Abstract

The present invention introduces a saw line flow management method that incorporates deep learning AI, machine vision, 3D data, and robotics to monitor and maintain the smooth operation of a lumber production line in a sawmill or planer mill. By utilizing surveillance cameras and AI models, the system assesses board integrity, quality grading, and line flow anomalies. For a board evaluation, 3D data and AI deep learning models analyze live video feeds to detect major defects or positioning issues. Anomalies in the production line flow are identified using AI models applied to video feeds of the conveyor area. The system can trigger alarms and initiate human or robotic interventions to remove problematic boards or rectify flow disruptions.

IPC Classes  ?

• G05B 19/418 - Total factory control, i.e. centrally controlling a plurality of machines, e.g. direct or distributed numerical control [DNC], flexible manufacturing systems [FMS], integrated manufacturing systems [IMS] or computer integrated manufacturing [CIM]
• G06T 7/00 - Image analysis

Goods & Services

(1) Lumber positioning apparatus; Machines and tools for wood transformation; Industrial robots for log and lumber handling; Log handling equipment; Log breakdown equipment; wood sawing machine; bend saws; canters; profilers; Lumber handling equipment; Wood residual handling equipment; Planer mill equipment. (2) Electronic vision system comprising scanners, optic discs, industrial computers, encoders and software applied to log breakdown in the lumber industry; Programmable logic controller for wood processing equipment. (3) Wood dryer; Dry kiln. (4) Wood debarking machine; Wood planer. (1) Business consulting services relating to the optimization of operations in factories, mills and processing plants. (2) Installation, repair and replacement of lumber mill, saw mill, planer mill, lumber processing and handling, and biomass-fueled energy systems equipment and machinery; Installation, repair and replacement of machines and apparatus for lumbering, woodworking, or veneer or plywood making; Maintenance of lumber mill, saw mill, planer mill, lumber processing and handling, and biomass-fueled energy systems equipment and machinery; Maintenance of machines and apparatus for lumbering, woodworking, or veneer or plywood making; Maintenance and services in the field of wood working; Building and plant construction management; mill construction. (3) Remote coaching and training on maintenance and operation of machinery and software used in factories, mills and processing plants; Formation in the field of log and lumber handling and processing. (4) Software as a service (SaaS) used to deliver both customizable and engineered cloud-based insights and operational solutions for industry, leveraging data from smart connected machinery, databases, business/IT systems, and other technologies in the cloud and on the factory floor; Quality management services, namely, quality evaluation and analysis, quality assurance, and quality control, in the field of lumber mills, saw mills, planer mills, lumber processing and handling and biomass-fueled energy systems equipment and machinery; Updating of computer software.

Goods & Services

(1) Lumber positioning apparatus; Machines and tools for wood transformation; Industrial robots for log and lumber handling; Log handling equipment; Log breakdown equipment; wood sawing machine; bend saws; canters; profilers; Lumber handling equipment; Wood residual handling equipment; Planer mill equipment. (2) Electronic vision system comprising scanners, optic discs, industrial computers, encoders and software applied to log breakdown in the lumber industry; Programmable logic controller for wood processing equipment. (3) Wood dryer; Dry kiln. (4) Wood debarking machine; Wood planer. (1) Business consulting services relating to the optimization of operations in factories, mills and processing plants. (2) Installation, repair and replacement of lumber mill, saw mill, planer mill, lumber processing and handling, and biomass-fueled energy systems equipment and machinery; Installation, repair and replacement of machines and apparatus for lumbering, woodworking, or veneer or plywood making; Maintenance of lumber mill, saw mill, planer mill, lumber processing and handling, and biomass-fueled energy systems equipment and machinery; Maintenance of machines and apparatus for lumbering, woodworking, or veneer or plywood making; Maintenance and services in the field of wood working; Building and plant construction management; mill construction. (3) Remote coaching and training on maintenance and operation of machinery and software used in factories, mills and processing plants; Formation in the field of log and lumber handling and processing. (4) Software as a service (SaaS) used to deliver both customizable and engineered cloud-based insights and operational solutions for industry, leveraging data from smart connected machinery, databases, business/IT systems, and other technologies in the cloud and on the factory floor; Quality management services, namely, quality evaluation and analysis, quality assurance, and quality control, in the field of lumber mills, saw mills, planer mills, lumber processing and handling and biomass-fueled energy systems equipment and machinery; Updating of computer software.

