Abstract: A machine for treating a track composed of two rails fastened to ties and rail pads interposed between the rails and ties has a machine frame supported on the track for mobility in a longitudinal direction. Mounted to the machine frame are two vertically adjustable track lifting units spaced from one another in the longitudinal direction, each being associated with a tie displacement device having a pressing element. The latter is arranged for application to a tie to be displaced with the aid of a drive adjusting the pressing element transversely to the longitudinal direction. A vertically adjustable stripping device positioned between the two track lifting units is provided for removing the rail pads situated on the displaced tie.

Abstract: A machine trims the ends of decorative molding to match the contour of the face of the molding. The machine comprises a frame that supports a die. The die has an opening therethrough with a die profile that is reversely arranged in comparison with the molding face contour. A punch with a profile that is identical to the molding face contour is reciprocated into and out of engagement with the die. In a first position, the punch is out of engagement with the die such that the end of a piece of molding can be placed between the punch and the die. The punch is actuated to reciprocate into engagement with the die and shear the molding. The punch has a three-dimensional cutting edge with a point between the punch ends. The point contacts the molding first. From the point, the punch cutting edge shears the molding progressively across the molding toward the punch ends.

Abstract: A lathe cutter and chip fan is described in which an annular frame includes a rotary portion that is driven to rotate about an axis. The rotary portion is annular, forming a workpiece receiving opening. A cutter is mounted on the rotary portion and projects into the workpiece receiving opening. The cutter rotates with the rotary portion to cut material from a workpiece positioned within the workpiece opening. A housing forms a compartment about the rotary portion and cutter, with a central housing opening substantially aligned with the workpiece receiving opening. A chip discharge openly communicates with the compartment and is situated substantially tangentially with respect to a rotational path of the cutter. A plurality of impellers are mounted to the rotary portion for rotation therewith.

Abstract: The present invention provides a dovetailing and assembly machine that forms a groove on the planar surface of a first workpiece and inserts a preformed tenon on one end of a second workpiece into the groove. In one embodiment the groove is dovetail-shaped. The present invention also provides for a method to manufacture a dovetailing and assembly machine. In one embodiment the machine comprises: (1) a frame, (2) a jig coupled to the frame and adapted to hold a first workpiece, (3) a router coupled to the frame and adapted to move relative to a planar surface on the first workpiece and to cut a groove thereon, (4) a mount coupled to the frame to hold the tenon in substantial alignment with the groove and (5) a press coupled to the frame adapted to press the tenon into the groove.

Abstract: When scarfing the end portion of a plate-like material with irregular deformations or undulations, such as distortions, undulations and warps, the undulations are successively corrected flat and the flattened end portion is scarfed by a rotary cutter to form a highly precise scarfed surface. When the end portion of the plate-like material 3 is scarfed by the rotary cutter 5, the pressing member 11 presses, while the cutting operation proceeds, at least a part of the surface of at least that portion of the plate-like material 3 which is to be cut away as a chip 17 at a position near the blades 5b of the rotary cutter 5 on a downstream side of the rotary cutter with respect to a rotary cutter movement direction, the surface of the plate-like material 3 pressed by the pressing member 11 being opposite the other surface held in contact with the cutter receiving table 7.

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 pallet notching device for notching assembled pallets including a frame having a motive force device connected to the frame for driving a pair of vertically oriented rotating drive shafts and a blade assembly removably attachable to each shaft for rotation in a horizontal plane. The device may include an feed conveyor or mechanism for automatically feeding assembled pallets through the rotating cutter heads and directing and conveying the notched pallets away from the notch cutting heads. Each rotating cutter assembly may include a plurality of blades each having a generally circular configuration and a plurality of cutting teeth mounted about the periphery of the blade. The plurality of blades are mounted on a vertical spindle and driven by a motor. The plurality of blades may be configured so that the diameter of the top several blades each have a decreasing diameter and a radiused profile. This configuration provides a rounded corner for the notch.

