Abstract: A prismatic wood compression molding method capable of easily producing long-sized lumber usable as pillars or like by compression molding. The method is characterized by comparing the steps of: using a plurality of rigid plate-like bodies such as metal plates to compress an outer face of wood throughout length thereof to compression-mold it into prismatic wood which is polygonal, such as rectangular or hexagonal, in cross section; restraining the plate-like bodies by a restraining jig so as to hold flat surfaces of the prismatic wood in a state in which they are compressed by the plate-like bodies; and applying a heat treatment to the prismatic wood held in the compressed state by the plate-like bodies and the jig so as to permanently fix the shape of the prismatic wood.

Abstract: Floor covering, consisting of floor panels (1) based on a fiber-like material bound by a binding agent, more particularly MDF or HDF, which, at least at their edges, are connected to each other by means of a connection, more particularly a tongue-and-groove connection (2-3) which connection consists of coupling parts which are made in one piece with the floor panels and is shaped in such a manner that the floor panels (1) are locked glue-free in the direction parallel to the plane of the floor covering and transverse to the connection, as well as in a direction perpendicular to this plane, characterized in that, at least at the location where the floor panels (1) cooperate with each other, a sliding agent (12-12A) is provided at least on one of the floor panels (1).

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.

Abstract: Wood such as spruce, maple, and hornbeam are retained in high pressure steam of pressure 0.2 to 1.6 MPa at 120 to 200° C. for 1 to 60 minutes, and subsequently, cooled and dried to obtain a modified wood having superior acoustic properties and old wood-like appearance due to a change to a deep color tone. Since the conventional modification methods by chemical treatment using chemicals such as resorcin and formaldehyde are not used, the treatment steps are simple and a modified wood used as a material for musical instruments is obtained at low cost.

Abstract: Methods for oxidizing organic compounds using hydroxyl radicals formed through redox cycling chelator-mediated Fenton chemistry are disclosed. The methods include generating a reactive oxygen species by contacting a redox cycling chelator with an oxygen containing oxidant and a transition metal species. By contacting the resulting reactive oxygen species with an organic compound, the organic compound is oxidized. The preferred transition metal species is a cationic transition metal, such as iron or copper. The disclosed methods may be used to degrade organic waste compounds and dyes, activate lignocellulosic materials for bonding and produce adhesive formulations.

Abstract: The object of the invention is to provide a process for producing a woody composite material having strength endurable for use as a structural material, even when using short woody chips of 15 cm or less in length.

Abstract: A method for increasing the permeability of wood which comprises subjecting wood with a moisture content (based on dry weight) of at least 15% to microwave radiation at a frequency (f) in the range of from about 0.1 to about 24 GHz with a power intensity (p) from about 10 W/cm2 to about 100 kW/cm2 for a duration of from about 0.05 to about 600 seconds to cause water in the wood to vaporise resulting in an internal pressure in the wood such that the permeability of the wood is increased by partial or complete destruction of ray cell tissue, softening and displacement of wood resin, formation of pathways in the radial direction of the wood and/or by creating, on the base of destroyed rays, cavities in the wood, said cavities being primarily in radial-longitudinal planes of the wood, and wherein the overall integrity of the wood is substantially maintained. A wood-based material may be formed having a permeability which is at least 5 times that of the untreated wood.

Abstract: Wood such as spruce, maple, and hornbeam are retained in high pressure steam of pressure 0.2 to 1.6 MPa at 120 to 200° C. for 1 to 60 minutes, and subsequently, cooled and dried to obtain a modified wood having superior acoustic properties and old wood-like appearance due to a change to a deep color tone. Since the conventional modification methods by chemical treatment using chemicals such as resorcin and formaldehyde are not used, the treatment steps are simple and a modified wood used as a material for musical instruments is obtained at low cost.

Abstract: A method for making wood with heartwood has steps of forming a wood log with a heartwood from a tree, pressure treatment to the wood log with the heartwood, drying the wood log and forming the wood log to a desired shape. The pressure treatment process is to apply a desired pressure to the wood log to reduce a moisture content of the wood log with the heartwood to an even level. This can avoid the wood log with the heartwood to split, crack or deform during the drying process. The utilization of a tree can be increased, and the process for gain a wood material is simplified.

