Building wall section fabricating machine

Claim 2

A machine for fabricating a building wall section or the like from frame members comprising a flat, elongated bed-frame for supporting the frame members in proper adjacent relative positions to be secured together and including first means for supporting certain frame members longitudinally in spaced parallel relationship and second means for supporting other frame members transversely of the longitudinal frame members with the ends of the transverse frame members in abutting relationship to the longitudinal frame members, said first means transversely adjustable to vary the distance between the longitudinal frame members and said second means longitudinally adjustable to vary the spacing of the transverse frame members; a carriage movable longitudinally along said bed-frame and tracks extending longitudinally of and carried by said bedframe for guiding said carriage, said carriage carrying power tool units at opposite sides thereof to act on the longitudinal and transverse frame members to secure them together and triggers for actuating said units; and control means carried by said bed-frame to actuate the power tool unit as said carriage moves along said bed-frame to secure abutting frame members together, said control means including a plurality control cams independently adjustable longitudinally along said bed-frame for positioning in predetermined relationship to said second means supporting the transverse frame members for engaging said triggers as the carriage moves along said bed-frame.

Claim 3

A machine according to claim 1 in which said power tool units on said carriage include nailing guns, said means for supporting the longitudinal frame members comprising longitudinally extending horizontal supports on said bed-frame sections having upstanding stops for engaging the outer surfaces of the respective frame members, said nailing guns being loncated on said carriage for movement longitudinally of the bed-frame along said stops so as to nail through the longitudinal frame members in contact with said stops and into the transverse frame members.

Claim 4

A machine according to claim 2 in which said nailing guns are disposed in pairs at each side of said carriage, said nailing guns having outlets for the nails and the guns of each pair at each side of said carriage being longitudinally spaced thereon and having their outlets located at different vertically spaced levels.

Claim 5

A machine according to claim 1 in which said carriage carries additional power units comprising fastening units adapted to fasten a sheet to the upper sides of tHe frame members supported on said bed-frame, said additional power units being disposed in a row on said carriage extending transversely of the bed-frame, said row of power units being supported on a transverse support mounted on said carriage for vertical movement, and means for raising and lowering said support to move said row of power units into cooperation with a sheet on the frame members.

Claim 6

A machine according to claim 4 in which said row of additional power units are supported in dependent relationship on the support and have triggers at their lower ends for actuating the respective power units upon contact of said triggers with the sheet.

Claim 7

A machine according to claim 4 in which said carriage carries an additional power tool unit in the form of a cutting unit for cutting holes in the sheet, said power tool unit being mounted on said carriage for both transverse and vertical movement relative thereon.

Claim 8

A machine according to claim 1 including a propelling unit mounted on said carriage for moving said carriage along said bed-frame and control means for said propelling unit.

Claim 9

A machine according to claim 4 including power means for moving said transverse support on said carriage vertically, and control means for controlling said power means.

Claim 10

A machine according to claim 6 including power means on said carriage for moving said power tool unit vertically and an additional power means on said carriage for moving said power tool unit transversely, and independent control means for controlling said respective power means.

Claim 11

A machine according to claim 1 in which said bed-frame is carried by a chassis which includes a frame carried by transporting wheels, said chassis frame carrying supporting leg units adjustable in a vertical direction to support the chassis frame independently of said wheels.

Claim 12

A machine according to claim 10 in which said chassis frame has a hoist unit mounted thereon at each end for handling wall sections assembled on the respective ends of said bed-frame, each of said hoist units having a boom arm swingable over said frame and having means for engaging and lifting a wall section.

Claim 13

A machine according to claim 11 in which said chassis frame has a tongue extension at its forward end by means of which it may be pulled, one of the hoist units being carried by said tongue extension and means for supporting the other hoist unit at the other end of the chassis frame, said means comprising a frame extension mounted on the chassis frame and extensible and retractible relative thereto.

Claim 14

A machine according to claim 3 in which said nailing guns are mounted on said carriage by means permitting selective independent vertical adjustment thereof relative to said bed-frame sections.

Claim 15

A machine for fabricating a building wall section or the like from frame members comprising a flat, elongated bed-frame including a plurality of sections relatively adjustable transversely for supporting the frame members in proper adjacent relative positions to be secured together and including first means for supporting certain frame members longitudinally in spaced parallel relationship and second means for supporting other frame members transversely of the longitudinal frame members with the ends of the transverse frame members in abutting relationship to the longitudinal frame members, said first means transversely adjustable with said bed-frame to vary the distance between the longitudinal frame members and said second means longitudinally adjustable relative to said bed-frame to vary the spacing of the transverse frame members; a carriage movable longitudinally along said bed-frame and tracks extending longitudinally of said bed-frame and carried by the relatively adjustable sections thereof for guiding said carriage, said carriage comprising a plurality of frame sections that are relatively adjustable transversely of said bed-frame with transverse adjustment of said bed-frame sections, said carriage carrying power toOl units at opposite sides thereof to act on the longitudinal and transverse frame members to secure them together and triggers for actuating said units; and control means carried by said bed-frame to actuate the power tool unit as said carriage moves along said bed-frame to secure abutting frame members together, said control means including a plurality control cams longitudinally adjustable along said bed-frame for positioning in predetermined relationship to said second means supporting the transverse frame members for engaging said triggers as the carriage moves along said bed-frame.

Claim 16

A machine for fabricating a building wall section or the like from frame members comprising a flat, elongated bed-frame including a plurality of sections relatively adjustable transversely for supporting the frame members in proper adjacent relative positions to be secured together and including first means for supporting certain frame members longitudinally in spaced parallel relationship and second means for supporting other frame members transversely of the longitudinal frame members with the ends of the transverse frame members in abutting relationship to the longitudinal frame members, said first means transversely adjustable with said bed-frame to vary the distance between the longitudinal frame members and said second means longitudinally adjustable relative to said bed-frame to vary the spacing of the transverse frame members; a carriage movable longitudinally along said bed-frame and tracks extending longitudinally of said bed-frame and carried by the relatively adjustable sections thereof for guiding said carriage, said carriage comprising a plurality of frame sections that are relatively adjustable transversely of said bed-frame with transverse adjustment of said bed-frame sections, said carriage carrying power toOl units at opposite sides thereof to act on the longitudinal and transverse frame members to secure them together and triggers for actuating said units; and control means carried by said bed-frame to actuate the power tool unit as said carriage moves along said bed-frame to secure abutting frame members together, said control means including a plurality control cams longitudinally adjustable along said bed-frame for positioning in predetermined relationship to said second means supporting the transverse frame members for engaging said triggers as the carriage moves along said bed-frame.

Claim 17

A machine according to claim 14 in which said bed-frame is carried by a chassis which includes a frame carried by transporting wheels, said chassis frame carrying supporting leg units adjustable in a vertical direction to support the chassis frame independently of said wheels, and one of said bed-frame sections being fixed to said chassis frame.