US3765587A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Building construction machine
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1972-01-06
•
Granted: 1973-10-16
•
Expires: 1992-01-06
Abstract
Abstract A machine for constructing building units, pallets, skids and similar units, which has a bed having parallel guide rails to support and locate plate members, the guide rails being movable toward and away from one another to collapse the unit for transport or separate the guide rails to required building unit height. Conveyor chains carry precut studs in proper spaced relation to an assembly point where securing means is located to join the plate members and studs. The conveyor chains advance assembled members and positioned members to be assembled progressively through the machine. Raw material supports and an exit conveyor are either slidably connected to the machine to be drawn out for use or provided as separate parts for use with the machine when set up. The plate guide rails have liftable flanges upon which positioning means for special assembly arrangements may be arranged. The collapsed machine may be transported from one building site to another by means of truck or trailer. The machine may be set up for use either horizontally or vertically. An automatic machine is also disclosed having progressive stud feed, controlled, floating staple gun operation and an improved staple gun bridge.
Inventors
- 👤 J Davis
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 16:22
CPC Classifications
B; B27; B27F; B27F7/00; B27F7/02; B23; B23Q; B23Q7/00; B23Q7/03
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
234 words
A unit construction machine comprising, a frame, longitudinally extending, parallel guide rails on the frame to movably support longitudinal members forming the edge members of units to be constructed, the longitudinal members being spaced apart a distance equal to one dimension of the unit to be constructed, wherein said guide rails are adjustably carried by the frame to selectively vary the distance between the guide rails to vary the said one dimension of the units constructed and permit the guide rails to move adjacent the frame for transportation and the guide rails have upstanding outer flanges to provide unit dimension stops, rails proper at the bases of the upstanding outer flanges to support plates, and inner flanges pivotally connected to the rails proper, means on the inner flanges to adjustably receive spreader positioning members, and means to hold the inner flanges in raised position in the plane of the rails proper, a conveyor having conveyor chains extending longitudinally of the frame intermediate the guide rails and having means to receive and move spreaders in predetermined spaced relation through the machine, an assembly station on the frame, and means at the assembly station to connect longitudinal members on the guide rails to spreaders on the conveyor chains, and means to move the conveyor to bring properly spaced spreaders to the assembly station and to move connected spreaders and longitudinal members through and from the machine.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
234 words
A unit construction machine comprising, a frame, longitudinally extending, parallel guide rails on the frame to movably support longitudinal members forming the edge members of units to be constructed, the longitudinal members being spaced apart a distance equal to one dimension of the unit to be constructed, wherein said guide rails are adjustably carried by the frame to selectively vary the distance between the guide rails to vary the said one dimension of the units constructed and permit the guide rails to move adjacent the frame for transportation and the guide rails have upstanding outer flanges to provide unit dimension stops, rails proper at the bases of the upstanding outer flanges to support plates, and inner flanges pivotally connected to the rails proper, means on the inner flanges to adjustably receive spreader positioning members, and means to hold the inner flanges in raised position in the plane of the rails proper, a conveyor having conveyor chains extending longitudinally of the frame intermediate the guide rails and having means to receive and move spreaders in predetermined spaced relation through the machine, an assembly station on the frame, and means at the assembly station to connect longitudinal members on the guide rails to spreaders on the conveyor chains, and means to move the conveyor to bring properly spaced spreaders to the assembly station and to move connected spreaders and longitudinal members through and from the machine.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
230 words
A unit construction machine comprising a frame, longitudinally extending parallel guide rails on the frame to movably support longitudinal members forming the edge members of units to be constructed, the longitudinal members being spaced apart a distance equal to one dimension of the unit to be constructed, wherein said guide rails are adjustably carried by the frame to selectively vary the distance between the guide rails to vary the said one dimension of the units constructed and permit the guide rails to move adjacent the frame for transportation, a conveyor having conveyor chains extending longitudinally of the frame intermediate the guide rails and having means to receive and move spreaders in predetermined spaced relation through the machine, an assembly station on the frame, and means at the assembly station to connect longitudinal members on the guide rails to spreaders on the conveyor chains, and means to move the conveyor to bring properly spaced spreaders to the assembly station and to move connected spreaders and longitudinal members through and from the machine, wherein, the means on the conveyor chains to receive spreaders have upstanding legs to bear against spreaders, and the conveyor chains have upper flights declining in the direction of chain movement a distance sufficient to clear spreaders connected to longitudinal members on the guide rails to permit progressive construction of units longer than the bed of the construction machine.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
230 words
