Patent Abstract:
Apparatus having automated loading  15 , nailing  22 , and stacking  24  areas for wood components, wall panels or wall components is described. The apparatus includes a control panel  14  that allows automated selection  94  of the type of sub-component to be handled, the speed  98  at which the nailing and stacking operation is executed, the compression rate  100  in which the operation is executed and provides automated feedback  106  of the progress of the operation. A guide track  30 , stationary  26  and powered  28  compression members and side conveyer belts  16  that work in conjunction with upper  18  and side  20  rollers allow for positioning, clamping, and movement of the raw material  70  into the nailing stage  22  of the operation. The rollers allow for the nailing process  22  before being moved to the stacking system  24.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to assembling of wood products and, more specifically, to automated nailing and stacking of wood components, wall panels, or wall components. 
     The present invention includes a control panel that allows for means of automated selection for type of sub-component to be fastened, automated selection control of the speed in which the nailing and stacking operation is executed, automated selection control of the compression rate in which the operation is executed, automated selection control of the nailing setting. In addition to automated feedback of the progress of the operation. 
     The present invention includes a front end guide track, stationary and powered compression members and a plurality of side conveyer belts that work in conjunction with upper and side rollers that allows for positioning, clamping, and movement of the raw material into the nailing stage of the operation. The upper and side rollers then allow for the nailing process before being moved to the stacking conveyer. The stacking stage includes a roller type conveyer with track mounted stacking arms that are used in conjunction with a plurality of pistons and a displacement bar to stack the sub-components as dictated by the setting on the automated control panel. 
     An alternate method of the front end of the machine utilizes a single chain down on the compression member in lieu of the side conveyer belts. The chain includes a stop attached that is used to square the product as well as push the product through the nailing process. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     The present invention discloses an apparatus having automated loading, nailing, and stacking areas for wood components, wall panels or wall components. The present invention includes a control panel that allows for means of automated selection for type of sub-component to be fastened, automated selection control of the speed at which the nailing and stacking operation is executed, automated selection control of the compression rate in which the operation is executed, automated selection control of the nailing setting in addition to automated feedback of the progress of the operation. The present invention includes a front end guide track, stationary and powered compression members and a plurality of side conveyer belts that work in conjunction with upper and side rollers that allows for positioning, clamping, and movement of the raw material into the nailing stage of the operation. The upper and side rollers then allow for the nailing process of the operation. The upper and side rollers then allow for the nailing process before being moved to the stacking system conveyer. The stacking stage includes a roller type conveyer with track-mounted stacking arms that are used in conjunction with a plurality of pistons and a displacement bar to stack the sub-components as dictated by the setting on the automated control panel. An alternate method of the loading area of the machine utilizes a single chain on the compression member in lieu of the side conveyer belts. The chain includes a squaring stop attached thereto that is used to square the product as well as push the product through the nailing process. 
     A primary object of the present invention is to provide better means for fastening structural members of wood products. 
     Another object of the present is to provide better means for sub-component stacking of wood products. 
     A further object of the present invention is to have means in which to move the clamped sub-component through the nail guns. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to have automated selection control of structural members to be fastened. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to have automated selection control of the speed in which the structural members are to be fastened. 
     A further object of the present invention is to have automated selection control of the compression in which the structural members are to be fastened. 
     A yet further object of the present invention is to have automated selection control of the nail setting in which the structural members are to be fastened. 
     A still yet further object of the present invention is to have automated selection control of the stacking method in which the structural members are to be fastened. 
     Another object of the present invention is to have automated visual means in which to feedback progress of an operation while the structural members are being fastened. 
     Additional objects of the present invention will appear as the description proceeds. 
     The present invention overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art by providing a sub-component processing center that allows for a method of moving the clamped sub-component assembly through the nail guns. 
     The foregoing and other objects and advantages will appear from the description to follow. In the description reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments will be described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. In the accompanying drawings, like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views. 
     The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is best defined by the appended claims. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In order that the invention be fully understood, it will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the present invention in use. 
     FIG. 3 is a detailed view of the present invention&#39;s loading area. 
     FIG. 4 is a detailed view of the present invention&#39;s nailing system. 
