Including Pressure Applying Patents (Class 144/352)
  • Patent number: 11491683
    Abstract: A method for producing a composite material comprises the following steps: comminuting wood elements into wood fragments; crushing the wood fragments; mixing the wood fragments with an adhesive agent and/or a bonding agent; and pressing the mixture of wood fragments and the adhesive agent and/or bonding agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Inventor: Martin Gördes
  • Patent number: 10323670
    Abstract: Composed element including at least two panel-shaped elements, which each have an edge zone in which coupling means are present in the form of a profiled part respectively extending in the longitudinal direction of the respective edge zone, as well as each including an end face extending transversely to the respective edge zone, wherein said profiled parts allow coupling the panel-shaped elements together in an interlocking manner, wherein at least one of the panel-shaped elements includes an arrangement which hides from view at least a portion of the profiled part formed at the pertaining edge zone at the location of the end face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: UNILIN, BVBA
    Inventors: Luc Maertens, Mark Cappelle, Luc Vanhastel, Luc Deman, Guy Van Hooydonck
  • Patent number: 8747987
    Abstract: A composite panel and its manufacture are described. Ultra-thick bamboo/wood and solid wood composite panels are comprised of core board, surface board and back board. The core board is composed of ultra-thick peeling veneers with thickness of 6 to 12 mm. Both surface board and back board are made of bamboo or wood. The core board comprises several layers of the ultra-thick veneers, and the veneers of contiguous layer are assembled with parallel structure. A glue layer is arranged between contiguous veneers; adhesive in the glue layer is aqueous macromolecule isocyanate adhesive. The ultra-thick veneers of the core layer are the veneers with stress degradation treatment, i.e., punctate or line segment cracks are formed along the grain of the veneer's loose side in each layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Research Institute of Wood Industry, Chinese Academy of Forestry
    Inventors: Wenji Yu, Yanglun Yu, Yue Zhou, Rongxian Zhu, Dinghua Ren
  • Publication number: 20130017357
    Abstract: A method for producing a manufactured wood product using less desirable or discarded natural wood and a manufactured wood product produced by the described method. This inventive method comprises utilizing less desirable or discarded natural wood pieces by slicing the wood pieces into elongated strips that are then partially separated into elongate sections that maintain fibrous connectivity between the elongate sections. The elongate sections are dried and covered or impregnated with an adhesive. A second drying follows the adhesive application and the elongated strips are then arranged lengthwise in a mold for cold or hot pressing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2012
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Applicant: STYLE LIMITED
    Inventor: Style Limited
  • Patent number: 8347506
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing an engineered wood flooring product including providing a flat plywood platform having an original thickness, sanding top and bottom surfaces of the platform to achieve a final thickness less than the original thickness, wherein the amount of material removed from the bottom surface is greater than the top surface to induce center lift in the platform, applying adhesive to the platform, applying a veneer face to the platform, and subjecting the lay-up to a lineal pressing system to ensure bonding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Wolf, Incorporated
    Inventor: Barry Shannon Fuller
  • Publication number: 20110274872
    Abstract: The present invention provides ultra-thick bamboo/wood and solid wood composite panels, comprising core board, surface board and back board; said core board is composed of ultra-thick peeling veneers with the thickness of 6 to 12 mm, both said surface board and back board are made of bamboo or wood; said core board comprises several layers of said ultra-thick veneers, and the veneers of contiguous layer are assembled with parallel structure; glue layer is arranged between contiguous said veneers, the adhesive in the glue layer is the aqueous macromolecule isocyanate adhesive; said ultra-thick veneers of the core layer are the veneers with stress degradation treatment, i.e., punctate or line segment cracks are formed along the grain of said veneer loose side in each layer. The glue spread amounts of said composite panels are obviously less than that of the existing composite panels with the same thickness, and the composite panels are without warping or deformation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2009
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Applicant: Research Institute of Wood Industry
    Inventors: Wenji Yu, Yanglun Yu, Yue Zhou, Rongxian Zhu, Dinghua Ren
  • Patent number: 7981233
    Abstract: A method of forming a board suitable for use as container flooring uses bamboo and fast-growth low-density wood. The method includes the step of overlaying thin layers of high-density bamboo composites on surfaces of a core layer which can be the composite of wood veneer and wood strand-based composite, or wood veneer and bamboo stripe sheet composite. The benefits of bamboo and wood materials are combined to produce a bamboo-wood composite board having sufficient mechanical and physical strength and durability for use as container flooring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Alberta Innovates—Technology Futures
    Inventors: Rob Wellwood, Qisheng Zhang, Shenxue Jiang, Liheng Chen
  • Publication number: 20110015006
