US3597142A

US3597142A - Automatic nailing machine

Info

Publication number: US3597142A
Application number: US847173A
Authority: US
Inventors: Lane Jasper
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1969-08-04
Filing date: 1969-08-04
Publication date: 1971-08-03
Anticipated expiration: 1988-08-03

Abstract

The structure of the present invention incorporates a fixture for holding a pair of wood component parts positioned for joining under a nail-driving ram. A continuous strip of nails feeds nails to a position under the ram which then drives a single nail into the two parts to form a mitertight locking connection.

Description

United States Patent inventor Lane Jasper 165 North Catalina Avenue, Pasadena, Calif. 91106 Appl. No. 847,173 Filed Aug. 4, 1969 Patented Aug. 3, 1971 AUTOMATIC NAILING MACHINE 14 Claims, 17 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 227/95, 227/148 Int. CL B27! 1/12 Field of Search 227/95, 120, 148

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,240,455 4/1941 Carlile 227/95 2,765,468 10/1956 Cootes et al. 227/112 UX 2,900,638 8/1959 O'Kelley 227/120 2,947,990 8/1960 OKelley 227195 2,903,699 9/1959 Mazzola 227/148 Primary Examiner-Granville Y. Custer, Jr. Attorney-C. Lauren Maltby ABSTRACT: The structure of the present invention incorporates a fixture for holding a pair of wood component parts positioned for joining under a nail-driving ram. A continuous strip of nails feeds nails to a position under the ram which then drives a single nail into the two parts to form a mitertight locking connection.

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AUTOMATIC NAILING MACHINE The general purpose and objective of the invention is to provide an efficient production machine for nailing together the mating mitered ends ofa pair of wood component parts or similar members.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a novel nail-feeding unit wherein the nails are supplied from a continuous strip and severally separated therefrom for the nailing operation.

Other objects of the invention will appear and be brought out more fully in the following specification, reference being had to accompanying drawings, wherein,

FIG. 1 is an elevation view of the nail-feeding and nail-driving mechanism part of the machine.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the same.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 1.

FIGv 5 is the side elevation view of the parts shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along the line 7-7 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along the line 8-8 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 9 is an elevation view of the nail-driving mechanism showing a nail being driven into members being joined and a following nail being broken off from the strip and positioned for nailing.

FIG. 10 is a view of the same showing a nail in final position joining the frame members together and a following nail in position for a succeeding nailing operation.

FIG. 11 is a partial perspective view showing saw-cut slits in the ends of two pieces to be joined and to receive a nail.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view ofa portion of the nail-feeding strip from which the nails are fed into the nail-breaker block adjacent to the nail-driver bar.

FIG. 13 is the sectional view of the nail as seen on line 13-13 of FIG. 12.

FIG. 14 is a plain view of the component part supporting fixture as seen from line 14-14 ofFIG. 15.

FIG. 15 is an elevation view of the same.

FIG. 16 is a partial view as seen from the line 16-16 of FIG. 15.

FIG. 17 is a schematic diagram of the power actuating system of the invention.

Now referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the present invention is incorporated in a frame structure 10 on which are mounted a nail injector slide 11, a nail-feeder slide at 12, an air cylinder 13 and a picture-frame member supporting structure 14. (see FIGS. 14 to 16.)

A nail-transfer plate 15 is secured on injector slide 11 and nail-feeder slide 12 is secured on transfer plate 15 and a plastic cover plate 16 is secured on transfer plate 15.

Nail injector slide 11 is formed with a groove 17 which forms a guideway for a driver bar 18, which driver bar is secured to a ram 20 which is slideable in a groove 21 in injector slide 11. A connecting block 22 is secured on top of ram 20 and in turn is secured to the piston rod 23 of air cylinder 13. Ram 20 is formed with a groove in which a breaker block 24 is secured, the breaker block in turn having a recess to receive the upper end of a breaker plate 25. A nail-driver tip 26 is secured by screws to the lower end of driver bar 18 so as to be replaceable when necessary.

A breaker ram limit switch actuator 27 is secured on breaker bar 243 and has a slot 28 through which the mounting screws 30 extend by which the switch actuator is adapted to be the adjustably position vertically as will be more fully explained hereinafter. A button head screw 31 extends laterally from actuator 27. Feeder slide 12 is formed with a pair of

slots

32 and 33 and is also formed with a pair of grooves 34 to receive the flanges 35 of the nails 36 of FIG. 12. As will be clear from FIG. 12 nails 36 are formed from a continuous strip which is weakened at the ends of each nail to permit the nails to be broken off during the operation of the machine and to be dropped below the driver bar and driver ram.

