Assembly table drop-down platform
AssigneeHouse of Design LLC
InventorsKalli Otto, Chris Brown, Kendrick Miller, Chad Svedin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Devices, systems, and methods used to assemble a structural member, such as a floor truss, are disclosed. The systems include a structural member assembly table including a worktable and a drop-down platform pivotably coupled to the worktable. The drop-down platform includes an end datum and a drop-down mechanism coupled to the support surface. The drop-down mechanism is configured to transition the support surface from an operational position to an eject position to drop the end datum below a work surface of the worktable to eject the assembled structural member from the worktable.
Claims20
A truss assembly table, comprising:
- an elongate worktable comprising:
- a horizontally oriented work surface upon which components are positioned to assemble a truss;
- and
- a first end datum disposed adjacent a first end of the worktable, the first end datum having a first engagement surface to engage a first end of the truss;
- and
- a drop-down platform pivotably coupled to a second end of the worktable comprising:
- a platform comprising a support surface;
- a second end datum coupled to the support surface of the platform, the second end datum having a second engagement surface to engage a second end of the truss;
- and
- a drop-down mechanism configured to transition the support surface from an operational position to an eject position.
A structural member assembly system, comprising:
- an assembly table providing a work surface within a horizontally oriented first plane, the work surface to couple to a first end datum to be disposed on the work surface adjacent a first end of the assembly table to extend above the horizontally oriented plane and to engage a first end of a structural member;
- a drop-down platform disposed at a second end of the assembly table, the drop-down platform providing a support surface within a second plane, the support surface to couple to a second end datum to be disposed on the support surface to engage a second end of the structural member;
- and
- a drop-down mechanism to transition the support surface from an operational position to an eject position.
A method of assembling a truss, comprising:
- placing truss components on a worktable between a first end datum, a second end datum, a first side rail, and a second side rail;
- actuating the second end datum to apply a longitudinal compression force to the truss components;
- applying nailers to joints of the truss components;
- de-actuating the second end datum to release the longitudinal compression force from the truss components;
- actuating a drop-down mechanism to transition a drop-down platform from an operation position to an eject position;
- and
- ejecting the truss components from the worktable when the drop-down platform is in the eject position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.