CA1153285A - Method and apparatus for drying veneer sheet - Google Patents

Method and apparatus for drying veneer sheet

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Publication number
CA1153285A
CA1153285A CA000415371A CA415371A CA1153285A CA 1153285 A CA1153285 A CA 1153285A CA 000415371 A CA000415371 A CA 000415371A CA 415371 A CA415371 A CA 415371A CA 1153285 A CA1153285 A CA 1153285A
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
veneer sheet
roller
extensible members
veneer
tenderizing
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired
Application number
CA000415371A
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Masaru Koike
Yasumasa Hasegawa
Satoru Shimosaka
Nagara Aoyama
Toshihiko Yoshizumi
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Meinan Machinery Works Inc
Original Assignee
Meinan Machinery Works Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from JP10640879A external-priority patent/JPS5630572A/en
Priority claimed from JP15942379A external-priority patent/JPS5682202A/en
Priority claimed from JP484080A external-priority patent/JPS56102678A/en
Priority claimed from CA000358586A external-priority patent/CA1146742A/en
Application filed by Meinan Machinery Works Inc filed Critical Meinan Machinery Works Inc
Priority to CA000415371A priority Critical patent/CA1153285A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CA1153285A publication Critical patent/CA1153285A/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

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  • Veneer Processing And Manufacture Of Plywood (AREA)

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE

A method of drying a veneer sheet is provided.
The method comprises the steps of tenderizing, compressing, and drying a veneer sheet. The compressing and drying steps are performed at the same time. The tenderizing step is preferably be performed before the above two steps but may be done thereafter or at the same time. An apparatus for performing the method is also disclosed. The apparatus comprises tenderizing means, deceleration transfer means, and heating means. The deceleration and the heating means are combined into one section. A plurality of rollers are used as deceleration transfer means.

Description

;l` il532~35 This is a division of Canadian application No. 358,586, filed on August 19, 1980.
, . . .
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for drying a sheet of veneer and contemplates providing a rationalized drying technique which minimizes or practically eliminates splitting in a veneer sheet which conventionally d resulted from such treatment.
Traditionally, a process for producing plywood includes a step of drying veneer sheets with a drier. When dried, however, veneer sheets crack concentrically at irregularly distributed spots and become very poor in quality even though they may have been of favorable quality before the drying step. Cracked parts of veneer sheets must be cut off and wasted with the resultant decrease in the yield and this critically reduces the output from veneer sheets.
To cope with this problem, there has been proposed and put to practical use, though in a minor part of the industry, a process by which a veneer sheet is first formed with numerous short slits to be tenderized and then allowed to go on the drying step (referred to as the "Y process" hereinafter). Compared with the process without tenderizing (referred to as the "X process" hereinafter), the Y process somewhat decreases the tendency of veneer sheets to split concentrically during drying and has given an acceptable result so far. However, such a technique is , , not fully acceptable in that it still fails to entirely eliminata ~plits attributable to tha drying step.
It is apparent that the splits in a veneer sheet caused by drying and commonly observed in the conventional ,~ - .

. ~
_, . , . . . .. _ _._ .. .

~``'` ` 1153285 processes result from cont:raction of the veneer sheet when subjected to such treatmen~. Where the conveying members within a drier comprises upper and lower nets as in a net drier for example, they obstruct the contraction of a veneer sheet which should be allowed gradually in the course of the drying step and allow stresses to develop within ; the veneer sheet. The veneer sheet breaks or cracks in locations where the stresses are the most concentrated.
With this in view, the Y process employing tenderizing process is designed to avoid cracks by decentralizing the stresses in the veneer sheet by means o numerous short slits and thereby reduce the tendency of splitting as a whole. Extended studies which we made to determine the benifit of tenderized veneer sheets showed that the range of elasticity in which a veneer sheet stretches without splitting when pulled in a direction perpendicular to its grain is larger in tenderized sheets than in non-tenderized sheets.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been achieved on the basis of the above-mentioned finding. An object of the present invention is to improve the ~uality and yield from veneer sheets by precluding or minimizing splits attributable to I dryi~g. This will eliminate the discussed problems originating from the drying step in the plywood industryj which has suffered from a shortage in the supply of logs.
Another object o the present invention i9 to establish the basis for automatic operation in drying and other procedures subsequent to drying by giving a favorable elastic property to veneer sheets.
- 2 -I''' .

. .. ~, . . .

1153Z~i35 In order to accomplish the above objects, and in accordance with the broad concept of the present invention, there is provided and claimed herein a tenderizing device for a veneer sheet comprising a plurality of parallel extensible members extending in an intended direction of veneer sheet transfer and movable in accordance with the transfer of a veneer sheet, said extensible members having portions pressingly engageable with the veneer sheet in transfer in the lengthwise direction.while causin.g the spacing between said engageable portions of adjacent turns thereof to enlarge by binding said extensible members that said engageable portions become convex; a roller freely rotatably disposed on the engaging side of the extensible members and having the outer periphery thereof covered with an elastic member, said extensible members and roller defining a veneer sheet transfer path therebetween.; and a pressing element.located on the - side of the extensible members opposite to said engaging side and adapted to press the extensible members towards the roller.
