The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 09, 2002
Filed:
Nov. 05, 1999
Thomas L. Owens, Batavia, IL (US);
Other;
Abstract
All of the current processes for making molded particleboard products require very long furnish dwell times within a heated press, due to the low heat transfer rates from the heated molds to the furnish being compressed. Furnish dwell times vary between approximately one minute to more than 10 minutes, depending upon the part thickness. Since profitability of a particleboard molding operation is closely related to product throughput, these long furnish dwell times within the heated press limit production rates and continue to be a major economic concern to the industry. The essence of the invention is a heretofore unsuggested use of radiowave energy to speed production of molded particleboard parts by preheating the furnish prior to the application of heat and pressure within the forming mold. Because radiowaves propagate readily throughout the volume of the furnish, rapid heating is obtainable even for a loose, uncompacted particulate furnish that has very poor thermal conductivity. By utilizing a radiowave preheating scheme, rather than applying radiowaves simultaneously with hot pressing, relatively simple yet highly effective radiowave applicators may be devised.