US Patent 10329100 Plate straightener

A tie plate straightener includes a plurality of rollers having varying cross-section and differing elevations. The tie plate straightener includes directional wheels between the rollers and disposed in alignment with the lower elevations of the rollers. The straightener receives tie plates at an input and rotates the tie plates when the tie plate engages the directional wheels. The tie plate is thereby oriented and/or positioned so that the tie plate is supported above the directional wheels.