Abstract: A method and processing station for producing a veneer having two parallel opposed faces and including at least one lignocellulosic layer made of lignocellulosic fibers having a grain extending along the opposed faces of the veneer. The processing station carries out the method by applying a compressive force to the veneer along at least one direction extending along the opposed faces of the veneer so as to mechanically compress the lignocellulosic fibers.

Abstract: A deployable stowable beverage bar system that can be securely but detachably connected to the side of a pleasure craft. The beverage bar having seating on which a swimmer next to the boat can sit and have access to a bar to place a drink or food on when sitting in the seating provided. The beverage bar system can be folded up next to the boat above the water line so the boat can be moved without the beverage bar system causing undue drag on the boat while moving or act as an obstruction to navigation and easily redeployed when the boat stops at a new anchorage.

Abstract: A liquid may be aged and infused using a wooden infusion apparatus having grain oriented along a longitudinal axis of a rod. One preferred infusion apparatus comprises machining a grain oriented wooden cylinder into the shape of a spiral having a longitudinal central axis. A preferred method is disclosed for continuously machining wooden rods into spirals, and subsequently toasting them. Another infusion apparatus comprises a plurality of wooden discs connected by a longitudinal central axis in the form of a rod, the wooden discs which are toasted. The present invention allows for more control over the time required to properly age the wine and to impart the wood flavor by giving the producer more control over the amount of wood surface area that is exposed to the wine. The rate of infusion is increased substantially when the wood grain extends along the longitudinal axis of the infusion apparatus.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for converting a flitch into sheets of veneer. The method and apparatus include providing a drive mechanism which causes relative motion of a knife in contact with the flitch. The relative motion is relatively slower during one part of the cutting stroke and is relatively faster during another part of the cutting stroke.

Abstract: A lathe having first and second support walls that support pairs of vertical and elevated vertical guides, and having frames that support horizontal guides. Trunnions are mounted on the vertical guides and support a log peeling assembly. A structure supporting back-up powered rollers is mounted on the elevated vertical guides. First and second spindle assemblies are mounted on the horizontal guides for movement between a first working position where a log to be peeled is gripped and rotated, and a second working position where the log continues its rotation into a knife extending from the log peeling assembly to produce veneer. When a predetermined log diameter is reached the first and second spindle assemblies release and return to the first working position to grip another log, while the log being rotated continues to be peeled until it reaches a minimum core diameter.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for optimizing the veneer yield in veneer peeling. The contour of the log to be peeled is determined and the peeling axes at the ends of the log are determined by simulating the veneer yield. The desired veneer yield is determined at least as two veneer products having their own grades. These desired veneer products serve as basic values for the optimizing calculation. The maximum grade of the veneer yield is calculated, based on the dimensions and grades of the veneer products, as well as by iterating the places of the peeling axes and simulating the peeling process. When the peeling axes of the log ends giving the maximum grade yield have been found, the log is placed according to these peeling axes in the lathe and peeled into a veneer web to be cut with a clipper into said desired veneer products.

Abstract: A method of cutting a wood block for production of veneer by a rotary veneer lathe. The veneer lathe includes a veneer knife, a number of rotatable peripheral drive wheels placed parallel to the veneer knife and each having a number of tooth-like projections pierceable into a wood block for driving the wood block for rotation about its axis, and a guide member for guiding veneer peeled from the wood block. The cutting of the wood block is done at a first position of the peripheral drive wheels where the veneer peeled from the wood block is pierced by the projections to such an extent that substantial splits are formed in the veneer along wood grain thereof, and also at a second position where the projections provide no force to the veneer moving past the guide member that causes the substantial splits in the veneer.

Abstract: A method of cutting a wood block for production of veneer by a rotary veneer lathe. The veneer lathe includes a veneer knife, a number of rotatable peripheral drive wheels placed parallel to the veneer knife and each having a number of tooth-like projections pierceable into a wood block for driving the wood block for rotation about its axis, and a guide member for guiding veneer peeled from the wood block. The cutting of the wood block is done at a first position of the peripheral drive wheels where the veneer peeled from the wood block is pierced by the projections to such an extent that substantial splits are formed in the veneer along wood grain thereof, and also at a second position where the projections provide no force to the veneer moving past the guide member that causes the substantial splits in the veneer.

