Abstract: A process for continuously forming a product having elongated members at least about one foot long which are oriented, compressed and bonded is provided, the process comprising depositing elongated members on a moving carrier with an orientation that is substantially parallel to the direction of movement of said carrier, said members being deposited on said carrier over a length of carrier that is at least as long as about one and one-half times the length of the elongated members and is at least as long as about 30 times the final thickness of the compressed, composite product.

Abstract: An apparatus for pressing composite assemblies including a continuous belt press having a pair of endless belts facing one another. The distance between the belts varies to define therebetween a compression zone wherein lock-up of the composite assemblies occurs, a parallel bed press zone, and a transfer zone therebetween. The curvature radius of the compression zone, which can be positive, negative or zero, is longer than that of the transfer zone.

Abstract: A method of analyzing a body (log) containing elements (e.g. knots) having different densities than the remainder of the body by passing electromagnetic energy from at least one source for substantially symmetrical bodies (pruned logs) or at least two sources through the body and sensing the amount of energy passing through the body from each source by sensors mounted opposite each source. Each sensor is formed by an array of discrete detectors positioned in side by side relationship opposite their respective sources. The amount of radiation passing through the body is detected as the body passes between the source(s) and its (their) respective detector(s) and a longitudinal plan is generated based on the radiation detected from each of the sensors over at least a preselected length of the body.

Abstract: The perimeter and height of an inlet gap to a dryer syphon shoe (for a steam heated dryer drum) are selected to provide an area which at maximum design condensate flow rate accommodates both condensate and steam flows and in proportions and at speeds that will ensure distributed flow of the steam and condensate while maintaining efficient dryer operation. A plate is positioned inside of the shoe and combines with an inside wall of the shoe to define a transition passage leading from the gap wherein flow is axial of the drum to the condensate return pipe where flow is substantially radial of the drum. The transition passage has a cross sectional area measured substantially perpendicular to the direction of flow that is substantially equal to or less than the area of the inlet gap, provides a smooth transition for the flow between the gap and the condensate return pipe and insures distributed flow through the syphon.

Abstract: A boom stick for use with log booms in water transport and storage of logs is formed by a plurality of vehicle tires (used) arranged in substantially axially aligned, side by side relationship with their tread surfaces forming the outer periphery of the boom stick. Axially extending reinforcing rods pass through the rim receiving holes in the tires and hold the tires together and a material (preferably foam concrete) having a higher specific gravity of less than 1 substantially fills the tires. In a preferred arrangement the tires are filled to a preselected level with light weight material and the remainder filled with a material having a higher specific gravity than the light weight material to provide a longitudinally extending heavy segment that orients the boom stick in the water.

Abstract: It has been found that certain chemicals such as peroxide may be concentrated in an aqueous solution by increasing the pH of a feed liquor to increase the amount of the chemcial in an ionized form, i.e. increase the ionized fraction and then separating the feed liquor by reverse osmosis through a reverse osmosis membrane into a retentate having an enhanced concentration of chemical in ionized form relative to the feed liquor and a permeate having a reduced concentration of chemical in ionized form relative to the feed liquor. The process is particularly suited to increasing the concentration of hydrogen peroxide.

Abstract: A system for sorting lumber using a scanning camera that generates separate red, green and in some cases blue outputs to scan selected length increments along the surface of a piece of lumber and such data collected for each color is each separately histogrammed to produce a frequency distribution of color intensity. The data is analyzed to determine the mean values for each color in the selected lengths and the lengths characterized based on these mean values into specific colors. The lumber pieces may be automatically severed into pieces having significant differences in color and the pieces of significantly different colors may be automatically collected in different groupings. In an alternative arrangement the histogram for selected color is analyzed to determine the frequency distribution and degree of frequency variability to determine if it is to be classified as vertical or flat grained.