    Abstract: A novel baseball or softball bat is disclosed. The bat has a handle of a heavy, strong wood such as hickory, to resist breakage, and a barrel of a lighter wood such as sapele, to facilitate a controlled and comfortable swing. Methods for making the bat are also disclosed. It may be formed of a plurality of wedge-shaped pieces of wood, and the two species of wood may be joined by interleaving these wedges over part of the bat's length.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2009
    Publication date: January 20, 2011
    Applicant: MacDougall & Sons Bat Company, LLC
    Inventor: John A. MacDougall
  • Patent number: 7819147
    Abstract: An oriented strand board for structural applications and a method of its production comprising elongated strands having aspect ratios greater than 2, the strands being derived from the outer shells of oil palm tree fronds formed as a bi-product of the harvest of oil palm fruit, such that the strand length is limited to about a meter, the strands being cut from the outer shell area of the fronds and at least the outer regions of the major faces of the board being substantially free of core material, the shell strands being combined with a heat settable binder material, the strands being formed by elongated blades moving relative to a frond length in planes generally aligned with a longitudinal direction of the frond length, the strands of the frond shells being arranged and being permanently bonded together such that they are predominately generally aligned with the structural direction of the board at least at the outer regions of the major faces of the board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Engineering Research Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert L. Mullen, Antonius Kurniawan
  • Publication number: 20090255605
    Abstract: A method and a system for glulams fabrication, comprising obtaining wood pieces of a target length from raw materials; and assembling them into structural timbers of a target thickness in a continuous line, whereby moisture content, end joints, mixing and applying of adhesives, glue line pressure and clamping time are continuously controlled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2008
    Publication date: October 15, 2009
    Inventors: Lucien Filion, Emilien Racine
  • Publication number: 20080256823
    Abstract: A process for changing the properties of the wood in timber by applying varying pressure progressively along the length of the timber. The timber is caused to contract to facilitate the removal of wood water along the grain of the timber, to bend or straighten the timber, to assist the timber in contracting to its strunk state or to a state of increased density and to facilitate gluing of the processed timber. To facilitate the process timber can be heated by micro or radio waves, by direct heat or an electrical current can be applied to the timber. The heating means is generally also applied progressively along the length of the limber. The planes of pressure contact as applied to timber surfaces are not parallel to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2005
    Publication date: October 23, 2008
    Inventor: Andrew Karl Knorr
  • Publication number: 20080029183
    Abstract: A method for forming a timber from a palm has acts of gathering a timber piece from a palm trunk, processing the timber piece into a rectangular cross section, first pressure treatment to the timber piece to reduce a moisture content of the timber piece, drying the timber piece, applying glue into the timber piece in a vacuum condition, second pressure treatment to the timber piece to remove redundant glue from the timber piece, drying the timber piece in a mold under a pressed condition and removing the timber piece from the mold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2006
    Publication date: February 7, 2008
    Inventor: Shen-Ba Lee
  • Patent number: 7322389
    Abstract: A method of processing wood into a predetermined shape through compression includes compressing a first wooden piece and a second wooden piece separately; and placing the compressed second wooden piece on the compressed first wooden piece to bond the wooden pieces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventor: Tatsuya Suzuki
  • Patent number: 7290576
    Abstract: A compressed wood product includes a first part composed of a wooden material compressed into a predetermined shape; and a second part to be joined with the first part. A direction of wooden fibers of the wooden material composing the first part is substantially parallel with a lengthwise direction of the first part and intersects with a thickness direction of the first part. At least one surface of the second part is substantially perpendicular to the lengthwise direction of the first part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventor: Tatsuya Suzuki
  • Patent number: 7245981
    Abstract: A material handling system with a drag mechanism including a wheel for a table saw that controls the orientation and speed of material as it moves through the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Precision Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Spencer B. Dick, Stuart Aldrich, David A. Morgan
  • Patent number: 7160414
    Abstract: A method and apparatus of manufacturing glued laminated wood such as laminated veneer lumber (LVL) are disclosed. The glued laminated wood is made of a number of wood sheets such as veneer sheets which are laminated together by a hot press with a thermosetting adhesive into a continuous length of multiple-layered board of the glued laminated wood wherein wood sheets in each layer of the multiple-layered board are arranged in a staggered relation in the lengthwise direction of the board to wood sheets in an adjacent layer. The hot press has a pair of heating plates arranged substantially in facing relation to each other and an auxiliary heating plate disposed adjacent to one end of each heating plate. The auxiliary heating plate is adapted to press part of wood sheet which extends out beyond the above end of the heating plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignee: Meinan Machinery Works, Inc.
