A system and method for reducing moisture of a fibrous material includes applying microwave radiation combined with RF to the fibrous material to heat and evacuate moisture from the fibrous material during a heating cycle and optionally alternating heating cycles with drying/cooling cycles. The fibrous material can be, for example, sawn or dimensional lumber. The application of alternating microwave and RF in a controlled and continuous process advantageously mimics the heating, rewetting and drying cycles of a conventional kiln without the need for batch processing. Accordingly, a faster and more cost-efficient drying process is possible with no defects imparted to the wood in the process.

A veneer sheet feed device for multistage veneer sheet dryer is provided between an auto feeder including a carry-in conveyor and a roll dryer (veneer sheet dryer). The veneer sheet feed device is provided with a guide member and a feed conveyor for feeding a veneer sheet carried in from the carry-in conveyor to each conveyance unit of the roll dryer in this order from a conveyance up stream side. The veneer sheet feed device further provided with a pivot mechanism that allows a starting end of the guide member belonging to the conveyance stage immediately above the conveyance stage in which the veneer sheet is carried this time from the carry-in conveyor to pivot to a portion above a horizontal position of a roller shaft located at a terminal end of this guide member.

Method and apparatus for dehydration of veneer sheet having therein a knot are disclosed. Veneer dehydration apparatus includes a first stationary single dehydrating roller and a plurality of second movable sectional dehydrating rollers, which rollers are disposed one above the other so that a nip through which a veneer sheet for dehydration is moved is formed between the first and second rollers. A stop device determines the initial position of each second roller relative to the first roller where a predetermined spaced distance is formed between the first and the second rollers. An urging device yieldably urges each second roller to the initial position. The second roller is movable away from the initial position against the urging force of the urging device independently of the other second rollers by a knot present in the veneer sheet and just moving through the nip between the second roller and the first roller.

Drying device for drying hygroscopic material, for example wood, has a drying chamber for accommodating material to be dried, and air conditioning for setting a drying climate in drying chamber during drying process. Air conditioning sets drying climate, at least in part, as a function of moisture of material to be dried. There are bar-like support devices for storing material to be dried in drying chamber during drying process. At least one bar-like support device has scale for measuring weight of material to be dried that is stored on support device. Scale is in signal transmission connection with a control apparatus designed and programmed so that moisture of material to be dried is determined from weight measured by scale. Control apparatus is designed and programmed for controlling air conditioning so drying climate is set as a function of moisture of material to be dried, and determined in each case.

A method of drying scarfed veneers, wherein the veneers pass through a drying furnace, wherein the scarfed edges (42) of the veneers are moistened before they enter into the drying furnace (24).

A cathodic protection system for use with a wood veneer dryer is provided. The system includes a DC power supply and an anode mounted inside the dryer in a position to be electrolytically coupled to metallic structures or surfaces inside the dryer when an electrolytic medium is present inside the dryer. The electrolytic medium comprises a high-humidity atmosphere. A method for reducing the corrosion of metallic structures or surfaces inside the dryer is further provided. The method comprises mounting an anode inside the dryer in a position to be electrolytically coupled to the metallic structures or surfaces inside the dryer when an electrolytic medium is present. Wood veneer is conveyed through the dryer and heated to a temperature sufficient to produce a high-humidity atmosphere inside the dryer. A controlled amount of current is supplied by the DC power supply to electrolytically couple the anode to the metallic structures or surfaces.

A process for producing nano veneers generally involving: placing a veneer to be treated in a vacuum vessel; adding a nano carbon powder and nano silicon dioxide suspension in the vacuum vessel; reducing the pressure in the vessel over a first period of time; increasing the pressure in the vessel; letting the contents of the vessel rest over a second period of time. The veneer may optionally be subjected to ultrasonic treatment, ultraviolet solidification treatment, or subsequent pressurization treatments to obtain the final nano veneer product. As a result, veneer manufactured using embodiments of the present invention will have the advantages of high strength, wear resistance, pollution resistance, acid and alkali resistance, water segregation and decay resistance.

A horizontal multistage press apparatus 1 (multistage drying apparatus) includes conveyance paths R1 to R4 (first to fourth conveyance paths) in which the veneer sheet W1 (sheet material to be treated) is carried out in a standing state. The conveyance path R1 is positioned over between the loader device 10 and the hot press device 20, the conveyance path R2 is positioned over between the hot press device 20 and the open transpiration device 40, the conveyance path R3 is positioned over between the open transpiration device 40 and the temperature control press device 50, and the conveyance path R4 is positioned over between the temperature control press device 50 and the unloader device 60. The conveyance paths R1 to R4 are arranged in a straight line in plan view.

Baffle systems for conveyor-type dryers and methods of replacing baffle seal strips for improving dryer safety and/or efficiency are provided. The systems include one or more baffles removeably mounted to the dryer. Each baffle has at least one seal strip for contacting a roller of the dryer to prevent gases from entering and/or exiting the dryer. The baffles are removable from the dryer so that the seal strips can be replaced and/or adjusted when the seal between a given seal strip and a contacting roller become compromised. To replace and/or adjust a seal strip, the baffle is removed from the dryer and a new baffle is installed in its place. The one or more seal strips of the removed baffle may be replaced and/or adjusted outside the dryer at the leisure of the operator.

In a method for drying boards, which are guided in decks through a drying device, wherein the boards (8) in the drying device are brought into contact with drying air by means of an impinging jet ventilation and wherein the impinging jet ventilation is ensured by means of transversely ventilated nozzle boxes (7), the drying air is supplied by means of at least two fans (4a, 4b) arranged next to one another in an airflow of the drying air produced by a burner (1), which guides the drying air to the fans (4a, 4b).