Patent ID: 6065927
Filing Date: 2000-05-23
Classification: B65G

Abstract:
A device for placing spacing sticks or lath onto an upper surface of a lumber stack comprising:(a) stick holding means for holding elongate spacing sticks or lath,(b) stick presentation means for receiving a spacing stick or lath from said holding means, and for presenting said spacing stick or lath into alignment beneath a selectively actuable stick spiking means,wherein said stick spiking means comprises at least one spike having a longitudinal driving axis, driving means for selectively driving said spike along said longitudinal driving axis between a retracted position and an extended position so as to penetrate, when in said extended position, said spike into releasable engagement with said spacing stick or lath when in said alignment, said spacing stick or lath positioned in said alignment when positioned adjacent and beneath said at least one spike when in said retracted position so as to intersect said longitudinal driving axis with said spacing stick or lath,(c) stick lowering means for lowering said stick spiking means, and for lowering said spacing stick or lath when releasably engaged with said stick spiking means, into proximity with said upper surface of said lumber stack,(d) stick stripping means for stripping said spacing stick or lath from said stick spiking means when said spike is retracted from said extended position into said retracted position so as to register said spacing stick or lath with said upper surface of said lumber stack.