US3618646A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Means for pressure-conditioning wood veneer for application to contoured cores
Assignee: Roberts Consolidated Industries Inc
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Filing: 1970-07-10
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Granted: 1971-11-09
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Expires: 1990-07-10
Abstract
Abstract Wood veneer to be bent is subjected initially, along closely spaced lines parallel to its grain, to pressures of many tons p.s.i. which disrupt its fibrous structure. The special mechanism for this purpose embodies a pair of rollers, one being circumferentially scored to impress relatively deep score lines in one face of a veneer strip which is fed between the rollers when rotated. The bearings for these rollers are supported in upstanding walls of a framework to be rested firmly upon or against extended areas of horizontal faces thereof whereby to be adequately braced against the thrust forces proceeding from the rollers when pressure engaging the veneer strips passed between them. The upstanding frame walls are spaced apart sufficiently to successively accommodate between them many veneer strips of normal widths. For accommodation of wider strips, however, one frame wall is made of two sections, one above the other with a horizontal gap therebetween through which wider veneer strips may be extended to lie in part exteriorly of the frame and beyond the proximate ends of the pressure rollers. This operation of pressure conditioning may be applied to a relatively narrow area of each strip along one edge portion thereof, or to wider areas of the strip if the latter be reversed and subjected to a second pass between the rollers. The frame so provided in one wall with a horizontal gap is so constructed and braced as to retain adequate strength for support of the two rollers, one below and the other above the gap, that its capacity for application of very high pressures to the veneer strip is assured.
Inventors
- 👤 Raymond H Lewis
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 08:34
CPC Classifications
B; B27; B27H; B27H1/00; B27D; B27D5/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
242 words
Means for conditioning wood veneer for bending comprising an elongated framework having interconnected front and rear walls and two upstanding end walls one of which is divided to provide a horizontal gap at a medial point vertically thereof, each front and rear wall being formed with a horizontal slot in communication with the horizontal gap and extending away therefrom through a major portion of the distance toward the opposite upstanding end wall, a pair of rollers extending lengthwise between the two ends of the framework, one above the other, the rollers when rotated being adapted to propel and compress between them a strip of wood veneer when advanced through the slot in the front wall and/or the gap in one end wall for subsequent discharge through the slot in the rear wall, a shaft extended axially beyond opposite ends of each roller, bearings wherein opposite ends of each shaft are mounted, means fixedly securing the bearings for the lower roller to opposite upstanding end walls of the framework at a point below the horizontal gap, means fixedly securing the bearings for the upper roller to opposite end walls of the framework at a point above the horizontal gap, but with capacity for limited vertical movements whereby the upper roller is free to be shifted toward or from the lower roller, and adjustable stop means in engagement with the upper roller bearings for fixing the maximum clearance between the upper and lower rollers.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
242 words
Means for conditioning wood veneer for bending comprising an elongated framework having interconnected front and rear walls and two upstanding end walls one of which is divided to provide a horizontal gap at a medial point vertically thereof, each front and rear wall being formed with a horizontal slot in communication with the horizontal gap and extending away therefrom through a major portion of the distance toward the opposite upstanding end wall, a pair of rollers extending lengthwise between the two ends of the framework, one above the other, the rollers when rotated being adapted to propel and compress between them a strip of wood veneer when advanced through the slot in the front wall and/or the gap in one end wall for subsequent discharge through the slot in the rear wall, a shaft extended axially beyond opposite ends of each roller, bearings wherein opposite ends of each shaft are mounted, means fixedly securing the bearings for the lower roller to opposite upstanding end walls of the framework at a point below the horizontal gap, means fixedly securing the bearings for the upper roller to opposite end walls of the framework at a point above the horizontal gap, but with capacity for limited vertical movements whereby the upper roller is free to be shifted toward or from the lower roller, and adjustable stop means in engagement with the upper roller bearings for fixing the maximum clearance between the upper and lower rollers.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
86 words
Means as specified in claim 1 wherein interengaging horizontal faces are provided on the lower bearings and the upstanding supporting end walls therefor, adapted to furnish an abutment whereby to resist downward movement of the bearings in response to vertical thrust forces generated by passage of a veneer strip between the rollers, and wherein interengaging horizontal faces are provided on the upstanding end walls, the upper bearings supported thereby, and the stop means engaging therewith to furnish an abutment limiting upward movement of the upper bearings.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
124 words
Means as specified in claim 1 wherein interengaging horizontal faces are provided between the upper and lower bearings and the upstanding supporting end walls therefor comprising, in each case, a recess means of substantial depth for each bearing inset in the end wall proximate thereto and extending horizontally thereof to provide therein spaced upper and lower horizontal faces, and elongated means disposed partly within each recess means and in engagement with its upper and lower faces to be fixedly anchored therein, and extended in part exteriorly thereof, one to overlie the upper bearing for engagement therewith and the other to underlie the lower bearing for engagement therewith, thereby to provide therefor abutments for resisting vertical thrust forces tending to vertically separate the two rollers.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
51 words
Means as specified in claim 1 wherein the interengaging faces on the upper roller bearings and the upstanding supporting end walls therefor include an adjustable wedge adapted to fix an upper limit for upward movements of the upper bearings whereby to control the maximum clearance between the upper and lower rollers.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
50 words
Means as specified in claim 1 wherein the surface of the lower roller is provided with a plurality of projections of uniform height and close spacing in a geometric pattern adapted to compress and/or disrupt the fibrous structure of the veneer piece as an incident preliminary to subsequent flexibilization thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
226 words
Means, as specified in claim 1, wherein the means fixedly securing the lower roller bearings to opposite upstanding end walls of the framework comprise recess means inset into each end wall to provide therein spaced upper and lower horizontal faces at an elevation below the bearings, abutment means fitted partly within such inset means in engagement with its upper and lower faces to be fixedly anchored therein and extended exteriorly thereof to underlie the proximate bearings for supporting engagement therewith in a horizontal plane, thereby to provide therefor an abutment to prevent downward movement of each lower bearing in response to thrust forces proceeding from above, and wherein the means for fixedly securing the upper roller bearings to opposite upstanding end walls of the framework comprise means inset into each upstanding end wall at an elevation above the upper roller bearings to provide therein spaced upper and lower horizontal faces between which the upper roller bearings are free to be vertically adjusted, and cam means fitted partly within each upper recess means in engagement with its upper and lower faces to be fixedly anchored therein and extended exteriorly thereof to overlie the proximate upper bearings for engagement therewith in a horizontal plane, thereby to provide therefor an adjustable abutment to limit upward movement of the upper roller bearings in response to thrust forces proceeding from below.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
137 words
Means, as specified in claim 1, wherein one upstanding end wall of the framework consists of upper and lower sections with a horizontal gap therebetween in substantial alignment with the nip between the rollers to permit feeding therethrough of veneer strips having a width substantially greater than the space between the framework end walls, and wherein the means interconnecting the upstanding end walls provides an unyielding support for the two-section wall and is extended along front and rear sides of the two rollers to provide therefor an enclosure with horizontal slots therethrough at front and rear, the slots communicating with the gap at one end of the framework to join therewith in furnishing ample clearance for movement therethrough of veneer strips having a width greater than the space between the opposite upstanding end walls of the framework.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-11-08 | 1975-05-10 | 1975-11-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-11-08 | 1979-05-10 | 1979-11-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-11-08 | 1983-05-10 | 1983-11-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |