Abstract: Embodiments provide systems, apparatuses, and method for determining the Modulus of Elasticity (MOE) of a wood workpiece based on the travel time and/or velocity of an impact-induced acoustic stress wave. A housing may be configured to reduce extraneous acoustic waves and/or contaminants near an acoustic transducer to thereby reduce errors in the detection/identification of the acoustic stress wave. A computer system may be programmed to determine the MOE of the workpiece based on the travel time and/or velocity of multiple acoustic stress waves induced by corresponding impacts at respective locations along the end of the workpiece as the workpiece travels in a first direction. Corresponding methods and an induction system for rapidly and repeatedly striking the end of the workpiece are also described herein.

Abstract: A lumber feeding mechanism for feeding lumber pieces laterally on a supply conveyor after scanning them with a light scanner to determine a reference axis for the optimum yield of boards. The lumber pieces are fed by dogs from a start position to a feed position in alignment with a feed conveyor which feeds such pieces longitudinally through a lumber edger with adjustable cutting saws. The feeding mechanism includes alternating sets of first and second dogs which are pivoted between a raised position for engagement with the rear edges of the lumber pieces to push such pieces from the start position to the feed position and a retracted position to enable the dogs to be returned to the start position passing on opposite sides or on the same side of the piece. Electrical actuation motors or fluid cylinder actuation motors with rotating output gears are used to pivot the dogs in response to a control signal produced by an electrical control system.