Patent US3945549A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3945549A
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US
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Automatic stitch nailing apparatus
Assignee: VIKING PALLET CORP
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Filing: 1974-09-20
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Granted: 1976-03-23
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Expires: 1994-09-20
Abstract
Abstract A stitch nailing apparatus for automatically sequentially placing transversely extending slats in predetermined spaced relationship with one another onto a plurality of longitudinally advancing stringers and for repetitively nailing each slat to the stringer in stitch nailing fashion, immediately following its placement thereon. A first conveyor, mounted on an elongated frame, advances and guides a lowermost stringer longitudinally of the elongated frame from each of a plurality of spaced stringer magazines. The plurality of advancing stringers simultaneously proceed in spaced parallel relationship to a nailing station wherein a separate nailing head is adjacent each stringer. A slat magazine, disposed between the nailing heads and the stringer magazines, holds a vertical stack of slats. A slat conveyor advances the lowermost slat from the slat magazine to a position transversely overlying the stringers at the nailing station. Electromechanical control means are provided for sequentially actuating the first and the slat conveyors and the nailing heads to drive nails through the positioned slat and into each stringer, and for thereafter coordinating alternate movement of the first conveyor with actuation of the nailing heads to drive additional nails in stitch fashion through the slat and into each of the stringers. The electromechanical control means automatically senses the completed nailing of a slat to the stringers, and repeats the cycle sequentially by advancing the stringers a predetermined longitudinal distance by positioning another slat overlying the stringers and by stitch nailing the slat to the stringers. The cycle is continuously repeated or interrupted in response to the control means. The apparatus readily adjusts to accomodate stringers and slats of varied dimensions and to assemble such stringer and slat assemblies of varied shapes and configurations.
Inventors
- 👤 Donald W. Colson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 22:49
CPC Classifications
B; B27; B27F; B27F7/00; B27F7/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
404 words
An automatic nailing apparatus for nailing transverse slats to spaced parallel stringers, said nailing apparatus comprising: a. an elongated frame having a transversely extending frame member overlying said frame; b. a plurality of stringer magazines for vertically stacking a plurality of stringers to extend longitudinally of said elongated frame at spaced parallel positions transversely thereof; c. first conveyor and guiding means for advancing and simultaneously guiding a lowermost one of said vertically stacked stringers from each of said stringer magazines longitudinally of said elongated frame; d. a slat magazine for vertically stacking a plurality of slats to extend transversely of the stringers between said transverse frame member and said plurality of stringer magazines; e. second conveyor means for advancing and positioning a lowermost one of said vertically stacked slats onto said advancing stringers; f. nailing means mounted on said transverse frame member and generally above said first conveyor means, for automatically nailing a slat to each of said advancing stringers, said nailing means including: i. a plurality of nailing heads, each of said nailing heads having a hydraulically actuated hammer member for individually driving a nail into a slat positioned therebeneath; ii. each of said nailing heads being transversely spaced apart from one another and in longitudinal alignment with one of said stringer magazines to drive a nail through a slat into an underlying stringer as it is positioned therebeneath; and iii. each of said nailing heads being maintained in a fixed longitudinal and lateral position during the automatic operation of that nailing apparatus; and g. control means: i. for selectively advancing and momentarily stopping said first conveyor means to uniformly advance the lowermost ones of the stacked stringers to a position beneath said nailing heads where said first conveyor means may be momentarily stopped with a slat positioned beneath each said nailing head while a nail is driven by the hammer elements; ii. for periodically actuating said second conveyor means, responsive to positional advancement of said first conveyor means, to advance and position said lowermost stacked slat onto said advancing stringers and subsequently to a position beneath said nailing heads; and iii. for actuating said nailing means in cooperation with the momentary stopping of said first conveyor means, to simultaneously energize each of said nailing heads at least one time, thereby driving a nail through the slats into each of the underlying stringers, and to then allow said first conveyor means to advance.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
404 words
An automatic nailing apparatus for nailing transverse slats to spaced parallel stringers, said nailing apparatus comprising: a. an elongated frame having a transversely extending frame member overlying said frame; b. a plurality of stringer magazines for vertically stacking a plurality of stringers to extend longitudinally of said elongated frame at spaced parallel positions transversely thereof; c. first conveyor and guiding means for advancing and simultaneously guiding a lowermost one of said vertically stacked stringers from each of said stringer magazines longitudinally of said elongated frame; d. a slat magazine for vertically stacking a plurality of slats to extend transversely of the stringers between said transverse frame member and said plurality of stringer magazines; e. second conveyor means for advancing and positioning a lowermost one of said vertically stacked slats onto said advancing stringers; f. nailing means mounted on said transverse frame member and generally above said first conveyor means, for automatically nailing a slat to each of said advancing stringers, said nailing means including: i. a plurality of nailing heads, each of said nailing heads having a hydraulically actuated hammer member for individually driving a nail into a slat positioned therebeneath; ii. each of said nailing heads being transversely spaced apart from one another and in longitudinal alignment with one of said stringer magazines to drive a nail through a slat into an underlying stringer as it is positioned therebeneath; and iii. each of said nailing heads being maintained in a fixed longitudinal and lateral position during the automatic operation of that nailing apparatus; and g. control means: i. for selectively advancing and momentarily stopping said first conveyor means to uniformly advance the lowermost ones of the stacked stringers to a position beneath said nailing heads where said first conveyor means may be momentarily stopped with a slat positioned beneath each said nailing head while a nail is driven by the hammer elements; ii. for periodically actuating said second conveyor means, responsive to positional advancement of said first conveyor means, to advance and position said lowermost stacked slat onto said advancing stringers and subsequently to a position beneath said nailing heads; and iii. for actuating said nailing means in cooperation with the momentary stopping of said first conveyor means, to simultaneously energize each of said nailing heads at least one time, thereby driving a nail through the slats into each of the underlying stringers, and to then allow said first conveyor means to advance.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
