US1762643A - Box-end-making machine - Google Patents

Description

`une 10; 1930.r HP SCHUCK '15762,643

E l Box END MAKING MACHINE Filed March 7, 195o 5 sheep'sfsht 1 Hmmm l? 8GHz/CK .Fune 10, 1930. A H. P. scHUcK BOX END MAKING MACHINE man@ 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March '7, 1930 (jnvenfozl HA/MDPSC/fz/C/f Junelo, 1930. H'. P. SCHUCK BOX END MAKING MACHINE Filed MaICh 7, 1930 5 Sheets- Sheet 3 `une 10, 1930. HA P. scHUcK BX END MAKTNG MACHINE Filed March 7, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 une m, E935@ H. P. sca-NGN v Box END MAKING MACHINE Filed March 7, 195o 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 me/nto@ hr4/m0 P5 U11/cfr .n Patented dune.

PATENT; OFFICE vHAROLD PITMAN SCHU'CKv, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

.'BOX-ENDx-MAKING MACHINE Application mea Maren '7, 1930. serial No. 434,066.

This invention ,relates to composite-panelmaking machines of the character set forth in my co-pe'nding application Serial No. 337,441 tiled FebruaryiA, 1929, for box-end making machines and aims to provide further improvements whereby a plurality of cleats may be applied simultaneously to grooved sections to form two or more in one panel and so double or still higher increase the gross output capacity of the machine.-

The invention will be best understood by description with reference to the attached drawings wherein one practicable embodis ment is illustrated in a machine of construction similar to that shown in the aforesaid co-pending application.

In said drawings: y Fig. 1 is a plan view of the machine with parts particularly appel-taining tothe present invention drawn in heavy lines;

Fig. '2 is a rear-end elevation of the ma# chine on enlarged scale; l /f/ Figs. 3 and 3a-are enlarged longitudinal sections respectively of the forward and rearward halves of themachine drawn to the samev scale for placing together to show a complete section; and

Fig. 4 is a front-end section of the machine on enlarged scale and omitting details of construction not directly concerned with this invention.

The illustrative machine like that of the co-pending application is adapted to make composite box-ends or panels from lumber of odd lengths and widths.. By easy re-adjustment and change of certain parts, it is adapted also to make parquet floor sections and the like. It may .facilitate understanding to here state that the machine assembles a number of wooden slats or pieces side-byside and then unites them in a rigid panel v by first trimming and grooving their ends and thereafter forcing glue-coated` cleats into the ends. Scrap-lumber from saw-mills may 45 advantageously 'he used for the purpose at y much saving in material and expense.

Like the machine of said co-pending application, the instant one vhas a work-table formed by complementary slab sections 5 50 supported on side pedestals 6 providing a strong and heavy structure (see Figs. 3 and 3a). On a rear-corner of this table is a hopper comprisinga bottom 7, a front-plate 8` with discharge opening 8a and side-plates 9 and 10. One of the side-,plates is shown laterally movable by a bar 11 extending through clamp-bracket 12 for altering the hopper width. A combined back-wall, assemblyplatform and guide is provided by an inverted U-plate 13 supported on brackets 14 50 for slide movement toward and from -the front-plate (see Figs. 1 and 2).

Into saidf hopper the odd lengths of lumber are piled in tiers of several lying side-byside in parallel relation to the rear edge of e5 the table. The number of slats in each tier will of course depend on their widths and the side-plate adjustment of the hopper, and they may vary somewhat in length to a maximum for which the back-plate 13 is set. An at- 70 tendant supplying the hopper will find it convenient to arrange the slats in tiers on the top of the back-plate from which he may easily shovethem into the hopper.

Under the hopper'is a conveyor, which in 75 this instance comprises a pair of endlesschains 15 running in grooves in the bottom or table and carrying one or more cross-bars 16. Thesev chains pass around pairs of sprockets 17 and 18 keyed respectively on 80 shafts 19 and 20 and driven by power applied Aas later described. r

The cross-bar (or bars) of this conveyor engages successively behind the endsof the lowermost tier of slats in the hopper and pushes g5 them forward through the discharge opening 81 to position overlying another conveyor, their outward movement being limited by an abutment piece 21 opposite said opening. By thus removing the slats longitudinally instead of laterally, the possibility of jamming against superposed tiers is eliminated.