The nail feed system best seen in FIGS. 2, and 4-8 includes a nail feeder block 37 is slideable along feeder slide 12 and has a lateral extension 38 that extends through slot 32 and a second extension 40 which extends through slot 33, the feeder block being held by a backup plate 41 which is secured to the feeder block by screws. Feeder block 37 is formed with a recess in which is positioned a feeder dog 42 which is pivotally mounted in the recess and is spring seated whereby the dog ratchets along the nails after advance movement thereof by the dog. A block 42a is secured on slide 12 by a pair of screws 42b. A screw 42c extends into hole 42d in the slide and retains a spring-seated ball 42e that presses each nail against block 42a as the nail moves into position under the block.

A feeder limit switch actuator 43 is formed with an elongated slot 44 and is secured on feeder block 36 by a pair of screws 45 which extends through the slot, thus permitting longitudinal adjustment of the limit switch actuator when necessary for limiting the stroke of the nail feeding strip when different length of nails are being used therein. Feeder block 37 is advanced and retracted by a piston rod 47, actuated by an air cylinder 48 which is mounted on the side of feeder slide 12. A backstop block 50 is secured on feeder slide 12 as by screws 51 which extends through a slot 52 in the block by which arrangement the block is adjustable when nails of different length are being used. Block 50 has a recess in which a springseated dog 53 is pivotedly secured to limit retrograde movement of the nailing strip when the feeder block 37 is being retracted. Forward and

rear stop blocks

54 and 55 respectively are secured in slot 32 and adjustably positioned to limit the forward and reverse strokes of the feeder block 37.

As best seen in FIG. 3 the injector slide groove 17 is covered by a cover 56 and a wire spring 57 is carried by the cover and extends into groove 17 upon which the nail rests in position to be driven into the workpieces. Transfer plate 15 is formed with a shallow recess 58 into which the separated nail from the strip drops and is guided by the curved portion of the recess into groove 17 ofinjector slide.

Now referring to FIGS. 14-16 component part supporting structure 14 comprises a base block 60 which supports a plate 61 which is movably mounted for movement forwardly and rearwardly by a screw 62 having a handwheel 63 thereon. Block 60 is supported on an elevating tube 64 by which the fixture may be lowered and raised as desired. Plate 61 is welded on a cylinder 61a which is slidable on block 60 by hand wheel 63 and rotatable on the block. A pair of side plates 60a are secured on block 60 and formed with slots 60b through which lock bolts 60c extend for locking the fixture against rotation. This locking is further provided by a pair of bars 61b pivoted and locked on block 60 by bolts 61c and having slots 61d through which lock bolts 610 on plate 61 are mounted. A pair of small plates 65 are swivel mounted on plate 61 by pins 67 and each plate 65 is formed with an arcuate groove 66, through which a lock screw 68 extends for locking the plates in variable angular positions. A block 70 is welded on each plate 65 and pivotally secures a supporting member 71, as by a pivot bolt 72. Each member 71 is formed with an arcuate slot 73 through which a lock bolts 74 extends, whereby angle members 71 may be. tilted to several positions. A side plate 75 is secured to each supporting member 71 against which the side portion of the component part to be joined is rested.

FIG. 11 shows a pair of component parts 76 which are to be joined by the nailing operation of this machine, the figure showing saw cuts 77 into which the nails are driven as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10.

The operation of the invention should be apparent from the foregoing description.

FIG. I shows the relation of the parts prior to the start of a nailing operation. The nail driving and nail advancing and retracting actions are operated from the

air cylinder

13 and 48 in a pneumatic system shown in FIG. 17 under the control of a pedal switch 80. Upon the initial actuation of ram 20, a nail is broken away from the strip by the downward movement of breaker plate 25, as shown in FIG. 9, and the nail drops to the upper nail position in the nail-transfer plate 15. Upon the upward stroke of the ram 20 the feeder block 37 will be retracted carrying feeder dog 42 past the forwardmost nail in nail-feeder slide 12, the strip of nails being held in position by backstop dog 53 in preparation for the next nailing operation.

