US3688965A

US3688965A - Machine for fabricating walls

Info

Publication number: US3688965A
Application number: US865742A
Authority: US
Inventors: Raymond M Kellner; Minor E Gee
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1969-10-13
Filing date: 1969-10-13
Publication date: 1972-09-05
Anticipated expiration: 1989-09-05
Also published as: US3986247A

Abstract

A machine for fabricating walls from wood framing materials, particularly suited for use in fabricating walls of a type normally employed in constructing frame structures and the like, characterized by an employment of a series of sequentially actuated machine systems electrically interconnected for selecting and feeding components and for selectively assembling the components into walls having adjustably regulated dimensions and selectively controlled spaced and dimensioned openings defining doors, windows and the like, a particular feature of the invention being a combination of an electrical control system interconnected with a series of operative systems for driving the machine through a predetermined sequence of machine events, in redundant or non-redundant modes, for fabricating a series of walls to be erected into frame structures.

Description

United States Patent Kellner et al.

[ Sept. 5, 1972 [54] MACHINE FOR FABRICATING WALLS [72] Inventors: Raymond M. Kellner, 4505 N.

Primary Examiner--Granville Y. Custer, Jr. Attorney-Huebner & Worrel [57] ABSTRACT A machine for fabricating walls from wood framing materials, particularly suited for use in fabricating walls of a type normally employed in constructing frame structures and the like, characterized by an employment of a series of sequentially actuated machine systems electrically interconnected for selecting and feeding components and for selectively assembling the components into walls having adjustably regulated dimensions and selectively controlled spaced and dimensioned openings defining doors, windows and References Cited the like, a particular feature of the invention being a UNITED STATES PATENTS Y combination of electrical control system intercom nected with a series of operative systems for driving Riggs the machine through a predetermined equence of 2,574,163 11/1951 Bamford, Sr ..227/44 X machine events, in redundant or nomredundant 2,876,450 3/1959 Eqdleblute -227/152 X modes, for fabricating a series of walls to be erected 3,370,769 2/1968 Price, Jr. ..227/3 into frame structures 3,399,445 9/1968 Carroll ..227/76 X 3,443,513 5/1969 Jureit et al. ..227/152 X 13 Claims, 31 Drawing Figures R Fig 572 752 COMP HEADER WINDOW 57c: 16 ACE 0 o\ AS551). FEEDING STA. INSERT S721 ION ROUTER INSERT 57:47-10 PATENTED E 5 I972 SHEET OlflF 14 INVE/V TOPS W )M ,4 ITOPNEY$ lmm MINOR E. GEE

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ATTORNEYS PATENTEDSEP 51912 SHEET 030F 14 RAYMOND M. AEl. IJVER W I a I 5 g 35. Q Q Mg MINOR E. GEE

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INVENTORS KW 2 M ATTORNEYS PATENTE'DSEP 5 m2 SHEEI 09 0F 14 lmmlll NIH lllllllig'laEllllllElall RAYMOND M. KELLNER MINOR E. GEE

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INVENTORS A TTORNEYS MACHINE FOR FABRICATING WALLS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION and configuration to be employed in erecting buildings of frame construction.

Frame structures normally are erected by age-old custom framing techniques which necessitate an on-site cutting of selected timbers to required dimensions and then joining the selected members according to given building plans. Techniques presently employed in framing buildings, including dwellings, inherently involve numerous redundant efforts. However, due to the individuality of each wall incorporated within frame buildings, a large force of skilled workmen is normally required at on-site building locations. The result necessarily flowing from this combination of conditions is that skilled workmen expend large quantities of time performing time-consuming redundant functions. Furthermore, since conventional framing techniques usually require operations performed on-site, efficiency is severely inhibited due to an existing lack of convenient equipment suitable for automating construction and assembly of wall structures. This is particularly true where the buildings being erected are widely variable in their wall requirements. Consequently, a waste in building materials, as well as a loss of time inherently attends the use of the techniques presently employed in framing buildings. This inadequacy becomes particularly acute where given buildings must be constructed with a minimum supply of skilled labor supported by a minimum budget.

