Abstract: The disclosure relates to foamed binders for wood strand products and methods and systems for producing wood strand products using foamed binders. In some embodiments, the disclosure includes a method for producing a wood strand product from cellulosic particles, the method comprising the steps of foaming a phenol formaldehyde binder to produce a foam, tumbling the cellulosic particles in a rotary blender, applying the foam to the cellulosic particles in the rotary blender, blending the cellulosic particles and the foam so that the foam covers the cellulosic particles, and consolidating the cellulosic particles under heat and pressure.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to foamed binders for wood strand products and methods and systems for producing wood strand products using foamed binders. In some embodiments, the disclosure includes a method for producing a wood strand product from cellulosic particles, the method comprising the steps of foaming a phenol formaldehyde binder to produce a foam, tumbling the cellulosic particles in a rotary blender, applying the foam to the cellulosic particles in the rotary blender, blending the cellulosic particles and the foam so that the foam covers the cellulosic particles, and consolidating the cellulosic particles under heat and pressure.

Abstract: This invention provides a dried singulated crosslinked cellulose pulp fiber product as well as an apparatus and a method for forming singulated, crosslinked, and dried fibers. In accordance with the process, a feed pulp containing a crosslinker is delivered to a jet drier. The jet drier singulates and dries the feed pulp. The singulated and dried fibers are collected from the jet drier. The feed pulp may be further treated with a treatment substance. The jet drier may be maintained at negative pressure. The product fibers may have low knot count, a low fines count, as well improved kink, curl, and twist. The apparatus for carrying out the process may include a pretreatment station for supplying the treatment substance, a pulp feed device designed for pulp, a pulp feed device designed for pulp and foam suspensions, and/or a fiber separation station having a vacuum conveyor.

Abstract: Generally described, a bending stiffness predicting system 20 includes a density measurement sub-system 24 and a sound wave velocity measurement sub-system 28. From the measurements of both density and speed of sound through the wood product received from the sub-systems 24 and 28, respectively, the bending stiffness (Y) may be predicted by calculating the bending stiffness (Y) according to the bending stiffness (MOE) equation: Y=k?V2/g; wherein k is the calibration constant, ? is the density or specific gravity of the member, V is the velocity of a sound through the member and g is the acceleration due to gravity. The calculation of wood product bending stiffness may be carried out manually, or may be calculated using a calculating sub-system 32 from the two measured values, density and velocity, according to Equation 1 above.

Abstract: This invention provides a dried singulated crosslinked cellulose pulp fiber product as well as an apparatus and a method for forming singulated, crosslinked, and dried fibers. In accordance with the process, a feed pulp containing a crosslinker is delivered to a jet drier. The jet drier singulates and dries the feed pulp. The singulated and dried fibers are collected from the jet drier. The feed pulp may be further treated with a treatment substance. The jet drier may be maintained at negative pressure. The product fibers may have low knot count, a low fines count, as well improved kink, curl and twist. The apparatus for carrying out the process may include a pretreatment station for supplying the treatment substance, a pulp feed device designed for pulp, a pulp feed device designed for pulp and foam suspensions, and/or a fiber separation station having a vacuum conveyor.

Abstract: This invention provides a dried singulated crosslinked cellulose pulp fiber product as well as an apparatus and a method for forming singulated, crosslinked, and dried fibers. In accordance with the process, a feed pulp containing a crosslinker is delivered to a jet drier. The jet drier singulates and dries the feed pulp. The singulated and dried fibers are collected from the jet drier. The feed pulp may be further treated with a treatment substance. The jet drier may be maintained at negative pressure. The product fibers may have low knot count, a low fines count, as well improved kink, curl and twist. The apparatus for carrying out the process may include a pretreatment station for supplying the treatment substance, a pulp feed device designed for pulp, a pulp feed device designed for pulp and foam suspensions, and/or a fiber separation station having a vacuum conveyor.

Abstract: A method is described for determining a physical property of a log or similar wood member. A small amount of a liquid or solid is projected against the end of the log with sufficient energy to induce a stress wave. Water is a preferred liquid and an ice pellet is the preferred solid material. A water pulse of about 40 g or less shot from a distance of about 1.2 m with about 9-10,000 kPa pressure will induce a useful shock wave. Similarly an ice pellet weighing 5-10 g shot from the same distance at about 400-500 kPa has given excellent results. The travel time of the stress wave may be measured by an accelerometer in contact with the log. Alternatively, a laser Doppler vibrometer aimed at the log end can record the travel time. The use of the method obviates the need for a mechanical hammer striking the log as well as the requirement for the logs to be even ended at the test location.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a lyocell fiber having a high hemicellulose content. The fibers are readily cut into staple lengths and can be spun into yarns with excellent knitting and weaving characteristics which dye exceptionally well. The fibers have a cotton-like denier.

Abstract: This invention provides a dried singulated crosslinked cellulose pulp fiber product as well as an apparatus and a method for forming singulated, crosslinked, and dried fibers. In accordance with the process, a feed pulp containing a crosslinker is delivered to a jet drier. The jet drier singulates and dries the feed pulp. The singulated and dried fibers are collected from the jet drier. The feed pulp may be further treated with a treatment substance. The jet drier may be maintained at negative pressure. The product fibers may have low knot count, a low fines count, as well improved kink, curl and twist. The apparatus for carrying out the process may include a pretreatment station for supplying the treatment substance, a pulp feed device designed for pulp, a pulp feed device designed for pulp and foam suspensions, and/or a fiber separation station having a vacuum conveyor.