Goods & Services

(1) Lumber planer; Lumber planer infeed.

Abstract

A system for lubricating a cartwheel of a kiln cart, the system comprising a frame positioned proximate a pathway of the kiln cart, a cartwheel detector adapted to detect a position of the cartwheel and a lubricant delivery assembly affixed to said frame, said lubricant delivery assembly comprising a coupler configured to fluidly mate with a hub of the cartwheel, wherein the lubricant delivery assembly is extendable between a retracted position and an extended position, the coupler being positioned to mate with the hub of the cartwheel when the lubricant delivery assembly is in said extended position.

IPC Classes  ?

• B65G 45/00 - Lubricating, cleaning, or clearing devices
• F16N 7/14 - Arrangements for supplying oil or unspecified lubricant from a stationary reservoir or the equivalent in or on the machine or member to be lubricated the lubricant being conveyed from the reservoir by mechanical means
• F26B 3/04 - Drying solid materials or objects by processes involving the application of heat by convection, i.e. heat being conveyed from a heat source to the materials or objects to be dried by a gas or vapour, e.g. air the gas or vapour circulating over, or surrounding, the materials or objects to be dried
• F26B 15/00 - Machines or apparatus for drying objects with progressive movementMachines or apparatus with progressive movement for drying batches of material in compact form
• F27D 3/06 - Charging or discharging machines on travelling carriages

Abstract

A method for characterizing undebarked wooden logs and computing optimal debarking parameters in real time is provided. The method comprises a scanning device upstream of a debarker for providing data, usually in the form of images, to a deep learning algorithm model. The model may be trained with human assistance or not to detect and identify, with an acceptable amount of certainty, characteristics of undebarked logs. The characteristics are used in an optimization software and classified in an index table. The index table is used to determine optimized parameters for debarking the log.

IPC Classes  ?

• G01N 33/46 - Wood
• B27L 1/00 - Debarking or removing vestiges of branches from trees or logsMachines therefor
• G06F 18/21 - Design or setup of recognition systems or techniquesExtraction of features in feature spaceBlind source separation
• G06F 18/214 - Generating training patternsBootstrap methods, e.g. bagging or boosting
• G06F 18/40 - Software arrangements specially adapted for pattern recognition, e.g. user interfaces or toolboxes therefor
• G06N 20/00 - Machine learning

Abstract

A method for characterizing undebarked wooden logs and computing optimal debarking parameters in real time is provided. The method comprises a scanning device upstream of a debarker for providing data, usually in the form of images, to a deep learning algorithm model. The model may be trained with human assistance or not to detect and identify, with an acceptable amount of certainty, characteristics of undebarked logs. The characteristics are used in an optimization software and classified in an index table. The index table is used to determine optimized parameters for debarking the log.

IPC Classes  ?

• B27G 23/00 - Gauging means specially designed for adjusting of tools or guides, e.g. adjusting cutting blades in cutter blocks
• B27L 1/00 - Debarking or removing vestiges of branches from trees or logsMachines therefor
• G06N 3/02 - Neural networks

Abstract

A system and method for detecting the origin of wooden planks in a sawmill is provided. The method scans surfaces of processed planks and, with the help of an AI algorithm comprising a deep-learning algorithm, determines the origin of said planks based on analysed parameters of the planks. The parameters used in the analysis are mainly properties of tool marks and the resulting analysis provides tools and equipment used. The deep learning algorithm may be in a self-learning mode or in a supervised training mode.

