Abstract: Spacer strips are positioned between vertically adjacent layers of timber in timber packages by locating a plurality of spacer strips which are supported by distribution members over the topmost layer of a timber package whereupon a plurality of depressors which are operatively associated with a frame structure are moved downwardly from an upper position so that respective depressors engage respective spacer strips supported by the distribution members so as to conduct and guide the strips downwardly into position upon the topmost layer of the timber package while the distribution members which support the strips are at the same time withdrawn from their supporting positions.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for sorting timber pieces as the same are transversely conveyed include for each timber piece, pairs of supporting members, each including a hook arm and an adjacent straight arm supported by a respective support member mounted on the conveyor. The straight arm forms a part of an angular arm member which is supported both on the support member to which the hook arm is fixed and to the support member which precedes that support member in the direction of travel of the conveyor. The timber pieces are dropped in accordance with a preset program through the movement of the hook and straight arms relative to each other.

Abstract: A device for drop-sorting timber comprises a series of hooks for carrying timber pieces and a conveying system for advancing the hooks to drop positions over timber compartments. The hooks can be pivoted at selected positions to drop their timber pieces and are so formed that while being advanced the open end of a hook is effectively closed by the next following hook to prevent premature discharge.

Abstract: There is provided a method and apparatus whereby pieces of timber are sorted into lots on supporting arms which are suspended by flexible and extensible members. As the timber is added, the arms are lowered and finally extend down to a conveyor apparatus. The arms then open to discharge the timber on to the conveyor apparatus and are then drawn up, are closed and reach the start position where a new lot of timber is received.

Abstract: Timber packing apparatus and method are disclosed wherein a timber mat is transferred from a delivery conveyor to a lift by structural elements which raise the mat or a selected portion thereof, shift it longitudinally and lower it, the elements being so arranged that the longitudinal movement is independent of its other movements thus to minimize the mass forces of the moving parts.

Abstract: A timber-conveying method and apparatus according to which a batch of timber is delivered by any suitable delivery structure onto a conveyer. This conveyor provides for the batch of timber delivered thereto an initial path of movement which has with respect to a horizontal plane an inclination, if any, which is small enough to provide for conveying not only of those timber pieces which directly engage the conveyer but also of timber pieces which are on top of the pieces engaging the conveyer. The conveyer provides for the timber a path of movement subsequent to the initial path of movement and inclined upwardly with respect to a horizontal plane at an angle which is substantially greater than the inclination, if any, of the initial path of movement.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for handling lengths of timber which are both green and dried include the feature of simultaneously conveying, by way of suitable conveyors, both the green timber and the dried timber to a given location from where the two different types of timber are conveyed together by way of a single conveyor beyond the given location to a drop sorter having compartments into which the green and dried timber are dropped according to a given program. From the drop sorter batches of green timber and batches of dried timber are received by batch conveyors which serve to convey these batches to a packaging apparatus which serve to provide from the batches of green timber packages in which layers of green timber are separated by spacers, preparatory to transmitting these packages to a drying installation, while the dried timber batches are formed into packages which are suitable for further handling.

Abstract: A sorting apparatus for selectively sorting timber into different compartments. When a compartment is filled, it is emptied onto a conveyor for removing the timber from the apparatus. Each of the compartments includes a flexible support which can be lowered beneath the dividing wall of the compartment to form an opening through which the timber can empty onto the conveyor. The flexible support is then pulled tightly to ensure that all of the timber leaves the compartment.

Abstract: In a lumber stacking method and apparatus a layer of lumber is conveyed to a lifting location where a pair of arms beneath the layer of lumber are tilted respectively about horizontal axes parallel to a horizontal plane in which the layer is located to engage beneath and raise the layer at the lifting location above the latter horizontal plane, with these arms then being advanced forwardly while supporting the raised layer. The arms are advanced forwardly to become situated over that part of the stack which has already been formed, and at this latter stacking location the arms are lowered by being tilted in a reverse direction so as to situate the transported layer at the top of the stack which is being formed, the arms then being retracted back to the position beneath the lifting location while the transported layer remains at the top of the stack.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for handling elongated articles, such as elongated pieces of timber of different types, includes a plurality of compartments for receiving the articles of the different types with each compartment receiving only one type of article. A plurality of inclined partitions define the several compartments between themselves with each partition having an upper surface down which elongated articles received in a compartment can slide. An upper conveyor conveys the articles past top open ends of the compartments while suitable selecting structure selects articles from the upper conveyor to deflect articles of a given type therefrom into a given compartment. A releasable holding structure adjacent at the bottom end of the plurality of partitions holds the articles deposited in the compartments to prevent the articles from sliding out of lower open ends of the compartments, with the articles deposited in each compartment forming therein a single layer on the upper slide surface of a partition.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for cutting portions having defects therein from lengths of timber includes determining an aligning distance for a given one of the lengths of timber as the timber length moves along a conveyor, the aligning distance being defined by the distance between a cutting line located next to the defect and one of a series of parallel lines which extend in the conveying direction, indexing the timber length in a direction transverse to the conveying direction to align the cutting line with one of the parallel lines and then incrementally moving the timber length in a direction transverse to the conveying direction a member of incremental distances determined by the particular one of the series of parallel lines with which the cutting line is aligned and cutting the timber length along the cutting line.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing lumber stacks with stickers includes a suitable conveyer which is operated to situate a plurality of stickers over the uppermost lumber layer of a lumber stack during formation thereof. The stickers are carried to a predetermined position over the uppermost lumber layer by way of support members of the conveyer, these support members being substantially L-shaped and having bottom legs which project forwardly from bottom ends of upright legs thereof in the direction of travel of the stickers to the position over the stack, and the upright legs of the support members are situated behind the stickers at this time. A number of removing members are also situated behind the stickers when the latter are in the position over the stack to be deposited thereon.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for handling articles, such as pieces of timber, of different types. The articles are conveyed by a suitable conveyer to a location situated at the discharge end of the conveyor. Over the conveyer there is a series of compartments distributed longitudinally along the conveyer and arranged in different groups with the compartments of each group arranged with one of the compartments thereof nearer to the discharge end of the conveyer than the next compartment of each group. Articles of different types are respectively situated in the different groups of compartments.

Abstract: Apparatus for sequentially feeding elongated bodies, such as beams, timber, planks, or the like, one after the other from an uninterrupted layer of the bodies, wherein they are arranged in a row extending transversely of the row and directly engaging each other, to a conveyer. The layer of bodies are supported in such a way that the row of bodies is urged forwardly with an end body situated at the leading end of the row and engaged by the next body which in turn is engaged by the third body and so on. A stop structure engages the end body for temporarily holding the row against forward movement, and a moving structure is operatively connected with the stop structure for temporarily displacing the stop structure away from the end body at the leading end of the row to release the end body for movement away from the next body so as to create at least a small clearance between the end body and the next body.

Abstract: A stacking plant and method for stacking elongated bodies such as timber bodies in layers situated one above the other wherein all of the bodies of all of the layers are substantially parallel to each other with adjoining layers being separated by at least a pair of laths which extend crosswise of the bodies. A body-handling apparatus is arranged so as to extend along a first location while a lath-handling apparatus is arranged so as to extend along a second location part of which extends across the first location, both of these apparatus being operated in such a way that the body-handling apparatus sequentially forms at the intersecting parts of the locations layers of the bodies while the lath-handling apparatus deposits on each layer at the intersecting parts of the locations at least a pair of laths after each layer is formed and before the next layer is deposited on the laths situated on the preceding layer by the body-handling apparatus.