Wood chipping and dyeing processes and products thereof

Abstract

Processes are provided for producing wood chips with a variety of cross sections such as those resembling botanical leaves and other decorative designs. The processes also produces wood chips that have coloration and shading. A rough form of wood having a elongated length is extruded lengthwise to make an extrusion having a decorative cross section. The extrusion is then cut at an angle to the direction of the elongated length of the extrusion into a plurality of wood chips having the desired cross-section. The step of cutting the extrusion involves positioning a lengthwise end of the extrusion adjacent at least one cutting blade oriented at an angle in the range of about 15 degrees to about 75 degrees relative to the elongated length of the extrusion, providing a relative rotational movement between the extrusion and the blade about the longitudinal center of gravity of the extrusion, and providing a relative linear movement between the extrusion and the blade in the elongated direction towards one another. Thus, the extrusion is cut in a generally helical manner to produce wood chips with a desired thickness. The process optionally includes the step of wetting the wood extrusion prior to the cutting step. The wetting fluid optionally includes a coloring agent for dying the wood extrusion to produce colored wood chips. Controlling the pressure can be used to control the extent to which the wetting fluid or coloring agent is distributed through the cross section of the extrusion.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.