The invention will now be described with reference to the following description of preferred embodiments thereof, the description having reference to the appended drawings . r L ~ ~
``` ~153Z85 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a plot explanatory of the present invention in comparison with prior art;
FIGS. 2 and 3 show the tenderizing device in plan and front elevation, respectively;
FIGS. 4 and 5 are perspective views of tenderized veneer sheets;
FIG. 6 are enlarged views of splits formed on other tenderized veneer sheets;
FIG. 7 illustrates a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
FIGS. 8 - 10 show another preferred embodiment of the present invention in side elevation, fragmentary front elevation and fragmentary section, respectively;
FIG. 11 is a partly cut away plan view of FIG. 3;
FIG. 12 is a side elevation of the tenderizing device shown in FIG. 11;
~ FIG. 13 is a fragmentary enlarged side elevation of.
; the tenderizing device;
FIG, 14 shows a modification to the embodiment of FIG. 3;
FIG. 15 shows in side elevation another modification;
; FIG. 16 is a side elevation of an alternative arrange-ment to the device of FIG. 15;
FIG. 17 is a fragmentary enlarged side elevation showing modified extensible members;
FIGS. 18(A) - 18(C) are sections along line XVIII - XVTII
of FIG. 17 and showing various examples of the extensible members; and FIGS. 19 and 20 illustrate in side elevation a further modification of FIG. 3.

~. llS328S

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
A basic process according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 1. Lines in FIG. 1 demonstrate for comparison the X and Y processes typifying the know drying processes and the Z process embodied by the present invention. The reference level "100" on the ordinate indicates the free length of a veneer sheet just cut from a log by a known veneer lathe in a direction perpendicular to its grain (the veneer sheet having cracks at its back but not on its front or no secondary cracks). Ihe X process includes drying P
along, the Y process includes tenderizing Q and drying P, and the Z process of the invention includes'tenderizing Q, compressing R and drying P. In these processes, the reference character A denotes a non-processed veneer sheet having only back cracks, B a tenderized veneer sheet having numerous short slits, C a compressed veneer sheet and D
a,dried veneer sheet. The length of veneer sheets vary as illustra~ed when treated by the three different processes X, Y and Z. Now, what has primary importance to promote understanding of the present invention is whether the changes in length can occur within the ranges of elasticity for the veneer sheets. For instance, with the prior art process X, a veneer sheet undergoing the drying step ~5 tends to shrink by 5% (average value) despite the elasticity - range of substantially l~ of the veneer sheet A as determined by experiments. Stated another way, the veneer sheet A tends to shrink 4% beyond the elasticity range and is therefore ~ 1153;28S

quite liable to crack during the drying step. According to the other prior art process Y, the veneer sheet A is tenderized by numerous short slits before being dried to obtain an expansion rate of 2% while the elasticity range will then have extended to substnatially 3.5% as discussed.
Therefore, the subsequent drying step P causes the veneer sheet A to shrink by 5~ which exceeds the elasticity range by 1.5%. This is less serious than in the process X but still involves the possibility of cracking. It will therefore be seen that the conventional processes commonly fail to free veneer sheets from the possibility of splitting due to drying and that splits always appear when they are retained strongly as by securing opposite ends thereof perpendicularly to the grain. In this respect, the technique for reducing the retaining load on veneer sheets has just been the technique for preventing splits during drying in various types of known driers. Indeed, this will be understood from the fact that net driers, roll driers and other predominant driers now in use are commonly of the hot air circulation type which blows hot air onto the veneer sheets to avoid strong restxaint thereon.
Me~nwhile, the Z process of the present invention includes the compression of R between the tenderizing step Q and tha drying step P as shown in FIG. 1. More specifically, veneer sheet A in the illustrated example has its proportion stretched by the tenderizing step Q, reduced by the compression step R to give a compressed veneer sheet C, and followed by the drying step P.

`` ~153285 The veneer sheet maintaining an elasticity range o~ 3.5~
undergoes a 2% compression and then drying at which point i~ starts shrinking. Then, the compression in the veneer sheet is released when 2% of the 5~ contraction has been completed while the remaining 3~ of contraction is accommodated by the potential 3.5% of elasticity range of the veneer sheet provided by the tenderizing step. The process Z
can thus practically eliminate the possibility of splitting during the drying step by confining the contraction to within the range of elasticity. The splitting can be avoided even though the drier may exert a relatively heavy restraining load on the veneer sheet. Additionally, the process Z opens up the road to the practical use of driers of the type which brings veneer sheets into direct contact with heated plates and efficiently dries them with relatively intense restraining force.
Such prevention of splits obtainable with the present invention is derived from the effective combination of -tenderizing and compressing with drying as in the Z process.
