Apparatus for forming boards from plant fibers

Abstract

A mobile forming station is provided which longitudinally orients plant fibers and compresses them into slugs. A plurality of bonding stations each include a plurality of chambers selectively positionable in alignment with an ejector of the forming station to receive slugs of fibers. Once the chambers are filled with slugs, a bonding substance borne by the fibers is cured to unite the fibers. The chambers are defined by spaced platens which are movable as a unit to sequentially align the chambers with the ejector of the forming station. The ejector includes a tubular nose which enters the chamber as the fibers are inserted to ensure that the slugs, after insertion, are of uniform density. The platens are converged to compress the slugs within the chambers. The platens are mounted on a movable carrier which is displaced away from the forming station each time that a slug is inserted into the chamber against a rear compression wall of the chamber. Means are provided for exerting an adjustable resistance to displacement of the carrier to regulate the intensity of the compressive forces, and thus the density of the board. The carrier may comprise a rotary drum carrying sets of platens in circumferentially spaced relation. The forming station can be movable relative to the bonding stations so that as curing occurs at one bonding station, another bonding station is serviced.