    Inventors: Yukio Abe, Makoto Isobe, Issaku Okamura, Hiroshige Oda, Akihito Hamaguchi, Noriyuki Honda
  • Patent number: 7147741
    Abstract: The fundamental technique of the method for making cellular cores is to make stacks of components which are configured such that cutting slices off the stacks produces cellular cores and, when needed, components used in stacks used to produce cellular cores. One of the basic components used in the stacks is termed a ribbed ply which is a ply (thin sheet of material such as wood) with a number of ribs (long thin strips of material such as wood) attached to the ply, parallel to each other. The spaces between the ribs are filled with filler material such as foam plastic, and the cells in the cellular core are filled with the filler material. The filler material is introduced as layers of the material stacked alternately with plies and adhesively attached. Slices of such a stack, sliced parallel to the grain of the plies (if wood) are called ribbed fillers. Stacking ribbed fillers and plies produces a stack having a cross section which, when sliced, produces filled cell cellular cores.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Inventor: Peter Sing
  • Patent number: 7141137
    Abstract: A method of forming a laminated beam includes assembling a plurality of individual wood laminations in a juxtaposed relationship, and joining the assembled laminations together to form a laminated beam. The assembled laminations define a tension zone of individual wood laminations, a core zone of individual wood laminations, and an compression zone of individual wood laminations. The average thickness of the laminations in the tension zone is less than the average thickness of the laminations in the core zone, and the average thickness of the laminations in the compression zone is less than the average thickness of the laminations in the core zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Assignee: University of Maine System Board of Trustees
    Inventors: Jon C. Fiutak, Shane M. McDougall, Habib J. Dagher
  • Patent number: 7131471
    Abstract: The invention described is a method for compressing wood products in a manner which achieves fixation of compression deformation. The method includes two compression stages. In between those stages the wood is coated and impregnated with a fatty acid. The wood, after the second compression step is annealed to set the compressor. The product may be used for flooring, panelling and for making wooden articles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2006
    Inventor: Trevor Ian McIntosh
  • Patent number: 7097732
    Abstract: This invention provides joining methods of single veneer piece and a joining apparatus, which can produce more efficient, and effective joining process than the conventional method and apparatus produce. In the process of carrying a single veneer piece (T) in the orthogonal direction against the joining edge (Te) on the conveyor, the joining edges of the preceding and succeeding single veneer pieces come close together, the adhesive material (Sd) is supplied to the clearance between the joining edges, and then the adhesion enhancing action is supplied to the said adhesive material (Sd) to join each single veneer piece (T) successively. The adhesion enhancing action can be applied within the adhesion enhancing section as indicated by lines (Z1) and (Z2), provided on the farther side from the edge approaching position (U) via an adhesion enhancing component (6) to move back and forth at any time while the single veneer piece (T) is being carried or such a motion is halted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: Meinan Machinery Works, Inc.