Basic prerequisites concerning this combination are that tenderizing takes place during or before drying and that compression occurs during drying. With this principle, the short range of elasticity relative to the amount of contraction is compensated for by the tenderizing and compressing steps and, hence, splits which would otherwise occur can be avoided when the contraction exceeds the elasticity range. Tenderizing if done without any assistance would greatly reduce the elasticity range as '~ liS3;~85 already stated. Compression when employed alone would be needed in an e~cessively large amount and, in view of the difficulty presented in compressing various types of veneer sheets with differing contraction rates, a wide range of compression force would be required to accommodate all of them. This degree of compression tends to damage ueneer sheets and such tendency can not readily be prevented.
The combination according to the present invention permits the two different kinds of process to mutually reduce their necessary degree of treatment to such an extent that the individual processings, particularly the compression, can be per~ormed with ease. ~hus, the present invention prevents the splitting of veneer sheets easily and ~
effectively. Another advantage is derived from the inherent combination of the elasticity range provided by tenderizing and that provided by compression. Since the elasticity range as a whole is freely selectable because of the combina~
tion of the determined elasticity range (provided by com-pression) and the free one (provided by tenderizing), it can accommod~te any irregularity in the compression distribution of veneer sheets and, therefore, can also accommodate with ease any contraction which may di~fer from one location to another on a veneer sheet. With this advantage, the contraction of veneer sheets can be easily accommodated over a wide range to favorably fit the properties of the veneer sheets. For example, the Z process shown in FIG.
1 achieves the desired effect without any adjustment even though the contraction rate may rage from 2% to 5.5%.

.,~ ;. 11~3;~85 In accordance with the present invention, a veneer sheet may be tenderized and then compressed, or compressed and then tenderized, or tenderized and compressed at the same time. However, the process wherein tenderizing precedes compression is more desirable than other procedures since, where tenderizing stretches a veneer sheet as in Z process of FIG. 1 for example, at least the stretched proportion of the veneer sheet can be compressed with ease. Preferred - examples o~ the entire process employing such a favorable order of tenderizing and compressing are a process wherein tenderizing occurs before drying and then compression occurs during drying and a process wherein tenderizing occurs during the drying process and then compression takes place.
In a case where the tendering and compressing take place in the opposite order or in an overlapped manner, they will proceed in the course of drying since the compression must occur during drying in any case. Compared with the ideal order, such alternative sequences present difficulty in the compression for compressing a veneer sheet in a direc-tion perpendicular to its grain or maintaining the compressed state of the veneer sheet. Nevertheless, the alternative processes can be readily designed in view of the fact that the necessary amount of compression is far smaller than in the process employing compression along.
The elastic property of veneer sheets will be discussed in ~reater detail in combination with a desirable manner of tenderizing with reference to FIGS. 2-6.

lS3Z85 ., It appears that the elastic property of veneer sheets originates from various kinds of cracks distributed therein.
~hen pulled by hands, a veneer sheet has such cracks enlarged sufficient to pass visible light rays therethrough.
Particularly, an increased nu~ber of transmitted light rays are visible when a suitable degree of tenderizing is applied to a non-processed veneer sheet having cracks only on its back. This is sufficient to provide that tenderizing increases the range of elasticity. Further observation will show that the elasticity results from bending actions of, for example, narrow elongate portions of wood finely divided by the numerous cracks. FIG. 4 depicts a tenderized veneer sheet formed with splits or slits 2 regardless of its grain 1 (indicating the direction of the grain) by, lS for example, a roller having a number of piercing elements in the form of cutting edges. FIG. 5 shows another tenderized veneer sheet whose sli~s 2 extend substantially along the grain without`damaging the ~ibers. The tendency of elasticity concerned here is enhanced more stably in the veneer sheet of FIG. 5 having the fi~ers unbroken than in the veneer sheet of FIG. 4 having the fibers cut apart. However, the veneer sheet of FIG. S tends to permit the slits or splits provided or enlarged by tenderizing to run together and turn into large cracks. In this respect, the veneer sheet of FIG. 4 is desirable because artificial dlstribution of slits i easy. A veneer sheet tenderized in an~ of the two illustrated manners has been proved to gain far more elasticity than any non-tenderized veneer i~` 11532~35 sheets. The present invention proposes a process and apparatus which, as will be descriebed hereinafter, has combined advantages of the two tenderizing methods to give veneer sheets a particularly favorable enlarged range of elasticity.
The process of the present invention includes primary tenderizing and secondary tenderizing which may occur simultaneously with, or after the primary tenderizing.
For the primary tendbrizing, a veneer sheet is formed with preferabiy distributed pierced flaws by piercing elements or cutting edge elements on the periphery of a roller or suitable means is employed to form small flaws (or short slits) from which splits can star~. In the secondary tenderizing, sp~ts tending to extend along the fibers of the veneer sheet are formed as by an apparatus shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. This process employing two simultaneous or successive stages of tenderizing suppresses irregular communication of adjacent splits and permits the splits to be distributed in the manner shown not in FIG. 6(b) but in FIG. 6(a).
Naturally, it is preferable for the splits to run to the pattern of FIG. 6(a) than to that of FIG. 6(b) and most preferable if they extend along the grain of the wood. This most preferable pattern will also increase the elasticity range to a signiticant degree.
Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, there is shown a tenderizing apparatus which has been newly developed in connection with the present invention. The apparatus includes a roller ~: ` 1153Z85 8 whose outer periphery is covered with a layer of elastic material such as rub~er, and a small diameter roller 6 having a number of recesses 7 adapted to guide elongated coil springs 4 therein. ~n operation, the rollers 6 and 8 rotating as indicated by arrows nip a veneer sheet 3 therebetween and feed it in the direction also indicated by the arrow. Then pressurizing means (not shown) associated with the xoller 6 or 8 applies a pressure to the moving veneer sheet 3 while the elongated coil springs 4 move as indicated by the arrow in contact with the periphery of the roller 6 with a relatively small radius of curvature to be opened individually, thereby making the veneer sheet 3 tenderized. More specifically, this tenderizing device employs an improved version of Elemendorf's tenderizing system, that is, it utilizes in combination with Elemendorf's principle the opening actions of outer portions of the adjacent turns of-each coil spring 4 relative to each other which occur when the coil springs are guided within curvature. The device therefore stretches the veneer sheet
3 from opposite sides thereof while forming or enlarging splits by bending, tenderizing the veneer sheet with favorably small pitches. The tenderizing device additionally includes guide members 5 and 5' for the veneer sheet and a conveyor 9 for feeding the veneer sheet.
It should be bome in mind that the "tenderizing"
implies herein is not only forming or enlarging numerous small splits which can stretch a veneer sheet. Even if a processed veneer sheet does not show any expansion, it suffices that the veneer sheet bears numerous small ... ^ 115328S
, splits (inclusive of pierced flaws and flaws formed by a knife-like tool) to have its range of elasticity increased in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the grain.
Now, compression of a veneer sheet will be described in connection with a system for carrying out the discussed process according to the present invention.
Referring to FIG. 7, a veneer sheet processing system is shown to include a tenderizing device whose major part consists of an anvil roller 15 and a tenderizing roller 16 having a number of cutting edge elements thereon. This tenderizer is followed by a transfer path defined by numerous roller pairs such as 17, 17' and 17" and guide plates 18 each intervening between adjacent roller pairs.
While lt is not always necessary to connect the transfer path with the tenderizer 15, 16 by a conveyor, they need be connected together essentially in the same way as the conveyor connection so that a non-processed veneer sheet can be tenderized in advance by the tenderizer. The transfer path extending substantially as far as the tenderizer 15, 16 includes ,a deceleration section which covers an upstream length of the transfer path. This deceleration section has a drive source 19 and speed-reducing mechanisms 20 and 21 operating such that the second roller pair 17' rotates at a speed lower than that of the first roller pair 17 and the third roller pair 17" at a speed lo~er than that of the second. Accordingly, the veneer sheet travelling through this particular section of the transfer path will be compressed by the transfer roller pairs.

~, liS3Zl~5 In the rest of the transfer path, a fourth roller pair and onward will operate at the same speed as the third roller pair 17" and convey the veneer sheet while maintaining the compressed state. In the meantime, hot air is circulated through the space enclosed by heat insulating walls 22 so as to dry the veneer sheet under compression. Denoted by the reference numerals 10 and 11 are a log and a cutting knife, respectively. This cutting station may be connected to the tenderizer 15, 16 either directly or through any lQ known processing step. In this way, where compression is applied to a veneer sheet which is being transferred, a deceleration transfer passage using speed-reducers is defined from a certain point on the transfer path over to a certain downstream point. Then, as clearly understood from FIG. 7, a veneer sheet is compressed by the first roller pair 17 to the third roller pair 17" progressively and maintains a certain degree o~ its compressed state even after having moved past the third pair of rollers. This permits the compression of the veneer sheet until the com-pression stress in the veneer sheet reaches zero due todrying. In this case, the drying step P using heating means proceeds in combination with the compressing step R and the tenderizing step Q takes place in a position sub-stantially upstream of the drying and compressing station in the transfer path. Naturally, the tenderizer may be located in the space defined by the walls 22 in order to tenderize a veneer sheet during drying. In any case, the tenderizer is preferably located within the deceleration `'` ` 115328S
., section of the transfer path or in a position upstream of the deceleration section to promote easy compression and, therefore, simplification of the mechanical arrangement.
It will be appreciated from the above that, of systems using the aforementioned process a system for continuously processing a veneer sheet basically includes a transfer path conveying the veneer sheet, a deceleration section covering a certain upstream length of the transfer path and using deceleration mechanisms, a tenderizer located in a suitable upstream position inclusive of the deceleration section, and suitable heating means facing the transfer path inclusive of the deceleration section. The guide plates 18 employed in combination with roller pairs in FIG.
7 may be replaced by piano wires or like similar elongated elements extending along the lower surface or the lower and upper surfaces of a veneer sheet so long as they define the transfer path together with the roller pairs. Such guide means can be in practice omitted depending on the spacing between adjacent ones of the roller pairs. ~urthermore, the deceleration section of the transfer path need not always be defined in an inlet portion of the transfer path as illustrated. Rather, it is preferable for the decelera-tion section to extend from a position where the moisture content of a veneer sheet becomes substnatially 30% and causes it to shrink notice~bly over to a position down-stream of the first position.
