Apparatus for Splicing Lumber

A method of joining two pieces of lumber together to form a single larger piece of lumber, comprising the steps of:

• providing a lumber splicing apparatus having a pair of vertically oriented movable jaws mounted to be movable between an opened position in which the vertically distal ends thereof a spaced at a greater distance than the corresponding lower ends, and a closed position in which the vertically distal ends and the lower ends are approximately equidistantly spaced;
• positioning two pieces of lumber to be joined together on a support tray between said movable jaws while in said opened position;
• mounting a nailer plate against each of the movable jaws;
• and
• activating movement of said movable jaws from said opened position to said closed position, such that each said nailer plate is first engaged into a lower portion of said pieces of lumber and progressively engaged vertically into the pieces of lumber as the movable jaws move into said closed position.

An apparatus for splicing two lumber members together with a pair of nailer plates, comprising:

• a frame;
• a tray supported on said frame to receive said lumber members;
• a pair of movable jaw members supported on said frame on opposing sides of said tray in a vertical orientation, said jaw members being pivotally movable between an opened position and a closed position;
• a linear actuator mounted on said frame and being movable between a retracted position and an extended position;
• and
• a linkage interconnecting said linear actuator and said jaw members to affect movement of said jaw members between said opened and closed positions in response to movement of said linear actuator between said retracted and extended positions.