US3592376A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for prefabricating wooden panel frames
Assignee: Hydro Air Engineering Inc
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Filing: 1970-01-08
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Granted: 1971-07-13
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Expires: 1990-01-08
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for prefabricating wood frames for walls, ceilings and floors of buildings, mobile homes and sectional or stack housing, comprising a jig on which transverse and longitudinal members may be laid out in position for being nailed together, and a carriage carrying nailers movable along the jig in the direction of length of the longitudinal members for driving nails through the longitudinal members into the ends of the transverse members. The apparatus automatically senses the provision of multiple transverse member groups in a layout and provides automatically for movement of the carriage and operation of the nailers to nail not only the first but also the subsequent transverse members of such groups.
Inventors
- 👤 Walter George Moehlenpah
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 03:31
CPC Classifications
B; B27; B27F; B27F7/00; B27F7/006
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
330 words
Apparatus for prefabricating wood frames having transverse frame members extending transversely between longitudinal frame members at locations spaced longitudinally along the length of said longitudinal members, and which may have one or more transverse members at each location, said apparatus comprising a jig on which longitudinal and transverse members may be laid out in position for being nailed together to form a frame, a carriage movable longitudinally of the jig, fastening means carried by the carriage for fastening the longitudinal members and transverse members together, a main drive for the carriage for driving it longitudinally along the jig from location to location, an auxiliary drive for the carriage for moving it forward along the jig through short distances from transverse member to transverse member at locations having more than one transverse member, and control means for said drives and said fastening means comprising means operable on forward movement of the carriage by said main drive to sense the arrival of the carriage at a position for the fastening means to operate to fasten a transverse member in place at any one of said locations and for thereupon deactivating said main drive to stop the carriage and then operating the fastening means, and means responsive to the presence or absence of a second transverse member at any one of said locations operable in conjunction with said sensing means for activating said main drive in response to absence of a second transverse member and completion of operation of the fastening means at any location to drive said carriage forward to the next location, and for activating said auxiliary drive in response to the presence of a second transverse member at any location and completion of operation of the fastening means at the first transverse member at said location to drive said carriage forward to a position for the fastening means to fasten the second transverse member in place, and then operating the fastening means to fasten said second transverse member in place.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
330 words
Apparatus for prefabricating wood frames having transverse frame members extending transversely between longitudinal frame members at locations spaced longitudinally along the length of said longitudinal members, and which may have one or more transverse members at each location, said apparatus comprising a jig on which longitudinal and transverse members may be laid out in position for being nailed together to form a frame, a carriage movable longitudinally of the jig, fastening means carried by the carriage for fastening the longitudinal members and transverse members together, a main drive for the carriage for driving it longitudinally along the jig from location to location, an auxiliary drive for the carriage for moving it forward along the jig through short distances from transverse member to transverse member at locations having more than one transverse member, and control means for said drives and said fastening means comprising means operable on forward movement of the carriage by said main drive to sense the arrival of the carriage at a position for the fastening means to operate to fasten a transverse member in place at any one of said locations and for thereupon deactivating said main drive to stop the carriage and then operating the fastening means, and means responsive to the presence or absence of a second transverse member at any one of said locations operable in conjunction with said sensing means for activating said main drive in response to absence of a second transverse member and completion of operation of the fastening means at any location to drive said carriage forward to the next location, and for activating said auxiliary drive in response to the presence of a second transverse member at any location and completion of operation of the fastening means at the first transverse member at said location to drive said carriage forward to a position for the fastening means to fasten the second transverse member in place, and then operating the fastening means to fasten said second transverse member in place.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the fastening means comprises nailers positioned to drive nails transversely through the longitudinal members and endwise into the transverse members.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said auxiliary drive is a cyclic indexing drive operable on a cycle thereof to advance the carriage through an incremental distance.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
86 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim l having a rotatable drive shaft for driving the carriage and wherein said auxiliary drive comprises a clutch having a driving element loose with respect to the drive shaft and a driven element secured to the drive shaft, power means on the carriage for oscillating said driving element, and means fOr effecting engagement of said clutch elements on movement of said driving element in the direction of rotation of the drive shaft in the direction to move the carriage forward.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
60 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 having a drive shaft for the carriage and wherein the main drive includes a motor, means for connecting said motor to said drive shaft for driving the carriage, and means for freeing said drive shaft to rotate without impedance from the main drive while the carriage is being driven by the incremental drive.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
42 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein the auxiliary drive comprises means for varying the arc through which said drive shaft may be rotated by said auxiliary drive thereby varying the incremental distance the carriage is advanced by said auxiliary drive.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