IPC Classes  ?

• B23Q 17/20 - Arrangements for indicating or measuring on machine tools for indicating or measuring workpiece characteristics, e.g. contour, dimension, hardness
• B27B 31/00 - Arrangements for conveying, loading, turning, adjusting, or discharging the log or timber, specially designed for saw mills or sawing machines
• B27B 31/06 - Adjusting equipment, e.g. using optical projection

Abstract

A system and method for detecting the origin of wooden planks in a sawmill is provided. The method scans surfaces of processed planks and, with the help of an AI algorithm comprising a deep-learning algorithm, determines the origin of said planks based on analysed parameters of the planks. The parameters used in the analysis are mainly properties of tool marks and the resulting analysis provides tools and equipment used. The deep learning algorithm may be in a self-learning mode or in a supervised training mode.

IPC Classes  ?

• G06V 10/44 - Local feature extraction by analysis of parts of the pattern, e.g. by detecting edges, contours, loops, corners, strokes or intersectionsConnectivity analysis, e.g. of connected components
• G06T 7/00 - Image analysis
• G06T 7/40 - Analysis of texture
• G06T 7/73 - Determining position or orientation of objects or cameras using feature-based methods
• G06T 7/11 - Region-based segmentation
• G06V 10/764 - Arrangements for image or video recognition or understanding using pattern recognition or machine learning using classification, e.g. of video objects

Goods & Services

Downloadable mobile applications used to connect to smart factories, mills and processing plants; Downloadable mobile applications that provide augmented reality-based remote assistance to operations and service teams in factories, mills and processing plants Business consulting services relating to the optimization of operations in factories, mills and processing plants Remote coaching and training on maintenance and operation of machinery and software used in factories, mills and processing plants Software as a service (SaaS) services featuring software for augmented reality-based remote assistance used to deliver both customizable and engineered cloud-based insights and operational solutions for industry, leveraging data from smart connected machinery, databases, business and IT systems, and other technologies in the cloud and on the factory floor

Abstract

The present invention is a debarking ring apparatus to prevent operational downtime of logs debarking by having two debarking rings placed on the same vertical plan, perpendicular to the flow of incoming and outgoing logs, and parallel to each other. Only one ring may be operational at a time. As such, maintenance may be done on one of the rings while the other is in operation. Debarking rings may have varying sizes and shapes independent from each other. Each debarking ring may further have its own frame, actuator and control and motorization modules. A sliding system, supported by a frame, may further direct the lateral displacement of both rings. Also presented is a method of processing logs through the debarking ring apparatus.

IPC Classes  ?

• B27L 1/08 - Debarking or removing vestiges of branches from trees or logsMachines therefor using rotating rings

Abstract

The present invention is a debarking ring apparatus to prevent operational downtime of logs debarking by having two debarking rings placed on the same vertical plan, perpendicular to the flow of incoming and outgoing logs, and parallel to each other. Only one ring may be operational at a time. As such, maintenance may be done on one of the rings while the other is in operation. Debarking rings may have varying sizes and shapes independent from each other. Each debarking ring may further have its own frame, actuator and control and motorization modules. A sliding system, supported by a frame, may further direct the lateral displacement of both rings. Also presented is a method of processing logs through the debarking ring apparatus.

IPC Classes  ?

• B27L 1/00 - Debarking or removing vestiges of branches from trees or logsMachines therefor
• B27L 1/08 - Debarking or removing vestiges of branches from trees or logsMachines therefor using rotating rings

Goods & Services

(1) Downloadable mobile applications used to connect to smart factories, mills and processing plants; Downloadable mobile applications that provide augmented reality-based remote assistance to operations and service teams in factories, mills and processing plants (1) Business consulting services relating to the optimization of operations in factories, mills and processing plants (2) Remote coaching and training on maintenance and operation of machinery and software used in factories, mills and processing plants (3) Software as a service (SaaS) used to deliver both customizable and engineered cloud-based insights and operational solutions for industry, leveraging data from smart connected machinery, databases, business/IT systems, and other technologies in the cloud and on the factory floor

