Improvements in Apparatus for Drying Veneers and the like.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Aug., 1899-Accepted, 28th Oct., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Drying Veneers and the like.
I, AARON SAWYER NICHOLS, of No. 3853, Ellis Avenue, in the City of Chicago,
in the County of Cook, State of Illinois, United States of America, Manufacturer,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement:-
-
This invention relates to driers for drying veneers and the like. In carrying
out my invention I employ a series of heated platens arranged horizontally one
above another, and place the vencers between them. The platens are movable
vertically so they may be brought together and caused to exert pressure
upon the veneers, and they may be operated occasionally during the drying
operation to allow the shrinking of the veneers and the escape of the vaporized
moisture, and also to allow the putting in and taking out of the veneers.
platens are opened and closed automatically during the operation by quick act-
ing power mechanism, with which is combined suitable regulating devices
whereby the opening and closing is made to take place at stated intervals and
as often as required.
The
The nature of my invention is set forth in, and will be more fully understood
from the description which I give below, and from the accompanying drawing,
wherein :
Figure 1 is an elevation of my improved drier; Figure 2 is a horizontal sec-
tion showing the lever system, Figures 3 and 4 are vertical sections of the
cylinder of the valve controlling the lifting cylinder; and Figure 5 is a detail
section showing the connection between the lifting cylinder and the steam
supply
In the drawings A A represents the platens, which as shown are arranged
in a pile one above another, in horizontal or substantially horizontal planes.
The upper platen is stationary, being secured to a proper frame work of which
the beam B is a member; such frame work may be sustained upon the upright
beams C, which also serve as side guides to the movable platens. Each platen
attached to its adjacent platens by slotted links C, which allow the platens
to move vertically to the extent required. The steam whereby the platens are
heated is supplied by the header D), and conducted therefrom to the platens by
the series of pipes E, having flexible joints at e.
Under the pile of platens is located the lifting and pressure exerting mech-
anism, which is adapted after the sheets of vencer are in place between the
platens to raise the movable ones of the series until they are brought into close
contact with both faces of the veneers, and to cause such pressure thereon as will
straighten the veneers if they are warped or wrinkled, and retain them in a
perfectly flat condition during the drying. In this operation, the upper platen,
being stationary held, resists the upward lift, and thus causes the pressure
necessary. The lifting and pressure exerting mechanism referred to should be
7011

page_text: such as will allow the platens to open and give opportunity for the shrinkage
of the veneers and the escape of the vaporized moisture, and close them almost
immediately and quickly, and thus avoid chilling the veneers, and the construc-
tion which I have conceived to be the best for the purpose is a press or jack
adapted to be operated by steam, gas or other fluid under pressure, I prefer to
use steam, and to employ as the press or jack the cylinder F, the piston F¹ in
said cylinder, and a valve G in cylinder G₁ controlling the admission of the
steam to, and its discharge from the cylinder F. The press is placed centrally
under the pile of platens and where the lever system hereinafter described is
employed with it, it is desirable that the cylinder and piston of the press be
inverted as shown. The cylinder is of course attached to the bottom platen.
The valve is provided with two heads, and is shown in Figure 3 as shutting off
the entrance of steam from pipe H, provided with stop valve T, and as opening
the exhaust which takes place through the pipe K: The steam connection
between the valve and the cylinder F is shown at J. In this position of the
valve, the platens are open, but when it is shifted to the position shown at
Figure 4, the exhaust is closed and the steam inlet opened, so that cylinder F
is charged and thereby the platens are closed, and caused to exert the necessary
pressure and heat upon the vencers. They remain in action until the valve is
shifted back to the position given at Figure 3, which opens the exhaust and
closes the inlet, so that the platens become free to open. The shifting of valve G
is automatically effected as hereinafter set forth.
