating wood structures
US3069684A (en) * 1961-03-13 1962-12-25 Ar Ka Engineering Inc Apparatus for fabricating wood structures
US3487430A (en) * 1968-04-22 1969-12-30 Jack N Schmitt Roof truss machine

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3069684A (en) * 1961-03-13 1962-12-25 Ar Ka Engineering Inc Apparatus for fabricating wood structures
US3068484A (en) * 1961-12-13 1962-12-18 Hydro Air Eng Inc Apparatus for fabricating wood structures
US3487430A (en) * 1968-04-22 1969-12-30 Jack N Schmitt Roof truss machine

Cited By (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3896717A (en) * 1973-08-13 1975-07-29 Jack N Schmitt Roof truss machine
US3939764A (en) * 1973-09-20 1976-02-24 Mccormack Gerald M Apparatus for manufacturing wooden trusses and the like
US4754910A (en) * 1986-01-16 1988-07-05 Makron Oy Press for assembling a roof trestle
US5048409A (en) * 1990-04-23 1991-09-17 Schulz Jack A Truss fabrication machine with joystick controls
US6571841B1 (en) * 2002-04-15 2003-06-03 Arliss Patton Unit and method for bending wood
US20040181936A1 (en) * 2003-03-20 2004-09-23 Mitek Holdings, Inc. Press for assembling structures
US6907820B2 (en) 2003-03-20 2005-06-21 Mitek Holdings, Inc. Press for assembling structures
US20080300713A1 (en) * 2007-06-01 2008-12-04 Brett Leith Truss assembly systems and methods
US8136804B2 (en) * 2007-06-01 2012-03-20 Menard, Inc. Truss assembly systems and methods
US10975571B1 (en) * 2020-04-06 2021-04-13 Dragomir Smoljo Truss plates for joining members

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JPS5430155B2 (en:Method) 1979-09-28
JPS5024865A (en:Method) 1975-03-17
CA1011933A (en) 1977-06-14
DE2356939A1 (de) 1974-05-22
FR2206159B1 (en:Method) 1978-11-17
GB1403335A (en) 1975-08-28
FR2206159A1 (en:Method) 1974-06-07

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