The prior art is replete with prefabrication techniques for fabricating selected subassemblies ultimately to be utilized as a building is erected. These techniques employ numerous jigs and various types of control systems for positioning and rigidly supporting manually selected structural members in a given orientation while a joining of the members is effected through processes including nailing, bolting, clamping and the like. Normally, the structural members, once properly oriented, are nailed in place through nailing operations, frequently employing hand operated hammers, nailing guns, and the like. Unfortunately, only certain simple building structures of repetitive structural form are subject to being efficiently fabricated utilizing known techniques, clue to the fact that, in fabricating complex structures, each subassembly normally requires a separate and a unique jig of a fixed dimension. Consequently, it has been found economically prohibitive to provide the required number of jigs and combinations of jigs for supplying subassemblies for most practical construction purposes. This is particularly true where the selected configuration for the subassembly must be custom-built for providing a unique complex building subassembly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION are indexed in response to a series of machine control signals derived from a convenient source of intelligence, such as a coded tape, and supplied to a machine control circuit which operatively dictates control of the slaved systems in accordance with the coded intelligence.

Accordingly, an object of the instant invention is to provide a machine for serially fabricating walls having individually controlled dimensions and configurations for use in framing buildings and the like.

Another object is to provide a machine for automating the fabrication of walls employed in the framing of buildings.

Another object is to provide a machine for completing the fabrication of a wall from a plurality of building components for reducing on-site time requirements, and overall construction costs.

Another object is to provide an improved machine wherein studs, plates, headers, trimmers and the like are selected, assembled and nailed into a series of walls of individually controlled dimensions and configurations for delivery as construction subassemblies and erected on-site with minimal labor requirements.

Another object is to provide an improved machine for fabricating a series of walls to be transported and subsequently employed in framing buildings while employing a minimum of on-site fabrication operations.

Another object is to provide a machine for fabricating a series of walls of individually controlled dimensions and configurations.

Another object is to provide a machine adapted to respond to stored intelligence for fabricating a series of walls into preselected configurations.

Another object is to provide a machine having a multiplicity of sequentially oriented stations adapted selectively to assemble framing components, including studs, plates, headers, trimmers and the like, into a series of subassemblies, the control of which is dictated by stored intelligence derived from an examination of building requirements for selected buildings.

Another object is to provide a fully automated machine adapted to respond to a delivery of electronically stored intelligence for selecting various combinations of studs, plates, headers, trimmers and the like, and assemble the selected components into a series of individually controlled unitary structures including headers, window boxes, sheathing and the like, defining walls for building constructing purposes.

Another object is to provide a machine adapted to respond to stored intelligence for sequentially selecting and delivering building components including studs, plates, trimmers and other components.

Another object is to provide a wall advancing means capable of advancing a wall having plates in preselected and variable increments to orient the plates of the :wall at appropriate locations for receiving therebetween studs and other components.

Another object is to provide a positive wall advancing device capable of advancing a wall without experiencing slippage between the wall and the advancing means.

These together with other objects and advantages which will subsequently become apparent are directed to the broad purposes of substantially reducing the costs of building construction, improving its quality, and speeding up its production time.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the machine embodying the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an elevation of the component feed station mechanism employed in delivering certain wall components including vertical support members, wall plates and the like.

FIG. 3 is a plan view, on somewhat an enlarged scale,

of the2 component feed station mechanism illustrated in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

' FIG. 5 is a partial side elevation, on an enlarged scale, of the component feed station and the component assembly station illustrated in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a sectional plan view taken generally along line 6-6 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary elevation of the plate delivery conveyor, taken generally along line 7-7 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary elevation taken generally along line 8-8 of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a sectional elevation taken generally along line 9-9 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 10 is a detailed plan view, on an enlarged scale, of the component pusher head employed in advancing various wall components.

FIG. 11 is a detailed side view of the pusher head illustrated in FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a side elevation, on somewhat of an enlarged scale, taken along line 12-12 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 13 is an enlarged detail view of a microswitch actuating mechanism employed in initiating a component advance operation for the machine embodying the principles of the instant invention.

FIG. 14 is a side elevation, on an enlarged scale, taken generally along line 14-14 of FIG. 6.

