Abstract: A shingle laying apparatus includes a first horizontally extending track; a second track formed by a pair of longitudinal track members extending at right angles to the first track, and a carriage frame mounted on the second track. The second track is mounted for movement in a horizontal direction to the first track and carries the carriage frame for horizontal movement across the roof. The carriage frame is mounted to the second track for movement toward the first track between releasably fixed position associated with appropriate placement of a row of shingles across the roof. The carriage frame include a planar surface forming a tray to carry a load of shingles and provide a seat for an operator laying a row of shingles while moving the frame horizontally along the roof. In the preferred embodiment, a fastener gun assembly is pivotally mounted on the carriage frame in a position for quickly fastening each shingle which is laid on the roof.

Abstract: A mechanized roof shingle laying system has a plurality of lateral supports which are attached to a roof. Desirably, a plurality of horizontal track sections span the entire roof and engage alignment tabs on the lateral supports. A carriage, ridden by an operator, is movable along the horizontal track sections. Shingles carried by the carriage are laid on the roof along a lip guide of the horizontal track sections and produce an accurate alignment of the shingles. When a row of shingles has been laid in alignment upon the roof and fastened thereto, the horizontal track supports are moved to an adjacently spaced alignment tab of the lateral supports so that another row of shingles can be positioned on the roof. The system provides a high production rate with consistently good accurate alignment of the shingles.