133 words
An automatic nailing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said elongated frame includes generally planar surface portions for supporting said longitudinally advancing stringers and wherein said means for guiding said advancing stringers comprises: a plurality of pairs of elongated stringer guide members, one each of said pairs operatively cooperable with one of said stringer magazines and extending longitudinally therefrom at a receiving end of said frame to at least the position of said nailing heads, and mounting means for securing said plurality of stringer guide members to said elongated frame in overlying relationship with said supporting surface portions, such that the stringer guide members of each of said pairs define a race therebetween for permitting unobstructed longitudinal movement of said advancing stringers therealong in a direction toward the position of said nailing heads.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
156 words
An automatic nailing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said first conveyor means comprises: a. a pair of transversely spaced endless linked chains, b. sprocket means for mounting one each of said spaced chains adajcent the opposing longitudinal edges of said elongated frame with an upper flight of each chain positioned above said planar surface portions and connected for common movement longitudinally of said elongated frame; c. at least one connecting drive element extending between and connected to said pair of chains to simultaneously engage the lowermost ones of the vertically stacked stringers from each of the plurality of stringer magazines and to longitudinally advance said engaged stringers along said races defined by the associated pairs of stringer guide members toward said nailing station; and d. power means for simultaneously driving said pair of chains to advance said upper flights to the chains longitudinally of said elongated frame from said receiving end toward said nailing heads.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
103 words
An automatic nailing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said mounting means includes transversely extending support members secured to said elongated frame for supporting the longitudinal ends of said stringer guide members in spaced relationship above said underlying planar surface portions such that said connecting drive element is free to pass between said stringer guide members and the underlying planar surface portions, and wherein said mounting means is adjustably configured to enable lateral positioning of individual stringer guide members relative one another and to enable lateral adjustment of the respective pairs of said stringer guide members relative other pairs of said guide members.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
52 words
An automatic nailing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein a correpsonding one of each pair of said stringer guide members includes means adjacent said nailing heads for yieldingly urging a stringer positioned within said race defined by that pair of stringer guide members toward the oppositely disposed guide member of that pair.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
139 words
An automatic nailing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein each of said plurality of stringer magazines comprises: a. a pair of spaced side wall portions each fixedly mounted on and extending upwardly from and longitudinally of an associated one of said pair of stringer guide members, said sidewall portions each having oppositely disposed end edges and an upper edge; and b. a transverse stop wall member mounted to at least one of said side wall portions and adjacent that one of said end edges thereof proximate said slat magazine, the opposite ones of said end edges of the spaced side walls cooperatively laterally defining an open end to the magazine proximate said receiving end of the system, and said upper edges of the spaced side wall portions cooperatively flaring outwardly to define an upwardly opening mouth to the magazine.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
99 words
An automatic nailing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said nailing means includes a nailing head at each nailing position, and nail supply means for continuously supplying nails to each of said nailing heads, each of said nailing heads comprising: a. a gate means cooperatively connected with said nail supply means for controlling the entrance of nails to that nailing head; and b. a hammer means including said hammer member and operatively connected to and activated by said control means for engaging a nail within said nailing head and for driving said engaged nail out of said nailing head.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
An automatic nailing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said control means includes means operatively connected to each of said plurality of hammer means for simultaneously activating said hammer means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
137 words
An automatic nailing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein each of said nailing heads comprises: a. a housing defining a vertically extending first passageway having an upper end and a lower end, said lower end of said first passageway terminating in close proximity to said positioned slat and defining said nailing position for that nailing head assembly; b. a second passageway formed in said housing having an upper end and a lower end, said lower end of the second passageway communicating with said first passageway between its said upper and lower ends; c. cooperating spring biased jaw elements connected to normally yieldingly close the lower end of said first passageway; and d. wherein said gate means is positioned adjacent said upper end of said second passageway for cooperative engagement by said hammer means during its nailing motion.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
265 words