Abstract: Machine for front joining and sticking of oblong wood workpieces by toothed front joints and referential procedure consists of the flow press and entrance conveying line, and solves the problem of simple and quality front joining and sticking of workpieces, which travel through them fast and fluently in a consecutive row, irrespective of possible yet allowed curvature and dimensional deviation. This is enabled by the construction of entrance conveyors and exit conveyors of the conveying line, equipped with mechanisms for adjustment of side chain units, and with elastic couplings, whereby inside the side chain units the elastic insertions are placed, and inside pressing conveyors other elastic insertions are placed. Joints among individual entrance conveyors, among individual exit conveyors, and among conveyors are likewise elastic constructions by means of adjustable screws placed between fixed cantilevers, and between tension cantilevers.

Abstract: A method for producing a processed substantially continuous veneer ribbon is provided. The method comprises providing a plurality of debarked wood logs. A substantially continuous veneer ribbon is separated from each of said plurality of debarked wood logs. The substantially continuous veneer ribbons is conveyed to a plurality of storage locations. A system is provided for processing the substantially continuous veneer ribbons introducing a plurality of the substantially continuous veneer ribbons from the storage location to the continuous veneer ribbon process system. A processed continuous veneer ribbon is formed from the plurality of the substantially continuous veneer ribbons in the continuous veneer ribbon process system.

Abstract: A veneer dehydrating apparatus which has a pair of rotatable dehydrating roll assemblies disposed one above the other and having their axes extending parallel to each other, at least one of which is positively driven. The paired roll assemblies includes a first roll assembly having formed on the peripheral surface thereof a number of tooth-like projections extending radially outward from the peripheral surface and a second roll assembly having a steel core shaft which is clad with covering of elastic material such as urethane rubber with a predetermined thickness. The axes of the roll assemblies are a spaced radially to form a clearance or a nip between the peripheral surfaces thereof which is smaller than the thickness of the veneer sheet to be dehydrated.

Abstract: A method of providing a substrate with a decorative coating simulating the appearance of grained wood. A continuous layer comprising an aqueous medium which contains a polymeric binder and a particulate, non film-forming material is applied to an opaque surface of the substrate (the particulate material and the resulting layer both being lighter in color than the opaque surface. While the layer remains in the liquid state, a tool having a longitudinal extending face which has a convex section transverse to the longitudinal direction thereof, is drawn along the layer, the face of the tool having a series of spaced ridges along the longitudinal direction. The tool is rocked about the face as the tool is drawn along the layer, so as to discontinuously remove parts of the layer and selectively expose part of the underlying surface and to produce a decorative appearance resembling heart grains of cut timber.

Abstract: An apparatus for splitting a wood board into two separate sheets, comprising a pair of parallel drive shafts rotatable in the opposite directions, a series of toothed wheels fixed on each of the drive shafts at a predetermined spaced interval, each toothed wheel having on the circumferential periphery thereof a number of teeth incisingly engageable with the board, the toothed wheels on one of the drive shafts being disposed radially in alignment with the toothed wheels on the other drive shaft, respectively, a knife having a cutting edge positioned and directed to split the board from end to end into two separate sheets. The tip end portions of the teeth of each two radially aligned toothed wheels is formed to be positioned in an offset relation in the axial direction of the drive shafts by forming the tip end portion to have at least one surface which is bevel or oblique with respect to a plane extending radially of the toothed wheel.

Abstract: In a timber incising machine incorporating a shaft mounted rotating incisor drum, an improved incising drum comprising a shaft configured for rotation by the incising machine; a plurality of circular incisor plates, each of the incisor plates having a plurality of equally spaced incisor teeth extending radially from the radial edge of the circular incisor plates at a desired location. A plurality of incisor plates are stacked in a desired quantity and positioned to place the incisor teeth in a desired pattern and fixed together to form a plate array as a single unit. A plurality of the plate arrays are mounted on the shaft so as to form a rotatable drum having a plurality of radially extending incisor teeth positioned in a desired pattern.

