Scuffing machine for finishing wood products

Abstract

A scuffing machine is provided for finishing the surfaces of continuously advancing wood products. The machine includes a frame defining a scuffing station, with a conveyor for transporting the wood products through the scuffing station in a generally horizontal feeding direction. A plurality of scuffing brushes are mounted on the frame at the scuffing station for rotation about vertical axes. Each scuffing brush includes a plurality of elongated, vertically extending bristles which terminate in distal ends for engaging the wood products.

1 . A scuffing machine for finishing the surfaces of continuously advancing wood products, comprising: 
 a frame defining a scuffing station;    conveying means on the frame for transporting wood products to be finished through the scuffing station in a generally horizontal feeding direction;    a plurality of scuffing brushes mounted on the frame at the scuffing station for rotation about vertical axes, the axes of some of the brushes being spaced transversely of the feeding direction, the axes of some of the brushes being spaced generally parallel to the feeding direction, and some of the brushes overlapping transversely of the feeding direction to prevent transverse finishing gaps on the wood products; and    each scuffing brush including a plurality of elongated, vertically extending bristles which terminate in distal ends for engaging the wood products.    
     
     
         2 . The scuffing machine of  claim 1  wherein said scuffing brushes are disposed in at least two generally parallel rows extending transversely of the feeding direction.  
     
     
         3 . The scuffing machine of  claim 2  wherein the axes of the brushes in one row are offset transversely of the axes of the brushes in the other row.  
     
     
         4 . The scuffing machine of  claim 1  wherein at least a pair of adjacent brushes on transversely spaced axes include bristles which intermesh when the brushes are rotated.  
     
     
         5 . The scuffing machine of  claim 1  wherein adjacent brushes on transversely spaced axes rotate such that outer peripheries thereof move in the same direction.  
     
     
         6 . The scuffing machine of  claim 1 , including a cleaning station on the frame down-line of the scuffing station, with at least one cleaning brush located thereat, the cleaning brush comprising a roller brush rotatable on a horizontal axis extending transversely of said feeding direction.  
     
     
         7 . The scuffing machine of  claim 1  wherein the bristles of at least some of said scuffing brushes are on the order of 2-4 inches long.  
     
     
         8 . The scuffing machine of  claim 1  wherein the bristles of at least some of said scuffing brushes are on the order of 0.20-0.050 inch in diameter.  
     
     
         9 . The scuffing machine of  claim 1  wherein the bristles of at least some of said scuffing brushes are fabricated of abrasive impregnated plastic material.  
     
     
         10 . The scuffing machine of  claim 9  wherein said bristles have an abrasion factor on the order of 80-240 grit.  
     
     
         11 . The scuffing machine of  claim 9  wherein said bristles are of a nylon/silicone carbide material.  
     
     
         12 . The scuffing machine of  claim 1 , including motor means for rotating said scuffing brushes on the order of 100-500 rpm.  
     
     
         13 . The scuffing machine of  claim 1 , including a single motor for conjointly rotating a plurality of said scuffing brushes.  
     
     
         14 . The scuffing machine of  claim 1  wherein the bristles of at least one of said scuffing brushes have proximal ends fixed to a base of the brush, and including a band about the brush around the distal ends of the bristles to control outward flaring of the bristles.  
     
     
         15 . A scuffing machine for finishing the surfaces of continuously advancing wood products, comprising: 
 a frame defining a scuffing station;    conveying means on the frame for transporting wood products to be finished through the scuffing station in a generally horizontal feeding direction;    a plurality of scuffing brushes mounted on the frame at the scuffing station for rotation about vertical axes, the axes of some of the brushes being spaced transversely of the feeding direction; and    each scuffing brush including a plurality of elongated, vertically extending bristles which terminate in distal ends for engaging the wood products, at least a pair of adjacent brushes on said transversely spaced axes including bristles which intermesh when the brushes are rotated.    
     
     
         16 . The scuffing machine of  claim 15  wherein the bristles of at least some of said scuffing brushes are on the order of 2-4 inches long.  
     
     
         17 . The scuffing machine of  claim 15  wherein the bristles of at least some of said scuffing brushes are on the order of 0.20-0.050 inch in diameter.  
     
     
         18 . The scuffing machine of  claim 15  wherein the bristles of at least some of said scuffing brushes are fabricated of abrasive impregnated plastic material.  
     
     
         19 . The scuffing machine of  claim 18  wherein said bristles have an abrasion factor on the order of 80-240 grit.  
     
     
         20 . A scuffing machine for finishing the surfaces of continuously advancing wood products, comprising: 
 a frame defining a scuffing station;    conveying means on the frame for transporting wood products to be finished through the scuffing station in a generally horizontal feeding direction;    a plurality of scuffing brushes mounted on the frame at the scuffing station for rotation about vertical axes, the axes of some of the brushes being spaced transversely of the feeding direction;    each scuffing brush including a plurality of elongated, vertically extending bristles which terminate in distal ends for engaging the wood products, the bristles of at least one of the scuffing brushes having proximal ends fixed to a base of the brush; and    a band about the brush around the distal ends of the bristles to control outward flaring of the bristles.    
     
     
         21 . The scuffing machine of  claim 20  wherein the bristles of at least some of said scuffing brushes are on the order of 2-4 inches long.  
     
     
         22 . The scuffing machine of  claim 20  wherein the bristles of at least some of said scuffing brushes are on the order of 0.20-0.050 inch in diameter.  
     
     
         23 . The scuffing machine of  claim 20  wherein the bristles of at least some of said scuffing brushes are fabricated of abrasive impregnated plastic material.  
     
     
         24 . The scuffing machine of  claim 23  wherein said bristles have an abrasion factor on the order of 80-240 grit.  
     
     
         25 . A scuffing machine for finishing the surfaces of continuously advancing wood products, comprising: 
 a frame defining a scuffing station;    conveying means on the frame for transporting wood products to be finished through the scuffing station in a generally horizontal feeding direction;    a plurality of scuffing brushes mounted on the frame at the scuffing station for rotation about vertical axes, the axes of some of the brushes being spaced transversely of the feeding direction; and    each scuffing brush including a plurality of elongated, vertically extending bristles which terminate in distal ends for engaging the wood products, the bristles of at least some of the scuffing brushes being fabricated of an abrasive impregnated plastic material on the order of 2-4 inches long and 0.20-0.050 inch in diameter.    
     
     
         26 . The scuffing machine of  claim 25  wherein said bristles have an abrasion factor on the order of 80-240 grit.  
     
     
         27 . The scuffing machine of  claim 25  wherein said bristles are of a nylon/silicone carbide material.