Patent ID: 6860709

Claim:
An apparatus for placing a selectable number of spacer sticks with selectable mutual distance on top of a board stack having first and second longitudinal sides and first seconds ends, the apparatus comprising: a feeder device for individually feeding spacer sticks with a selectable rate of feeding, the feeder device being located in association with the first end of the board stack; a conveyor device provided above the board stack and configured to receive the spacer sticks as fed by the feeder device and to transport them with a selectable speed of transportation to locations above their intended locations on the board stack; the conveyor device having at least one first and one second conveyor, each having upper and lower runs, the first and second conveyors being, in transport positions, located above the board stack and along opposite longitudinal sides thereof for supporting, on their upper runs, opposite end portions of the spacer sticks, the first and second conveyors being laterally displaceable apart to release positions where the spacer sticks are free to pass downwardly between them to their intended positions on top of the board stack.