Patent ID: 8056796

Claim:
Jig structure for assisting with the securing, as by manual, or computer-controlled robotic, welding, of a beam-end column-interface component which possesses a nominal plane to the end of an elongate beam having a long axis, said jig structure comprising: an elongate frame having opposite ends; and beam-support structure carried on said frame adjacent one of the frame's ends for supporting a beam in a condition with the beam's long axis disposed generally in a horizontal condition, said beam-support structure accommodating both lateral translation and angulation of a supported beam as evidenced by spatial repositioning of its long axis, and longitudinal rotation of such a beam generally about its long axis, said beam-support structure including a rotator constructed for enabled, reversible, rotation relative to the frame about a generally horizontal rotator axis, a rocker pivoted on said rotator for limited-angle, reversible, relative-motion, angular rocking about a rocker axis which orthogonally intersects said rotator axis, and a beam-end-component gripper mounted on said rocker for enabled, reversible, rotation about a rocker-rotation axis which orthogonally intersects said rocker axis at the point where rocker axis intersects said rotator axis, said gripper being configured to receive and grip such a beam-end column-interface component in contact juxtaposition relative to the end of a beam supported by said beam-support structure, said rocker-rotation axis being disposed generally normal to a nominal plane of a gripper-gripped, beam-end component.