Abstract: A steerable carriage for transferring wheeled vehicles includes a device for engaging in the carriage with a vehicle in a propulsion force transmitting manner and for elevating at least one wheel of the vehicle from a ground level, with the carriage transmitting a propulsion force to the vehicle through the engaging device and through the at least one elevated wheel of the vehicle, at least one support member on the engaging device arranged to be respectively movable to cause the wheel and the support member to assume a relative position in which at least a part of the wheel is located on the support member and is supported by the support member, at least one actuating a member on the engaging device, a chassis having at least one steerable wheel in its forward part, and legs on the chassis extending between the forward part and the engaging device, wherein said legs have an adjustable length to permit adjustment of a distance between the forward part of the chassis and the engaging device.

Abstract: A root end cutting device for automatically aligning and cutting off the root ends of pieces of lumber. A conveying means transversely conveys the lumber through the device. Each piece of lumber is marked with a photosensitive transverse mark to indicate the location of a cut or with a longitudinal mark to indicate a second cut is not necessary. Each piece of lumber is then end cut by a first cutting blade. The pieces of lumber with a transverse mark are then aligned with a second cutting blade to make a second cut at the transverse mark.

Abstract: A device for continuously stacking layers of pieces of board or lumber has a lower conveyor transporting the layers of lumber at a first substantially constant speed. An upper conveyor haing L-shaped carrying members overlies the lower conveyor with the open ends of the L-shaped members facing rearwardly. The upper conveyor and L-shaped members move at a second substantially constant speed which is slower than the speed of the lower conveyor. The timing of the two conveyors is arranged such that an L-shaped carrying member drops down slightly below the carrying plane of the lower conveyor in front of one of the layers of lumber. Prior to reahing the end of the lower conveyor the layer of lumber is conveyed above a lower leg of the L-shaped member, due to its faster speed, and the lower conveyor is then lowered so that the layer of lumber is deposited upon the L-shaped carrying member.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for trimming and grading lumber during transport thereof along a conveyor through a trimming device in which the lumber is cut at both root and top ends; said method comprising, arranging the lumber transverse a conveyor, initially cutting at the root end, directing the remanent transversely of the conveyor to a stop positioned to intercept the top end thereof and located less than one multiple of a length module unit, directing the remanent in the return transverse direction to one of a plurality of finger members, each located one length module from the other in a row transverse the conveyor, making the first top end cut, turning the remanent about its axis for inspection of all sides thereof and directing the remanent to a second cutter for a final top end cut determined by the number of length module units desired, the selection of length being controlled by adjustable stop means.