Method and Apparatus For Manufactring a Nail Plate Truss Without Setting

Abstract

A method and an apparatus for the manufacture of a nail plate truss ( 2 ) without setting, said nail plate truss including first-side nail plates ( 3 ) of the truss, second-side nail plates ( 3 ) of the nail plate truss, and struts ( 4 ) joined together by nail plates. According to the inventive method, the structure of the truss is stored in an electric control system ( 20 ), and the nail plates ( 3 ) and struts ( 4 ) for a truss are brought into their positions required by the truss structure onto a horizontal assembly table ( 5 ), as controlled by an electric control system, using handling members ( 11 ) separate from the assembly table, the parts ( 3, 4 ) of the truss being positioned into their positions based directly on positioning of the handling member ( 11 ) transporting them.

1 . A method for manufacturing a nail plate truss ( 2 ) without setting, said nail plate truss including first-side nail plates ( 3 ) of the truss, second-side nail plates ( 4 ) of the truss and struts ( 4 ) joined together by means of the nail plates, characterised in that
 the structure of the truss ( 2 ) is stored in an electrical control system ( 20 ),   as controlled by an electrical control system, the nail plates ( 3 ) and the struts ( 4 ) for the truss are transported to their positions on the horizontal assembly table, required by the truss structure, using handling members ( 11 ) separate from the assembly table, and that   the parts ( 3 ,  4 ) of the truss are positioned directly based on positioning of the handling members ( 11 ) transporting them.   
   
   
       2 . A method according to  claim 1 , characterised in that, as controlled by the electric control system ( 20 ):
 the first-side nail plates ( 3 ) of the truss ( 2 ) are fetched from their pick-up positions ( 19 ) and, above the assembly table ( 5 ), are brought into their positions at the node joints of the truss onto the assembly table and, are fastened to the assembly table with the nail portions directed upwardly,   the struts ( 4 ) for the truss ( 2 ) are fetched from their pick-up positions ( 19 ) and, above the assembly table ( 5 ), are brought into their positions above the first-side nail plates ( 3 ) of the truss present on the assembly table and, are pressed against the nail plates by the handling members ( 11 ),   the second-side nail plates ( 3 ) of the truss ( 2 ) are fetched from their pick-up positions ( 19 ) and above the assembly table ( 5 ), are brought into their positions at the node joints of the truss above the struts ( 4 ) present on the assembly table, the nail portions downwardly directed, and are pressed against the struts by the handling members ( 11 ), and   fastening the first-side nail plates ( 3 ) of the nail plate truss ( 2 ) to the assembly table ( 5 ) is released, and the truss is removed from the assembly table.   
   
   
       3 . A method according to  claim 1 , characterised in that, the node joints of the truss ( 3 ) removed from the assembly table are tightened to final strength by pressing the nail plates ( 3 ) into the struts ( 4 ) over the entire length of their nail portions. 
   
   
       4 . A method according to  claim 1 , characterised in that, the assembly table ( 5 ) is magnetised in the area of the node joints for fastening the first-side nail plates ( 3 ) of the nail plate truss ( 2 ) to the assembly table. 
   
   
       5 . A method according to  claim 1 , characterised in that, while bringing the strut ( 4   a ) into its position, the vertical surface thereof is horizontally contacted with the vertical surface of another strut ( 4   b ), and the strut is then vertically pressed against the nail plate ( 3 ). 
   
   
       6 . A method according to  claim 1  characterised in that, the strut ( 4 ) is pressed against the first-side nail plates ( 3 ) by one handling member ( 11 ) at each node joint. 
   
   
       7 . An apparatus ( 1 ) for manufacturing the nail plate truss ( 2 ) without setting, said nail plate truss including first-side nail plates ( 3 ) of the truss, second-side nail plates ( 3 ) of the truss, and struts ( 4 ) joined together by the nail plates, characterised in that the apparatus includes
 en electrical control system ( 20 ) in which the structure of the nail plate truss ( 2 ) can be stored,   a horizontal, fixed and continuous assembly table ( 5 ),   fastening means controllable by the electrical control system, for fastening the first-side nail plates ( 3 ) to the assembly table ( 5 ),   handling members ( 11 ) controllable by the electrical control system, separate from the assembly table ( 5 ) and supported thereabove, comprising gripping means ( 13 ) for gripping a nail plate and a strut and holding them, as well as pressing means ( 14 ,  15 ) for pressing the struts and nail plates against each other, and   transfer means ( 10 ,  12 ) controllable by the electrical control system, for moving the handling members ( 11 ) above the assembly table and positioning thereof.   
   
   
       8 . An apparatus ( 1 ) according to  claim 7 , characterised in that, the fastening means are magnetising means ( 9 ) for magnetising the assembly table ( 5 ). 
   
   
       9 . An apparatus ( 1 ) according to  claim 7 , characterised in that, the gripping means comprise opposite gripping members ( 13 ) movable relative to each other, for gripping a nail plate ( 3 ) or a strut ( 4 ) by clamping it between the gripping members. 
   
   
       10 . An apparatus ( 1 ) according to  claim 7 , characterised in that, the gripping means comprise negative pressure means ( 21 ) for gripping the strut ( 4 ) by means of negative pressure. 
   
   
       11 . An apparatus ( 1 ) according to  claim 7 , characterised in that, the gripping means comprise magnetic members ( 21 ) for gripping the nail plates ( 3 ). 
   
   
       12 . An apparatus ( 1 ) according to  claim 7 , characterised in that, the pressing means comprise a support surface ( 14 ) and a drive ( 15 ) for pressing the support surface towards the assembly table ( 5 ) in order to press the nail plate ( 3 ) and the strut ( 4 ) against each other. 
   
   
       13 . An apparatus ( 1 ) according to  claim 7 , characterised in that, the transfer means comprise
 first linear guides ( 10 ) above the assembly table, parallel to the assembly table ( 5 ), carrying the handling members ( 11 ) for transferring the handling members therealong,   second linear guides ( 12 ) supported above the assembly table, carrying the first linear guides ( 10 ), arranged perpendicularly thereto, parallel to the assembly table, for transferring the first linear guides along the second linear guides, and   drive means ( 16 ) for realising the above-mentioned movements along the linear guides ( 10 ,  12 ).   
   
   
       14 . An apparatus ( 1 ) according to  claim 7 , characterised in that, for each handling member ( 11 ), the transfer means comprise a lifting device ( 17 ) for transferring the handling member in a direction perpendicular to the assembly table ( 5 ). 
   
   
       15 . An apparatus ( 1 ) according to  claim 7 , characterised in that, for each handling member ( 11 ), the transfer means comprise a rotational device ( 18 ) for rotating the handling member about its vertical axis.