Apparatus, method and computer program product for providing automated truss assembly
AssigneeIllinois Tool Works Inc.
InventorsDavid L. McAdoo, Timothy K. McAdoo
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A truss assembly station may include a truss assembler. The truss assembler may be configured to enable assembly of a truss from truss members by providing an automatic sequential placement of the truss members based at least in part upon a planned location of pre-plated truss members within an assembled truss. The pre-plated truss members may be truss members including at least one connector plate installed thereon prior to placement at the truss assembly station.
Claims8
A method of assembling a truss comprising:
- utilizing a truss assembler for forming the truss by sequentially placing truss members to form truss joints between the truss members by:
- placing a first truss member including a first connector plate previously installed at a portion of the first truss member that is adjacent to a surface on which the truss is assembled;
- and
- forming a joint between the first truss member and at least one other truss member such that a last truss member of the joint including a second connector plate previously installed at a portion of the last truss member that faces opposite to the surface on which the truss is assembled is placed in contact with the first truss member such that the first connector plate is in contact with the last truss member and the second connector plate is in contact with the first truss member.
A computer program product for controlling automatic assembly of a truss, the computer program product comprising at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable program code portions stored therein, the computer-executable program code portions comprising:
- program code instructions for placing a first truss member including a first connector plate previously installed at a portion of the first truss member that is adjacent to a surface on which the truss is assembled;
- and
- program code instructions for forming a joint between the first truss member and at least one other truss member such that a last truss member of the joint including a second connector plate previously installed at a portion of the last truss member that faces opposite to the surface on which the truss is assembled is placed in contact with the first truss member such that the first connector plate is in contact with the last truss member and the second connector plate is in contact with the first truss member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.