FIG. .15 is an enlarged view taken generally along line 15-15 ofFIG. 6.

FIG. 16 is an end view of a timing mechanism employed by the machine.

FIG. 17 is a plan view of the timing mechanism illustrated in FIG. 16.

FIG. 18 is a sectioned, fragmentary end view taken along line 18-18 ofFIG. 17.

FIG. 19 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 19-19 ofFIG.18.

FIG. 20 is a side elevation of the header feeder shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 21 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a portion of the header feeder shown in FIG. 20.

FIG. 22 is an end elevation illustrating the mechanism employed in feeding window boxes.

FIG. 23 is a top plan view of router employed in routing the studs and stud-trimmers for receiving a let-in brace therein.

FIG. 24 is an end elevation of the router shown in FIG. 23.

FIG. 25 is a top plan view of the brace feeder at the brace assembly station.

FIG. 26 is an end elevation of a sheathing feeder employed in feeding the sheathing at the sheathing applicator station illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 27 is an exploded perspective view of an assembled wall fabricated employing the machine of the instant invention.

FIG. 28 is a block diagram of the control circuit for the machine embodying the principles of the instant invention, illustrating the circuits employed at the various stations depicted in FIG. 1 and through which each wall ultimately is conveyed.

FIG. 29 is a timing chart illustrating the sequential operation of the machine.

FIG. 30 is a perspective view of a drum-switch which may be employed for achieving a sequential operation of the machine.

FIG. 31 is a fragmentary side view taken at one end of the brace assembly station, as shown in FIG. 25.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT GENERAL DESCRIPTION In fabricating walls which are to be employed in framing buildings and the like, the various wall components, including the wall plates and the vertical structural support components necessarily must be accurately dimensioned, as well as precisely spaced within the assembled wall for meeting building code requirements, as well as for satisfying construction needs of building integrity and accuracy in construction.

Through the employment of the process and machine embodying the principles of the instant invention, it has been found that it is entirely possible and practical to reduce construction data to coded intelligence and then drive slaved, special-purpose machine systems in a manner consistent with the intelligence for fabricating wall structures which are both accurately dimensioned and structurally sound.

In practicing the instant invention, a set of engineering and architectural drawings are acquired for a given building, or group of buildings, to be constructed. This material includes specific data as to the dimensions of I the walls to be constructed, the location and types of openings to be provided as well as the types of material to be employed. This data then is reduced to readily comprehensive intelligence, including the required vertical components, their relative spacing and dimensions. Thereafter, the thus provided listing is converted to electronically stored intelligence which ultimately is electronically extracted and employed in driving slaved sub-systems of the machine of the instant invention for causing the machine to carry out a series of mechanical functions for assembling selected components in a manner consistent with the stored intelligence. The resulting structure is a series of completed walls, each wall being of individually determined dimensions and configurations and satisfying the requirements of acquired drawings and engineering data.

Turning now to FIG. 1, therein is illustrated a machine embodying the principles of the present invention. The machine is provided with a plurality of stations, including a component feed station 10, a component assembly station 11, a header feeding station 12, a window box inserting station 14, a router station 16, a brace inserting station 18, and a sheathing station 20.

The various stations are arranged in a serial alignment and in a manner such that various wall components sequentially are fed, partially assembled into a wall and then conveyed to a series of next-in-line stations for sequentially receiving successive operations,

whereby upon an application of sheathing, applied in the sheathing station 20, there is provided a completed wall.

Of course, it is to be understood that the wall being fabricated selectively can be delivered through any of the various stations without receiving an operation, depending upon the desired status of completion required for the wall, and the ultimate configuration of the wall being fabricated.

For the purposes of storing and retrieving intelligence, numerous information storage and retrieval devices currently are commercially available. These devices include card and tape encoders, readers and data processing machines. As a matter of convenience, the instant invention utilizes intelligence storage and retrieval systems of a type which employ reelable tapes.