An automatic nailing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said nail supply means includes a plurality of pairs of nail guide tracks for holding a plurality of nails in consecutive alignment therebetween, one each of said nail guide track pairs mounted for opening into said upper end of said second passageway of each of the nailing head assemblies, and wherein each of said gate means comprises: a. a plate-like gate member mounted on said nailing head apparatus adjacent said upper end of said second passageway for reciprocal movement between a first position blocking entrance of nails from said nail guide track to said second passageway associated therewith, and a second position causing delivery of a single nail from said associated nail guide track to said second passageway; b. actuator means movably mounted to said nailing head and engageable by said hammer means, for enagaging and causing movement of said gate member to its said first position and for limiting movement of said gate member to its said second position in response to engagement and disengagement respectively of said actuator means by said hammer means; c. first spring means operatively connected with said gate member for normally urging said gate member toward rest in its said second position; and d. second spring means operatively connected with said actuator means for normally urging said actuator means toward engagement with said gate member so as to urge said gate member toward rest in its said first position against the bias of said first spring means, said second spring means having a greater spring force than first spring means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
273 words
An automatic nailing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein each of said plate members is characterized by: a. an edge portion disposed adjacent that said nail guide track mounted to supply nails to said associated second passageway of the nailing head assembly, a portion of said edge defining a blocking surface for blocking the exit of nails from said nail guide track when said plate member is positioned in its said first position; b. a notch formed in said edge portion and disposed adjacent said blocking surface so as to be offset from said nail guide track when said plate member is positioned in its said first position, and so as to be aligned with said nail guide track when said plate member is positioned in its said second position; c. an aperture formed through said plate member and disposed therealong so as to be vertically aligned with said upper end of said second passageway when said plate member is positioned in its said first position; d. a slot formed through said plate member extending between and connecting said notch with said aperature for allowing passage of a nail shank therebetween; and e. a gate cam surface forming a longitudinally disposed end of said plate member; and wherein said actuator means is mounted for reciprocatory movement parallel to the longitudinal axis of said first passageway of the nailing head assembly and defines an actuator cam surface positioned to cooperatively engage said gate cam surface for imparting movement to said gate member between its said first and second positions respectively in response to engagement and disengagement of said actuator means by said hammer means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
73 words
An automatic nailing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said hammer means includes siad hammer member being vertically movable within said first passageway of the nailing head assembly in response to said control means, said hammer member having abutment means thereon for engaging and moving said actuator means against bias of said second spring means in response to movement of said hammer member toward engagement with said positioned nail within said first passageway.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
89 words
An automatic nailing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said nailing means includes a plurality of mounting plates for mounting each of said nailing heads to said transverse frame member, said mounting plates including adjustment means for laterally adjustably positioning said respective nailing heads transversely of said elongated frame, and wherein each of said hammer means includes a hydraulically operated ram mounted to said mounting plate and having a nailing hammer piston rod axially aligned with and operatively extendable through said first passageway of said associated nailing head assembly.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
73 words
An automatic nailing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said nail supply means includes: a. a nail hopper; and b. a plurality of nail guide tracks one each of said tracks extending from said nail hopper to one of said nailing heads and communicating with said nail gate means thereof; wherein said nail hopper and guide tracks are cooperatively constructed to continuously deliver nails to said nail gate means in a head-up orientation.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
93 words
An automatic nailing apparatus according to claim 14, including a sensor positioned on each of said nail guide tracks operative to signal the presence of the predetermined number of nails in that respective nail guide track, and a plurality of barrier members, one each of said barrier members being operatively connected with one of said sensors and positioned at the juncture of each of said nail guide tracks with said nail hopper to selectively prevent the entrance of nails into that nail guide track in response to said signal from its associated sensor.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
189 words
An automatic nailing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said second conveyor means includes: a. a pair of stop members mounted on said transverse frame member at longitudinally spaced positions therealong and operatively movable between first and second positions, said stop members being operative in their said first positions to obstruct the path of travel of a slat board positioned upon said advancing stringers, and operable in their said second positions to permit unobstructed travel of a slat board positioned upon said advancing stringers, said pair of stop members when positioned in their said first positions being operative to align an engaged advancing slat board relative the underlying stringers; b. means operatively connected with said pair of stop members for imparting said movement thereto between said first and second positions; and c. wherein said control means includes means operatively connected to said stop member movement means for causing said stop members to become positioned in their said first positions immediately prior to the nailing of said slat to the underlying stringers and to become positioned in their said second positions during the nailing of said slat to the stringers.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
201 words
