Veneer flattening apparatus and method
AssigneeHartco Flooring Company
InventorKenneth O. Thompson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus and method flatten a twisted veneer directly from the device which cuts the veneer from a board. In a particular implementation, the veneer is counter-twisted through a curved channel formed between two roller assemblies whose rollers are discretely disposed through a predetermined sector.
Claims21
An apparatus for flattening veneer sliced from a board, comprising:
- mechanical flattening means comprising driven rollers for moving veneer past the rollers mounted on opposing frames for providing a curved channel of about 90.degree. such that as the veneer exits the flattening means it will be moving in the same direction and parallel to the longitudinal axis of the board as the veneer is sliced and for twisting the veneer about its axis transverse through a sector of less than about 90 degrees, wherein the veneer is never twisted about its longitudinal or transverse axis by more than about 90 degrees during slicing and flattening for mechanically applying a flattening force to veneer directly from a cutting device that slices veneer from a board, wherein rollers on opposing frames along the channel are offset such that the veneer sequentially passes rollers on opposing frames as it traverses the curved channel;
- and
- support means for supporting said mechanical means adjacent the cutting device.
A method of flattening veneer sliced from a board, comprising receiving veneer twisted along its longitudinal and transverse axes directly from a veneer slicing device and mechanically applying a flattening force to the veneer directly from a cutting device that slices the veneer from a board as the veneer is moved through a curved channel of about 90.degree. such that as the veneer exits the curved channel it will be moving in the same direction and parallel to the longitudinal axis of the board as the veneer is cut, wherein the veneer is twisted about its transverse axis by an amount of less than about 90 degrees as the veneer passes through the curved channel, wherein the veneer is never twisted about its longitudinal or transverse axis by more than about 90 degrees during slicing and flattening.
A method of flattening veneer sliced from a board, comprising:
- receiving veneer directly from a cutting device;
- and
- twisting the received veneer through a predetermined sector of less than about 90 degrees counter to a predetermined orientation of twist normally obtained by the veneer as the veneer is cut as the veneer is moved through a curved channel of about 90 such that as the veneer exits the curved channel it will be moving in the same direction and parallel to the longitudinal axis of the board as the veneer is cut wherein the veneer is never twisted about its longitudinal or transverse axis by more than about 90.degree. degrees during slicing and flattening.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.