As best illustrated in FIG. 28, the machine of the instant invention employs a suitable tape reader 22 through which is threaded an electronically coded intelligence bearing tape 23. Since the tape reader forms no specific part of the instant invention it is illustrated in block form. However, in practice, an optical reader has successfully been employed. These devices normally include a light-responsive head and serve to extract and decode coded intelligence by delivering light through openings provided in a punched tape whereupon a supply of electrical output signals, which represents the stored intelligence, is provided. The output is then delivered to various slaved circuits through control circuits for performing selected functions. As presently employed, the reader 22 electrically is coupled with a machine control circuit 24 which utilizes the output signals derived from the reader 22 for closing a series of electrical circuits to the actuators for tape selected machine systems. In practice, the tape 23, as illustrated, is punched by a key punch operator, or a suitable machine, in a prescribed manner for coding the tape with intelligence indicative of the sequence of machine events which must occur to fabricate a series of selected walls.

Since the tape reader 22, tape 23, and the machine control circuit 24 may be of any suitable design, and be varied as desired, a detailed description thereof is omitted in the interest of brevity. However, it should be understood that the tape 23 is coded through an intelligence storage system to provide signal generating indicia thereon for thus establishing the required intelligence on the face of the tape, while the tape reader 22 complements the intelligence storage system and serves to review the intelligence and deliver electrical signals to the control circuit 24 consistent with the intelligence provided on the tape. Any convenient tape advancing mechanism may be employed in feeding the tape, however, as illustrated, the tape 23 is fed between a pair of selectively driven spools 26.

The control circuit 24, in effect, includes a plurality of normally open, solenoid-operated switches which respond, or are closed to a source of electrical potential, in response to the input signals'delivered by the reader 22. The output of the control circuit 24 is made up of electrical signals delivered to various circuits located throughout the machine and serve to close appropriately arranged switches for achieving desired functions at appropriate intervals.

Consequently, it should be appreciated that as the tape 23 is fed through the tape reader 22, the reader responds to coded intelligence and provides a series of electrical signals or pulses which are delivered to the circuit 24 which, in turn, completes various electrical circuits within the operative circuits of the machine for thus achieving a predetermined sequence of machine functions for thereby completing a wall in a desired or preselected configuration.

For purposes of description of the machine, unless otherwise designated, the machine elements at opposite sides of the longitudinal axis of the machine are deemed to constitute mirror images. Therefore, it is to be understood that, except where indicated, machine components are duplicates and are arranged at opposite sides of the machine to perform complementary functions.

COMPONENT FEED STATION Turning now to FIGS. 2 through 9, 12, 13 and 27, it will be seen that at the component feed station 10 there is provided a plate feed system 30, and a vertical component feed system 32 which are united into a unitary wall structure. The wall ultimately includes a pair of parallel plates 34 having extended therebetween a mu]- tiplicity of vertical support members, including a studblock 36, a block-stud 38, a plurality of studs 40, a plurality of window boxes 42, a plurality of stud-trimmers 44, and a plurality of trimmer-studs 46. The studblocks and block-studs are of similar design except that they are reversely oriented. The same convention is employed in designating the stud-trimmers and trimmer-studs.

(Plate Feed) The plates 34 are delivered to the machine by a plurality of parallel conveyor chains 50 arranged at opposite sides of the machine and driven in a manner such that the upper surfaces of the upper reaches thereof continuously are advanced toward the longitudinal axis of the machine, whereby plates may be deposited on the upper surfaces of the chains and indiscriminately fed to the machine to there be received.

In practice, the plates 34 are manually deposited on the chains 50, however, the plates could be delivered thereto by any suitable device, including continuously actuated feed conveyors. The chains 50 are driven through a mechanism including a plurality of sprockets 52 pinned or otherwise secured to a journaled drive shaft 54. The shaft 54 is powered by a suitable electrical motor 56 coupled to the shaft through a chain and sprocket coupling 58. Of course, it is to be understood that the conveyor chains could, through suitable gearing, be driven from a common power source such as the motor 56, however, in practice, a pair of electrical motors 56 are employed in a manner such that the chains 50 at opposite sides of the machine separately are driven for randomly delivering the plates 34 to the station 10.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8, the advancing plates 34 are intercepted and engaged at longitudinally spaced points by a plurality of stops 60. Each of the stops 60 includes a vertically supported, rigidly mounted stop finger 61 extended above the plane of the upper surface of the conveyor chain adjacent the v plates 34 are brought into a contiguous side-by-side relationship and are restrained from further advancing displacement by the fingers 61.