The said another orsecond conveyor com# prises apair of endless chains 22 moving longitudinally of the table at substantially right angles to the first and carrying spaced abutments or cross-bars 23. These chains pass around pairs of sprockets 24 and 25 keyed respectively on shafts 26 and 27 and driven by power applied to the last-mentioned shaft I arsenale through achainnorfbelt 28 from a speedV rebut obviously number may loe used ac ducer ass'ociated-with amotor 29 (see Figs.' 3 andB).

lt may here be stated that the drive V11n-y parted to shaft 26 is advantageously transf mitted tothe aforementioned.` shaft by intermeshing beveled vgears 30 and 31, so 'that The. 'econd conveyor runs between ledgerails 32 extending in' parallel relation longitudinally of the table and providing guides'. -between which the slats delivered across the conveyor are moved laterally along the table.

' 15. Between the conveyor chains, a sill-plate 313 extends level with theledge-rails and thereC with provides grooves for the chains 'and fl-and 2). Q 20 also aslide-platfoinn for the slats (see Figs.

The abntmentsof this second conveyor successively engage behind the tiers of slats delivered sucessively thereover by the first couveyor and push them laterally along the slideplatform between the aforesaid ledge `rails to the forward exid of tabla During -fthis movement and also during removal from 4the hopper, the slats are held down firmly by ofthe slide-platform, which act on the ends of the slats with yielding pressure forcing their opposite ends to alinement against the shouldered rail or guide at the other side ofthe platform (see ig. l).

Advancing continuously with the conveyor, 1

the slats are'next subjected to the actionV of a verticall saw '39 at the side of saidlevers,

which trims the slatsto equal lengths so thatvr their ends may align against the shouldered rail or guide at that side as well as the other side of the platform. Said saw is shown pro- 'jecting through a'slot in the ledge-rail and carried by the.u rotor-shaft of a motor 4l) which is supported below the table top in a bed movable transversely thereof for a purpose laterfexplained.

During said trimming operation, the slats are advantageously steadied by a springpressed roller 4l supported thereover adjacent ,the saw bya bracket 4.2 which is 'bolted to one of the elevated rods 35 (see Fig. 3).

On further advance, the slats are conveyed' between horizontal saWs`43/ extending into their pat-h `of -movementso as to 'cut grooves in the edges at oppositeends thereof. rlhese saws having dust-shields 44 are carried by4 the rotor-shafts of motors 45. rlwo saws are shown on each shaft for thepurpose of cut. ting double vgrooves in both ends of the slats,

' greater than standard or usual thickness, it

cording to the nnmber'ofgrooves desired to v be cut. ln casesp-wnere the slats are or may be expedient to Y,thus formthr'ee or more grooves in their-ends."Vv

.Said motors for these grooving saws 'are 'shown supported under the table in carriages f 46 whiclrare'l mounted'forvertical and hori` zontal movements, so as to bring the saws to desired elevation and spacing. adjustment.

This mounting is edectedthrough bed-plates 1 47 in which said carriages are vertically slidable independentlyv by actuation o f screwshafts` 48 turned by hand wheels 48a, while the 'bed-plates (shown dove-tailed with a transverse part ofthe work-table are hori' zontally'slidable, either independently or cooperatively in opposite directions. ln this instance they are co-operatively slidable by 85 a connecting two-way worm-shaft 49 jour-v naled inthe table and operated as described' later. During the grooving operation, the slats are held down by spring-pressedshoes not shown) sup orted by a bracket bolted tothe elevated ro 's 35 as illustrated for-example by the par-ts 50 and 5l in Fig. 3 of the aforesaid copendin'g application. i

Afterthe trimming and grooving opera- 5 tions, the slats are delivered by the Conveyor onto a portion of the slide-platform between opposing hoppers for the insertion of cleats or splines into their grooved ends.