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 machine for shaping curved wooden molding includes an arbor mounted on a housing for receiving a cylindrical workpiece formed from four lengths of curved molding blanks, a drive for rotating the arbor, and a pivot arm carrying a blade at the top end thereof for movement towards and away from a workpiece mounted on the arbor, whereby, when the top end of the pivot arm is rotated towards the arbor, the blade engages the rapidly rotating workpiece to shape the latter.

Abstract: The invention relates to a machine tool having a gantry that is movable along an X axis and having a vertical spindle supported by the cross-member of the gantry. The cross-member comprises two beams that are spaced apart in the X axis direction and that have facing inside faces. Two carriages are mounted to slide on said facing faces, on opposite sides of a vertically movable cursor-carrier. The tool-carrier spindle is carried by a cursor mounted to slide on the bottom face of the cursor-carrier and movable along the X axis. Movements of the carriages, of the cursor-carrier and of cursor are under numerical control. The tool-carrier spindle can move in the X axis direction without it being necessary to move the gantry.

Abstract: A device for increasing the hardness and intensity of wood which comprises chuck means for holding the wood in a fixed position for processing, a compression-shaped forming die for compressing the wood being processed, an ultrasonic wave-generating device operatively connected with the compression-shaped forming die for applying sound waves to the wood, a forming mold positioned downstream of said compression-shaped forming die for receiving wood therefrom, said forming mold further compressing said wood to remove a portion of the water contained therein, and means for advancing the chuck means containing the wood being processed through the compression-shaped forming die, the ultrasonic wave-generating device and the forming mold.

Abstract: A log turning machine is described in which a support frame mounts a rotary cutter with a log receiving opening positioned to receive an elongated log workpiece that is moved relative to the support frame in a forward direction of travel along an axis. The rotary cutter is operable to cut the log workpiece to a prescribed diameter centered on the axis. A set of elongated guide members having opposed first and second ends are mounted to the support frame by sets of links for adjustable movement substantially radially with respect to the axis between a minimum and a maximum cutting diameter. The first ends of the guide members are positioned downstream of and adjacent the rotary cutter and extend substantially parallel to the axis by a distance that is a multiple of the maximum cutting diameter. Guide member positioners operatively connect at least some of the guide members and support frame to enable selective adjustment of the guide members substantially radially between the minimum and maximum diameter.

Abstract: An apparatus for scarfing edge portions of a veneer sheet to produce a joint suited for joining the veneer sheets in an edge to edge relation. A conveyor system aligns, conveys and flattens the sheet. The sheet as it is being conveyed is engaged by tapered anvils that deflect edge portions of the sheet at an angle to the plane of the flattened sheet. One anvil on one side deflects one edge portion upward and the anvil on the opposite side deflects the opposite edge portion downward. The resiliency of the sheet maintains the deflect edge portion against the anvil. The sheet is conveyed through scarfing saws which generate a bevel on each of the deflected side edges.

Abstract: A composer clipper apparatus that includes a composer for producing a composed ribbon of veneer from veneer pieces disposed edge-to-edge. A conveyor system transports the ribbon of veneer downstream from the composer. The ribbon of veneer is cut into sheets of predetermined length at a clipping station downstream from the composer. A sensor sensing a cut lead edge in the ribbon of veneer, and a coordinated tracking device, controls operation of the clipping station.

Abstract: A numerical controlled router is enclosed by a housing mounted on a support structure wherein the housing has an opening formed in front of a router head structure. Bearings are provided outside of the housing.A rotatable shaft is rotatably supported by the bearings and two suction tables are attached to the rotary shaft and the table can be inclined by rotary cylinders.

Abstract: In a centre for machining workpieces, of the type comprising a machine frame, a machining table (6) for workpieces held on pallets (7) and a device (9) for pallet changing, it is proposed that the table (6) be arranged above the pallets (7), and the workpieces or a device (8) carrying the workpiece or workpieces project(s) downwards from the pallet during machining.

