GB1576816A - Process and apparatus for the production of articles made from agglomerated ligneous particles and articles obtained by the process - Google Patents

Description

(54) PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF ARTICLES MADE FROM AGGLOMERATED LIGNEOUS PARTICLES, AND ARTICLES OBTAINED BY THE PROCESS (71) We, AGENCE NATIONALE DE VALORISAnON DE LA RECHERCHE (ANVAR), a French Company of 13, rue Madeleine Michelis-92522-Neuilly-sur-Seine, France, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be greanted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: The present invention relates to a process for the production of objects or articles made from agglomerated ligneous particles, as well as to an apparatus for performing this process. The invention also relates to articles obtained by this process.

Within the scope of the present invention, the term ligneous particles is understood to mean swelled elongated ligneous particles, whose average length is much greater than the width and height thereof, for example 10 times greater of several dozen times greater, said particles forming assemblies or masses of particles of variable dimensions.

The expansion of these particles is at least equal to 30 times the volume of the initial ligneous material whose fibres were not broken.

For example, such particles can be produced by a process described in French Patent No. 1,576,376 which comprises breaking the fibres of wood logs in the direction of the grain of the wood by means of gouge chains, making it possible to obtain elongated fibres of variable thickness and length, forming a mass of particles, whose dimensions vary around a mean value.

In exemplified manner, such particles can also be ligneous fibres such as coconut fibres, fibres obtained from large sized sheets or other vegetable elements making it possible to obtain fibres having the above-mentioned characteristics.

Within the meaning of the present invention, particles are mixtures of ligneous particles of different origins and thus forming a mixture of two or more masses of fibres, whose dimensions fluctuate about the same corresponding number of mean values.

It has already been proposed, for example in French Patent No. 1,573,928 and its Addition 95,386 to produce agglomerated articles obtained by using such ligneous particles and more particularly wood particles, said processes being characterised in that the particles are coated or impregnated with a small quantity of a polymerisable or thermosetting binder, the mass of impregnated particles is subdivided into individual batches which are sufficient for the manufacture of an article or part of an article, said batches are individually poured into a press having a vertical chamber which receives the batch which is then compressed in this chamber by a plurality of rams coming from several directions to form a compressed blank, whereby it is then removed from the chamber in a mould or part of a mould having been used for compression purposes and is polymerised or hardened in heat outside the chamber.

It is an object of the present invention to provide generally an improvement making it possible to supply to a press for the agglomeration of articles made from ligneous particles individual batches of repetitive characteristics, whose particles are in a state permitting the press to mould the article with maximum efficiency.

In such a process, the invention also proposes to improve the quality and control of the coating or impregnation of the binder to obtain an improvemerit in the quality of the finished product. Moreover, the invention proposes in general manner to facilitate the handling and treatment of particles upstream of the press, whilst making said handling and treatment simple and economic, whilst consuming only a small quantity of energy.

The invention also proposes to provide an apparatus permitting the performance of the above process under simple, viable and economic conditions.

According to one aspect of the present invention a process of manufacturing articles from agglomerated ligneous particles consisting of elongated fibres in which process a mass of ligneous particles which have an initial swelling is dropped so that the particles fall freely in a vertical stream under gravity, spraying a liquid binder onto the stream of falling particles at a pre-determined distance below the point at which they are dropped, and delivering particles to means for pressing the particles, the particles having on entry to the pressing means a swelling substantially the same as their degree of initial swelling.

Thus, the swelling of the particles which is initially preferably greater than 45 and advantageously between 50 and 80, is substantially maintained in the impregnated or coated particles.

Preferably, the binder is atomised without using auxiliary compressed fluid.

In this way, an effective coating or impregnation is obtained, substantially without loss of binder and whilst ensuring, due to the lack of air eddies in the flow of particles an application of the binder to almost all the surface area of the particles.

Furthermore, in this way, impregnated or coated particles which, at the end of their fall, pass onto a conveyor means have at this point a degree of swelling which is close or identical to the initial level.

There are preferably several spraying points vertically spaced along the fall path of the particles. Thus, at a first level, it is advantageously possible to provide one or several binder spraying points and at a lower level one or several further points, which are preferably angularly displaced relative to the first points.