An automatic nailing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said slat magazine includes an upwardly opening receptacle having a front side wall mounted on said transverse frame member, a rear side wall spaced from said front side wall, opposed spaced end walls and a bottom wall, said front and rear side walls terminating spaced from said bottom wall to define a front and a rear slot adjacent said bottom wall; and wherein said second conveyor includes: a. a slat board advancing plate operatively mounted for longitudinal movement through said rear slot to engage a lowermost slat in said slat magazine and to longitudinally advance the engaged slat through said front slot onto said underlying advancing stringers at the position of said nailing heads; b. a gear rack longitudinally fixedly mounted on each opposite end of said advancing plate; c. a pinion gear cooperatively mounted in meshing engagement with each of said gear racks; d. a rotary pinion shaft rotatably mounted on said rear side wall and connecting said pinion gears for common rotation; and e. power means connected to impart rotation to said pinion gears in opposite first and second rotational directions for respectively longitudinally advancing and retracting said advancing plate.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
55 words
An automatic nailing apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said power means comprises a hydraulically driven motor having a rotary output shaft operatively connected to said rotary pinion shaft by an endless link chain entrained over a drive and a driven sprocket respectively fixedly mounted on said rotary output shaft and on said pinion shaft.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
118 words
An automatic nailing apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the lower edges of said opposed end walls terminate adjacent an upper surface of said advancing plate, wherein said opposed end walls are each mounted for adjustable movement toward and away from each other, wherein said front and rear side walls are spaced apart a distance predetermined to be greater than the transverse dimension of slats contained within said receptacle and wherein said apparatus includes spaced arms mounted on said rear side wall and projecting between said rear and front side walls operatively movable toward and away from said front side wall to engage and urge the lower slats in said receptacle toward engagement with said front side wall.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
85 words
An automatic nailing apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said spaced arms each have an upper end and a lower end, wherein each spaced arm is pivotally connected near its said upper end to said rear side wall and wherein said lower ends of the spaced arms are movable toward and away from said front side wall, and including means connected between said rear side wall and said lower end of each of said spaced arms for imparting said pivotal movement to said lower end.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
88 words
An automatic nailing apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said means for imparting movement to said lower ends of said spaced arms, comprises: a. a crank shaft having a pair of corresponding crank arms and a third crank arm; b. means for rotatably mounting said crank shaft on said rear side wall; c. a link pivotally connected to each of said corresponding crank arms and to said pair of spaced arms; and d. a hydraulic ram pivotally operatively connected between said third crank arm and said rear wall.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
169 words
An automatic nailing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first conveyor means includes a pair of endless link chains transversely spaced of said elongated frame, at least one of said link chains having individual links connected by cylindrical tubular connectors of the type having axial openings oriented so as to project transversely of the longitudinal length of the chain; and wherein said control means includes: a. a plurality of cam members detachably secured to said one endless link chain at spaced positions therealong, each cam member having a plurality of cam surfaces formed thereon; b. a plurality of switch members mounted on said elongated frame and positioned for activation by said cam surfaces of said cam members secured to said one endless link chain in response to movement of said one endless link chain longitudinally of the elongated frame member; and c. circuit means operatively connected to receive activation signals from said switch members for sequentially cooperatively actuating said first and second conveyor means and said nailing means.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
95 words
An automatic nailing apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said cam members each comprise: a. a U-shaped mounting bracket having generally parallel extendable leg portions, sized to be telescopically received in selected ones of said axial openings in said tubular connectors of said one link chain; b. a main cam body member configured to define said plurality of cammed surfaces; and c. mounting means for adjustably mounting said main cam body member on said U-shaped mounting bracket in a manner enabling adjustment of the main cam body member longitudinally relative said one endless link chain.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
52 words
An automatic nailing apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the maximum longitudinal adjustment distance permitted by said means mounting said main cam body to said U-shaped mounting bracket is at least equal to the distance between adjacent ones of said axial openings of said tubular connectors in said one endless link chain.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
155 words
An automatic nailing apparatus according to claim 22, wherein said control means further includes at least one pair of switches mounted on said transverse frame member adjacent one of said hammer means, wherein one of said pair of switches is operatively engaged by said hammer means to indicate a down nailing position and the other of said pair of switches is operatively engaged by said hammer means to indicate a normally up position, wherein a third switch is mounted on said transverse frame member and is operative to indicate the presence of a slat at the position of said nailing heads and wherein electrical circuit means is provided for operably connecting said plurality of switch members said pair of switches and said third switch to actuate said first conveyor means said second conveyor means and said nailing means in a predetermined sequence to nail a slat to said stringers at each of said nailing heads.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-03-23 | 1979-09-22 | 1980-03-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-03-23 | 1983-09-22 | 1984-03-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-03-23 | 1987-09-22 | 1988-03-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |