Block orientation cylinder

An apparatus for orienting wood material in a lumber processing system, comprising:

• a cylinder having an infeed end and an outfeed end, the infeed end for receiving wood material having no particular orientation and the outfeed end for delivering the wood material in an oriented position, wherein the cylinder has a longitudinal axis positioned at an incline relative to a horizontal plane;
• and
• means for rotating the cylinder about its longitudinal axis,
• whereby wood material received into the cylinder for lumber processing is repositioned into the oriented position as the material progresses through the cylinder toward the outfeed end.

A system for orienting blocks for further processing, comprising:

• a cylinder having an infeed end and an outfeed end, the infeed end configured to receive blocks having no particular orientation and the outfeed end configured to deliver the blocks in an oriented position, wherein the cylinder has a longitudinal axis positioned at an incline relative to a horizontal plane;
• a rotation mechanism configured to rotate the cylinder about its longitudinal axis causing blocks received into the cylinder to be repositioned into the oriented position as the blocks progress through the cylinder toward the outfeed end;
• a chute in communication with the infeed end of the rotating cylinder for guiding blocks into the infeed end of the cylinder;
• and
• a transporting mechanism in communication with the outfeed end of the rotating cylinder for receiving the oriented blocks from the cylinder and transporting the oriented blocks for further processing.