Apparatus and methods for truss assembly
AssigneeJoe's Eats, LLC
InventorEdward G. Joseph
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The disclosure generally relates to a locating assembly as a component of a locating table segment for positioning truss segments in a truss assembly system. The system generally includes a plurality of table segments aligned in parallel and adapted to position a series of locating blocks on a top surface of the system/table, where each block is a component of one of a plurality of locating assemblies in the system. The block positions collectively define an outer boundary of a support truss (e.g., as a roofing truss). Once the blocks are moved to their desired position, appropriately sized truss segments are placed within the block-defined boundary and fastened together.
Claims8
A truss jigging system comprising:
- a planar table having a top surface and a bottom surface, the top surface configured to support a truss piece, the table having a front edge, a back edge, a left-side edge and a right-side edge;
- the table having a plurality of edges defining surface slots extending through the table from the front edge to the back edge on generally parallel axes to each other;
- the table having a plurality of slideways directly under and wider than the plurality of slots, the plurality of slideways being generally parallel with the same axis as the respective surface slot;
- a carriage slidably retained within the each of the surface slots by a locating pin on the top surface and by at least one tab extending out from an axis of the slot under the bottom surface, the locating pin being wider than a slot width and extending above the table top surface;
- the carriage further comprising a mount to attach the carriage to a controlled motive force disposed under the table;
- wherein in response to the controller, the motive force is activated to slide each carriage to a predetermined position within the slot;
- and
- wherein the motive force is transferred to the carriage by an endless belt disposed within the slideway, the endless belt connected to an idler wheel at one end of the slideway and a drive wheel, which is connected to the motive force, at a slideway end opposite the end of the idler wheel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.