Patent GB-1291032-A (GB)
Title: A machine and a method for fastening together a plurality of members to provide a skeleton wall section
IPC: B23P21/00
Filed: 1971-01-07
Abstract: 1291032 Nailing machines SIGNODE CORP 7 Jan 1971 [19 Jan 1970] 854/71 Heading B4C A machine for fastening together a pair of parallel stringers to a plurality of parallel spanners spanning the space between the stringers to form a wall section, comprises a support bed assembly, a carriage arranged to move in use in a direction parallel to the stringers, and a plurality of fastening means carried by the carriage for fastening the spanners to the stringers by automatically driving fasteners through the stringers into the spanners while the carriage is moving. In the illustrated machine the support bed assembly comprises two beams 26, 26a on which the spanners S and stringers P are supported, one beam 26 being fixed, and the other beam 26a being movable manually transversely of the machine so as to permit accommodation of different sized wall sections. The beams also include respective guard flanges 30, 30a. The assembly also includes locator bar assemblies 32, 32a, each being secured to a respective beam 26, 26a. Each locator bar assembly includes a channel 40 (Fig. 7) parallel to the beams 26, 26a and having spring biased pins 42 spaced therealong for locating spanners longitudinally of the machine. The channels are movable vertically into and away from a locating position by means of double acting pneumatic rams (60), (Fig. 5, not shown), adjacent the channel ends. Conveyer rollers 74 (Fig. 7) rotatably mounted on bars 76 secured to the beams 26, 26a and vertically movable relative thereto, are arranged to project through apertures 70 in the flanges 72 of the beams, when it is desired to remove a finished wall section from the machine. Operation of pneumatic rams 90 (Fig. 8) causes, via cam and crank mechanisms, raising of the bars 76 so that the finished wall section is supported solely by the rollers 74. The carriage 14 which is driven along the bed assembly by a reversible electric motor 120 comprises two fastening assemblies. One fastening assembly 130 is fixed against movement transversely of the machine and the second fastening assembly 130a is movable transversely of the machine, and each assembly can be moved vertically by a respective ram 148. Each fastening assembly includes a pair of squaring rollers, 150, which in use ensure that the parts of the stringer, and the spanner(s) to be fastened together are forced against the beams 26, 26a. Each assembly also includes a pair of compression rollers 152 which is use force the parts of the stringers to which fasteners are to be applied against the spanner(s). The second fastening assembly 130a is manually adjustable transversely of the machine via a hand wheel 160 and a threaded screw 162 which coacts with a nut 161 fixedly secured to a guide carriage 166 which is movable along beams 100 of the carriage. The fastening assembly 130a is connected to the guide carriage via a ram 174. The manually operable arrangement provides a rough transverse adjustment and the ram 174 provides a fine transverse adjustment of the assembly 130a. A pair of fastening means, e.g. pneumatic nailers 154 are included in each fastening assembly. The nailers of each pair are positioned to provide two vertically offset nails at each spanner. Sensors, 204, pivoted on the fastening assemblies, are each associated with a respective nailer, and each includes a roller 210 (Fig. 9) and a cam 212 rotatable with the roller. Each roller has circumferentially spaced spring biased pins 214. In use when a pin 214 engages a spanner the associated roller 210 and cam 212 will be rotated to actuate a pneumatic switch 218 thus to cause the associated nailer to be actuated. Each roller 210 has an elevation control roller 224 associated therewith which maintains the roller 210 at a set height relative to the upper surface of a spanner. Pivotal movement of each sensor is downwardly limited by means of jack screws 230 contacting respective leg 202 (Fig. 6).  When a pneumatic switch 218 is operated, a pulse of compressed air passes via conduit 250 (Fig. 4) to displace piston 252 of a nailer 154 against spring bias so as to move ball 258 from seat 260 to seat 264. The reservoir R and duct 262 are then not in communication and air from a cylinder (not shown) accommodating a reciprocable nail driving piston (not shown) is exhausted via duct 262 and the valve constituted by ball 258 and seating 260, so as to allow the nail driving piston to perform a working stroke. In operation the beam 26a, if necessary, is moved transversely of machine to a desired position. Fastening assembly 130a is then, if necessary, brought to an approximately correct position by turning the wheel 160. The fastening assemblies 130, 130a are held in their uppermost positions, the channels 40 of the locator bar assemblies 32, 32a are in their up positions and the rollers 74 are in their down positions. The carriage is positioned at one end of the bed assembly 12. The stringers are located on the beams 26, 26a and the spanners S are positioned with their ends on the beams, individual spanners being positioned between pairs of pins 42. The assemblies 130, 130a are moved downwardly by actuation of rams 148, and the ram 174 is actuated to resiliently bias the compression rollers 152 against the outer surfaces of the stringers. Upon energization of motor 120 the carriage 14 travels along the bed assembly, e.g. at 25 feet per min. or at 35 feet per min. On each occasion a sensor 204 contacts a spanner the associated fastening means is actuated. At the end of the travel of the carriage 14, along the bed assembly it contacts a limit switch (300), (Fig. 2, not shown), to disengage the motor clutch. The assemblies 130, 130a are then raised, ram 174 is actuated to move the assembly 130a outwardly and the channels 40 are retracted. The rollers 74 are raised to facilitate roll-out of the finished wall section. Subsequently the rollers 74 are retracted. The cycle may then be repeated. The sequence of operations at the beginning and end of each traverse of the carriage 14 may be effected manually or automatically.