     FIG. 5 is a detailed view of the present invention&#39;s stacking system. 
     FIG. 6 is a side view of the present invention. 
     FIG. 7 is a top view of the present invention. 
     FIG. 8 is a side view of the present invention in operation. 
     FIG. 9 is a sectional view of the present invention in operation. 
     FIG. 10 is a sectional view of the stacking portion retracted. 
     FIG. 11 is a sectional view of the conveyer system. 
     FIG. 12 is a sectional view of the control panel. 
     FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the present invention. 
     FIG. 14 is a detailed view of an alternate embodiment. 
     FIG. 15 is a flow chart of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The following discussion describes in detail one embodiment of the invention. This discussion should not be construed, however, as limiting the invention to those particular embodiments; practitioners skilled in the art will recognize numerous other embodiments as well. For a definition of the complete scope of the invention, the reader is directed to the appended claims. 
     Turning to FIG. 1, shown therein is a perspective view of the present invention  10 . Shown is the present invention  10  with a technician  12  programming the control panel  14  to the appropriate settings to control the timing of when the nails need to be fired into a work piece (not shown). 
     Turning to FIG. 2, shown therein is a perspective view of the present invention in use. Shown is the present invention  10  having a loading area  15 , nailing system area  22  and stacking system  24 . The loading area  15  has a plurality of side conveyer belts  16  that work in conjunction with the upper  18  and side  20  positioning rollers to produce movement of the raw material work piece past the nailing system areas  22  where nailing can take place and then be moved to the stacking system  24  where the finished product is stacked. Also shown is a horizontal stationary compression member  26  that cooperates with a movable parallel powered compression member  28  along with a guide track  30  having a guide control  32  along with a ball screw  34 . Also shown is a control panel  14 . The movable compression member  28  moves on tracks being a pair of parallel tracks  36 ,  38  which are also shown. Also shown is nail gun  40 , nail supply  42 , a pair of stacking arms  44  which move on a pair of stacking arm tracks  46  along with a plurality of pneumatic pistons  48 ; also shown are a plurality of rollers  50  and a displacement bar  52  which is powered by the pneumatic pistons  48  to move work pieces or products toward the stacking arms  44 . Also shown are the support frame  110  with multiple legs  112  for the loading area  15 , the frame  114  and legs  116  for the nailing system  22 , and the frame  118  with legs  120  of the stacking system  24 . 
     Turning to FIG. 3, shown therein is a detailed view of the present invention&#39;s  10  loading area  15 . Shown in detail is the loading area  15  of the present invention having a stationary compression member  26  and a powered movable parallel compression member  28  that is powered by a ball screw  34  having motor means  35  thereon. Also shown are a pair of parallel compression member tracks  36 ,  38  that the powered compression member  28  may move along to compress raw materials placed on the guide track  30 . Also shown are the multiple positioning guides  54 , side conveyor belts  16 , guide control  32 , pneumatic cylinders  56  along with frame  110  and legs  112 . 
     Turning to FIG. 4, shown therein is a detailed view of the present invention&#39;s nailing system  22 . Shown is the present invention having a plurality of nail guns  40  controlled by the control panel  14  to nail the raw materials together so that a finished product may be produced. Also shown are a plurality of upper  18  and side  20  positioning rollers to maintain raw material compression and positioning while the nailing process is executed. Also shown is the nail supply  42 , nail belt  58 , nail belt guide  60  and multiple air hoses  62  for operating the nail gun system  22 . The support frame  114  and legs  116  are also shown. 
     Turning to FIG. 5, shown therein is a detailed view of the present invention&#39;s stacking system  24 . Shown is the present invention having a horizontal movable displacement bar  52  for pushing the finished product onto the stacking arms  44  where it can then be lowered by the stacking table  64  powered by ball screws  66  and a motor  68 . Also shown are a plurality of pneumatic pistons  48  to extend and retract the displacement bar  52  and stacking arms  44 . Also shown are the stacking arm track  46  and rollers  50 . The support frame  118  and legs  120  are also shown. 