    Inventors: Mikio Tsutsui, Takayuki Yamauchi, Hideki Hasegawa, Sekiji Takahashi
  • Patent number: 7004215
    Abstract: Methods for forming compressed and adhesively bonded structural beams of strands divided from wood waste, and the beams resulting from such methods, are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2006
    Assignees: The Coe Manufacturing Company, Inc., Wyoming Sawmills, Inc.
    Inventors: Eugene R. Knokey, Ernest W. Schmidt
  • Patent number: 6957675
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for simultaneously pressing together longitudinally a plurality of individual strips of wood, each strip being provided with a finger joint at each end. The strips are jointed end to end in a number of rows to form a floorboard. The apparatus includes a mechanism for simultaneously applying longitudinal pressure to each of the rows of wood strips during the curing process. The resulting floorboard is mechanically improved, has greater protection against humidity and increases the fatigue resistance of the floorboard, which can be used for trailer floors or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2005
    Assignee: Prolam, Societe en Commandite
    Inventor: Benoit Risi
  • Patent number: 6878230
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing glued laminated wood such as laminated veneer lumber (LVL) is disclosed. The glued laminated wood is made of a number of wood sheets such as veneer sheets which are laminated together by a hot press with a thermosetting adhesive into a continuous length of multiple-layered board wherein the end joints of the wood sheets are disposed in a staggered array. There is provided an initial base material having an end which is shaped in the form of a flight of steps including a series of alternate horizontal surface having a lengthwise dimension smaller than the length of the wood sheet and a vertical surface having a height corresponding to the wood sheet thickness, and the glued laminated wood board is formed extending from the end of such initial base material. The hot press includes a pair of heat plates each having an effective pressing area capable of covering the entire surface of the wood sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Assignee: Meinan Machinery Works, Inc.
    Inventors: Yukio Abe, Makoto Isobe, Issaku Okamura, Hiroshige Oda, Akihito Hamaguchi, Noriyuki Honda
  • Patent number: 6843877
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for simultaneously pressing together longitudinally a plurality of individual strips of wood, each strip being provided with a finger joint at each end. The strips are jointed end to end in a number of rows to form a floorboard. The apparatus includes a mechanism for simultaneously applying longitudinal pressure to each of the rows of wood strips during the curing process. The resulting floorboard is mechanically improved, has greater protection against humidity and increases the fatigue resistance of the floorboard, which can be used for trailer floors or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2005
    Assignee: Prolam, Societe en Commandite
    Inventor: Benoit Risi
  • Patent number: 6824641
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for bevelling an edge of a wood-chip board (1) or a board of similar material, and the bevelled board thereby obtained. The process includes the operative steps of: making at least two grooves (5) along a whole area to be bevelled of the edge of the board (1), the grooves (5) being substantially parallel to each other and to the faces (2, 3) of the board (1) and having a thickness increasing toward the exterior of the board (1); introducing into each groove (5) an insert (6) of uniform thickness equal to a minimum thickness of the same groove (5); and pressing and gluing the walls of the grooves (5) on inserts (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Assignee: Sacea S.p.A.
