Bi-directional roller table

Abstract

The disclosed technology enables manufacturers to efficiently design and manufacture structural wall panels, floor panels and roof panels from cold-formed steel for use in residential and commercial construction. The panels are individual components that can be installed at a building site to form a structure that includes walls, floor and a roof. Structures may be manufactured in a manufacturing facility and delivered to a construction site for installation.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60 / 791,982 filed Apr. 14, 2006, the disclosure of which is being incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. This application is related to U.S. patent application Docket No. GTP-001, U.S. application Ser. No. 11 / 707,650, entitled “Material Transport System for Building Panel Assembly,” U.S. patent application Docket No. GTP-002, U.S. application Ser. No. 11 / 707,638, entitled “Framing Table for Building Panel Assembly,” U.S. patent application Docket No. GTP-004, U.S. application Ser. No. 11 / 707,649, entitled “Automatic Pinning Process for Building Panel Assembly,” U.S. patent application Docket No. GTP-005, U.S. application Ser. No. 11 / 707,555, entitled “Overhead Gantry for use in Building Panel Construction,” U.S. patent application Docket No. GTP-006, U.S. application Ser. No. 11 / 707,645, entitled “Tools and Methods for Designing...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The patent describes a technology that allows for the manufacturing of structural wall panels, floor panels, and roof panels made from cold-formed steel for use in residential and commercial construction. The advantages of using cold-formed steel include stronger buildings, faster construction times, improved quality of construction, safer construction, and better energy performance. The manufacturing process involves using a computer-aided design software application and enterprise management software to control and manage the production line and fabrication process for each panel. The panels are then transported to the construction site and assembled into a structure. The invention also includes a material optimizer for cutting material and forming metal into panels, a material handling system, and an overhead gantry system for delivering construction elements to the assembly station. The framing table includes at least two panel supports with a support structure, transport element, and side bar for assembly."

Problems solved by technology

Conventional building construction has many problems, not the least of which is the time and expense required to construct a structure, such as a multi-story home or office building.

Much construction work is custom work that is performed on-site, and so is subject to a variety of inefficiencies.

The construction and organization of these panels may, however, be complicated in itself.

As a result, many of the expected advantages of the use of prefabricated panels in building construction have not been fully realized, especially with respect to the systematic management and control of construction of a building from initial design stage to final assembly.

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