Patent ID: 7305748

Claim:
A method for automatically fastening a first plurality of longitudinal components to a second plurality of transverse components relative to a longitudinal axis of the first plurality of longitudinal components, comprising: a. providing a machine on a carriage movable relative to the longitudinal axis of the first plurality of longitudinal components, wherein said machine includes at least one fastener subassembly, a sensor, and a processor, the subassembly comprising a drill, a fastener driver spaced a first lateral distance from the drill; b. automatically detecting one of the second plurality of transverse components using signals from said sensor that are sent to said processor; c. automatically drilling a plurality of holes through the first plurality of longitudinal components across the one of the second plurality of transverse components; d. moving the subassembly the first lateral distance to align the fastener driver with at least one of the drilled holes and automatically inserting a fastener into each one of the plurality of holes to secure the first plurality of longitudinal components to the one of the second plurality of transverse components.