Abstract: A system and method is designed to recover and recycle waste lumber wood scrap products from construction sites and process this waste scrap lumber into lengths of recycled, usable lumber. The system processes "2.times.4" and to "2.times.6" lumber scraps from one or more construction sites and processes such material into recycled construction material in the form of finger jointed "2.times.4" and "2.times.6" lumber. The method and system accepts and utilizes random lengths of different species with different moisture contents. After the construction waste wood scrap products are delivered to a recovery site, unusable wood scrap products are removed. The usable products are processed by squaring the ends and cutting out defects; and the "2.times.4" sizes are separated from the "2.times.6" sizes.

Abstract: A system for guiding a cutting tool utilizing a beam generator and a platten having a surface which is capable of presenting a pattern. The beam impinging on the platten is discernable. The beam generator is aligned with the cutting portion of the cutting tool such that the beam on the surface of the platten represents the position of the part of the cutting tool relative to a work piece. An operator may cut a pattern in the work piece by following the pattern on the platten with the beam image on the platten.

Abstract: A cutting tool having spaced elongate teeth. The tool facilitates 1) the removal of cut particles from the surface to be cut thereby enabling efficient cutting particularly of deeper holes; and, 2) the removal of the center cut out portion from the cutting tool. The tool comprises: a pilot drill bit; an anchoring disk fixed to and around a rear central portion of the drill bit; a plurality of peripherally spaced elongate teeth each having a rear end portion held in the anchoring disk, and a front end portion having a cutting edge; a sliding guide disk slidably positioned around the drill bit and in front of the anchoring disk so that the elongate teeth are radially positioned thereby; bias means to bias the sliding guide disk in a forward position; and, retention means to prevent the guide disk from sliding forwardly on the pilot drill bit beyond the cutting edges of the teeth.

Abstract: A wood chip conditioner that uses at least two closely spaced, counter-rotating rolls having a regular, wave shaped profile formed into their surfaces having a repeating pattern of peaks and valleys that radially circumscribes the roll and which are preferably the same dimension and offset from each other so that a peak on one roll is in registry with a valley on the other roll and form a nip through which oversized wood chips traverse. The chips passing through the nip are destructured by being bent and compressed by the surfaces on the rolls, which produces internal cracks along the grain of the wood without penetrating the chips. The rolls are also designed to avoid breaking or fracturing the chips, which would increase the occurrence of undesirable pins and fines. The surface of the peaks preferably also have shallow, equally-spaced grooves that extend axially. The grooves provide an edge that catches and pulls the chips into and through the nip.

Abstract: A device for finishing the corner of an impression of the profile. Corners of impressions of doors manufactured in one-piece are shaped to give the appearance of a mitered joint where a joint does not exist. By selecting the appropriate cutter, sides of the corners of differing profiles can be mitered to corresponding forty-five degree angles relative to the square of the corner.

Abstract: An apparatus for increasing the flexibility of and straightening wooden flooring strips of the type having a top surface having a decorative finish and a base surface opposed to the top surface. The base surface has a multiplicity of closely spaced-apart scores extending into the flooring strip from the base surface transverse to the length of the flooring strip along substantially the entire length of the flooring strip to relieve stress and increase flexibility in the wood strip for more closely adhering to irregularities of a sub-floor. The apparatus has an infeed zone for feeding flooring strips downstream from an upstream processing station and an outfeed zone for discharging the flooring strips to a downstream processing station. A conveyor conveys the flooring strips downstream from the infeed zone to the outfeed zone.

Abstract: A rotating log saw clamp having a clamp infeed section and a clamp outfeed section located adjacent a log saw blade. The clamp infeed section and clamp outfeed section are coupled for rotation together with the log during sawing of at least a portion of the log by the log saw blade.

Abstract: An apparatus for machining workpieces includes a feed conveyor which has an alignment station and a discharge conveyor which adjoin a machining zone. Between the feed conveyor and the discharge conveyor, there is a transport device which is disposed at one side of the machining field and which has displaceable work holders which grasp the workpieces at one of their edges. The transport device receives the workpieces at the alignment station at the end of the feed conveyor, conveys them at substantially the same level to the machining station in the machining zone, transfers them there to vacuum work holders on a work rest, and then transports them, after the machining, to the discharge conveyor.