At intervals, it is also advantageously possible to provide for the deflection of particles located on the periphery of the flow of particles in order to bring them into the flow, said deflection preferably taking place just above the spraying points.

Spraying is regulated in such a way as to obtain according to the requirements of use, a content by weight of the binders in dry extract, between 6 and 10kg per 100kg of particles.

After impregnation of the particles they may be separated into batches of particles.

The particles may be separated into such batches by passing the sprayed particles onto a conveyor belt equipped with transverse partitions forming identical compartments on the belt in such a way as to ensure a complete or excessive filling of each compartment, following which the surplus particles are removed by a topping process, preferably by blowing in air with jets directed in a substantially horizontal manner. The conveyor is then extended by an inclined portion at the end of which transverse partitions are retracted one behind the other, thus permitting on each occasion the discharge by sliding of a batch of particles.

However, as a variant, firstly the layer of particles can be topped to remove surplus particles, following which the layer is subdivided into individual batches, for example by cutting the layer into sections by means of a guillotine, either immediately after topping, or subsequently after the layer has undergone other treatments.

Instead of being performed by blowing air, the topping of the layers can also be performed by means of rotary rollers equipped with teeth or points, said teeth or points preferably being arranged on the roller in a helical manner so as to cause a lateral displacement of the particles by the said points. Auxiliary blowing means can also be used to aid the action of said topping rollers.

Advantageously and particularly when the particles are continuously dried prior to being coated, an accumulation of particles is made especially at the outlet from the drying systems for cooling on a planar surface, whereby said particles are brought to one end of the said surface and are discharged at the other end, whereby at least one second planar horizontal stored surface is provided, for example above or below the first surface or preferably perpendicular to the first surface to receive particles coming from the drying device, in the case of a stoppage or interruption downstream of the said storage surface.

The invention also relates in another aspect to the ligneous particle agglomerating apparatus when used for carrying out the proces as set forth above, the apparatus comprising means for feeding a mass of ligneous particles consisting of elongated fibres and having an initial swelling into the upper portion of an elongated vertical enclosure, and permitting the particles to fall under gravity, means for spraying a liquid binder onto the stream of falling particles at a predetermined distance below the point at which they are fed into the enclosure, and means for delivering the sprayed particles to a press.

Preferably, the height of the enclosure is at least 8m.

Advantageously the apparatus comprises several spray nozzles, preferably arranged in groups located at different levels, for example a first group of two nozzles diametrically opposed in the said enclosure and at a certain distance below a second group of two diametrically opposed nozzles, displaced by about 90" relative to the first group.

Advantageously, the full height of the particles in the enclosure in front of the higher level nozzle is at least 3m. The distance between two spray nozzle levels can advantageously be of the order of 1.50m.

In this preferred embodiment, the enclosure has, level with each group of spray nozzles, a deflector having the general shape of a truncated cone or a pyramid whose concavity is directed towards the top in order to bring the peripheral particles into the particles flow, preventing them from coming into contact with the nozzles arranged on the periphery of the enclosure.

Preferably, the means for separating the mass of particles into individual batches comprises in per se known manner, a conveyor belt having a first substantially horizontal upper run followed by a run inclined towards the press opening, said conveyor circulating between two fixed sidewalls and also having transverse separating partitions defining on the said conveyor compartments, whose sides are formed by the said fixed partition.According to the invention, the said fixed sidewalls have, at least at one point in the passage of the conveyor at a height corresponding to the height of the desired individual batch in the compartment, one or several blowing nozzles for a compressed fluid arranged level with this position of one of the walls so as to remove excess particles from the compartment passing above the other wall and in this way bringing about the topping of the mass of particles.

Advantageously, deflection means are provided laterally to receive the removed particles and, if applicable, to recycle the same.

Advantageously, the said zones of given height can be regulatable, at the same time as the height position of the blowing nozzle in such a way as to easily obtain the desired height of the level of particles in the compartment.

The accumulation of particles prior to their binder impregation, more particularly in the case where the particles are dried in a continuous drying device is preferably performed in a station comprising at least a first horizontal accumulation belt and at least a second horizontal storage belt, for example located on the first belt.

The invention also has for its object the objects made from agglomerated particles produced by a process according to the invention, as well as a new intermediate industrial product the batches of ligneous particles impregnated or coated with a small amount of binder and ready to be distributed to a press.

