Abstract: A method and apparatus for automatically attaching end plates to the ends of a railroad tie. A web of material automatically is fed to a plate assembly position. A portion of the web of material is formed into an end plate at the plate assembly position. The formed end plate is removed from the web of material. The formed end plate then automatically is connected to one end of the railroad tie. The system also senses the size of the end of the railroad tie and the end plate formed at the plate assembly position automatically is sized to be about the same size as the sensed size of the end of the railroad tie.

Abstract: A sheet stapling apparatus includes sheet accommodating contain for accommodating discharged sheets, a stapling device for stapling the sheets received by the sheet accommodating contain, a reference for confining edges of the sheets accommodated in the sheet accommodating contain to align the sheets, and aligning member for urging the sheets accommodated in the accommodating contain to the reference, and for continuing to urge the sheets to the reference when the sheets are stapled by the stapling device.

Abstract: The machine of the present invention operates to automatically nail a combination of pre-cut wood boards together to form a pallet. The machine may be adjusted so that the size of the pallet can be varied as to dimensions and number of pre-cut boards. Once the pallet size and board combination has been selected, the machine is set up by moving jigs, stops, clamps and nailing heads into their proper operative positions. A number of nailing heads are adjustably mounted on a carriage that moves past a support on which the pre-cut boards are mounted. Both the top and bottom boards of the pallet are nailed simultaneously to the central or longitudinal board of the pallet. By way of a clamping system, the boards are squared and precisely positioned and secured together by clamping action. The carriage then begins to move and the nailing operations commence and continue until all of the nails have been driven into the boards of the pallet.

Abstract: A needle assembly for dispensing plastic fasteners as part of a tool having a feed track through which a fastener assemblage is fed, such needle assembly including the needle which is encased in a holder which may be easily secured to and removed from such tool. The holder defines in conjunction with the remainder of the tool at least a major portion of the feed track. The holder may include an antiback device for permitting the motion of the fastener assemblage within such feed track toward the needle but not in reverse direction. Such antiback device may be engagable by the user to deflect the antiback and a fastener feed mechanism within the tool out of the feed track, thereby to permit withdrawal of a fastener assemblage from the tool. The needle comprises a hollow, slotted metal structure, and the holder is a plastic structure which is injection molded around such needle.

Abstract: A machine for assembling a jamb member, two sides members, and a stop member into a finished door jamb. The individual members are placed into the machine, which positions and aligns members and transports them in the proper relationship to a fastening station which automatically fastens the members into a door jamb assembly. The machine automatically spaces the fasteners along the length of the assembly.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for making flexible sections of fence having an endless moving belt moving the individual fence pickets therethrough, and hopper stations individually dispensing the pickets onto the moving belt for transport to a fastening station where the fixedly spaced pickets are attached to continuous stringers and transported therefrom where the fence section thus formed is cut in the selected lengths.

Abstract: A pallet assembling apparatus includes a fixture into which the pallet stringers and top and bottom slats are loaded manually, and a nailing station, including opposed pairs of top and bottom nailing guns equal in number to the number of stringers loaded in the fixture, for nailing the top and bottom slats to the top and bottom surfaces of each of the stringers. The fixture is movable along rails past the nailing station, and actuating bosses equal in number to the number of top and bottom slats in the fixture project from the fixture and trip proximity switches as the fixture moves through the nailing station to cause the nailing guns to be fired in unison as each slat passes by them, and a pickup carriage, positioned downstream of the nailing station, removes completed pallets from the fixture.

Abstract: Harmonic vibrations in a signature machine due to the inertial influence of a reciprocating mass comprising grippers and associated parts are reduced by using a planetary gear drive and a weight secured thereto; momentum of the gripper mass is countered by another rotating weight. The planetary gear drive may be either epicyclic or hypocyclic, depending principally upon the length of the reciprocal stroke.

Abstract: This invention relates to automatic lattice fabrication apparatus for automatically forming sections of lattice from strips of wood of a predetermined length and width. The apparatus includes an elongated horizontal conveyor that conveys lattice strips from a lay-up section through an automatic adhesive dispenser, under an automatic stapling bridge where the lattice is stapled, through rip saws that trim the sides of the lattice and, when desired, cut the lattice in half, and through an automatic cross-cut saw mechanism that periodically stops the conveyor, lowers a saw and cuts off a section of lattice when it reaches a predetermined length, and then lifts the saw out of the way and resumes conveyor movement.

