Press and method for forming beams having at least one substantially u-shaped cross-sectional portion from glue-coated wood chips

Method for pressing, from glue-coated wood chips, beams or joists which are each configured with at least one U-shaped cross-sectional part, comprising the steps of:

• providing a press comprising oppositely arranged lower and upper master tools, which each have a plane and horizontal main surface and a pressing surface parallel thereto, wherein the master tools are vertically movable, at least to a limited extent, towards and away from each other, and the main surfaces and pressing surfaces thereof are mutually parallel and facing each other, and wherein at least one of the upper or lower master tools comprises an elongate groove with parallel side faces extending perpendicularly to the main surface, an elongate pressing tool, which comprises the plane, horizontal pressing surface and parallel side faces and which is vertically displaceable in the groove of the master tool in and counter to a pressing direction perpendicular to the main surfaces of the master tools, at least one partition wall, which is arranged on the pressing surface of at least one of the master tools, which extends in the longitudinal extent of the press and in the pressing direction perpendicular to the pressing surfaces of the two master tools, and which, in the pressed-together state of the press, extends between the pressing surfaces of the master tools for demarcation of at least two separate pressing chambers in the press, and two horizontally displaceable lateral pressing tools, which are arranged between the main surfaces of the master tools, on each side of the groove, comprising the steps of:
• arranging on the pressing surface of at least one of the master tools at least two mould inserts, extending along substantially the whole of the longitudinal extent of the press, in a starting position, each of the mould inserts having the form of an elongate rod having a substantially U-shaped, outward-facing cross-sectional form and being displaceably movable, at least to a limited extent, along the pressing surface of the master tool transversely to the longitudinal extent of the press;
• dispensing a well-balanced quantity of glue-coated wood chips into pressing chambers between the pressing tools;
• displacing the pressing tools inwards in order to press the glue-coated wood chips into two or more beams, whereupon the mould inserts, as a result of generated pressing forces, will be displaced inwards along the horizontal pressing surface of the master tool from the starting position into a pressing position and take part in the compression of the wood chips mixture;
• after a completed press cycle, separating the pressed beams from the mould inserts;
• and
• positioning the same or new mould inserts in the starting position on the pressing surface of the master tool prior to the next press cycle.