Numerically controlled cross-tie pre-plating system

Abstract

A machine for fastening rail plates to cross-ties, utilizing spikes or the like, and method therefore, is disclosed in the present invention. The present invention further is configured to facilitate the installation of threaded spikes or screws, as are utilized in high-speed, concrete and other cross-ties. A numerically controlled drilling station is therefore provided for selectively positioning a drill about the length of the cross-tie for drilling bores into the tie, along with a separate screwed pre-plating station which may include a template for positioning the tie, a plate dispenser (or manual plate loading means), and a positionable driving mechanisms for engaging and screwing threaded spikes or screws into the bores formed by the drilling station to securely pre-plate each plate on a tie, which may be wood or concrete, traditional or high-speed. The present system is particularly suitable for pre-plating cross-tie for forming turnouts, which require that each tie along a curve be drilled in a separate location. Accordingly, utilizing CAD or other input information, a computer can automatically control the numerically controlled drill station to drill out each tie to form the desired turnout, greatly reducing the time, expense, and risk associated with this procedure.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . The method of fastening a plate to a cross-tie, comprising the steps of: 
 a) loading a tie upon a horizontal conveyor, providing a loaded tie;    b) providing pre-existing x-y coordinate instructions to a computer control for designating locations upon said tie to be bored, thereby providing borehole data;    c) positioning said tie at a boring station;    d) utilizing said x-y coordinates to position a numerically controlled drill along a track longitudinally aligned with said loaded tie to a first bore coordinate;    e) automatically actuating and lowering said drill to bore a hole at said first bore coordinate;    F) utilizing said x-y coordinates to position said numerically drill along said track to a next bore coordinate for said loaded tie;    g) automatically actuating and lowering said drill to bore a hole at said next bore coordinate;    h) repeating steps f) and g) until all of said pre-existing x-y coordinate borehole data for said loaded tie has been utilized, providing a bored tie;    I) loading the next tie to be drilled, providing the next loaded tie;    j) repeating steps b-h, while    k) conveying said bored tie to a screwing station.    c) forming pilot bores into said aligned, loaded tie with said boring apparatus, providing a bored tie;    d) conveying said bored tie to a pre-plating apparatus;    e) utilizing a template having first and second plate trays formed therein to align said bored tie such that said first and second plate trays are adjacent to the ends of first and second plate conveyors, respectively;    f) dispensing first and second plates from said first and second plate trays such that said first and second plates fall into said first and second plate trays, respectively, and rest upon said bored tie such that at least some of apertures formed in said dispensed plates are aligned with said pilot bores formed in said bored tie;    g) fastening said dispensed plates to said tie by applying a fastener through said apertures formed in said plates aligned with said pilot bores formed in said tie, providing a pre-plated tie;    h) dispensing said pre-plated tie from said horizontal conveyor.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein after step “I” there is included the additional steps of: 
 I) providing a plate having apertures formed therethrough upon said bored tie  
 ii) aligning said apertures formed through said dispensed plates with said bores formed in said loaded tie; and  
 driving a screw through each of said aligned apertures formed through each of said dispensed plates and said aligned pilot bore formed in said loaded tie thereunder, fastening said plate to said tie.