Composite reinforced oriented strand board

An article of oriented strand board, comprising:

• a matrix of composite polymeric material, the composite polymeric material having a reinforcing material located therein;
• and
• wood flakes distributed throughout the matrix of composite polymeric material;
• wherein the wood flakes are locked within the matrix of composite polymeric material.

An oriented strand board, comprising:

• wood flakes;
• and
• flakes of a composite material, the composite material comprising a reinforcing material bound in a polymeric matrix;
• wherein the flakes of the composite material are located in a portion of the oriented strand board so as to provide areas of concentrated composite material relative to areas of wood flakes.

A method of forming an OSB, the method comprising the steps of:

• positioning flakes of a composite polymeric material in a bin;
• transporting the flakes from the bin to a picker roll using a conveyor;
• transporting a substantially uniform mass of the flakes from the picker roll to an orienting deck, the orienting deck comprising a plurality of spaced apart discs rotatably mounted on shafts;
• breaking apart clumps of the flakes as the flakes are transported from the picker roll to the orienting deck;
• and
• causing flakes to fall from the orienting deck to a table under the orienting deck.

A machine for forming an OSB, the machine comprising:

• a forming bin into which flakes of one or more of a composite polymeric material and a wood material are received;
• a conveyor located in a bottom of the forming bin;
• a plurality of picker rolls located adjacent to the conveyor and configured to receive flakes from the conveyor;
• a plurality of spreader rolls located adjacent to the picker rolls and configured to receive flakes from the picker rolls;
• a plurality of spaced apart toothed discs rotatably mounted on shafts and located adjacent to the spreader rolls, the spaced apart toothed discs being configured to receive flakes from the spreader rolls;
• a rotatable table located under the plurality of spaced apart toothed discs, the rotatable table being configured to receive flakes from the toothed discs;
• wherein the rotatable table is mounted on a conveyor and is both rotatably movable and rectilinearly movable to control an orientation of flakes received from the spaced apart toothed discs.