Abstract: A method for fabricating bamboo blind slats is disclosed. The steps include splitting a selected bamboo stem into several bamboo strips, removing the skins and joints from the bamboo strips before being disinfected and dried and then trimming them to fine bamboo strips. Further at least two bamboo strips are indented to joint with the corresponding ends, and then is trimmed to a fine jointed bamboo strip. A bamboo plate is obtained by joining fine jointed bamboo strips and/or the fine bamboo strips together in conjunction with a pneumatic press, and then is trimmed and polished. After slicing the bamboo plate into several bamboo slats, the bamboo slats need to be polished before covering a base coating, polished again before covering a face coating. Finally the bamboo slats are punched with two cord holes to be used for making a Venetian blind.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method and an apparatus for defrosting frozen wood prior to debarking. The defrosting method of logs of the invention is based on bringing heat zone-specifically to logs in transfer motion on a conveyor according to their heat receiving capacity immediately from the moment of starting of the defrosting, and at the end of the defrosting process, the heat volume per time unit, supplied at a higher temperature, is only a part of the heat volume of the starting phase of the defrosting process. For instance, it is possible to spray water on the wood to be defrosted so that the row interval of the showers in the initial part of the piping is a fraction of the row Interval in the tail end of the piping. In the tall end of the defrosting conveyor steam can also be supplied.

Abstract: A veneer lathe knife assembly includes a lower portion supporting a veneer cutting knife, and a upper portion supporting a backing nose bar. The upper portion includes adjustment screws, for example, for adjusting a position of the nose bar in the upper portion of the assembly. To perform a fine adjustment of the knife gap formed between the cutting knife and the nose bar, the adjustment screws are individually temperature controlled to compensate for a thermal expansion of the adjustment screws, thus maintaining the knife gap along the length of the knife assembly.

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.

Abstract: A process for producing a colored wood product, comprising the steps of grinding wood in a mill until a wood compact is formed, sieving the wood compact, spraying the sieved wood compact with an aqueous solution of colorant, immersing the wood compact in a bath of aqueous solution of colorant while simultaneously moving the wood compact with a multiplicity of counterrotating augers, and then removing the wood compact from said bath. The mill preferably contains a rotor with several cutters disposed about its periphery.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of gluing veneers to form LVL and plywood boards from veneers laid one over the other in several layers by curing the adhesive placed between the single layers in a heated press. The invention consists in the fact that the gluing and pressing of the outer layers of a veneer pack to form LVL and plywood boards is performed by high-temperature adhesive and the inner layers by low-temperature adhesive, so that the amount of heat to be put into the veneer pack decreases from the outside in.

Abstract: The invention is based on the discovery that the wood of certain trees having genetically modified lignins has plastic properties far greater than that of trees of the general population of the same species. In particular, trees have been found to have significantly increased plasticity in which the lignin is of a less crosslinked or more linear type, of lower molecular weight, of a relatively higher content of lignin precursor monomers or oligomers, or is more readily extractable by the usual methods. Wood from these trees can be readily molded by pressure and heat into two or three dimensional articles. The ability to be molded can be significantly enhanced by the addition of plasticizers.

Abstract: A method for making a wooden blind slat includes a first step of cutting a tree trunk of a length into a plurality of rectangular slices, which are properly smoothed by a dressing tool before they are randomly joined together by an adhesive to form a rectangular board. The rectangular board is sliced in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal surfaces of the rectangular slices into a plurality of wooden blind slats, which are smoothed again before being covered with a coat. The coated blind slats are finally dried by baking.

Abstract: A process for producing a colored wood product, comprising the steps of grinding wood in a mill until a wood compact is formed, sieving the wood compact, spraying the sieved wood compact with an aqueous solution of colorant, immersing the wood compact in a bath of aqueous solution of colorant while simultaneously moving the wood compact with a multiplicity of counterrotating augers, and then removing the wood compact from said bath.

Abstract: A hydrostatic compression method for producing a fancy log with a decorative and complicated external appearance from a primary wood. In the method, a primary wood having a water content adjusted in the range of 10-80 wt % is brought into a softened state, then the softened wood is compressed with hydrostatic pressure by means of liquid as pressurizing medium. Next, the compressed wood is treated with a fixation means to fix the compressed state. The fixation means can be a shaping jig, a mold, heating in a particular temperature range conducted while constraining the volume relation of compressed wood, cooling down below the softening point of the wood while under pressure, compact-packing together with hard particles into a vessel followed by heating, or a primary wood is chemically treated to form a localized wood-plastics composite before applying hydrostatic compression.

