Abstract: A multiple opening panel press is described with a plurality of movable platens which are individually controlled to adjust the spacing between adjacent platens to a predetermined panel width. Position-sensor transducers are employed to produce control signals corresponding to the platen positions which operate control cylinders by associated valves to adjust the platen spacing. The transducers are preferably sonic waveguides which interact with permanent magnets fixed to the movable platens to generate platen position signals which are applied to an automatic control system which includes a computer that produces the control signals.

Abstract: A veneer lathe apparatus is described with a powered nose bar roll of large diameter that is capable of peeling logs down to an extremely small core diameter on the order of about 21/2 inches for soft wood. The large diameter nose bar roll prevents jam-up of wood chips and trash at the junction between such roll and the log and greatly increases cutting time between lathe knife sharpenings. Both ends of the nose bar roll are connected through flexible couplings of plastic to the output shafts of two separate drive motors. The nose bar roll may be provided with a grooved outer surface for greater friction and can apply up to 40 percent of the total torque required for rotation of the log and to pressure the log for compression of its surface in front of the lathe knife during peeling. The nose bar roll is of larger diameter than the minimum log core and preferably such diameter is at least fifteen times the thickness of the wood veneer being peeled.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for scanning a log with light or other electromagnetic radiation while such log is rotated by the spindles of a veneer lathe to determine its optimum yield axis and for positioning the log with positioning arms to align such optimum yield axis with the lathe spindle axis. The scanning means detects light reflected from the log or light transmitted past the side of a log to determine its optimum yield axis. The positioning arms are mounted on support arms having a horizontal sliding pivot at one end thereof to provide vertical and horizontal adjustment of the positioning arms in response to positioning motors. The positioning motors move the positioning arms to align the optimum yield axis of the log with the lathe spindle axis and are controlled by the output of a computer which determines the optimum yield axis.

Abstract: A veneer lathe charger apparatus is described having an improved charger spindle positioning system which is less vulnerable to damage, is of simpler construction and is of faster operation. The charger spindle positioning system includes spindle support and adjustment means for moving the spindles both horizontally and vertically by linear movement in one direction of linear positioning means at the opposite ends of the log. The linear positioning means are located above the log so as not to be damaged by a falling log. Each linear positioning means includes a pair of cylinders whose piston rods are pivotally attached to a spindle support plate on opposite sides of the spindle. A log support and centering means receives logs at a pick up position and transports such logs to a scan position after rough centering and clamping the logs with their longitudinal axis in such a scan position.