Grade annunciator

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9874803-B2
Application number	US-201314026895-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 13, 2013
Priority date	Oct 16, 2012
Publication date	Jan 23, 2018
Grant date	Jan 23, 2018

Abstract

Embodiments provide grade annunciator systems that allow a lumber workpiece traveling in a workflow path to be to be labeled with a projected image that conveys information about the grade, a cut line, and/or the location of a defect in the workpiece. In some embodiments, the system includes a conveyor configured to convey lumber workpieces in a workflow path, and a projector or series of projectors configured to project an image or symbol onto a surface of the workpiece, wherein the image or symbol indicates grade, a cut line, and/or the location of a defect in the workpiece. Other embodiments are methods of labeling a lumber workpiece in a workflow path, the methods includes conveying the lumber workpiece along the workflow path, and projecting an image or symbol onto a surface of the workpiece as it is conveyed along the workflow path.

First claim

We claim:

1. A grade annunciator system for displaying information about a lumber workpiece traveling in a first direction along a workflow path on a conveyor, the lumber workpiece being oriented transverse to the first direction on the conveyor, the grade annunciator system comprising:
an optimizer configured to determine, based at least on scan data from a scanner, a grade of the workpiece and a location of a first predicted cut to be made to the workpiece; and
a plurality of first projectors operatively coupled with the optimizer and arranged across the workflow path along a second direction that is transverse to the first direction, such that the fields of projection of the first projectors collectively extend at least across the width of the conveyor, wherein the optimizer is further configured to control a first one of the first projectors to project the grade of the workpiece onto a first portion of the workpiece and to control a second one of the first projectors to project an image of a first cut line onto a second portion of the workpiece at the location of the first predicted cut, while the workpiece is traveling along the workflow path on the conveyor, to thereby indicate the grade and the location of the first predicted cut.

2. The grade annunciator system of claim 1 , wherein the optimizer is further configured to control the first one of the first projectors to project an image of a second cut line onto the workpiece at a location of a second predicted cut.

3. The grade annunciator system of claim 2 , wherein the first and second ones of the first projectors are positioned on opposite sides of a longitudinal axis of the conveyor that is parallel to the first direction, and the fields of view of the first and second ones of the first projectors meet or overlap along said longitudinal axis.

4. The grade annunciator system of claim 3 , further including one or more second projectors located downstream of the first projectors, wherein the first and second projectors are collectively operable to project the image of the first cut line sequentially such that the image of the first cut line appears to move with the workpiece as the workpiece travels along the workflow path on the conveyor.

5. The grade annunciator system of claim 2 , wherein the first projectors are operable to project the grade and the images of the cut lines onto the workpiece simultaneously as the workpiece travels along the workflow path.

6. The grade annunciator system of claim 1 , further comprising a frame with a generally horizontal member supported above the conveyor and oriented transverse to the first direction, wherein the first projectors are spaced apart along the generally horizontal member.

7. The grade annunciator system of claim 1 , wherein the optimizer is further configured to determine the location of a defect of the workpiece, and to control a corresponding one of the first projectors to project an image of a shape, character, or symbol onto or around the location of the defect to thereby indicate the defect.

8. The grade annunciator system of claim 1 , wherein the first projectors are collectively operable to project the grade and the image such that the image appears to move with the workpiece as the workpiece travels along the workflow path on the conveyor.

9. The grade annunciator system of claim 1 , wherein the first projectors are configured to project the grade and the image such that the projected grade and image remain stationary as the workpiece travels along the workflow path.

10. The grade annunciator system of claim 1 , further including an ID reader positioned upstream of the first projectors and operatively coupled to the optimizer, wherein the ID reader is configured to detect an identifier printed on the workpiece and communicate the detected identifier to the optimizer.

11. The grade annunciator system of claim 1 , wherein the conveyor comprises a lugless chain.

12. The grade annunciator system of claim 1 , wherein the conveyor comprises a lugged chain.

13. A method of labeling a lumber workpiece in a workflow path, the method comprising:
transporting the workpiece in a first direction on a conveyor that extends along the workflow path, wherein the workpiece is oriented transverse to the first direction;
determining a grade of the workpiece and a location of a first predicted cut to be made to the workpiece;
using a first projector to project an image of a first shape, character, or symbol onto a first portion of the workpiece to thereby indicate the grade while the workpiece is transported on the conveyor; and
while projecting the first image onto the first portion of the workpiece, using one or more second projectors to project an image of a cut line onto the workpiece at the location of the predicted cut, wherein the first and second projectors are arranged across the workflow path along a second direction that is transverse to the first direction such that the fields of projection of the first and second projectors collectively extend at least across the width of the conveyor.

14. The method of claim 13 , further including using additional projectors downstream of the first and second projectors to project the images onto the workpiece, such that the images appear to move with the workpiece as the workpiece is conveyed along the workflow path.

15. The method of claim 13 , further including determining a location of a grade-limiting defect of the workpiece and using one of the projectors to project an image of a second shape, character, or symbol onto the grade-limiting defect of the workpiece.

16. The method of claim 13 , further comprising determining a location of a second predicted cut to be made to the workpiece and using one of the projectors to project an image of a second cut line onto the surface of the workpiece at the location of the second predicted cut while projecting the grade and the first predicted cut line onto the workpiece.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the grade of the workpiece is a grade of a first portion of the workpiece, the method further including determining a grade of a second portion of the workpiece and using one of said projectors to project a second image of a second shape, character, or symbol onto the workpiece to thereby indicate the grade of the second portion while projecting the grade of the first portion and the first and second cut lines onto the workpiece.

18. The method of claim 16 , further including projecting another image onto the workpiece at the location of a defect to thereby indicate the location of the defect while projecting the grade and the first and second cut lines onto the workpiece.

19. The method of claim 16 , wherein the predicted cuts are on opposite sides of a longitudinal centerline of the conveyor, and the second predicted cut line is projected by the first projector.

20. The method of claim 19 , further including using one of the first or second projectors to project another image onto the workpiece at the location of a grade-limiting defect to thereby indicate the location of the defect while projecting the grade and the representations of the predicted cut lines.

Assignees

• Us Natural Resources
• Usnr Llc

Inventors

• Blomquist Christopher W
• Flatman Carl
• Wahlstrom Carl
• O'Heron Mike
• Sunder Nick

Classifications

• G01B11/25

  by projecting a pattern, e.g. {one or more lines,} moiré fringes on the object (G01B11/255 takes precedence {; image analysis for depth or shape recovery G06T7/50}) · CPC title

• B27B31/06 Primary

  Adjusting equipment, e.g. using optical projection {(see also B27L5/022)} · CPC title

• G03B21/14 Primary

  Details · CPC title