Abstract: A positioning device comprises a reciprocably movable support table having a surface extending in a plane above a clinching die of a button setting machine for supporting a garment fabric to which a button is to be attached, and a pair of guide members disposed on the surface in perpendicular relation. The table includes a recess which is registry with the clinching die when the table is in an advanced position. One of the guide member is positionally adjustable in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the table and the other guide member is positionally adjustable in a direction parallel to the direction of movement of the table. Thus the garment fabric can be positioned accurately and easily with respect to the clinching die by simply putting two adjacent edges of the garment fabric into guided engagement with the respective guide members.

Abstract: A saddle stitching machine wherein the pitch of the chain conveyor which transports successive signatures through the stapling station can be changed by changing the ratio of a transmission which receives torque from the timing shaft of the machine. The conveyor transports the signatures along a straight path and the machine has a reciprocable carriage which is moved back and forth along such path by an adjustable crank drive so that the stroke of the carriage can conform to the selected pitch of the conveyor. The tools which are carried by the carriage are actuated by cams which are movable independently of each other at right angles to the straight path. The cams extend in parallelism with the path of signatures at the stapling station.

Abstract: An automatic sheet processing device is adapted to be mounted to the sheet outputting portion of an image forming apparatus which outputs sheets one after another and used to receive the sheets successively output from the sheet outputting apparatus, automatically align the received sheets to one another, and then automatically bind the bundle of aligned sheets.

Abstract: This invention relates to automatic lattice fabrication apparatus for automatically forming sections of lattice from strips of wood of a predetermined length and width. The apparatus includes an elongated horizontal conveyor that conveys lattice strips from a lay-up section through an automatic adhesive dispenser, under an automatic stapling bridge where the lattice is stapled, through rip saws that trim the sides of the lattice and, when desired, cut the lattice in half, and through an automatic cross-cut saw mechanism that periodically stops the conveyor, lowers a saw and cuts off a section of lattice when it reaches a predetermined length, and then lifts the saw out of the way and resumes conveyor movement.

Abstract: An article is clamped in a predetermined position on a support, which is movable along a reciprocating path by a stepping motor. This movement of the support positions selected and spaced portions of the article at a fixed location at which a fastener element is attached to an edge of the article. The movement of the stepping motor is controlled by a computer program whereby the selected and spaced portions of the article are spaced from each other as desired.

Abstract: A pallet manufacturing machine and method for joining wooden slats (W) to elongate splines (S) includes spline clamping means (70) mounted on a frame (10). The spline clamping means (70) grip and release the elongate splines (S) so that the lateral edge portions of the splines (S) extend from the clamping means (70). The wooden slats (W) are carried along the length of the frame (10) by first and second advancing means (12-18, 50-56) with the advancing means (12-18, 50-56) adapted to force the slats (W) over and onto the extending edges of the splines (S). In this way, the edges of the splines (S) are embedded within the wooden slats (W) to form a contiguous structure. Drive means (76) are provided for displacing the first and second advancing (12-18, 50-56) means along the frame. In operation, the wooden slats (W) are arranged in a generally parallel, spaced relationship and the splines (S) are clamped in the clamping assembly (70).

Abstract: A shiftable magazine clip feed for orienting a U-shaped clip and a staple fastener at the head of a fastener driving tool triggered after the separation of a single clip from a stacked supply thereof, the clip being automatically positioned for application to a work piece and mounted thereon through engagement of the magazine with the work piece and that retracts the stacked supply of clips from said single clip.

Abstract: A binding apparatus includes a plurality of feed stations (10, 12, 14) which stack sheets on an inclined conveying surface (16). A conveyor (20) continuously conveys the stacks along a workpath (w) to a stitcher assembly (B). The stitcher assembly includes a frame assembly (100) having a stitcher head mounting bar (130) and a clincher mounting bar (136) on which stitcher heads and clinchers are mounted in cooperative relationship. A power take-off assembly (54) rotates a stitcher assembly transverse drive shaft (200) in coordination with advancement of the conveyor. The stitcher assembly transverse drive shaft rotates lever arms (210, 212) which are connected by connecting links (214, 216), with a stationary structure such that the frame assemby is cyclically reciprocated longitudinally along the workpath.

