Microwave preheat press assembly
AssigneeWeyerhaeuser Company
InventorsMark T. Churchland, Robert L. Pike
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention is a microwave preheat press. The microwave preheat press includes a first and a second press section which define a press passage therebetween. A compression belt movable along the press passage is contiguous with one of the press sections. The press passage is configured such that it has an initial press section leading into a final press section. A microwave generator is in communication with a microwave waveguide applicator structure assembly such that microwave energy is created and transmitted through the microwave waveguide assembly into the initial compression section.
Claims14
A method of forming a composite wood element product, comprising:
- introducing a mat assembly of discrete wood elements coated with a resin into an initial compression section of a press, the press having a first and a second press section defining therebetween a press passage and further having a compression belt moveable along said press passage contiguous with one of said press sections;
- directing microwave energy into the mat assembly via a microwave waveguide applicator structure assembly adjacent the initial compression section, disposed between a fibrous mat and the compression belt, wherein the microwave energy is directed while the mat assembly is within the initial compression section;
- and
- compressing and curing the composite wood mat assembly into a final compression state.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.