In order to achieve a selected feeding of the plates 34, a plurality of vertically reciprocating discharge fingers 62 are reciprocally mounted by a plurality of suitably arranged bearing clamps 64 mounted adjacent the fingers 61, at a position directly beneath the plates 34 as they are engaged by the fingers 61.

As best illustrated in FIG. 7, each of the discharge fingers 62 includes a kicker surface 66 so inclined that as the surface is brought into engagement with the lowermost surface of a plate 34, the plate is elevated and subsequently tilted toward the machine so that, in effect, the plate is permitted to roll over the upper surface of the finger 61. As a practical matter, the upper surfaces of each of the fingers 61 also are inclined toward the machine for enhancing the delivery of the plates 34.

The discharge fingers 62 simultaneously are extended and retracted relative to the surface of the conveyor chain 50 by means including a drive shaft 66 supported for rotation by a plurality of journal bearings 68. The shaft 66 is coupled through a plurality of similar drive linkages 70 to the lowermost end of the various discharge fingers. Each of the drive linkages 70 includes a radial arm-like link 72 having a first end securely fixed to the shaft 67 and adapted to be oscillated thereby. The second end of each of the links 72 pivotally is coupled to the lowermost end of one of the fingers 62 through a pivoted push rod 74. The rods 74 include suitable pivot connections at each of their opposite ends for effecting a coupling thereof between the finger 62 and the radial links 72 so that as the shaft 67 is oscillated, reciprocation is imparted through the links to the fingers 62 for elevating and retracting the kicker surfaces relative to the plane of the upper surface of the chains 50.

Oscillation is, in turn, imparted to the shafts 67 through a pneumatic, piston-type actuator 76 having a reciprocating drive shaft 78 adapted to be extended and retracted in response to alternate pneumatic pressurizations of the actuator. The distal end of the shaft 78 includes a clevis 80 pivotally coupled with the shaft 67 through a rigid crank arm 82 having one end pivotally connected at the clevis 80 and the opposite end rigidly fixed to the shaft 67. The actuator 76 is pivotally supported by a coupling 84 located at the heel thereof so that the actuator is permitted to pivot at the clevis 80 for accommodating an arcuate oscillation of the clevis 80 so that oscillation of the shaft 67 and, consequently, oscillation of the link 72 is achieved for imparting desired reciprocation to the fingers 62.

As best illustrated in FIG. 7, each of the plates 34 is delivered from .the stop fingers 61 to the upper surface of an endless conveyor chain 86. Each of the chains 86 includes an upper reach extending transversely to the discharge ends of the upper reaches of the chains 50. The plane of the chains 86 is beneath the plane of the chain 50 so that as the plates are delivered by the discharge fingers 62 they are received by the upper surfaces of the chain 86. As illustrated in FIG. 9, each of the chains 86 is supported for continuous displacement by the upper surface of a laterally extended supporting track 88. The track 88 extends between a pair of support shaft 90, FIG. 3, having suitable sprockets 92 mounted thereon with the chains 86 being trained thereover. As a practical matter, various devices may be employed in driving the shafts 90. However, in practice, a continuously operable motor 94 operatively is coupled to a selected one of the shafts through a convenient chain-and-sprocket coupling 95.

Therefore, it should be apparent that as the plates 34 are fed at the component feed station 10, initially they are directed along a first path, transverse to their longitudinal axes, as they are delivered by the chains 50, and then are delivered along a path extending parallel to the longitudinal axes, as they are received at the upper reaches of the chains 86 upon being discharged by the discharge fingers 62. Since the motor 94 is a continuously driven motor, the plates 34 continuously are urged to advance through a frictional engagement with the upper surfaces of the chains 86. However, in the event an obstruction is encountered, slippage or relative displacement between the lower surfaces of the plates and the upper surfaces of the chains 86 is readily accommodated.

In order to effect delivery of the plates 34, through a reciprocation of the fingers 62, there is provided a microswitch 96 having a spring-biased pivoted arm 98 disposed in the path of the plates 34 as they are advanced by the chains 86. In the absence of a plate 34 on the upper surfaces of the chains 86, the arm 98 is biased across the chain causing the microswitch 96 to close a circuit to a suitable valve, not shown, for initiating actuation of the actuator 76, whereupon the actuator 76 is caused to extend for rocking the shaft 67 causing the discharge surface 66 of the fingers 62 to be elevated for thereby delivering a plate 34 to the chain 86. Once the plate 34 is supported by the chain 86, it will be advanced past the microswitch 96 causing the circuit to open, whereupon the actuator 76 is returned to a retracted position for returning the discharge surface of the fingers below the surface of the conveyor chains 50.

Vertical Component Feed) The vertical component feed 32 includes a sequentially aligned multiplicity of transversely arranged, vertically disposed hoppers 100. Each of the hoppers 100 is of a vertical chute configuration adapted to receive therein a stack of super-imposed, horizontally oriented vertical support members of a specific type. For example, the first-in-line hopper, as illustrated in FIG. 3, is adapted to receive elongated studs 40 in a superimposed relationship, while the next-in-line hopper serves to receive and retain a stack of superimposed studblocks 36, the next hopper receives and retains therein block-studs 38, the next hopper receives and retains stud-trimmers 44 while the last-in-line hopper serves to receive and retain trimmer-studs 46.

In order to deliver a vertical component from a selected one of the hoppers 100,- each hopper is provided with a pair of vertically disposed reciprocating elevators 101 arranged therebeneath and adapted to engage the opposite ends of the components for lifting the components as they are retained within the hoppers. The elevators 101 are driven through an energization of a pair of actuators 102, of a design quite similar to the actuators 76. Each of the actuators 102 includes an output shaft 104 and a pair of parts, not designated,

through which pressurized fluid operatively is delivered to one end of the actuators cylinder, while an exhaust of pressurized fluid is accommodated at the opposite end of the cylinder for thus extending and retracting the output shaft 104.

Hence, by controlling the direction of delivery of pressurized fluid to the actuators 102, each of the shafts 104 selectively is upwardly extended or downwardly retracted for causing the elevators 101 to engage the end portions of the lowermost component for selectively lifting the stack of vertical components in the associated hopper 100. In practice, a suitable selector valve 106, FIG. 28, is provided and coupled with each actuator 102 for determining the direction of fluid flow thereto.

Control for the selector valves 106 is achieved in response to a signal delivered from the machine control circuit 24. Therefore, as a signal is delivered from the control circuit 24 to the component feed station 10, a selected actuator 102 is actuated. Of course, it is to be understood that each of the hoppers 100 is provided with a pair of simultaneously energized elevators 101 so that the component's ends are elevated simultaneously to preclude a jam of the feed mechanism.

As shown in FIG. 3, each of the hoppers 100 also is provided with a pair of spaced clamping feet 108, FIG. 6. Each of the clamping feet 108 includes a pneumatic actuator 109 and a reciprocating shaft 110 coupled therebetween. The feet, when extended, engage the lowermost component within the associated hopper 100. These feet are located adjacent to the ends of the hoppers and serve as pressure applicators to clamp the engaged components so that downward displacement thereof is inhibited. In practice, the actuators 109 are driven from a pneumatic pressure source, not shown, however, as presently employed, operation of each of the clamping feet 108 operatively is controlled by a microswitch 112, FIG. 5, having an actuator arm 113. Each microswitch is mounted near one end of the associated hopper 100 and is adapted to be actuated by a reciprocable actuating rod 114. The rods 114 are supported for vertical reciprocation adjacent to the ends of the hoppers 100 by suitable bearing brackets 116 having vertically aligned bores extending therethrough. Each of the rods includes a camming collar 118 fixedly secured thereto and adapted to actuate the actuator 113 of the adjacent microswitch 112. The rod 114 is biased in a downward direction by a tension spring 120 connected therewith. The spring 120 assures a seating of the rod 114 in a position to be driven into engagement with the actuator of the microswitch 1 12.

