Method of automatic truss assembly
View Patent ↗A method of assembling a truss utilizing a truss assembly apparatus having a truss table with a work surface, the steps comprising: arranging at least two truss members on the work surface to form a truss in a first assembly zone; clamping the truss in the first zone with a movable first clamp rail having at least one flip-arm recess therein; and automatically flipping the truss from the first assembly zone to a second assembly zone by activating a plurality of flip arms, at least a portion of one of the plurality of flip arms movable into the at least one corresponding flip-arm recesses of the first clamp rail.
1. A method of assembling a truss utilizing a truss assembly apparatus having a truss table with a work surface, the steps comprising:
arranging at least two truss members on the work surface to form a truss in a first assembly zone;
clamping the truss in the first zone with a unitary longitudinal jig having a plurality of jig sections interconnected by connectors, each connector defining a flip-arm recess in the unitary longitudinal jig; and
automatically flipping the truss form the first assembly zone to a second assembly zone by activating a plurality of flip arms, at least a portion of one of the plurality of flip arms movable into a corresponding flip-arm recess of the unitary longitudinal jig.
2. A method as in claim 1 further comprising the steps of:
clamping the truss in the second assembly zone with a second unitary longitudinal jig having a plurality of jig sections interconnected connectors, each connector defining a flip-arm recess in the second unitary longitudinal jig, at least a portion of at least one of the flip arms movable into a corresponding flip-arm recess in the second unitary longitudinal jig.
3. A method as in claim 2 further comprising the step of pressing connector plates into the truss in the second assembly zone.
4. A method as in claim 2 further comprising the step of automatically lifting the truss out of the second assembly zone by activating a plurality of lift-out arms.
5. A method as in claim 4 wherein the second unitary longitudinal jig has a plurality of lift-out arm recesses corresponding to the plurality of lift-out arms, and wherein at least a portion of each of the lift-out arms passes through a corresponding lift-out recess.
6. A method as in claim 1 further comprising the step of pressing connector plates into the truss in the first assembly zone.
7. A method of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of at least one of the flip-over arms extends over the second assembly zone when the flip-over arm is activated.
8. A method as in claim 1 wherein each connector is generally U-shaped.
9. A method as in claim 1 wherein each connector is spaced apart from the truss members when the unitary longitudinal jig is clamping the truss.
10. A method as in claim 1 wherein the jig sections are angle iron and wherein the connectors are welded to the angle iron of the jig sections.