Patent ID: 9409309
Filing Date: 2016-08-09
CPC Classification: B27F,Y10S,Y10T

Claim Text:
1. An obstruction detection device for use with a truss fabrication system including a truss assembly table having spaced accessways, a controller, and a gantry press mounted on the truss assembly table for movement relative to the truss assembly table, the obstruction detection device comprising: a support structure configured for attachment to the truss assembly table having spaced accessways for movement relative to the truss assembly table; an obstruction sensor mounted on the support structure and configured to detect obstructions in the spaced accessways of the truss assembly table, the obstruction sensor having an activated state and a deactivated state; and a control system operatively connected to the obstruction sensor to activate and deactivate the obstruction sensor in response to a position of the obstruction sensor relative to the spaced accessways, wherein the control system activates the obstruction sensor when the obstruction sensor is aligned with one of the spaced accessways of the truss assembly table so that the obstruction sensor can detect obstruction in the spaced accessway and signal the controller to stop the gantry press of the truss fabrication system if an obstruction is detected, and wherein the control system deactivates the obstruction sensor when the obstruction sensor is out of alignment with the spaced accessways of the truss assembly table to prevent the obstruction sensor from stopping the gantry press of the truss fabrication system.