Tie plate rotator for field and gauge orientation

Abstract

A tie plate rotator which may be mounted in line of a tie plate distribution system along a horizontal or angled conveyor which may take various forms but functionally allows or provides for movement of tie plates from one location to a second. The tie plate rotator receives tie plates and senses a position of the field side or gauge side of the tie plate. Subsequently, the turner will rotate the tie plate if rotation to an alternate orientation is desirable. The tie plate turner also senses a position of the rotating structure so that a controller can determine a position of the tie plate rotator during operation. The tie plates are subsequently directed to a second conveyor for further processing of the tie plates.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.