Machine and method for attaching casing to a structural frame assembly
First Claim
1. A machine for attaching casing to a structural frame assembly, said machine comprising:
- a support frame assembly;
a fixed bank of stapling units supported by said support frame assembly, said fixed bank includinga fixed bank pivot bar rotatably supported by said support frame assembly,at least one fixed bank stapling unit, attached to said fixed bank pivot bar, for driving staples to attach said casing to said structural frame assembly,fixed bank clamping means for clamping said casing adjacent said structural frame assembly during the stapling of said casing to said structural frame assembly, said fixed bank clamping means being attached to said fixed bank pivot bar, anda fixed bank jamb locator fixedly supported by said support frame assembly;
a movable bank of stapling units spaced from and oriented substantially parallel to said fixed bank of stapling units and includingsupport bars slidably supported by said support frame assembly,a movable bank pivot bar rotatably supported by said support bars,a movable bank jamb locator fixedly supported by said support bars,at least one movable bank stapling unit, attached to said movable bank pivot bar, for driving staples to attach said casing to said structural frame assembly,movable bank clamping means for clamping said casing adjacent said structural frame assembly during the stapling of said casing to said structural frame assembly, said movable bank clamping means being attached to said movable bank pivot bar, andmeans for reciprocally sliding said support bars relative said support frame assembly;
a head bank of stapling units located at one end of said fixed and movable banks of stapling units and includinga head bank pivot bar rotatably supported by said support frame assembly,a head bank stapling unit, attached to said head bank pivot bar, for driving staples to attach said casing to said structural frame assembly, andhead bank clamping means for clamping said casing adjacent said structural frame assembly during the stapling of said casing to said structural frame assembly, said head bank clamping means being attached to said head bank pivot bar; and
means for controlling and activating said sliding means of said movable bank, all of said stapling units and all of said clamping means;
wherein said jamb locators are designed and positioned to receive and engage the structural frame assembly.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A machine and method for semi-automatically attaching casing to a structural frame assembly is provided. The machine includes a support frame assembly, a fixed bank of stapling units supported by the support frame assembly, a movable bank of stapling units slidably supported by the support frame assembly and oriented substantially parallel to the fixed bank, and a head bank of stapling units located at one end of the fixed and movable banks and also supported by the support frame assembly. Each bank of stapling units includes a pivot bar, stapling units attached to the pivot bar for stapling the casing to the structural frame assembly, and clamping assemblies attached to the pivot bar for positioning and clamping the casing adjacent the structural frame assembly. The fixed and movable banks include jamb locators which are positioned to engage and retain the longitudinal edges of the structural frame assembly. The structural frame assembly is received between the jamb locators with the pivot bars in the up position. Casing is placed in the clamping assemblies. The pivot bars are rotated to place the casing in abutment with the structural frame assembly and the stapling units adjacent the casing. The stapling units are activated to staple the casing to the structural frame assembly. The pivot bars are rotated back to their starting position, lifting the stapling units and clamping assemblies away from the structural frame assembly.