Abstract: Apparatus for securing pickets to elongated stringers employs a worktable having stringer accomodating channels into which the elongated stringers are placed. A picket hopper accomodates a stacked array of pickets transverse to said channels and stringers. A reciprocating carriage assembly is positioned on the worktable and reciprocates a given distance in a forward and backward movement. As the carriage moves forward the lower most picket in said hopper is pushed to a fastening location. Located at this location and above the pushed picket are fastening means, which are air actuated nailing guns. The guns are mounted on a shaft which is synchronized with the carriage assembly to cause the guns to move about an arcuate path which causes the guns to contact the picket at the fastening location to secure the same to the stringers.

Abstract: Three elongated strips (called a web and two legs) are assembled into an elongated channel by a machine which includes a supply table. A stack of webs on the supply table feed downward by gravity. Legs are fed inwardly under the webs by pusher arms. The web and two legs are fed from the back to the front of the machine by a three-fingered lug on a continuous chain operated under the web magazine. Glue is applied to the top of the legs, then the web and two legs are pressed together over a spacer block, where they are stapled together to hold them in place until the glue sets.

Abstract: Apparatus for placing steps in a concrete pipe or riser immediately after the pipe has been cast but before it is cured. A movable carriage is mounted upon a support column that is arranged to move a step driving mechanism vertically along the inner wall of the riser before the riser is removed from the casting jacket. The position of the carriage is automatically indexed to sequentially place the driving mechanism at the desired vertically spaced step locations. The drive mechanism is actuated at each location to drive a bifurcated member horizontally into the wall of the riser. In one embodiment of the invention the bifurcated member is a step that is automatically gravity loaded into the mechanism from an overhead supply magazine. In this embodiment of the invention the step is embedded in the riser and is set in place during curing.

Abstract: An apparatus for making wooden pallets includes a conveyor for moving a plurality of parallel stringers under a nailing machine where deckboards are nailed transversely across the stringers to form one side of the pallet. During operation of the preferred embodiment, the gripping carriage of the stringer conveyor normally propels in front of it one set of stringers, on which three bottom deckboards have already been nailed to form a half-pallet, and pulls behind it a set of stringers that have had no deckboards at all nailed thereto. As the stringer of the half-pallet move under the nailing machine, five deckboards are nailed to its upper surface to complete the pallet and, when the trailing stringers move under the nailing machine, a set of three deckboards are nailed thereto to form a half-pallet. At a point downstream from the nailing machine, the full pallet is discharged and the gripper carriage starts to move rearwardly.

Abstract: Apparatus for pressing nailing plates or the like into opposite ends of elongate members, such as railroad ties, thereby to end-plate the ties. The apparatus comprises a press and apparatus for conveying the ties forwardly one after another in generally horizontal position with the ties extending transversely with respect to the direction of conveyance to a first station, and for feeding the ties one at a time from the first station to a second station where each tie is end-plated. The conveying apparatus, which comprises a series of walking beam units, is also operable to discharge a tie from the second station after it has been end-plated.

Abstract: Apparatus for pressing nailing plates or the like into opposite ends of elongate members, such as wooden railroad ties, thereby to end-plate the ties. The apparatus comprises a press having upper and lower platens engageable with the top and bottom faces of a tie adjacent the ends thereof. The lower platens are movable through an upstroke for raising the tie while generally horizontal from a lowered position to an elevated position and for pressing the tie against the upper platens thereby to apply a vertical compressing force to the tie adjacent the ends thereof, and a downstroke for lowering the tie. Side platens are engageable with opposite side faces of the tie adjacent the ends thereof when the tie is in its elevated position. The side platens are movable toward and away from one another whereby a horizontal compressing force can be applied to and removed from the opposite side faces of the tie adjacent the ends thereof.

Abstract: Studs, joists, trusses and similar construction members having a pair of generally parallel chords and blocks disposed between the chords are manufactured by placing a plurality of blocks on a moving surface, with the blocks being spaced apart generally in a line along the direction of movement. A pair of chords are placed on each side of the line of blocks and are moved along with the blocks. The chords and blocks are moved past apparatus which drives fastening elements through the chords and into the blocks to secure the chords and blocks together in a rigid construction. Spacer lock plates may also be used to separate and lock the two chords in position, each spacer lock plate including opposed cuts on opposite edges thereof for receiving the chords, a stem portion between the cuts, and toothed flanges at each side of the stem portion.

Abstract: Three adjacent continuously running chain link assemblies having two contiguous common paths, respectively in those paths (1) form staples from lengths of wire and (2) insert and clench the staples while creasing a signature passing through the linear path defined by the contiguous chain links. This produces simplified equipment operable at high speeds synchronously on line with signatures from a rotary printing press, or the like.The wire lengths are handled and formed into staples by very simple non-critical mechanical means constituting a magnetic male die member and female shaping die member carried by respective contiguously traveling chain link assemblies to mate as they move about sprockets into an arcuate path leading into their contiguous mated linear travel path.

