Abstract: A machine for stacking articles such as wooden pallets comprises a frame for supporting a carriage assembly that can be raised and lowered under control of a motor and where the carriage assembly supports an article grasping machine that is slidably mounted on the carriage assembly allowing horizontal movement of the article grasping assembly relative to the carriage. When using the machine to stack wooden pallets, a pallet may be picked up at a first location and elevated and translated so as to overlay a top pallet on a stack of pallets before the one being carried is released.

Abstract: An apparatus for delivering fasteners, such as nails, screws and rivets from a supply source to an automatic fastener driver comprises an elongated flexible wire helix whose pitch is such that fasteners can be supported by their heads between adjacent convolutions. One end of the elongated helix is coupled to a vibratory bowl feeder that feeds individual fasteners in a desired order and orientation into a holding station. The opposite end of the wire helix is positioned over an inlet chute leading to a fastener holding chuck and the distal end of the helix is adapted to be driven through 360.degree. by an indexing motor upon each actuation of the fastener driver. In this fashion, for each nail that is dropped from the distal end of the helix into the driver's inlet chute, another nail is picked up at the holding station and advanced in incremental steps along the length of the helix.

Abstract: A device for driving nails in at least one selected nailing pattern into an arrangement of components is disclosed. The device includes a frame, a retaining means for retaining an arrangement of components to be nailed in the frame, a nailing means comprising a plurality of movable nailing heads for delivering nails in the selected nailing pattern to the arrangement, a nail delivery means for delivering nails to the nailing heads, means for causing at least one of the nailing heads to move in a direction transverse to a machine direction relative to the nailing surface during a nailing operation, means for causing the nailing heads to move in a machine direction and in an opposite direction relative to the arrangement of components and means for causing the nailing heads to move in a direction normal to a machine direction.

Abstract: The present invention includes a method for improving operating efficiency of a hydraulic actuator loop and an improved hydraulic actuator loop. The method includes transferring hydraulic fluid between a first and a second hydraulic actuator when the actuators are disengaged from a load and transferring hydraulic fluid from an energy source to each of the actuators separately when the actuators engage the load. The method also includes transferring fluid from the energy source to the first actuator when the actuators are approaching the load and transferring fluid from the first actuator to a drain when the actuators are retracting from the load.

Abstract: A chuck device for driving nails into boards includes a nail-driving mechanism and a staging mechanism for positioning the nails to be driven by the nail-driving mechanism. A driving mechanism drives both the nail-driving mechanism and the staging mechanism for positioning the nails. A countersink control mechanism positioned between the staging mechanism and the driving mechanism provides the capability for selectively changing and fixing a distance between the staging mechanism and the driving mechanisms and a distance between the staging mechanism and the nail-driving mechanism.

Abstract: A pallet tray system includes a tray attached to a top section of a wooden pallet. The wooden pallet has wings on at least two sides. Each wing has an engagable underside. The tray has a mechanism for engaging the undersides of the wings of the pallet to secure the tray.