Abstract: This invention provides a dried singulated crosslinked cellulose pulp fiber product as well as an apparatus and a method for forming singulated, crosslinked, and dried fibers. In accordance with the process, a feed pulp containing a crosslinker is delivered to a jet drier. The jet drier singulates and dries the feed pulp. The singulated and dried fibers are collected from the jet drier. The feed pulp may be further treated with a treatment substance. The jet drier may be maintained at negative pressure. The product fibers may have low knot count, a low fines count, as well improved kink, curl and twist. The apparatus for carrying out the process may include a pretreatment station for supplying the treatment substance, a pulp feed device designed for pulp, a pulp feed device designed for pulp and foam suspensions, and/or a fiber separation station having a vacuum conveyor.

Abstract: This invention provides a dried singulated crosslinked cellulose pulp fiber product as well as an apparatus and a method for forming singulated, crosslinked, and dried fibers. In accordance with the process, a feed pulp containing a crosslinker is delivered to a jet drier. The jet drier singulates and dries the feed pulp. The singulated and dried fibers are collected from the jet drier. The feed pulp may be further treated with a treatment substance. The jet drier may be maintained at negative pressure. The product fibers may have low knot count, a low fines count, as well improved kink, curl and twist. The apparatus for carrying out the process may include a pretreatment station for supplying the treatment substance, a pulp feed device designed for pulp, a pulp feed device designed for pulp and foam suspensions, and/or a fiber separation station having a vacuum conveyor.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a lyocell fiber having a high hemicellulose content. The fibers are readily cut into staple lengths and can be spun into yarns with excellent knitting and weaving characteristics which dye exceptionally well. The fibers have a cotton-like denier.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of preparing continuous lyocell fibers by melt blowing techniques, a pulp useful for making lyocell fibers and to the fibers produced by the method. In particular, the method enables high throughputs of fibers of cotton-like deniers. The fibers are readily cut into staple lengths and can be spun into yarns with excellent knitting and weaving characteristics which dye exceptionally well.

Abstract: A method for removing artifacts from a bitmap of image data produced by scanning a halftone image may comprise the steps of: (a) calculating a weighted average intensity value for a target pixel based on a weight factor for the target pixel and on weight factors for neighboring pixels in the bitmap of image data; (b) repeating step (a) for each pixel in the bitmap of image data; and (c) replacing the intensity value of each pixel in the bitmap of image data with the weighted average intensity value for each such pixel.

Abstract: A system for estimating a velocity of a stress wave induced in a log or tree stem is used to maximize the value of wood products produced. An accelerometer is placed against the log while the log is struck with a pneumatic hammer. By monitoring the signals received at the accelerometer, the velocity of stress wave can be determined. Based on the velocity, an estimate of the modulus of elasticity (MOE) for the wood in the log is made. A price table is selected that relates different sizes of lumber having the determined modulus of elasticity to a current market value. The log is then cut such that the value of the lumber produced is maximized.

Abstract: A method for removing artifacts from a bitmap of image data produced by scanning a halftone image may comprise the steps of: (a) calculating a weighted average intensity value for a target pixel based on a weight factor for the target pixel and on weight factors for neighboring pixels in the bitmap of image data; (b) repeating step (a) for each pixel in the bitmap of image data; and (c) replacing the intensity value of each pixel in the bitmap of image data with the weighted average intensity value for each such pixel.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for growing embryonic or other undeveloped plant material in a controlled, biologically sterile environment to produce plants capable of surviving in soil in an uncontrolled environment. Cloned somatic embryos of a particular plant are individually embeddeed in separate sterile plugs comprised of a soil-like particulate medium. A volume of aqueous medium comprising a source of carbon and energy for the somatic embryos, and plant growth regulating substances, if required, is added to each plug. The sterile plugs are then isolated from the ambient environment while permitting exposure to light and atmospheric gases sufficient to effect development of photosynthesis in the developing embryos in the plugs. While in such isolation, the resulting plantlets develop roots and shoots.

Abstract: The invention is a method for treating a plant growth medium containing a plant so that the growth medium remains intact around the roots during transplanting operations. This involves treating the growth medium shortly before transplanting with an adhesive-forming substance which will bond the particles of the growth medium to form an intact plug. The adhesive-forming substance must be physiologically innocuous. Materials such as warmed solution of agar or soluble alginates have been found to be very suitable. When an alginate is used, it is rendered into an insoluble gel by secondary application of a chemical salt such as calcium nitrate. The method is particularly useful for growing seedlings or cuttings which must be transplanted while the root structure is still delicate and subject to damage from handling.

Abstract: The invention is a plant lifting apparatus of the opposed belt type that can be quickly adjusted in the field to accommodate different plant row spacings. The lifting belts are carried on individual supporting frames. These, in turn, are pivotally mounted at their proximal ends to a subframe member. The distal plant receiving ends of the supporting frames are bridged by spreading means which vary the spacing between adjacent pairs of lifting belts. Preferably the outer belt supporting frames are adjusted separately. The inner pairs are bridged by toggles, turnbuckles or similar means that control their spacing within the limits set by the outer supporting frames.