Abstract: A manufacturing apparatus for a woody strand cement board, in which a woody group material and cement are combined to form a construction material. The construction material is fire resistant and has a strength comparable to a lumbered raw wood product. The apparatus includes means for finely splitting a fibrous woody material such as wood, bamboo, and reed in a direction parallel to the fiber of the material to obtain pieces of finely split material; a molding frame; and feeders, such as a forming conveyor and swing conveyor, for feeding the pieces to the molding frame to form first and second layers. Mortar is poured on the first and second layers, and pressure is applied to mold and solidify the layers to a semi-hardened state. Two feeders may provide the first and second layers in cross-wise directions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a pressure-formed bamboo sheets or bars composed of bamboo materials having a reduced variation in fiber density. A bamboo is split in the peripheral direction into a plurality of long bamboo slices, then the long bamboo slices are subjected to heat mothproofing. The heat-mothproofed bamboo slices are separated under pressure into a plurality of extra-fine bamboo slivers and are coated with resin until one complete bamboo sheet or bar is obtained.

Abstract: A veneer lathe comprising a knife (2) for peeling a log (1), which is secured rotatably to a knife stock, and a roller bar (3) disposed to press a circumferential surface of the log (1) at an upstream side, in relative to said knife (2), of a rotational direction of the log (1). The roller bar (3) has a diameter of not more than 30 mm, and is provided on the circumferential surface thereof with a large number of projections (5) whose height is not higher than the circumferential surface of the roller bar (3). The roller bar (3) is sustained in a sliding bearing (9) and adapted to receive a rotational force from a driving source. The roller bar (3) functions not only as a pressure bar but also as a power transmitting media to rotate the log (1), thereby preventing the generation of lathe check of veneer to be produced.

Abstract: There is disclosed a workhead for timber processing, the workhead having a main body and a jaw assembly for grappling timber. The jaw assembly includes first and second cooperating pairs of jaw arms that are pivotally mounted to the main body. The first of the cooperating pairs of jaw arms provides cutting blades for delimbing. The workhead further includes a feed roller assembly for translating a felled tree through the cutting blades. First and second feed rollers of the feed roller assembly are associated with the jaw arms of the second cooperating pair of arms of the jaw assembly. A third feed roller is provided on the main body for pivotal movement relative to the main body. The feed rollers also effect compression debarking of the felled tree as it is translated through the cutting blades. Each roller has projecting engaging bars which extend in a generally helical configuration along the outer surface of the roller and between its opposed terminal ends.

Abstract: The decorator's graining tool (1) is formed from a flat blank (8), which can be wrapped around and secured to itself so as to form the tool in the form of a tubular body having a plurality of teeth (2) at one end and an arcuate convex face (3) at the other end, the convex face forming the outer surface of the tubular body and having a plurality of spaced ridge formations thereon (4). The ridge formations (4) may comprise either a series of undulating ridges (5) and furrows (6), or, alternatively, smooth ridges and furrows in which the formations (4) are concentric about an intermediate point (7) of the convex face (3).

Abstract: A system (10) for processing veneer is provided. The system (10) includes a compression apparatus (12) having a first set of rollers (20) turning at a first rate and has a first clearance (96) therebetween, and a second set of rollers (22) turning at a second rate and has a second clearance (98) therebetween. The first and second roller rates are substantially equal. The system also includes a feeder (16). The feeder (16) includes a hopper (62) for holding a plurality of veneer slats (82) and a feeder mechanism for feeding the slats one at a time into the compression apparatus. The system may have a first drive mechanism (14) for turning the first (20) and second (22) rollers and a second drive mechanism for driving the feeder mechanism.

Abstract: A press machine having a frame with a central channel projecting along a length thereof. The channel slidably guides a piece of lumber along a processing path. Press wheels are mounted to longitudinal supports extending along opposite sides of the central channel. One of the longitudinal supports is pivotally mounted at one end to the frame with a corresponding press wheel rotatably mounted at an intermediate point along the support. The press wheels are oriented to rotate about parallel axes and in opposite directions with adjacent sides thereof overlapping opposite sides of the processing path. The press wheels are spaced apart from one another such that adjacent arcuate portions of each press wheel are located immediately adjacent the processing path to frictionally engage a leading end of a piece of lumber conveyed along the processing path.