ln this delivery, the slats are impelled 100 somewhat forwardly of a lpush-member 52 which normally projects above the platform surface, but yields against spring tension to permit the slats to ride thereover. This push-member thereupon engages behind the 05 slats and moves them forward to exact posi.-l tion between the opposing hoppers against a'stop-bar 53, which latter is simultaneously raised'above the table top. Being thus positioned, the slats are then held under lateral" n() compressionbetweeny said push-member 'and stop-bar while the cleats are driven into their grooved ends. The push-member is mounted to tilt forwhich is lslidably mounted on a pair of rods 55 extending rearwardly from a second block 56 andfcarrying springs 5'( compressible behind the first-mentioned block for holding it normally abutting the second one. A buffer-block 58 is advantageously placed behind the two blocks. These blocks are countersunk in a longitudinal opening 59 in the table top and form part of a slide structure actuated intermittently to advance the pushi215l member and simultaneously `Araise the stopbar against the tiers of wooden pieces successively delivered between the cleat hoppers.

Withysaid blocks, this slide structure coni"- f prises a frame of parallel bars 60 having 130 vunde'i'.-carriage connection with the block 56 and la supportingguide-block 6l which slides with the formeryfon guide-rails 62V' below the..

I table top. bnnected with the frame of bars 6() is shown ,a `long rod 63 extending rearwardly thru a supportsbracket 64'and carry- ,.i'ng a recoil spring 65 between said bracket and a collar-member 63?l on its free end. This rod (hereinafter called the .pullback rod) compresses said spring during forward move- .ment of the slide structure, thereby storing ture on pull-back-movement.

The aforesaid stop-bar embodies a T shaped membery having a roller 53a on its lower end and is shown vertically movable in a blockV 67. This block is countersunk inthe opening 59 in the table top and is slidably adjustable on the guide rails 62 for positioningthe-stop-bar according to the width-of composite sections to be formed, i. e., with its abutment face in alignment (transversely of the table) .with the forwardly extended ends of cleats stacked in the hoppers on opposite sides of the slide-platform. Under action of a snap spring 67a i `within said block and pressing against a part on the lower end of the stop-bar, the latter v is pushedi and held normally down below the surface of the slide-platform. l

-On the under-carriage frame of the aforesaid slide structure, a cam-block 68 is shown adjustable according to positioning of the l stop-bar for lifting the latter above the platis supported in bearings below the table` top and driven by the main shaft 27 through a chain 72 passing over sprockets 7 3 and 74 respectively on the two shafts.

Said cam-member rotating with its shaft engages behind the aforesaid roller and thereby pushes the slide structure forwardly against resistance of its pull-back rod. During this movement, the delivered slats are positioned between the cleat hoppers by the aforesaid push-member advancing them against the stop-bar. Atrthe limit of forward movement, saidroller rides over the leading edge of the cam-member and along the top thereof, holding the slide structure in advancedposition' wthfthe slats compressed between said push-member and stop'- bar for and during the cleating operation, whereupon the roller riding off the edge of the cam-member releases the slide structure for snap7 return by the pullback rod. v

The tiers of slats first subjected to the trimming vand gro'oving operations are delivered successively by the conveyor between the cleat hoppers immediately following the eleating operation on a preceding tier, each tier in delivery pushing its preceding cleated tier'forwardly and off the table.

As already indicated, hoppers` for feeding cleats or splines forced into the grooved ends f of the slats are opposingly arranged on opposite sides of the portion of slide-platform onto which the conveyor delivers (see Figs. l and 4).

According to this invention, a plurality of cleats are driven simultaneously from these ho pers directly into the receptive grooves at the different levels in both ends of the slats, so that a plurality-cleating of each tier or group' is accomplished in ya single passage through the machine. This is a marked improvement and advantage over the machine of the co-pending application wherein single cleats only can be applied at a time and double or more groovingof the slats leaves it nevertheless necessary to overturn and run them again through the cleating section or else to pass them onto an auxiliary machine' for applying the additional cleats at different level in order to accomplish the same result. Without requiring any speed reduction, the invention thus provides for the complete formation of plural-cleated composite panels and therefore renders the machine capable of much higher output where such panels are to be sawed into several of single- 1 cleating each.

