Sticker placer apparatus for placing sticks

Claim 2

Apparatus for placing sticks on a forming stack comprising a depository for sticks, an unscrambling conveyor device with seats thereon for receiving sticks and movable through said depository whereby single sticks become seated on the unscrambling conveyor device, a chute with a feed end positioned to receive sticks deposited therein by the unscrambling conveyor device and constructed to hold such sticks side-by-side and substantially horizontal, a transfer device at the base of said chute including a seat, a stick placement conveyor belt with lugs thereon distributed along the conveyor belt, said placement conveyor belt having upper and lower reaches, said transfer device having one position wherein its said seat is in position to recieve a stick from said chute and another position where said seat holds a stick with the stick placed in the path of a lug carried by the upper reach of said placement conveyor belt, restraining means for holding sticks against the lower reach of the placement conveyor belt including an apertured stationary stick guide substantially paralleling said lower reach, and remotely controlled mechansim for opening up said restraining means whereby sticks are free to drop clear of the restraining means and of said belt including power-operated gate structure shiftable to open up the aperture in said guide.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said transfer device comprises a pair of notched wheels with the notches of said wheels aligned in a direction extending transversely of said placement conveyor belt and forming said seat of said transfer device, the said wheels being rotatable in unison with movement of said device from its said one to its said other position.

Claim 4

Apparatus for placing spacing sticks in a forming stack of lumber comprising a stick placement conveyor belt with lugs thereon distributed along the conveyor belt, said placement conveyor belt having upper and lower reaches, restraining means for holding sticks against the lower reach of the placement conveyor belt including an apertured stationary stick guide havinG a plurality of apertures substantially paralleling said lower reach, remotely controlled mechanism for opening up said restraining means whereby sticks are free to drop clear of the restraining means and of said belt including power-operated gate structures shiftable to open up the plurality of apertures in said guide, a chute disposed above said upper reach of the placement conveyor belt for holding a supply of sticks with such stacked side by side in said chute, a rotatable transfer device having a seat defined in the perimeter thereof, said device having one position wherein its said seat is located at the base of said chute in a position to enable a stick at the bottom of said stack lodge in said seat, and being rotatable to another position to place said stick on the upper reach of said placement conveyor belt in the path of a lug carried by said upper reach, and means for feeding sticks to the upper end of said chute with such oriented to become stacked side by side in the chute.

Claim 5

Apparatus for placing spacing sticks in a forming stack of lumber comprising a stick placement conveyor belt with lugs thereon distributed along the conveyor belt, said placement conveyor belt having upper and lower reaches, restraining means for holding sticks against the lower reach of the placement conveyor belt including an apertured stationary stick guide havinG a plurality of apertures substantially paralleling said lower reach, remotely controlled mechanism for opening up said restraining means whereby sticks are free to drop clear of the restraining means and of said belt including power-operated gate structures shiftable to open up the plurality of apertures in said guide, a chute disposed above said upper reach of the placement conveyor belt for holding a supply of sticks with such stacked side by side in said chute, a rotatable transfer device having a seat defined in the perimeter thereof, said device having one position wherein its said seat is located at the base of said chute in a position to enable a stick at the bottom of said stack lodge in said seat, and being rotatable to another position to place said stick on the upper reach of said placement conveyor belt in the path of a lug carried by said upper reach, and means for feeding sticks to the upper end of said chute with such oriented to become stacked side by side in the chute.