Abstract: A veneer straightener, operating with a moving conveyor, includes two endless chains outwardly flanking the sides of the conveyor, the endless chains being mounted on drive sprockets powered through a common drive shaft. Mounted on the endless chains are a pair of upwardly extending lugs which are aligned with each other transverse to the direction of movement of the conveyor, and which extend above the moving conveyor belts. The upwardly extending lugs move in the direction of forward movement of the conveyor, but at a speed slower than that of the conveyor. A switch is triggered by an approaching sheet of veneer, which initiates the drive power and starts the forward movement of the lugs. As the moving sheet overtakes the lugs, it will be restrained by the lugs to a straightened or squared position. Upon reaching the forward sprocket the lugs will follow the spocket down and away from their restraining engagement and the squared sheet will resume the forward speed of the conveyor.