The aforesaid hoppers each comprise adjacent rack-sections 7 5 and 76 which are adjustable laterally (by set screws and slotting) according to the length of cleats to be applied to the grooved slat tiers, and in which the cleatsare stacked side-to-side upon one another. The first-mentioned and shorter of these sections accommodate single stacks of the cleats and discharge the same laterally in required plurality at al time into the receiving ends of .the slats positioned therebetween as above described, while the last-mentioned and taller of the sections acl commodate a plurality of stacks and feed the cleats longitudinally to the aforesaid discharging sections in number corresponding with the number discharged thereby so as to keep them fully. supplied.

In the illustrative machine adapted to apply only two cleats to each (double grooyed) stack. bottoms at oifset levels slightly above m the tops of the' discharge sections, and those of thelatter represented at 7 5a' being located at the'levels of the grooves in the slats brought to position therebetween. Plates 77 -on the frontsof these discharge sections (see Figs.l Sand 4)- provide travel-ledges for the 'cleats .expelled therefroml at levels above their bottom extreme and serve to prevent out-push of cleats intermediate the levels of expulsion.

rlhe two sections of eachhopper are connected by a bridge-member shown comprising a glue-receptacle 78 over which .the cleats in successive pluralities are fed lon itudiA nallyfrom the taller tothe shorter. nless glue-coating is to be dispensed with, the

j cleats in so feeding are passed between glue-` applying rollers 79and 80 journaled on said receptacle and the upper of which yields against .spring 81. aid upper roller 1s coated by drippings from' a superposed glue-` reservoiry 82- through spout 83, while the lower is heated by rotation in a bathof the glue within the receptacle. A cold moisture;

'proof glue has'l been found ypreferable for the purpose.

-ln the present arrangement,A one of the feeding-cleats is pushed to drop directly onto the stack in the discharge section, while the other is pushed yto rest momentarily on the top `edge thereof before droppngalsotpito o owing i e-' said stack by a lateral push livery as will hereinafter appear.

The glue-coated cleats'stached within the discharge sections ofthe hoppers-- are `squeezed together by spring-tensioned temps' 84. :for the purpose. of spreading the glue therebetween' so that each will acquire full coating on both sides. rilhese t'amps depend fromspan-bars 85 supported above the sections and lifted with each expulsion therefrbm' to permit replenishing cleats to feed vtli/ereinto as already described. The lift of saidfspan-ba'rs is edected by cam-elements 86 on reciprocating rods (to be mentioned later) acting thereunder against hold-down springs 87 onfguides 88'therefor. Brackets 89'serve as guides for the forward ends of the rods on lwhich said vcam-elements are carried. ,lf

preferred,v the lifting means-for these span-v bars may be'the same as employed for the corresponding elements in the machine of the 4(zo-pending application.

As before indicated, aplurality of cleats (corresponding with the number of grooves out in the slats), or two in this instance, are

successively. positioned. therebetween.

expelled simultaneously frpm the discharge ysections;of the'oppo'sed hoppers and driven intothe receptiveendlgrooves of the slet-lge s is done by reciprocable puslieijfnaeinbere4 op# erating simultaneousl in opposite directions.

These pusher-mem ers (see *Figylf are l carried by cross-heads 90 moving vin trans verse openin s 91 through the table top on shafts 92, t e latter being supported in brackets 92a above the aforementioned shaft 7l. Said 'cross-heads' have cam-follower roll-l ers 93 moving in oppositelyl grooved`. cammembers`94 which are slidably keyed on the shaft 71 and act against fixed cushionsblocks 94, thereby adapting them to. simultaneous. v

reciprocable movement in opposite directions with other. 4 l

fAtlixedto these cross-heads are primary push-plates 95 (in number corresponding a pressure yield in approaching each with the number of .cleats to be 'driven-into the slats, being two in this instance): extendl ing 'forwardly on the levels of the expulsion slots in the discharge sections of the hopper, so as coincidently to engage behind the cleats at said levels and push them forcibly into thev opposing grooves of the waiting slats, with movement of the cross-headsv .toward each other. Said plates are adjustable independ-v ently by slotting of the cross-heads to `which allixture is advantageously' edected by 'bolt.

ing, while a yield of their pressure in applying the cleats to the slats is atlorded by springs i 95a working againstv a back-plate or-lbar. 'Tension -on the cross-heads in squeezing7 these push-plates against theslats is relieved by tlre aforesaid cushion-blocks (94h) against' which the actuating cam-members bear.

