Lumber optimizer

Details Lumber optimizer Lumber optimizer

1987-11-18

1989-11-07

Boudreau, Leo H.

Image analysis

Histogram processing

For setting a threshold

209517, 356237, 358106, 382 8, G06K 978

Patent

active

048797529

ABSTRACT:
A lumber optimizer system that detects the wane in a flitch being processed and by using a plurality of discrete detectors detecting the amount of electromagnetic radiation passing through localized areas of the board to determine the local differences in density provides a density profile of the flitch. The developed data are accumulated as the flitch traverses the detectors and processed in a computer to provide a profile of signal strengths generated by the detectors and used to generate an image of varying intensity depending on the signal (density) for each discrete area of the flitch and provide a density map of the field. The map so produced is analyzed in conjunction with the detected wane to determine the defects in the flitch and the nature and the position of such defects in the flitch and provide a plan of the flitch wherein the locations of good wood, and various defects are provided. This plan is then used to determine the sawing solution for the flitch and to adjust the position of a positioning system to position the flitch for sawing in accordance with the sawing solution. The saws are also adjusted in accordance with the sawing solution and an overall control computer is provided to control asynchronous operation of the sensors, computers and adjusters to ensure that the operations of these units are controlled in accordance with the location of the flitch as it travels through the system. This system permits the determination of a sawing solution and the setting of the saws in a time span permitting realistic production rates from the system.

REFERENCES:
patent: 3931501 (1976-01-01), Barr
patent: 3942021 (1976-03-01), Barr et al.
patent: 4541011 (1985-09-01), Mayer et al.
"Theory of Edge Detection", D. Marr and E. Hildreth, MIT Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, Apr. 1979.
D. G. Miller, Detection of Rot in Wood by Electronic X-Ray Fluoroscopy, Oct. 1984, pp. 64-67.
Ryszard Szymani & Kent A. McDonald, Defect Detection in Lumber: State of the Art, Nov. 1981, pp. 34-44.
Fred W. Taylor, Francis G. Wagner, Jr., Charles W. McMillin, Ira Lon Morgan & Forrest F. Hopkins, Locating Knots by Industrial Tomography-A Feasibility Study, May 1984, pp. 42-46.
Brian V. Funt & Edwin C. Bryant, Detection of Internal Log Defects by Automatic Interpretation of Computer Tomography Images, Jan. 1987, pp. 56-62.
Richard W. Conners, Charles W. McMillin, Kingyao Lin & Ramon E. Vasquez Espinosa, Identifying and Locating Surface Defects in Wood: Part of an Automated Lumber Processing System, 1983, IEEE, pp. 573-583.
Charles W. McMillin, Richard W. Conners & Henry A. Huber, ALPS-A Potential New Automated Lumber Processing System, Jan. 1984, pp. 13-20.
Richard W. Conners, Charles W. McMillan, Ramon Vasquez-Espinosa, A Prototype Software System for Locating and Identifying Surface Defects in Wood+, IEEE 1984, pp. 416-419.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Lumber optimizer does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Lumber optimizer, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Lumber optimizer will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-87857