US2928559A - Lumber stacker - Google Patents

Description

March 15, 1960 Filed Feb. 25, 1957 D. E. MOSELY LUMBER STACKER 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVIINTOR. 00/24// 5 4/054 Malrch 15, 1960 n. E. MOSELY 2,928,559

LUMBER STACKER Fil ed Feb. 25. 1957 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR- fiaoa/d 7 #032 4 March 15, 1960 D. E. MOSELY 2,

LUMBER STACKER Filed Feb. 25, 1957 '7 Sheets-Sheet 3 March 15, 1960 D. E. MOSELY LUMBER STACKER 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. 25, 1957 $1. QQ V 3 INVENTOR.

March 15, 1960 D. E. MOSELY LUMBER STACKER 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Feb. 25, 1957 y m m x K5 mM M m o a m D March 15, 1960 D. MOSELY LUMBER STACKER I '7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed Feb. 25, 1957 IN VEN TOR.

flo/m/d AT 4/0564 United States Patent F LUMBER STACKER Donald E. Mosely, Spokane, Wash, assignor to Bitco Inc., Spokane, Wash, a corporation of Idaho Application February 25, 1957, Serial No. 642,022

Ciaims. 01-. 214-6 The present inventonreiates toximprdv'e'ineiits in means for stacking lumber, andmoreparticularly to improvements in means for inserting' spacing' Sticks between sucof small spacing sticks which hold the layers apart and i provide ventilat-ing'passages through] the stack, thereby exposing both the upper and lower surfaces of the boards of the stack to the drying air.

It is to the provision means for forming these ventilated stacks of lumber that this invention is directed. It is the principal purpose of the invention to provide means for receiving boards froma source of supply,

gathering them together in layers, and depositing the layers on the stack being formed, and means to insert beneath each layer as it is stacked, a plurality of spacing sticks to hold the layer spaced above the layer below;

A further purpose of the invention is'to provide means for inserting spacing sticks beneatheach successive layer of boards in such a way'as to avoid the possibility of breaking the sticks while they and "the layer of boards thereon are being placed upon the stack.

Still another purpose of the invention is toprovide such a stacking device which will so spread the boards of each layer during placement thereof as to construct a stack having uniform width throughout, regardless of the varying dimensions of the boards therein.

The nature and advantages of my invention will appear more clearly from the following description and the accompanying drawings, wherein a preferred form of the invention is shown. ever, that the description and drawings are illustrative only, and are not intended to limit the invention, except insofar as it is limited by the claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevational view ofthe delivery end of a lumber transporting chain, showing my invention in place to receive boardsfrom the chain and form them into a drying stack.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the mechanism illustrated in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on the line 33 of Figure 2, and illustrating the mounting of the stack carrying platform;

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on the line 44 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 2;

It should be understood, howice Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 77 of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional View taken on the line 8-8 of Figure 6;

Figure 9 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 9-9 of Figure" 6;

Figure 10 is a perspective view of one ofthe spacing stick racks;

Figure 11 is a fragmentary perspective View illustrating the means for'supporting the racks; I

Figure 12 is a fragmentary view showingrpart of the mechanism shownin Figuretl-l, but in an adjustedgposi tion; and

Figures l3, l4, and 15 are somewhat diagrammatic views illustrating the operation of the stick placing means; Referring now to the drawings, and to Figures 1' and 2 in particular, my invention is shown as placed at the delivery end of a lumber transporting chain conveyor generally indicated at 15. The conveyor 15 may be of a any suitable type, and may be part of a lumber stack break down system, or merely a green chain? upon which green lumber is transported from thefmill. AS shown, the conveyor 15 comprises two spacedapart chains 15a and 15b which .run in channels16 upona framework 17. At the delivery end of the conveyor 15, the, chains 15a and 15b travel around sprockets18 mounted on a shaft19 journalled at the end" of theframework 17. The lumber transported by the conveyor 15 is placed thereon with its longest dimension trans verse to the direction of travel, as shown in Figures; 1

