Method and apparatus for orienting wood strands into parallelism

Apparatus orienting wood strands into parallelism with each other as they fall toward a moving support comprising:

• a plurality of spaced, parallel, generally rigid plates;
• means coupled with said plates for mounting the same above the support for movement relative thereto along generally straight paths with each plate being movable in a direction opposite to the direction of movement of each adjacent plate, each plate having an upper margin provided with a plurality of spaced, strand engageable projections thereon;
• and means coupled with said plates for moving adjacent plates in opposite directions along respective straight paths at a speed relative to the speed of movement of the support sufficient to rotate wood strands which span the upper margins of two or more plates into alignment with the longitudinal axes of the spaces between the plates and sufficient to cause upended strands having first ends engaging the strand mat therebelow and second ends engaging adjacent plates to be turned into substantial alignment with the longitudinal axes of respective spaces before the movement of the support can cause disorientation of the strands.

Apparatus for orienting wood strands into parallelism with each other as they fall toward a support comprising:

• flexible belt means defining a plurality of spaced, parallel, generally planar strand guide members;
• means coupled with said belt means for mounting the same above the support to position the guide members for movement relative to the support along generally straight paths with each guide member being movable in a direction opposite to the direction of movement of each adjacent guide member, each guide member having an upper margin provided with a plurality of spaced, strand engageable projections thereon;
• and means coupled with said belt means for moving adjacent guide members in opposite directions along respective straight paths at a speed relative to the speed of movement of the support sufficient to rotate wood strands which span the upper margins of two or more guide members into alignment with the longitudinal axes of the spaces between the guide members and sufficient to cause upended strands having first ends engaging the strand mat therebelow and second ends engaging adjacent guide members to be turned into substantial alignment with the longitudinal axes of respective spaces before the movement of the support can cause disorientation of the strands.