Element marking device

Abstract

A marking device for marking a truss element of a truss may include a print mechanism arranged to print selected truss information on lumber elements moving on a conveyance system passed the print mechanism, the selected truss information including one of an element identifying truss diagram, a truss plate location, and an intersecting member identifier, a position sensing device configured to sense the position of the lumber relative to the print mechanism, and a computing component, the computing component including a geometry extraction module for extracting the geometry of the element to be marked, an element marking generator for generating print instructions for the selected truss information, a position sensing module for interfacing with the position sensing device to ascertain the position of the lumber element, and a print control module for controlling the print mechanism to print the selected truss information.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A marking device for marking a truss element of a truss, comprising:
 a print mechanism arranged to print selected truss information on lumber elements moving on a conveyance system passed the print mechanism, the selected truss information comprising one of an element identifying truss diagram, a truss plate location, and an intersecting member identifier;   a position sensing device configured to sense the position of the lumber relative to the print mechanism; and   a computing component, the computing component comprising:
 a geometry extraction module for extracting the geometry of the element to be marked; 
 an element marking generator for generating print instructions for the selected truss information; 
 a position sensing module for interfacing with the position sensing device to ascertain the position of the lumber element; and 
 a print control module for controlling the print mechanism to print the selected truss information. 
   
     
     
         2 . The truss element marking device of  claim 1 , wherein the element identifying truss diagram is also an orientation identifying truss diagram. 
     
     
         3 . The truss element marking device of  claim 2 , wherein the element and orientation identifying truss diagram includes a diagram of the truss that highlights the element within the truss that the truss element forms. 
     
     
         4 . The truss element marking device of  claim 3 , wherein the diagram of the truss is oriented on the element such that when the element is oriented to show the diagram in a truss elevation position, the element is oriented in its truss installed orientation. 
     
     
         5 . The truss element marking device of  claim 1 , wherein the truss plate location comprises an outline on the element defining the overlapping location of a portion of a truss plate. 
     
     
         6 . The truss element marking device of  claim 1 , wherein the print control module is in communication with the position sensing module to actuate the print mechanism at suitable times. 
     
     
         7 . The truss element marking device of  claim 1 , further comprising a conveyance system and a position control device configured for advancing the lumber element along the conveyance system. 
     
     
         8 . The truss element marking device of  claim 7 , wherein the computing component further comprises a position control module for interfacing with the position control device to control the timing and/or speed of advancement of the lumber element. 
     
     
         9 . The truss element marking device of  claim 8 , further comprising a saw for creating the truss element from a piece of dimensioned lumber. 
     
     
         10 . The truss element marking device of  claim 9 , wherein the saw is a linear saw. 
     
     
         11 . The truss element marking device of  claim 9 , wherein the print mechanism is arranged to print on the lumber element to be or having been cut by the saw. 
     
     
         12 . The truss element marking device of  claim 1 , wherein the position sensing device comprises an encoder wheel arranged to contact the lumber element moving along the conveyance system. 
     
     
         13 . A method of marking a truss element, comprising:
 receiving truss information defining the geometry of a truss;   extracting member geometry for one of the elements of the truss;   generating a marking that includes one of an element identifying truss diagram, a truss plate location, and a intersecting member identifier;   sensing the position of a piece of lumber as it is conveyed passed a print mechanism; and   actuating the print mechanism to print the marking on the lumber.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the location identifying truss diagram is also an orientation identifying truss diagram. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the element and orientation identifying truss diagram includes a diagram of the truss that highlights the element within the truss that the truss element forms. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the truss plate location comprises an outline on the element defining the overlapping location of a portion of a truss plate. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the method further comprises actuating a saw to create the truss element from the piece of lumber. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the saw is a linear saw. 
     
     
         19 . A truss element comprising:
 a lumber element, comprising:
 a length configured for arrangement in a truss; 
 one or more sawn ends cut for abutting an intersecting member in a truss; 
    and
 a marking including one of an element identifying truss diagram, a truss plate location, and an intersecting member identifier. 
   
     
     
         20 . A truss, wherein each element of the truss comprises a truss element as claimed in  claim 19 .