Other advantages and characteristics of the invention can be gathered from reading the following description, made in non limitative exemplified manner, with reference to the attached drawings, wherein show: Fig. 1 a plan view of the storage station of an apparatus according to the invention.

Fig. 2 an elevational view of the said storage station.

Fig. 3 an elevational view of the next station of said apparatus with its frame.

Fig. 4 an end view of the station of Fig. 3 without the frame.

Fig. 5 on a larger scale, of part of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 an elevational view of the station for the separation into individual batches.

Fig. 7 on a larger scale, a cross-section VIl-VIl of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 an identical view to that of Fig. 7 in a variant of the invention.

By means of a shredding machine, for example identical to that described in French Patent 1,576,376, a mass of elongated particles is continuously obtained from wood logs cut by gouges along the grain of the wood and having a more or less variable cross-section, fluctuating about a mean value of 0.6mm2 and a length which is also variable, fluctuating about a mean value of 70mm. This mass the particles, of which have a very high degree of swelling, of the order of 60 is advanced by a conveyor belt (not shown) towards an accelerated drying device, for example, a drying tunnel (not shown) which is able to continuously bring about the elimination of almost all the moisture. On leaving the drying tunnel, the particles are brought into an accumulation device shown in Figs 1 and 2 by means of a suitable conveyor.

This apparatus comprises, on an appropriate frame 1, a first horizontal travelling belt 2 returned by end rollers 3 and having an upper run disposed in accordance with a horizontal surface. On either side of belt 2 are provided two elongated vertical partitions 4 which serve to retain particles located on the edge of the belt.

The particles are brought towards the rear end of belt 2 via a distributing conveyor 5 which discharges them in the direction of arrow 6. The width of conveyor 5 is slightly less than that of belt 2 and conveyor 5 effects an oscillating movement passing from one edge of the belt to the other in accordance with arrow 7, in such a way that as a function of the relative forwards speeds of belts 2 and conveyor 5, either a continuous mass of particles is formed on the belt or a more or less sinusoidal band of particles is formed thereon. Thus, the material accumulated on the belt 2 forms a control permitting the desired regularity of downstream operation. At the other end of belt 2, the particles are discharged into a hoppershaped container 13 and from there onto a transverse conveyor 14, whereof the part located beneath the hopper is preferably horizontal.

Above belt 2 is provided a second shorter belt 8 returned by rollers 9, whereof one also issues into hopper 13. On either side of the belt, there are once again two partitions 10, which are on this occasions higher than the partitions 4 of belt 2. Belt 8 is operated in such a way that it can either advance or move back.

In the case where for some reasons the apparatus is stopped downstream of the accumulation station, belt 2 cannot receive any more material and must be stopped.

At this time, by using suitable not shown means, the material from the drying device, instead of being advanced by conveyor 5 is advanced by another not shown conveyor in order to be discharged onto the upper belt 8 in the direction of arrow 12.

When the material from the drier is discharged onto belt 8, the forward movement of the latter is slower than the forward movement of belt 2, so that the stored height, corresponding to the height of partitions 10 is greater. The storage capacity of belt 8 is such that the complete drier can be emptied.

When it is desired to discharge material, it is possible to advance the belt in the opposite direction so as to discharge the material onto belt 2 which in turn discharges it onto conveyor 14.

As a variant, the belts could be removed from one another and connected by suitable conveying means.

Following the horizontal portion shown in Fig. 2, conveyor 14 has an ascending portion visible in Fig. 3 and terminating at the upper end of a vertical enclosure 15 in the form of a tower. This enclosure, which is supported by an appropriate frame 16, has an upper portion of square cross-section 17 which is connected by a widened portion 18 to a cylindrical elongated portion 19 which is followed by a portion 20 in the form of a discharge hopper. At a first level located at about 2.5m below portion 17 and located in portion 19 is provided a truncated cone-shaped deflector 21 which has a central opening and which is operated in such a way as to collect the particles which are discharged by conveyor 14 into the enclosure in such a way as to prevent the free falling flow of particles reaching the wall of portion 19 below level 21.The direction of the arrows in Fig. 5 show how the different particles are collected in the central portion of the enclosure.