and 2, and is moved by frictional engagement withthe I chains 15a and 15b. 7

Itis the purpose of this invention to receive thelumber at the delivery end of the conveyor 15, form it' into layers, and stack the layers into a ventilated drying stack. In order to form the boards into layers to be stacked, I provide at the end of the conveyor 15,'apair of lugged chains 2%) and 21 extending parallel tozand between the chains 15a and 15b, as best shown in Fi'giife 2. The lugged chains 26 and 21 are trained around drive sprockets 22 mounted on a shaft 23 journalledin the framework 17, and around idler sprockets 24 mounted on a shaft 25 journalled in bearings 26 which extend outwardly a short distance beyond the end of the cofiveyor 15. The lugged chains 20 and 21 are driven by a drive chain Zi'whieh is trained around a sprocket The mounted on the shaft 23 as shown in Figure 2. drive chain 27 is driven by a motor 28.

. As shown in Figures 1, 13, 14, and 15 the logged chains 20 and 21 are positioned slightly below thetop flights of the chains 15a and 15b so that boards traitsported by these chains are not engaged with the lug'g'ed chains 20 and 21.

so that one of the lugs 29 and 39 on each chain 20 and His positioned directly above the idler sprocket 2.4. in this position, the lugs will provide a stop at the end of the conveyor 15 against which the boards thereonwill pile up. u The other lug 29 or 30 will be positioned below the level of the conveyor 15 as shown iri Fi'giire 1 so that it does not interfere with progress of the board's.

With this construction, the boards, travelling on the can 1 veyor15 are gathered at the delivery end to rona a The lug chains, however, each. carry two upstanding iugs 29 and 31) which are spaced r apart equidistantly on the chains 20 and 21. As shown in the drawings, the chains 20 and 21 are positioned therefrom. Supporting legs '34 support the rear portion of thehorizontal frame 33. Between the'I- beams 31 and 32 and the conveyor frame 17, a stack supporting platfoin'i 35 is provided. As best illustrated" in Figures 1, 2 and 3, the platform 35 is composed of'two spaced apart transversely extending beams 36 and 37 which'are tied together near their ends by cross beams 38 and 39-.

ers 67 of each setrid e'between the flanges of the channel irons 63-66 and are connected by a short axle 68. The

axles 68 are mounted in bearing 69 which arein turn fixed A Iplura'lit'y'of load bearing rollers .40. are mounted be tween the beams 36 and 37. A motor 41 is also mounted on the. platform 35 'below the level of the rollers 40 and is drivingly connected to the rollers 40 through drive chains. 42; .The purpose of this construction is to provide means for moving a completed stack away from the stacking means to prepare the device for building a new stack. .Wh en a stack is completed, the motor 41 is energiz'ed, and the rollers 40 shift it from the platform 35.

:"JThexplatform 35 is mounted for vertical movement, for 1 the purpose of maintaining a constant level for the top of the stack being formed thereon, as the stack grows.

As best illustrated in Figures 2' and 3, the rear transverse frame member 36 of the platform 35 is considerably:

heavier than the front beam 37.. Connected to this rear to blocks 70 mounted upon a transverse T-beam 71. The beam 71 is, as shown in Figure 5, composed of an I-beam 71a and a channel 71b. With this construction, the T- beam 71 is mounted for'free movement toward and away from the delivery end of the conveyor 15. The T-beam 71 has fixed thereto three transversely spaced and longitudinally extendingisticker,carrying arms. The arms 72 are composed 0f inverted channel irons having bottom webs 73 and upstanding flanges 74. The sticker carrying arms 72 extends forwardly from the beam 71 as illustrated in Figure 6 and are supported near their front ends upon spool shaped rollers 75 which, as shown in Figures 6 and 7, are journalled between spaced apart plates 76 and 77 that depend from the forwardmost transverse beam 60 of the frame 33. The sticker carrying arms 72 ride upon the rollers 75andbetweenthe plates 76 and 77; Thus,if the T-beam 71 is moved forward, the sticker carrying arms 72 will be extended over the platform 35.