Abstract

A Variable Opening Reducer (VOR) for chipping excess fibers on a piece of wood periphery is described, the VOR comprising an infeed portion for securing and moving the piece of wood, along a longitudinal log axis thereof, inside the VOR, a chipping portion disposed sequentially after the infeed portion for receiving therein the piece of wood and for chipping and removing peripheral sections of the piece of wood, the chipping portion comprising a plurality of cutting tools, each of the cutting tools being adapted to revolve about a rotation axis thereof that is substantially perpendicularly located in respect of the longitudinal log axis of the log, each of the cutting tools being radially located in a position interfering with the piece of wood periphery to chip and remove excess fibers and an outfeed portion, disposed after the chipping portion, for receiving, securing and moving the piece of wood along the longitudinal log axis thereof. A kit and a method of use thereof are also presented in the present application.

IPC Classes  ?

• B27C 5/00 - Machines designed for producing special profiles or shaped work, e.g. by rotary cuttersEquipment therefor
• B27C 5/08 - Rounding machines
• B27C 7/00 - Wood-turning machinesEquipment therefor
• B27L 1/00 - Debarking or removing vestiges of branches from trees or logsMachines therefor

Abstract

A Variable Opening Reducer (VOR) for chipping excess fibers on a piece of wood periphery is described, the VOR comprising an infeed portion for securing and moving the piece of wood, along a longitudinal log axis thereof, inside the VOR, a chipping portion disposed sequentially after the infeed portion for receiving therein the piece of wood and for chipping and removing peripheral sections of the piece of wood, the chipping portion comprising a plurality of cutting tools, each of the cutting tools being adapted to revolve about a rotation axis thereof that is substantially perpendicularly located in respect of the longitudinal log axis of the log, each of the cutting tools being radially located in a position interfering with the piece of wood periphery to chip and remove excess fibers and an outfeed portion, disposed after the chipping portion, for receiving, securing and moving the piece of wood along the longitudinal log axis thereof A kit and a method of use thereof are also presented in the present application.

IPC Classes  ?

• B27L 1/10 - Debarking or removing vestiges of branches from trees or logsMachines therefor using rotatable tools
• B27B 31/06 - Adjusting equipment, e.g. using optical projection
• B27B 31/08 - Discharging equipment
• B27B 31/00 - Arrangements for conveying, loading, turning, adjusting, or discharging the log or timber, specially designed for saw mills or sawing machines

Abstract

The present invention relates to a phase shifting debarker. The shifting debarker generally comprises a phase shifting mechanism being powered by a main motor and being connected to an operative assembly by the mean of timing belts. The main motor is being configured to control, by the mean of a belt, the movement of the phase shifting mechanism which is being adapted to control the movement of the operative assembly by the mean of the timing belts. The operative assembly generally comprises an actuator ring and a main ring. The activation of the shifting mechanism creates a shift phase between the actuator ring and the main ring while rotating at the same speed.

IPC Classes  ?

• B27L 1/08 - Debarking or removing vestiges of branches from trees or logsMachines therefor using rotating rings
• B27L 1/05 - Drums therefor

Abstract

The present invention relates to a phase shifting debarker. The shifting debarker generally comprises a phase shifting mechanism being powered by a main motor and being connected to an operative assembly by the mean of timing belts. The main motor is being configured to control, by the mean of a belt, the movement of the phase shifting mechanism which is being adapted to control the movement of the operative assembly by the mean of the timing belts. The operative assembly generally comprises an actuator ring and a main ring. The activation of the shifting mechanism creates a shift phase between the actuator ring and the main ring while rotating at the same speed.

IPC Classes  ?

