A method and system for production of layered wood products employs local and independently operating robotic panel assembly cells including one or more veneer handling robots, one or more core handling robots, and one or more glue application robots to produce stacks of layered wood product panels locally near the pressing stations. Consequently, the stacks of layered wood product panels are independently built at, or near, the location of the pressing stations. This eliminates the need for traditional panel conveyors, traditional layered wood product panel assembly layup lines, and stack press delivery lines. This, in turn, eliminates thousands of moving parts and dozens of people from the layered wood product production process.

A sealant tube for use in a pneumatic sealant gun for reducing or eliminating air bubbles in the sealant being dispensed. The sealant tube may fit within a hollow sleeve of the pneumatic sealant gun and contains sealant and a slidable plunger. The tube body may include an inner surface, an outer surface opposite the inner surface, a first opening, a second opening opposite the first opening, and pressure release openings formed through the tube body, such that air from a pressurized air source flows into the tube body and between the tube body and the hollow sleeve during use of the pneumatic sealant gun, equalizing pressure on the inner surface and the outer surface of the tube body. A seal or gasket may also be located proximate the second opening of the tube body, for forming an airtight seal between the hollow sleeve and the tube body.

A woodworking bridge has two base walls or components that enable the bridge to span an abutment or joint between two work pieces. A top surface enables a clamp to engage the bridge to permit the clamp to apply a clamping force to a first work piece and a second work piece on both sides of the joint and prevent the clamp from contacting the joint. This allows any adhesive that oozes from the joint to be cleaned without curing in the top surface and/or the bottom surface of the two work pieces. The work pieces may then be stained without any cured adhesive in the pores of the work pieces where stain is applied.

A woodworking bridge has two base walls or components that enable the bridge to span an abutment or joint between two work pieces. A top surface enables a clamp to engage the bridge to permit the clamp to apply a clamping force to a first work piece and a second work piece on both sides of the joint and prevent the clamp from contacting the joint. This allows any adhesive that oozes from the joint to be cleaned without curing in the top surface and/or the bottom surface of the two work pieces. The work pieces may then be stained without any cured adhesive in the pores of the work pieces where stain is applied.

A method for manufacturing a folded panel including the following steps: providing a longitudinal recess at the rear side, such that at the front side between remaining panel sections on both sides of the recess a flexible transition section remains, bending the panel sections relative to each other and applying an adhesive in the recess. Before the panel sections are bent relative to each other, a template is inserted into the recess.

A method for manufacturing a folded panel including the following steps: providing a longitudinal recess at the rear side, such that at the front side between remaining panel sections on both sides of the recess a flexible transition section remains, bending the panel sections relative to each other and applying an adhesive in the recess. Before the panel sections are bent relative to each other, a template is inserted into the recess.

The present disclosure features tube insertion devices that are configured to allow a user to manually insert a hollow tube into a receiving bore, e.g., a pen tube into the bore of a blank. The disclosure also features methods of using such devices. In some implementations, the devices comprise (a) a pair of elongated arms, each arm comprising a gripping portion and an insertion portions, each of the insertion portions terminating in a distal tip, and (b) a connecting portion joining the arms such that the arms pivot about the connecting portion in a plane defined by the arms when the gripping portions are pressed together by a user. Each of the insertion portions preferably includes a relatively wider proximal portion and a relatively narrower distal tube-carrying portion, the change in width between the proximal portion and the distal portion defining a stop surface.

The present disclosure features tube insertion devices that are configured to allow a user to manually insert a hollow tube into a receiving bore, e.g., a pen tube into the bore of a blank. The disclosure also features methods of using such devices. In some implementations, the devices comprise (a) a pair of elongated arms, each arm comprising a gripping portion and an insertion portions, each of the insertion portions terminating in a distal tip, and (b) a connecting portion joining the arms such that the arms pivot about the connecting portion in a plane defined by the arms when the gripping portions are pressed together by a user. Each of the insertion portions preferably includes a relatively wider proximal portion and a relatively narrower distal tube-carrying portion, the change in width between the proximal portion and the distal portion defining a stop surface.

A glue application device is provided for the application of glue to a short side of a plate-shaped workpiece. Such a glue application device can be included in a coating machine.

Methods for repurposing used chopsticks can be utilized to make various wooden products therefrom. The method can include sorting, stacking, pressing and finishing the product pressed product into a desired manufactured item. The method can include other steps, such as soaking, drying, polishing, and applying a finish. In some embodiments, the chopsticks, prior to pressing, may be modified by soaking, application of a finish or preservative, application of a binder, or the like. Such manufactured items can include furniture, houseware, storage products and the like.