System for applying a wood veneer across a corner of an elongate core

Abstract

A method of veneering across a elongate corner on an elongate core involving providing a sheet of veneer sized to cover a desired portion of the core including an expanse on each side of the corner with the veneer having a core side for placement against the core and an exposed side opposite the core side. An elongate groove is formed in the core side of the veneer with the groove having a generally triangular cross-section with an open side substantially coplanar with the core side of the veneer and two interior sides extending into the veneer to a point near but not reaching the exposed side of the veneer where the angle between the interior sides being configured to match the angle of the corner. Lastly the veneer is applied to the core with the groove aligned over the corner and veneer on either side of the groove folded down against the core to thereby bring the two interior sides of the groove together.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A press assembly comprising: 
 a first moveable platen member and associated first drive mechanism that moves the first moveable platen member in a first direction toward a first fixed platen member,    a second moveable platen member and associated second drive mechanism that moves the second platen member in a second direction toward a second fixed platen member, and    a control mechanism that actuates the first and second drive mechanisms to press simultaneously the first and second platen members towards the first and second fixed platen members, respectively.    
     
     
         2 . The press assembly of    claim 1   , wherein the first direction is substantially perpendicular to the second direction.  
     
     
         3 . The press assembly of    claim 1   , wherein the drive mechanisms cause each of the first and second platens to apply a force of at least about 10,000 pounds.  
     
     
         4 . The press assembly of    claim 1   , wherein the drive mechanisms include air-powered actuators.  
     
     
         5 . A press assembly for pressing an article having a top, bottom and two sides, comprising 
 a frame,    a platen assembly connected to the frame configured to clamp the article from the sides and top and bottom simultaneously.    
     
     
         6 . The press assembly of    claim 5    further comprising a heating device configured to apply heat to adjacent sides of the article.  
     
     
         7 . The press assembly of    claim 5   , wherein the platen assembly includes moveable platens driven by air-powered actuators toward fixed platens.  
     
     
         8 . A method of forming a wood product comprising 
 providing a core having first and second adjacent sides,    applying a first sheet to the first side of the core, and a second sheet to the second side of the core,    placing the core and the sheets into a press having a first platen that is moveable in a direction perpendicular to the first side of the core, and a second platen that is moveable in a direction perpendicular to the second side of the core, and    actuating the first and second platens to press the first and second sheets against the first and second sides of the core simultaneously.    
     
     
         9 . The method of    claim 8    further comprising 
 applying glue between the sheets and the core before the placing step.  
 
     
     
         10 . The method of    claim 8   , wherein each sheet comprises veneer.  
     
     
         11 . The method of    claim 9   , wherein the glue comprises a thermosetting resin.  
     
     
         12 . The method of    claim 8   , wherein the first and second sheets are connected by a hinge structure.  
     
     
         13 . The method of    claim 8   , wherein the first direction is substantially perpendicular to the second direction.  
     
     
         14 . The method of    claim 8   , wherein each of the first and second platens applies at least approximately 10,000 pounds of pressure.  
     
     
         15 . The method of    claim 8   , wherein the actuating step is carried out by air-powered actuators.