# Patent

## Title
Method of forming metal matrix composites by use of an immersion casting

## Abstract

Slicing of the flitch proceeds as previously discussed until the knife and pressure bar assembly 42 reaches the saw cut 160. At that time, rotation of the carriage 12 is stopped and one 170 of the two resulting pieces 170, 172 is turned end for end and re-mounted on the mounting plate 230 so that the grains of both pieces 170, 172 extend in the same direction. This reduces the likelihood of opening up the grain of the veneer that is sliced from pieces 170, 172 during the late stages of the slicing operation.

## Background
## Claims

1. A flitch table for mounting a flitch for slicing of veneer from the flitch by a knife, the flitch including a mounting side which lies adjacent the table when the flitch is mounted to the table, the mounting side including an opening, the table including a dog for projecting into the opening when the flitch is mounted to the table to fix the flitch to the table for slicing of the flitch, the dog having a flitch fixing position in which the flitch is fixed to the table by the dog and a flitch releasing position in which the flitch is not fixed to the table by the dog, and means for driving the dog between the fixing and releasing positions.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the dog comprises a dogging portion for engaging the flitch adjacent the opening when the dog is in the fixing position.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the drive means comprises a drive shaft for rotating the dog between the fixing position and the releasing position.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the dog comprises an oval shaped head portion, the dogging portion comprising the region of the head portion adjacent either end of the major axis of the oval shaped head portion, the drive shaft mounting the dog adjacent the intersection of the major and minor axes of the head portion.

5. The invention of claim 3 wherein the opening comprises a groove extending generally transversely to the direction of relative movement between the flitch and the knife during the slicing of veneer.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein there are a plurality of dogs and a plurality of drive shafts, the dogs spaced along the length of the groove when the flitch is mounted on the table.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the drive means substantially simultaneously drives all of the dogs between their fixing positions and their releasing positions.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the flitch table further comprises a guide rail extending between adjacent dogs, the guide rail extending into the groove between the locations at which said adjacent dogs extend into the groove when the flitch is mounted on the table.

9. The invention of claim 5 wherein the flitch comprises a plurality of such grooves extending generally parallel to each other.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein there are a plurality of dogs and a plurality of drive shafts, the dogs arranged in rows, each row of dogs extending along the length of one of the grooves when the flitch is mounted on the table.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the drive means substantially simultaneously drives all of the dogs between their fixing positions and their releasing positions.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the flitch table comprises guide rails extending between adjacent dogs along the length of one of the grooves when the flitch is mounted on the table, the guide rails extending into respective ones of the grooves between the locations at which said adjacent dogs extend into the respective grooves when the flitch is mounted on the table.

13. A flitch table for mounting a flitch for slicing of veneer from the flitch by a knife, the flitch including a mounting side which lies adjacent to the table when the flitch is mounted to the table, the mounting side including a groove extending generally transversely of the direction of relative movement between the flitch and the knife during the slicing of veneer, the table including means defining a guide rail for projecting into the groove when the flitch is mounted to the table.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 and further comprising a dog for fixing the flitch on the table, the dog having a flitch fixing position in which the flitch is fixed to the table by the dog and a flitch releasing position in which the flitch is not fixed to the table by the dog, and a drive shaft for driving the dog between the fixing and releasing positions.

15. The invention of claim 14 wherein the flitch comprises a plurality of such grooves extending generally parallel to each other.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein there are a plurality of guide rails for projecting into the grooves when the flitch is mounted to the table.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein there are a plurality of dogs, the dogs arranged in rows, each row of dogs extending along a guide rail.