Abstract: A transport table reciprocates between a collator, at which it receives a stack of loose sheets, and a stapling head for stapling the sheets together. Cam followers on the table engage cam surfaces during the reciprocating table movement to cause jogging movements of end and side retaining means to jog the loose sheets into a neat stack. The stack is delivered into a gap between the stapling head and an anvil, and the stapling head moves through a first half cycle, forming a staple and clamping the stack. A gate on the transport table lifts to free the stack while the table retracts, and then the stapling head drives the staple through the stack. The gate lowers when the transport table returns to its original position.

Abstract: A turnover mechanism for turning a planar strip through one hundred and eighty degrees is disclosed. The turnover mechanism is particularly useful in the manufacture of tackless strips and is adopted for installation in a tackless strip manufacturing machine. The turnover mechanism includes a ratchet which is activated by the usual pin driving mechanism to rotate a turner in timed sequence with the pin inserting operations. The turner includes a groove and the turnover mechanism incorporates a cam to urge one end of each strip into the groove after the pins are properly seated in the strip. The turner turns over or flips each pinned strip in sequence to permit the tackless strip manufacturing machine to automatically apply a plurality of floor attaching nails in each strip in a direction opposite to the orientation of the pins.

Abstract: A turnover mechanism for turning a planar strip through one hundred and eighty degrees is disclosed. The turnover mechanism is particularly useful in the manufacture of tackless strips and is adopted for installation in a tackless strip manufacturing machine. The turnover mechanism includes a ratchet which is activated by the usual pin driving mechanism to rotate a turner in timed sequence with the pin inserting operations. The turner includes a groove and the turnover mechanism incorporates a cam to urge one end of each strip into the groove after the pins are properly seated in the strip. The turner turns over or flips each pinned strip in sequence to permit the tackless strip manufacturing machine to automatically apply a plurality of floor attaching nails in each strip in a direction opposite to the orientation of the pins.

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.