In order to impart upward displacement to the rods 114, each of the elevators 101 further includes a vertically extended plate 122, FIGS. 5 and 9, mounted in suitable vertically aligned tracks, not designated. Each of the plates has secured thereto an elevator link 124, FIG. 5. The link 124 extends laterally from the plate 122 and is provided with a vertically aligned opening, not designated, which receives therein the rod 114. As each elevator 101 is displaced, the plate 122 and the associated link 124 are displacedupwardly. A collar 126 is fixed to the rod 114 in a position to be engaged by the link 124 as it is displaced upwardly.

Therefore, as the elevator actuator 102 drives the shaft 104 upwardly, beneath a hopper 100, the clamping feet 108 are caused to be released, whereupon the stack of components is free to descend. However, due to the extension of the shaft 104, the components cannot descend except at such time as the shaft 104 is retracted. As the elevator 101 is retracted into a plane below the clamping feet 108, the actuator 113 of the microswitch 112 again is actuated by a release of the I collar 118 fixed to the rod 114 so that the clamping feet again are actuated for engaging the adjacent component arranged in a coplanar relationship therewith. In practice, the collar 118 is so adjusted that one component, only, is permitted to drop with the elevator.

Continued downward displacement of the elevator 101 permits the elevator-supported component to be seated and supported by the upper surface of the conveyor 130. This conveyor includes a pair of continuously driven coplanar conveyor chains 131. As the components are seated on the conveyor chains 131, the elevator shaft 104 continues to be retracted therebeneath for thus accommodating a release of the vertical component for thus permitting the component to be advanced by the conveyor.

Therefore, for each cycle of operation, the machine control circuit 24 selects, in accordance with intelligence signals received from the tape reader 22, a component to be fed. As a result of this selection, the associated selector valve 106 is energized for delivering fluid through a selected actuator 102 of an elevator 101, whereupon the shaft 104 thereof is driven upwardly for engaging the lowermost component within a hopper 100. As upward displacement of the shaft is achieved, the associated rod 114 causes the microswitch 112 to be activated. Activation of this switch initiates a retraction of the clamping feet 108, whereby the feet are withdrawn from engagement with the lowermost component of the hopper for thereby releasing the stack of components. As the shaft 104 ultimately descends, the microswitch 112 is again actuated, through a disengagement of the collar 118 fixed to the rod 114, for causing the clamping feet 108 to again be actuated. As the feet 108 are again actuated, the component disposed opposite thereto, which, as a practical matter, is the component supported directly above the component engaged and supported by the shaft 104, is engaged by the feet. As the elevator shaft 104 descends beneath the level of the conveyor 130, the conveyor engages and advances the component in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the component. Continued advancement of the component by the conveyor 130 delivers the component to a pair of support rails 132, FIG. 9, disposed in a throat defined by a pair of laterally spaced guide plates 133, FIG. 4 and 6, which engage the end surfaces of the advancing components. A pair of switches MSl having an arm 134, FIG. 6, are arranged adjacent the support rails, whereby as the components sequentially are advanced by the conveyor 130, they are positioned on the arms 134 for actuating the switches MSl for thus initiating further advancement of the components from the station 10 to the component assembly station 1 1.

Each of the switches MSl operatively is connected, through a circuit which includes a drum switch US, with an hydraulic selector valve 130 which dictates activation of an hydraulic actuator 136. The actuator 136 is of a suitable type and includes a piston head to which

Claims

1. In a machine for fabricating a series of walls of individually predetermined dimension and configuration comprising: A. intelligence storage means including means bearing encoded intelligence defining each wall of a series of walls in terms of structural component configuration, number of structural components required, component spacing and orientation; B. means for decoding the stored intelligence and providing electrical output signals indicative of the stored intelligence; C. means defining a machine control device including electrical circuits for converting the output signals into a series of machine control signals; and D. a series of machine stations electrically connected with the control device, including a plurality of component hoppers each of said stations including therein special purpose operative devices including means responsive to the control signals for effecting a selective delivery of said components and a joining of selected structural components for thereby forming a wall in accordance with the encoded intelligence.

2. The machine of claim 1 further comprising: A. operatively associated conveyor means for advancing the wall between the series of stations; and B. control means responsive to said output signals connected with said conveyor means for interrupting the advancement of the wall.

