US3837274A - Magnetic locating device - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed is a device for locating a nail plate or the like on the flat, magnetic platen of clamping apparatus. The clamping apparatus has a pair of movable platens which, when actuated, press the nail plate into lumber placed between the platens. The locating device includes a generally flat first leg portion and generally flat second leg portion joined together to define between inner edges of the leg portions an angle corresponding to the corner angle of the nail plate. Thus, during locating of the plate, the corner of the plate abuts both inner edges of the leg portions. This locating device is characterized by magnets attached near an outer edge of one of the leg portions. These magnets hold the locating device on one of the platens of the clamping apparatus. The thickness of the magnets is less than the thickness of the lumber into which the nail plate is being pressed. Consequently the magnets do not interfere with the operation of the clamping apparatus.

Description

United States Patent 1191 1111 3,837,274 Zaccard 1 Sept. 24, 1974 MAGNETIC LOCATING DEVICE [57] ABSTRACT [76] Inventor: Edward F. Zaccard, Rt. 4, R0. Box

Burlington, 53105 Disclosed is a device for locating a nail plate or the 22 Filed; Feb 2 1973 like on the flat, magnetic platen of clamping apparatus. The clamping apparatus has a pair of movable [2t] PP 3281904 platens which, when actuated, press the nail plate into lumber placed between the platens. The locating de- 52 US. Cl 100/35, 29/200 J, 100/010. 13, Vice includes a generally flat first leg Portion and g 227 152 2 9 3 5 erally flat second leg portion joined together to define 51 Int. Cl B30b 13/00, 83% 1/08 between inner edgeS 9f the leg pertiehseh angle [58] Field of Search.... 144/309 L; 100/35, DIG. 13; responding to the corner angle of the hall plate Thus, 227/152; 269/315, 321 F; 29/200 P, 200 J during locating of the plate, the comer of the plate abuts both inner edges of the leg portions. This locat- [5 R f r Cited ing device is characterized by magnets attached near UNITED STATES PATENTS an outer edge of one of the leg portions. These magnets hold the locating device on one of the platens of gg zg fi' g the clamping apparatus. The thickness of the magnets 2 890 729 6/1959 Horn..:::::::::::::::::::: :11: 269/315 is tees the thtekhese of the hhhhet into which the 3:207:406 9/1965 Bowman 227/152 Plate is being Pressed Consequently the magnets 3,232,603 2/1966 Gaither et a1 269/315 do not interfere with the Operation of the Clamping P- 3,379,354 4/1968 Moehlenpah et al. 227/152 p 3,402,869 9/1968 Otis 227/152 Primary Examiner-Billy J. Wilhite Attorney, Agent, or Firm-John J. Connors 2 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures MHZIIZ PAIiNIEB stream 1. MAGNETIC LOCATING DEVICE BACKGROUND In the construction industry it is conventional to prefabricate trussesor similar building components. The pieces of lumber are joined together by means of nail plates which are automatically pressed into the lumber by clamping apparatus. Such apparatus includes upper and lower horizontal platens which move towards each other when the apparatus is actuated. The pieces of THE INVENTION I have now invented a convenient and simple method and device for locating an item such as a nail plate on a magnetic surface such as the platen of the clamping apparatus. Broadly, my device comprises a pair of generally flat leg portions joined at a common point to define an angle corresponding to a corner of the item being located. Magnets attached to one of the legs hold the device on the flat magnetic surface in a manner enabling an operator to easily move the device to different positions on the magnetic surface. My device and the preferred manner of using it are shown in the'accompanying drawings.

DRAWINGS FIG. is a plan. view of my locating device. FIG. 6 is an end view of my locating device taken along line 66 ofFIG. 5.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT. As shown in FIGS. 1 through 3, conventional clamp- The number of lumber pieces and location of such pieces depends on the particular truss configuration desired. Positioning guides (not shown) hold the pieces of lumber in a fixed position in space so that abutting pieces of lumber are in the same plane. Nail plates 24a and 24b are used to nail lumber pieces a and 20b together. Each of these plates 24a and 24b include flat bases 26a and 26b, respectively, having plurality of spikes 28 bristling from the bases. Spikes 28 all point towards lumber pieces 20a and 20b. As shown in FIG. 2, plate 24a is placed on top of the abutting lumber pieces 20a and 20b and located relative to the lumber pieces so that it overlaps both pieces 20a and 20b. In accordance with my invention nail plate 24b is placed on the lower platen l4 and located on this platen by means of my locating device 30.

FIGS. 4 through 6 show my locating device 30 in greater detail. This device 30 includes a pair of flat leg portions 32 and 34 which are about the same thickness or slightly less than the thickness of base 26b of plate 24b. Each leg portion has free ends 32a and 34a, re-

spectively. The opposite ends of these leg portions are joined together at junction 36. This leg configuration defines angle A which is equal to angle B of corner 25 of nail plate 24b. Ordinarily, this corner angle B is about 90. Inner edges 38 and 40, respectively of leg portions 32 and 34, serve as stops for plate 24b when an operator moves nail plate 24b into abutting relation with locating device 30 as shown in .FIG. 4. Preferably leg portion '34 is longer and wider than leg portion 32.