FIG. 8 shows in side elevation another veneer sheet proc~ssing system representing a preferred drving device.

~ lS3Z8S
i~; `

FIG. 9 shows this system in fragmentary front ele~ation and FIG. 10 in a section along line X - X of FIG. 8.
The illustrated arrangement is concerned with a drying device of heat plate type for carrying out the afore-mentioned process according to the present invention.
This type of drying device has been impracticable because it restrains a veneer sheet with relatively large strength and thereby causes noticeable cracks in the veneer sheet during drying. The present invention readily makes it practicable by applying the drying principle discussed and further improving it to promote drying of a veneex sheet in the course of the transfer.
Referring to FIGS. 8 - 10, the system includes two sets of multiple elongated elements 24 and 25, such as coil springs which are passed over a plurality of rollers 26a-26h to define a zigzag trans~er path while sandwiching a veneer sheet 23 therebetween. Each of the rollers 26a-26h has on its periphery multiple annular channels in which those elongated members closer to the roller than the veneer sheet 23 are received to become entirely hidden therein.
For example, as partly shown in FIG. lO, the roller 26a is formed with annular channels 27a and the roller 26b is formed with annular channels 27b. The veneer sheet 23 is thus directly engaged with the peripheral surfaces of the individual rollers. The rollers 26a-26h are individually heated by steam or the like from the inside and connected through speed-reducing mechanisms 28a-28h with a drive source 29. The rotational speed progressively decreases from the most upstream roller over to the most ; ` 1153Z~3s downstream roller with respect to the intended direction of transfer thereby defining a deceleration transfer section. The reference numeral 30 denotes rollers for turning the running directions of the elongated elements 24 and 25.
In operation, the rollers 26a-26h are driven in the directions indicated by the arrows to transfer the veneer sheet 23 while heating the veneer sheet. At the same time, the rollers rotating at successively decreased speeds compress the veneer sheet at the respective shift points from one roller to another. Accordingly, splits due to drying can be reasonably suppressed by the simultaneous drying and compression even without a tenderizer. ~ore effective prevention of splits is achievable by so controlling the speed-reducer mechanisms 28a-28h as to carry out decelera-tion transfer matching with the contraction of various parts of the veneer sheet. Additionally, the illustrated system conveys the veneer sheet 23 in a desirable manner. Since the elongated elements guide the veneer sheet from one roller to another holding it therebetween, the system overcomes possible defects in the veneer sheet such as rotten spots and knotholes in smoothly conveying the veneer sheet without any dislocation or lifting from the heated rollers.
This also holds when the veneer sheet has a relatively narrow width. The system is therefore free from ~amming of the veneer sheet and like troubles and favourable from the viewpoint of practical use.
To conform with the drying principle of the invention, the tenderizer will be located in a suitable position which is basically in or ahead of the drying station.

`d llS3Z~S

Preferably, it may occupy a position within the deceleration section or a suitable position ahead of the deceleration section such as one independent of the deceleration section to introduce a veneer sheet therefrom in the manner shown in FIG. 8. In practice, though not shown, the tenderizer may `be positioned in the vicinity of the inlet of the system shown in FIG. 8 or immediately past of a veneer lathe located in a further upstream position or may be replaced by a veneer lathe of the type which tenderizes a veneer sheet while cutting it off from a log~ When located in the drying station, the tenderizer may take the form of a tenderizing roller with piercing elements and afforded by the roller 26a of FIG. 8. Alternatively, the tenderizer in the drying station may utilize the speed-reducer mechanisms lS 28a and 28b and cause the latter 28b to rotate at a higher speed than the former 28a so that their associated rollers 28b and 28a slightly pull a veneer sheet therebetween to enlarge splits in the veneer sheet.
Meanwhile, it is not a prerequisite to employ all o~
the rolle~s 26a-26h in FIG. 8 for constituting the decelera-tion section. For example, some of the speed-reducers sh~wn may be omitted in order to define the deceleration section by a suitable number of the speed-reducers and their associated rollers. The deceleration section will become 2S particularly effective when designed to cover the region from a position where the moisture content of a veneer sheet is substantially 30% to a certain downstream position.
The individual speed-reducers may be driven at a variable ~ l8 -" ~15328S

speed reduction ratio to cope with various moisture contents and various degrees of co~traction, of the veneer sheets. The compression,may be per~ormed in rel,ation with the co~dition of a veneer sheet processed by a tenderizer with a view to pro-viding optimum compression., To simplify the system, the rollers may have their diameters varied to con,stitute a substantial speed-reducing mechanism.
This syste~ not onl~ achieves the advantages inherent in the basic process discussed but operates ~ith excellent efficiency because a veneer sh,eet directly contacts heated roller surfaces to be dried while having its opposite surfaces turned over repeatedly~ The ~esult is a drying step which con-sumes only a short period of time and a low cost. Moreover, due to the smooth transfer of a veneer sheet, a desired length of heating plate can be obtained merely by installing numerous additional rollers of small diameters. The transfer of a veneer sheet from one roller to another occurs smoothly.
