Abstract: A truss assembly machine includes an elongated table for supporting truss members, including a plurality of wood members and a plurality of connector plates, and a pressing roller mounted for rotation about its own axis on a movable gantry above the support table. The gantry transports the roller longitudinally along the table for engaging the connector plates to embed the plates into the wood members and form the completed truss. A hydraulic cylinder with a hydraulically actuated piston carried therein is coupled to each end of the roller for selectively lifting and lowering the roller.

Abstract: A plurality of wood truss members and metal connector plates are assembled on a relatively flat conveyor surface and are transported to a first pressing station having two pairs of pressing rollers for partially embedding the connector plates into the wood members. The truss is then moved to a second pressing station having another pair of pressing rollers, where the plates are substantially completely embedded into the wood members. All of the rollers have substantially the same diameter and preferably have a diameter of at least ten inches to reduce the "rocking action" on the ends of the plates, particularly during the initial stages of the pressing operation. A plurality of guide rails are disposed beneath the conveyor surface for journally supporting the conveyor surface and the truss.

Abstract: A hanger device for connecting a first wood member, such as a wood joist, to a second wood member, such as a roof or floor truss of a building structure, such that the first wood member is oriented substantially perpendicualar to the second wood member. The device is comprised of a relatively flat central member having first and second opposite ends and first and second opposite sides; a relatively flat base member extending perpendicularly outward from the central member adjacent to the first end thereof; a relatively flat flange member extending perpendicularly outward from the central member in an opposite direction from which the base member extends; and first and second walls protruding from the central member and base member in substantially the same direction as the base member. The first and second walls cooperate with the base member and central member to define a recessed region for receiving a portion of the first wood member.

Abstract: A fire protective system and method for a support structure such as a truss having top and bottom chord members, web members extending between the top and bottom chord members and connector plates for connecting the respective ends of the web members to the top and bottom chord members. Fire protection is provided by an elongated metal member having a base portion and a pair of flanges projecting upwardly from the base portion to form a channel. The bottom chord member is received within the channel so that the flanges extend at least partially upwardly along respective opposite sides of the bottom chord member and are in contact therewith. The web members are preferably comprised of V-shaped metal webs having a central toothed connector plate, a pair of elongated arms diverging outwardly from the central connector plate and a pair of toothed connector plates integrally formed on respective ends of the arms opposite the central connector plate.

Abstract: A connector plates for joining together wooden members is formed by striking out longitudinally aligned rows of pairs of teeth from a thin metal plate leaving a single elongate slot in the plate between the two teeth of each pair. Each of the pairs of teeth in each row is longitudinally staggered relative to the pairs of teeth in adjacent rows a distance sufficient to position each tooth of each pair slightly longitudinally offset from a tooth of a pair of teeth in a laterally adjacent row. Each tooth of each pair of teeth includes an elongate shank section rising upwardly from the metal plate, an asymmetrically shaped tip section extending upwardly from the shank section, and a laterally offset point at the upper end of the tip section. The tip sections of each tooth are configured so that the teeth of adjacent rows which are slightly longitudinally offset relative to each other have their points alternating laterally offset toward and then away from each other along the length of the connector plate.