Abstract: A lumber sorter using a conveyor system with hooks that pick up, move and drop lumber. The lumber sorter includes limiters attached to the hooks that restrict the rotation of the hooks while the limiters are running in raceways. The limiters restrict the rotation of the hooks between a first and second orientation through the use of opposing contact points that contact with opposing walls of the raceways. The limiters maintain the hooks in a substantially vertical position while they carry lumber, but permit the hooks to be pivoted to drop the lumber at a designated position. The use of limiters having first and second contact points allows for the pivot direction and degree of rotation to be configurable and predetermined by the position and placement of the contact points.

Abstract: A lumber sorter using a conveyor system with hooks that pick up, move and drop lumber. The lumber sorter includes limiters attached to the hooks that restrict the rotation of the hooks while the limiters are running in raceways. The limiters restrict the rotation of the hooks between a first and second orientation through the use of opposing contact points that contact with opposing walls of the raceways. The limiters maintain the hooks in a substantially vertical position while they carry lumber, but permit the hooks to be pivoted to drop the lumber at a designated position. The use of limiters having first and second contact points allows for the pivot direction and degree of rotation to be configurable and predetermined by the position and placement of the contact points.

Abstract: Discloses apparatus for sorting board lumber at a sawmill. The lumber sorter has a sort conveyor with equidistantly spaced hooks pivotably attached around the length of the conveyor. The hooks have an arcuate support arm and pivot to receive and to release lumber onto and off of the sort conveyor. The support surface of the hook is arranged to increase in distance from the pivot point when the hook is deflected to release the board lumber that it carries, facilitating lumber release with minimal consequential movement or rotation of the lumber caused by the release deflection of the hook.