Abstract: Two rolls are mounted to a frame and rotated about spaced parallel axes by electric motors operating through speed reducers. Each roll has a surface formed of uniformly spaced, circumferential extending triangular grooves and ridges defined between grooves. The ridges of one roll are closely spaced from the grooves of the other roll to define a sinuous nip therebetween. A vibrating conveyor orients wood strands and feeds the strands to the nip with the grain of the strands parallel to the roll ridges and grooves. Wood chips have low strength transverse to the direction of the grain and, thus, when forced to flex by the interdigitating ridges and grooves of the opposed rolls, split into narrower strands.

Abstract: A veneer dehydrating apparatus is disclosed which is intended to squeeze out part of water contained in green softwood veneer. The apparatus includes a pair of parallel rolls assemblies rotatable in opposite directions and disposed one above the other to be spaced apart from each other thereby to define an open nip between the circumferential peripheries thereof, and a conveyer for feeding successively sheets of green softwood veneer with the fiber orientation thereof directed along the feeding direction into said nip. One of the roll assemblies has formed on the peripheral surface thereof a number of individual projections pierceable into said veneer sheet at the nip. Each projection has a pyramidal shape with N faces, wherein N represents an integral number of four or more.

Abstract: A series of wood graining tools for producing wood grain patterns corresponding to plain sawn, quarter sawn and/or rotary cut woods, on an application surface. The plain sawn tool presents a graining pattern having a plurality of crown-shaped embossed ribs thereon. Each rib is formed by utilizing a series of rib arcs with lateral ribs extending therefrom at a preferred angle of 40.degree. to 50.degree. relative to the horizontal. The quarter sawn pattern presents a series of embossed ribs diagonally extending across the pattern and decreasing in density from one corner of the panel to the center thereof. A rotary cut pattern is presented by first and second arcuate ribs positioned so that one rib will channel the graining liquid to the other to produce a ring on the application surface during rolling movement of the tool.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for manufacturing a composite wood product from split and disrupted pieces of a raw material such as cedar, willow or bamboo. The composite may be employed as a thick plate of wood, pillar wood, beam wood and the like used for furniture, buildings, and structural objects. The composite is formed by roughly splitting and disrupting a fibrous raw material lengthwise. The roughly split and disrupted material is then finely split and disrupted, and then dried. A single layer is formed by laterally arranging and adhering the finely split and disrupted wood pieces. The single layers are then formed into a pile and heated and pressure tightened.

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.

Abstract: A plurality of intermittent incisions are made in the surface region of a fiberboard to sever fibers without removing them from said region. The resultant fiberboard may be molded under heat and pressure to a three dimensional hardboard with high fidelity to the mold and without causing stretch marks, tears or fractures. The fiberboard may be a dry consolidated mass of wet felted cellulosic fibers. The invention is particularly valuable in the molding of boards made from redwood fibers and other long fibers.The intermittent incisions may be made along one or more lines parallel to or perpendicular to the longitudinal edge of the fiberboard but a grid of incisions along intersecting lines is advantageous. To cut the incisions, the fiberboard is moved on a conveyor belt while an assemblage of toothed cutting disks is rotated in cutting engagement with the board. The cutting disks are mounted co-axially on a motor-driven shaft.

Abstract: An apparatus and method flatten a twisted veneer directly from the device which cuts the veneer from a board. In a particular implementation, the veneer is counter-twisted through a curved channel formed between two roller assemblies whose rollers are discretely disposed through a predetermined sector.

Abstract: A peripheral drive log lathe having no sliding surfaces susceptible to wear in either the log pinching apparatus or in the knife assembly. All loads are transferred to the frame members through rotary bearings. The knife assembly is self aligning to the thickness W of the veneer cut by the fixed distance W between the noseroll and the knife edge. The idler rolls are mounted on a carriage which can only move in parallel planes as determined by a three point translation scheme. A trio of ball screws and nuts provide synchronized drive to the three points. A rounding actuator controls the knife assembly until the log is rounded at which time the rounding actuator is de-energized and the becomes self aligning.

