BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

1. Field of the Disclosure

The disclosure generally relates to apparatus, systems, and methods for assembling a building truss such as a roofing truss. A system including one or more locating table segments and one or more locating assemblies defining an assembly table with moveable locating assemblies or blocks is disclosed.

2. Brief Description of Related Technology

Tables and related systems with adjustable stops for assembling building trusses are known. Such systems often have one or more drawbacks, for example including excessively noisy operation and/or unreliable operation (e.g., resulting from the use of a conventional threaded rod drive system to position the stops at desired locations) as well as a susceptibility to interference and/or malfunctions from construction debris during normal operational use.

3. Objects

While the related art discloses truss assembly systems, there still exists a need for an improved truss assembly system along with its related components in order to provide quieter, more reliable operation under normal working conditions.

Therefore, it is an object of the present disclosure to provide an improved truss assembly system having improved operational characteristics. This and other objects will become increasingly apparent by reference to the following description.

SUMMARY

The disclosure relates to a locating assembly having (a) a mounting block having a top surface; (b) a guide assembly mounted to the top surface of the mounting block; (c) a locating block mounted to the guide assembly opposite the mounting block; and (d) an alignment guide mounted to the top surface of the mounting block a distance from the guide assembly. The guide assembly can have an I-shaped cross-section. A portion of the guide assembly may have a material having a low coefficient of static friction when in contact with steel. In one approach, at least a portion of the guide assembly comprises a material selected from the group consisting of poly(amides), poly(imides), poly(alkylenes), fluorinated poly(alkylenes), poly(vinyl aromatics), and poly(acetals). The locating block may have a circular cross-section.

In one embodiment the guide assembly can have (a) a first portion having a width; and (b) a second portion having a width less than the width of the first portion, wherein the first portion is closer to the top surface of the mounting block than the second portion. The guide assembly may optionally have a third portion located closer to the locating block than the first portion, and wherein the third portion has a width greater than the width of the second portion.

In another embodiment a locating table segment is provided having (a) a table segment; (b) a chain mounted beneath the table segment; (c) a locating assembly adjacent the table segment and connected to the chain, the locating assembly comprising: (i) a mounting block having a top surface, (ii) a guide assembly mounted to the top surface of the mounting block top, at least a portion of the guide assemble located adjacent to the table segment (iii) a locating block mounted to the guide assembly opposite the mounting block, the locating block positioned above the table segment, and (iv) an alignment guide mounted to the top surface of the mounting block a distance from the guide assembly, at least a portion of the alignment guide adjacent to the table segment. The locating table segment may further provide a motor configured to move the chain. According to one approach the guide assemble may have (a) a first portion having a width and positioned beneath the table segment; (b) a second portion having a width less than the width of the first portion; and (c) a third portion having a width greater than the width of the second portion and positioned above the table segment. In one embodiment, the first portion and the third portion may exert a compressive force on the table segment. Optionally, a second locating assembly adjacent the table segment and opposite the first locating assembly may be provided.

In another embodiment a truss assembly system is provided having (a) peripheral frame; (b) a plurality of beams spanning the frame; (c) at least one attachment bracket attached to each the plurality of beams; (d) a first table segment supported by at least one of the attachment brackets, the first table segment having a width; (e) a second table segment supported by at least one of the attachment brackets and positioned distance from the first table segment; (f) a chain mounted beneath the first table segment; (g) a locating assembly adjacent the first table segment and the second table segment, the locating assembly connected to the chain, and the locating assembly having (i) a mounting block having a top surface, (ii) a guide assembly mounted to the top surface of the mounting block top, at least a portion of the guide assemble located between the first table segment and second table segment, (iii) a locating block mounted to the guide assembly opposite the mounting block, the locating block positioned above at least one of the first table segment and second table segment, and (iv) an alignment guide mounted to the top surface of the mounting block a distance from the guide assembly, at least a portion of the alignment guide located between the first table segment and second table segment. The truss assembly system can also have a third table segment supported by at least one of the attachment brackets, the third locating table segment having a width half the width of the first table segment. The truss assembly system can optionally have a roller segment, the roller segment comprising a plurality of wheels. In this embodiment, a piston may be configured to raise at least a portion of the wheels of the roller segment above the plane of the first table segment and second table segment. The truss assembly can also have a motor configured to move the chain, and a controller to control the chain. In one approach, the truss assembly can have I-beams and wherein at least one of the attachment brackets has (a) a spacer connected to the I-beam; and (b) an L-bracket connected to the spacer opposite the beam, the L-bracket supporting at least one of the first table segment and second table segment.

Various refinements of the truss assembly system are possible. For example, an embodiment may comprise multiple table assemblies positioned adjacent or sufficiently close as to be operable as a single truss assembly system. Additionally, in an embodiment, the system comprises a plurality of first and second table segments positioned adjacent each other (e.g., where both are mono-locating table segments or where dual-locating table segments alternate with blank table segments), thereby defining a table surface comprising a plurality of slots each having an independently positionable locating assembly therein. The system can comprise a computer control system operatively connected to a plurality of movement means for independently selecting the longitudinal position of each locating assembly. In some embodiments the computer control system may control a motor configured to control a chain to which a locating assembly is connected.

All patents, patent applications, government publications, government regulations, and literature references cited in this specification are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. In case of conflict, the present description, including definitions, will control.

Additional features of the disclosure may become apparent to those skilled in the art from a review of the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the examples, drawings, and appended claims, with the understanding that the disclosure is intended to be illustrative, and is not intended to limit the claims to the specific embodiments described and illustrated herein.

