Self-cleaning jet tube

A jet tube for use in a veneer dryer, the jet tube comprising:

• an elongate hollow body that is tapered from an open first end to a generally opposite second end, the elongate hollow body having an upper wall with a plurality of apertures, a lower wall, generally opposite side walls, a longitudinal center axis, and an end plate disposed at the second end, wherein the end plate is positioned generally between the walls and oriented transverse to the longitudinal center axis and the walls;
• and
• a first through-slot disposed through the end plate or at least one of the walls,
• wherein the jet tube is configured to maintain a veneer drying air pressure at the apertures with the first through-slot unblocked to thereby evacuate debris through the first through-slot while directing air against a sheet of veneer.

A method of forming a self-cleaning jet tube for use in a jet veneer dryer, the method comprising:

• providing an elongate hollow body that is tapered from an open first end to a generally opposite second end, wherein the elongate hollow body has a plurality of longitudinal walls, a plurality of apertures along one of the longitudinal walls, and an end wall disposed generally between the longitudinal walls at the second end, and wherein the end wall is transverse to the longitudinal walls;
• and
• forming a first through-slot in the elongate hollow body,
• wherein the elongate hollow body is configured to maintain a veneer drying air pressure at the apertures with the first through-slot unblocked to thereby push debris through the first through-slot while directing air against veneer at the veneer drying air pressure.