METHOD AND APPARTUS FOR CONSTRUCTING FRAME ASSEMBLIES

A method and apparatus that includes a fixture having slots in it arranged in preselected geometric configurations corresponding to the configurations of several panel shapes and sizes. The slots extend from one side to the other of the platen and receive reciprocating blades. The blades may be actuated by suitable air cylinders to extend through the platen and into the grooves formed in the underside of frame members placed on the platen and arranged in a desired frame assembly shape. The blades thereby serve to both hold the frame members together and maintain squareness of the assembly while other steps in the panel assembly process are performed. By use of a simple switching control, differing sets of air cylinders may be actuated to change the extended configurations of the blades and, thereby, panels of differing sizes and shapes may readily be constructed with a single fixture.