A unit construction machine comprising a frame, longitudinally extending parallel guide rails on the frame to movably support longitudinal members forming the edge members of units to be constructed, the longitudinal members being spaced apart a distance equal to one dimension of the unit to be constructed, wherein said guide rails are adjustably carried by the frame to selectively vary the distance between the guide rails to vary the said one dimension of the units constructed and permit the guide rails to move adjacent the frame for transportation, a conveyor having conveyor chains extending longitudinally of the frame intermediate the guide rails and having means to receive and move spreaders in predetermined spaced relation through the machine, an assembly station on the frame, and means at the assembly station to connect longitudinal members on the guide rails to spreaders on the conveyor chains, and means to move the conveyor to bring properly spaced spreaders to the assembly station and to move connected spreaders and longitudinal members through and from the machine, wherein, the means on the conveyor chains to receive spreaders have upstanding legs to bear against spreaders, and the conveyor chains have upper flights declining in the direction of chain movement a distance sufficient to clear spreaders connected to longitudinal members on the guide rails to permit progressive construction of units longer than the bed of the construction machine.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
50 words
A unit construction machine as claimed in claim 2 wherein, there are longitudinal member holddown rollers mounted above the guide rails at the assembly station for contact with longitudinal members on the rails and the ends of adjacent spreaders to align the longitudinal members and spreaders in a single plane.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
A unit construction machine as claimed in claim 3 wherein, the holddown rollers are spring biased toward the guide rails.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
A unit construction machine as claimed in claim 4 wherein, there is an exit conveyor positionable adjacent the ends of the guide rails to receive units as they are assembled and moved from the machine.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
A unit construction machine as claimed in claim 5 wherein, there are longitudinal member supPorting tracks telescopically mounted beneath the guide rails and outwardly movable to support longitudinal members moving into the machine.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
A unit construction machine as claimed in claim 8 wherein, there are slides telescopically mounted in the frame and movable outward to support a supply of spreaders for placement in the spreader-receiving means on the conveyor chains.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
39 words
A unit construction machine as claimed in claim 7 wherein, the guide rails are mounted for adjustment by connection to supporting tracks extending transversely of the frame, and rollers carried by the frame upon which the supporting tracks ride.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
A unit construction machine as claimed in claim 8 wherein, there are releasable locking means carried by the frame and tracks to hold the guide rails in selected positions of adjustment.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
73 words
A unit construction machine as claimed in claim 9 wherein, the guide rails have upstanding outer flanges to provide unit height stops, rails proper at the bases of the upstanding outer flanges to support longitudinal members, and inner flanges pivotally connected to the rails proper, means on the inner flanges to adjustably receive spreader positioning members, and means to hold the inner flanges in raised position in the plane of the rails proper.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
31 words
A unit construction machine as claimed in claim 10 wherein, there are means for holding connecting devices above the machine bed to secure covering sheets to assembled longitudinal members and spreaders.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
44 words
A unit construction machine as claimed in claim 11 wherein, there are extensions positionable on the upstanding legs to maintain pushing contact with connected spreaders throughout the entire lengths of the upper flights of the conveyor chains to push completed units from the machine.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
A unit construction machine as claimed in claim 12 wherein, there are adjustable means carried by the frame for leveling the frame and bed.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
39 words
A unit construction machine as claimed in claim 7 wherein, there is a spreader magazine mounted on the frame above the entrance end to receive a plurality of spreaders in a vertical stack for gravity feed to the conveyor.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
28 words
In a unit construction machine as claimed in claim 14 wherein, there are pairs of nailer guns on the guide rails in opposed relation adjacent the spreader magazine.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
43 words
In a unit construction machine as claimed in claim 1, a staple bridge mounted on the guide rails and spanning the frame, the bridge including a telescopic mounting rail and staple guns mounted on the mounting rail and adjustable along the mounting rail.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
28 words
In a unit construction machine as claimed in claim 16 wherein, the mounting bridge is mounted for vertical adjustment and there are means to adjust the bridge vertically.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
60 words
In a unit construction machine as claimed in claim 17 wherein, the staple guns have mounting sleeves slidable on the mounting rail, the staple guns are pivotally attached to the sleeves, each staple gun has a roller at its bottom to ride upon the unit being constructed, and there are means to limit the downward pivotal movement of the guns.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
53 words
In a unit construction machine as claimed in claim 18 wherein, the staple guns at the ends of the bridge overlie the rails for the longitudinal members and are positioned ahead of the remaining staple guns to attach cover sheets to the longitudinal members before attachment of the cover sheets to the spreaders.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
60 words
In a unit construction machine as claimed in claim 19 wherein, there are nailing guns positioned adjacent the rails for the longitudinal members, and a control circuit to automatically operate the nailing guns to nail the longitudinal members to the spreaders and to operate the staple guns to attach the cover sheets to the longitudinal members and to the spreaders.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2574163A
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US2754862A
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US3086210A
Cited
US3261527A
Cited
US3370769A
Cited
US3552624A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-10-15 | 1977-04-16 | 1977-10-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-10-15 | 1981-04-16 | 1981-10-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-10-15 | 1985-04-16 | 1985-10-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |