US3242025A - Method of connecting together a plurality of wood veneer pieces - Google Patents

Description

D. N. COPP March 22, 1966 METHOD OF CONNECTING TOGETHER A PLURALITY OF WOOD VENEER PIECES Filed Feb. 13, 1963 FIG. I

t 5/ l 25 5a! INVENTOK DAN/EL N. GOPP BY WW1? zr United States Patent 3,202,025 METHOD OF CONNECTENG TUGETHER A PLU- RALITY 0F WOOD VENEER PHECES Daniel N. Copp, Memphis, Tenn, assignor to Wilco Machine Works, inc, Memphis, Tenn. Fiied Feb. 13, 1963, Ser. No. 258,282 6 Claims. (Cl. 156-444) This invention relates to an improved means and method for the processing of veneer.

Heretofore, in the usual method of the processing of veneer coming from either a rotary lathe or slicing machine, there was a great deal of manual labor necessary, particularly during the initial phases of the operation, i.e., during the roundup, when, due to the out of round ness of the log, part pieces or pieces of roundup come from the machine. Some attempts have been made to overcome this problem by stitching the pieces of roundup, but this has not been completely satisfactory. Also, in the previous methods of processing veneer, it was necessary to clip the veneer twice, once before the drying of the veneer and again after drying.

The prevent invention is directed towards overcoming the above mentioned and other disadvantages in the processing of veneer.

Thus, one of the objects of the present invention is to provide a means and method for causing the part pieces of roundup to be held together so that they can be handled as a continuous sheet of veneer.

A further object is to provide a means and method for strengthening a sheet of veneer for the handling thereof.

A further object is to provide means for ameliorating the tendency of the veneer to split along the grain and, in some cases, eliminating such splits.

A further object is to provide a means and method for greatly saving on labor and material during the processing of veneer.

A further object is to provide a unique arrangement in a machine for processing veneer including means for first applying heat to the opposite side edges of the veneer to establish dried or heated areas of the veneer and means for next applying adhesive on the heated areas to establish bands of adhesive holding the pieces of veneer together.

A further object is to provide such a machine including means for applying tapes over the bands of adhesive to further strengthen the sheet of veneer.

A further object is generally to improve the means and method for processing veneer.

The means by which the foregoing and other objects of the present invention are accomplished and the manner of their accomplishment will be readily understood from the following specification upon reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the preferred form of the processing of the veneer in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the same.

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 1 of a modified form of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic view of an alternate form of the heating means in the machine of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic view of another alternate form of the heating means in the machine of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary and diagrammatic view showing fibers in the adhesive which may be used in the machine and method of the present invention.

Referring now to the drawings in which the various parts are indicated by reference characters, and referring first to the preferred embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 3,242fi2 Patented Mar. 22, 1Q66 2, the machine 11 of the present invention is located adjacent the output of a veneer producing machine 13 of usual construction, which is of any suitable type such as the rotary type shown, or may be of other types such as the slicer type, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. In the veneer producing machine 13 shown, the usual rotatably driven spindles 15 are used for chucking the block or log shown as at L so that the log is rotated about its horizontal axis in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 1. In machine 13, the usual transversely extending knife 17, which is supported by suitable means as the support bar 19, is moved into contact with the log L to cut the log into sheets of veneer V in the usual manner. Also, in machine 13, the usual spur knives 21, which are supported by suitable means as the support member 23, are provided for trimming the opposite edges of the veneer V so that a constant length of the veneer, shown as at dimension A, will be maintained. Inthe drawings, the parts of the veneer shown as at T are the parts which have been trimmed from the opposite edges of the veneer V by the spur knives 21, as above described.

Machine 11 includes means, such as a conveyor 25,

for conveying the veneer V that comes from machine 13 past work areas on machine 11. Conveyor 25 is of any suitable construction, as spaced apart horizontal rollers 27, 29, rotatably driven by suitable means, not shown; and an endless conveyor belt 31 movably carried by the rollers so that the top portion 33 of the belt moves away from the machine 13, or to the right as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 2. Conveyor belt 31 carries the veneer successively past a first pair of stations or work areas 35 and then past a second pair of stations or Work areas 37. The pairs of work areas 35 are respectively adjacent opposite edges of the veneer V, and the pair of work areas 37 are also adjacent the opposite edges of the veneer.

At each of the work areas 35 is provided suitable heating means which is preferably in the form of superheated steam jets 39. The superheated steam 3% emanates from suitable sources of superheated steam, such as the pair of nozzles 41) respectively located above and below the sheet of veneer V. Alternate'ly, in place of steam jets 39, high frequency heating or infra-red heating may be provided, such as by the infra-red lights 41 shown in FIG. 4; by induction heating through heated rollers 42, shown in FIG. 5; or by other suitable heating means, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. At any rate, the heat is applied along narrow heating zones on the upper face 43 and the lower face 45 of the veneer to establish heated areas or portions 47 in the veneer V adjacent opposite edges thereof, and in which portions the moisture is driven out from the green veneer and the temperature is raised for a purpose later to be described. Also, it should be stated that, in some cases, it may be desirable to omit the heating means.