Supported by yokes 96 above said primary .push-plates are secondary push-plates or bars 97 moving therewith and extending forwardly on the levels of the tops of the discharge sections of the hoppers. These secondary push-plates or bars serve to laterally shove the cleats momentarily rested on the top edges of said sections in'feeding thereto as previously. described, so as to drop them onto the stacks therein. Like the primary push-plates, they are slotted for adjustment.

llhe yokes supporting said secondary pushplates also support parallel rods 98 which extend forwardly at both sides of the hop.

per dischargesections to slide in the aforementioned guide-brackets 89 and carrythe lcam-elements ('86.) for lifting the spanfbars .85. These rods are longitudinally adjust'-y able in the yokes by set-screws 99 so as to regulate the cam action, lifting said spanbars by under-riding the same with forwardmovement of the pusher-members and releasing them to drop again with' backward movement of4 said members.-

With .the described .movement of ,these y .pusher-members is synchronized the action of iso j izo elements vfor feeding the cleats from the feeding to the discharge sections of the hoppers. Said elements in this instance comprise pushbars 100 (see Figs. 1 and 3) working together inguide-ways under the stacks of the feeding sections `to engage the ends of the lowermost cleats therein and push them out longitudinally across the bridge-member and between 4the glue-applying rollers to the discharge sections as already described.

These push-bars are reciproc-ated with the aforesaid pusher-members so as to feed the cleats in replenishing number as the pushermembers move on the expulsion and drive stroke, but travel faster in both directions than said pusher-members. This is accom- -plished by novel transmission of drive from the same shaft 71) that motivates the aforementioned cross-heads.

This transmission is effected through crank-arms 101 on projected ends of said shaft (71) imparting oscillatory movement to similar arms 102 (on opposite sides of the machine table) by connecting pitman-rods 103. These oscillated arms have slot-ways for adjustmentl of swing-arc or throw and carry segment gears 104 coacting with small4 1 gears 105 to rotate separate shafts 106 alternately in opposite directions with forward and backward swing. Said shafts (106) are journaled in brackets transversely of the table and carry large gears 107 on their opposite ends. These large gears are engaged by rack-bars 108 to which they impart recip-v rocable movement with'opposite rotations of their shafts. Said rack-bars extend longitudinally of the table abreast the aforesaid feeding sections and are held down to engagement with the gears by brackets 109 through which theymove. On their forward ends they carry gears 110 working betweenv other rack- bars 111 and 112 in parallel relation. The last-mentioned rack-bars are 'shown supported bet-Ween the aforesaid brackets (109) and similar brackets 113 at the fronts of the feeding sections. The upper of these bars (111) are stationary while the lower 112) are reciprocably slidable in the supporting brackets and have lateral connection With the aforesaid push-bars 100 (under the feeding sections) for reciprocating the latter therewith. From the foregoing it 'will be understood that as the racksbars 108 Aare actuated back and forth (with alternate vrotations of shafts 106), the gears 110 thereon ratcheting against the upper rack-bars 111) impart accelerated movement in both directions to the lower rack-bars (112) and push-bars connected thereto, with the result that replenishing cleats will be fed to the discharge sections simultaneously with but slightly in advance of the expulsion there-` lflrom on each cleating stroke of the crosseads.

The illustrative machine is adapted to op-v erate as described on slats of different thicknesses required for different purposes. making box-ends for example, slats of slightly more than standard thickness are preferably used, and the double grooving 4saws forming double grooves in the ends thereof provide for the production of very strong composite sections with the forcing of cleats into these double grooves at both ends simultaneously. Such composite sections are allowed to discharge directly off the table into suitable receivers, or if they are to be sawed into two complete sections of single-cleating each, they are passed onto a slicing machine adjusted to cut them longitudinally. If desired, obviously single-cleat sections maybe formed by using only single grooving saws and single cleat-inserting push-plates.