247 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said control means comprises at least two limit switches, a forward limit switch and a rearward limit switch, said limit switches being mounted on the carriage, spaced apart longitudinally of the jig and disposed to engage the transverse members as the carriage advances longitudinally along the jig, the rearward limit switch constituting said means operable on forward movement of the carriage by said main drive means to sense the arrival of the carriage at a position for the fastening means to fasten a transverse member at any one of said locations and then operating the fastening means to fasten said transverse member in place and the forward limit switch constituting means responsive to the presence or absence of a second transverse member at any one of said locations operable in conjunction with said sensing means for activating said main drive in response to absence of a second transverse member and completion of operation of the fastening means at any location to drive said carriage rapidly forward to the next location and for activating said auxiliary drive in response to the presence of a second transverse member at any location and completion of operation of the fastening means at the first transverse member at said location to drive said carriage forward to a position for the fastening means to fasten the second transverse member in place and then operating the fastening means to fasten said second transverse member in place.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
85 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 having fastening means at opposite sides of the carriage and wherein control means for said drives and said fastening means is disposed on each side of the carriage, the control means on one side of the carriage being selectively operable to prefabricate right-hand frames and the control means on the other side of the carriage being selectively operable to prefabricate left-hand frames and means for activating one of said control means and deactivating the other and vice versa.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
105 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said control means comprises at least two limit switches on each side of said carriage, for making frames for right- and left-hand wall sections, the limit switches on one side forming a set of limit switches adapted for prefabricating right-hand wall sections and the limit switches on the other side forming another set of limit switches adapted for prefabricating left-hand wall sections, and means for selectively activating either set of said limit switches for controlling the main and auxiliary drives and the nailers to automatically nail the frame members together to prefabricate right- or left-hand wall sections.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
54 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the main drive is operable at relatively high speed for advancing the carriage rapidly from location to location and deceleration means is provided for slowing down the carriage in preparation for stopping it in position for the fastening means to fasten the transverse members in place.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
56 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 10 wherein the deceleration means is activated by means responsive to the presence or absence of a second transverse member in response to the presence of a transverse member at any location, and the deceleration means is deactivated in response to the completion of the fastening operation at any location.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
297 words
Apparatus for prefabricating wood frames having transverse frame members extending transversely between longitudinal frame members at locations spaced longitudinally along the length of said longitudinal members, and which may have one or more transverse members at each location, said apparatus comprising a jig on which longitudinal and transverse members may be laid out in position for being nailed together to form a frame, a carriage movable longitudinally of the jig, fastening means carried by the carriage for fastening the longitudinal members and transverse members together, drive means for the carriage for driving it longitudinally along the jig, and control means for said drive means and said fastening means comprising means responsive to presence of a transverse member operable on forward movement of the carriage by said drive means to sense the arrival of the carriage at a position for the fastening means to operate to fasten said transverse member in place, and for thereupon deactivating said drive means to stop the carriage and then operating the fastening means, and means responsive to the presence or absence of a second transverse member at any one of said locations operable in conjunction with said sensing means for activating said drive means in response to absence of a second transverse member and completion of operation of the fastening means at any location to drive said carriage forward to the next location, and for activating said drive means in response to the presence of a second transverse member at any location and completion of operation of the fastening means at the first transverse member at said location to drive said carriage forward to a position for the fastening means to fasten the second transverse member in place, and then operating the fastening means to fasten said second transverse member in place.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
297 words
Apparatus for prefabricating wood frames having transverse frame members extending transversely between longitudinal frame members at locations spaced longitudinally along the length of said longitudinal members, and which may have one or more transverse members at each location, said apparatus comprising a jig on which longitudinal and transverse members may be laid out in position for being nailed together to form a frame, a carriage movable longitudinally of the jig, fastening means carried by the carriage for fastening the longitudinal members and transverse members together, drive means for the carriage for driving it longitudinally along the jig, and control means for said drive means and said fastening means comprising means responsive to presence of a transverse member operable on forward movement of the carriage by said drive means to sense the arrival of the carriage at a position for the fastening means to operate to fasten said transverse member in place, and for thereupon deactivating said drive means to stop the carriage and then operating the fastening means, and means responsive to the presence or absence of a second transverse member at any one of said locations operable in conjunction with said sensing means for activating said drive means in response to absence of a second transverse member and completion of operation of the fastening means at any location to drive said carriage forward to the next location, and for activating said drive means in response to the presence of a second transverse member at any location and completion of operation of the fastening means at the first transverse member at said location to drive said carriage forward to a position for the fastening means to fasten the second transverse member in place, and then operating the fastening means to fasten said second transverse member in place.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-07-12 | 1975-01-11 | 1975-07-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-07-12 | 1979-01-11 | 1979-07-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-07-12 | 1983-01-11 | 1983-07-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |