Automatic stick placer for lumber stacks

Claim 1

IN COMBINATION WITH MEANS FOR DELIVERING AND DEPOSITING SUCCESSIVE LAYERS OF LUMBER ON A LUMBER STACK, A STICK PLACER DEVICE ADAPTED TO ACCURATELY PLACE SPACING STICKS UPON THE UPPERMOST LAYER OF LUMBER IN A LUMBER STACK, SAID PLACER INCLUDING A VERTICALLY RECIPROCABLE CARRIAGE, MEANS FOR CAUSING AND CONTROLLING UP AND DOWN MOVEMENT OF SAID CARRIAGE, A PLURALITY OF STICK-HANDLING MAGAZINE MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID CARRIAGE, A SUPPLY OF SPACING STICKS STACKED IN SAID MAGAZINE MEANS, MEANS CONNECTED RESPECTIVELY TO SAID MAGAZINE MEANS ENGAGING THE LOWERMOST STICK FOR EXTENDING SAID LOWERMOST STICK AWAY FROM THE RESPECTIVE SAID MAGAZINE MEANS WHILE SAID CARRIAGE IS UP AWAY FROM SAID STACK FOR ACCESS OF SAID DELIVERING MEANS TO SAID STACK AND FOR PLACING THE RESPECTIVE EXTENDED STICKS UPON THE LUMBER STACK WHEN SAID CARRIAGE IS LOWERED INTO PROXIMITY WITH SAID STACK, AND MEANS CARRIED BY SAID CARRIAGE EFFECTING SAID PLACING SUBSTANTIALLY CONCURRENTLY WITH INTERRUPTION OF CARRIAGE DOWN MOVEMENT IN PROXIMITY TO THE LUMBER STACK.