Abstract: The board positioning device of the present invention selectively positions in a lateral direction in a generally horizontal plane a board translating in a longitudinal direction in the horizontal plane, wherein the board is aligned along its length in the lateral direction, and the device includes a flexible fence lying in the generally horizontal plane, a fence positioner for selectively positioning the flexible fence in the lateral direction in the generally horizontal plane along a transition path as determined by an optimizer whereby the board may be laterally selectively positioned optimally relative to trimmer saws located downstream from the flexible fence in the longitudinal direction when the board is urged laterally against the flexible fence by lateral ending rolls.

Abstract: A device for feeding a workpiece into a gang saw sawblade cluster has a longitudinal drive for selectively longitudinally translating a workpiece, which has been sequenced onto the longitudinal drive, into a gang saw sawblade cluster, and a selective positioner for selectively positioning and presetting for each workpiece the longitudinal drive height relative to the gang saw sawblade cluster as the longitudinal drive translates the workpiece longitudinally into the gang saw sawblade cluster.

Abstract: An apparatus for sequenced or simultaneous feeding of a plurality of flitches to a board edger includes a sequencing conveyor for sequenced feeding of flitches in a horizontal first direction, the flitches oriented in a horizontal second direction perpendicular to the first horizontal direction, the flitches fed sequentially into first or second adjacent parallel holding locations, a selectively actuable transfer device for selective transfer of a first fitch in the first direction from either of the first or second adjacent parallel holding locations onto a first edger feeder, and a second edger feeder parallel and adjacent to the first edger feeder, the first and second parallel adjacent edger feeders for selective sequential or simultaneous feeding into an edger according to a feed controller for (i) controlling the sequential or simultaneous feeding of the first flitch on the first edger feeder, and (ii) controlling the sequential or simultaneous feeding of a second flitch transferred from the first or se

Abstract: A gangsaw in-feed mechanism for positioning a cant and feeding the cant generally longitudinally into a gangsaw along a feed path, wherein the cant is oriented with its planar faces generally horizontal, and wherein the in-feed mechanism has laterally opposed laterally translatable skewable chipping heads lying generally in first and second generally parallel vertical planes laterally opposed on either side of the feed path, a method for opening opposed generally vertical longitudinal faces so as to form curved longitudinal profiles on laterally opposed sides of the cant according to an optimized profile solution, so as to feed the cant into the gangsaw along a generally linear feed path for curve sawing in the gangsaw, having the steps of longitudinally translating and positioning the cant along the feed path between said chipping heads, laterally translating and simultaneously skewing the chipping heads, according to the optimized profile solution, into cutting engagement with the laterally opposed sides of

Abstract: A stick allocator for transferring laterally aligned sticks between a holding location on a longitudinal in-feed transfer means and a high-speed longitudinal out-feed transfer means has a lower, selectively rotatable, stick lifting and translation means, disposed generally beneath the holding location, for frictionally engaging a lower surface of a stick held laterally in the holding location. Lifting the stick frictionally engages an upper surface of the stick with an upper, selectively rotatable, stick receiving and translating means, disposed generally above the holding location. The upper, selectively rotatable, stick receiving and translating means frictionally engages the upper surface of the stick and biases the stick against the lower, selectively rotatable, stick lifting and translating means.

Abstract: A device for positioning sawguides for circular gang saws includes a first shaft rotatable about a first axis, an annular gear having an outer surface and a concentric threaded inner surface and rotatable in a first plane about a second axis, the first plane generally perpendicular to the second axis, the first shaft rotatably engagable with the outer surface of the annular gear wherein rotation of the first shaft about the first axis rotates the annular gear about the second axis, the annular gear journalled on and coaxial with a second shaft lying along the second axis, a collar slidably mounted on the second shaft and adapted for non-rotational longitudinal sliding along the second shaft, the collar having an outer threaded surface concentric with the threaded inner surface on the annular gear for journalled threaded engagement therein whereby rotation of the annular gear by the first shaft causes longitudinal translation of the collar along the second axis relative to the annular gear, first and second pa

Abstract: A tilt hoist for breaking down a lumber stack has an inclined face such that a lumber stack may be translated by sliding upwards over the inclined face. The tilt hoist includes a plurality of tilt masts having translatable hoist arms for receiving the lumber stack from a stack transfer device such as an infeed chain. The tilt masts and corresponding hoist arms are pivotally mounted to the support frame at the pivot points located at the bottom of the tilt masts. A selected first group of tilt masts (the number depending on the tiered material length) are rotated into a stack receiving position where the hoist arms engage the underside of a first lumber stack which has been advanced by an infeed chain to a stack transfer position.

Abstract: A vacuum assisted stick placer for (a) retrieving a spacing stick from a J-hook on a J-hook stick conveyor, whereon a first broad side of the stick is supported on the J-hook, and (b) placing the stick onto a top surface of a stack of lumber has a selectively actuable vacuum gripping device for (a) selectively applying a vacuum to the first broad side of the stick whereby the stick may be adhered to the vacuum gripping device when the vacuum gripping device is in a stick retrieving position snug beneath the first broad side of the stick supported in the J-hook, and (b) selectively removing the vacuum from the first broad side of the stick whereby the stick may be released from the vacuum gripping device, when the vacuum gripping device is in a stick placing position substantially opposed to the stick retrieving position and proximate the top surface of the stack of lumber, a first translation device for rotatably translating the vacuum gripping device in an arcuate path and a second translation device for sub

Abstract: An apparatus for optimizing sub-pixel resolution in a triangulation based target distance measuring device at a desired stand-off distance has a laser light source projecting a light beam along a light beam axis so as to project a light spot onto a surface of a workpiece, a lens having an optical axis and a depth of focus dependant on the target distance, the lens for gathering light reflected from the light spot on the surface of the workpiece, a linear photodetector array of adjacent light detecting pixels, the array having a longitudinal array axis, the array for detecting light impinging the pixels and generating an output signal indicative of the position of the pixels being impinged by the light, the light beam axis, the optical axis, and the longitudinal array axis co-planar, the lens imaging the reflected light across and impinging the array so as to form an image across the array, the output signal indicative of an intensity profile of the image impinging the array, the image defocussed so as to opti

Abstract: A device for placing transversely aligned spacing-sticks onto a top surface of a lumber stack. The device having a longitudinally translatable conveyor with stick supporting hooks depending therefrom, the conveyor and the supporting hooks adapted to convey longitudinally the spacing-sticks extending transversely across the conveyor and the stack of lumber, having a stick transferring device for transferring the spacing-sticks from the stick supporting hooks to the upper surface of the lumber stack. The stick transferring device having a first and a second vertically translatable frame, the second vertically translatable frame selectively longitudinally translatable relative to the first vertically translatable frame.

Abstract: A cable clamping mechanism (10) having first and second jaws (24, 26) for clamping a cable (12). First and second backstops (20, 22) are fixed to a top plate (18) on opposite sides of the jaws. A first wedge (52) is slidably mounted between the jaws and the second backstop. A second wedge (56) is slidably mounted between the top plate and the first wedge. A hydraulic cylinder (60) slidably forces the second wedge across the first wedge, thereby forcing the first wedge against the jaws to clamp the cable therebetween.