Patent ID: 6974300

Claim:
A sticker handling apparatus for use in lumber stacking with a sticker in-feed conveyor and a fork arm defining an upper surface, with a sticker tray connected to the fork arm, the apparatus comprising: a sticker support bracket configured to support at least a portion of a sticker; an actuating assembly operatively connected to the sticker support bracket and comprising a first actuator configured to move the sticker support bracket in a first dimension, and a second actuator configured to move the sticker support bracket in a second dimension, wherein the first actuator and the second actuator are independently controllable; and an overhead rake-off device configured to be moved between a raised clear position and a lowered strip position, and further configured to strip the sticker from the sticker tray when in the lowered strip position and during retraction of the fork arm, the rake-off device comprising a roller operatively mounted thereon, wherein: the roller is configured to contact the upper surface of the fork arm and to roll thereon, thereby supporting at least a portion of the rake-off device, and thereby facilitating vertical alignment and guidance of the rake-off device while stripping the sticker from the sticker tray.