Adjustable deck board feeder for automatic pallet nailing apparatus

The combination of a deck board feeding apparatus and a stringer conveyor for an automatic pallet making machine:

• the stringer conveyor comprising at least one endless chain carrying a plurality of spaced stringer conveying elements, each for transporting a respective stringer transversely of said chain to a nailing head position;
• and,
• the deck board feeding apparatus being mounted above said stringer conveyor and comprising a plurality of elongated hoppers arranged in parallel and lengthwise in the direction of stringer conveyance, said hoppers receiving respective stacks of deck boards, each of said hoppers having a board restraining means at one end thereof defining an area permitting passage of a deck board endwise out of said one end in the direction of stringer conveyance, a plurality of driving members each respectively associated with one of said hoppers for pushing the deck board a predetermined amount endwise out of said one hopper through said ara to said nailing head position, said driving members being adjustable in position along the length of said hoppers, and means for simultaneously moving predetermined ones of said driving members from a rest position to a position causing simultaneous pushing of bottom deck boards from the ends of predetermined ones of said hoppers to said nailing head position and thereafter returning said driving members to said rest position, said plurality of hoppers being commonly supported at a rear end by means establishing a pivot about which said hoppers can rotate and at a front end by a common releasable support, said hoppers being pivotable as a unit upon raising of said releasable support.