    Inventor: Lorenzo Tirinnanzi
  • Patent number: 6814113
    Abstract: An artistic, decorative, durable and dimensionally stable laminate form having the appearance of ribbons laced and interspersed throughout the form consisting of a length of wood having a plurality of longitudinal, “X” axis, wave form cuts formed therethough, a strip of contrasting, flexible material being bonded between each of the wave form cuts forming a laminate matrix, a plurality of “Y” axis, wave form cuts formed therethough, a strip of contrasting, flexible material being bonded between each of the wave form cuts forming a laminate matrix, and machining the laminate matrix to the desired form, such as a pool cue stick, a furniture item, or a sports item.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Inventor: Ronald G. Daniels
  • Patent number: 6782929
    Abstract: A process for increasing the strength of plywood. The process includes pressing the piece of plywood between two hard faces which have parallel ridges contacting the two outer sides of the plywood to be strengthened. The plywood is subjected to pressure which permanently impresses a series of parallel grooves in the two outer faces of the piece of plywood. This strengthens the piece of plywood so that it takes more force to break it than the same piece of plywood without such parallel grooves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Inventor: Jeffrey Madrid
  • Patent number: 6746745
    Abstract: A blinds slat has a major portion being strips of bamboo and a minor portion being one or more pairs of wooden strips that are located at or near opposite side extremities of the slat. The resulting composite bamboo and wooden slat as exemplary resistance to warping and other deleterious effects of exposure to sun and moisture. Also disclosed is a method for producing the slats that is particularly advantageous in avoiding environmental harm, in that only small amounts of wood are used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2004
    Assignee: Nien Made Enterprise Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ming Nien
  • Patent number: 6726192
    Abstract: A power-operated hand tool has a handle portion or frame that is gripped by the operator using two hands. A clamping portion comprising a pair of opposed jaws extends outwardly from the handle portion and utilizes an air cylinder to move an upper clamping jaw toward and away from the lower fixed jaw. Both jaws have free outermost ends that cooperatively define an entry mouth into a clamping zone between the jaws. In use, a group of individual boards are laid side-by-side in edge-to-edge relationship slightly above a work surface so as to permit the lower jaw of the tool to be slipped beneath the boards while the upper jaw becomes placed above the boards, both of which extend transversely across the boards. Upon actuation of the air cylinder, the upper jaw comes down into flattening engagement with the boards, causing them to be clamped down into generally flat alignment with one another in a common plane so as to present a substantially smooth top surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Inventor: Lawrence N. Devers
  • Patent number: 6635141
    Abstract: The invention is a wane-free engineered wood product and the method of its manufacture. Lumber having wane along one or more edges is first milled to produce rectangular notches along each of the four edges. The notches are sized to remove all or most of the wane. The notched piece is then ripped lengthwise to produce two strips. These are rotated 180° and placed adjacently so that the notched edges face each other and form longitudinal channels. Strips of oriented strand board or a similar material are then affixed into the channels, preferably by gluing, reuniting then again into a unitary wane-free structural member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2003
    Assignee: Weyerhaeuser Company
    Inventors: Brian C. Horsfield, Gerald A. Ziegler
  • Patent number: 6622763
    Abstract: A bamboo venetian blind panel is made without restrictions of bamboo types.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2003
    Assignee: Dong Liang Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chin-Yu Chen
  • Patent number: 6418990
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for greatly increasing the elasticity and bendability of diffuse-porous wood and comprises the following steps: a) supplying a specimen of diffuse-porous wood; and b) isostatically pressing the specimen in a) with a pressure of at least 500 bar. The rigidity is increased once again by immersing the wood specimen in a liquid for up to 2 hours, after which the specimen is dried. This can be utilized when producing shaped products made of diffuse-porous wood.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2002
    Inventor: Ove Lindstrom
  • Patent number: 6358352
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a process whereby low-grade lumber, (i.e., lumber having surface defects such as knots, voids, wane, and bark pockets, and warp defects such as twist, bow, crook and sweep), is converted to higher grade lumber and panel products. The process of the present invention involves first categorizing low-grade lumber, arranging a specified number of the categorized low-grade lumber side by side in a manner which offsets the surface defects on adjacent lumber by a minimum distance, and then face-laminating the categorized low-grade lumber together to form a cant. Warp defects such as bow, twist and crook are also offset in the arrangement of the cant and are straightened through the clamping and bonding process. The cant is then re-sawn to produce new, laminated wood products of a higher grade, each new laminated wood product including portions of the original lumber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Assignee: Wyoming Sawmills, Inc.
