Apparatus for assembly of roof panel structures
OwnerJoseph K. Glenninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A portable roof panel structure assembly mechanism that may be transported to a construction site and that is used to automatically assemble roof panel structures at the site. The assembly mechanism includes a purlin feeder, subpurlin clamping mechanisms and feeders, and a diaphragm feeder. The purlin feeder lifts a purlin into position, and advances the purlin into an assembly station. The subpurlin feeders insert a subpurlin into each of a plurality of subpurlin clamping mechanisms, and the clamping mechanisms advance into the assembly station and hold the subpurlins against the section of the purlin that has been advanced. The diaphragm feeder places a diaphragm onto the subpurlins and the purlin at the assembly station. The components are attached by automatic nailers.
Claims24
An apparatus for use in assembling a roof panel structure, comprising:
- a carriage;
- an assembly station;
- a lifting mechanism mounted on the carriage and configured to raise a diaphragm from a first position and hold the diaphragm;
- an attachment carriage mounted on the carriage and configured to attach a diaphragm held by the lifting mechanism to an item in the assembly station;
- the carriage being movable between the first position and the assembly station.
An apparatus for use in assembling a roof panel structure, comprising:
- a carriage;
- an assembly station;
- a plurality of slots mounted on the carriage, each of the slots being configured to receive a subpurlin and comprising at least one pinching mechanism configured to close around a subpurlin in the slot;
- and
- a plurality of magazines corresponding to the slots, each magazine being configured to deposit a subpurlin in the slot;
- the carriage being movable between the plurality of magazines and the assembly station.
An apparatus for use in assembling a roof panel structure, comprising:
- a carriage;
- an assembly station;
- a plurality of slots mounted on the carriage, each of the slots being configured to receive a subpurlin and comprising a push bar to urge a subpurlin forward in the slot;
- and
- a plurality of magazines corresponding to the slots, each magazine being configured to deposit a subpurlin in the slot;
- the carriage being movable between the plurality of magazines and the assembly station.
An apparatus for use in assembling a roof panel structure, comprising:
- a carriage;
- an assembly station;
- a plurality of slots mounted on the carriage, each of the slots being configured to receive a subpurlin;
- a plurality of magazines corresponding to the slots, each magazine being configured to deposit a subpurlin in the slot;
- and
- means on the carriage for supporting subpurlins that remain in the assembly station after the carriage is moved to the plurality of magazines;
- the carriage being movable between the plurality of magazines and the assembly station.
An apparatus for use in assembling a roof panel structure, comprising:
- a carriage;
- an assembly station;
- a holding mechanism mounted on the carriage and configured to grasp a diaphragm at a first location and to hold the diaphragm;
- an attachment carriage mounted on the carriage and configured to attach a diaphragm held by the holding mechanism to an item in the assembly station;
- the carriage being movable between the first position and the assembly station.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.