Abstract: A truss assembly station may include a jigging table for assembling a truss thereon and a truss assembler. The truss assembler is disposed at a mobile gantry suspended a predetermined distance from a surface of the jigging table. The mobile gantry is configured to move relative to the surface. The truss assembler is configured to enable assembly of a truss from truss members by providing an automatic sequential placement of the truss members based at least in part upon a planned location of pre-plated truss members within an assembled truss.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for handling completed trusses. The truss handling apparatus moves completed trusses from a conveyor system to selected stacks in a staging area. The truss handler has an extendable boom crane mounted for rotational movement. The crane includes a truss engaging assembly which engages a completed truss such that it can be lifted by the boom crane. The engagement assembly rotates and tilts the engaged truss such that it can be aligned with a stack of trusses. The truss engaging assembly has movable arms to engage trusses of varying size and shape and has hooks for grappling the truss. The apparatus can stack the completed trusses in any of multiple stacks in a staging area. The trusses in each stack can be oriented horizontally, vertically or otherwise.