Laser projection system for truss manufacturing
AssigneeSEPA -- Group Ltd.
InventorSeppo Ahonen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The need for complex trusses has prompted the creation of a laser enhanced design system. Lasers mounted on the ceiling project precise images onto a gentry table below. The initial truss design is produced using a virtually any CAD system in conjunction with a work station or PC-microcomputer. A standard PC-microcomputer running MS-DOS software is used to control the laser system. The files required for the laser system are automatically created during the designing phase. The assembly line operator uses a mouse or keyboard to control and select the projected images while a worker places the truss elements over the projected images.
Claims12
A system for aiding in the assembling of roof trusses on an assembly surface, comprising:
- at least one laser light projector mounted above said assembly surface for projecting images of components of a desired roof truss onto said assembly surface;
- and
- control means electronically connected to said laser light projector for directing said laser light projector to project an image of said entire desired roof truss onto said assembly surface.
A process for constructing roof trusses on an assembly surface, comprising the steps of:
- selecting a desired truss design from a number of designs stored in computer memory;
- projecting laser images of various truss components onto said assembly surface in the pattern of the desired truss design, and then placing actual truss components over their respective images on said assembly surface;
- and
- connecting the truss components together to complete the desired truss.
A process for constructing roof trusses on an assembly surface, comprising the steps of:
- selecting a desired truss design from a number of designs stored in computer memory;
- transmitting the selected truss design to control means for laser light projectors;
- projecting laser images of the bottom plates for the selected truss design onto said assembly surface in a pattern identical to the bottom plates in the selected truss design;
- placing actual bottom plates over their respective images on said assembly surface;
- projecting laser images of lumber elements for the selected truss design onto said bottom plates and said assembly surface in a pattern identical to the lumber elements in the selected truss design;
- placing actual lumber elements over their respective images on said assembly surface;
- projecting laser images of top plates for the selected truss design onto said lumber elements in a pattern identical to the top plates in the selected truss design;
- placing actual top plates over their respective images in said lumber elements;
- and
- connecting the bottom plates, lumber elements, and top plates together to complete the desired truss.
A process for constructing roof trusses on an assembly surface, comprising the steps of:
- selecting a desired truss design from a number of designs stored in computer memory;
- alternatively projecting laser images of various truss components onto said assembly surface in the pattern of the desired truss design, and then placing jigs for truss components over their respective images on said assembly surface;
- placing actual truss components within their respective jigs;
- and
- connecting the truss components together to complete the desired truss.
A system for aiding in the assembling of roof trusses on an assembly surface, comprising:
- at least one laser light projector mounted above said assembly surface for projecting images of components of a desired roof truss onto said assembly surface;
- and
- control means electronically connected to said laser light projector for directing said laser light projector
- to project images of groups of said components onto said assembly surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.