FIGS. 9 and show initial and final positions of the nail being driven into slots 77 of the wood component parts 76, and it will be understood that the nails are slightly tapered from the forward or leading edge thereof, such that the taper of flanges 35 will draw the component parts into a mitertight locking joint. The retraction stroke of the feeder block is controlled by button 46 on a limit switch actuator 43, and the length of this stroke as well as the forward stroke is controlled by the spacing of stop blocks 54 and 55, which spacing may be altered to accommodate to nails of different lengths. if a change in the stroke is made, a corresponding change is made in the position of limit switch actuator 43 in its position on the feeder block. In a similar manner button head screw 31 on breaker ram limit switch actuator 27 controls the valve for the pneumatic actuation of the ram by cylinder 13, and the stroke of the ram can be varied by shifting the position of actuator 27 on breaker block 24.

FIG. 17 shows a schematic diagram of the power actuating system of the invention. Air under pressure is supplied from a physical source of 79 and the actuation is under the control of a control pedal switch 80. A pair of

spool valves

81 and 82 reverse the direction of airflow into drive cylinder 13 and feeds cylinder 48 as indicated by the flow lines in the diagram.

When pedal switch 80 is actuated it will cause line 91 to release the pressure which holds the lapped spool in a left position in valve 81 and permits the lapped spool to shift to the right position in the valve and exhausts line 92 through port hole 83 and applies pressure in line 93 which forces the piston rod 47 in feeder cylinder 48 to advance in a forward position until it comes in contact with bleeder button 46.

Bleeder button 46 releases the pressure in line 94 which permits the lapped spool in valve 81 to shift to the left position and release the line pressure in line 93 which exhausts through porthole 98 and applies line pressure in line 92, forcing the piston rod 47 to return to the original position in feeder cylinder 48 and permits the lapped spool in valve 82 to shift to the left position and exhausting line 95 through porthole 99 and applies line pressure in line 96 to force the piston rod 23 to advance forward in drive cylinder 13. When piston rod 23 comes in contact with bleeder button 31 it causes line 97 to release the pressure in valve 82 and permits the lapped spool to shift to the right position and to exhaust line 96 through porthole 100 and applies pressure in line 95 which returns the piston rod 23 onto the original position. A metering cylinder 84 is shown having a piston connected to piston rod 23, and an accumulator 85, together with a metering valve 86 are provided whereby the movement of piston 23 may be kept steady and varied as desired.

It should be clear from the foregoing description that the Nailing Machine of this invention is capable of and adapted for the driving of individually hand-fed nails. When it is so operated, slide 12 and guillotine 25 are removed and the individual nails can be dropped into slot 21. The ram is then actuated by the air system as previously explained withthe automatic operation.

What i claim is:

1. An automatic nailing machine comprising in combination;

a. a main frame;

b. a component part supporting fixture on said frame;

c. a nail-injector head mounted to said main frame above said component part supporting structure;

d. a nail-feeder slide for feeding nails to said nail-injector head;

e. a magazine for holding a continuous strip of nails;

. means above the said nail-injector head for separating a nail from said strip and dropping it into said nail-injector head;

g. said separating and dropping means including a body portion defining a passageway extending generally vertically with a sufficient transverse direction to allow a separated nail to travel from the point of separation of nails to said nail-injector head in position to be driven;

h. a nail-driver ram above said nail-injector head in line with the portion of said passageway at said nail-injector head whereby said ram can enter said passageway and advance a nail therein; and

i. a source of power for actuating said ram.

2. Structure according to claim 1 wherein said source of power is fluid actuating.

3. Structure according to claim 1 wherein said fixture is tiltable and shiftable both vertically and horizontally.

4. Structure according to claim 1 including means for varying the amount of advance of said nailing strip.

5. Structure according to claim 1 wherein said nail separating means is coactuable with said ram.

6. An automatic nailing machine comprising;

a. A frame;

b. a workpiece support designed to hold a pair of kerfed members in juxtaposition for nailing by the machine;

c. a nail-injector head positioned to inject nails into kerfed members on the adjacent workpiece support;

d. means for actuating the nail injector;

e. a magazine for holding a strip of nails;

f. actuator means for advancing the strip nail to the region adjacent to the nail injector;

g. said nail injector including a passage for transmission of severed nails to the region of the kerfed member to be nailed;

h. said nail injector also including a guillotine member for striking the outermost nail of the nail strip to sever it and said nail injector further including a ram for driving the severed nail in the passageway into the kerfed member.

