Truss assembly apparatus with independent roller drive

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for assembling a truss are described. In one embodiment, the truss table apparatus includes a truss table and a roller assembly. The truss table includes two guides and a worksurface which supports the truss members as nailing plates are pressed into the truss members. The guides are coupled to opposing sides of the truss table and are substantially C-shaped. The roller assembly is movably coupled to the truss table guides and includes a roller for pressing the nailing plates into the truss members. The roller assembly also includes a plurality of drive wheels that rest on the truss table guides to move the roller assembly relative to the truss table. The roller assembly further includes a plurality of pressure wheels rotatably coupled to the truss table to maintain the proper spacing between the roller and the truss table worksurface during pressing of the nailing plates. The apparatus also includes at least one camber tube and at least one outer rail for clamping the truss to the worksurface prior to pressing the nailing plates into the truss members.

I claim:  
     
       1. A truss table apparatus for use in connection with assembling a truss, the truss having a plurality of wooden truss members and a plurality of nailing plates, said truss table apparatus comprising: 
       a truss table comprising at least two guides coupled to  mounted on and supported by said truss table and a worksurface on which the truss may be positioned, said truss table guides being disposed at a lower level than the worksurface; and  
       a roller assembly movably coupled to said truss table guides, said roller assembly configured to press the nailing plates into the truss members, said roller assembly comprising a plurality of drive wheels engageable with said truss table guides for moving said roller assembly substantially horizontally relative to the truss table worksurface.  
     
     
       2. A truss table apparatus in accordance with  claim 1  wherein each said truss table guide comprises a C-shaped channel member having a top and a bottom. 
     
     
       3. A truss table apparatus in accordance with  claim 2  wherein said plurality of  drive wheels are configured to extend into said C-shaped side channel members. 
     
     
       4. A truss table apparatus in accordance with  claim 3  wherein said roller assembly comprises four drive wheels. 
     
     
       5. A truss table apparatus in accordance with  claim 3  wherein said roller assembly further comprises a roller and a motor, said roller configured to press the nailing plates in  into the truss members, said motor configured to be rotatably coupled to said roller and said drive wheels. 
     
     
       6. A truss table apparatus in accordance with  claim 5  wherein said roller and said drive wheels rotate at a same speed. 
     
     
       7. A truss table apparatus in accordance with  claim 2  wherein said truss table further comprises a wheel flange coupled to each said channel member bottom, and wherein said to  roller assembly comprises a plurality of pressure wheels configured to be placed against said wheel flanges when said roller assembly becomes adjacent to the truss. 
     
     
       8. A truss table apparatus in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said truss table comprises two camber tubes movably coupled to said truss table worksurface for clamping the truss members to said worksurface. 
     
     
       9. A truss table apparatus in accordance with  claim 8  wherein said truss table further comprises a plurality of camber connection slots extending through said worksurface, a plurality of camber cylinders positioned below said truss table worksurface, and a plurality of camber connecting plates extending through said connection slots and coupled to said tubes and said cylinders. 
     
     
       10. A method of assembling a truss utilizing a truss table apparatus, the truss having a first surface, a second surface, at least two truss members, and a plurality of nailing plates, the nailing plates configured to couple the truss members, the truss table apparatus including a truss table having at least two guides mounted on and supported by the truss table and a worksurface, and a roller assembly movably coupled to the truss table guides generally below the level of the worksurface, the roller assembly comprising a motor, a roller, and a plurality of drive wheels, said method comprising the steps of: 
       positioning the truss members on the truss table apparatus so that the truss second face lies on the truss table worksurface;  
       positioning at least one nailing plate over the truss member first surface;  
       pressing the nailing plate into the truss members with the roller assembly by activating the motor so that and  the drive wheels engage said truss table guides and move the roller assembly substantially horizontally relative to the truss table;  
       repositioning the truss so that the truss first surface lies on the truss table worksurface;  
       positioning at least one nailing plate over the truss member second surface; and  
       pressing the nailing plate into the truss members with the roller assembly by activating the motor so that and  the drive wheels engage said truss table guides and move the roller assembly substantially horizontally relative to the truss table.  
     
     
       11. A method in accordance with  claim 10  wherein pressing the nailing plate into the truss members with the roller assembly comprises the step of moving the roller assembly between the ends of the truss table apparatus. 
     
     
       12. A method in accordance with  claim 11  wherein the roller assembly includes a plurality of pressure wheels, and wherein moving the roller assembly between the ends of the truss table apparatus further includes the step of positioning the pressure wheels adjacent to the guides so that the roller assembly is properly spaced from the truss table worksurface. 
     
