Method of joining wooden members

A method of joining a pair of wooden members by applying a sheet metal connector plate, of the type having integrally struck teeth projecting from one side thereof, to the wooden members at their juncture comprising the steps of:

• providing a coiled strip of sheet metal,
• feeding the metal strip from the coil through a die set,
• actuating said die set to form teeth in the metal strip,
• providing a guide surface comprised of a plurality of tines defining a plurality of laterally spaced recesses,
• locating the teeth of the metal strip within the recesses,
• clamping the metal strip to the tines with the teeth of the strip within the recesses by engaging a clamp against the strip on the side thereof opposite the tines.
• advancing the tines and the clamp to feed the metal strip into the path of movement of a presshead,
• cutting the metal strip to form a connector plate of predetermined length, and
• pressing the teeth of the connector plate thus formed into one side of the adjoining wooden members.

The method of joining a pair of wooden members by applying a sheet metal connector plate, of the type having integrally struck teeth projecting from one side thereof, to the wooden members at their juncture comprising the steps of:

• providing a coiled strip of sheet metal,
• feeding the metal strip from the coil through a die set,
• actuating said die set to from teeth in the metal strip,
• rendering the metal strip movable in a direction corresponding to its longitudinal extent so that the metal strip is fed to a presshead carrying a cutting edge,
• adjusting the location of the leading portion of the metal strip with the teeth formed therein relative to the cutting edge by inserting an element between longitudinally spaced teeth to engage such teeth and displace the strip longitudinally such that the cut is made between two transverse rows of teeth,
• cutting the metal strip to form a connector plate of predetermined length, and
• pressing the teeth of the connector plate thus formed into one side of the adjoining wooden members.

A method of joining a pair of transversely spaced generally parallel elongated wooden side members and a pair of elongated longitudinally spaced intermediate wooden members disposed between said side members in generally perpendicular relation thereto by applying a sheet metal connector plate, of the type having integrally struck teeth projecting from one side thereof, to each of the joints between the side and intermediate wooden members comprising the respective steps of:

• providing first and second coiled strips of sheet metal, feeding the strips from the coils through respective die sets, actuating said die sets to form teeth in the metal strips,
• providing guide surfaces comprised of a plurality of tines defining a plurality of laterally spaced recesses for guiding each strip, locating the teeth of each strip within the associated recesses, clamping each strip to its associated tines with the teeth of such strip in the recesses therebetween, and advancing each of the tines and clamp to feed the associated strip into the path of movement of the corresponding first and second presshead,
• each presshead being moveable along a predetermined path from retracted to extended positions and carrying a cutting edge,
• locating the joints between the side members and the first intermediate member in the respective paths of movement of said first and second pressheads,
• feeding additional portions of the metal strips through the respective die sets, actuating the die sets to form teeth into the additional portions of the metal strips, feeding additional portions of the strips with the teeth formed therein into the respective paths of movement of said first and second pressheads,
• cutting the strips to form third and fourth connector plates of predetermined length in response to movement of the pressheads from their retracted positions towards their extended positions, and pressing the teeth of the connector plates thus formed into the respective joints of the side members and second intermediate member.