At each of the work areas 37 is provided means for applying continuous streams of hot melt adhesive 51 to the upper and lower faces 43, 45 at the portions 47. The means for applying adhesive 51 is by any suitable means such as the nozzles 53 respectively located above and below the sheet of veneer V. Adhesive 51 is preferably, though not necessarily, of the commonly known polyester type resins. After the molten stream of adhesive 51 has hardened, bands 55 of the hardened adhesive strengthen the continuous sheet of veneer V and hold together the part pieces of roundup, which will be better understood in the description of the operation of the device to follow later in the specification. If desired, for further strength, fibers 57, such as spun glass fibers as shown in FIG. 6, may be provided in the adhesive. After the veneer V has been processed as above described, it is preferably rolled onto a reel, such as that shown as at 59.

The modified machine 61 is substantially the same as machine 11 except that a third pair of stations or work areas 63 are provided behind the pair of work areas 37. At each of the pair of work areas 63, tapes 65, such as nylon tapes, are respectively applied over the bands 55 of adhesive and preferably before the adhesive has completely hardened. In FIG. 3, the numerals 67 illustrate diagrammatically the rolls of tapes 65 which ars disposed above and below the veneer V, and the numerals 6'9 designate the rollers which are also disposed above and below the veneer V to press the tapes 65 against the plastic bands 55 so that the tapes are adhered to the veneer by the plastic.

From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that means is provided for strengthening the continuous sheet of veneer V to aid in its handling. This is particularly useful when the veneer is very thin and there are stresses put on the sheet of veneer in subsequent processing. However, an even more important advantage is gainedby providing means for holding the part pieces of rdundup so that they can be handled as a continuous sheet. In FIG. 2, a couple of the pieces of roundup are shown as at V1 and V2, and it will be seen that they are held together by the band 55. As is known, the first pieces that come from the veneer producing machine 13, which are known as pieces of roundup, are not regular in shape due to the out-of-roundness of the log. Thus, they have uneven edges, such as at E1 and E2, which cannot be abutted together in flat relationship. With the present invention, the veneer can be handled as a continuous sheet while in the green state and while the edges E1 and E2, for example, are still irregular. Also, it will be understood that only one clipping is necessary, since the previous practice of clipping the veneer while in the green state may be omitted, and the veneer only c'lipped after being dried This saves a great deal on labor and material, andit is estimated that the material saved is over 30%. Additionally, it will be understood that the present invention ameliorates the tendency of the veneer to split along the grain. For example, the splits S in veneer V, shown in PEG. 2, will be prevented from becoming any worse by the holding effect of the adhesive 51. Also, some of the splits which otherwise might occur are eliminated by the adhesive.

From the foregoing description it will be understood that the method of the present invention comprises the following steps: (1) applying heat to the opposite side edges of the veneer sheets to drive the moisture therefrom; (2) applying an adhesive on the opposite faces of the veneer adjacent the side edges thereof to provide a band of adhesive for strengthening the continuous sheet or" veneer or for holding the part pieces of roundup together. In addition, an alternate further step may be provided of (3) applying tapes respectively over said bands. Finally, the present invention contemplates only one clipping of the veneer sheets after the drying thereof.

From the foregoing description it can be seen that a very efficient means and method of processing veneer is provided which greatly saves on labor and materials in the processing thereof.

Although the invention has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity or understanding, it is to be understood that it is not to be so limited since changes and modifications may be made therein which are within the full intended scope of this invention as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

1. The method of connecting a plurality of thin wood veneer pieces together to form a single ply sheet, said veneer pieces being of different proportions but of substantially rectangular configuration and with each veneer piece having two substantially oppositely disposed first edges and two substantially oppositely disposed second edges, said method comprising positioning said plurality of veneer pieces juxtaposedly with said first edge of one: piece being contiguous said first edge of another piece and with each piece of said plurality of pieces of veneer being; disposed flatwise along a plane common to all said veneer pieces, conveying said plurality of pieces along a course: substantially coincident to said common plane of saidl pieces with the direction of movement of said plurality of pieces being substantially perpendicular to the extent-- sion of said first edges and substantially parallel to the extension of said se'c'on'd edges; heating said plurality of. pieces as they are conveyed along said course for remov ing them'ois'tu're from the wood, each piece of said plur-- ality of pieces being heated substantially along each edge: portion of said oppositely disposed second edges; and as; said plurality of pieces of veneer are being conveyed along said course, applying two continuously formed bands: of plastic" material respectively to the heated and dried oppositely disposedsecond edge portions of said plurality' of veneer pieces; said bands of plastic material having suclm quality of material as to adhere to said heated and dried secondecl'ge portions and to connect said plurality of vene'er' pieces together to form a sheet of Veneer pieces.