Abstract: A method of impregnating wood with liquid puts the wood in a pressure vessel, immerses the wood in the liquid contained in the pressure vessel, pressurizes the liquid to compress the wood while keeping the temperature of the wood at or above the softening point of the wood, and reduces pressure in the pressure vessel so that the wood may cause volume relaxation in the liquid and be impregnated with the liquid.

Abstract: A method for treating wood sheets in which individual sheets coming out of a dryer are sent to a continuous press to have them pass from a first temperature to a second temperature lower than the first while holding them under pressure in the passage. In accordance with this method the wood sheet treatment plant comprises a dryer (12,112) at the outlet of which there is a continuous press (13,113) with pressing tables (17,116,117) with controlled temperature to have the individual wood sheets pass from the first temperature to the second temperature while being kept under pressure during the passage.

Abstract: A router guide apparatus for use in forming rosette designs in a work piece includes a frame having a work surface with a wheel rotatably mounted upon the work surface. The wheel has a plurality of position stops. The rosette design can be formed in a synthetic material (eg. Corian®) and filled with a filler or glue or settable material of a different color to form an inlaid design. The frame includes an adjustable guide for holding and a tracking a router with a cutting blade. The frame includes stops for limiting movement of the router during use. The guide and stops are configured to enable the cutting blade to cut two petals of a rosette design in a single pass. Inserts (fence blocks and/or router filler blocks) can be added to vary the position tracked by the router. The wheel is affixable into multiple angular positions relative to the guide so that multiple cuts can be made at different angular orientations relative to one another.

Abstract: A method is designed for making bamboo blind slats. The method comprises an initial step in which a selected bamboo stem is split into a plurality of bamboo strips, which are then skinned and disinfected with a sulfur fume for over 12 hours. The disinfected bamboo strips are dried by baking before they are provided with a layer of adhesive. The coated bamboo strips are joined together in conjunction with a pneumatic press to form a rectangular bamboo plate, which is subsequently sliced into a plurality of bamboo slats, with each having a width and a thickness. The bamboo slats are smoothed by grinding and are then covered with a base coating and a face coating which is applied on the base coating. The twice-coated bamboo slats are punched so as to enable them to accommodate the pull cords of a Venetian blind comprising the bamboo slats which are made by the method of the present invention.

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.

Abstract: A method for treatment of one or more wood elements by pressurization comprises the steps embedding the wood elements into a pressure medium, of increasing the pressure in the pressure medium, whereby the wood element is compressed by transmitting the pressure via the pressure medium to the wood elements, and of reducing the pressure in the pressure medium, whereby the wood element is relieved. During the treatment, liquid present in the wood elements is driven out therefrom. The pressure medium comprises a plurality of solid bodies with intermediate spaces. The solid bodies transmit the pressure to the wood elements such that a pressure difference arises between the wood elements and said spaces, which pressure difference drives out the liquid. During the relief phase, the wood elements substantially resume their original shape. The method can also be used for introducing impregnating liquid into the wood elements after the liquid expulsion.

Abstract: Application of vibration and/or compression to kiln-dried wood increases the retention and penetration of preservatives in the wood.

Abstract: The present invention is concerned with a method for obtaining a wood panel, preferably an OSB panel, with significantly reduced thickness swelling properties when exposed to or contacted with moisture or water. The novel dimensionally stable panels are obtained by an alternate vacuum--steam injection method. The method is an after-fabrication, or post-treatment method, and involves one or more cycles of applying a vacuum followed by injection of hot steam in a sealed treatment chamber.

Abstract: A method is used to make bamboo slats which are intended for use in making a blind. The method comprises a first step in which a bamboo stem is split into a plurality strips. The bamboo strips are barked, polished, and bleached before they are adhered side by side to form a base plate. A plurality of base plates are adhered in a stack to form a rectangular bamboo block having bamboo fibers which are arranged in an interlacing manner. The bamboo block is sliced into a plurality of bamboo slat, with each having bamboo fibers which are arranged in the interlacing manner.

