Macmillan Bloedel Limited

Weyerhaeuser Company Limited

Weyerhaeuser Nr Company

Trus Joist Macmillan a Limited Partnership

Trus Joist Macmillan Limited

Mark Trelawny Churchland

Walter W Schilling

Robert L Pike

Derek Barnes

Norbert Kott

James K Welsh

Arnold W Herndier

David Parker

Paul E Chambers

M Tekamul Buber

David J McKenney

Joseph B Jenkins

Dylan Gates

Robert Leeson Pike

The present disclosure includes systems and methods for manufacturing a composite wood product. In some embodiments, the method includes the steps of forming a mat from a plurality of wood elements and an adhesive, the mat having a width W measured substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the mat and an initial thickness T. The mat is then moved in a machine direction, the machine direction being substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis and the temperature across the width W of the mat is adjusted. The mat is then compressed into a billet having a final thickness T. In some embodiments, the system includes a continuous movement mechanism, a side preheat assembly, and a press assembly.

Systems and methods for manufacturing composite wood products to reduce bowing

Systems for orienting strands and/or other types of particles are provided. The systems may have tabs which extend from orienting disks and/or collars and/or spacers which may be disposed on shafts. The tabs may prevent accumulation of strands between disks utilized within an orienting system. For example, the tabs may contact strands and/or other particles and guide or force the particles to be moved past the disks toward successive disks, or onto a screen or conveyor line.

Systems for orienting strands and other wood particles

The present invention is a microwave preheat press. The microwave preheat press includes a first and a second press section which define a press passage therebetween. A compression belt movable along the press passage is contiguous with one of the press sections. The press passage is configured such that it has an initial press section leading into a final press section. A microwave generator is in communication with a microwave waveguide applicator structure assembly such that microwave energy is created and transmitted through the microwave waveguide assembly into the initial compression section.

Microwave preheat press assembly

A method of drying veneer sheets by continuously shingling discrete wood veneer-sheets to form a layup where the leading edges of adjacent sheets are offset by a distance X with the lower, veneer sheet leading in the direction of movement the one there above and continuously feeding the so formed layup in the direction of movement into a drier where the veneer sheets while still in the layup are dried. The dried veneer sheets are then separated into discreet dried veneer sheets and are thereafter individually tested.

Method of drying wood veneer

A method of producing a consolidated composite wood product composed of discrete wood elements and a binder by forming a layup and preheating only a central longitudinal portion of the layup by application of microwave energy across the longitudinal axis and then pressing to consolidate the layup and applying further microwave energy in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the application of the preheating microwave energy through the sides of the compressed layup in the press.

Method of making a composite wood product from wood elements

A system for the simultaneous application of pressure and microwaves to a thick mat of curable assemblies. As the curable assemblies are conveyed through a belt press, microwaves are applied to them through an adjacent, rapidly expanding applicator horn. A microwave-transparent ceramic dam or window across the outlet of the horn blocks the compressed assemblies from entering the horn. To minimize any heat cracking of the window it is formed of a number of pieces. These pieces are held in place at the horn outlet by one or more fins secured within the horn and extending into the window. The fins extend across the interior of the horn and divide it into a number of different microwave paths. The ceramic window pieces at the ends of the paths are carefully shaped, with a cylindrical rear surface, to act as lenses and to act on the microwave energy from each of the different paths so that the microwaves from all of the paths are in phase at the product interface. Air is pumped through a serpentine path in the window to cool it and help prevent cracking thereof. Applicator horns having different heating patterns can be advantageously used at different locations along the press bed.

Microwave curing system

A process for continuously forming a product having elongated members at least about one foot long which are oriented, compressed and bonded is provided, the process comprising depositing elongated members on a moving carrier with an orientation that is substantially parallel to the direction of movement of said carrier, said members being deposited on said carrier over a length of carrier that is at least as long as about one and one-half times the length of the elongated members and is at least as long as about 30 times the final thickness of the compressed, composite product.

Apparatus for laying elongate members

A process for continuously forming a product having elongated members at least about one foot long which are oriented, compressed and bonded is provided, the process comprising depositing elongated members on a moving carrier with an orientation that is substantially parallel to the direction of movement of the carrier, the members being deposited on the carrier over a length of carrier that is at least as long as about one and one-half times the length of the elongated members and is at least as long as about 30 times the final thickness of the compressed, composite product.

Apparatus for oriented strand lay-up

An apparatus for continuously forming a product having elongated members at least about one foot long which are oriented, compressed and bonded is provided. The apparatus deposits elongated members on a moving carrier with an orientation that is substantially parallel to the direction of movement of the carrier. The members are deposited on the carrier over a length of carrier that is at least as long as about one and one-half times the length of the elongated members and is at least as long as about 30 times the final thickness of the compressed, composite product.

Oriented strand lay-up

A method and apparatus for sorting elongate articles by length is disclosed. The apparatus includes a first conveyor belt, a second conveyor belt, a holding mechanism located at the discharge end of the first conveyor belt and a grasping mechanism located at an inlet end of the second conveyor belt. The holding and grasping mechanisms are spaced from one another by a gap through which articles having a length less than a preselected length fall. The holding mechanism holds the articles which pass the discharge end of the first conveyor belt in alignment with a plane in which the top run of the first conveyor belt moves. The grasping mechanism grasps the front ends of desired elongate articles which have a length equal to or greater than the preselected length prior to the release of the rearward ends of the desired articles from the holding mechanism.

Method and apparatus for sorting elongate articles

The present invention relates to a process of forming an extended elongate product from a plurality of strands by subjecting the strands to heat and pressure. The improvement of the present invention comprises a method for compressing the strands in a manner to reduce internal stresses imparted to the product during its subjection to pressure. The method includes the steps of: (a) transporting in a longitudinal direction the strands in a generally parallel and overlapping relationship through a compressing zone of a press assembly; (b) increasing the pressure on the strands as they pass from an inlet end to an outlet end of the compressing zone by gradually converging facing walls of the press assembly so that: (i) the strands being compressed move relative to one another through at least a portion of the compressing zone; and (ii) the strands being compressed lock up so that they no longer move relative to one another but rather only compress relative to one another at a point in the compressing zone where the radius of curvature in the longitudinal direction on either side of a central reference plane of the mat being compressed is at least about 30 feet to provide a low remembered internal stress.

Method for pressing a composite assembly

The present invention relates to a method of forming an extended elongate pressed composite assembly from a plurality of strands by subjecting the strands to heat and pressure. The improvement of the present invention comprises methods for compressing a particularly arranged composite mat of strands so as to compensate for internal stresses imparted to the pressed composite assembly during its subjection to pressure because of a converging compressing zone and card decking.

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Vancouver, Canada

Mark Trelawny Churchland