Stud Plate Connector Cam-Slot Motion for Lumber Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional construction techniques are inefficient, manual, and prone to misalignment in residential and industrial construction, particularly in the placement and alignment of studs within wall frames due to limitations in conventional wood gripping systems and materials.
Innovation Solution
A stud plate connector (SPC) system with a base plate featuring cam slots and cam-followers that allow for precise movement and alignment of lumber, using actuators and grippers to hold and bond lumber together, enabling angled stud placement and adjustment for misalignment.
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 and manual limitations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical operations with an automated robotic system featuring a stud plate connector that uses cam slots and cam-followers to mechanically adjust and compensate for misalignment. The system substitutes human dexterity with automated mechanical adjustment mechanisms that can tolerate and correct for panel bends and dimensional variations.
Solution Approach 2:
The stud plate connector incorporates dynamic adjustment capabilities through cam slots that allow the connector to move and adapt its position. The cam-follower mechanism enables real-time mechanical adjustment during the fastening process, allowing the system to dynamically compensate for misalignment between studs and wood panels rather than requiring perfect pre-alignment.
2Adaptability or versatility
If conventional rigid construction materials and methods are used, then structural integrity is maintained, but adaptability to misalignment and varying lumber sizes is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The cam slot mechanism provides dynamic adjustment capability, allowing the stud plate connector to move along the cam slot path to accommodate misalignment while maintaining a stable final position once engaged. The system transitions from a fixed rigid position to a dynamically adjustable position that can adapt to varying lumber dimensions and panel bends.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the positional parameters of the stud plate connector through the cam mechanism, allowing adjustment of the connector's location along the cam slot to compensate for misalignment. This parameter adjustment enables the system to tolerate variations in lumber size and panel flatness while maintaining proper stud placement.
3Productivity
If automated systems are introduced to reduce manual labor, then construction speed and precision improve, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the complexity of alignment adjustment from the overall automated system by using a dedicated cam slot and cam-follower mechanism specifically for this function. This separation allows the main robotic positioning system to focus on gross movement while the cam mechanism handles fine adjustment, simplifying the control architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The cam slot mechanism is designed to be self-adjusting, where the geometry of the cam slot automatically provides the necessary adjustment as the connector engages with the stud. The system uses the natural mechanical interaction between the cam-follower and cam slot to achieve alignment compensation without requiring complex active control or multiple actuators.
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