Abstract: The saw trimmer is used for trimming lumber pieces. The saw trimmer comprises a conveyor for longitudinally moving lumber pieces across the saw trimmer. The lumber pieces are transversely disposed on the conveyor with reference to the longitudinal direction. A plurality of adjacent drop saw assemblies are located above the conveyor. Each drop saw assembly comprises a circular saw blade parallel to the longitudinal direction, a corresponding hydraulic motor and an actuated positioning system for selectively raising and lowering the saw blade. Each lumber piece is held during the trimming thereof by a retaining assembly comprising a plurality of spaced-apart and parallel elongated rails positioned above the conveyor and extending longitudinally. These rails engage the upper surface of the lumber pieces. A plurality of rolls are positioned under a corresponding rail with an upper edge emerging above the conveyor and are driven into rotation. These rolls engage the bottom surface of the lumber pieces.

Abstract: A production line for manufacturing wooden I-beams wherein a pair of grooved flanges are conveyed along opposite left and right sides of a train of web members and converged so that the web longitudinal edges are inserted into the flange grooves is disclosed. The flanges are moved along left and right hand chutes of the assembly machine with plural vertical flange drive rolls engaging the wider flange faces for improved traction. These flange drive rolls and the chutes are mounted to the machine base with a lateral adjustment mechanism permitting center justified adjusting movement relative to the machine center line. The lateral adjustment mechanism utilizes a series of lead screws each formed with left and right handed threaded portions engageable with a threaded nut attached to each chute. A pair of web bottom rails are vertically adjustable in elevation with plural vertical column screws connected between the machine base and the support rails.

Abstract: A tenonizer apparatus has a motor and a circular cutting blade assembly mounted on a pivotable platform. A radius shoulder support shaft is pivotably mounted perpendicular to the circular cutting blade. The operator pushes and rotates the log along the shafts to create the tenon. Only one tenon can be cut at a time. A minimal set up time is required to switch between tenon types. The pivotable platform allows variable length tenons to be cut. The apparatus is portable.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a machine for forming grooves of uniform configuration in a face surface of a one-piece frame such that the adjacent grooves meet at inside corners to define miter lines. This machine comprises a support means adapted to securely support a side of the frame under a predetermined angle with relation to the horizontal plane, a cutter assembly having a cutter means, a first guiding means adapted to guide the cutter means along the respective miter line in order to cut the inside corner and the miter line, and a second guiding means adapted to guide the cutter means along the side of the frame to cut a side groove portion extending between the opposite miter lines on the side of the panel. The frame is extended from the support means outwardly upwardly, and the first guiding means further comprises a stop means adapted to restrict the movement of the cutter means beyond the area designated for formation of the respective inside corner defined by the corresponding miter lines.

Abstract: The present invention provides an automatic lug loader to place blocks on each lug on a lug conveyor in a finger jointing machine. The lug loader includes a support structure with a control station and a feed table. A powered loading conveyor overlies the support structure with an infeed end disposed over the control station. The loading conveyor extends downstream to an outfeed end which is disposed over the upstream end of the lug conveyor. A powered adjuster is connected to the loading conveyor and shifts the loading conveyor toward and away from the control station to selectively grip a block. The invention also encompasses an automatic cornering apparatus to transfer blocks from a side-to-side relationship on the lug conveyor to an end-to-end arrangement on a transverse conveyor. The cornering apparatus includes a first conveyor with an upstream end and a downstream end.

Abstract: An improved wood threader that utilizes an aluminum plate as a router mounting base to which a mounting block, that may conveniently be wood, is attached, and to which interchangeable, machined, high-performance plastic threader inserts are attached with an indexing means that assures that each insert will be accurately positioned relative to a router bit or cutter.

Abstract: The present invention consists of a main frame that mounts atop a table saw. An axis shaft on a rocker assembly holds a wooden workpiece which is rotated and lowered into the circular cutting blade. Either a radius or square shoulder tenon can be cut depending on the orientation of the axis shaft.

