Stud Plate Connector Cam Alignment for Precise Lumber Placement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional construction techniques are inefficient, manual, and prone to misalignment in residential, commercial, and industrial building construction, particularly in the placement and alignment of studs within wall frames.
Innovation Solution
A stud plate connector (SPC) system with a base plate featuring cam slots and cam-followers, grippers, and actuators that allow for precise and automated placement of studs on wood panels, adjusting for misalignment and bonding them together using a bonding device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional manual construction techniques are used for stud placement, then human input and flexibility are maintained, but misalignment and imprecision occur due to bends in wood panels
Solution Approach 1:
The stud plate connector system performs self-alignment through its cam mechanism that automatically adjusts to accommodate bends and variations in the wood panel, eliminating the need for manual alignment adjustments by workers
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical alignment operations with an automated cam-follower mechanism that mechanically self-adjusts to panel irregularities, substituting human skill with a reliable mechanical system
2Productivity
If automated stud placement systems are implemented, then precision and efficiency are improved, but system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The connector system is divided into distinct functional components: cam mechanism for alignment, grippers for holding, and bonding device for attachment. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently while maintaining overall system efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The stud plate connector system is designed to handle multiple functions within a single device: it grips the stud, aligns it automatically, positions it precisely, and bonds it to the panel, replacing multiple separate operations with one universal connector
3Adaptability or versatility
If rigid fixed-position connectors are used, then structural stability is maintained, but adaptability to misalignment and varying lumber sizes is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The cam mechanism in the connector is designed to be dynamic, allowing the connector position to adjust automatically within the cam slot to accommodate misalignment and varying lumber sizes, while still providing stable bonding once positioned
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for a stud plate connector are disclosed. The system can include a base plate having a first cam slot and a second cam slot, where the second cam slot is approximately a mirror image of the first cam slot. The system can include a first upper cam-follower located within the first cam slot. The system can include a second upper cam-follower located within the second cam slot, where the first and second cam-followers hold opposite sides of a first lumber and move the first lumber to contact a second lumber. The system can include a first lower gripper and a second lower gripper for holding the second lumber in a perpendicular direction with respect to the first lumber. The system can include a bonding device located before to the first and second lumber, where the bonding device bonds the first and second lumber together.