STRAND ORIENTATION SYSTEM AND METHOD

摘要

A system for orienting strands (e.g., wood strands) includes multiple rotatable shafts that extend perpendicular to a travel direction of a mat of aligned strands. Each shaft can include axially spaced agitation members that extend radially away from the shaft, such as in a direction parallel to the travel direction. A vane set can be positioned vertically below the shafts. The vane set can include multiple partitions that define inter-partition spacings parallel to the travel direction. In an example, an inter-partition spacing of the vane set can be greater along a bottom portion of adjacent partitions than along a top portion of the same adjacent partitions. In an example, an upper edge thickness of a partition can be greater than a lower edge thickness of the same partition.

主权项

1. A system for orienting elongate wood strands, comprising:
a plurality of rotatable shafts that extend substantially perpendicular to a travel direction of a mat of the elongate wood strands, each rotatable shaft including axially spaced agitation members that extend radially away from the shaft, wherein the agitation members extend radially away from the shaft in a direction substantially parallel to the travel direction during at least a portion of a rotational travel of the shaft; and a vane set positioned vertically below a portion of at least one of the agitation members during at least a portion of the rotational travel of the shaft, and the vane set including substantially parallel and stationary partitions with openings therebetween; wherein each partition of the vane set has a length that is substantially parallel to the travel direction; and wherein at least one stationary partition of the vane set has an upper edge thickness that is greater than a lower edge thickness of the same stationary partition such that an opening width between opposing faces of the at least one stationary partition and an adjacent partition is greater at a lower portion of the partitions than at an upper portion of the same partitions.