Truss assembly apparatus with vertically adjustable press roller

Apparatus for assembling truss members into a completed truss, the truss members including a plurality of wood members and a plurality of connector plates for joining the wood members, said apparatus comprising, in combination:

• support means for supporting the truss members with the connector plates at respective positions on the wood members;
• a pressing roller mounted for rotation about its own axis above said support means, said roller being moveable along a vertical axis between a first predetermined position for engaging the connector plates and a second predetermined position at a predetermined distance above said first predetermined position;
• first and second bearings at respective opposite ends of said roller for supporting said roller and for allowing said roller to rotate about its own axis, each of said first and second bearings having a pair of recesses on respective opposite sides of said first and second bearings;
• moving means for moving said roller over the top of the truss members, said roller being adapted to embed the connector plates into the wood members as said roller is moved over the top of the truss members, to form the completed truss;
• retaining means for retaining said roller in said first predetermined position when said roller is in pressing engagement with the connector plates, said retaining means including a plurality of pin members insertable into the respective recesses of said first and second bearings to maintain said roller in said first predetermined position, said pin members being retractable from the respective recesses of said first and second bearings to permit said roller to be lifted to said second predetermined position;
• arresting means for automatically arresting the movement of said moving means in response to said pressing roller reaching a predetermined position with respect to said support means;
• lifting means responsive to the cessation of movement of said roller over the top of the truss members for lifting said roller, to permit the completed truss to be moved along said support means and beneath said roller, said lifting means including means for automatically disabling said retaining means in response to the cessation of movement of said roller over the top of the truss members to release said roller for movement to said second predetermined position;
• and
• engagement means for automatically enabling said retaining means to engage said roller when said roller is lowered to said first predetermined position.