PALLET MACHINE WITH IMPROVED NAILING SYSTEM

1 . Apparatus for manufacturing pallets, comprising:

means defining a predetermined feed path;

means for feeding a plurality of stringers in predetermined longitudinal orientation along said feed path;

means for feeding a plurality of first boards in predetermined transverse orientation onto the stringers on said feed path;

first means for fastening said first boards to said stringers, said fastening means including a single vibratory nail bowl and a plurality of nail guns mounted in transverse spaced-apart orientation, each nail gun also being mounted for selective vertical movement into and out of operative engagement with said boards;

means for flipping the first boards and stringers over after nailing;

means for feeding a plurality of second boards in predetermined transverse orientation onto the stringers on said feed path after flipping; and

means for fastening said second boards to said stringers, said second fastening means including a single vibratory nail bowl and a plurality of nail guns mounted in transverse spaced-apart orientation, each nail gun also being mounted for selective vertical movement into and out of operative engagement with said second boards to complete sequential manufacture of the pallets.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said means for feeding a plurality of stringers comprises:

a plurality of longitudinal hoppers disposed above said feed path.

3 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said means for feeding a plurality of first boards comprises:

a transverse hopper disposed above said feed path.

4 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said means for feeding a plurality of second boards comprises:

a transverse hopper disposed above said feed path.

5 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said flipping means comprises:

a rotatable wheel defining a plurality of radially extending pockets for receiving the first boards and stringers after nailing.

6 . The apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein said rotatable wheel includes six radially extending pockets at equal circumferentially spaced intervals.

7 . Apparatus for assembling pallets from stringers, boards and nails, comprising:

means defining a predetermined feed path having input and output ends;

a plurality of first hoppers disposed at the input end of the feed path for receiving a supply of said stringers;

means for simultaneously advancing a plurality of said stringers in predetermined, mutually spaced-apart longitudinal orientation along said feed path;

a second hopper disposed along said feed path for receiving a supply of first boards;

means for sequentially feeding the first boards in predetermined transverse orientation onto the stringers on said feed path;

first means for fastening the first boards to the stringers, said first fastening means including a single vibratory nail bowl and a plurality of associated first nail guns mounted for selective vertical movement into and out of operative engagement with the first boards to form semi-completed pallets;

means for disposed along said feed path for sequentially inverting the semi-completed pallets;

a third hopper disposed along said feed path for receiving a supply of second boards;

means for sequentially feeding the second boards in predetermined transverse orientation onto the stringers of the semi-complete pallets; and

second means for fastening said second boards to said stringers, said second fastening means including a single vibratory nail bowl and a plurality of second nail guns mounted for selective vertical movement into and out of operative engagement with said second boards to complete manufacture of the pallets at the output end of said feed path.

8 . The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein said first fastening means further includes means for adjustably supporting the first nail guns in selective, mutually spaced-apart positions above said feed path.

9 . The apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein said first fastening means further includes:

a mounting plate associated with each first nail gun;

each first nail gun including a cylinder with a movable drive pin and associated nail chuck;

a pair of mounting pads for supporting the cylinder of each first nail gun on said mounting plate, at least one of said mounting pads being engaged in a corresponding recess formed into said mounting plate; and

means for securing the cylinder and mounting pads to said mounting plate.

10 . The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein said second fastening means further includes means for adjustably supporting the second nail guns in selective, mutually spaced-apart positions above said feed path.

11 . The apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein said second fastening means further includes:

a mounting plate associated with each second nail gun;

each second nail gun including a cylinder with a movable drive pin and associated nail chuck;

a pair of mounting pads for supporting the cylinder of each second nail gun on said mounting plate, at least one of said mounting pads being engaged in a corresponding recess formed into said mounting plate; and

means for securing the cylinder and mounting pads to said mounting plate.

12 . A fastening system for use in a pallet machine, which comprises:

a vibratory nail bowl for receiving a supply of loose nails, said nail bowl including an outlet;

a nail block adapted to individually receive nails from the outlet of said nail bowl and arrange said nails in a plurality of predetermined columns;

means for supporting said nail block for selective transverse positioning relative to the outlet of said nail bowl

a plurality of nail guns;

means for mounting said nail guns in mutually spaced apart orientation; and

means for simultaneously transferring individual nails from said nail block and feeding said nails to said nail guns.

13 . The fastening system of claim 12 , wherein the nails include shanks and heads, the shanks being relatively smaller than said heads, and wherein said nail block includes a plurality of transversely spaced-apart, generally vertical grooves adapted to receive the shanks of the nails.

14 . The fastening system of claim 12 , wherein said means for supporting said nail block includes linear shafts and linear bearings.

15 . The fastening system of claim 12 , wherein said means for supporting said nail block includes a linear actuator.

16 . The fastening system of claim 12 , wherein said nail gun mounting means is adjustable so that said nail guns can be positioned in selective, spaced-apart orientation.

17 . The fastening system of claim 12 , wherein said nail gun mounting means includes:

a mounting plate associated with each nail gun;

each nail gun including a cylinder with a movable drive pin and associated nail chuck;

a pair of mounting pads for supporting the cylinder of each nail gun on its associated mounting plate, at least one of said mounting pads being engaged in a corresponding recess formed into said mounting plate; and

means for securing the cylinder and mounting pads to said mounting plate.

18 . The fastening system according to claim 17 , further including:

a pair of generally horizontally extending, mutually spaced-apart linear shafts; and

a pair of linear bearings secured to each mounting plate, said linear bearing being supported on said linear shafts.

19 . The fastening system of claim 12 , wherein said nail transfer means includes:

a pick plate including predetermined openings therein;

means for supporting said pick plate for movement between blocking and feeding positions relative to said nail block; and

means for selectively actuating said plate

20 . The fastening system according to claim 19 , said means for supporting said pick plate includes a linear shaft and linear bearings.