Abstract: A wall frame assembly table for rapid assembly of wall frames at a central location for shipment to a construction site. The wall frame assembly table can be configured for construction of wall frames of different shapes and sizes. The table is constructed to inhibit the accumulation of debris on the table for consistently accurate placement of the wall frame elements. Locating pins along the sides of the table engaging the wall frame elements can be selectively removed as needed for driving nails through the elements. An adjustable support is provided for the top plate of the wall frame which can be extended to different distances from an edge of the table for walls of different height. In addition, the adjustable support can be angled in correspondence with a wall frame which has a top plate extending at an angle relative to the bottom plate. A laser projection system may be used to locate the elements of the wall frame.

Abstract: Apparatus for connecting wood members with a connector plate segmented from a continuous strip of connector plates. The connector plates have integral nails extending from one face of the plate. The apparatus includes a feeder for feeding the strip forward to a position where the connector plate is segmented from the strip. A driver drives the segmented plate into the wood members. The apparatus is characterized by a table for the emplacement of the wood members in a pattern for being fastened together. The table is mounted for movement between a position out from under the driver for emplacement of the wood members and a position under the driver for the driving of a segmented connected plate down for penetration of its nails into the wood members. The table has an upwardly facing surface with indicia thereon indicative of the locations of edges of the connector plate. The table also has slots and locating stops to facilitate holding the wood member in the pre-selected pattern on the table.

Abstract: A connector is disclosed for interconnection of disconnected truss members. The connector comprises an elongate sheet metal plate including a first plate portion and a second plate portion. The first plate portion has nailing teeth adapted to be driven into a truss member for permanently attaching the first plate portion to one member. The second plate portion has nail holes formed in it for receiving nails to permanently attach the second plate portion to another of the truss members. The second truss plate portion is substantially free of nailing teeth at the peripheries of the nail holes, but has at least one nailing tooth for temporary connection of the second plate portion to the truss during transport. The truss can be collapsed and transported to the building site with the truss members disconnected.

Abstract: Apparatus for connecting wood members with a connector plate segmented from a continuous strip of connector plates. The connector plates have integral nails extending from one face of the plate. The apparatus includes a feeder for feeding the strip forward to a position where the connector plate is segmented from the strip. A driver drives the segmented plate into the wood members. The apparatus has a table for the emplacement of the wood members in a pattern for being fastened together. The table is mounted for movement between a position out from under the driver for emplacement of the wood members and a position under the driver for the driving of a segmented connected plate down for penetration of its nails into the wood members. The table also has slots and locating stops to facilitate holding the wood member is the pre-selected pattern on the table.

Abstract: A coil advance drive apparatus for connector plate coils is described. The coil advance drive apparatus includes a support structure, a motor coupled to the support structure, at least one elongate coil support member coupled to the support structure, and at least one drive wheel operatively coupled to the motor Each drive wheel is configured to engage the connector plate coil stock. The coil support member includes a plurality of grooves extending longitudinally in one surface of the support member The grooves are configured to receive the pre-punched teeth extending from the connector plate coil stock. The drive wheel includes a plurality of teeth extending from a circumferential surface of the drive wheel. The teeth are configured to engage the open slots in the connector plate coil stock so as to move the coil stock along the support member as the drive wheel rotates. An elongate coil guide cover is coupled to the surface of each coil support member above the grooves.

Abstract: A truss, having an integral hold down strap, which can be attached to a wall of a structure. The truss contains an upper and lower chord and typically contains web members that extend between the upper and lower chords to provide strength and rigidity. The lower and upper chord converge at the heel of the truss and are connected by at least one nailing plate. The hold down strap is an elongate piece of sheet metal which is smooth and free of teeth, and has a first portion which contains two opposing flanges that are bent such that the first portion has a generally U-shaped cross section. The hold down strap also has a second portion sized to extend from the first portion and into engagement with one of the other structural components of a wall. The first portion of the hold down strap is sized to engage the end surface of the lower chord with the two opposing flanges engaging the side surfaces of the lower chord.

Abstract: In one aspect, the present invention relates to a crate subassembly including four side units, and each side unit has a top cord, a bottom cord, and vertical cords extending between and secured to the top and bottom cords. The top cord and bottom cord of each side unit extend substantially parallel to each other, and each side unit further includes a diagonal cord extending from and connected to the top and bottom cords. Connector plates are located to connect the respective adjacent vertical cords of each side unit, as well as to secure each side unit cord. When it is desired to form a crate, and by simply separating opposing side units, the subassembly is opened. When opening, the connector plates on the inner surface of the subassembly flex, or bend, and the connector plates have sufficient rigidity so that once opened, the subassembly does not close on itself during handling. With the subassembly in the open condition, the subassembly is readily secured to a pallet using, for example, screws.

Abstract: In one aspect, the present invention relates to a crate subassembly including four support cords with connector plates securing respective adjacent cords. More particularly, the connector plates extend over the interfaces between adjacent cords, and the connector plates secure adjacent cords together so as to prevent relative lateral movement between adjacent cords yet allow relative rotational movement of the cords as described below. By simply separating opposing cords, the subassembly can be easily and quickly opened. Specifically, the connector plates flex, or bend, and the connector plates have sufficient rigidity so that once opened, the subassembly does not close on itself during handling. Also, notches are formed between adjacent cords, and these notches are utilized when forming a crate as described below. To form a crate, and in an exemplary configuration, three subassemblies are positioned in a spaced relationship, and girders are positioned to extend through respective notches in each subassembly.

Abstract: A connector plate application apparatus presses connector plates into wood members to connect them together for forming wood frames, truss components and the like. Connector plates are supplied to the apparatus in the form of a strip which is pre-punched with nailing teeth. The connector plates are sheared from the strip and driven into the wood members by drivers. The strip is fed forward automatically by a strip feed which engages the strip in openings left by punching the nailing teeth. Loading of a new strip of connector plates is facilitated by an alignment mechanism which allows non-visual alignment of the strip with the strip feed so that the strip feed engages the strip in the openings.

Abstract: A jig for forming multiple trusses at the same time is capable of clamping the trusses together to simultaneously adhere trimmable blocks to the truss so that the truss can be cut off to different lengths. The jig has floating spacers which translate forces applied to components of one truss on one side of the jig through all of the components of all other trusses in the jig. The same truss can be formed with different modular lengths by selection of a fixed dimension central opening and the number of web members to be used. All other dimensions of the web between upper and lower chords of the truss remain the same.

Abstract: A truss having an integral hold down strap can be secured to the wall of a structure. The hold down strap is held between two truss elements, such as a web member intersecting with a lower chord of the truss. The hold down strap is secured to the truss by a nailing plate which can be one of the same nailing plates used to connect other elements of the truss together. The nailing plate teeth penetrate the hold down strap and one of the truss elements to secure the strap to the truss for shipment to a construction site. The hold down strap extends from between the truss elements down into engagement with the wall on which the truss rests where it may be secured to the wall.

Abstract: A scissors truss comprises elongated structural wooden members establishing pairs of top chords and bottom chords connected at opposite ends thereof to establish a top apex joint, a bottom apex joint and heel joints at opposite ends of the truss. At least one vertical wooden member extends between the top and bottom joints to provide structural reinforcement. While the heel joints may be formed with conventional rectangular connector plates with struck teeth embedded into side faces of the chord members, the nail plate establishing the top apex joint is formed with upper inclined edges approximating the pitch of the top chords without projecting upwardly above an upper edge surface of the top chords. Similarly, the bottom nail plate establishing the bottom apex joint is formed with lower inclined edges approximating the pitch of the bottom chords without projecting downwardly below a lower edge surface of the bottom chords.