Abstract: A lumber production machine and method for processing lumber uses a pressure vessel that can accommodate untreated lumber and an injection pipe disposed in the pressure vessel that is capable of injecting saturated steam into the pressure vessel. A pressure gauge is operatively coupled to pressure vessel to determine the pressure inside the pressure vessel. There is a mechanism for setting a minimum and maximum pressure inside the pressure vessel. Solenoid valves control injection of saturated steam from the injection pipe into the interior of the pressure vessel. A controller opens the solenoid valves when the minimum pressure is reached and closes the solenoid valve when the maximum pressure is reached. The method includes pressurizing and heating the lumber products with saturated steam by varying the pressure to achieve a uniform temperature inside the lumber.

Abstract: A method for bending a sheet of wood with a plastic laminate applied to its outside face to form a rounded corner on the sheet includes first making a cut across the sheet which is configured to completely wrap around a dowel when the sheet is bent to the desired angle. The laminate is heated prior to bending if heating is required to make it bendable. Adhesive is applied to the dowel, and the dowel is placed on the cutout. The sheet is then bent around the dowel and is held in place until the adhesive has cured and the laminate cooled down. An apparatus attaches to both portions of the sheet and causes it to be bent around the dowel without causing the laminate to stretch or contract.

Abstract: A method for dimensional stabilization treatment is disclosed which enables externally supplied high pressure steam to permeate well into interior of wood or wood composite, and which is thereby capable of constantly imparting high dimensional stability to the wood or wood composite. In the method, wood or wood composite W to be treated is held in a sealed space between two press platens 1a, 1b, and the sealed space is evacuated to establish reduced pressure therein, and thereupon, high pressure steam is supplied to the sealed space. The evacuation may be continued in parallel with the high pressure steam supply.

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.

Abstract: A device for pressure treatment of wood elements comprises a pressure chamber for accommodating the wood elements which are to be treated. The pressure chamber also accommodates a pressure medium which surrounds the wood elements on more than one side and, at least before the pressurization, a secondary medium in the form of a fluid. When the pressure medium is pressurized, the wood elements are subjected to a multilateral pressure, whereby they are permanently compressed. Furthermore, the pressure chamber is provided with elements for controlling the quantity of secondary medium which penetrates into the wood during the treatment. These elements may include evacuating valves or casings which surround the wood elements and which are impenetrable to the secondary medium.

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 method of fabricating bamboo slats into bamboo blinds, wherein bamboo wood is cut into bamboo strips of predetermined length. The bamboo strips are polished, then boiled in a hydrogen peroxide solution for bleaching the strips. The bamboo strips are then spliced into raw bamboo slats of a predetermined thickness. Next, the bamboo slats are subjected to grinding. Subsequently the bamboo slats are primed, and then molded by heat pressing. Holes are then punched in the bamboo slats for insertion of a pull cord, so that the finished bamboo slats can be assembled into a Venetian blind.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a high strength lumber obtained by artificially compressing a volume of grown natural wood without any destruction of wood tissue, and which is made such that a pine tree is lumbered and exposed to a microwave whereby moisture content is forcibly discharged and cellulose is softened and thereby volume is constricted up to more than 70% by a hydraulic press during a latent heat is still present, so that a high strength lumber is obtained without any destruction of lumber tissue and due to this, a strength and hardness are improved about 30 times of original wood and a tensile strength is increased about up to 10 times of original wood.

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.

Abstract: A method for producing hard elements from wood provides that at least one wood piece is inserted into a press together with a liquid absorbing material after which an isostatic pressure higher than 800 bar is applied on the wood piece and the liquid absorbing material, the pressure is released and the resulting hard element and the liquid absorbing material, which during the press operation has taken up liquid pressed out from the wood piece, are picked out from the press.

Abstract: A tubular cover or metal support members has been provided in which the tubular cover member is made of multiple layers of material such as wood veneer and in which all of the layers are severed to form a slit to extend longitudinally of the tube and in which a hinge point is formed diametrically opposite to the slit by severing all except the outer layer of material. In one embodiment, the hinge is reinforced with a sheet of inorganic material. Applying the tube to the support member entails opening the cover to place it on the support member and fastening the opposite edges of the slit to each other to make a permanent enclosure for the support member.