     
       13. A method in accordance with  claim 10  wherein the truss table apparatus includes a movable camber tube and an outer rail, and wherein positioning the truss members on the truss table apparatus so that the truss second face lies on the truss table worksurface further comprises the step of moving the camber tube towards the outer rail so that the truss is clamped to the truss table worksurface. 
     
     
       14. A method in accordance with  claim 13  wherein the truss table apparatus includes a plurality of slots extending through the truss table worksurface and a plurality of cylinders positioned below the worksurface and coupled to the truss table and the camber tube, and wherein moving the camber tube towards the outer rail comprises the step of activating the cylinder so that the camber tube moves toward the outer rail. 
     
     
       15. A method in accordance with  claim 13  wherein the truss table apparatus includes a second movable camber tube and a second outer rail, and wherein positioning the truss members on the truss table apparatus so that the truss first face lies on the truss table worksurface further comprises the step of moving the second camber tube towards the second outer rail so that truss is clamped to the truss table worksurface. 
     
     
       16. A method in accordance with  claim 10  wherein positioning at least one nailing plate over the truss member second surface and pressing the nailing plates into the truss members with the roller assembly comprises the step of moving the roller assembly between the ends of the truss table apparatus. 
     
     
       17. A roller apparatus for use in connection with assembling a truss on a truss table, the truss having a plurality of wooden truss members and a plurality of nailing plates, the truss table having at least two guides and a worksurface, said roller apparatus comprising: 
       a frame;  
       a roller coupled to said frame configured to press the nailing plates into the truss members; and  
       a plurality of drive wheels coupled to said frame configured to movably couple to the truss table guides.  
     
     
       18. A roller apparatus in accordance with  claim 17  further comprising a plurality of pressure wheels coupled to said frame configured to rotatably couple to said truss table. 
     
     
       19. A roller apparatus in accordance with  claim 18  wherein said roller and said drive wheels rotate at a same speed. 
     
     
       20. A truss table apparatus as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said truss table guides are supported by the truss table out of contact with a floor supporting the apparatus, there being a space free of solid material under each guide. 
     
     
       21. A truss table apparatus in accordance with  claim 20  wherein each truss table guide opens laterally outwardly away from the truss table. 
     
     
       22. A truss table apparatus in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the drive wheels are frustoconically shaped. 
     
     
       23. A truss table apparatus for use in assembling a truss, the assembled truss having wooden truss members and nailing plates interconnecting the truss members, said truss table apparatus comprising: 
       
         a truss table comprising a worksurface on which the truss members and nailing plates may be positioned, and guides mounted on and supported by said truss table at a location lower than the worksurface; and  
       
       
         a roller assembly including a roller supported by the roller assembly for rolling over the truss members and nailing plates to press the nailing plates into the truss members, and a plurality of drive wheels engageable with said truss table guides at a location lower than the worksurface for moving said roller assembly substantially horizontally relative to the worksurface. 
       
     
     
       24. A truss table apparatus as set forth in  claim 23  wherein said truss table guides are supported by the truss table out of contact with a floor supporting the apparatus. 
     
     
       25. A truss table apparatus in accordance with  claim 23  wherein each truss table guide opens laterally outwardly away from the truss table. 
     
     
       26. A truss table apparatus in accordance with  claim 25  wherein each of said drive wheels is received laterally into one of said truss table guides. 
     
     
       27. A truss table apparatus as set forth in  claim 23  wherein said roller assembly further comprises a motor adapted to drive rotation of the roller and the drive wheels. 
     
     
       28. A truss table apparatus in accordance with  claim 27  wherein the motor includes a drive shaft rotatably coupled to the drive wheels for driving rotation thereof. 
     
     
       29. A truss table apparatus in accordance with  claim 23  wherein said truss table further comprises two camber tubes mounted on the truss table for movement relative to said truss table worksurface for clamping the truss members on said worksurface. 
     
     
       30. A truss table apparatus in accordance with  claim 29  wherein said truss table further comprises camber connection slots extending through said worksurface, camber cylinders positioned below said truss table worksurface, and camber connecting plates extending through said connection slots and coupled to said tubes and said cylinders. 
     
     
       31. A truss table apparatus in accordance with  claim 23  wherein the guides are mounted on sides of the truss table. 
     
     
       32. A truss table apparatus in accordance with  claim 23  wherein the truss table comprises a truss table top and legs extending down from and supporting the truss table top, each leg having an upper end adjacent to the truss table top and a lower end opposite the top end, the guides being mounted on the truss table at a location spaced above the lower ends of the legs.