In addition, the deflection angle can be modified at random by placing on deflector 21 other truncated cone-shaped deflectors.

for example 22 for obtaining a very inclined deflection or 23 for a less inclined deflection.

Below the level of deflector 21 four ports 24 are provided in wall 19 and are angularly spaced by 90" and through which it is possible to pass supports 25 which support a spray nozzle 26 connected through the base 25 to a pressurized binder source (not shown).

At one point 8m below level 21, is provided a second level which also comprises a deflector 27 indentical to deflector 21 and beneath which in wall 19 there are once again four ports 28 which are displaced relative to one another by 90" and which are angularly displaced by 45" relative to ports 24.

The ports 28 can also receive binder spray nozzles. When all the ports 24 or 28 are not being used for receiving spray nozzles, the unused ports are sealed.

The apparatus also has a certain number of sealable ports such as 29 and 30 permitting the inspection or cleaning of the inside of container 15.

Finally, a second hopper 31 is located beneath the hopper 20 and discharges onto a horizontal portion of a conveyor belt 32.

When the particles are continuously discharged by conveyor 7 into the upper portion 17 of the enclosure, they fall freely downwards. To facilitate the dissociation of the accumulations of particles, it may advantageous to provide immediately at the level of the discharging point into portion 17, means for projecting in compressed air, it being understood that the orientation of the compressed air jet must be such that it causes no significant disturbance of the atmosphere within the enclosure and particularly in zone 19. However, preferably a cylinder with points 17a rotating in the direction of the arrow is provided in the upper portion 17. The particles poured onto this cylinder by conveyor 14 are dispersed and fall into zone 18. An inclined plate 17b is located to the right of the cylinder in order to deflect towards it the particles which have been poured too far away.The cylinder has, for example, a diameter of 45cm and rotates at 150 r.p.m. The free falling particles having traversed zone 18 and the upper portion of zone 19, followed by deflector 21 in which the most peripheral particles are deflected a.nd fed towards the centre. Immediately below the deflector 21, the particles are impregnated by a spray of adhesive from nozzles 26 located in ports 24.

This spraying action takes place by simply atomizing the liquid pressurized binder with out using any auxiliary agent such as a compressed fluid. Thus, this spraying in of binder causes no significant disturbance of the atmosphere and as experience has shown, the particles are impregnated under excellent conditions. After leaving the area of nozzle 26, the particles, after travelling a certain distance, reach a further deflector 27 which collects them again as in the previous case. Beneath deflector 27, the particles are again sprayed with adhesive from nozzles which are angularly displaced relative to the nozzle at the higher level. This binder spraying operation naturally takes place under the same conditions.

Finally, the particles are collected in hopper 20 and from there, via hopper 31, they are supplied to conveyor belt 32.

Experience has shown that almost all the binder is collected by the particles, whereby only a small quantity thereof is collected on the wall of zone 19. Binder is only deposited on deflector 27 and on hopper 20 due to the sliding of certain particles on the surfaces.

Experience has also shown that the distribution of binder is extremely homogeneous and that in the finished articles there are no zones where the binder is missing.

Reference will now be made to Figs. $ and 7.

On leaving enclosure 15, the particles collected by conveyor 32 are discharged from the upper end of an inclined run of conveyor 32 onto a metering belt 33 forming a horizontal run 34 returned by a large diameter roller 35 to form a second downwardly inclined run 36 returned by a smaller diameter roller 37 to form the returning run 38 which is in turn returned by a roller 39. As can be seen, the belt circulates between the two vertical walls 40 which follow the path of the edges of runs 34 and 36.

Moreover, the belt is subdivided by transverse partitions of rectangular cross-section 41 into a certain number of compartments 42. It can be seen that the walls 40 gradually decrease in height in a zone 43 and then reach a constant height in zone 44, whereby at 45 this height continues along the inclined strand 36. The height of the sidewalls at 44 and 45 is equal to the height of the transverse partition 41.

Referring now to Fig. 7, it can be seen that level with the right-hand wall 43 and to the outside of said wall, there are provided one or more air projecting nozzles 46, each projecting a powerful horizontal air jet perpendicular to the direction of advance of run 34. Due to the fact that nozzles 46 are positioned so as to be level with the upper edge of wall 43, only the particles which project above the level of walls 43 are discharged towards a lateral receiving hopper 47, from where they are recovered and recycled, for example, onto conveyor 32. At least one nozzle 46 is located at the end of zone 43 at the height of zone 44 in order to evacuate the particles projecting above this height.

