Abstract: Method for forming a symmetrically bifurcated terminal portion on an existing truss web component having a tubular medial portion and flattened web ends comprises shearing one of the web ends for removing tubing skin from its longitudinal margins, forming two unsupported side walls, and then flattening the side walls. The flattened side walls are wedged apart, separating them relative to one another and forming the symmetrically bifurcated terminal portion. The opposed web end is flattened, forming a comparatively large flattened terminal portion. The apparatus includes a frame having mounted thereon shearing means, splitting means, flattening means, and drive means for accomplishing the foregoing operations.

Abstract: Sheets of material, wood veneers in particular, are assembled into a continuous, linear, composite stack by arranging a first stack of sheets above a lineal conveyer with the sheets progressively lapped by predetermined increments in the direction of movement of the conveyer. The bottom-most sheet is deposited on the conveyer. The conveyer is advanced a predetermined linear travel increment while placing the first sheet of a second stack on the introduced with its leading end overlapping the trailing end of the sheet from the first stack already there.The stepwise advancement of the conveyer is continued while alternately depositing and lapping additional sheets. When the first stack has been completely deposited, the second stack is elevated above the conveyer and a third stack interleaved with the second stack in the same progression. This sequence is continued indefinitely, producing a continuous, linear, composite stack of sheet materials.