Integral with longer leg 34 and near the outer edge of leg 34 is a raised, curved element defining a channel 39. Magnets 41 are either glued, bolted, taped or otherwise held in channel 39. These magnets 41 have a generally rectangular cross section and are of such size and dimensions so that they fit snugly in channel 39, with the outer flat surfaces 43 of the magnets being in the same general plane as flat leg portion 34. The height dimensions of channel 39 and magnets 41 is less than the thickness of the lumber. Thus, magnets 41 and/or channel 39 will not interfere with closure of platens l2 and 14. Moreover, since leg portions 32 and 34 are the same thickness or less than the thickness of base 26b of plate 24b, spikes 28 are completely driven into the lumber with closure of platens 12 and 14. These features areillustrated in FIG. 3.

To practice my method of locating nail plate 24b on platen 14, an operator places locating device 30 on platen 14 with raised channel 39 holding magnets 41 parallel to edge 21 of lumber piece 20a. The position of locating device 30 on platen 14 is controlled by the ing apparatus 10 includes upper movable platen 12 and 7 so that it can be displaced laterally towards and away from pieces 20a and 20b of abutting lumber. Stops (not shown) limit the lateral movement of clamping apparatus 10.

In accordance with conventional practice, several pieces of lumber are positioned with respect to each other to form a truss configuration asshown in FIG. 1.

size of lumber pieces 20a and 20b and the truss configuration. The operator then places nail plate 24b on platen l4 and carefully moves the plate into contact with'device 30 so corner 25 of plate 24b abuts inner edges 38 and 40 of leg portions 32 and 34. Clamping apparatus 10 is moved laterally toward lumber pieces 20a and 20b, with platen 12 and 14 being initially in an open position. When the lumber pieces 20a and 20b are between platens 12 and 14, the platens moved together to a closed position pressing nail plates 24b and 24a into lumber pieces 20a and 20b. Locating'device 30 is placed on lower platen 14 so that nail plate 24b on lower platen 14 will overlapthe lumber pieces 20a and 20b. When the nail plates 24a and 24b are driven into the lumber, the platens 12 and 14 separate, moving to an open position. Clamping apparatus then moves away from the truss formed by the lumber pieces.

One of the chief advantages of my method and device for locating nail plate 24b on platen 14 of clamping apparatus 10 is that location of the nail plate can be readily changed. Changing location of nail plate 24b on platenl4 is frequently called for during the manufacture of trusses as different truss configurations are made. Previously, adhesive tape was placed on lower platen l4 and used as locating means for nail plate 24b. it was a time consuming and expensive operation to manually place and remove such tapes on the lowerplaten. My invention eliminates this problem, thereby conserving time and improving operator productivity in the manufacture of trusses.

I claim:

1. in a process for joining pieces of lumber together by abutting the pieces so that they are in about the same plane, positioning said pieces between upper and lower horizontal platens of clamping apparatus which, when actuated, moves the platens together, and placing a nail plate or the like on the lower platen so that when the platens are moved toward each other the plate is driven into both pieces of lumber simultaneously, the improvement comprising (a) locating the plate on the lower platen by setting on the lower platen a device having a generally flat first leg portion and a generally flat second leg portion joined together to define between inner edges of said leg portions an angle corresponding to a corner angle of the nail plate, and magnet means attached to one of said leg portions for holding the locating device on the lower platens, said magnet means having a thickness less than the thickness of the lumber into which the plate is being pressed, and (b) abutting the nail plate against the inner edges of said leg portions so that said nail plate is held in the proper position with respect to the lumber pieces so that it will be driven into abutting pieces of lumber simultaneously.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein theiocating device is positioned on said platen means so that the leg portion to which the magnet means is attached is generally parallel to the edge of at least one of the pieces of lumber being joined together.

Claims (2)

1. In a process for joining pieces of lumber together by abutting the pieces so that they are in about the same plane, positioning said pieces between upper and lower horizontal platens of clamping apparatus which, when actuated, moves the platens together, and placing a nail plate or the like on the lower platen so that when the platens are moved toward each other the plate is driven into both pieces of lumber simultaneously, the improvement comprising (a) locating the plate on the lower platen by setting on the lower platen a device having a generally flat first leg portion and a generally flat second leg portion joined together to define between inner edges of said leg portions an angle corresponding to a corner angle of the nail plate, and magnet means attached to one of said leg portions for holding the locating device on the lower platens, said magnet means having a thickness less than the thickness of the lumber into which the plate is being pressed, and (b) abutting the nail plate against the inner edges of said leg portions so that said nail plate is held in the proper position with respect to the lumber pieces so that it will be driven into abutting pieces of lumber simultaneously.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the locating device is positioned on said platen means so that the leg portion to which the magnet means is attached is generally parallel to the edge of at least one of the pieces of lumber being joined together.

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