Abstract: Automated assembly of a pallet includes advancement of a subject board from a source location to a queue position. The subject board is moved from the queue position to a fastening position by a positioner. Advancement of the subject board occurs while the positioner is in motion between the queue position and the fastening position.

Abstract: A robotic fastening system is operative to autonomously fasten a first subassembly to a second subassembly at a plurality of fastening sites. A set of actuators arranged to move a fastening tool to the various ones of the fastening sites. A proximity sensor is fixed proximate the fastening tool and movable with the fastening tool. A controller circuit is operative to individually control each of the set of actuators and to read an output of the proximity sensor, where the controller circuit is programmed to execute a fastening-tool movement routine to move the fastening tool to a first one of the fastening sites.

Abstract: Bed foundation beams are sandwiched by a compression bar extending parallel to the first and second rails and moved towards the first and second rails while being conveyed. Further, the first and second rails and the spacers are sandwiched against spaced fixtures on an endless chain. While being compressed and sandwiched, staple guns fasten the rails and spacers together. The fixtures include front and back stops, with the back stop pivotable about a fixture axis to be movable by a cam moving in a cam track from a pushing position extending perpendicular to the endless chain and abutting with a trailing edge of one of the spacers and a non-intervening position after the staple gun and before the sprocket of the endless chain to reduce the apparatus footprint.

Abstract: In construction of pallets, stringers are conveyed on a conveyor in a conveying direction to a pneumatic stop assembly including a pawl. The pawl is moveably mounted relative to the conveyor by a parallelogram linkage and moveable by a pneumatic actuator between first and second heights relative to the conveyor. While the pawl is at its first height, a lower board in a hopper is pushed from a shelf by a pusher onto the stringers on the conveyor. While pushed, the ends of the board slide along and between first and second slide rails on opposite sides of the conveyor. The board on the stringers is sandwiched between the pusher and the pawl at the first height while fastened together by a nail gun. After being fastened together, the pawl is moved to its second height which does not interfere with the fastened board and stringers conveyed by the conveyor.

Abstract: A fastening system includes a carriage moveably mounted to a frame between first and second positions extensive with and beyond a fixture. The fixture is horizontally movably mounted in the frame to receive components to be fastened of differing sizes, with slide bars vertically moveably mounted relative to the fixture and simultaneously horizontally movable with the fixture. Adjustable spacers, in the form of a body having different extents or telescopic pillars, are positioned in the frame to abut with the components received in the fixture. Wheels rotatably mounted to first and second platforms of the carriage are received in U-shaped channels of the frame, with the first and second platforms being moved by endless belts clamped thereto. Nail guns are movably mounted between vertical posts of the platforms and include a plunger which is biased against a drum carrying a belt of fasteners and include a flat board tangential to a roller having a V-shaped circumferential groove receiving the heads of nails.