Patent ID: 7249538

Claim:
An apparatus for driving screws along a defined path in an X-axis direction on a surface having X and Y axis dimensions, the surface comprising a planar, rectangular deck area and having a perimeter frame forming sides of the planar deck area, the apparatus comprising a support beam connected at opposite ends to wheeled trucks supported upon the planar deck area where the support beam is disposed in the X-axis direction, guide rails disposed along the beam in parallel relation to the beam, a carriage adapted for movement along the guide rails in the X-axis direction, a screw driving machine being mounted on the carriage, the screw driving machine being adapted for vertical movement in a Z-axis direction in relation to the carriage, the apparatus being further provided with clamp assemblies at opposite ends of the beam, the clamp assemblies being engagable with the perimeter frame to secure the apparatus in fixed position on the surface for limiting movement of the carriage to the defined path in the X-axis direction along the surface while the clamp assemblies are engaged, the screw driving machine having a screw driving member to drive screws into the deck, the screw machine having a screw feed tube for delivering screws into vertical alignment below the screw driving member, the screw machine further having a depth control member to limit a depth which the screw driving member can travel to control the depth to which the screw is driven into the deck, the wheeled trucks permitting movement of the apparatus to variable positions along the planar deck area in the Y-axis direction upon disengagement of the clamp assemblies.