Lug loader

A system for transporting successive workpieces in a flow direction, wherein the workpieces are oriented generally transverse to the flow direction, the system comprising:

• a first endless conveyor oriented substantially parallel to the flow direction;
• one or more second endless conveyors spaced laterally apart from the first endless conveyor across the flow direction and oriented substantially parallel to the flow direction, the first endless conveyor being elevated relative to the one or more second endless conveyors;
• a drive system coupled with at least one of the endless conveyors;
• a sensor configured to detect the successive workpieces on the endless conveyors;
• and
• a computer system coupled with the drive system and the sensor, the computer system configured to
• determine, based at least on data from the sensor, a skew angle of one or more of the workpieces on the endless conveyors, and
• control the drive system to drive the first endless conveyor at a different speed or rotational direction than the one or more second endless conveyors to thereby adjust the skew angle of a workpiece in contact with the first endless conveyor.

A method of transporting successive workpieces in a flow direction, wherein the workpieces are oriented generally transverse to the flow direction, the method comprising:

• providing a first endless conveyor oriented substantially parallel to the flow direction;
• providing one or more second endless conveyors spaced laterally apart from the first endless conveyor across the flow direction and oriented substantially parallel to the flow direction, wherein the first endless conveyor is elevated relative to at least one of the one or more second endless conveyors;
• and
• driving the first endless conveyor at a different speed or rotational direction than the one or more second endless conveyors to thereby adjust a skew angle of at least one of the successive workpieces while said at least one of the successive workpieces is in contact with the first endless conveyor.