Abstract: A method of and apparatus for assembling barge fenders which includes chain conveyors for conveying the workpiece through a series of work stations. Spaced pairs of saws are positioned to make angled cuts. Downstream of the saws drilling mechanism provide holes in the workpiece for insertion of threaded bolts which are used at the assembly station to fasten a plurality of workpieces together.

Abstract: In a semi-batch practice of the process, the logs are plasticized using hot, pressurized alkaline liquid in a closed chamber having a preceding charging chamber and a succeeding unloading chamber. The chambers are selectively flooded and emptied to facilitate operations. A ram is used at the charging end to advance the logs. Spacers are placed in opposed pairs between successive charges. The unloading trough is equipped with a sling to facilitate advancement of the conditioned logs to the lathe. Process may be program-controlled, with monitoring of processing temperature, pressure, time, pH, processing solution constituency, and heat input. Additional variables may be input to the automatic controller, such as species, ambient log temperature, length of time since log harvest, veneer end-product (e.g. thickness and whether decorative quality is needed), log weight and log diameter. The process may also be more simply conducted in batchwise fashion.

Abstract: A power back-up roll for a rotary veneer lathe comprises a drive roller for applying a rotational force to the outer periphery of a log axially mounted on the veneer lathe, a controllable drive source for driving the roller and a servo-control system for maintaining the static friction between the roller and the log. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the servocontrol system includes a first DC-generator tachometer for monitoring the peripheral speed of the log, a second DC-generator tachometer for monitoring the peripheral speed of the roller; and a feedback loop, operatively associated with the controllable drive source as well as the first and second tachometers, for matching the peripheral speed of the roller to that of the log.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for cutting wallboards, such as gypsum wallboards or rock wallboards to an appropriate size and shape, and for locating utility boxes hidden behind a panelled wall and cutting of a section of the wall at the opening of the utility boxes. The apparatus of the invention comprises a portable hand tool having an adjustable rest for adjusting the depth of cut and a built-in ruler-guide arrangement permitting to cut parallel to a side of a wallboard or permitting to cut circles in a wallboard. The hand tool may be used in combination with a separate locator and cut-out template member positioned in utility boxes mounted behind an installed wall, which provides an indication of the location of each utility box by way of a wallboard puncturing prong, for cutting out an opening in the wallboard, following appropriate guide grooves in the face of the locator and cut-out template.

Abstract: A method of reeling and unreeling a reinforced veneer sheet is provided. A veneer sheet peeled off from a log on the veneer lathe is subjected to a reinforcing step, in which an elongated cut is formed on one side of the sheet across the grain and a length of cord is embedded in it. In a reeling operation, the reinforced veneer sheet is wound onto the reel with its cut side facing radially outward. In an unreeling operation, on the other hand, the sheet is unwound from the roll with its cut side facing downward. This method prevents the embedded cord from slipping out of the engagement with the elongated cut during the reeling and unreeling operations.

Abstract: A veneer peeling apparatus having a fixed rotatable roller and a cutting knife. First and second movable rollers are positioned below the first roller. The first and second rollers are movable toward and away from the fixed roller and each other. Rotating means are connected to both ends of each of the rollers thereby rotating a log positioned between the rollers and against the knife. An automatic log feeding trough leads to a position between the fixed roller and above the first roller whereby a log automatically moves between all of the rollers when the movable rollers are retracted. The first roller includes flanges at each end limiting lateral movement of a log. The speed of rotation of the surface of the fixed roller is slower than the speed of rotation of the surfaces of the movable rollers. A plurality of space support bearings support each of the movable rollers along their lengths allowing the use of smaller rollers which can move closer to each other to move veneer.