Log and cant optimization

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12202166-B2
Application number	US-202017114429-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 7, 2020
Priority date	Feb 27, 2017
Publication date	Jan 21, 2025
Grant date	Jan 21, 2025

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 non-transitory computer-readable medium programmed with instructions that are operable, upon execution by a processor of a computer, to cause the computer to:
cause a cutting device to cut at least one flat face along a 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;
determine a geometric profile of the flat face based on data obtained by one or more profile sensors positioned to scan the flat face;
modify or recalculate 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
cause one or more second cutting devices to cut the first cant into pieces according to the modified or recalculated cut solution.

2. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1 , wherein the instructions are operable, upon execution by the processor, to cause the computer to:
generate a model of the log; and
determine 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 non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 2 , wherein the instructions are operable, upon execution by the processor, to cause the computer to determine the first cut solution by:
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 non-transitory computer-readable medium 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 instructions are operable, upon execution by the processor, to cause the computer to determine the combinations based at least in part on a log breakdown rule and/or one or more user inputs.

5. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 3 , wherein the instructions are operable, upon execution by the processor, to cause the computer to select the first cut solution based on projected value of the predicted cut products, risk, processing cost, and/or throughput speed.

6. The non-transitory computer-readable medium 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 non-transitory computer-readable medium 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 non-transitory computer-readable medium 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.

9. The non-transitory computer-readable medium 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.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1 , wherein the instructions are operable, upon execution by the processor, to cause the computer to detect a split along the flat face based at least on the geometric profile and/or a vision image of the first cant, wherein modifying the first cut solution includes modifying the first cut solution based at least on the detected split.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10 , wherein detecting the split includes using the geometric profile 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 non-transitory computer-readable medium 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 non-transitory computer-readable medium 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.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium 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.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable medium programmed with instructions that are operable, upon execution by a processor of a computer, to cause the computer to:
receive a geometric profile of a primary workpiece from one or more geometric sensors, wherein the primary workpiece is a log;
receive one or more images of the surface of the primary workpiece from one or more vision sensors;
detect a split in the primary workpiece based at least on the geometric profile;
determine or modify a cut solution for the primary workpiece based at least in part on the detected split; and
cause one or more cutting devices to cut the primary workpiece into a center cant and one or more secondary workpieces according to the determined or modified cut solution.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium 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 the instructions are operable, upon execution by the processor, to cause the computer to detect the split based on the geometric profile and at least one of the one or more images.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16 , wherein the plurality of geometric sensors includes at least four geometric sensors.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein detecting the split includes generating a model of the primary workpiece based on the geometric profile and mapping at least one of the one or more images to the model of the primary workpiece.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 18 , 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 said at least one of the one or more images to verify the identification or to adjust the estimated length and/or depth of the indentation.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 18 , wherein the model is a 3D model, and the instructions are further operable,

Assignees

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

Inventors

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

Classifications

• G05B2219/42155

  Model · CPC title

• G05B19/4097

  characterised by using design data to control NC machines, e.g. CAD/CAM (G05B19/4093 takes precedence) · CPC title

• 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