Abstract: A wood chip cracking device for use in papermaking employs closely spaced, oppositely rotating rolls which have pyramid-shaped projections on the roll surfaces. This chip destructuring apparatus is rendered readily serviceable with minimal downtime by constructing the roll surface of removable segments which are bolted to a central rotatable shaft. The segments are sized so they can be lifted by a service man. As damage to the roll surface, such as by exposure to tramp metal, is typically limited to a single segment, service and repair of the roll is expedited by permitting removal of a single damaged segment without removing the remaining undamaged segments. Each sector is bored for twelve bolts and is affixed to the central axis by twelve recessed bolts. The surface segments allow the surface to be replaced without removing the rolls from the frame of the wood chip cracking device.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for forming a reconsolidated wood product, and a partially rended natural wood bundle therefor, comprises partially rending natural wood to form a plurality of flexible open lattice work webs each of naturally interconnected wood strands which are generally aligned along a common grain direction with a substantial proportion of the strands in each web being substantially discrete but incompletely separated from each other. Each web is of increased width laterally and correspondingly decreased thickness compared to the natural wood but they may vary in dry wood densities. To avoid this the webs are compacted widthwise to substantially uniform dry wood densities and this may involve weighing the webs and measuring their moisture content. The compacted webs are then abutted width-to-width and partially rended natural wood bundles of preselected widths and dry wood densities are cut from the mat.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for forming a wood grain simulation pattern on surfaces of synthetic articles such as synthetic lumber planks. The articles are fed along a predetermined path on a conveyor surface. A plurality of cutting blades are disposed about the periphery of a rotatable cylindrical element supported on a drive shaft. As the synthetic article is fed under the rotatable cylindrical element which is in rotation, the blades which are disposed across an outer surface of the article on which a grain simulation is desired, cut a plurality of short slits spaced laterally from one another in an offset pattern. These slits extend along the feed axis of the article and simulate a wood grain in the outer surface thereof.

Abstract: Wooden boards which are deformably twisted about their longitudinal axes straightened by being passed through a path that is twisted in a direction opposite that of the boards. The degree of twist of the boards is automatically adjusted as a function of the humidity of the boards and possibly also as a function of the temperature of the boards.

Abstract: A veneer dehydrating apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus includes a pair of rolls disposed so as to form a nip between the peripheries thereof through which a green veneer sheet is passed. At least one of the rolls has on its periphery a number of tooth-like projections separated from one another by grooves formed on the roll periphery. Each projection is pierceable into a veneer sheet to squeeze out part of water contained in the veneer sheet by compression exerted thereto by the projection piercing thereinto. The toothed roll has an elastic filler member fitted round the roll so as to fill the spaces between the projection. The elastic filler member comprises an elastic portion made of, e.g., sponge rubber and a reinforcement portion made of, e.g., fabric and secured to one surface of the elastic portion and seated firmly against the radially innermost surface of the grooves.

Abstract: A new type of fuel pellet and method and apparatus for manufacturing. Pellets are cut directly from logs without requiring grinding and extruding. A veneer type lathe and rolls hold a log and the rolls incise the log surface to a depth larger than the veneer cut prior to cut off with the veneer knife so that all three dimensions of the pellet are precisely controlled as well as being clean cuts.

Abstract: For the purpose of faciliating the impregnation of wood chips, the chips are compressed between two compression devices (9) which act on the mutually opposing flat sides of the chips (2). As the chips are compressed, the chips (2) are undulated or curved in at least one direction to produce a wave shape such that when the chips are seen in section at right angles to the waves, the top and the bottom sides (15, 16) of the wave crests will both be located on one side of a central plane (19) which passes through respective chips between the bottom sides (16) of the wave crests and the top sides (17) of the wave troughs, whereas the top and bottom sides (17, 18) of the wave troughs will both be located on the other side of the central plane (19).