It can therefore be readily understood that in the compartments located between two successive partitions 41 leaving the blowing zone, the height of the layer of particles is substantially the same as the height of the walls at 44 and 45 in such a way that each of the compartments contains a constant volumetric batch of particles.

Moreover, it is clear that when the compartment is advanced on the inclined run 36 and its front transverse partition 41 is retracted by pivoting about cylinder 37, the batch of particles in the compartment slides downwards and, depending on the position of the deflecting plate 48, it is fed towards a chamber 49 of the press or is fed towards the outside. A sealing device 50 sealing an opening controlled by a hydraulic ram makes it possible, if need be, to reach isolated particles on a surface 51 supplied between two batches before being fed into chamber 49.

In an advantageous manner, it is also possible to provide between the discharge zone of conveyor 32 and the wall 43 in the zone in which blowing takes place a topping device, for example, comprising combs or pivoting teeth in order to remove accumulations of particles which project too far above the level of wall 4.

Thus, in the variant shown in Fig. 8, the topping means comprise a horizontal roller 52 which is able to rotate above the layer.

This roller 52 has radially oriented points 53 which are distributed in accordance with two helices of opposite pitch. The rotation of rollers 52 is such that the particles are taken up by the points and are laterally displaced towards the edges of the conveyor due to the helical arrangement of the points.

It is obvious that instead of using points distributed on two opposite helices, it would also be possible to use points distributed in accordance with a single helix. Preferably, several successive rollers are provided and air blowing means can aid the rollers to discharge the particles token up by the points.

Conveyor belt 54, instead of being a metering belt like belt 34, can be an ordinary continuous belt in such a way that an ordinary layer of topped particles is supplied by the conveyor 54. The separation into individual batches can then take place subsequently, for example, by a guillotine or any other cutting means, whereby each section of cut layer is then accelerated to be removed from the remainder of the following layer.

In addition a roller with points distributed on two helixes is used immediately downstream of the zone of discharge on to the band 33 in a manner so as to spread out and remove the lump in the horizontal axis of the belt formed by the discharged particles.

Obviously, numerous variants can be made to the invention as described hereinbefore without passing beyond the scope thereof as defined by the appended claims.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:- 1. A process of manufacturing artciles