7. The combination in accordance with claim 6 wherein said ram and guillotine members are mounted for simultaneous actuation by the power source.

8. The combination in accordance with claim 6 wherein said nail feeder includes a stop for limiting the advance of the nail strip to one nail length upon each actuation.

9. The combination in accordance with claim 8 wherein said stop is adjustable whereby the machine adapts to different length of nails.

10. The combination in accordance with claim 6 wherein the actuator means for the nail injector and the nail feeder are synchronous for sequential operation.

11. The combination in accordance with claim 6 wherein said nail injector includes an elongated passage for conveying severed nails including an enlarged upper region for the reception of the end nail of a strip in which the guillotine member when actuated strikes and severs the outermost nail of the strip.

12. The combination in accordance with claim 6 wherein the actuator for the nail injector and nail feeder are fluid power actuated including a valve means for said actuators operatively connected to actuate one of said actuators while returning the second whereby the nail feeder and nail actuator are operated in alternate sequence.

13. A nailing machine, comprising in combination;

a. a main frame;

b. a component part supporting fixture on said frame;

c. a nail-injector head mounted to said main frame above said component part supporting fixture;

cl. a nail-driver ram above said nail injector head;

e. means for shifting said component part supporting fixture in a vertical direction;

f. a source of power for actuating said ram;

g. said injector head including a top opening and a substantially vertical passage therethrough to a nail-insertion position whereby nails introduced into said top opening travel under gravitational force to a nail-insertion position; and

A nail-driver ram above said nail-injector head; Said passage including sufficient lateral direction to advance a nail to a position in line with said nail-driver ram; Said nail-driver ram positioned to travel along said passage to advance a nail therethrough and into a component part supporting fixture. Means for shifting said component part supporting fixture in a direction along the line of travel of said nail-driver ram to vary the effective nail-driving stroke.

Claims

1. An automatic nailing machine comprising in combination; a. a main frame; b. a component part supporting fixture on said frame; c. a nail-injector head mounted to said main frame above said component part supporting structure; d. a nail-feeder slide for feeding nails to said nail-injector head; e. a magazine for holding a continuous strip of nails; f. means above the said nail-injector head for separating a nail from said strip and dropping it into said nail-injector head; g. said separating and dropping means including a body portion defining a passageway extending generally vertically with a sufficient transverse direction to allow a separated nail to travel from the point of separation of nails to said nailinjector head in position to be driven; h. a nail-driver ram above said nail-injector head in line with the portion of said passageway at said nail-injector head whereby said ram can enter said passageway and advance a nail therein; and i. a source of power for actuating said ram.

6. An automatic nailing machine comprising: a. A frame; b. a workpiece support designed to hold a pair of kerfed members in juxtaposition for nailing by the machine; c. a nail-injector head positioned to inject nails into kerfed members on the adjacent workpiece support; d. means for actuating the nail injector; e. a magazine for holding a strip of nails; f. actuator means for advancing the strip nail to the region adjacent to the nail injector; g. said nail injector including a passage for transmission of severed nails to the region of the kerfed member to be nailed; h. said nail injector also including a guillotine member for striking the outermost nail of the nail strip to sever it and said nail injector further including a ram for driving the severed nail in the passageway into the kerfed member.

13. A nailing machine, comprising in combination; a. a main frame; b. a component part supporting fixture on said frame; c. a nail-injector head mounted to said main frame above said component part supporting fixture; d. a nail-driver ram above said nail injector head; e. means for shifting said component part supporting fixture in a vertical direction; f. a source of power for actuating said ram; g. said injector head including a top opening and a substantially vertical passage therethrough to a nail-insertion position whereby nails introduced into said top opening travel under gravitational force to a nail-insertion position; and h. means for holding a nail in said insertion position below and in an alignment with said driver ram.

14. A nailing machine comprising in combination a main frame; A component part supporting fixture on said frame; A nail-injector head on said frame above said fixture; Said nail-injector head including top opening to receive a nail and a generally vertical passage communicative with said opening for delivering a nail into a component part supported by said fixture; A nail-driver ram above said nail-injector head; Said passage including sufficient lateral direction to advance a nail to a position in line with said nail-driver ram; Said nail-driver ram positioned to travel along said passage to advance a nail therethrough and into a component part supporting fixture. Means for shifting said component part supporting fixture in a direction along the line of travel of said nail-driver ram to vary the effective nail-driving stroke.