Log and cant optimization

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10857692-B2
Application number	US-201815907269-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 27, 2018
Priority date	Feb 27, 2017
Publication date	Dec 8, 2020
Grant date	Dec 8, 2020

Abstract

Embodiments provide methods, apparatuses, and systems for cutting wood workpieces, such as logs and cants, into desired products. In various embodiments, after a log is chipped into a cant, the cant may be scanned and re-optimized based on the new scan data and information about the source log, such as simulated orientation parameters, a 3D model, and/or potential cut solutions. In other embodiments, data from multiple sensor types may be used in combination to detect splits in logs, cants, or both. Optionally, re-optimization and split detection techniques may be used in combination to improve wood volume recovery, value, and/or throughput speed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of cutting a log, the method comprising:
causing a cutting device to cut at least one flat face along the log according to a first cut solution for the log to thereby obtain a first cant, wherein the first cut solution defines a first plurality of cut products to be cut from the log, and the plurality of cut products includes a first board;
determining a geometric profile of the flat face based on data obtained by one or more profile sensors positioned to scan the flat face;
modifying or recalculating at least a first portion of the first cut solution based at least on the geometric profile of the flat face, wherein the first portion of the cut solution defines the first board, and wherein modifying or recalculating the first portion includes eliminating the first board, modifying a size of the first board, or modifying a position of the first board relative to the log or the first cant; and
causing one or more second cutting devices to cut the first cant into pieces according to the modified or recalculated cut solution.

2. The method of claim 1 , further including:
generating a model of the log based at least on a geometric profile of the log; and
determining the first cut solution based at least on the model of the log,
wherein modifying or recalculating at least the first portion of the cut solution includes generating a model of the cant based on the geometric profile of the flat face and on the model of the log and/or the first cut solution.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein determining the first cut solution includes:
using the model of the log to simulate cutting the log in a plurality of orientations, each of the orientations having a corresponding combination of skew and offset values,
determining a corresponding plurality of cut solutions for the log, and
selecting the first cut solution from among the plurality of the cut solutions.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein each of the cut solutions of said plurality defines a corresponding combination of cut products to be cut from the log, and wherein the combinations are determined based at least in part on a log breakdown rule and/or one or more user inputs.

5. The method of claim 3 , wherein selecting the first cut solution includes selecting the first cut solution based on projected value of the predicted cut products, risk, processing cost, and/or throughput speed.

6. The method of claim 3 , wherein generating the model of the cant includes transforming said geometric profile of the flat face to the skew and offset values of the first cut solution.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first board is a side board, the pieces include the first board and a center cant, and a second portion of the cut solution defines the center cant.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the pieces include a center cant and one or more side boards, the first portion of the first cut solution defines the center cant and a plurality of boards to be cut from the center cant, and the first board is one of said plurality of boards, and a second portion of the cut solution defines the one or more side boards to be cut from the first cant.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein modifying at least the first portion of the cut solution includes modifying the first portion and the second portion of the cut solution.

10. The method of claim 1 , further including detecting a split along the flat face based at least on the geometric profile of the flat face and/or a vision image of the first cant, wherein modifying or recalculating the first cut solution includes modifying or recalculating the first cut solution based at least on the detected split.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein detecting the split includes using the geometric profile of the flat face to identify or measure an indentation along the flat face and using the vision image to verify the identification or adjust the measurement of the indentation.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the pieces include the first board and a center cant, the first board is a side board, and a second portion of the cut solution defines the center cant.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the pieces include a center cant and one or more side boards, the first portion of the first cut solution defines the center cant and a plurality of boards to be cut from the second cant, and the first board is one of said plurality of boards, and a second portion of the cut solution defines the one or more side boards to be cut from the first cant.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein modifying at least the first portion of the cut solution includes modifying the first portion and the second portion of the cut solution.

15. A method of cutting a primary workpiece into a center cant and one or more secondary workpieces, the method comprising:
obtaining, from one or more geometric sensors, a geometric profile of the primary workpiece;
obtaining, from one or more vision cameras, images of the surface of the primary workpiece;
detecting a split based at least in part on the geometric profile;
determining or modifying a cut solution for the primary workpiece based on the detected split; and
causing one or more cutting devices to cut the primary workpiece into the center cant and the one or more secondary workpieces according to the determined or modified cut solution.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the one or more geometric sensors is a plurality of geometric sensors, and the one or more vision cameras is a plurality of vision cameras, and detecting the split includes detecting the split based on the geometric profile and one or more of the images.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein detecting the split includes generating a model of the primary workpiece based on the geometric profile and mapping one or more of the images to the model of the primary workpiece.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein detecting the split further includes using the model of the primary workpiece to identify an indentation and to estimate the length and/or depth of the indentation, and using one or more of the images to verify the identification or to adjust the estimated length and/or depth of the indentation.

19. The method of claim 16 , wherein the plurality of geometric sensors includes at least four geometric sensors.

20. The method of claim 17 , wherein the model is a 3D model, the method further including displaying the 3D model in a 2D unfurled configuration.

Assignees

• Usnr Llc

Inventors

• Strasky Douglas G
• Doiel Stephen
• Larson Gerald David
• Arnold Robert
• Munion Ryan
• Marinakis Dimitrios Paul

Classifications

• B27B25/00

  Feeding devices for timber in saw mills or sawing machines; Feeding devices for trees ({B27B29/00}, B27B31/00 take precedence) · CPC title

• B23D59/008

  comprising computers · CPC title

• B27M1/08

  by multi-step processes · CPC title

• B27B31/00

  Arrangements for conveying, loading, turning, adjusting, or discharging the log or timber, specially designed for saw mills or sawing machines (B27B29/00 takes precedence {; arrangements for raising or lowering the feed rollers of gang saw mills B27B3/14; driving mechanisms for the feed rollers of gang saw mills B27B3/16}) · CPC title

• G01B11/245

  using a plurality of fixed, simultaneously operating transducers ({G01B11/2408 - G01B11/2425, } G01B11/255 take precedence) · CPC title