Stick placer assembly

A stick placer assembly, for use with a lumber stacker of the type which places layers of lumber extending in a first direction to create a stack of lumber, comprising:

• a frame;
• a stick transfer assembly comprising:
• a first, continuous loop chain mounted to the frame for movement along a first, continuous loop path, the first chain having a lower reach extending between first and second positions;
• the first chain comprising stick-supporting lugs sized and configured to support a stick for movement along the lower reach from the first position towards the second position;
• means for transferring sticks from a stick supply to the stick-supporting lugs at the first position;
• a plurality of transfer arm assemblies mounted to the frame, each transfer arm assembly comprising:
• a drive shaft, extending in a second direction transverse to the first direction;
• and
• first and second arms for
• (1) capturing a stick supported by stick-supporting lugs as the stick passes over the drive shaft by moving portions of the first and second arms;
• (2) transferring the stick to a place position underlying the lower reach of the first chain;
• and
• (3) releasing the stick at the place position
• wherein each transfer arm assembly comprises an arm driver assembly comprising:
• a shaft, to which the first and second arms are mounted, extending in a second direction transverse to the first direction and comprising first and second rotatable shaft elements, and
• first and second arm drivers operably coupled to the first and second rotatable shaft elements for selective rotation of the first and second rotatable shaft elements,
• whereby selective actuation of the first and second arm drivers selectively rotates the first and second rotatable shaft elements causing movement of outer portions of the first and second arms.

A method for placing lumber layer separators, for use with a lumber stacker which places layers of lumber extending in a first direction to create a stack of lumber, onto the stack of lumber, the lumber stacker including a plurality of transfer arm assemblies, each including an arm driver assembly including first and second arm drivers for driving first and second arms, the method comprising:

• transferring a separator to a lower reach of each of first and second continuous loop chains for movement along the lower reaches, the continuous loop chains each comprising separator-supporting lugs sized and configured to support the separator for movement along the lower reaches;
• and
• moving the separator to a separator transfer position along the lower reaches by movement of the continuous loop chains;
• capturing the separator by an arm driver assembly of a transfer arm assembly moving portions of first and second arms of the transfer arm assembly when the separator reaches a separator transfer position along the lower reaches;
• transferring the separator to a place position underlying the lower reaches of the continuous loop chains;
• and
• releasing the separator at the place position onto an underlying layer of lumber,
• wherein the arm driver assembly of each transfer arm assembly further comprises:
• a shaft, to which the first and second arms are mounted, extending in a second direction transverse to the first direction and comprising first and second rotatable shaft elements, and
• first and second arm drivers operably coupled to the first and second rotatable shaft elements for selective rotation of the first and second rotatable shaft elements, and
• wherein the capturing of the separator, the transferring of the separator and the releasing of the separator are performed by selectively actuating the first and second arm drivers to selectively rotate the first and second rotatable shaft elements causing movement of outer portions of the first and second arms.

A method for placing lumber layer separators, for use with a lumber stacker which places layers of lumber extending in a first direction to create a stack of lumber, onto the stack of lumber, the lumber stacker including a plurality of transfer arm assemblies, each including an arm driver assembly including first and second arm drivers for driving first and second arms, the method comprising:

• driving first and second continuous loop chains, the continuous loop chains having upper and lower reaches, the lower reaches extending between first and second positions;
• selectively moving a separator from a separator supply to a lug space;
• sensing when a separator is at the lug space;
• generating a delay signal when a separator is sensed at a position along the upper reach of the continuous loop chains;
• when:
• (1) a separator is sensed at the position along the upper reaches, move the separator at the position along the upper reaches to the first position by the continuous loop chains, and (2) a separator is not sensed at the position along the upper reaches, move the separator at the lug space from the lug space to the first position;
• moving the separator at the first position to a separator transfer position along the lower reaches by movement of the continuous loop chains;
• capturing the separator, when the separator reaches the separator transfer position, by an arm driver assembly of a transfer arm assembly moving portions of first and second arms of a transfer arm assembly to capture the separator therebetween;
• transferring the separator to a place position underlying the lower reaches of the continuous loop chains by transfer movement of the first and second arms;
• and
• releasing the separator at the place position onto an underlying layer of lumber by release movement of the first and second arms,
• wherein the arm driver assembly of each transfer arm assembly further comprises:
• a shaft, to which the first and second arms are mounted, extending in a second direction transverse to the first direction and comprising first and second rotatable shaft elements,
• first and second arm drivers operably coupled to the first and second rotatable shaft elements for selective rotation of the first and second rotatable shaft elements,
• wherein the capturing of the separator, the transferring of the separator and the releasing of the separator are performed by selectively actuating the first and second arm drivers to selectively rotate the first and second rotatable shaft elements causing movement of outer portions of the first and second arms.