Automated nailing device

For use in a machine, a device for driving nails in a selected nailing pattern into an arrangement of components having at least one nailing surface during a nailing operation, the components thereafter being movable in a machine direction, comprising:

• a frame;
• retaining means for retaining the arrangement of components to be nailed within the frame, the retaining means moving in the machine direction;
• nailing means for nailing the selected pattern into at least one of the nailing surfaces of the arrangement of components comprising a plurality of movable nailing heads mounted to the frame for delivering the selected nailing pattern to the nailing surface;
• nail delivery means for delivering nails to the nailing heads;
• means for causing at least one of the nailing heads to move in a direction transverse to the machine direction;
• means for causing the nailing heads to move in the machine direction and in a direction opposite the machine direction;
• and
• means for automatically causing the nailing heads to move in a direction normal to both the machine direction and the transverse direction and to move in a direction opposite the normal direction.