Abstract: The invention is a method of assisting lumber grading using an electro-optical scanning system. A first critical determination is determination of pith position of the log from which the lumber was cut, relative to the scanned faces. This then indicates knot orientation. With knot orientation known, knot size and position data also determined by the scanning system can be used to accurately estimate cross sectional area of the knots. From this point a tentative lumber grade can readily be assigned. Pith position is indicated by a number of factors including wane, knot counts on each of the faces and the presence or absences of spiky faces. A preferred form the scanner is one which measures localized wood fiber angles relative to three orthogonal axes. These fiber angle measurements reveal grain slope disturbances on the lumber which are indicative of many types of defects including knots. The system has been used for grading lumber at speeds as high as 350 m/min. with considerable accuracy.

Abstract: High speed tube cutting apparatus provides die means for the simultaneous cutting of a plurality of tube segments from a length of tubing. Preferred embodiments are capable of cutting the tube segments in extremely short lengths and with the ends thereof formed on a bias. The improvements of the invention eliminate waste and enable the shearing of the tube segments to be achieved in a single stroke of the included die means. A further feature of the invention apparatus is that it provides means for precisely realigning sheared tube segments with the tubing from which they have been cut to facilitate their ejection under the influence of the advancement of such tubing.

Abstract: A preferred embodiment of the invention provides tube cutting apparatus including, a head structure mounting cutter means defining a cutting station for a length of tubular material, an elongate rod-like structure for mounting the tubular material, tube engaging means for advancement of said tubular material along said rod-like structure to said cutting station, support means for said rod-like structure including a portion of table-like form, means for an initially free pivotal connection of said table-like support portion to said head structure and a pedestal type support for the opposite end of said table-like support portion including means for a lateral adjustment thereof about said pivot means to effect a precise alignment of said rod-like structure with said cutting station.