    Inventor: Ernest W. Schmidt
  • Publication number: 20010040356
    Abstract: A corrugated skateboard deck and method of corrugating skateboard decks in the skateboard deck manufacturing process. The corrugated skateboard deck has elongated corrugations embossed into at least one of its top and bottom surfaces and generally extending between first and second ends of the skateboard deck. The elongated corrugations are made up of ridges and grooves which are pressure-formed in a method of corrugating the surfaces of skateboard decks. This method utilizes a high-density corrugated template to emboss corrugations under high pressures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 1999
    Publication date: November 15, 2001
    Inventor: JEFFREY MADRID
  • Patent number: 6315860
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process and a device for the manufacturing of a glued block made of triangular cross-sectioned elongated staves of wood. The staves of wood are laid beside each other with alternate staves with their base sides downwards and alternate ones with their base sides upwards, and adhesive applied between adjoining surfaces between the staves. A press (13, 14, 21-33) applies main pressure force to glue the staves firmly together is transverse to the base sides of the staves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2001
    Assignee: Primwood AB
    Inventors: Hans Holmberg, Ake Lundqvist, Dick Sandberg, Kjell Wiklund, Martin Wiklund, Rudolf Wiklund
  • Patent number: 6309501
    Abstract: A method for making a beveled laminate corner on an edge piece for laminate countertop includes making a first cut into a laminate-covered edge piece at the angle of the bevel at the front edge of the edge piece. The first cut terminates below the laminate at the top of the edge piece. A second cut is made through the laminate and into the edge piece at an angle that is normal to the first cut. The second cut intersects the first cut at its upper extremity and has a predetermined depth. A rectangularly cross-sectioned laminate-covered bevel piece, having a thickness equal to said predetermined depth, is then adhesively attached to the edge piece abutting the surfaces formed by the first and second cuts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2001
    Inventor: Basil T. Kelley
  • Patent number: 6279629
    Abstract: The subject basic method and its modifications are used to provide logs reconstituted from smaller diameter trees up to 12 inches diameter at their bases. The basic method is practiced using the following steps: 1. Cutting felled trees at cutting points into a plurality of segments which, naturally, are tapered, each segment having a length, a larger diameter end and a smaller diameter end, the length being in a range of random lengths such that the larger end diameter is in a range of 0.2 to 2.0 inches larger than the smaller end diameter, with 0.2 inch preferred; 2. selecting from the plurality of segments cut from one or more trees, a plurality of groups of segments which have smaller end diameters no more than ½ inch different; 3. joining segments from each group end-to-end to form reconstituted logs of optimum lengths for processing into wooden structural units. In one modification of the basic method, flawed portions are removed from the logs prior to cutting them into segments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2001
    Inventor: Peter Sing
  • Patent number: 6224704
    Abstract: Engineered structural wood products particularly useful in critical applications such as joists, headers, and beams where longer lengths, greater widths, and higher and predictable stress ratings may be required and to a method for making the wood products. Most logs by nature are radially anisotropic, having wood of higher density and stiffness in their outer portion adjacent the bark than is found in the inner portion. The logs are machined to segregate the denser, stiffer outer wood. A first generally rectangular component is formed from the less dense inner wood. Second generally rectangular components are formed from the stiffer outer wood. Second components are adhesively bonded to at least one edge of the first component, more usually to opposite edges. The stiffer wood is thus specifically placed where it will contribute most effectively to the properties of the product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Weyerhaeuser Company
    Inventors: Kendall H. Bassett, Alkivadis G. Dimakis, Earl D. Hasenwinkle, John W. Kerns, John S. Selby, Richard E. Wagner, Ronald C. Wilderman
  • Patent number: 6186200
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing tiles from waste wood uses round crosscut wood slices, a binder, and a filler. The slices, all generally of a thickness, are placed on the flat bottom of a die within side walls. Adhesive is applied to the slices and the die is filled with a mixture of the binder and the filler. The die contents are hot pressed to achieve the required tile thickness. The tile is ejected from the die and then maintained at room temperature for not more than 72 hours. The face side of the tile is ground and the dimensions of the tile are brought within the required tolerances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2001
    Assignee: Polymate Ltd.
    Inventors: Oleg Figovsky, Vladimir Teper
  • Patent number: 6089297
    Abstract: An apparatus for and a method of bonding veneers without problems in manufacturing process even if logs, which causes disorder of veneers after dried are used. The veneer bonding apparatus for bonding veneers to each other comprises: a bonding face machining device for machining both end portions of a veneer to be bonded to bonding faces; a bonding agent applying device for applying bonding agent to at least one bonding face of the machined bonding faces; an adjusting device for adjusting a front end bonding face of a succeeding veneer to a rear end bonding face of a preceding veneer such that a face side of the preceding veneer with the applied bonding agent and a backside of the succeeding veneer with the applied bonding agent are flush with each other; and a pressurizing device for pressurizing the adjusted bonding faces to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2000
    Assignee: Meinan Machinery Works, Inc.
