Abstract: Rows of wood fillets are assembled into panels by step-wise advancing the rows through two stages of wedge-shaped heating and gluing blocks where the edges of the fillets are pre-heated and then coated with a hot melt adhesive before being brought together with a strip of polyethylene foam between the edges of the fillets. The first stage assembles selected groups of the rows and the second stage joins the several groups so that the entire assemblage is accomplished over a relatively short distance and time. The resultant assembly exhibits improved flexibility and cohesiveness.

Abstract: A machine for assembling wood flooring intermittently advances rows of wood fillets lengthwise along side-by-side paths. Glue is applied to opposed longitudinal sides of the fillets in adjacent rows, and a strip of compressible material is inserted between the glue-bearing fillet surfaces. The rows converge and the fillets are pressed together to join the fillets and the cushion material. The pressing preferably occurs at a station where glue is simultaneously applied to other rows of fillets. Each glue applicator has an outwardly-directed face for applying glue to the fillets as they slide by the face, and the face is apertured with a recess which contains glue supplied from a pressured source.

Abstract: A dimensionally stable wood flooring highly resistant to deterioration because of variations in environmental humidity and temperature employs individual wood fillets separated by a highly compressible synthetic foam spacer. Because the foam spacer accommodates large fillet dimensional changes, the fillets may be wider than previously used or made of less inherently dimensionally stable woods.