, 2. The method defined in claim 1 including a multiplicity of reinforcing fibers intermixed in said plastic material for strengthening said bands.

3. In" the process of making Wood veneer by rotating a. log against a knife to form a horizontally disposed web orsheet of veneer, the method of strengthening said veneer for handling purposes comprising conveying said web is.- suing from said log along a substantially rectilinear course, heating the oppositely disposed side edge portions of said web as it is conveyed thereby to remove moisture from the wood along the side edges of said Web, and applying two continuously formed bands of plastic material respectivcly to the heated and dried oppositely disposed edge portions of said web as said web is being conveyed, said bands of plastic material having such quality of material as to adhere to said heated and dried edge portions and to strengthen said Web.

4. The method defined in claim 3 including a multiplicity of reinforcing fibers intermixed in said plastic material for strengthening said bands and for strengthening said web of wood veneer.

5. A method for processing green veneer coming from a machine that first cuts the veneer from a log in a plurality of flat round-up pieces in the green state and with each piece having two substantially oppositely disposed first edges and two substantially oppositely disposed second edges and that after said round-up pieces are cut said machine cuts the veneer in a continuous sheet in the green state having opposite side edges corresponding to said second edges, said method comprising positioning before clipping said round-up pieces while in the green state juxtaposedly with said first edge of one of said pieces being contiguous said first edge of another piece and with each of said plurality of round-up pieces being disposed fiatwise along a plane common to all of said round-up pieces and thence positioning said continuous. sheet before clipping and while in the green state in a. plane common to said round-up pieces, conveying said plurality of round-up pieces before clipping and while in the green state and said continuous sheet before clippingand while in the green state along a course substantially coincident to said common plane with the direction of movement being substantially perpendicular to said first edges and substantially parallel to said second edges and said side edges, before clipping and while in the green state heating said plurality of pieces only adjacent said second edges and heating said sheet only adjacent said side edges to drive the moisture therefrom and provide heated portions of said pieces and said sheet only adjacent said second edges and said side edges, applying continuous streams of molten adhesive respectively to said heated portions on said opposite side edges and on said,

opposite second edges, said streams of molten adhesive having such characteristics that they adhere to said heated portions and connect said plurality of pieces together to form a web of veneer pieces and connect said web and said sheet and strengthen said Web and said sheet, While said sheet and said web are connected with said streams of adhesive drying the veneer before any clipping is done, and finally while said web and said sheet are connected With said streams of adhesive clipping the defects from said sheet and said web.

6. A method for processing green veneer coming from a machine that cuts the veneer in a continuous sheet in the green state having opposite side edges, said method comprising positioning said continuous sheet while in the green state in a substantially horizontal plane, conveying said continuous sheet while in the green state along a course substantially coincident to said plane with the direction of movement being substantially parallel to said side edges, while in the green state heating said sheet only adjacent said side edges to drive the moisture there from and provide heated portions of said side edges, applying continuous streams of molten adhesive respectively to said heated portions on said side edges, said streams of molten adhesive having such characteristics that they adhere to said heated portions and strengthen said sheet.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 13,034 11/1909 Dennis 156-304 1,977,199 10/1934 Osgood 144-313 2,226,953 12/1940 Straus 156-255 2,290,761 7/ 1942 Miller 156304 2,442,115 5/1948 Byers et al. 156-255 2,495,680 1/1950 Andrews 156-436 2,640,796 6/1953 Langer 156436 2,682,909 7/1954 Claff et al. 156-436 2,960,425 11/1960 Sherman 156-304 3,018,212 1/1962 Chinn 156-244 3,135,644 6/1964 Coplen et al. 161101 FOREIGN PATENTS 937,333 3/1948 France.

EARL M. BERGERT, Primary Examiner. DOUGLASS I. DRUMMOND, Assistant Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. 3. IN THE PROCESS OF MAKING WOOD VENEER BY ROTATING A LOG AGAINST A KNIFE TO FORM A HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED WEB OF SHEET OF VENEER, THE METHOD OF STRENGTHENING SAID VENEER FOR HANDLING PURPOSES COMPRISING A CONVEYING SAID WEB ISSUING FROM SAID LOG ALONG A SUBSTANTIALLY RECTILINEAR COURSE, HEATING THE OPPOSITELY DISPOSED SIDE EDGE PORTIONS OF SAID WEB AS IT IS CONVEYED THEREBY TO REMOVE MOISTURE FROM THE WOOD ALONG THE SIDE EDGES OF SAID WEB, AND APPLYING TWO CONTINUOUSLY FORMED BANDS OF PLASTIC MATERIAL RESPECTIELY TO THE HEATED AND DRIED OPPOSITELY DISPOSED EDGE POTIONS OF SAID WEB AS SAID WEB IS BEING CONVEYED, SAID BANDS OF PLASTIC MATERIAL HAVING SUCH QUALITY OF MATERIAL AS TO ADHERE TO SAID HEATED AND DRIED EDGE PORTIONS AND TO STRENGTHEN SAID WEB.

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