    Inventors: Norio Shibagaki, Teruo Fujie, Kenichi Hiraiwa, Masanori Nagai, Kiichi Yamamoto, Matsunaga Tsuruta, Mikio Tsutsui, Katsuhito Okada, Takayuki Yamauchi
  • Patent number: 6067699
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for assembling a multi-panel door. The method includes the steps of fashioning a plurality of rails; fashioning a plurality of panels; fashioning a plurality of mullions; fashioning a plurality of stiles; and preassembling selected rails, selected panels, and selected mullions into sub-assemblies of the door. The sub-assemblies are positioned intermediate a first stile and a second stile in a pre-assembly orientation with the first stile and second stile generally coplanar with the sub-assemblies. The sub-assemblies, the first stile, and the second stile are compressively urged together in two substantially perpendicular axes to create a squared assembly with respect to the two axes. The sub-assemblies are intermediate the first stile and the second stile and are affixed to the first stile along at least a portion of the first stile, and are affixed to the second stile along at least a portion of the second stile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Assignee: Jeld-Wen, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles R. Jackson
  • Patent number: 5944938
    Abstract: The invention is a method of gluing wood using a reactive two component thermosetting adhesive such as a phenol-resorcinol-formaldehyde (PRF) condensation product. One component is first coated on one of the members to be bonded. The second component is then spread directly on top of the first in a manner to minimize mixing; e.g., by spraying. When the mating member to be bonded is placed against the adhesive coated first member and pressure is applied the components are mixed. This begins the curing reaction between the components so that a thermosetting adhesive bond is formed. With selected adhesives very rapid curing times are possible. A preferred adhesive has a first component comprising a PRF resin mixed with a methylene group donor hardener such as paraformaldehyde. The second part is also a PRF resin. No hardener is present in the second part. Instead an oxygen and nitrogen containing heterocycle is used as an accelerator. Morpholine is a preferred compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Assignee: Weyerhaeuser Company
    Inventors: Jack G. Winterowd, Gerald N. MacPherson
  • Patent number: 5934347
    Abstract: An automated system and process for managing building materials which requires a minimal amount of manual labor and supervision. The automated system and method are especially suited for precutting lumber used for building trusses and frames having predetermined specifications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1999
    Inventor: Marvin M. Phelps
  • Patent number: 5896903
    Abstract: A method of fabricating bamboo slats for bamboo blinds, including the steps of: i) cutting bamboo wood into bamboo strips subject to a predetermined length; ii) removing the skin and joints from both sides of the bamboo strips, then boiling the bamboo strips in a diluted hydrogen peroxide solution to prevent decay, and then polishing the bamboo strips after drying; iii) bonding the bamboo strips into a rectangular bamboo plate, then polishing the bamboo plate thus obtained; iv) splitting the polished bamboo plate thus obtained into raw bamboo slats subject to a predetermined thickness, then polishing the bamboo slats, and then coating the bamboo slats with a base coating and then with a face coating; v) punching two punch holes on the bamboo slats thus obtained for the insertion of a pull cord so that the finished bamboo slats thus obtained can be assembled with a pull cord into a bamboo blind.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1999
    Inventors: Feng-Yuan Chen, Ming-Chi Cheng
  • Patent number: 5881786
    Abstract: The invention is a method for producing flitches prepared from roundwood logs, a method for the manufacture of wood slices or slats from the flitches, and methods of combining the strips into composite lumber products. The methods are based in part on the concept of preparing flitches that retain the sweep or natural longitudinal curvature of the log and slicing or sawing around the sweep to prepare the slats for further conversion into composite lumber products. An opening cut is made in the log essentially following or parallel to the curve of any sweep to divide it into two approximately equal volume pieces. An opposing surfaces is machined parallel to the surface generated by the opening cut to produce a flitch. The flitches are then flattened so that the sweep curvature is made planar. They are then sliced or sawn parallel to the now planar surface to produce slats. The natural surface of the log is preferably retained on the sides of the flitches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1999
