Patent ID: 6860181

Claim:
An automated manufacturing system for manufacturing kits of frame components of varying lengths and cross sectional shape from stock lengths of frame sections, said apparatus including: at least one frame component preparation line, wherein said at least one frame component preparation line includes a first cutting station adapted to cut said stock lengths of frame sections to predetermined cut lengths for forming into frame components and conveyor means to transfer cut frame sections to said collating station for grouping into kits; a collating station for grouping said frame components into kits, wherein said collating station comprises a collator for grouping finished frame components of varying lengths and cross sectional shape into kits, said collator including a frame component receiving station, a collator station defining a plurality of collating receptacles each adapted to receive a kit of said frame components, and first transfer means to selectively transfer each of said frame components from said receiving station to a predetermined one of said receptacles of said collating station; wherein the frame component receiving station and first transfer means are combined in the form of a programmable distributor conveyor that receives the finished frame components and then selectively deposits each of them into a predetermined one of the collator receptacles: wherein the distributor conveyor is oriented to receive and convey the finished frame components at an angle of approximately 15° off the vertical, such that the side adjacent the preparation lines is inclined away from the preparation line to assist the step of receiving the finished components, and on the remote side is inclined toward the collator to assist release of the frame component into the collator receptacles.