[Illustration: Fig. 45. The above illustration shows another battery of Three Automatic Lumber Stackers.] [Illustration: Fig. 46. Cars Loaded with Lumber on its Edges by the Automatic Lumber Stackers.] After leaving the dry kilns, the loaded car is transferred to the unstacker (see Fig. 47). Here it is placed on the unstacker car which, by means of a tension device, holds the load of lumber tight against the vertical frame of the unstacker. The frame of the unstacker is triangular and has a series of chains. Each chain has two special links with projecting lugs. The chains all travel in unison. The lug links engage a layer of boards, sliding the entire layer vertically, and the boards, one at a time, fall over the top of the unstacker frame onto the inclined table, and from there onto conveyor chains from which they may be delivered to any point desired, depending upon the length and direction of the chain conveyor. With these unstackers one man can easily unload a kiln car in twenty minutes or less. [Illustration: Fig. 47. The Lumber Unstacker Car, used for unloading cars of Lumber loaded by the Automatic Stacker.] [Illustration: Fig. 48. The Lumber Unstacker Car and Unstacker, used for unloading Lumber loaded by the Automatic Stacker.] The experience of many users prove that these edge stacking machines are not alike. This is important, because there is one feature of edge stacking that must not be overlooked. Unless each layer of boards is forced into place by power and held under a strong pressure, much slack will accumulate in an entire load, and the subsequent handling of the kiln cars, and the effect of the kiln-drying will loosen up the load until there is a tendency for the layers to telescope. And unless the boards are held in place rigidly and with strong pressure they will have a tendency to warp. [Illustration: Fig. 49. The above illustration shows method of loading kiln cars with veneer on its edges by the use of the Tilting Platform.] A kiln car of edge-stacked lumber, properly piled, is made up of alternate solid sheets of lumber and vertical open-air spaces, so that the hot air and vapors rise naturally and freely through the lumber, drying both sides of the board evenly. The distribution of the heat and moisture being even and uniform, the drying process is naturally quickened, and there is no opportunity or tendency for the lumber to warp. In Figure 49 will be seen a method of loading kiln cars with veneer on edge by the use of a tilting platform. On the right of the illustration is seen a partially loaded kiln car tilted to an angle of 45 degrees, to facilitate the placing of the veneer on the car. At the left is a completely loaded car ready to enter the dry kiln. Gum, poplar, and pine veneers are satisfactorily dried in this manner in from 8 to 24 hours.