Abstract: An automated multiple point fastener driving system is disclosed for driving fasteners into a plurality of structural elements for connecting the elements together while the elements are substantially continuously moving along a path The automated multiple point fastener driving system includes a frame with the path extending through the frame for movement of structural elements, a moving assembly for moving a plurality of structural elements along the path in a substantially continuous manner, an entry clamping assembly for clamping together the structural elements as the elements move substantially continuously along the path, an alignment assembly for aligning at least one edge of the plurality of structural elements as the elements move substantially continuously along the path, and fastener driving assembly for driving fasteners into the plurality of structural elements as the elements move substantially continuously along the path.

Abstract: A nailing machine for pallets, comprises nailing grippers supported by a beam which is controllably movable in a vertical plane and includes feeding bins for feeding nails to the grippers, with a plurality of gripper holding beams movable in a vertical plane, a central gripper holding beam being supported by a locally fixed construction, adjoining gripper holding beams being adapted to be properly positioned with respect to the workpiece to be nailed.

Abstract: A portable roof panel structure assembly mechanism that may be transported to a construction site and that is used to automatically assemble roof panel structures at the site. The assembly mechanism includes a purlin feeder, subpurlin clamping mechanisms and feeders, and a diaphragm feeder. The purlin feeder lifts a purlin into position, and advances the purlin into an assembly station. The subpurlin feeders insert a subpurlin into each of a plurality of subpurlin clamping mechanisms, and the clamping mechanisms advance into the assembly station and hold the subpurlins against the section of the purlin that has been advanced. The diaphragm feeder places a diaphragm onto the subpurlins and the purlin at the assembly station. The components are attached by automatic nailers.

Abstract: A device for mating strips joined at an angle for forming rectangular frames having a L-shaped element, acting as movable abutment for the strips, has a symmetrical hinged connection to a pair of linkages, pivotally connected to a free end to the supporting element fixed to the platform, and an arm protruding outside the L-shaped element along the extension of its bisecting line and undergoing elastic centering. The element and linkages are accommodated in the supporting element in two mutually aligned seats which lie transversely to the slot of the platform, and are each constituted by a bush from which a slider protrudes; the slider is pushed, until it rests against an abutment of the bush, by a cylindrical spring which acts between the slider and the screw-type cap used also to adjust the preloading of the spring.

Abstract: An apparatus for tagging pieces of lumber including a motor-driven chain for positioning adjacent a lumber conveyor. A stapler is positioned adjacent one end of the chain for affixing a tag to a piece of lumber on the conveyor. A tag feeding attachment urges one tag of a contiguous sequence of tags into alignment with the stapler and severs the tag from the contiguous sequence of tags. A photosensor is positioned adjacent the stapler for detecting the presence of lumber upon the conveyor and for generating an electrical signal in response thereto. Upon receiving an electrical signal from the photosensor, a central processing unit energizes the stapler and the tag feeding attachment in a predetermined sequence.

Abstract: An end plating machine for a wood tie having opposite ends comprising a frame including horizontally spaced-apart first and second end frames with the frame including tie in-feed and out-feed portions. A conveyor is provided for positioning a tie between the end frames. First and second tie clampers are positioned adjacent the first and second end frames for clamping the ends of a tie positioned therebetween. First and second power rams are mounted on the first and second end frames, respectively, for driving an end plate into the ends of the tie while the tie is being clamped by the first and second tie clampers. First and second end plate hoppers are positioned on the first and second end frames, respectively, for supporting a plurality of end plates therein.

Abstract: A table is provided to assist in the manufacture of building structures such as walls or the like where the building structure has a plurality of metallic studs extending between top and bottom metallic channel shaped framing members. The table includes a grasping device to move the building structure back and forth along a support surface of the table. A computer operated controller controls a motor to locate the top and bottom framing members adjacent assembly stations. The assembly stations permanently attach a stud to each of the top and bottom framing members.

Abstract: A pneumatic label stapling gun including a label feed attachment and a cutting device which rapidly feeds a label into alignment with the staple gun head and severs the label from the remainder of the label roll after stapling. A pair of pneumatic cylinders are included and are connected to a common spool valve. One pneumatic cylinder is connected to a label advance head which reciprocates within the attachment housing to rapidly advance label into position. The other cylinder is connected to a cutter device which severs the stapled label from the remainder of the roll. The labels have spaced notches which are engaged by a protrusion carried by a spring which engages the label on its upward movement to prevent the labels from shifting the advance head as the head is retracted to engage the next label.