Abstract: An apparatus for squaring a sleeve having at least one pair of opposed bevelled corners comprises a cradle having sleeve supporting members merging towards an apex but terminating spaced from the apex and having a support beam in the space between the members and the apex. The support members and support beam are arranged to conform with the outside shape of the sleeve in squared condition. An platen is moveable into a sleeve while the sleeve is supported in the cradle. The platen is shaped to substantially conform with the inside of the sleeve in squared condition and is moveable toward the apex to force the sleeve into conformity with the cradle and the support member and thereby square the box. Preferably an end closure pad applicator will apply an end closure pad to the squared sleeve while supported in the cradle and with the platen in place to resist pressure applied to the outside of the sleeve when the pad is being secured to the sleeve.

Abstract: A hockey stick shaft is formed by a central wood core, a pair of fibre reinforcing layers reinforcing a pair of opposite sides of the core, a pair of intermediate wood layers one over each of the reinforcing layers in turn covered by a second pair of reinforcing layers positioned one over each of the intermediate layers and a pair of outer surface layers are laminated to each of the second reinforcing layers.Preferably the second reinforcing layers have a higher tensile strength than the first reinforcing layers.

Abstract: A new bag cassette having a main bottom panel formed by a diagonal panel defined by a pair of spaced parallel fold lines and a pair of side panels is used to protect and position a bag and for squaring a carton. The bag spout is held in a reinforcing panel connected to the main bottom panel by a spacing panel and the bag is protected by the envelope formed by folding the two side panels perpendicular to the diagonal panel. To square a box having a cross section substantially corresponding with the periphery of the main panel, the cassette is inserted into the box with a diagonal panel extending diagonally between the pair of opposed corners of the box and with the side panels in folded enveloping position substantially perpendicular to the diagonal panel. As the cassette is moved down into the box it tends to force the box into squared position. Folding out of the side panels into a position parallel to the diagonal panel completes the squaring and positions the cassette in the bottom of the box.

Abstract: Finger jointed lumber is produced from discrete green lumber pieces each formed with a first set of fingers on one end and a second set of fingers at the other end. The first set of fingers is dried by rapidly applying heat substantially solely through the first set of fingers in a first drying station. The second set of fingers is then rapidly dried in a second drying station. A thermo-setting adhesive is applied to the second set of fingers of each lumber piece while still hot and the second set of fingers on one piece and the first fingers on an adjacent lumber piece are mated and crowded together to form a joint. The adhesive is significantly cured by residual heat in the mating ends before significant moisture migrates back to the fingers from the bodies of the mating lumber pieces and interferes with the curing of the adhesive.

Abstract: The texture of a travelling web is determined by instantaneously illuminating an area of the web via a strobe light and phtographing the illuminated area by a video camera correlated to operate in conjunction with the strobe. The signal from the camera is digitized, histogrammed and analyzed to determine the characteristics of the web. The strobe light may direct the light through the web or at an angle to the web and the video camera depending on the characteristics to be determined may be positioned to receive specularly reflected light from the web or reflected light or positioned on the opposite side the web to receive light transmitted through the web. In one embodiment the light is polarized and directed at Brewster's angle onto the surface of the web and only similarly polarized specularly reflected light is received by the camera.

Abstract: A surface cleaner that may take the form of a surface strength tester or lint remover for paper wherein lint or like material is freed from the surface of a paper web travelling past the cleaner. The cleaner includes a material pick-up head having an air bearing surface through and along which an air stream is passed to generate an air bearing and a significant negative air pressure between the bearing surface and web. The negative pressure tends to hold the web and air bearing surface in close proximity to each other and causes lint material to be freed from the web surface. The freed lint material is carried in the air stream. A vacuumed pick up has its inlet opening located relative to the air bearing surface such that material freed and carried in the air stream is sucked into the inlet. If the cleaner is used as a tester the pickup head may extend over only a small portion of the web surface and the amount of material measured thereby to provide an indication of the linting propensity of the web.