Abstract: A stripping element includes an elongate hold-down bar that fits between adjacent incisor rings on a rotating drum wood incisor and prevents the teeth on the incisor rings from tearing chunks of wood from the piece of lumber as the teeth pull out after having made perforations. The hold-down bar has a planar lower surface which is parallel or slightly angled from the surface of the piece of lumber and is slightly separated from this surface. The apparatus includes a mounting structure that permits changing the distance between the lower surface of the hold-down bar and the surface of the piece of lumber. The stripping element also includes a cleaning pick which removes any wood chunks that become lodged between the incisor rings.

Abstract: A method of conditioning a fiberboard mat having upper and lower surfaces for molding it into a three dimensional object by making a first series of internally directed discontinuous incisions in the fiberboard mat upper and lower surfaces; making a second series of internally directed discontinuous incisions in areas of the fiber board mat upper and lower surfaces which contain the first series of incisions; and, desirably, with incisions of the second series being angled with respect to incisions of the first series.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for spreading and refining natural wood (13) which has been crushed in a pair of crushing rollers, to form a flexible open lattice work web (14) of naturally interconnected wood strands which are generally aligned along a common grain direction and a substantial proportion of which are substantially discrete but incompletely separated from each other. The spreading and refining is performed by passing the crushed carcass (14) through at least two roller pairs (30) which have spaced corrugated rollers (32) with the maximum spacing between the corrugations of the opposed spaced corrugated rollers decreasing in the roller pairs with increasing distance from the crushing rollers. At least one roller (32) of each spaced corrugated roller pair is axially reciprocated. Between said at least two spaced corrugated roller pairs (30) is a pair (66) of intermeshing corrugated rollers (70, 74).

Abstract: Apparatus for cutting discontinuous incisions into opposing surfaces of a fiberboard mat to condition it for molding into three dimensional panels, i.e. door panels, comprising a first pair of horizontal rollers comprising an upper roller and a lower roller with a gap between the two rollers; a second pair of horizontal rollers comprising an upper roller and a lower roller with a gap between the two rollers; the gaps defining a horizontal path along which a fiberboard can travel; each of the rollers having a multitude of sharp cutter blades capable of making discontinuous incisions in the adjoining surface of a fiberboard mat.

Abstract: The veneer tenderizer includes upper and lower tenderizer rollers (12, 14) with the veneer sheet (10) being fed with the grain oriented parallel with the rollers (12, 14). Each roller (12, 14) comprises a plurality of successive, set-apart cutter blades (16) with each blade having a plurality of cutter teeth (18) evenly spaced around the periphery thereof. The cutter blades (16) on each roller are arranged such that the cutter teeth (18) on each successive cutter blade (16) are angularly offset relative to the cutter teeth or adjacent cutter blades. The rollers (12, 14) are positioned such that the cutter blades (16) mounted on the lower roller (14) are interleaved with the cutter blades (16) on the upper roller (12).

Abstract: Boards that have been separated by a chipless cutting method using an inced blade, are twisted and, in most instances, this twist has to be corrected before boards that have been produced in this manner can be used. An apparatus in which a plurality of pairs of rollers are arranged in tandem withing a main frame is used to do this. Each pair of rollers can be pivotted about the longitudinal axis of the main frame relative to the proceding pair. This forms a board guide channel that extends in the longitudinal direction of the main frame and which is twisted approximately about the longitudinal axis of the main frame. The boards that are to be straightened pass through the board guide channel and are permanently deformed, which compensates for the twist that originally existed in the board.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for breaking corners of wood members prior to the plastic coating of the same is disclosed. In accordance with the method, the wood members such as fence rails and posts are forced between a system comprising four spring mounted rollers, each of which forcibly engages one corner of the wood member and crushes the same in the desired profile. The rollers may be shaped to provide a radius type profile or other desired profile, or alternatively, may be substantially flat to break the 90 degree corner into two more gentle 45 degree corners. In general, the amount of the crushing is controlled by the spring pressure forcing the rollers into the corners, and is relatively self controlling because of the increase in the width of the crushed area as the amount of crushing increases.

Abstract: Apparatus for removing bark from logs, particularly from logs of stringy-bark eucalyts and other rough-barked tree species, and for crushing logs, consists of a plurality of pairs of concave rollers which are mounted in spaced-apart relationship along the linear passage of the log through the apparatus. Each pair of concave rollers applies pressure to regions of the log to loosen the bark from the body of the log. Knives may be included on the concave surfaces of some or all of the rollers to cut the loosened bark.