Abstract: Portable apparatus for automatically constructing prefabricated stud walls or other frame structures from standard materials. Elongate studs are placed transversely at spaced intervals between a pair of elongate wall plate members by a reciprocatingly rotating stud-selecting mechanism and a linearly reciprocating spacer mechanism. As each stud is placed between the plate members, it is automatically nailed thereto, forming a portion of the wall frame, after which the completed portion of the frame is advanced an incremental distance along an assembly structure by the spacer mechanism, which pushes on the newly nailed stud to advance the frame to a position for nailing the next succeeding stud, and so forth in automatic cyclic fashion. A semi-automatic sheathing fastener mechanism includes a plurality of fastener guns and an automatically controlled actuation mechanism for placing fasteners at predetermined locations.

Abstract: Machine and method of stapling mitered joint frame members of rectangular cabinet doors and the like characterized by corner abutments or v-blocks for moving the joints together, and while clamped thereat, simultaneously applying a staple across each joint at both sides of the frame members. V-blocks may be adjusted for all size frames within its capacity. After placing four frame members on the v-blocks, a control effects automatic operation.

Abstract: Automatic apparatus for attaching together individual doorstops and doorjambs in relative registered, longitudinal alignment includes hoppers for containing vertical stacks of the stops and jambs, a transport mechanism that reciprocally withdraws individual ones of the stops and jambs from the vertical stacks and transports the withdrawn stop and jamb to a work station, a registering device for positioning the distal ends of the jamb and stop in relative, adjacent registration, clamp apparatus located at the work station that receives, clamps and longitudinally aligns the stop to the jamb, and a number of linearly aligned air nailers overlying and, in effect, defining the work station for dispensing nails used to attach the stop to the jamb while held by the clamp apparatus.

Abstract: A method and a device for automatically arranging individual paper sheets in a set of papers with the edges of said paper sheets in alignment with each other in combination with stapling said set of papers. A set of papers having unaligned edges is positioned on a lower edge of a vibrating table and the papers are joggled so that one edge of the paper sheets in the set of papers become aligned. The set of papers is thereafter urged against a lateral edge of the table while being vibrated, whereby all edges of the paper sheets become evenly aligned. In this final phase a stapler staples the set of papers together.

Abstract: Apparatus for affixing spaced cushioning pads to wooden floor sleepers has a positioning channel to hold a sleeper to be padded with lifting means provided to raise the sleeper into working position, cushioning pads are placed at spaced positions along the length of the sleeper by ejector means moving individual pads from each of a series of feeder channels carrying stacks of such pads and placing these pads to overlie the sleeper, and stapling guns are in operative relation with the pads and sleeper to affix each pad to the sleeper at its spaced position along the sleeper length whereupon the sleeper is released from the working position for removal from the positioning channel.

Abstract: A wiener stick applicator composed of a drum or magazine rotatable about its horizontal longitudinal axis and having parallel grooves extending longitudinally of its exterior for supporting handle sticks and wieners or wieners/half wieners, in axial aligned relationship, fed to the grooves from chute or hopper means. One end portion or generally one-half of each groove is relatively narrow for snugly receiving one of the sticks, while the remainder of each groove is relatively wide and generally equal to the diameter of the wieners. A coaxial casing circumscribes the drum in spaced relationship and coacts with the grooves to confine the sticks and wieners against displacement. The casing has an inlet opening extending longitudinally of the drum for admitting an axially aligned stick and wiener to each groove. A outlet opening, extending longitudinally of the drum, is provided in the casing in spaced relation to the inlet opening for the ejection of wieners impaled on sticks.

Abstract: A machine for nailing elongated slats transversely on elongated stringers having a nailing station; a receiving station; a reversible conveyor extended between said stations; chucks on the conveyor adapted to grasp a plurality of stringers in substantially parallel relation disposed longitudinally of the upper run of the conveyor; a reversible drive for advancing the conveyor toward the nailing station in increments of stepped progression whereby corresponding spaced positions on the stringers are successively disposed in the nailing station; a mechanism for automatically placing slats transversely on the stringers at said spaced positions; a nailing mechanism for nailing the slats to the stringers at said spaced positions on the stringers at the nailing station whereby the stringers are interconnected in spaced substantially parallel relation; and a control for reversing the drive to retract the stringers and slats nailed thereon from the nailing station.