Abstract: First and second separately actuatable triggers are mounted to a housing which carries a hollow needle through which a fastener is dispensed. The needle is mounted to the housing for movement between original and extended positions. The article to be tagged is situated adjacent the front of the housing. When the first trigger is depressed, a tag is moved from a stack on the housing into alignment with the needle as the needle is moved forward to pierce the tag and article. Also, a fastener is fed into the needle. When the second trigger is depressed, the fastener is moved through the needle such that the T-bar end is situated behind the article and the needle retracts to its original position. The apparatus is pulled away from the article, leaving the tag affixed by the fastener. The apparatus is light-weight, easily manipulatable, and can be operated by a single hand.

Abstract: A transport device includes an elongated housing consisting of parallel spaced bars and end blocks. The housing is mounted for rotation on a pair of conveyor chains by support structure including longitudinally projecting shafts and bushings journaled on the shafts for coupling to the conveyor chain. Adjacent edges of the two housing bars define a support surface for the sticks to be transported. An elongated inner bar is confined between the housing bars for reciprocation, and has an activator rod at one end, extending axially into one of the support shafts and bearing against a cam rotatably mounted transversely at the distal end of that shaft. A spring urges an inner rod into engagement with the cam. The cam is configured to be engaged by support structures associated with the conveyor mechanism, to effect the shifting of the inner rod against the force of the spring.

Abstract: This invention concerns an apparatus for charging pneumatic gripper heads and maintaining the charge while the heads move between spaced locations.

Abstract: A heel nailing machine having a holddown for the heel which clamps the heel against movement during attachment. The holddown is then moved upwards to lift the heel and attached shoe off the stand. The holddown then swings to one side and the shoe is released. The shoe is thus automatically ejected from the machine.

Abstract: A pallet is automatically assembled and nailed together on a horizontally reciprocating carrier. The carrier moves in a forward direction beneath a slat dispenser. A first series of one-way trip dogs mounted on the carrier successively removes the bottom slat from a stack of slats held by a dispenser to deposit a series of slats onto the carrier to form the bottom deck of a pallet. The carrier has stringer engagement levers which engage the ends of a series of stringers held in dispensers. The carrier reverses direction after deposit of the bottom series of slats and each stringer engagement lever pulls a stringer from the dispenser with each stringer positioned transversely to the previously dispensed slats. As the carriage moves in the reverse direction, another series of one-way trip dogs mounted on the carrier successively dispenses a second series of slats to form the top deck of the pallet.

Abstract: A building machine, useful for building drawers and other products, having first and second carriages, sub-carriages moveably mounted on the carriages, a work-piece space between the carriages during building, fastening guns, first and second sets of spaced shiftable gun holders carrying the guns and disposed on first and second sides of the work-piece space, gun holder mounting assemblies movably mounting the gun holders on the sub-carriages, all movements being in a manner whereby the guns are positionable by adjustment with respect to the work-piece space in three dimensions, the guns being for driving staples, brads, pins, or nails.

Abstract: The tag-dispensing device is designed for use with a hand-held plastic fastener attacher of the type having a needle for penetrating an article to be tagged and through which a fastener is dispensed. The device includes a support to which the attacher is movably mounted and upon which is situated a stack of tags. A slide is utilized to move a tag along the plane between the stack and a position in alignment with the needle of the attacher. The attacher is mounted to the support by a plate which is movable relative to the support between a position wherein the needle is remote from the plane of slide movement and a position wherein the needle intersects the plane. Slide movement may be accomplished manually or automatically in conjunction with the movement of the attacher by using a mechanical linkage, an electrically driven motor, a solenoid, or a pneumatic cylinder.

Abstract: A riveting device for joining a suspension or fastening device, particularly a ring mechanism, to a folder, comprises, a holder for positioning a folder in vertical alignment with a fastening device and below riveting means which is capable of moving through the fastening device and the folder to rivet them together. The support structure includes a lifting element engageable with one of the folder or the fastening device to move it relative to the other below the riveting means and into interengagement in a position for it to be riveted from the opposite side by the riveting device. With the invention, either the folder or the fastening device is arranged one over the other and below a riveting head and a lifting element is disposed to engage with the lower one of the two elements and move it upwardly into engagement with the other in a position to receive the rivet from the rivet head.

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: 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: An apparatus in which a stack of sheets is brought into contact with the clamping surface of a fixed stapler head. After the stack is secured against the clamping surface, a staple is driven therethrough.

Abstract: An automated apparatus for joining a set of a plurality of wood plates in a side-by-side relation to form, for instance, a heading for a barrel, comprises a nail driving means for driving a different given number of nails in different positions into a wood plate, depending on the position the wooden plate assumes relative to an intended end plate, the nail driving means including in combination a hopper, sliding plate and nail guide means having slits and channels, respectively.

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.