It is preferable that the spacing between each two adjacent elongated elements 24 or 25 be substantially 150 times the veneer thickness or less. If itexceeds150 times, the veneer sheet floats from the rollers at intermediate areas between the elongated elements 24 or 25 with the result -that drying efficiency is reduced. However, if the elongated elements are replaced with belt-like members, the spacing therebetween may be broader, depending upon the belt width. At any rate, the veneer thickness determines the required areas where the sheet is he~d from the outside.
As viewed in Fig. 9, the elongated elements 24 and 25 will be installed in numbers matching the width of the veneer sheet 23. Coil springs are preferable as the elongated elements because they will desirably transfer a veneer sheet even in the deceleration section without slipping on the veneer '~

~153285 sheet or in the annular channels on the xollers. ~h,ere coil springs or the like constitute the elong~ted elements, the two vertical series of rollers in Fig. 8 may be s~aced a little distance from each oth,er to make the transfer o~ a ~eneer sheet from one roller to another, smooth,er~

- l9a -.;~` 1153285 Next, the tenderizer of FIGS. 2 and 3 will be described in more detail.
Referring to FIGS. 11-13, a ten,derizing device according to the present invention includes a plurality of parallel extensible members 4 or flexibe bellows like coil springs. These extensible members of coil springs 4 extend perpendicular to the axis of a roller 8 so that a path for conveying a veneer sheet 3 is defined between the coil springs 4 and roller 8. The roller 8 has its outer peripherv covered with an elastic layer made of rubber for example and is driven for rotation to transfer the veneer sheet 3. A roller or like sylindrical pressing member 6 is located at the back of the coil spring 4 and presses them towards the roller 8 whereby the coil springs 4 moving with the veneer sheet 3 are pressed against the surface of the veneer sheet.
With this device, the presser roller 6 causes the coil springs 4 to bend towards the roller 8 together with the veneer sheet 3 and thereby enlarges the spacing between the adjacent turns of each coil spring. More specifically, those portions of the coil springs 4 engaged with the veneer sheet 3 stretch in their lengthwise direction. This locally subjects the veneer sheet 3 to a tensile force with the result that small splits 2 are formed in the veneer sheet. Such splits 2 will be formed successively in the veneer sheet in accordance with the rotation of the roller 8. It will be noted that, since the magnitude of the tensile force acting on the veneer sheet depends on the opening degree . . 3.i5;~285 . .

of the adjacent turns of the coil springs in the bent posi-tion, the splits 2 can be provided to the veneer sheet substantially regardless of various conditions such as thickness, strength and transfer speed of the veneer sheet as well as presence/absence of cracks at the back of the veneer sheet and orientation of the back cracks if present. ~eanwhile, the elastic layer on the roller 8 assists in forming and enlarging the splits 2 from the side of the veneer sheet 3 opposite to the coil springs
4 due to its local variation in speed which results from deformation. This, however, does not help enlarge the splits beyond a necessary degree because the extension of the splits 2 is regulated by the coil springs 4. For this reason and since the splitting caused by tension does not accompany lS a cut across the grain of the veneer sheet, the illustrated device offers quite an effective and adequate tendering effect inclusive of extension without detriment to the strength of a veneer sheet.
The coil springs are an example of the extensible members 4 which is the most preferable in forming minute splits, increasing the applicable range of the device and promoting easy maintenance. FIG. 17 illustrates an alterna-tive example of the extensible members which comprises a number of blocks 4b arranged along the lengthwise direc-tion of the extensible mem~ers in an intimately engagedor slightly spaced relation. The blocks 4b are connected together by a belt 4a of a relatively hard material at their one side. Each block 4b may have a section shown in FIG. 18a .

~S3Z~35 .

or 18b; the blocks 4b and belt 4a may even be formed integrally of a hard resin or hard rubber for instance as shown in FIG.
18c with the blocks arranged into a comb llke configuration.
Any other arrangements may be employed for the extensible members 4 insofar as they have those portions pressingly engagable with a veneer sheet aligned in the lengthwise direction and the spacing between said adjacent engagable portions can be increased by bending of the extensible members as discussed. It will be recalled that the magnitude of the *ension or the dimension of the small splits depends on the opening degree of the neighboring portions of the extensible members in the bent positions. It is thus preferable to select the spacing of the adjacent engaging portions, the length (thickness) of each engaging portion and the like according to a specific application and in consideration of the bending degree attributable to the presser roller. Preferably, the extensible members are located at suitable spacings as shown in FIG. 11 in order to avoid interference between ad~acent extensible members and that between neighboriny splits. Where the extensible members are endless, the whole device will become favorably small in size. Coil springs are usually formed of iron or an alloy of iron, but such a metal reacts the sap and the like of veneer sheets to change the color of the veneer sheets into brown. Hence, where the device is operated for tenderizing a fresh veneer sheet, it is preferable to use coil springs whose outer surfaces carry rubber layers or plated layers provided such covering layers do not prevent . ~153Z85 ';.