Abstract: A method of making a borate treated wood particle board by applying an adhesive resin and a particulate borate treating agent (anhydrous borax or zinc borate) in a dry form to the wood particles to produce treated wood particles (wafers). The treated wood particles are formed into a mat and consolidated under heat and pressure to distribute the resin in the wood before the viscosity of the resin is effected by contact with a sufficient amount of borate to significantly impair penetration of the resin into the wood.

Abstract: A composite wood panel of improved edge swell characteristics is provided by applying stabilizing additive to the exposed surface of a layup of wood particles (wafers) from which the panel is to be formed by consolidation as the layup is being produced. The additive is applied only in selected areas one adjacent each side edge of the layup so that the resultant product has in effect stabilizing additive through the thickness of the resultant panel at each side edge. Preferably the additive will be applied as stripes at spaced depths through the layup and these stripes will extend inwardly from each side edge a distance sufficient to stabilize the panel against edge swelling. The preferred additive is an isocyanate type resin adhesive.

Abstract: A lumber optimizer system that detects the wane in a flitch being processed and by using a plurality of discrete detectors detecting the amount of electromagnetic radiation passing through localized areas of the board to determine the local differences in density provides a density profile of the flitch. The developed data are accumulated as the flitch traverses the detectors and processed in a computer to provide a profile of signal strengths generated by the detectors and used to generate an image of varying intensity depending on the signal (density) for each discrete area of the flitch and provide a density map of the field. The map so produced is analyzed in conjunction with the detected wane to determine the defects in the flitch and the nature and the position of such defects in the flitch and provide a plan of the flitch wherein the locations of good wood, and various defects are provided.

Abstract: A process for continuously forming a product having elongated members at least about one foot long which are oriented, compressed and bonded is provided, the process comprising depositing elongated members on a moving carrier with an orientation that is substantially parallel to the direction of movement of the carrier, the members being deposited on the carrier over a length of carrier that is at least as long as about one and one-half times the length of the elongated members and is at least as long as about 30 times the final thickness of the compressed, composite product.

Abstract: A new bag cassette having a main bottom panel formed by a diagonal panel defined by a pair of spaced parallel fold lines and a pair of side panels is used to protect and position a bag and for squaring a carton. The bag spout is held in a reinforcing panel connected to the main bottom panel by a spacing panel and the bag is protected by the envelope formed by folding the two side panels perpendicular to the diagonal panel. To square a box having a cross section substantially corresponding with the periphery of the main panel, the cassette is inserted into the box with a diagonal panel extending diagonally between the pair of opposed corners of the box and with the side panels in folded enveloping position substantially perpendicular to the diagonal panel. As the cassette is moved down into the box it tends to force the box into squared position. Folding out of the side panels into a position parallel to the diagonal panel completes the squaring and positions the cassette in the bottom of the box.

Abstract: An improved drill rod magazine for storing and moving them sequentially into a dispensing position is comprised of a pair of spaced arms each with an open jaw in which the drill rods are positioned in parellel, side by side relationship. The arms are moveable from a storing position into at least two dispensing positions, in a first of which one of the rods in the jaws is aligned with the hammer of the drilling machine and in the second of which another rod (the adjacent rod) is aligned with the hammer. Each of the jaws is provided with a clamp to clamp the rods contained therein to prevent rotation of each rod for threading of the hammer into an adjacent coupling on the rod. The rod is released for rotation while retaining same within the jaws so that the rod coupled to the hammer may be rotated and advanced by the hammer to thread same into an aligned coupling, after which the arms are retracted to their storage position. For uncoupling the procedure is reversed.

Abstract: A multiwalled container made of corrugated paper board and formed from an open ended sleeve of such multiwalled container board is provided with an end closure that is discreet from the sleeve but is connected thereto via flaps connected to the outer surface of the walls of the sleeve. The closure includes at least one panel connected to the sleeve by the flaps and providing a bridging member extending across the open end of the sleeve and functioning to resist outward deflection of the side walls of the sleeve via tension in the bridging member when said container is erected and foldable into the interior of said sleeve when said container is in knock down condition.