frame member adjacent of the uprights 31 and 32 aretwo mounting arms 43 by which the platform-35is mounted to. the uprights 31 and 32 for vertical movement thereon. Each mounting arm-.43, as shown best in Figure 3, comprises two spaced apart plates 44 secured to the rear beam 6 .36 of the platform 35 and extending upwardly and rearwardlyon each side of the adjacent upright 31 or 32. A roller .45is journalled between the free ends of the plates 44 and bears against the upright 31 or 32. A second roller 46, mountedin bearings 47 secured to'the beam 36 ,between the plates 44, bears against the opposite face .of the upright 31 or 32. It will be readily seen that this construction mounts the platform'to the uprights 31 and 32 for vertical movement thereon.

= 1 In order to move the platform up and down on the uprights 31 and 32, and to provide for supporting it in any desired position, a pair of hoisting and lowering chains'48 are provided. As best shown in Figures 1 and y :3, one end of each chain 48 is secured to the rear platets 50 mounted atop the uprights 31 and 32. From the,

idler sprockets50, the chains 48 extend downwardly and beneath drive sprockets 51 mounted on a shaft 52 which:

is journalled on diagonalbraces 53 which form part of the support for the framework 33. The shaft 52 has a glarge sprocket 54 thereon whichreceives a drive chain 55 .that is connected to a reversible motor 56. The hoisting and lowering chains 48 extend from the sprockets 51 aroundidlers 57 and58 shown in Figure l, and thence ,the motor 56 through the chains 48." Braking means (not upwardly, to the platform carrying arms 43 where they are secured as shown at 59 in Figure 3. With this construction, movement of the platform35 is controlled by shown) are provided with the motor 56 to hold the plat- .form in any adjusted position.

.In order to transfer a layer of veyor 15 to the platform 35, and to insert spacing sticks, or stickers as they are known in the industry, beneath the successive layers, a unique mechanism is'utilized and will now be described; l

boards rroiii'ihe sat.

The arms 72 are ofsucha length that when fully extended(the length of their travel being limited by engage: ment of the beam 7 1;with the rollers 75) they will span the'space between the conveyor'15 and the framework 33 shown in Figure 1. During their extension, the arms 72 are supportedsolely by the beam 71 and its rollers 67 and by the spoolrollers75. Upon' reaching the frame work 17 of the conveyor 15, however, the forwardeuds of the arms 72'engage with and ride upon shortinclined ramps 78 which are fixed on the framework 17. Thus, when fully extended, the arms 72 are supported at both ends. a 7

To movethe beam 71 .and arms 72, in the manner just describedflprovide a pair of driving chains 79 "trained 89, as shown in Figures 4 and 5, so that when the motor 88 is energizedto drive the chains 79 in one direction, the beam 71 and the arms 72 will be moved forwardly over the platform 35, and when the motor 88 is energized in the other direction, thebeam 71 and, arms .72 will be withdrawn; under the frame 33;

The function of the arms-721 is to receivestickers such as indicated at, 90 from afsourc'e of supply,- carry them out over the platform 35 where a layer of boards can be deposited thereonfas hereinafter described, and then deposit thernland their load, on the platform 35. In order to supply stickers to the arms .72, vI provide three sticker carrying racks 91 which are mounted on the frame 33 directly above the arms 72. As best illustrated in Figure 10, each of the racks 91 comprises two spaced apart,

slongitudinal; angle irons 92 and, 93 which are connected 60.

at their ends to front and rearvertical; channel members 94 and "95. Vertical side posts 96 are also provided to The horizontal frame 33 is comprisedof three spaced.

apart transverse beams 60, 61 and 62, which are joined together by four longitudinally extending channel irons,

,mounted in pairs near the opposite ends of the beams 60462. The pair of channel irons near the left ends of the beams -62 are indicated by numerals 63 and 64.

.The pair at the opposite ends of the beams 60-62 are indicated by numerals and 66. Each pair ofsaidchannel irons is arranged so that the flanges ofthe -channel irons of each pair face each other, as shown in Figure 4.