resilient actions of the coil springs. If desired, the coil springs may be bodily made of stainless steel which is inactive to the sap. In any case, a greater effect is achievable by selecting coil springs in consideration of the conditions of a veneer sheet to be processed, intended application of the processed veneer sheet etc.
Concerning the presser member, it should preferably be a rigid member to positively bend the extensible members and its curvature should be suitably determined because the curvature would affect the opening degree of the engaging portions of the extensible members. However, the curvature is not limited to a constant one as that of the presser roller. If use is made of a freely rotatable pressure roller having a polygonal or~elliptic cross-section for example, splits in a veneer sheet can be conaitioned in a desired manner by the adjustable magnitu2e and acting point o~ the tension. Furthermore, the freely rotatable - presser roller may be replaced by a non-rotatable pressing member. Generally, the veneer sheet 3 is conveyed by the rotation of the roller 8. Where another member is installed in the device for moving the veneer sheet 3, the roller 8 will need no drive mechanisms and be only free to rotate.
Meandering and li~e actions of the extensible members 4 would cause the extensible members to interfere with each other and excessively press the veneer sheet. To prevent this, the presser member 6 may have radially outward flanges 6' of a radial dimension less than the thickness of the extensible members and serving to guide and stop 153~35 the extensible members 4 as depicted in FIG. 14.
Alternatively, annular recesses (not shown) may be formed an the presser member 6 to ser~e the same purposes. If necessary, a supporting member (not shown) may be located at the back of the presser member 6 in order to avoid flexing of the presser member attributable to its pressing action.
It may occur that, when the extensible members 4 are released from the bending force to have their adjacent engaging portions closed again, they nip fine fibers of the veneer sheet between their adjacent turns and carry the veneer sheet therewith along their running direction.
This can be avoided if as shown in FIG. 13 the presser member 6 and extensible members 4 are so located that the adjacent turns of each extensible member close at a position downstream of the presser member 6 with respect to the direction of veneer sheet conveyance and where the veneer sheet will have become fully released from the extensible members. The problem can also be settled , by locating a separating member 13 in a position downstream of the presser member 6 as indicated in FIG. 14. Additionally, it is permissible to design the presser member 6 and roller 8 to be movable away from each other under a predetermined level of pressure with a view to coping with unusual pressure forces which may result from overlapping or the like of a veneer sheet.
Second and third embodiments of the present invention are illustrated in FIGS. 15 and 16. Each of these embodiments .. ; ` ~153Z~35 `:

includes, in addition to the various component parts of the first embodiment, a plercing roller 14 in the transfer path of a veneer sheet upstream of the presser member 6.
The roller 12 has numerous short piercing elements 13 on ; its outer periphery and opposes the roller 2 in such a manner as to cut into the veneer sheet 3 while pressing the same.
With this alternative design, the piercing elements 12 on the roller 14 form numerous cuts (not shown) in the veneer sheet 3 with the rotation of the roller 8.
Then the presser roller 6 urges the extensible members 4 towards the roller 8 together with the veneer sheet 3 whereby the turns of the members 4 are opened in contact with the veneer sheet as stated to exert local tension to the veneer sheet.
Since cuts provided by roller 14 are now present in the veneer sheet 3, the tension concentrates on the relatively weak cuts and s~ccessively forms splits each starting from the cut.
Thus, splits in the veneer sheet start from individual cuts provided by the roller 14 and therefore can be formed easily and positively. The cuts in the veneer sheet serve only to cause the tension originating from bending of the extensible members 4 to concentrate to each local portion while the splits or slits are formed strictly by the tension. For this reason and because the extensible members 4 regurate the extension of the splits, growth of the splits beyond a given limit is prevented. Where the cuts in the veneer sheet have irregular distributions in ~ - ~153;~8S
.

size, depth etc., a traditional tenderizing device merely added with the piercing roller applicable to the present invention or like roller will further promote such irregular distributions and thereby bring about various problems such as fall in the strength of the veneer sheet and breakage of the veneer sheet. The device of the invention is free from this kind of drawback and offers a far more improved tenderizing and extending effect.
By suitably locating the piercing elements 12 on the roller 14, for example in a zigzag pattern, splits neighboring each other along the grain of a veneer sheet are prevented fromcomm~licating with each other in a more positive way. This suggests the possibility for increased degrees of tenderness and extension of a veneer sheet without an accompanying fall in the strength, breakage or the like. Designed only to form cuts in a veneer sheet, the short piercing elements on the roller 14 can be arranged densely enough to effectively and ade~uately form splits even in very thin veneer sheets (thickness usually ranging from 0.5 mm to 1 mm) which conventional tenderizing devices have been incapable of processing.
