A production process for manufacture of a laminate

Abstract

This invention relates to a process for the division of an individual input source log into discrete longitudinal lengths for subsequent processing. The process comprises receiving an individual input source log, dividing the input source log into one or a plurality of output log portions of a predetermined length, wherein at least a portion of said output log portions resultant from said division are of a substantially equal or substantially constant or consistent longitudinal length, and wherein said substantially equal or substantially constant or consistent longitudinal length output log portions are procured as a feed stream of log material for a subsequent processing step. This process provides for the processing of logs and subsequent assembly into an end product formed from a composite of sticks derived from said processed logs.

1 .- 49 . (canceled) 
     
     
         50 . A method of accumulating individual sticks procured from a source of wood or log material and aggregating a plurality of said individual sticks into groups, said method comprising:
 determining one or more physical parameter(s) or qualities of an individual stick,   attributing a prescribed value or other quantifier to each individual stick based on said determination of said one or more physical parameter(s) or qualities of said stick which fall within a predetermined range,   accumulating together sticks of the same prescribed value into separate groups, and   adjusting the predetermined range to vary the prescribed value to be attributed to a subsequently determined individual stick or sticks by adjusting one or more of:
 said range, 
 a lower limit of said range, 
 an upper limit of said range. 
   
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein each group comprises sticks of the same prescribed value or within a range of said prescribed value. 
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein there are more than three, five or ten groups or there are three, five or nine groups. 
     
     
         53 .- 57 . (canceled) 
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein one or more of said range or said lower limit of said range or said upper limit of said range, for each said group, is adjusted based on adjusting an upper bound and a lower bound of said prescribed value or quantifier of a predetermined number of sticks received for a subsequent processing. 
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein said range, for each said group, is adjusted by:
 adjusting an upper bound and a lower bound of said prescribed value or quantifier of a predetermined number of sticks received for a subsequent processing, or   adjusting an upper bound and a lower bound of said prescribed value or quantifier of the sticks of each group, the upper bound and lower bound based on a predetermined number of sticks received for a subsequent processing.   
     
     
         60 . (canceled) 
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein said adjusting or adjustment is determined on one or more of:
 a stick-by-stick basis,   a stick count of a stream of sticks of the last 10 sticks counted, or more than about the last 100 sticks counted, or more than about 250 sticks, or more than about 500 sticks, or more than about 1,000 sticks, or more than about 2,000 sticks, or more than about 5,000 sticks, or more than about the last 10,000 sticks counted.   
     
     
         62 .- 63 . (canceled) 
     
     
         64 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein said adjusting or adjustment is based on a predetermined period of production or processing. 
     
     
         65 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein said predetermined number of sticks is a stick count of about or more than about: 10 sticks, 100 sticks, 250 sticks, 500 sticks, 1,000 sticks, 2,000 sticks, 5,000 sticks, 10,000 sticks. 
     
     
         66 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein said adjusting or adjustment is made such that each group of the separate groups receives a predetermined proportion of the plurality of sticks procured from said source of wood or log material. 
     
     
         67 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein there is a count or an assessment of the number or quantity of sticks in each grade, and said adjusting or adjustment is carried out dynamically so as to provide for a balance or balanced proportion or a pre-determined proportion of sticks to be accumulated into each grade as a result of the prescribed value attributed to each stick. 
     
     
         68 . (canceled) 
     
     
         69 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein one or more of the groups receives either: a different or dissimilar proportion to the other groups,
 the same or a similar proportion as the other groups,   a different or dissimilar proportion of the plurality of sticks, and remaining groups receive the same or a similar proportion as each of those remaining groups   
     
     
         70 .- 71 . (canceled) 
     
     
         72 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein each group is representative of a range of sticks having the same prescribed value or other quantifier or being within a predetermined range of a prescribed value or other quantifier. 
     
     
         73 . The method of  claim 50 , said adjusting or adjustment is performed dynamically based on a stick count or based on the predetermined number of sticks. 
     
     
         74 . The method of  claim 50 , relative proportions of the quantity of sticks accumulated into each group is sufficient so as to provide for a collation of sticks, each stick being of a prescribed value or other quantifier, for the subsequent selective combination of sticks from each individual group for re-assembly into a composite stick. 
     
     
         75 . The method of  claim 74 , wherein said composite stick is assembled from individual sticks from the same group. 
     
     
         76 . The method of  claim 74 , wherein a plurality of composite sticks are to be assembled, each assembled composite stick being derived of individual sticks from an individual group. 
     
     
         77 . The method of  claim 74 , wherein a plurality of separate composite sticks are to be provided from different or separate groups. 
     
     
         78 . The method of  claim 74 , wherein a first composite stick is to be provided from assembly of sticks from a first group, and a second composite stick is to be provided from assembly of sticks from a second group, and a subsequent composite stick is to be provided from assembly of sticks from a unique or individual further group. 
     
     
         79 . The method of  claim 74 , wherein said composite stick is to be provided as an individual laminae of a laminate product. 
     
     
         80 . The method of  claim 64 , wherein the predetermined period of production or processing is the last 10 minutes or the last 20 minutes, or the last 30 minutes, or the last 40 minutes, or the last 50 minutes, or the last 60 minutes of production or processing or of sticks.