In Fig. 4 vthe end of a double-grooved tier of slats is represented between the discharge' sections of the cleat hoppers, in position for cleats to be driven simultaneously into both grooves in opposite ends thereof. Slats with treble or more grooves may be cleated in the same way by a simple and obvious addition of parts to so adapt the machine. y

Thus the machine has acapacity and eiliciency greatly exceeding the single-cleating machine of the co-pending application. Its gross output will be double that of the other machine if double-cleated sections of slats are to be sawed into two, and triple that of the other machine if triple-cleated sections .are to be sawed into three, and so on. Withvportions of this shaft work through hangerbearings (not visible in the drawings) extending upwardly through transverse grooves in the table top and fastened respectively to the ledge-rails on opposite sides of the table. Said shaft carries a hand-crank (not shown) on one end and rotation thereof is imparted to the aforementioned twoway worm-shaft 49 through a chain 115 passing over sprockets 114n and 49a respectively on the two shafts. An idling sprocket 116 ad'- vantageously serves for tightening this chain. The rotor-shafts of the grooving saw motors also extend` through transverse slots in the table top and pass through apertured lugportions 117 of the ledge-rails (see Fig. 3). v

F rom the foregoing, it will be understood gluing means on one side of the table being 4 connected and movable with the ledge-rail drive-transmission and gluing means on the on that side and the push-over levers, trimsaw, grooving saws and cleat-hopper with other side ofthe table being connected and movable with the ledge-rail onl said 'other '15' ly in maintained relation.

side, so that all parts are moved cooperative- The reason for mounting the trim-saw motor for movement transversely of the table is thus explained. As'the parts aremoved to' i'1ariable.adjustment in the manner stated, the bevel-gear 3()`is also moved along' itsshaft`26 in uninterrupted engagement with the gear 81 formaintaining the drive between said shaft and the shaft 20 ofthe transverse conveyor.

The machine as hereinbefore indicated ispowered by an electric motor 29, which in this instance operates through, a reduction gear 118 for driving the operable parts at appropriate speeds. A motor control switch is represented at 119 in Fig. 3.

An improved high-speed-machine for making composite Wooden sectionsvor box-ends is thus provided. As various changes and modifications in construction with different,

combinations and sub-combinations of parts -may be made Without departing from the vscope of the invention, itis -not intended to limit .the same by lthe appended claimsv to'l the specific construction shown.A

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Lety v side-byesidein loose tiers; means trimming ters Patentv ot the United States is '1. A machine for making composite panels from' odd lengths of lumber, .comprising inl combination, a table; a hopper on the table in which lumber pieces are arranged side-'by 'side in loose tiers; an endless conveyor working below ,said hopper to successively remove and convey the tiers of pieces therefrom; a

second endless conveyor working at substantia'll/y right angles to the first conveyor and ontowhich the formerdelivers; -means for trimming the pieces to` equal'lengths andV means for cutting a plurality of' grooves therein at both ends- While carried by the second conveyor; a platform-portion onto which `t-he'last named conveyor' delivers 'the pieces still in loose tiers; a push-element engaging behind thed'eli-vered pieces to move' porari'ly held under lateral compression during a cleating operation; means cooperatively actuating said push and stopelements and holding the same with the pieces stationary during the'cleating operation; cleat-feeding hoppers arranged on opposite sides ofsaid' platform-portion where the pieces are held between the push and stop elements; means fordriving a plurality of cleats from said of the pieces simultaneously as they are held under compression between' the hoppers; and means'feeding cleats into said hoppers coordinately with the discharge therefrom.