The channel irons 63 and 64 and the channel irons 65 and 66 form two sets of rails, each adapted to receive a pair of rollers 67 as shown in Figures 4 and 5. The rollkeep the stickers confined in place. The-stickers 90 are stackedin the racks 91 as illustrated injthe drawings,

with the bottommos't "sticker '90 resting upon the memas bers 92 and 93, An aperture 97 is provided in the front wall 94of the rack 91 through which the stickers 90may be withdrawn one at'a time..

best illustrated in Figures 6 and 8, the normally held, by means which will bedescribed hereinafter, in such a position that thebottom angle irons 92 and 93 are positionedslightly above the bottom webs 73 of the carrying. arms-72, and between the upstanding flanges 74 thereon. Thus, the bottom sticker 90 in each rack 91 is positioned :within, the arm 72. In orderto withracks are i over thez'plat'form 35; each arm. 72-has; mounted therein; an elongated, upstanding lug 98 which is secured to-the bottom web 73; The lug. 98 is in width, a dimension slightly less than the distance between the angle irons 92 and 93 of' the racks 91 and extends highenough from the web 73- to' engage thebottommost sticker 90 in the rack 91 when the rack 91 is in operative position. As indicated at 99 in the drawings, a notch is provided in the rear wall 95 of each rack 91 to allow the lug 98 toenter.

The lugs- 98' are positioned in the rear portions of the arms-72 so that when the arms'72 are retracted beneath the frame 3-3, thefront edges of the lugs 98 are behind thesticker racks 91. As the arms 72 are moved forward by operation of the motor 88; thelugs 91 pass through the apertures 99 in the rear walls 95 of the racks 91 between the angle irons'92 and- 93 thereofiand engage the bottom most sticker 90' in eachrack. Gontinuedforward movement of the arms 72 causes the stickers90 so en gag ed; to be slid through thefront dispensingapertures 97 and-dropped onto the arms 72. In this. manner, thearms 72 receive stickers 90 each time they move forwardly. Toprovide for depositing the stickers 90 upon the platform 35 when the arms 72 are retracted, a .dog or pawl 100 is provided as illustratedin Figures 6,7 and 9, above each arm 72. The pawls 100 are fixed to sleeves 101 which are rotatably mounted'on shafts 102' secured bet-we'enthe' plates 76 and 77 which mount tliespoolv rollers.

' as hereinbefore described. When the arms 72 are fully 75. As shown in the drawings, the pawls llliiilarel so arranged as to ride over carriedout by the arms 72, and then drop behindthe stickers when they have passed. To permit the pawls to cliop. behind the stickers 90-, they, are bifurcated as shown} at 103 so. as to fall on either side of the lugs 98. When the pawls 100ffall behind the" stickers 90, they prevent the stickers from returning, with the arms 72,. and causethem-to be deposited on the platforrh35.

the stickers 90 as theyare.

In building stacks on the platform 35 from lumber transported on the conveyor 15, it isoften-desirable to insert stickers 90 only occasionally, and sometimes not at all. This is accomplished by the present invention by mounting the racks 91- in such a manner that they may he supported above the racks- 91' for vertical movement so as to' be positioned either in operative position as hereinbefore described, or raised an inch or so. above that position so that the lugs 98 in the arms 72 do not extract stickers as they move. thereunder. The mechan'isin for accomplishing. this will next be described.