Each piercing element 12 may be in any desired shape such as a needle shape, a cone, a pyramid or a wedge shape as long as it definitely forms cuts in a veneer sheet without unnecessarily cutting of the grains. Also, its height and others on the roller 14 may be suitably determined according to a specific application. It is preferable, for preventing the veneer sheet from being conveyed round ` ll~;~Zt35 the circumference of the roller 14 which has cut into the veneer sheet, to so locate the extensible members 4 as to guide the veneer sheet tow2rds the roller 8 in the transfer path downstream of the roller 14 as viewed s in FIG. 15 or, as shown in FIG. 16, to position a guide in the transfer path downstream of the roller 14 in the same way. Meanwhile, the extensible members 4 may extend somewhat longer along the outer periphery of the roller 8 as viewed in FIG. 15 in a position upstream of the presser roller 6 or the presser roller 6 and roller 14. Then the resultant transfer path will promote very accurate transfer of a veneer sheet and create a precautionary measure against the meandering of the veneer sheet which might occur due to the formation of splits or cuts.
A further tenaerizing device according to the present invention is shown in FIG. 19 and which has a combined presser and piercing roller 12. This roller 14 is intended to press the extensible members 4 and cut into a veneer sheet simultaneously. For this purpose, the roller 12 is positioned on the side of the extensible members 4 opposite to the roller 8 in such a manner as to force the extensible members towards the roller 8 and press and cut into the veneer sheet through the gaps between neighboring parallel extensible members. Short piercing elements 12 may be formed on the periphery of each of multiple flanges 6' which are arranged at equally spaced axial locations on the roller 14 (see FIG. 19). Alternatively, such piercing elements 12 may be directly studded on the roller 14 (see FIG. 20). The roller 14 which is freely rotatable allows its elements 12 to engage the veneer sheet 3 before ., : 1153285 the extensible members 4 are bent to cause splitting of the veneer sheet. Accordingly, numerous splits or slits will be formed successively starting from the cuts provided by the elements 12. While achieving substantially the same effect as the device shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, the device according to this embodiment simplifies the mechanism and therefore offers additional effects because it allo~s the function of forming cuts and that of forming splits to a single common roller. The piercing elements 12 press and cut into the veneer sheet through between the parallel extensible members 4. Due to this arrangement and if the elements 12 are rigid as in the case-of FIGS. l9 and 20, the roller 12 can allow the flanges 6' or the elements 6' to also serve as a guide for avoiding meandering of the members 4.
In summary, a tenderizing device according to the present invention forms numerous small splits eectively and adequately regardless of the physical properties, thickness and cracks on the back of a veneer sheet, orientation of the back cracks, transfer speed of a veneer sheet and other conditions which have obstructed versatile application of conventional devices. The device of the invention thus offers a marked tenderizing and extending effect and greatly contributes to the progress of the art of plywood production.

Claims (5)

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:
1. A tenderizing device for a veneer sheet comprising a plurality of parallel extensible members extending in an intended direction of veneer sheet transfer and movable in accordance with the transfer of a veneer sheet, said extensible members having portions pressingly engageable with the veneer sheet in transfer in the lengthwise direction while causing the spacing between said engageable portions of adjacent turns thereof to enlarge by binding said extensible members that said engageable portions become convex; a roller freely rotatably disposed on the engaging side of the extensible members and having the outer periphery thereof covered with an elastic member, said extensible members and roller defining a veneer sheet transfer path therebetween; and a pressing element located on the side of the extensible members opposite to said engaging side and adapted to press the extensible members towards the roller.
2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein a second roller disposed in said transfer path upstream of the pressing element and carrying numerous small piercing pieces on its outer periphery to thereby press and cut into the veneer sheet.
3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein a second roller located on the side of said extensible members opposite to the engageable side and adapted to force the extensible members towards the first roller and press and cut into the veneer sheet through between the parallel extensible members.
4. A device as claimed in claims 1, 2 or 3, wherein said extensible members include coil springs.
5. A device as claimed in claims 1, 2 or 3, wherein said extensible members include a number of blocks arranged in the lengthwise direction in a closely engaged or slightly spaced relation, and a strip con-necting said blocks together at one side of the blocks.
CA000415371A 1979-08-20 1982-11-10 Method and apparatus for drying veneer sheet Expired CA1153285A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA000415371A CA1153285A (en) 1979-08-20 1982-11-10 Method and apparatus for drying veneer sheet

Applications Claiming Priority (8)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP10640879A JPS5630572A (en) 1979-08-20 1979-08-20 Method and device for drying veneer
JP54-106408 1979-08-20
JP54-159423 1979-12-08
JP15942379A JPS5682202A (en) 1979-12-08 1979-12-08 Tender rising device for veneer
JP55-4840 1980-01-19
JP484080A JPS56102678A (en) 1980-01-19 1980-01-19 Drier for veneer
CA000358586A CA1146742A (en) 1979-08-20 1980-08-19 Method and apparatus for drying veneer sheet
CA000415371A CA1153285A (en) 1979-08-20 1982-11-10 Method and apparatus for drying veneer sheet

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA1153285A true CA1153285A (en) 1983-09-06

Family

ID=27508179

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA000415371A Expired CA1153285A (en) 1979-08-20 1982-11-10 Method and apparatus for drying veneer sheet

Country Status (1)

Country Link
CA (1) CA1153285A (en)

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