The stem of piston F1 of the lifting cylinder, extends downward and is
provided at its lower end with a head L, which serves as a means for its attach-
ment to the lifting levers M, pivotally supported by the standards N rising from
the floor or bed O, a link P being interposed between the head L and the con-
verging ends of the levers M. There are four of the levers M and the outer end
of each of them is joined to the bottom platen at the corners or margin of the
latter by means of vertical bars Q, the joints between the levers and bars and
between the bars and platen being pivoted as plainly indicated. With this
system of levers connected to the piston F, it will be seen that the result of
the admission of steam to the cylinder F will be the forcing of the piston down-
ward against the resistance offered by the levers, and at the same time the exer-
tion of an upward pressure upon the cylinder, which, with the assistance afforded
by the levers, will lift the platens until they are all closed upon the veneers
with sufficient pressure to straighten out the latter. And this condition may
be maintained as long as necessary for the work in hand. It will also be seen
that the result of exhausting the steam from behind piston F1 will be the with-
drawal of the lifting power, and the consequent fall of the platens by gravity
to their open position.
By means of the levers I am enabled to use a single motor or power supply-
ing device, and yet to apply the power equally to all parts of the platen, which
is a matter of importance in the case of large platens, inasmuch as it ensures
the necessary pressure over all the area of the platens, avoids strains upon the
platens, and permits their construction with lighter frames. By the use of
the single motor and the levers, I am also enabled to apply the power simul-
taneously to the different parts of the platens, a result which would be very diffi-
cult if not absolutely impossible of attainment by a plurality of motors.
The shifting of the controlling valve is automatic, as already stated, and is
effected as follows: A time movement is contained in the case R and actuates
the pointer R¹. At intervals in the margin of the face of the time movement
are one or more electrical contact strips or points R2, and these points and the
moving pointer are adapted when the pointer touches any of the points to com-
plete an electric circuit formed by the wires R³ and embracing the battery R
and magnet R³. When the circuit is thus completed, the magnet is energized,
and rocks the lever Ro, one end of which is attached to the magnet armature,
and in so doing shifts the auxiliary valve S in cylinder S¹. The valve cylinder

page_text: is supplied with steam from the pipe H by a branch S, and is also connected to
one end of the valve cylinder G₁ by the port or passage S³. The valve S has
two heads, as shown, so that the steam pressure as felt by it will be balanced
and its movements rendered easy. In the position given at Figure 3 the valve S
is shown as having been shifted so as to uncover steam inlet pipe S and admit
steam into the space between the end of the cylinder G¹ and the head of the
valve G, and this results of course in an immediate shifting of the valve G from
the position of Figure 4 to that of Figure 3, and also in the opening of the
platens by opening the exhaust from the main cylinder F. While the platens
are open both valves $ and G remain as shown at Figure 3. As soon, however,
as pointer R moves off the contact point, the magnet releases its control of
lever R, and said lever and valve S instantly move under the power of spring $4
to the position shown at Figure 4, thereby opening the exhaust port 85 and
closing inlet pipe S2 and giving escape to the steam by which valve G was
shifted and allowing valve G to be moved to the position of Figure 4 by contact
of stem G2 attached to valve G, and projecting downward as in Figure 1 with,
head L upon stem F2 of the lifting piston F, which contact takes place as the
The return of
platens are nearing the conclusion of this opening movement.
valve G thus caused, allows the lifting cylinder to recharge with steam and
thereby to bring about an immediate closing of the platens. The parts remain
in the positions to which they are moved, that is to say with the platens closed
and the valves in their Figure 4 position until the pointer R¹ reaches another
contact point R2, when the operation described is repeated. At the conclu-
sion of the drying, the steam is shut off by the valve T to avoid any further
closing of the platens, until the stock has been removed and fresh stock put in.
The platens may be opened as often as desired, and at regular long or short
intervals, or at varying intervals. In practice, I find it better to open them
·less frequently toward the latter part of the drying operation than at the com-
mencement. This may be regulated by proper positioning of the contact
points R2, and by employing a number thereof corresponding to the number of
times the platens should be opened. And in order to permit changes in the
number and positions of contacts without removing the pointer, I prefer to
make the latter of spring metal so its end may be bent to one side and move
around the inner surface of the ring in which the contact points are supported.
I do not wish to be limited to the use of electrical connections between the
time movement and the auxiliary valve, as it is obvious such connections need
not be electrical.
The construction illustrated admits steam to the lifting cylinder just before
the platens have completed their falling movement in opening. In this manner
the fall is cushioned so that the links C₁ are not strained and the operation is
rendered comparatively noiseless.