As'illu'strated in the drawings,.the racks 91 are slidably received in vertical rack guides 104 and 105 which are mounted in the frame 33. The front rack guides 104 are mounted between the plates 76 and 77 which carry the roller 75. The rear guides 105 are mounted by braces" 106. that extend forwardly from the transverse beam 61. Back of the racks 91 is provided with a pair of shaft" supporting ears 107 in which a shaft 108 is journall'ed, as shown in Figures 11 and 12. The" shafts 1'08 extend a short distance beyond the racks 91 at each end and have lifting lugs 109 keyed thereto at the ends. The lugs 199 are positioned above and rest upon the transverse" beams 60 and 61 to support the racks 91 in the guides 104 and 105. When the lugs are allowed to lay flat; as shown in Figure 11, they support theracks 91 in" operative position for dispensing stickers 90. However, if the shafts 193 are rotated a few degrees in a direction to. pivot the lugs 109' downwardly, the racks 91 will be lifted, aswis illustrated in Figure 12 to an inoperative' position above the arms 72. To accomplish this rotation of the shafts 108, and to lift all of the racks 91 in unison, I provide a lifting shaft 110 which extends adjacent to and parallel to the transverse beam 61 and which is journalled in bearings 111 fixed to the beam 61. The'shaft 110 has levers 112 fixed thereto adjacenteach of the racks 91. The shafts 108 on the racks '91 have raise and lower the sticker racks 91 at will during operation of the machine. If the racks 91 are maintained in raised position, then no stickers will be fed,. and the layersof boards will be moved onto the arms 72' and thence stacked on the platform 35 without stickers 90.

If the racks 91 are lowered, stickers will be inserted in the stack between each course or layer of boards. It can be seen that by timed manipulation of the cylinder 115, the operator can build a stack with stickers between every course of board, or between every other course, or inany combination desired.

The operation of the device to form boards transported by the green chain conveyor 15 into a. ventilated drying stack is as follows: First, a base layer of boards is laid on the platform 35, or if desired, a pallet may. be laid thereon to receive the stack to be formed. When this has been done, the motor88 is operated to extend the arms 72 until they engage the ramps 78 as shown in Figures 1 and ll. As the arms 72 are extended, each.

withdraws a sticker from a rack 91 and carries it out extended, the stickers 90 will be positioned above the platform 35, and the pawls will have dropped behind them as shown in Figure 13. The platform 35 will then be raised, by operation of the motor 56, until the base layer or pallet thereon ispositioned immediately below the arms'72. The lugged chains 20 and 21 will be adjusted to bring the lugs 29 of each into position directly above the idler sprockets 24. The several elements are then allowed to remain at rest while boards on the conveyor 15- are allowed to pile up against the lugs 29. The boards are allowed to pile up until the layer extends back to an indicating mark 117 painted on the frame 17. When enough boards have piled up to form a layer for the stack to be formed, the operator energizes the motor 28 to drive the lugged chains 20 and 21 forward. This action carries the lugs. 29 around the idlers 24 and out of position to stop the boards, and carries the lugs 30- up behind the layer of boards as shown in Figure 12 to push the layer onto the stickers 90 held on the' arms 72. When the lugs 30 reach the stop position originallyoccupied by the lugs 29, the motor-28 is stopped. As shown in Figure l, the layer of boards will then be positioned upon the arms 72 and sticker 90. When, the boards have been pushed onto the arms, 72, they" are retracted to deposit the stickers. 9'0 and the layer of boards on. the platform 35. While this is occurrin a new layer of boards is being piled up behind the lugs 30 on the chains 29 and 21. As soon as' the arms 72 have retracted, the platform 35 is dropped a few inches to give clearance, and the arms 72 are again extended, carrying new stickers 90 from the racks 91. The platform 35 is then readjusted to bring the top of. the previously deposited layer of boards immediately below the arms 72, and the process of moving the next layer. of boards onto the arms 72 is begun.

In most instances, the boards delivered by theconveyor .15- will not be sorted or sized, sothe layersiwill not be of'uniform width. Even so, it is desirable to construct the ventilated stack so that its side edges are substantially uniform. To accomplish this, the boards must be placed upon the stack so that line outside boards of each layer are a uniform distance apart. To provide for placing the boards. on the stack in. this manner; I construct the sticker carrying arms 72 so that the side flanges 74 thereof are tapered downwardly near the front end as illustrated'a't 118. At the front end of each arm 72, the fianges'74" are of a height substantially less than the thickness of the stickers 90,- so that the assesses stickers 90 protrude thereabove. A short distance back, the flanges 74 taper upwardly as shown at 118 to a height greater thanthe thickness of thestickers 90. I With this construction those boards near the front of the arms 72 rest upon the stickers 90, while those near the opposite end of the layer rest upon the flanges 74 ofthe arms 72. When the arms 72 are retracted to deposit the stickers 90 on the platform 35, those boards rresting upon the stickers 90 will be stopped when the stickers 90 'are stopped by the pawls 100. The boards resting on the flanges 74, however, will continue t'o'move with the arms 72 until they engage stop bars 119 which ,are provided at the front of the platform 33 to define the rear load line of. the stack on the platform 35. As shown in Figure 12, these stop bar's119 are aligned with the pawls 100 so that the boards carried back by the arms 72 are stopped in proper alignment stickers 90, to make a clean stack. With this construction,'both the front and rear sides of the'stack are made uniform, and any spacing in the layer of boards is left at the center of the layer. 1

The processof moving successive layers of boards onto the platform 35 "and placing spacing stickers 90 therebeneath is continued as above described until the stack attains the desired height. When the desired-number oflayers have beenplaced thereon, and the platform 35 is lowered. to ground level. The

motor 41 is then' energized to drive the rollers4 0 to move the stack from the platform 35,

it is obvious that provision for 'whole operation of the watch the formation stop lugs 29 and 30 and the process is repeated.

While I have described the operation of my invention was manually controlled,

as though each element thereof automatic or semi-automaticoperation may be made. For example, by the provision of suitable switches and time delay mechanism, the device may be made automatic, depending only upon the presence of a single operator to of each layer ofboards behind the and trip a starting switch for the motor 28 when a complete layer of boards is formed.

Switch means may be provided to automatically stop the 'motor 28 when the chains and 21 have driven far enough to move the layer onto the waiting arms 72 and with the rear of 'the' the device, is stopped with a-board transporting conveyor having a delivery end, a framework mounted framework, means operatively connected with said arms to remove spacing'sticks from said supply means and deposit them on said arms as the arms are moved toward the conveyor, means to transfer boards from the con 'veyoronto the sticks while the sticks are supported on saidarmsand while the arms are extended over the stack supporting means, and means to discharge said sticks and boards thereon onto the stack supporting means as the arms are moved away from the conveyor.

2. Lumber stacking means comprising, in combination and away from sald conveyor and said stack supporting 'means, spacing stick holding racks mounted on said framework above said arms, spacing sticks supported in said racks, each of said racks having a slot in'the bottom thereof extending parallel to the arm thereunder, lug means on said arms operable to pass whenthe arms are moved forwardlyand engage a spacing stick in each rack and remove it from said rack onto the arm whereby to carry said stick over the stack supporting means, meanstocollect boards onsaid' conveyor -bring the next lug 29 or 30 into stopping position. Ad-

be provided to automatically ditional switch means may the platform 35, bring the retract the arms 72, drop arms 72 back, and readjust the platform upon operation of the chains 20 and 21. The provision of such antomatic control means is well 'within the skilled electrical engineer. 1 It is believed evident ing ventilated lumber stacks. in such a manner as to manner of placing the] stickers vention providesa simpleand efficient, device for form- The' mechanism operates form a non-uniformity of board widths, and due to the unique from defective stickers are considerably reduced. Ithas been found that uneven'stickers and even split or cracked fstickers can be effectively used with .difiiculty.

my device without "It isbelieved that the nature and advantages of my invention appear clearly from the foregoing description.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

from the foregoing that my, fin

purview of the l,

' 3. Lumber stacking means comprising, in combination with aboard transporting conveyor having a delivery end,

a framework mounted adjacent the delivery end of said conveyor, a stacksupporting platform positioned between said conveyor and said framework, means to raise and lower said platform; a plurality of spacing stick carrying arms mounted to said frame for movement toward and away from the conveyor,means to move said arms over the platform toward the conveyor and away from the conveyor and the platform, ramp means mounted adjacent the delivery end of the conveyor and operable to .engage and support thearms when they are moved toward the conveyor, stick holding racks mounted on the framework above the arms, means operatively connected .w1th said. arms to remove spacing sticks from said racks and deposit them on thearmsas the arms are moved clean stack regardless of 90, the difficulties arising 1. Lumber stacking 'means comprising, in combina- 'tion with a board transporting conveyor having a delivery 7 end, a framework mounted adjacent the delivery end "of said conveyor, vertically movable stack supporting means positioned between said framework and the con-,

toward ,the conveyor, layer forming and'transferring .means mounted adjacent the delivery end of the conveyor .operable to gather boards on theconveyor into layers and transfer the layersonto the sticks carried by said arms when the arms are engaged with said ramps, and means to engage said sticks and prevent them from moving with the arms as the arms are moved away from the conveyor whereby to deposit the sticks and boards thereon onto the platform. 7