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (39)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. again sprayed with adhesive from nozzles which are angularly displaced relative to the nozzle at the higher level. This binder spraying operation naturally takes place under the same conditions. Finally, the particles are collected in hopper 20 and from there, via hopper 31, they are supplied to conveyor belt 32. Experience has shown that almost all the binder is collected by the particles, whereby only a small quantity thereof is collected on the wall of zone 19. Binder is only deposited on deflector 27 and on hopper 20 due to the sliding of certain particles on the surfaces. Experience has also shown that the distribution of binder is extremely homogeneous and that in the finished articles there are no zones where the binder is missing. Reference will now be made to Figs. $ and 7. On leaving enclosure 15, the particles collected by conveyor 32 are discharged from the upper end of an inclined run of conveyor 32 onto a metering belt 33 forming a horizontal run 34 returned by a large diameter roller 35 to form a second downwardly inclined run 36 returned by a smaller diameter roller 37 to form the returning run 38 which is in turn returned by a roller 39. As can be seen, the belt circulates between the two vertical walls 40 which follow the path of the edges of runs 34 and 36. Moreover, the belt is subdivided by transverse partitions of rectangular cross-section 41 into a certain number of compartments 42. It can be seen that the walls 40 gradually decrease in height in a zone 43 and then reach a constant height in zone 44, whereby at 45 this height continues along the inclined strand 36. The height of the sidewalls at 44 and 45 is equal to the height of the transverse partition 41. Referring now to Fig. 7, it can be seen that level with the right-hand wall 43 and to the outside of said wall, there are provided one or more air projecting nozzles 46, each projecting a powerful horizontal air jet perpendicular to the direction of advance of run 34. Due to the fact that nozzles 46 are positioned so as to be level with the upper edge of wall 43, only the particles which project above the level of walls 43 are discharged towards a lateral receiving hopper 47, from where they are recovered and recycled, for example, onto conveyor 32. At least one nozzle 46 is located at the end of zone 43 at the height of zone 44 in order to evacuate the particles projecting above this height. It can therefore be readily understood that in the compartments located between two successive partitions 41 leaving the blowing zone, the height of the layer of particles is substantially the same as the height of the walls at 44 and 45 in such a way that each of the compartments contains a constant volumetric batch of particles. Moreover, it is clear that when the compartment is advanced on the inclined run 36 and its front transverse partition 41 is retracted by pivoting about cylinder 37, the batch of particles in the compartment slides downwards and, depending on the position of the deflecting plate 48, it is fed towards a chamber 49 of the press or is fed towards the outside. A sealing device 50 sealing an opening controlled by a hydraulic ram makes it possible, if need be, to reach isolated particles on a surface 51 supplied between two batches before being fed into chamber 49. In an advantageous manner, it is also possible to provide between the discharge zone of conveyor 32 and the wall 43 in the zone in which blowing takes place a topping device, for example, comprising combs or pivoting teeth in order to remove accumulations of particles which project too far above the level of wall 4. Thus, in the variant shown in Fig. 8, the topping means comprise a horizontal roller 52 which is able to rotate above the layer. This roller 52 has radially oriented points 53 which are distributed in accordance with two helices of opposite pitch. The rotation of rollers 52 is such that the particles are taken up by the points and are laterally displaced towards the edges of the conveyor due to the helical arrangement of the points. It is obvious that instead of using points distributed on two opposite helices, it would also be possible to use points distributed in accordance with a single helix. Preferably, several successive rollers are provided and air blowing means can aid the rollers to discharge the particles token up by the points. Conveyor belt 54, instead of being a metering belt like belt 34, can be an ordinary continuous belt in such a way that an ordinary layer of topped particles is supplied by the conveyor 54. The separation into individual batches can then take place subsequently, for example, by a guillotine or any other cutting means, whereby each section of cut layer is then accelerated to be removed from the remainder of the following layer. In addition a roller with points distributed on two helixes is used immediately downstream of the zone of discharge on to the band 33 in a manner so as to spread out and remove the lump in the horizontal axis of the belt formed by the discharged particles. Obviously, numerous variants can be made to the invention as described hereinbefore without passing beyond the scope thereof as defined by the appended claims. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:-

1. A process of manufacturing artciles

from agglomerated ligneous particles consisting of elongated fibres in which a mass of ligneous particles which have an initial swelling is dropped so that the particles fall freely in a vertical stream under gravity, spraying a liquid binder onto the stream of falling particles at a pre-determined distance below the point at which they are dropped, and delivering the particles to means for pressing the particles, the particles having on entry to the pressing means a swelling substantially the same as their degree of initial swelling.

2. A process according to claim 1 wherein the binder is atomized without using auxiliary compressed fluid.

3. A process according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein several spraying processes are performed, vertically spaced along the path of fall of the particles.

4. A process according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the particles located on the periphery of the flow of particles are locally deflected in order to bring them into the flow.

5. A process according to claim 4, wherein this deflection takes places above the spraying point.

6. A process according to any one of the preceding claims wherein a binder weight between 6 and 10kg per 100kg of particles is sprayed.

7. A process according to any one of the preceding claims wherein after impregnation of the particles they are separated into batches of particles.

8. A process as claimed in claim 7 in which the particles are separated into batches by passing the sprayed particles onto a conveyor belt equipped with transverse partitions forming identical compartments on the belt in such a way as to ensure the complete or excessive filling of each compartment, following which the surface particles are removed by a topping process.

9. A process according to claim 7 or 8 wherein the separation into batches of particles takes place by cutting into sections or guillotining.

10. A process according to either of the claims 8 and 9, wherein at least the final part of the topping process is performed by blowing air in a substantially horizontally directed jet level with the upper surface of the desired batches.

11. A process according to either of the claims 8 and 9, wherein at least part of the topping is performed by means of rollers with points.

12. A process according to claim 8, wherein each batch is successively discharged by sliding by bringing the said batches onto an inclined path and retracting the said transverse partitions.

