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Contour line scanner

  • US 4,541,722 A
  • Filed: 12/13/1982
  • Issued: 09/17/1985
  • Est. Priority Date: 12/13/1982
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. Sawmill control apparatus for sensing the contours of a cant having a cross section defined by a pair of opposite broad faces and a pair of opposite side faces, and determining an optimum sawline normal to said broad faces, the apparatus comprising:

  • beam-forming means for projecting a pair of lines of light onto each of the opposite side faces of a cant in a common plane parallel to the broad faces of the cant to form contour lines of light lengthwise along the side faces, the lines being substantially narrower than the side faces;

    light sensor means directed toward the cant at an angle to said plane for sensing the contour lines and generating an output signal corresponding thereto; and

    first means responsive to the output signal for defining, in accordance with said contour lines, a width of the cant along its length;

    second means for determining the position of a sawline relative to one of said contour lines to maximize, as a function of said width, the recovery of lumber from the cant;

    the beam-forming means being positioned to project said lines onto the sides of the cant at a predetermined position between the broad faces to define a grade line corresponding to a specified grade of lumber;

    the second means including means for computing a total value of lumber, as a function of said specified grade, can be sawn from the cant between the contour lines positioned at said grade line.

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