Patent ID: 8105009

Claim:
A lumber handling apparatus comprising: a. a base frame having a longitudinal transport assembly; b. at least two gripper arm support platforms positioned on said base frame, said support platforms each including an upper rail; c. at least two lifting beams supporting said gripper arm support platforms and at least one torque transfer rod connected to said lifting beams by pivoting linkages synchronizing the movement of said lifting beams and actuated by a linear actuator; d. at least two gripper arms positioned on each of said support platforms; e. a positioning assembly comprising an actuator controlling each of said gripper arms, thereby allowing said gripper arms to move toward said longitudinal transport assembly into a gripping position and away from said longitudinal transport assembly into a release position; f. a platform elevating assembly, said platform elevating assembly selectively moving said upper rails above and below a level of said longitudinal transport assembly; and g. a hold-down assembly capable of securing an item of lumber against said longitudinal transport assembly when said gripping arms are in either a gripping position or a release position.