2. A machine according to the preceding claim, wherein the means driving the cleats from the opposed hoppers into the grooved hoppers and into the grooves at both ends pieces serves in'part. to feed the cleats thereinto. 't

3. A machine according tothe first claim wherein the cleats feeding into the-opposed hoppers are passed in relation to means applying-a coating of glue theretoi 4. A machine according to the first claim,

pieces to hold -them down firmly while im-' i.

pelled along the table bythe second conveyor comprising spring-like tamps angularly deveyorsbpath of movement.

.6. In a composite-panelpe'ndingffrom bars supported over said con- Y wherein the cleat-driving meansA applies a` akinglnachine, l

means assembling a number of wooden slats 1 siderby-side in loose tiers; means trimming y the 'slatsto'equal lengths; means forming a plurality of grooves in the ends thereof; and

means applying a plurality of cleats simultaneously into said grooves.y l f 7. n -a'composite-panel-mahing machine, means assembling a number of Wooden slats vendsvthereo-fymeans momentarily holding and laterally compressing the grooved Vslats of the tiers successively for a cleat-applying operation; and means applying a plurality of cleats simultaneously into said grooves. l

8. In a machine of the character described, means for feeding cleats or splines in application to the grooved ends of slats compris ing adjacent hopper-structures of different height in which the cleats are stacked and vfed from one tothe other", together with' ineaiislor pushing a predetermined number of cleats from the Abottoms of the two siinultaneously, `according to a predetermined cycle of operation; theV cleats from the one being pushed to position for dropping into the other andv the cleats from vsaid other being ,forced I( atfdi''eren't levels)I directly into the grooved ends ofthe' slats positioned receptively therel 9. In combination with cleat-feeding means according4 to the preceding claim, means for applying a coating of glue to the cleats as they are pushed from the one hopper-structure to the other, said means embodying complementary rollers co-operably journaled between the structures and exposed to a bath of glue in position for applying a coating of the latter to the cleats passed successively therebetween.

10.' Cleat-feeding means according to claim 8, wherein the means for simultaneously pushing a predetermined number of cleats from the bottom of the two hopper-structures have associated means operating to force the cleats discharged from the one to drop into the other for maintaining a full supply in the latter.

11. In a machine ofthe character described, means for feeding cleats or splines in application to the grooved opposite ends of a group or tier of slats, comprising-opposing hopperstructures between which the slats are positioned and held under lateral compression, each of said structures embodying adjacent sections with the bottom of one level with the top of the other and in which the cleats are stacked and fed from the one to the other across a, bridging member, together with means for expelling a plurality of cleats from 1 the bottoms of the two sections of both structures simultaneously according toa predetermined operative cycle, the cleats from the one section of each structure being pushed to positionfor dropping into the other section and the cleats from said other section being forced at different levels directly into the opposing grooved ends of the slats.

l2. A machine for making composite panwith the bottom of one level with the top of the other and in which the cleats are stacked and fed from the one to the other across a bridging member; means for drivinga plurality ofthe cleats at different levels from said one section of each hopper simultaneously and directly into the grooves at both ends of the pieces as they are held under compression between said hoppers; and associated means for simultaneously feeding a corresponding number of the cleats from said another to the aforesaid one section of each hopper to keep the latter full.

In testimony whereof I' aliX my signature.

HAROLD PITMAN SCHUCK.

els from odd lengths of lumber, comprising in combination, a table; a hopper on the table in which lumber pieces are arranged side-byside in loose tiers; an endless conveyor working below said hopper to successively remove and convey the tiers of pieces therefrom; a second endless conveyor working at substantiall right angles to the rst conveyor and onto w uch the former dellvers; means i for trimming the pieces to equal lengths and means for cutting a plurality of grooves therein at both ends while carried by the second'conveyor; a platform-portion onto which the last named conveyor delivers the pieces still in loose tiers; a/push-element engaging behind the deliveredpieces to move them forwardly on said/platform-portion; Ia

shifting stop-bar between which and isaid push-element the delivefed pieces are .temporarily held under lateral compression during a cleating operation; means co-operatively actuating said pushr and and stop elements and holding the same with the pieces stationary during the cleating operation; cleat-feeding hoppers arranged on opposite sides of said platform-portion where the pieces are held between the push and stop elements, said hoppers each comprising adjacent sections roo

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