4. Lumber stacking means comprising, in combination ,with a board transport ng conveyon a stack receiving platform mounted ,at the delivery end of said conveyor,

means to raise and lower saidplatform, a framework .adjacent said platform, mounted in said framework spacing stick carrying means for movement toward and away from said conveyor rneans to move said spacing f stick carrying means toward the conveyor overthe platveyor, means to raise and lower said vertically movable means, a plural ty of spacingstick carrying arms mounted tosa id framework'for movement, toward and away from the eonveyon mean'stomovesaid arms toward the conveyor over the vertically movable stack supporting means an aw y sm sa ommand id Stack eas n n means, spacing stick supply means mounted on said form, and to withdraw said spacing stick carrying means away from said conveyor and from over the platform, spacing stick dispensing means mounted in saidf ra'mework, means to remove spacing sticksfrom the dispensing meansand deposit them on the spacing stick carrying means, whereby to be carried over the platform, board transferring means mounted adjacent the delivery end of through said slots tli'e conveyor'andoperable to gather boards on the con veyor'into layers and transfer thelayers onto" the spac ing sticks carried on saidcarrying means whensaid carrying means'is extended over the platform; and means to engage the spacing sticks and prevent. them from moving with the carrying means when said means is withdrawn from over theplatform whereby to deposit said sticks and'the' boards thereon on the platform.

5. Lumber stack forming means comprising. the" combination with a board transporting" conveyor of' a" stack receiving platform mounted at the delivery end of the conveyor, a plurality ofhorizontal arms supported adjacent said platform and substantially level with the board transporting conveyor, means to move said arms horizontally over the platform toward and into close juxtaposition with the conveyor and to move the arms away from the conveyor and from over the platform, sticker dispensing means mounted adjacent the platform, said arm moving means operable to move the arms beneath said dispensing means when they are moved away from the conveyor, means to remove spacing sticks from said dispensing means and deposit them on said arms, stop means positioned at the end of said conveyor operable to engage boards on the conveyor and hold them against discharge therefrom whereby to gather a layer of boards at the delivery end of the conveyor, means to lower said stop means to permit said layer of boards to be discharged onto, the sticks carried by said arms when the arms are moved into juxtaposition with the conveyor, and means to prevent said sticks from moving with the arms when they are moved away from the conveyor whereby to deposit the sticks and the boards thereon on the platform as the arms are moved over the platform.

6. Lumber stacking means comprising in combination with a board transporting conveyor having a delivery end, a framework mounted adjacent the delivery end of said conveyor, vertically movable stack supporting means positioned between said frame and the conveyor, means to raise and lower said vertically movable means, a plurality of spacing stick carrying arms mounted to said framework for movement toward and away from the conveyor, means to move said arms toward the conveyor over the vertically movable stack supporting means and away from said conveyor and said stack supporting means, said arms being U-shaped in cross section having horizontal web portions and spaced apart upstanding flanges thereon, spacing stick supply racks mounted in the framework, said arms moving beneath said racks when they are moved away from the conveyor, said racks having dispensing openings therein adjacent the bottoms thereof, and having slots in the bottoms thereof, said arms having lug means mounted between the flanges and operable to enter said slots in the racks and engage spacing'sticks on said racks and remove said sticks through the dispensing openings when the arms are moved toward the conveyor whereby to deposit said sticks on the arms between the flanges and carry them over the stack supporting means, means to gather boards on said conveyor into layers of boards and to transfer said layers onto the arms over the spacing sticks, and pawl means on the frame over the arms operable to drop behind the spacing sticks carried by the arms when the arms are moved over the stack supporting means whereby to prevent the sticks from moving with the arms as the arms are moved away from the conveyor and deposit said sticks and the boards thereon on the stack supporting means.

