Method and apparatus for producing figured veneer
A method and apparatus for making a piece of figured veneer comprise means for, and the steps of, softening lignin in a sheet of veneer, pressing the sheet of veneer between complementary corrugating press rollers having a pitch and a depth to press the sheet of veneer into a wavy or corrugated configuration, and surfacing the pressed sheet of veneer to remove crests of the corrugations, making the piece of figured veneer. Another method and apparatus for making a piece of figured veneer, comprise means for, and the steps of, softening lignin in a sheet of veneer, placing the sheet of veneer onto a wavy or corrugated surface of a plate, pressing the sheet of veneer using a press roller so that the roller presses the sheet of veneer against the surface to achieve a wavy or corrugated veneer, and surfacing the pressed sheet of veneer to remove peaks of the corrugations, making the piece of figured veneer. Yet another method and apparatus for making a piece of figured veneer, comprise means for, and the steps of, softening lignin in a sheet of veneer, placing the sheet of veneer onto a corrugated surface of a plate having such a wavy or corrugated surface, pressing the sheet of veneer onto the troughs and peaks of the surface using a flexible platen having a corrugated surface so that the corrugated surface of the platen presses the sheet of veneer against the corrugated surface of the plate to achieve a wavy or corrugated veneer, and surfacing the pressed sheet of veneer to remove peaks of the corrugations, making the piece of figured veneer.
1. Apparatus for making a piece of figured wood veneer, the apparatus comprising a heating device for softening lignin in a sheet of wood veneer, a plate having an upwardly facing corrugated surface, a flexible platen having a downwardly facing corrugated surface, a press roller for pressing the downwardly facing corrugated surface of the platen against the sheet of wood veneer onto the troughs and peaks of the upwardly facing corrugated surface of the plate so that the platen and plate presses the sheet of wood veneer into a corrugated sheet of wood veneer, and a surfacing device for surfacing the corrugated sheet of wood veneer to remove peaks of the corrugations, making the piece of figured wood veneer.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the heating device comprises a steaming device.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a device for drying the corrugated sheet of wood veneer without relieving the corrugations.
4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the device for drying the corrugated sheet of wood veneer without relieving the corrugations comprises a wood veneer drying oven.
5. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the surfacing device comprises a sanding device.