• A01G 23/00 - Forestry
• B27L 1/08 - Debarking or removing vestiges of branches from trees or logsMachines therefor using rotating rings

Goods & Services

Stacking machines; Machines for sorting and stickering lumber and removing non-conforming materials

Goods & Services

Stacking machines; Machines for sorting and stickering lumber and removing non-conforming materials

Goods & Services

(1) Installation, repair and replacement of lumber mill, saw mill, planer mill, and lumber processing and handling equipment and machinery; Installation, repair and replacement of machines and apparatus for lumbering, woodworking, and veneer and plywood making; Maintenance of lumber mill, saw mill, planer mill, and lumber processing and handling equipment and machinery; Maintenance of machines and apparatus for lumbering, woodworking, and veneer and plywood making (2) Quality management services, namely, quality evaluation and analysis, quality assurance, and quality control, in the field of lumber mills, saw mills, planer mills, and lumber processing and handling equipment and machinery; Updating of computer software

Goods & Services

(1) Installation, repair and replacement of lumber mill, saw mill, planer mill, and lumber processing and handling equipment and machinery; Installation, repair and replacement of machines and apparatus for lumbering, woodworking, and veneer and plywood making; Maintenance of lumber mill, saw mill, planer mill, and lumber processing and handling equipment and machinery; Maintenance of machines and apparatus for lumbering, woodworking, and veneer and plywood making (2) Quality management services, namely, quality evaluation and analysis, quality assurance, and quality control, in the field of lumber mills, saw mills, planer mills, and lumber processing and handling equipment and machinery; Updating of computer software

Goods & Services

Installation, repair and replacement of lumber mill, saw mill, planer mill, lumber processing and handling, and biomass-fueled energy systems equipment and machinery; Installation, repair and replacement of machines and apparatus for lumbering, woodworking, or veneer or plywood making; Maintenance of lumber mill, saw mill, planer mill, lumber processing and handling, and biomass-fueled energy systems equipment and machinery; Maintenance of machines and apparatus for lumbering, woodworking, or veneer or plywood making Quality management services, namely, quality evaluation and analysis, quality assurance, and quality control, in the field of lumber mills, saw mills, planer mills, lumber processing and handling and biomass-fueled energy systems equipment and machinery; Updating of computer software

Goods & Services

Installation, repair and replacement of lumber mill, saw mill, planer mill, lumber processing and handling, and biomass-fueled energy systems equipment and machinery; Installation, repair and replacement of machines and apparatus for lumbering, woodworking, or veneer or plywood making; Maintenance of lumber mill, saw mill, planer mill, lumber processing and handling, and biomass-fueled energy systems equipment and machinery; Maintenance of machines and apparatus for lumbering, woodworking, or veneer or plywood making Quality management services, namely, quality evaluation and analysis, quality assurance, and quality control, in the field of lumber mills, saw mills, planer mills, lumber processing and handling and biomass-fueled energy systems equipment and machinery; Updating of computer software

Goods & Services

Procurement, namely, purchasing of lumber mill, saw mill, planer mill, lumber processing and handling, and biomass-fueled energy systems equipment and machinery and components, parts, accessories, fittings, furniture and furnishings for others Repair or maintenance of machines and apparatus for lumbering, woodworking, veneer or plywood making; Installation, repair and replacement of lumber mill, saw mill, planer mill, lumber processing and handling, and biomass-fueled energy systems equipment and machinery and components, parts, accessories, fittings, furniture and furnishings

Abstract

A lumber sorter using a conveyor system with hooks that pick up, move and drop lumber. The lumber sorter includes limiters attached to the hooks that restrict the rotation of the hooks while the limiters are running in raceways. The limiters restrict the rotation of the hooks between a first and second orientation through the use of opposing contact points that contact with opposing walls of the raceways. The limiters maintain the hooks in a substantially vertical position while they carry lumber, but permit the hooks to be pivoted to drop the lumber at a designated position. The use of limiters having first and second contact points allows for the pivot direction and degree of rotation to be configurable and predetermined by the position and placement of the contact points.