7. Lumber stacking means comprising, incombination with a board transporting conveyor, a stack receiving platform mounted at the delivery end of said conveyor, means to raise and lower said platform, a framework adjacent said platform, spacing stick carrying means mountedin said framework for movement toward and away from said conveyor, means to move said spacing stick carrying means toward the conveyor over the platform, and to withdraw said spacing stick carrying means away fromsaid conveyor and fiorn over the plat? carrying means, whereby'tobe carried over theplatforrla endless chain conveyor means mounted beside the" conveyor. at the delivery end thereof and below the" board transporting surface thereof, first lug means on'said chaiii conveyor means extending upwardly into the path of boards travelling on'the board transporting conveyor and operable to engage and stop boards travelling onth'e co'n veyor whereby to gather a layer of boards'together', second lug means on said chain conveyor means spaced from said first lug'means and operable on movement of the chain conveyor means to engage behind said layer of'board and move it onto the spacing sticks carried by said carrying means while the carrying means is extended over the platform, and means to engage the spacing sticks and prevent them from moving with the carrying means when said means is withdrawn from over the platform, whereby to deposit said sticks and the boards thereon on the platform.

8. In a lumber sticking deviceincluding a vertically movable stack supporting platform, a board conveyor,

- andmeans to receive layers of boards from the conveyor and deposit them on the platform, the improvementfin a :means for gathering boards on the conveyor into layers I and transferring said layers onto the receiving and depositing means, comprising an endless chain, sprockets mounting said chain at the delivery end of the conveyor, said chain having an upper flight extending parallel to tioned below the conveyor, and means to drive said chain whereby to move the first lug means below the conveyor and to move the second lug means up into the path of boards travelling on the conveyor behind the layer of boards formed behind the first lug toengage said layer and move it off the delivery end of the conveyor onto'the layer receiving and depositing means.

9. Lumber stacking means comprising a stack receiving platform, a framework adjacent said platform, arm

means mounted in said framework for movement over the platform, means to move said arm means over the platform and to withdraw said arm means from over the platform, said arm means having means thereon for supporting spacing sticks thereon whereby to carry said spacing sticks over the platform, board transferring means adjacent the platform operable to transfer boards onto said arm means over the spacing sticks supported thereon when the arm means are extended over the platform, and means on the framework preventing the spacing sticks and boards from withdrawing from over the platform when the arm means are withdrawn, whereby to deposit said sticks and said boards on the platform when the arm means are withdrawn.

10. Lumber stacking means comprising, in combination with a board transporting conveyor having a delivery end, a framework mounted adjacent the delivery end of said conveyor, vertically movable stack supporting means positioned between said frame and the conveyor, means to raise and lower said vertically movable means, a plurality of spacing stick carrying arms mounted to said framework for movement toward and away from the conveyor, means to move said arms toward the conveyor over the vertically movable stack supporting means and away from said conveyor and said stack supporting means, spacing stick supply means mounted on said framework,

' means operatively connected with said arms to remove spacing sticks from said supply means and deposit them on said arms as the arms are moved toward the conveyor, said arms having raised portions at the sides of the spacing sticks extending above the'sticksonly' along about a half portion of the am most remote from the conveyor, means at said delivery end of the conveyor operable to slide boards from the conveyor ovcrithe sticks and over' the raised portions of said arms while the armsare extended over the stack supporting means, whereby part of a layer of boards next to the conveyor rests upon the sticks while other boards of the layer rest on said raised portions of the arms, stop means onthe framework tlimv iting movement of boards toward the framework, and operable to vertically align the edge of theboard .nearest the framework with the corresponding edge of previously depositedebonrd llayersion said stack supporting. mean;

when the are withdrawn from beneath thesticks.

L o j1 z;ttfsiaa the near this patent fIUNIT fSTATES' PATENTS -2,sss,1ss' Mason June 10, 1958,

Images