BACKGROUND ART: Synthetic wood mouldings are made by moulding a paste comprising a mixture of wood flour, a binder and a solvent. The wood paste sets after time and can be stained, painted, sanded, polished, etc. to have the appearance of natural wood. The moulding process may use a die having cavities that are filled, the die then being pressed against a backing board provided with a release coating or against a wooden panel provided with a bonding agent.

Elongate mouldings may be made the same way, though the present inventor has proposed a more efficient process involving pressing a paste sausage using a circular, rotatable die. In practice, the mouldings are allowed to set and are then stored for an extended period to permit all of the solvent to evaporate or react with the binder, because the solvent may be and usually is incompatible with or antagonistic to the finishing lacquers used on wooden items. When required for use the mouldings are warmed, so that they soften and can then be applied to and made to conform to the shapes of basic wooden articles, such as furniture legs, edges and the like.

Problems thus arises in that space has to be provided for storing, care has to be taken in handling, and facilities have to be provided for warming such mouldings when required.

This invention seeks to provide a method for handling, including storing, transporting and warming, elongate mouldings in an economical and convenient manner.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION: One aspect of the invention provides a method of handling elongate synthetic wood mouldings, the mouldings being formed of a settable wood paste comprising wood flour, a binder and a solvent that is flexible under certain conditions and stiff under other conditions, characterised by including the steps of: --after moulding and while the mouldings are flexible, rolling each moulding into a coil ; --storing the coiled mouldings to permit each to set and the solvent to dissipate by evaporation or reaction; and --when required, placing a selected number of the coiled mouldings in a receptacle of liquid warmed to a predetermined temperature appropriate to the composition of the mouldings to cause the mouldings to become flexible and then uncoiling the mouldings (32) so that they can be applied to a required surface.

The method is further preferably characterised by storing and transporting the mouldings while they are in a coiled state.

Another aspect of the invention provides an elongate synthetic wood moulding, the moulding being formed of a settable wood paste comprising wood flour, a binder and a solvent that is flexible under certain conditions and stiff under other conditions, characterised in that the moulding is in the form of a coil and the moulding is heat softener so that it can be uncoiled for use.

Elongate mouldings in coil form can be stacked compactly and be manipulated or handled easily with little possibility of them breaking accidentally compared to uncoiled elongate mouldings. Such coils can be conveniently packed for retail display and sale and, for use, warmed with little difficulty using small containers, such as in a pot on a stove or in a hand basin of hot water.

Further features, variants and/or advantages of the invention will emerge from the following non-limiting description of an example of the invention made with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings.

BRIEF DESCRtPTION OF THE DRAWINGS : Figure 1 shows a side view of a moulding machine setup for moulding elongate synthetic wood mouldings; Figure 2 shows an end view of the machine of Figure 1; Figure 3 shows a plan view of an elongate synthetic wood moulding; Figure 4 shows plan view of the elongate synthetic wood moulding of Figure 3 rolled into a coil ; Figure 5 shows a plurality of coils of the type shown in Figure 4 stacked for curing and storage; Figure 6 shows a water bath for heating coiled elongate synthetic wood mouldings to soften them; and Figure 7 shows a coil that has been softened and unravelled.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS : In the drawings the same or similar parts have the same reference numbers.

Figures 1 and 2 show a machine 10 for making elongate synthetic wood mouldings, the machine comprising a dispenser 12 to extrude a wood paste sausage 22, a board 24 to support the sausage on a roller conveyor 26 comprising idler rollers 28, and a rotatable wheel mould 30 for pressing the sausage against the board to form an elongate moulding 32. The dispenser comprises a hopper 14 for pre-mixed wood paste, an extruder 16 having a screw 18 and a dispensing nozzle 20. The wheel mould is driven by an electric motor 34 through a reduction gearbox 36 that drives an axle 38 on which the wheel is mounted. The wheel is formed with a reversed or negative image 40 of the profile to be formed on the moulding 32.

Figure 3 shows the moulding 32 on the board 24, which has been previously coated with a release agent, one end of the moulding being shown turned over to start coiling the moulding while the paste is still flexible.

Figure 4 shows the moulding 32 completely rolled into a coil 42. Figure 5 shows a storage rack 44 with a plurality of coils 42 stacked thereon so that they can cure and thereafter be stored.

In Figure 6 a cured coil 42 is placed in a bath 46 containing water 48 that is heated to a preset temperature, normally between 40 and 60°C, by a heating element 50. When the coil has been heated sufficiently, normally

this takes 2 to 5 minutes depending on the temperature of the water in the bath, it is removed and unravelled as shown in Figure 7.

The invention is not limited to the precise details described above and shown in the drawings. Modifications may be made and other embodiments developed without departing from the scope of the invention as set out in the claims.