IPC Classes  ?

• B65G 17/20 - Conveyors having an endless traction element, e.g. a chain, transmitting movement to a continuous or substantially-continuous load-carrying surface or to a series of individual load-carriersEndless-chain conveyors in which the chains form the load-carrying surface comprising load-carriers suspended from overhead traction chains
• B65G 17/32 - Individual load-carriers

Abstract

A lumber sorter using a conveyor system with hooks that pick up, move and drop lumber. The lumber sorter includes limiters attached to the hooks that restrict the rotation of the hooks while the limiters are running in raceways. The limiters restrict the rotation of the hooks between a first and second orientation through the use of opposing contact points that contact with opposing walls of the raceways. The limiters maintain the hooks in a substantially vertical position while they carry lumber, but permit the hooks to be pivoted to drop the lumber at a designated position. The use of limiters having first and second contact points allows for the pivot direction and degree of rotation to be configurable and predetermined by the position and placement of the contact points.

IPC Classes  ?

• B27B 31/00 - Arrangements for conveying, loading, turning, adjusting, or discharging the log or timber, specially designed for saw mills or sawing machines

Abstract

A conveyer method and system comprising at least one conveyer unit conveying an object; a lighting unit; a vision unit; wherein the lighting unit illuminates the object in the line of sight of the vision unit as the vision unit takes at least a first image at a first angle and a second image at a second angle of each surface of the object on the conveyer unit.

IPC Classes  ?

• B65G 47/24 - Devices influencing the relative position or the attitude of articles during transit by conveyors orientating the articles
• B65G 49/00 - Conveying systems characterised by their application for specified purposes not otherwise provided for
• G01N 21/89 - Investigating the presence of flaws, defects or contamination in moving material, e.g. paper, textiles
• G01N 33/46 - Wood
• G06T 1/00 - General purpose image data processing
• G06V 10/12 - Details of acquisition arrangementsConstructional details thereof
• G06V 10/141 - Control of illumination

Goods & Services

(1) Electronic vision system comprising scanners, optic discs, industrial computers, encoders and software applied to edging operation in the lumber and the sawmill industry.

Goods & Services

(1) Electronic vision system comprising scanners, optic discs, industrial computers, encoders and software applied to trimming operation in the lumber and the sawmill industry.

Goods & Services

(1) Large bandsaw to cut log or timber used in sawmill operation.

Abstract

Discloses a positioning fence for use in lumber saw mills that facilitates automated positioning of lumber for cutting. A continuous moving track loop has a plurality of paddles laterally positionable across the width of the track. Each paddle has a brake to hold the paddle in position. A positioning cam releases the brake to align each successive paddle to a desired lateral offset and a zeroing cam resets each paddle to a zero position.

IPC Classes  ?

• B65G 47/34 - Devices for discharging articles or materials from conveyors

Abstract

Discloses a positioning fence for use in lumber saw mills that facilitates automated positioning of lumber for cutting. A continuos moving track loop has a plurality of paddles laterally positionable across the width of the track. Each paddle has a brake to hold the paddle in position. A positioning cam releases the brake to align each successive paddle to a desired lateral offset and a zeroing cam resets each paddle to a zero position.

IPC Classes  ?

• B27B 27/00 - Guide fences or stops for timber in saw mills or sawing machinesMeasuring equipment thereon

Goods & Services

(1) Lumber positioning apparatus

Goods & Services

MACHINE FOR CLASSIFICATION OF WOOD

Goods & Services

(1) Wood grader.

Goods & Services

LOG HANDLING AND PROCESSING EQUIPMENT FOR THE FORESTRY INDUSTRY, NAMELY SORTING, COLLECTING, UNSCRAMBLING AND DEBARKING MACHINES

Goods & Services

(1) Log handling and processing equipment for the forestry industry, namely sorting, collecting, unscrambling and debarking machines