3. A machine for fabricating a wall of a predetermined configuration from a plurality of structural components sequentially selected from a source of components, each having predetermined configurations comprising: A. feed means for feeding a pair of wall plates to the machine; B. means for maintaining the pair of plates in a coplanar and parallel relationship; C. a selectively operable component hopper for feeding to said machine a plurality of wall components of predetermined configurations including means responsive to control signals for initiating a selective feeding of the components; D. selectively operable control means connected with said hopper for providing a series of control signals for initiating a feeding of the components; E. means for receiving the components as they are fed to said machine and for advancing the components along a path extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of symmetry of said plates to preselected positions between said plates; and F. means for coupling the components with the plates for thereby forming a wall having a configuration dictated by the control means.

4. In a machine for fabricating walls the improvement comprising: A. plate delivery means for delivering and orienting wall plates in a parallel, substantially horizontal and spaced relationship; B. plate indexing means for advancing the plates in a horizontal plane to a first operative station; C. means for sequentially delivering a plurality of horizontally oriented, vertical support members to the first operative station into coplanar relationship with said plates as they are supported in said plane whereby the selected vertical support members are horizontally extended between the plates as the members come to rest; D. means operatively associated with said first operative station for joining said vertical support members with said plates whereby structure defining a wall is fabricated; and E. wall advancing means for advancing the wall through the machine at a preselected incremental rate.

5. The machine of claim 4 wherein said vertical support members includes stud-trimmers and trimmer-studs.

6. The machine of claim 5 further comprising means for selecting the vertical support members in a manner such that each delivery of a stud-trimmer is followed by a delivery of a trimmer-stud, whereby the wall being fabricated is provided with a door defined between a pair of trimmers arranged in adjacent and parallel relationship with adjacent distal ends of the trimmers being disposed in coplanar alignment to receive a door header.

7. The machine of claim 6 further comprising: A. means responsive to the advancing of the wall for delivering a header to the distal ends of said trimmers; and B. means associated with the wall advancing means for securing the header to the distal ends of the trimmers.

8. The machine of claim 7 further comprising: A. means associated with the wall advancing means for delivering window boxes to said wall being formed; and B. means for securing said window boxes in place within said wall, whereby a wall having window and door openings formed therein is provided.

9. The machine of claim 4 wherein the wall advancing means includes: A. a motor adapted to drive the plate indexing means; B. a first switch adapted to close to impart a first rate of rotation to said motor; C. a second switch adapted to close to impart a second rate of rotation to said motor; D. switch actuating means including a worm and a rectilinearly reciprocating block coupled with the wOrm adapted selectively to be shifted in response to a selected directional rotation of the gear from sequentially closing said first and second switches; E. a first drive means connected with said shaft adapted to be actuated to drive the shaft in a first direction for effecting a closing of said switches; and F. a second drive means connected with the plate indexing means and with said shaft adapted to be actuated to drive the shaft in a second direction as the plates are indexed past said station for effecting a sequential opening of said first and second switches when the plates have been advanced through a preselected interval.

10. The machine of claim 9 wherein the first drive means comprises an electrically energizable, stepping motor and the second drive means includes an interconnected drive operatively coupled with the plate indexing means.

11. The machine of claim 10 wherein the first and second drive means operatively are interconnected through a differential drive coupling.

12. The machine of claim 4 wherein the plate indexing means includes: A. a pair of tracks comprising a first endless track having a first substantially horizontal pressure surface, and a second endless track having a second substantially horizontal working surface vertically spaced a predetermined distance from said first pressure surface; B. means for adjusting the distance between said first and second pressure surfaces; and C. intermittently operably means for simultaneously advancing the first and second pressure surfaces in a common direction and through common increments of travel.

13. In a machine for fabricating walls, the improvement comprising: A. plate advancing means for simultaneously advancing a pair of plates along substantially coplanar, linear and parallel paths extending through an assembly station; B. component delivery means for delivering structural members along a path extending between the linear paths of the plates into a contiguous relationship with said plates as the plates are advanced through said assembly station; and C. means for affixing the structural members to said plates.