    Assignee: Weyerhaeuser Company
    Inventors: Ronald C. Wilderman, John W. Kerns, Richard E. Wagner, Alkiviadis G. Dimakis, John S. Selby
  • Patent number: 5676497
    Abstract: The invention disclosed herein is a simple but versatile sawing device for effectively and efficiently cutting or sawing hard solid materials. A driving mechanism consisting of three slidably-associated elements converts a rotational force into a dual rotatory/reciprocatory motion. A cam key may be disengaged to permit the device to be used to drill into a surface. Also disclosed is a novel cutting-rod element that is a hard metal rod with cutting teeth of a unique shape on its surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 14, 1997
    Inventor: Young S. Kim
  • Patent number: 5674338
    Abstract: The invention comprises a method for joining pieces of unseasoned or undr wood, by finger jointing or other joining technique. The wood may have a moisture content above the fibre saturation point of the wood, and as high as 50% to 100% or higher moisture content. An adhesive having a sufficiently high molecular weight or viscosity to avoid adhesive degradation or migration due to moisture in the wood during forming and curing of the joint, or which will cure to achieve such a sufficiently high molecular weight or viscosity during forming and curing of the joint is employed. Optionally a cure promotor or chemical which increases the rate of cure of the adhesive may be used. Preferred adhesives are formaldehyde based adhesives. Preferred cure promotor or chemicals are ammonia or amine compounds, organic acids including low molecular weight carboxylic acids, and Lewis or Bronsted class acids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 7, 1997
    Assignee: Her Majesty The Queen In Right Of New Zealand/Secretary of Forestry
    Inventors: Jeffery R. Parker, Jeremy B. M. Taylor, David V. Plackett, Terence D. Lomax
  • Patent number: 5607265
    Abstract: A device to change the rotation of a shaft such as in an electric hand drill to the reciprocating motion necessary to power a saw blade. The reciprocating attachment has a grooved shaft and saw blade holder connected by a bearing all of which are contained in a housing. As the grooved shaft is rotated the shape of the groove in the grooved shaft causes the saw blade holder to move in a reciprocal manner in a groove in the housing. This provides the motion necessary to use a hand drill to saw an object. Alternative versions of the device include the widening of the groove in the grooved shaft with the saw blade holder having a holder pin and an end retained in a holder groove to cause the reciprocal motion. In addition, an inclined disk may be mounted on the rotating disk shaft to engage the saw blade holder slot to cause the reciprocal motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 4, 1997
    Inventor: Michael S. Lane
  • Patent number: 5493830
    Abstract: The invention concerns a timber element and a procedure for manufacturing such a timber element. The timber element (14b) is composed of at least two heavy wooden blanks (2) fitted one upon the other and glued to each other by their substantially horizontal faces. As taught by the invention, each wooden blank (2) is provided on at least on horizontal face with a guiding recess (6; 6a, 6b) longitudinal to the wooden blank and vertical, for guiding the crackling to occur vertically.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 27, 1996
    Assignee: Honkarakenne Oy
    Inventor: Reino Saarelainen
  • Patent number: RE41347
    Abstract: This invention provides joining methods of single veneer piece and a joining apparatus, which can produce more efficient, and effective joining process than the conventional method and apparatus produce. In the process of carrying a single veneer piece (T) in the orthogonal direction against the joining edge (Te) on the conveyor, the joining edges of the preceding and succeeding single veneer pieces come close together, the adhesive material (Sd) is supplied to the clearance between the joining edges, and then the adhesion enhancing action is supplied to the said adhesive material (Sd) to join each single veneer piece (T) successively. The adhesion enhancing action can be applied within the adhesion enhancing section as indicated by lines (Z1) and (Z2), provided on the farther side from the edge approaching position (U) via an adhesion enhancing component (6) to move back and forth at any time while the single veneer piece (T) is being carried or such a motion is halted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: Meinan Machinery Works, Inc.
    Inventors: Mikio Tsutsui, Takayuki Yamauchi, Hideki Hasegawa, Sekiji Takahashi