Abstract: Automated device for maintaining and assembling wooden elements on a pressing table. The device comprises a mobile gantry adapted to be movably mounted to a pressing table. The mobile gantry has at least one motor driven pressing jack and a rail. A motor driven motoring unit is slidably mounted to the rail. A plurality of spindles are arranged on the rail. A plurality of saw logs are mounted to the spindles, each saw log having a ring-shaped groove, an elastic element, and a bore for receiving a spindle. The plurality of spindles constitute a magazine for storing the plurality of saw logs. The motoring unit includes a vertically mobile rod comprising one of a single rod and a double rod. The vertically mobile rod comprises a lower end having a clamp adapted to remove a saw log from a spindle. The clamp comprises a U-shaped plate having an opening which is adapted to engage the ring-shaped groove of a saw log, the clamp comprising an elastic element adapted to engage the saw log.

Abstract: A method for constructing trusses includes providing a plurality of truss tables that includes channel that do not unduly deform or bend during truss construction. Each table includes a support frame and a plurality of substantially horizontally-disposed elongate steel panels. Each panel has an upper surface, a lower surface, and opposing lateral edge portions. The panels are positioned so that their respective upper surfaces are substantially coplanar and so that one of the lateral edge portions of each panel is in adjacent, non-contacting relationship with one of the lateral edge portions of an adjacent panel, such that a gap is defined between the adjacent lateral edge portions of adjacent panels. The panels are supported from underneath by the frame, and each of the gaps is substantially parallel with each of the other gaps.

Abstract: Core-type structures are formed by extruding elongated tubular members or sheets of a thermoplastic material that are subsequently cut into segments or plates having a defined length and then assembled into a bundle. The bundle is then simultaneously cut at a number of spaced-apart locations along the length of the bundled segments, or plates, whereby a plurality of separate core structures are simultaneously formed.

Abstract: A framed structure includes a plurality of base units each formed of three elongate compression members disposed so as to cross one another. Tension members are arranged to be interconnected with respective compression members forming a triangular planar units. The triangular planar units being arranged to form a self-supporting structure or base unit. A plurality of base units being interconnected in a continuous fashion such that one of the compression members in one of the base units serves as one of the compression members in an adjacent base unit.

Abstract: A weight bearing element having a web, and a chord connected to the web, the chord perimeter having a cross-sectional shape of a closed multi-sided figure having at least 5 sides, at least two of which are substantially parallel to the web. Some members may have chords which have a pentagonal cross sectional shape, and/or may include load transferring members or end-caps.