A deduster is comprised of two sets (pairs) of counter-rotating dedusting brushes in co-operation with a vacuum system for saw dust removal from wooden lumber. In addition to these features, the deduster may feature a separate, movable, top brush assembly that can be easily adjusted for different board thicknesses and raised up to allow for clearing board jams and for pass-through if boards were to be run without dedusting. This deduster apparatus is modular, thereby allowing it to be positioned over an existing machine or a lumber board unscrambler machine such as a lugged unscrambler machine.

A deduster is comprised of two sets (pairs) of counter-rotating dedusting brushes in cooperation with a vacuum system for saw dust removal from wooden lumber. In addition to these features, the deduster may feature a separate, movable, top brush assembly that can be easily adjusted for different board thicknesses and raised up to allow for clearing board jams and for pass-through if boards were to be run without dedusting. This deduster apparatus is modular, thereby allowing it to be positioned over an existing machine or a lumber board unscrambler machine such as a lugged unscrambler machine. There is also a deduster for a board handling hopper.

Lumber retrieval systems and methods feed a centrally located saw with a predetermined assortment of boards picked from certain stations distributed at either side of the saw. In some examples, an overhead trolley system carries individual boards in a certain sequence from chosen stations to a board-receiving apparatus. The board-receiving apparatus, in turn, feeds the boards to the saw. The saw then cuts the boards into board segments, which can be used for making prefabricated trusses and wall panels. In some examples, the trolley system has a laser-scanning feature for determining the location of the next-to-pick board while simultaneously transporting the board currently heading to the board-receiving apparatus. In some examples, the trolley system includes two board carriers each of which are dedicated or assigned to certain stations. In some examples, one carrier serves as backup for the other one when one of the carriers is broken or otherwise inactive.

Lumber retrieval systems and methods feed a centrally located saw with a predetermined assortment of boards picked from certain stations distributed at either side of the saw. In some examples, an overhead trolley system carries individual boards in a certain sequence from chosen stations to a board-receiving apparatus. The board-receiving apparatus, in turn, feeds the boards to the saw. The saw then cuts the boards into board segments, which can be used for making prefabricated trusses and wall panels. In some examples, the trolley system has a laser-scanning feature for determining the location of the next-to-pick board while simultaneously transporting the board currently heading to the board-receiving apparatus. In some examples, the trolley system includes two board carriers each of which are dedicated or assigned to certain stations. In some examples, one carrier serves as backup for the other one when one of the carriers is broken or otherwise inactive.

Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a lumber handling and cutting apparatus, including an incoming material conveyor assembly, a material infeed assembly adjacent to the incoming material conveyor assembly, a cutting assembly adjacent to the material infeed assembly, a material outfeed assembly adjacent to the cutting assembly, an outgoing material conveyor assembly adjacent to the cutting assembly, and a printer assembly adjacent to the incoming material conveyor assembly and the material infeed assembly.

A lumber transfer system includes an overhead track and a lower conveyor for retrieving and delivering boards from multiple racks of lumber to a platform leading to a saw. In some examples of operation, a board picker travels along the track to pick up a chosen board from one of the racks. The board picker then releases the board onto the conveyor. The conveyor conveys the board underneath the other racks and delivers the board to the saw feed platform. While the conveyor is conveying the board toward the saw feed platform, the board picker returns to the racks for another board. The board picker traveling along the track and handling boards while the conveyor delivers them to the saw saves production time and increases throughput.

A conveyor for transporting a board along a path in a transport direction has an upstream section, a downstream section aligned with the upstream section and defining therewith a horizontal support plane, and a center section between the upstream and downstream sections. The center section is movable from a pass-through position aligned and level with the upstream and downstream sections to an offset position spaced therefrom horizontally or vertically. A platform underneath the center section is moveable vertically, and a lift moves the platform vertically between upper and lower positions. Hooks or grab can, when the center section is in the offset position and the platform is in the lower position, either pull a board off the platform and onto the downstream section or guide and deposit a board from the upstream section onto the platform.

A dimensional lumber stacker takes on plural boards in successive events from a feed group on one side of itself and then turns plural boards in unison about a horizontal axis and deposits them one the other side of itself, onto a deck. After which, the boards are urged away from the dimensional lumber stacker and across the deck as a unit, thereby separating from the dimensional lumber stacker and forming a stack as a consequence.

A lumber stacking machine has a stacking mechanism forming a stack of lumber from the bottom upwardly. The stacking mechanism includes a lift mechanism formed with a plurality of stacking fingers that lift a layer of lumber vertically above a conveyor. With the formation of a new layer of lumber, the stacking mechanism moves below the new layer with the stacking fingers retracting to pass by the new layer and resting the growing stack of lumber on top of the new layer, and then extending below the new layer to raise the entire stack to allow another new layer to be formed. Stops are provided to control the movement of the individual boards from the infeed station into the stacking station and also to control movement of the new layer beyond the stacking station. Two conveyors cooperate to move the lumber with an overlap in the stacking station.

Disclosed is an industrial belt that can be used in, for example, conveying or forming engineered wood composites or other industrial products. The industrial belt has a seamable base belt with a coating that includes a polymer, an anti-contaminant, and a conductive anti-static component.