Method and apparatus for producing figured veneer
A method for making a piece of figured veneer comprises softening lignin in a sheet of veneer, and advancing the sheet of veneer between a first roller having a semi-flexible outer surface and a second roller. Apparatus for making a piece of figured veneer comprises a device for softening lignin in a sheet of veneer, and first and second rollers between which the sheet of veneer is pressed. The first roller has a semi-flexible outer surface.
1. Apparatus for making a piece of figured veneer, the apparatus comprising
a device for softening lignin in a sheet of veneer,
a first roller and a second roller between which the sheet of veneer is pressed, the first roller having a metallic body and a semi-flexible elastomeric outer surface, and the second roller having a corrugated outer surface to form a sheet of corrugated veneer having a plurality of crests, and
a device for surfacing the sheet of corrugated veneer to remove the plurality of crests to make the piece of figured veneer.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the semi-flexible elastomeric outer surface comprises a vulcanized elastomeric material.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the semi-flexible elastomeric outer surface is corrugated.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the device for softening lignin in a sheet of veneer comprises a steamer.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a veneer drying oven for drying the piece of figured veneer.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the second roller having a corrugated outer surface comprises steel.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the corrugated outer surface are etched.
8. Apparatus for making a piece of figured veneer, the apparatus comprising
a device for softening lignin in a sheet of veneer, and
non-complementary corrugating press rollers for pressing the sheet of veneer, each non-complementary corrugating press roller having a pitch and a depth to press the sheet of veneer into a sheet of corrugated veneer having a plurality of crests, the non-complementary corrugating press rollers including a first roller having a semi-flexible surface.
9. The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising a device for surfacing the sheet of corrugated veneer to remove the plurality of crests to make the piece of figured veneer.
10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the device for surfacing the sheet of corrugated veneer comprises a sanding device.
11. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the semi-flexible surface comprises a vulcanized elastomeric material.
12. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the device for softening lignin in a sheet of veneer comprises a steamer.
13. The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising a veneer drying oven for drying the sheet of corrugated veneer without relieving the corrugations.
14. Apparatus for making a piece of figured veneer, the apparatus comprising
a device for softening lignin in a sheet of veneer,
a first roller and a second roller between which the sheet of veneer is pressed, the first roller having a metallic body and a semi-flexible outer surface, and the second roller having a corrugated outer surface to form a sheet of corrugated veneer having a plurality of crests, and
a device for surfacing the sheet of corrugated veneer to remove the plurality of crests to make the piece of figured veneer.
15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the semi-flexible outer surface is substantially smooth.
16. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the semi-flexible outer surface is corrugated.
17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the corrugated semi-flexible outer surface of the first roller is non-complimentary with the corrugated outer surface of the second roller.