Abstract: An apparatus for applying perforations to wood surfaces is disclosed. The apparatus includes a drum having interspaced incisor rings mounted thereto and a plurality of cleaning members for removing wood residues from the incisor ring teeth. Each cleaning member projects into a space between adjacent incisor rings and is irrotatably secured to the mounting platform of the apparatus. The rotation of the incisor rings relative to the fixed positioning of the cleaning members brings the side surfaces of the teeth into progressive engagement with the adjoining side surfaces of cleaning members creating a scissor action across the teeth surfaces which effectively removes wood residues from the teeth. The apparatus provides for the removal of wood residue away from the spacer rings located in the space between adjacent incisor rings using cleaning members having tapered projections for directing such residue into pockets defined therein.

Abstract: A device is disclosed which is adapted to tenderize wood veneer sheet by feeding such sheet into the nip between a pair of rotating rolls at least one of which rolls has on the periphery thereof a number of projections arranged to incise the sheet for forming therein checks along the direction of grain orientation of the wood veneer sheet. Each projection on the roll has a pointed distal tip end and a proximal broad base, and at least the portion of the projection adjacent the distal tip end thereof is of a pyramidal shape having a vertex corresponding to said distal tip end and N sides, wherein N stands for an even number of more than two, with said sides intersecting to define edges of said pyramidal shape between any two adjoining such sides.

Abstract: A multihead incisor for incising at least two sides of lumber or timber and in one pass produces a higher incision density than can be achieved without two or more passes on existing single roll incisors. The incisor comprises at least two sets of incisor rolls, each set having two or more rolls spaced apart in one plane representing a side of a piece of lumber or timber moving in the one plane, a first incisor roll in each set having incising teeth positioned to make a pattern of incisions in the one plane, a second incisor roll in each set, downstream of the first incisor roll, positioned to make a second pattern of incisions over the first pattern of incisions in the one plane, and a system to synchronize rotation of the first and second incisor rolls in each set to ensure combination of the first and second patterns of incisions is to a predetermined final pattern of closely spaced apart incisions on at least two sides of a piece of lumber or timber.

Abstract: Apparatus for tenderizing veneer sheets which comprises a pair of rotatable press means each having, on their surfaces, a plurality of projections having tops for pressing a veneer sheet to be tenderized. The projection tops of one of the press means and those of the other press means intersect each other at certain angles when opposed to each other during rotation thereof, and press against the veneer sheet from opposite sides when the sheet is passed between the press means, so as to produce small cracks in the sheet.

Abstract: A wood incising roller where the teeth are formed by grooves in the roller surface and where some of such grooves cross others. Each cutting tooth has a knife-like cutting edge of finite length that is in one instance perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the roller and in another instance parallel to such axis. The grooves can be formed by machine cutting, either turning or grinding or by being molded in the surface and then shaped by a grinding operation. At least some grooves preferrably spiral about the roller. The pattern of cutting teeth and shape are determined by such variable parameters as pitch, number of thread starts, angle of cutter, depth of cut and lead angle. An incisor for lumber or veneer consists of two rollers at least one of which is as described in the forgoing. The grooves can be filled or partially filled with an elastic compressible material. The incising roller of the foregoing also is used in combination with a veneer lathe.

Abstract: A veneer processing apparatus squeezes water out of a crude veneer when the veneer is inserted into the apparatus in such an orientation that fibers thereof extending substantially parallel to an intended direction of veneer insertion, and forms short splits in the veneer when the veneer is oriented such that the fibers extend substantially perpendicular to that direction. A pair of rolls each being provided with teeth thereon are so located as to cause their teeth to become aligned with each other at a predetermined position for veneer insertion. Each teeth is indented to have alternating projections and recesses. In the position for veneer insertion, the projections of the teeth on one roll are substantially interlocked with the recesses of the teeth on the other roll or are spaced from the projections of the teeth on the latter roll by an amount which is smaller than the thickness of the veneer. The recesses are filled with sponge or like elastic material.