Abstract: A production line for manufacturing wooden I-beams wherein a pair of grooved flanges are conveyed along opposite sides of a train of web members and converged so that the web longitudinal edges are inserted into the chord grooves is disclosed. The flanges are each sequentially fed into left and right hand sides of the assembly line through a cam type flange feeder and a resiliently mounted hold-down member automatically orienting the flanges with the flange grooves facing inwardly. A lugged web feeder engages a longitudinal edge of each web to laterally convey same, or random web lengths, into the upstream end of the assembly machine. A web bottom drive engages the web undersides to convey same into contact with the flanges while eliminating overhead clutter to enable easy access to the web and flange members for manual intervention.

Abstract: A fabricated wood I-beam is formed with a pair of elongated chord members and planar web members interconnected to the chord members by specially shaped mechanically interlocking and adhesively secured joints. Elongated chord members are provided with longitudinally extending grooves which have cross sections shaped to provide a necked-down groove width at a groove depth intermediate the open mouth of the groove and the bottom of the groove. Opposite edges of the web members are shaped to provide cross sections with a necked-down thickness along each of such web edges and configured so that the shaped web edges substantially mate with the chord member grooves to form a mechanically interlocking fit. Methods for making such wood I-beams include methods for making chord grooves of desired configuration, making correspondingly shaped web edges, and assembling the shaped web edges in the chord grooves to form a mechanically interlocking joint which is adhesively secured.

Abstract: A complete production line assembly of a wooden I-beam manufacturing apparatus is disclosed, wherein generally identical chord members are simultaneously formed by cutting of a wooden stock material into the chord members and simultaneously providing grooves in one surface of each chord into which web members are received to form the I-beam. The individual web members are conveyed as stacks into a web infeed hopper where the individual web members are sequentially discharged from the hopper into a chords and webs assembly line. The web transfer mechanism for conveying the webs to the hopper is fully automated. The individual web members are conveyed along the assembly line between the grooved chords and the chords are converged so that the grooves interfit with the web edges to form the I-beam. The chords and webs assembly line is adjustable by virture of mounting guide rollers on at least one adjustable side frame to enable the line to manufacture wooden I-beams of varying depth.

Abstract: A complete production line of a wood I-beam manufacturing apparatus and the method of manufacture is disclosed wherein generally identical chord members are simultaneously formed by cutting of a wooden stock material into the chord members and simultaneously providing grooves in one surface of each chord into which web members are received to form the I-beam. The individual web members are conveyed along a chords and webs assembly line between the grooved chords and the chords are converged so that the grooves interfit with the web edges to form the I-beam. The web longitudinal edges are preferably beveled in an off-line beveling operation. The beveled webs are stacked for feeding into the chords and webs assembly line. Prior thereto, first and second glue layers are applied to one transverse edge of each stacked web member. The web members are subsequently conveyed in the assembly line in end-to-end abutting relationship.

Abstract: A complete production line of a wood I-beam manufacturing apparatus and the method of manufacture is disclosed wherein generally identical chord members are simultaneously formed by cutting of a wooden stock material into the chord members and simultaneously providing grooves in one surface of each chord into which web members are received to form the I-beam. The individual web members are conveyed along a chords and webs assembly line between the grooved chords and the chords are converged so that the grooves interfit with the web edges to form the I-beam. The web longitudinal edges are preferably beveled in an off-line beveling operation. The beveled webs are stacked for feeding into the chords and webs assembly line. Prior thereto, first and second glue layers are applied to one transverse edge of each stacked web member. The web members are subsequently conveyed in the assembly line in end-to-end abutting relationship.