Partition assembling machine

Claim 3

An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said drive means includes a pair of opposed drive surfaces continuously movable on an endless path and disposed for driving engagement with the opposed side surfaces of one of said cross panels for positively driving said cross panel into engagement with said longitudinal panel.

Claim 4

An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said drive means includes a pair of rotatable drive rollers having said continuously movable drive surfaces formed on the external periphery thereof, said pair of drive rollers exteNding transversely of the direction of movement of said longitudinal panels.

Claim 5

An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said drive rollers are substantially parallel and spaced a small distance apart to define a small nip therebetween through which said cross panel is drivably moved, said rollers being rotatably driven in opposite rotational directions for causing one of said cross panels to be linearly moved into engagement with said longitudinal panel.

Claim 6

An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said drive means further includes feed means for alternately and sequentially feeding cross panels into the space between said rotating drive rollers, said feed means being spaced on the opposite side of said drive rollers from the path of movement of said longitudinal panels, and said feed means including a reciprocal drive member and means for reciprocating said drive member in a plane which passes through the nip of said drive rollers. 6 An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said assembly station further includes means for sequentially advancing cross panels toward a position whereby the frontmost cross panel is engaged by said reciprocal member, said means for sequentially advancing cross panels including an apertured plate positioned adjacent and substantially parallel to the plane of movement of said reciprocal member, and means for creating a reduced air pressure in the region adjacent the side of said apertured plate opposite the reciprocal member for assisting in causing the frontmost cross panel to be moved into engagement with said apertured plate, whereby said frontmost panel is thus positioned for engagement by said reciprocal member.

Claim 7

An apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said means for sequentially advancing cross panels toward said apertured plate comprises a supply conveyor adapted to provide a lower support for said stack of cross panels, means for driving said supply conveyor in a direction to urge the lower portion of said stack toward said apertured plate, and weight means for urging the uppermost portion of said stack toward said apertured plate.

Claim 8

An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said reciprocal member has a maximum reciprocal stroke which is substantially less than the height of the cross panels.

Claim 9

An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said means for sequentially moving longitudinal panels comprises a conveyor arranged below said assembly station, and said assembly station causing said cross panels to be moved in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of movement of said conveyor.