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Citations
43 Claims
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1. A machine for attaching casing to a structural frame assembly, said machine comprising:
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a support frame assembly; a fixed bank of stapling units supported by said support frame assembly, said fixed bank including a fixed bank pivot bar rotatably supported by said support frame assembly, at least one fixed bank stapling unit, attached to said fixed bank pivot bar, for driving staples to attach said casing to said structural frame assembly, fixed bank clamping means for clamping said casing adjacent said structural frame assembly during the stapling of said casing to said structural frame assembly, said fixed bank clamping means being attached to said fixed bank pivot bar, and a fixed bank jamb locator fixedly supported by said support frame assembly; a movable bank of stapling units spaced from and oriented substantially parallel to said fixed bank of stapling units and including support bars slidably supported by said support frame assembly, a movable bank pivot bar rotatably supported by said support bars, a movable bank jamb locator fixedly supported by said support bars, at least one movable bank stapling unit, attached to said movable bank pivot bar, for driving staples to attach said casing to said structural frame assembly, movable bank clamping means for clamping said casing adjacent said structural frame assembly during the stapling of said casing to said structural frame assembly, said movable bank clamping means being attached to said movable bank pivot bar, and means for reciprocally sliding said support bars relative said support frame assembly; a head bank of stapling units located at one end of said fixed and movable banks of stapling units and including a head bank pivot bar rotatably supported by said support frame assembly, a head bank stapling unit, attached to said head bank pivot bar, for driving staples to attach said casing to said structural frame assembly, and head bank clamping means for clamping said casing adjacent said structural frame assembly during the stapling of said casing to said structural frame assembly, said head bank clamping means being attached to said head bank pivot bar; and means for controlling and activating said sliding means of said movable bank, all of said stapling units and all of said clamping means; wherein said jamb locators are designed and positioned to receive and engage the structural frame assembly. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. An assembly for attaching casing to a structural frame assembly comprising:
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a conveyor belt assembly; two machines for attaching casing to one side of the structural frame assembly, each of said machines comprising; a support frame assembly; a fixed bank of stapling units supported by said support frame assembly, said fixed bank including a fixed bank pivot bar rotatably supported by said support frame assembly, at least one fixed bank stapling unit, attached to said fixed bank pivot bar, for driving staples to attach said casing to said structural frame assembly, fixed bank clamping means for clamping said casing adjacent said structural frame assembly during the stapling of said casing to said structural frame assembly, said fixed bank clamping means being attached to said fixed bank pivot bar, and a fixed bank jamb locator fixedly supported by said support frame assembly; a movable bank of stapling units oriented substantially parallel to said fixed bank of stapling units and including support bars slidably supported by said support frame assembly, a movable bank pivot bar rotatably supported by said support bars, a movable bank jamb locator fixedly supported by said support bars, at least one movable bank stapling unit, attached to said movable bank pivot bar, for driving staples to attach said casing to said structural frame assembly, movable bank clamping means for clamping said casing adjacent said structural frame assembly during the stapling of said casing to said structural frame assembly, said movable bank clamping means being attached to said movable bank pivot bar, and means for reciprocally sliding said support bars relative said support frame assembly; a head bank of stapling units located at one end of said fixed and movable banks of stapling units and including a head bank pivot bar rotatably supported by said support frame assembly, a head bank stapling unit, attached to said head bank pivot bar, for driving staples to attach said casing to the structural frame assembly, and head bank clamping means for clamping said casing adjacent the structural frame assembly during the stapling of said casing to said structural frame assembly, said head bank clamping means being attached to said head bank pivot bar; corner splicing assemblies located at corners formed by (1) said fixed bank and said head bank and (2) said movable bank and said head bank; means for moving said structural frame assembly from said conveyor belt assembly, positioning said frame assembly adjacent said fixed bank, moving said structural frame assembly away from said fixed bank and returning said structural frame assembly to said conveyor assembly; and means for controlling and activating said sliding means of said movable bank, said stapling units and said clamping means; wherein said jamb locators are designed to receive and engage the structural frame assembly; and a frame assembly turning station; wherein said conveyor belt assembly, said two machines for attaching casing to one side of the structural frame assembly and said frame assembly turning station are arranged such that the structural frame assembly is transported by the conveyor assembly from a first of the machines for attaching casing, to the frame assembly turning station to the second of the machines for attaching casing.
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31. A machine for forming a structural member from various individual members comprising:
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a support frame assembly; a fixed bank of stapling units supported by said support frame assembly, said fixed bank including a fixed bank pivot bar rotatably supported by said support frame assembly, and at least one fixed bank stapling unit, attached to said fixed bank pivot bar, for driving staples to attach at least first and second members of the various individual members; a movable bank of stapling units spaced from and oriented substantially parallel to said fixed bank of stapling units and including means for moving said movable bank between in and out positions, said moving means being supported by said support frame assembly, a movable bank pivot bar, and at least one movable bank stapling unit, attached to said movable bank pivot bar, for driving staples to attach at least third and fourth members of the various individual members; a head bank of stapling units located at one end of said fixed and movable banks of stapling units and including a head bank pivot bar rotatably supported by said support frame assembly, and a head bank stapling unit, attached to said head bank pivot bar, for driving staples to attach at least fifth and sixth members of said individual members; and means for controlling and activating said movable bank and said stapling units. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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Specification