Method for orientation and deposition of lignocellulosic material in the manufacture of pressed comminuted products having directional properties
AssigneeMorrison-Knudsen Forest Products Company, Inc.
InventorsThomas E. Peters, John M. Bateman
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Abstract
A continuous method and apparatus are disclosed for forming and electrostatically orienting a mat of discrete particles of lignocellulosic material on an electrically nonconductive transfer surface and then transferring the directionally oriented mat onto a grounded, moving, electrically conductive mat receiving surface under the continuing influence of an electrostatic field without loss of orientation of the particles of lignocellulosic material making up the mat.
Claims36
A method of aligning discrete particles of lignocellulosic material, comprising:
- depositing a multitude of discrete lignocellulosic particles onto an electrically insulative transfer surface to form a mat thereof;
- subjecting the particles of said mat on the transfer surface to a directionally oriented electrical field to align the particles in the direction of the established electrical field;
- and
- transferring the mat of aligned particles to an electrically conductive mat-receiving surface maintained at ground potential.
A method of aligning discrete particles of lignocellulosic material comprising:
- providing a high voltage orienting zone generating a first directional electric field of sufficient field strength to align the particles of lignocellulosic material;
- cascading a multitude of particles of lignocellulosic material through the orienting zone for alignment thereof generally parallel to the electrical lines of force within the orienting zone;
- providing an electrically insulative transfer surface beneath the orienting zone to receive the multitude of particles descending through the orienting zone thereon, the particles forming a mat of aligned particles on the transfer surface;
- moving an electrically conductive mat receiving surface maintained at ground potential adjacent the discharge end of the transfer surface to receive the mat of aligned particles thereon, the mat receiving surface being electrically isolated from the high voltage orienting zone;
- and
- transferring the mat from on the the transfer surface to the mat receiving surface maintained at ground potential under the continuous influence of a second directional electric field established immediately above the transfer surface and parallel to the first directional field.
A continuous method for orienting and depositing discrete particles of lignocellulosic material as a mat to be employed in the manufacture of comminuted pressed products having enhanced directional properties, comprising:
- providing an electrically conductive mat receiving surface maintained at ground potential;
- moving the mat receiving surface;
- positioning a series of planar, spaced electrodes above the mat receiving surface, the electrodes spaced from each other in the direction of travel of the mat receiving surface;
- generating a first directional electric field parallel to the direction of movement of the mat receiving surface between each of the spaced electrodes of sufficient field strength to align the particles of lignocellulosic material, the first electric field being electrically isolated from the grounded mat receiving surface;
- cascading a multitude of particles of lignocellulosic material between the series of spaced electrodes for alignment thereof generally parallel to the generated electrical lines of force of the first electric field;
- providing an electrically insulative transfer surface between and beneath adjacent pairs of the spaced electrodes to receive the multitude of particles descending between the spaced electrodes as a mat of aligned particles on the transfer surface, the transfer surface having a discharge end discharging the mat of aligned particles onto the grounded mat receiving surface;
- and
- transferring the mat on the transfer surface to the mat receiving surface under the continuous influence of a second directional electric field generated immediately above the transfer surface.
The method of claim 37 wherein the transfer surface is a series of endless, electrically insulative belts positioned between respective pairs of spaced electrodes to receive the lignocellulosic particles descending therebetween, each of the belts moving in the direction of the mat-receiving surface, and wherein the second directional electrical field is generated between electrically conductive elements disposed immediately beneath each of the transfer surfaces substantially directly beneath the lower ends of the planar, spaced electrodes above each of the transfer surfaces.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.