     Turning to FIG. 6, shown therein is a side view of the present invention  10 . Shown therein are the loading area  15  with frame  110  and legs  112 , the nailing system  22  with frame  114  and legs  116  and the stacking area  24  with frame  118  and legs  120 . The loading area has a stationary compression member  26  along with a guide control  32  and a control panel  14 . Also shown is the upper positioning roller  18 . Also shown is the nailing system  22  having a nail supply or source  42  along with a plurality of nail guns  40 . Also shown is the stacking system  24  having a stacking table  64  with rollers  50  and displacement bar  52  powered by vertically mounted ball screws with a motor  68  to raise and lower (shown by arrows  122 ) the stacking arm table  64  and track  46  where the stacking arms  44  are attached so that lowering of the finished product into a stack is possible. 
     Turning to FIG. 7, shown therein is a top view of the present invention  10 . Shown is the present invention  10  with a loading area  15 , a nailing area  22  and stacking area. A stationary compression member  26  is shown to serve as a fixed surface and a powered compression member  28  mounted on tracks  36 ,  38  to push raw material against the stationary compression member  26  to create compression of the raw material between the two. Also shown are positioning guides  54  to aid in raw material placement on the guide track  30  that are manually raised and lowered by air cylinders that are activated by the guide control  32 . Also shown is the upper positioning roller  18  along with the control panel  14 . The nailing area  22  has shown a pair of nail sources  42  as previously disclosed. The stacking system  24  is shown having stacking arms  44  along with rollers  50 , displacement bar  52  and pneumatic pistons  48  as previously explained. 
     Turning to FIG. 8, shown therein is a top view of the present invention  10  in operation. Shown is the present invention with its powered compression member  28  in motion (see arrows  122 ) with the movement being produced by the ball screws that are horizontally mounted beneath the compression member tracks  36 ,  38  powered by a motor. Also shown is how the nailing portion of the present invention is attached to and moves along (see arrows  122 ) with respect to the powered compression member  38 . Other elements previously disclosed are also shown. 
     Turning to FIG. 9, shown therein is a sectional view of the present invention in operation. Shown is the present invention with a final product or work piece  70  placed on the stacking system portion  24  of the present invention ready to be pushed by the displacement bar  52  onto the stacking arm  44 . Other elements previously disclosed are also shown. 
     Turning to FIG. 10, shown therein is a sectional view of the stacking portion  24  in a retracted position. Shown is the present invention&#39;s stacking portion having its stacking arm  44  in the retracted position. Other elements previously disclosed are also shown. 
     Turning to FIG. 11, shown therein is a sectional view of the conveyer system. Shown is the system of moving the side conveyer belts  16  along the sides of the compression members with the system having a plurality of motors  72  to turn the conveyer belt&#39;s drive shaft  74  and a plurality of spindles  76  to guide them, along with a cowl  78 . 
     Turning to FIG. 12, shown therein is a front view of the control panel  14 . Shown is the control panel surface with a plurality of buttons  80  with multiple functions labeled on them that can be performed by the present invention. 
     Turning to FIG. 13, shown therein is a perspective view of an alternative design of the present invention  10 . Shown is the present invention having a plurality of side conveyer chains  82  having squaring stops  84  with a pneumatic piston  86  to better position raw materials, that work in conjunction with the upper  18  and side  20  rollers to produce movement of the raw material past the nailing system  22  where nailing can take place and then be moved to the stacking system  24  where the finished product is stacked. Other elements previously disclosed are also shown. 
     Turning to FIG. 14, shown therein is a detailed view of an alternate embodiment. Shown is the present invention having a chain conveyer  82  used for the transportation of raw materials to the nail guns with the chain conveyer having a planer gear  88  and motor  90  as a driving force. 
     Turning to FIG. 15, shown therein is a flow chart of the present invention. Shown are the various operations of the present invention and how they are interrelated to the various components of the present invention. Shown therein is a power source  92  with control panel  14 , the component selector  94  with processor  96 ; also shown is the conveyor belt/chain control  16 ,  18  with speed selector  98 . Also shown is the powered compression control  28  for compression  100  along with the nail guns  40  and nail settings  102 . Also shown is the stacking table control  64  and stacking settings  104  with a feedback controller  106  and processor  108 .

Technology Classification (CPC): 1