It will be understood that I do not wish to be limited to the use of automa-
tically controlled mechanism for operating the platens except in such of the
claims as expressly specify automatic mechanism, as it is obvious that the opera-.
tion of the platens may be controlled by an attendant; nor do I wish to be
limited in all my claims to the use of an inverted cylinder, nor to the positioning
of the operating mechanism under the platens, nor to the use of the lever
mechanism, as obviously some of the benefits of my invention may be obtained
by the use of a cylinder which is not inverted, also by positioning the operating
mechanism above instead of below the platens, and by omitting the lever
mechanism altogether.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
1 The veneer drier wherein are combined a serics of heated platens adanted.

page_text: to receive the veneers between them and also adapted to be opened and closed
and to press the veneers, devices for so moving and holding the platens, and
regulating mechanism embracing a time movement and adapted to control said
devices and cause them to release and renew the pressure upon the veneers at
stated intervals, substantially as specified.
2. The veneer drier wherein are combined a series of heated platens adapted
to receive the veneers between them and also adapted to be opened and closed
and to press the veneers, a cylinder and piston for so moving and holding the
platens, and automatic mechanism suitably connected to and controlling the
cylinder, and adapted to cause the opening and closing of the platens at varying
intervals, substantially as specified.
3. The drier wherein are combined a series of heated platens adapted to receive
the material between them and also to be opened and closed quickly, and an
inverted cylinder, piston and levers all connected with a movable platen for
opening and closing the platens, substantially as specified.
4. The drier wherein are combined a series of heated platens arranged one
above another in a pile and adapted to receive the stock between them, and
also adapted to be quickly opened and closed and to press the stock, an inverted
cylinder, piston and levers placed under the pile and all connected with the
bottom platen, and means whereby the upper platen may hold the series against
the pressure of the piston and levers, substantially as specified.
5. The combination with the series of opening and closing platens, of a
cylinder and piston, a system of levers adapted to act in unison with the piston
and moving the platens, and automatic mechanism for controlling said cylinder,
substantially as specified.
6. The combination with the series of platens arranged one above another in
a pile, of a quick acting inverted cylinder and piston placed centrally under
the pile and connected with the bottom platen, and a system of levers co-operat-
ing with the cylinder and piston and actuated thereby, and also connected with
the bottom platen, substantially as specified.
7. The combination with the series of heated platens adapted to be opened
and closed, of a quick acting power mechanism for opening and closing the
platens at intervals, substantially as specified.
8. The combination with the heated platens arranged in a pile, of a stationary
frame to which the upper platen is fastened, and a quick acting automatic mech-
anism for opening and closing the platens at stated intervals, such mechanism
being located under the platens and comprising a system of levers, substantially
as specified.
9. The combination with the platens, arranged in a pile, of a cylinder and
piston adapted to be operated by fluid pressure, a valve controlling the fluid,
an auxiliary valve for shifting said controlling valve, and a time movement
connected to said last mentioned valve and adapted to cause its actuation, sub-
stantially as specified.
10. The combination with a series of heated platens adapted to be opened
and closed, of quick acting automatic power mechanism for opening and imme-
diately closing the platens at intervals, substantially as specified.
11. The combination with a series of heated platens arranged in a pile and
adapted to be opened and closed, of quick acting automatic power mechanism,
comprising a system of levers having long and short arms, the latter connected
with the platens, for imparting a quick opening and immediate closing move-
ment to the platens at intervals, substantially as specified.
12. The veneer drier wherein are combined a series of steam heated movable
platens arranged horizontally and in a pile essentially as set forth, quick act-
ing power mechanism acting to open and close the platens very quickly and
automatic means for setting said power mechanism in operation, whereby injury
to the veneer by splitting or chilling is avoided, substantially as specified.
13. The veneer drier whereby are combined a series of heated horizontal

page_text: platens adapted to receive the veneers between them and also adapted to be
opened and closed and to press the veneers, a quick acting cylinder and piston
for so moving and holding the platens, mechanism suitably connected and con-
trolling the cylinder and adapted to cause the opening and closing of the platens
at intervals, and automatic means for controlling the supply of fluid to the
piston, substantially as specified.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.