Abstract: Apparatus for automatically constructing prefabricated building stud walls or other frame structures from standard raw materials. Elongate studs are placed transversely at spaced intervals between a pair of elongate wall plates by a reciprocating stud selector and drive mechanism. As each stud is placed between the plates it is automatically nailed thereto, forming a portion of the frame, after which the completed portion of the frame is advanced an incremental distance along an assembly structure by the drive mechanism, which pushes on the newly nailed stud to advance the frame to a position for nailing the next succeeding stud, and so forth in automatic cyclic fashion. Glue may be applied to the completed portion of the frame and, as soon as a large enough portion is completed, sheathing material may be placed thereon and fastened thereto by the glue and/or mechanical nailers. In the interim, holes for receiving electrical and plumbing conduit are drilled in the studs.

Abstract: The apparatus includes a pair of spaced conveyors for conveying upper and lower frame plates through a pair of nailing assemblies. Each nailing assembly includes a nailing gun pivotal between upper and lower positions whereby nails can be driven through the plate and into a stud disposed between the plates at positions spaced along the width of the plate. The conveyor includes a drive unit for advancing the plates through the nailing assemblies discrete distances of 1.5, 16 or 24 inches. One of the conveyors and nailing assemblies is movable laterally relative to the other conveyor and nailing assembly whereby adjustments in width of the frame undergoing fabrication is accomplished. In use, a stud is butted against retractable stops upstanding between the nailing assemblies. Upon command, clamps carried by the nailing assemblies clamp the stud and frame plates one to the other and the nailing gun automatically drives a nail through the plate into the stud.

Abstract: An automatic sheet jogging and stapling machine is disclosed and includes a downwardly, sidewardly inclined platform for receiving sheets of paper, and a side wall and bottom release gate that extend upwardly from the platform to define a sheet receiving corner. Longitudinally and laterally movable jogging fingers are provided to align the sheet edges against the release gate and side wall and a stapling head is mounted spaced above the sheet receiving platform to staple the sheets together. The release gate is opened to gravitationally eject the stapled paper. A cam operated control sequentially actuates the longitudinally and laterally movable jogging fingers, the stapling head, and the release gate.

Abstract: Several different webs of textile material or other like fabric are simultaneously unwound from their respective rolls and are fed in intermittent stepwise fashion in superposed relation to one another to the bed of a cutting press. The press head is provided with cutting knives arranged to sever from each web along its leading edge a strip portion of predetermined area which in turn is subdivided by the cutting knives into sections each comprising a pile of individual swatches. The press head is also provided with a plurality of stitching devices arranged to bind together during each cyclic operation of the press head the several swatches of each section severed from the respective layers of web material so as to form a corresponding plurality of bound swatch pads. Upon the return stroke of the press head, the bound pads are removed from the bed of the press in preparation for the next web cutting and stitching operation.

Abstract: An automatic pallet assembling system which includes a pair of conventional nailing machines for separately nailing each side of a pallet and conveying means for carrying the half-finished pallet between the nailing machines. The stringers and deck boards are automatically fed to the first nailing machine in the proper sequence for nailing. After nailing, the half-finished pallet is automatically turned over and offset with respect to its direction of movement before being fed to the second nailing machine where the final set of deck boards are automatically fed into position for nailing. With five personnel (including two inspectors) operating the assembly system, a production rate of up to eight pallets per minute can be achieved.

Abstract: An automatic fastening system is disclosed for use in fastening deck boards to stringers in a pallet-making machine or the like. The automatic fastening system of the preferred embodiment comprises an adjustable frame having a plurality of staple guns pivotably mounted on the frame and has automatic positioning means, in the form of a wheel, associated with each staple gun for positioning the staple guns by automatically raising and lowering the staple guns as the height of the pallet deck board changes and as the height of the pallet structure changes depending upon whether or not stringer-type pallets or block-type pallets are being manufactured. Also disclosed is an automatic firing pneumatic circuit for the subject fastening system for automatically fastening a plurality of deck boards to a plurality of stringers.

Abstract: Apparatus mounted on a fixed structure and including a plurality of selectively operable fastener applying guns for securing insulating material to sheet metal without the fastener passing through the sheet metal and while the insulating material and the sheet metal are moving continuously. The apparatus includes a plurality of guns mounted on swinging members and located above a rotating anvil and adjacent to a hold-down roller so that the guns can swing while the fasteners are penetrating the work and move with the work during the time the fasteners are being driven.