Method and apparatus for producing and transporting single and multilayer chipboards

Abstract

Method of producing chipboards includes conveying elongated cauls end-to-end sequentially past a material-dispensing device, forming a mat of the dispensed material on the cauls, severing the mat transversely to chipboard lengths, feeding the severed mat lengths together with the cauls into a heating press and beating and compressing the same to form chipboards, withdrawing the chipboards and cauls together from the heating press and separating them from one another, and continuously reconveying the cauls past the material-dispensing device. In apparatus for carrying out the method, an endless conveyor for conveying the cauls end-to-end has entrainer dogs engageable with abutment rods on the cauls for advancing the cauls in a substantially horizontal conveying direction along an upper run of the conveyor located below the material-dispesing device.

I claim: .[.1. Method of producing and transporting chipboards of material consisting primarily of wood particles, chips, fibers or the like and a binding agent, which comprises conveying a plurality of elongated cauls end-to-end sequentially past a material-dispensing device, continuously spreading material dispensed from the device over the cauls so as to form a continuous mat of the material thereon, transversely severing the mat to form lengths thereof on the respective cauls corresponding substantially to the ultimate length of the chipboard to be formed, feeding the severed mat portions together with the respective cauls into a multitier heating press, subjecting the mat portions and cauls to pressure and heat in the heating press to form the mat portions into chipboards, withdrawing the chipboards and respective cauls together from the heating press, separating the chipboards from the cauls and continuously reconveying the cauls in closed circuit past the material-dispensing device..]. .[.2. Method according to claim 1, wherein the cauls have a main body portion of the metal cloth construction and a ledge at the leading edge thereof extending laterally beyond the main body portion, and the ledge of one caul overlaps the trailing edge of the immediately preceding caul in the conveying direction of the cauls..]. .[.3. Method according to claim 1 wherein, prior to feeding the cauls and mat portions into the heating press, they are inserted stepwise into a multitier supply cage that is movable vertically upward and downwardly, the cauls and respective mat portions being inserted into all of the even-numbered tiers of the cage, counting the lowermost tier thereof, as the cage is moved upwardly, and being inserted into the uneven-numbered tiers thereof as the cage is moved downwardly..]. .[.4. Method according to claim 1 which further comprises placing another caul as a covering on top of the mat portion before the latter is compressed, and thereafter compressing the sandwich formed by the two cauls and the mat portion therebetween, then sealing off the other caul from the formed chipboard and returning it to the location at which it was placed on the mat portion..]. .[.5. Method according to claim 1 which comprises transferring a mat portion, after it has been severed from the continuous mat, and its respective caul to a control station and simultaneously transferring a mat portion and its respective caul, that have been previously transferred to the control station, into a heating-press supply cage..]. .[.6. Method according to claim 5 which comprises determining at the control station if the mat portion is defective and in response thereto, conveying the defective mat portion on its respective caul in a downward direction, separating the mat portion from the caul, and reconveying the caul past the material-dispensing 
     
        device..]. .[.7.  Apparatus for producing and transporting chipboards of material consisting primarily of wood particles, chips, fibers or the like and a binding agent, comprising a material-dispensing device, a plurality of elongaged cauls, main conveyor means for conveying said cauls end-to-end sequentially past said material-dispensing device so that material is continuously spread from said device over said cauls to form a continuous mat of the material thereon, severing means located adjacent said main conveyor means downstream from said material-dispensing device for transversely severing the mat into lengths thereof on the respective cauls corresponding substantially to the ultimate length of the chipboard to be formed, a multitier heating press located downstream from said severing means for receiving said mat portions and respective cauls therein and subjecting them to heat and pressure to form the mat portions into chipboards, means for withdrawing the chipboards and respective cauls together from said heating press, means for separating the chipboards from the respective cauls, and conveyor means for reconveying said cauls in a closed cycle past said material-dispensing device..]. .[.8. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said cauls have a main body portion of metal cloth construction and are provided with a ledge at the leading edge thereof extending laterally beyond said main body portion..]. .[.9. Apparatus according to claim 7 including a multitier supply cage located upstream of said heating press adapted to receive a mat portion with its respective caul in each tier thereof, and means for simultaneously transferring a plurality of the mat portions and respective cauls into 
     
     
        said heating press..]. 10. Apparatus according to claim .[.8.]. .Iadd.16 .Iaddend.further comprising a horizontally disposed thrust mechanism adjustable to a selected length and having a plurality of gripping members thereon for respectively engaging the ledges of a plurality of cauls at the rear edge thereof so as to advance said cauls in the main conveying direction, and second conveyor means for driving said connecting member in 
     
     
        substantially horizontal direction. 11. Apparatus according to claim .[.8.]. .Iadd.16 .Iaddend.including a control station located downstream of said severing means for comparing the severed mat portions to nominal specifications, and means operatively connected to said control station for blocking a mat portion from said heating press if it fails to meet the 
     
     
        nominal specifications. 12. Apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said control station is located upstream from said supply cage, and said blocking means comprises a pivot table located between said control station and said supply cage. .[.13. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said heating press is provided with heating platens, and screen-like cauls are disposed on the underside of said heating 
     
     
        platens..]. 14. Apparatus according to claim .[.8.]. .Iadd.16 .Iaddend.wherein said supply cage has a lowermost tier provided with a substantially horizontal slotted plate, and a substantially horizontal conveyor located at the underside of said plate, and a common thrust beam located at all the other tiers of said supply cage for simultaneously transferring mat portions and cauls located at said other tiers into said heating press. .Iadd. 15. Method of producing and transporting chipboards of material consisting primarily of wood particles, chips, fibers or the like and a binding agent which comprises conveying a plurality of elongated cauls each of which has a main body portion of screen-like metal cloth construction and a ledge at the leading edge thereof extending beyond the main body portion, end to end sequentially past a material dispensing station with the ledge of one caul overlapping the trailing edge of the immediately preceeding caul in the conveying direction, continuously spreading material dispensed from the device over the cauls so as to form a continuous mat of the material thereon, transversely severing the mat to form lengths thereof on the respective cauls corresponding substantially to the ultimate length of the chipboard to be formed, feeding the severed mat portions together with the respective cauls into a multitier heating press, subjecting the mat portions and cauls to pressure and heat in the heating press to form the mat portions into chipboards, withdrawing the chipboards and respective cauls together from the heating press, separating the chipboards from the cauls and continuously reconveying the cauls in closed circuit past the material dispensing device. .Iaddend..Iadd. 16. Apparatus for producing and transporting chipboards of material consisting primarily of wood particles, chips, fibers or the like and a binding agent, comprising a material-dispensing device, a plurality of elongated cauls, each of which has a main body portion of screen-like metal cloth construction and a ledge at the leading edge thereof extending laterally beyond said main body portion, main conveyor means for conveying said cauls end-to-end sequentially past said material-dispensing device so that material is continuously spread from said device over said cauls to form a continuous mat of the material thereon, severing means located adjacent said main conveyor means downstream from said material-dispensing device for transversely severing the mat into lengths thereof on the respective cauls corresponding substantially to the ultimate length of the chipboard to be formed, a multitier heating press located downstream from said severing means for receiving said mat portions and respective cauls therein and subjecting them to heat and pressure to form the mat portions into chipboards, a multitier supply cage for feeding said mat portions and respective cauls to said heating press, means for withdrawing the chipboards and respective cauls together from said heating press, means for separating the chipboards from the respective cauls, and conveyor means for reconveying said cauls in a closed cycle past said material-dispensing device..Iaddend.