The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 27, 1994
Filed:
Oct. 19, 1992
William P Bowlin, Shreveport, LA (US);
Other;
Abstract
An automatic stick laying apparatus having retainer arm assemblies for retaining spacing sticks in position on stacked tiers of lumber. The automatic stick laying apparatus is designed to successively position the spacing sticks on stacks of lumber for spacing the lumber. In a preferred embodiment the stick laying apparatus includes a fixed frame designed for positioning over the lumber, a spacing stick accumulator mounted on the fixed frame and a carriage assembly attached to the fixed frame in vertically movable relationship. The accumulator includes a pair of spaced, horizontal accumulator chains fitted with accumulator chain cleats located above spaced drop gates for receiving and deploying the spacing sticks in a continuous loop. The carriage assembly is fitted with parallel chain channels supporting horizontal positioner chains having positioner chain cleats for receiving the spacing sticks from the accumulator through the drop gates and positioning the spacing sticks over respective layers of lumber. The retainer arm assemblies are spaced between the chain channels and serve to retain the spacing sticks on tile positioner chain cleats until the proper spacing stick displacing interval is achieved. Multiple pivoting diverter assemblies are also spaced between the chain channels for sequentially displacing selected spacing sticks on or from the positioner chain cleats after release by the retainer arm assemblies, to facilitate depositing these spacing sticks in selectively spaced relationship on the underlying tiers of stacked lumber by advancement of the positioner chains. The automatic stick laying apparatus may be connected to a programmable controller for automatic operation.