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.

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.

Abstract: A method of processing lignocellulosic material comprises the steps of (a) generating a pulsed laser beam consisting of a train of laser pulses, each laser pulse having a duration less than 1.times.10.sup.-9 sec. and a peak intensity of at least 1.times.10.sup.11 w/cm.sup.2 ; and (b) directing the laser beam generated in step (a) onto a surface of the lignocellulosic material to cause ionization and fragmentation of macro-molecules thereof. The method of the invention enables one to cut, carve and/or sand the surface of lignocellulosic material without, burning same or damaging the cells of the lignocellulosic material.

Abstract: Chain saw guide bar and method of using a guide bar for spraying liquid on a sawn surface through a plurality of orifices formed in a guide bar side plate. The liquid is introduced into an inlet portion of a passage formed in a center plate of the guide bar and is conducted forwardly to the orifices. The liquid is sprayed from the orifices at equal pressures, and in spray directions having a component oriented parallel to a centerline of the guide bar. Thus, by adjusting the velocity of the sprayed liquid, the length dimension of the area sprayed can be adjusted.

Abstract: The ends of a plurality of stacked lumber pieces are embossed with an apparatus that includes an embossing plate having a vertical, planar embossing surface with three-dimensional indicia thereon; a press plate spaced from the embossing plate, the press plate including a plurality of adjacent press plate segments, each having a lumber contact surface facing the embossing surface, each of the contact surfaces being movable between a retracted position and an extended position toward the embossing plate; a lumber support for supporting a plurality of stacked, parallel lumber pieces with first and second opposed ends between the plates with the first end of the lumber pieces being toward the embossing plate and the second end of the lumber pieces being toward the press plate; drive means attached to the press plate segments to independently move the plate segments between retracted and extended positions; and a controller operatively associated with the drive means to actuate the drive means in a predetermined s

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method of producing a wooden package or container from an elongated piece of wood, e.g., a precut alder or birch piece (block). The invention is implemented by separating at least one essentially cylindrical, hollow blank (1) with the help of axial boring longitudinally from inside said block of wood, drying the blank and working its outer and inner surfaces by conventional wood-working techniques such as milling and turning to mutually concentric cylindrical surfaces of desired diameters, finishing said surfaces to desired smoothness by, e.g., sanding, and attaching to the cylindrical envelope piece thus obtained a bottom piece (2), and when required, also cover (3).

Abstract: Method and apparatus for providing control or elimination of non-microbial enzymatic staining in lumber sapwood. Stain resistant lumber obtained by application of mechanical force.

Abstract: The invention is related to a method and apparatus for compressive shape-drying of wood (1). In the first phase of the method, green wood is compressed to a desired shape simultaneously heating the wood. According to the invention, during the first phase the wood (1) is compressed against gas-permeable surfaces (3, 4) rapidly to a desired and thickness. during the second phase of the compression process, the compression pressure is lowered to a level causing a thickness reduction equal to or greater than the thickness reduction caused by the drying of the wood, and the internal temperature of the wood is lowered with the progress of the compression process.

Abstract: A method of producing hard wooden elements by compressing wooden blanks at an isostatic pressure greater than 800 bars, preferably greater than 1000 bars.

Abstract: A hockey stick curving apparatus which includes a rail having a first end, a second end, and an exterior surface. A movable pressure member support frame is mounted to the exterior surface of the rail and movable between the first end and the second end. A pressure member is mounted to the pressure member support frame and movable in a first direction toward the rail and in a second direction away from the rail. A pair of supports are secured to the rail in spaced relation. One of the pair of supports is on one side of the pressure member support frame and the other one of the pair of supports is on an other side of the pressure member support frame.

Abstract: The object of the invention is a colour-marking arrangement in the cutting flange of timber harvester. The arrangement includes a flange (1) with a carrier (6, 7), an adapted pipework (4), a series of channels (12) formed to the carrier (6, 7) and connected to the pipework (4), which ends opposite to the connector connections (11). The pipework (4) is formed from a separate component (4, 9, 10) from the flange (1), and is adapted to be set into the flange (1) in a space (3) reserved for it in the same way as the flange (1) is set into the carrier (6, 7) by means of a longitudinal movement.