Systems and methods for manufacturing, treating, and selling raw building materials
First Claim
1. A method of applying a coating to raw building material, the method comprising the steps of:
- supplying a volume of raw building material to a coating station, the raw building material comprising at least one of wood framing lumber, plywood sheeting, chipboard sheeting, sheet rock, particle board, soffet board, cementious board, wood trim lumber, facia board, composite board, and prefabricated roof trusses;
applying to the raw building material in the coating station a coating that cures substantially instantaneously when exposed to ultraviolet light; and
exposing coated raw building material to ultraviolet light.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for applying a UV-curable, anti-fungal coating to raw building materials, and a business method for selling said coated raw building materials is described. The method may include supplying a volume of raw building materials to a conveyor system that conveys the raw building materials through a coating station wherein a UV-curable, anti-fungal coating is applied to the raw building materials. The conveyor system then conveys the coated raw building materials through a drying station, wherein a source of radiation, such as UV lamps, irradiate the raw building material to cure the coating. In addition to its anti-fungal properties, the coating, when dry, may mask cosmetic irregularities and provide a uniform appearance to the raw building materials, while allowing lumber grade stamps to remain visible.
47 Citations
47 Claims
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1. A method of applying a coating to raw building material, the method comprising the steps of:
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supplying a volume of raw building material to a coating station, the raw building material comprising at least one of wood framing lumber, plywood sheeting, chipboard sheeting, sheet rock, particle board, soffet board, cementious board, wood trim lumber, facia board, composite board, and prefabricated roof trusses;
applying to the raw building material in the coating station a coating that cures substantially instantaneously when exposed to ultraviolet light; and
exposing coated raw building material to ultraviolet light. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. Method of inhibiting fungal growth on raw building material, the method comprising:
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supplying a volume of raw building material to a conveyor system;
conveying, with the conveyor system, the raw building material to a coating station;
applying in the coating station a coating that, when dry, inhibits fungal growth on the raw building material;
conveying, with the conveyor system, the raw building material to a drying station;
irradiating the raw building material, in the drying station, to thereby dry the raw building material substantially instantaneously; and
conveying with the conveyor system, raw building material away from the drying station. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. Method of masking cosmetic irregularities in raw building material, comprising:
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supplying a volume of raw building material to a conveyor system, wherein at least a portion of the volume of raw building material contains cosmetic irregularities;
conveying, with the conveyor system, the raw building material to a coating station;
applying in the coating station a coating, said coating including a pigment that is sufficiently opaque to mask the cosmetic irregularities;
conveying, with the conveyor system, the raw building material to a drying station;
substantially drying, in the drying station, the coated raw building material; and
conveying with the conveyor system, raw building material away from the drying station. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A method of adding sales value to raw building material, the method comprising:
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introducing a coating process into a raw building material supply chain between a location of manufacture and a location of sale to an end user;
during the coating process, substantially covering a lot of raw building material with a coating, the lot being defined by a plurality of pieces of raw building material, and the coating being formulated to achieve at least one of the following functions;
to mask cosmetic irregularities in the individual pieces in the lot;
to provide a uniform appearance to the pieces in the lot; and
to inhibit future fungal growth in the lot; and
offering the coated raw building material for sale at a price greater than a market price for uncoated raw building material. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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41. Raw building material having a coating substantially covering the surface of the raw building material, wherein the raw building material contains cosmetic irregularities;
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said coating, when dry, is sufficiently opaque to substantially mask the cosmetic irregularities; and
said coating is dried by irradiating the coated raw building material to an extent sufficient to substantially dry the coating substantially instantaneously. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
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Specification