Abstract: A pallet inspection system includes a frame configured to have a pallet receiving area to receive a wooden pallet to be inspected for having at least one mark indicating that wood in the pallet has been heat treated. Cameras are carried by the frame to generate images of the wooden pallet in response to the wooden pallet being in the pallet receiving area. A processor is to perform object detection on each image to detect if the mark is present, crop each image having the mark so that an area surrounding the mark within the image is removed, and perform image segmentation on each cropped image so that pixels within the cropped image are classified into regions. The processor determines readability of the regions in each cropped image based on respective readability criteria thresholds. The mark is classified in each cropped image as readable based on the mark meeting the respective readability criteria thresholds.

Abstract: A pallet inspection system includes a conveyor to move a pallet that is to be inspected. The pallet includes a top deck and a bottom deck separated by spaced apart support blocks positioned therebetween, with nails being used to secure the top and bottom decks to the support blocks. Cameras are positioned to generate images of the pallet as the pallet is moved on the conveyor. A processor is coupled to the cameras and receives the images for processing. The processing includes executing a first algorithm on the images to tag the images having support blocks visible therein, and executing a second algorithm on the tagged images to detect nails having exposed tips.

Abstract: A nailing system may include a bracket that mounts to a nail gun, and an arm. The system may also include a movable joint to connect the arm to the bracket. The system may further include an anvil carried by the arm where the arm positions the anvil to be under a driver of the nail gun, and the anvil bends nails driven by the driver.

Abstract: A method for designing a support is disclosed wherein the method minimizes wasteful production of multiple support prototypes. The method includes the steps of: obtaining a computer generated sample of an article of manufacture; designing a computer generated model of a support effective to receive the sample of the article; and obtaining approval of the model of the support.