13. A process according to any one of the claims 8 to 12, wherein the topped particles are recovered and recycled.

14. A process according to any one of the claims 1 to 13, wherein prior to spraying the particles, they are accumulated on a flat horizontal surface in order to cool the said particles.

15. A process according to claim 14.

wherein if necessary, storage takes place on a second flat horizontal surface.

16. A process according to claim 15, wherein the capacity of said storage surface is at least equal to the content of a continuous dryer located upstream.

17. Ligneous particle agglomerating apparatus when used for carrying out the process as claimed in claim 1 comprising means for feeding a mass of ligneous particles consisting of elongated fibres and having an initial swelling, into the upper portion of an elongated vertical enclosure, and permitting the particles to fall under gravity, means for spraying a liquid binder onto the stream of falling particles at a pre-determined distance below the point at which they are fed into the enclosure, and means for delivering the sprayed particles to a press.

18. An apparatus according to claim 17, comprising binder spray means without using an auxiliary fluid.

19. An apparatus according either of claim 17 or claim 18, wherein the height of the enclosure is at least equal to 8m.

20. An apparatus according to claim 18 or claim 19 comprising a plurality of spray nozzles arranged in groups at different levels, whereby the nozzles of one of these levels are angularly displaced relative to the nozzle of another level.

21. An apparatus according to any one of the claims 17 to 20, wherein the fall height of the particles into the enclosure in front of the nozzle at the highest level is at least equal to 3m.

22. An apparatus according to either of claims 20 and 21, wherein the distance between two spray nozzle levels is of the order of 1.50m.

23. An apparatus according to any one of claims 17 to 22, wherein the enclosure, level with each spray nozzle or group of spray nozzles, has a deflector with the general shape of a truncated cone or a pyramid with an upwardly directed concavity.

24. An apparatus according to any one of claims 17 to 23, wherein the upper portion of the enclosure has a widened portion, a cylindrical elongated zone comprising the spray means, and a lower hopper-shaped potion which collects the particles from the cylindrical elongated zone.

25. An apparatus according to any of claims 17 to 24 wherein the endosure has in its upper portion a rotary cylinder with points and means for bringing the particles onto the cylinder.

26. An apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 17 to 25 comprising means for separating into individual batches of particles.

27. An apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the said means for separating into individual batches comprise a conveyor belt having a first substantially horizontal upper run followed by a run inclined towards the opening of the press, said conveyor travelling between two stationary sidewalls and also having transverse partitions defining on the conveyor, compartments whose sides are represented by the said fixed partitions, said device having at at least one position of the conveyor travel, at a height corresponding to the height of the individual desired batch in the compartment, means for removing surplus particles.

28. An apparatus according to claim 26, wherein for the separation into individual batches, it comprises a cutting means, more particularly guillotining means.

29. An apparatus according to any one of the claims 26 to 28, wherein it comprises topping means having one or more nozzles for blowing a compressed fluid arranged level with one sidewall for removing excess particles from the compartment above the other wall and for bringing about a topping of the mass of particles.

30. An apparatus according to claim 29, wherein it comprises deflection means located laterally in front of the said blowing nozzles for receiving the projected particles.

31. An apparatus according to any one of the claims 26 to 30, wherein the topping means comprise at least one horizontal roller with points, distributed according to at least one helical line on the surface of the roller.

32. An apparatus according to any one of the claims 17 to 32, comprising, in front of the binder coating or impregnating means, an accumulation station comprising at least a first horizontal accumulation belt and at least a second horizontal storage belt.

33. An apparatus according to claim 32, wherein the first and second belts are superimposed.

34. An apparatus according to either of the claims 32 and 33, wherein at least one of the said belts is supplied by conveying means and has a width which is significantly greater than that of the conveying means, whereby the latter can be given a discharging movement from one side to the other of the corresponding belt.

35. An apparatus according to any one of the claims 32 to 34, wherein the two said horizontal belts have a discharging end within a common hopper.

36. Batches of ligneous particles impregnated or coated with binder in accordance with the process of any one of the claims 1 to 16.

37. Articles made from agglomerated particles produced by the process according to any one of the claims 1 to 16.

38. A process substantially as described in claims 1 to 16 and as represented in the drawings.

39. An apparatus substantially as described in claims 17 to 35 and as represented in the drawings.