A beam and a method of making a beam

(19)

(11)

EP 1 327 730 A3

(12)	EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88)	Date of publication A3:
	15.06.2005 Bulletin 2005/24

(43)	Date of publication A2:
	16.07.2003 Bulletin 2003/29

(21)	Application number: 02258486.6

(22)	Date of filing: 09.12.2002

(51)	International Patent Classification (IPC)⁷: E04C 3/18, E04C 3/16, B27F 7/00, B27F 7/15

(84)	Designated Contracting States:
	AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE SI SK TR
	Designated Extension States:
	AL LT LV MK RO

(30)

Priority:

07.12.2001 GB 0129316

(71)	Applicant: Alpine Automation Limited
	Truro, TR4 9LD (GB)

(72)	Inventor:
	Martin, Patrick Gerald Truro. TR4 8JJ (GB)

(74)	Representative: Brown, Michael Stanley
	Alpha and Omega, Chine Croft, East Hill Ottery St. Mary, Devon EX11 1PJ Ottery St. Mary, Devon EX11 1PJ (GB)

(54)	A beam and a method of making a beam

(57) A method of making a beam (18) includes:-

a) providing a nail-plate-applying station,
b) positioning a pair of lengths of timber (16 & 17) in spaced parallel relationship,
c) advancing the pair of lengths of timber (16 & 17) incrementally relative to the nail-plate-applying station, and
d) attaching a nail plate (10) to each side of the pair of lengths of timber (16 & 17) at each of a plurality of spaced positions along the pair of lengths of timber (16 & 17) so as to join the two lengths of timber (16 & 17) together to form the beam (18).