Abstract: A drilling/cutting machine for forming joints for accommodating metal protrusions of a metal plate connector. The machine can cut one or more joints simultaneously with a drilling/cutting bit that drills and simultaneously cuts smaller and larger width slots completing the joint.

Abstract: A slide assembly for a machine tool generally consisting of a first member having at least one guide slot disposed parallel to a given line of travel, provided with at least one wall portion, a second member disposed in a predetermined spatial relation relative to the first member, having a portion thereof protruding into the guide slot, spaced from the slot wall portion and displaceable along the guide slot when the members are disposed in the predetermined spatial relation, detachable means for fastening the members together in the predetermined spatial relation relative to each other, and a structural polymer disposed in the guide slot adhesively secured to one of the protruding portion of the second member and the slot wall of the first member, and slidably engageable with the other of the protruding portion of the second member and slot wall portion of the first member, providing a guideway for one of such members relative to the other whereby upon applying the fastening means and thereby positioning the

Abstract: A method is disclosed for producing signs having raised, prismatic graphic images such as letters, numbers and other graphic images. Initial values for the graphic images are provided, and includes information defining an initial graphic representation for the graphic images, and may also include a return, which is the measure of distance by which the graphic images are raised relative to a background of a sign. A cutting tool is provided and has a radius and a cutting angle. One tool path is determined using the initial graphic representation. Tool passes and depths for the other passes are determined using the initial graphic representation, the cutting angle, and a distance which is not greater than the tool radius. A controller generates signals indicative of the tool paths and respective depths, and presents the signals to operate an automatic cutting machine and cutting tool to selectively remove material from a sheet material to produce the graphic images.

Abstract: A machining unit, typically for wood panels, features a work table afforded by a body of prismatic geometry having at least two faces and rotatable about an axis which is also its instantaneous center, in such a way as to establish at least two movable and tiltable work surfaces; the prismatic body is carried within a frame encompassing the tool and combining with the two faces to create respective independent work areas, one in which panels are fed to and from the unit, the other coinciding with a station at which machining takes place, and where the waste and chips generated by machining are cleared from the table and the work. The prismatic body also functions as the main barrier separating two work environments, the one an open external space occupied by the operator, the other an enclosure disallowing access to the operator while machining is in progress.

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 neck down cutter for notching parallel sides in a rectangular sample of corrugated material to be subjected to edge crush testing is disclosed. The cutter comprises a suction box formed with a recessed surface in the top thereof through which a motor driven cylindrical cutting element projects for rotary movement about a vertical axis. The recessed surface defines a slide path for a sample holder formed with a recessed positioning slot which receives the side edges of the sample material being cut. The sample holder is movable between a non-working position (out of cutting contact) into a working or cutting position with the cutting element. A supporting notch in the sample holder is itself initially formed via contact with the cutting element to accurately register and support the notch formed in the specimen during subsequent cutting. A method of cutting notches in rectangular corrugated test specimens is also disclosed.

Abstract: A device for making patches, especially of wood, and for patching resin galls on pieces of wood, comprising a rotatably drivable milling tool, which is rotatably driveable by means of a first driving unit and is held on a supporting frame. Also disposed on the supporting frame is a clamping device, which is rotatable about a rotational axis. A remnant of the workpiece to be patched can be clamped in this clamping device and, by means of rotation about the rotational axis, can be led past the milling tool during which the lateral surface of the remnant is milled. Afterwards the clamping device can be lifted, the remnant being again led past the milling tool, the lateral surface being milled. Afterwards the patch made in this way can be detached.

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: High powered lasers are used to score the bark on logs before they are mechanically debarked. Typical of the lasers employed are multi-kilowatt CO.sub.2 industrial lasers. A high powered laser beam is brought to a focus just above the surface of the bark on the log. A jet of compressed air is blown coaxially with the beam and facilitates the beam's formation of a narrow slot in the surface of the bark. Logs are advanced and rotated by a plurality of parallel augers extending across the base of a trough. The lasers are positioned in a gap beneath and in between sets of augers. The beam's focus may be adjustable with respect to the bark's surface.

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.