Abstract: An apparatus for detecting the probable existence, location, and type of defects in a workpiece is described. The apparatus includes a sensor subsystem, an optimizer, a control subsystem, and a computer system having a processor and computer readable memory. Sensor subsystem senses a first section of the workpiece and produces signals corresponding to a physical characteristic of the workpiece. The computer system is configured to generate a workpiece model based on the signals produced by the sensor subsystem. In an alternate embodiment, a defect assembler can be provided to merge signals from a plurality of sensor subsystems. The defect assembler can also be configured to generate the workpiece data model. The optimizer is configured to generate workpiece segmentation recommendations based on the workpiece data model.

Abstract: A generic, scalable consumer subsystem/producer subsystem interface controller for exchanging data between at least one producer subsystem configured to produce a set of services characterized in a producer generated data set, and at least on consumer subsystem configured to consume the set of services, including an object-oriented producer application program interface configured for use on a multi-threaded, client-server operating system, wherein producer routines are configured to: initialize producer server objects maid producer client objects; receive requests for data from a consumer subsystem via the producer client objects; send acknowledgments to a consumer subsystem in response to requests from the consumer subsystem via the producer server objects; send data to a consumer subsystem in response to requests from the consumer subsystem via the producer server objects; and wherein consumer routines are configured to: initialize consumer server objects and consumer client objects; send requests for data

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting the probable existence, location, and type of defects in a workpiece is described. The apparatus includes a sensor subsystem, an optimizer, a control subsystem, and a computer system having a processor and computer readable memory. Sensor subsystem senses a first section of the workpiece and produces signals corresponding to a physical characteristic of the workpiece. The computer system is configured to generate a workpiece model based on the signals produced by the sensor subsystem. In an alternate embodiment, a defect assembler can be provided to merge signals from a plurality of sensor subsystems. The defect assembler can also be configured to generate the workpiece data model. The optimizer is configured to generate workpiece segmentation recommendations based on the workpiece data model.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting the probable existence, location, and type of defects in a workpiece is described. The apparatus includes a sensor subsystem, an optimizer, a control subsystem, and a computer system having a processor and computer readable memory. The sensor subsystem senses a first section of the workpiece and produces signals corresponding to a physical characteristic of the workpiece. The computer system is configured to generate a workpiece model based on the signals produced by the sensor subsystem. In an alternate embodiment, a defect assembler can be provided to merge signals from a plurality of sensor subsystems. The defect assembler can also be configured to generate the workpiece data model. The optimizer is configured to generate workpiece segmentation recommendations based on the workpiece data model.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting the probable existence, location, and type of defects in a workpiece is described. The apparatus includes a sensor subsystem, an optimizer, a control subsystem, and a computer system having a processor and computer readable memory. The sensor subsystem senses a first section of the workpiece and produces signals corresponding to a physical characteristic of the workpiece. The computer system is configured to generate a workpiece model based on the signals produced by the sensor subsystem. In an alternate embodiment, a defect assembler can be provided to merge signals front a plurality of sensor subsystems. The defect assembler can also be configured to generate the workpiece data model. The optimizer is configured to generate workpiece segmentation recommendations based on the workpiece data model.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting the probable existence, location, and type of defects in a workpiece is described. The apparatus includes a sensor subsystem, an optimizer, a control subsystem, and a computer system having a processor and computer readable memory The sensor subsystem senses a first section of the workpiece and produces signals corresponding to a physical characteristic of the workpiece. The computer system is configured to generate a workpiece model based on the signals produced by the sensor subsystem. In an alternate embodiment, a defect assembler can be provided to merge signals front a plurality of sensor subsystems. The defect assembler can also be configured to generate the workpiece data model. The optimizer is configured to generate workpiece segmentation recommendations based on the workpiece data model.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting the probable existence, location, and type of defects in a workpiece is described. The apparatus includes a sensor subsystem, an optimizer, a control subsystem, and a computer system having a processor and computer readable memory. Sensor subsystem senses a first section of the workpiece and produces signals corresponding to a physical characteristic of the workpiece. The computer system is configured to generate a workpiece model based on the signals produced by the sensor subsystem. In an alternate embodiment, a defect assembler can be provided to merge signals from a plurality of sensor subsystems. The defect assembler can also be configured to generate the workpiece data model. The optimizer is configured to generate workpiece segmentation recommendations based on the workpiece data model.

Abstract: A lug loader includes a first shaft rotatably mounted transversely across a board flow path, wherein a board in the board flow path is aligned transversely across the board flow path. The board translates in a downstream direction on a board infeed transfer from an upstream position. A board supporting structure such as a disc is rigidly mounted to the first shaft so as to rotate with rotation of the first shaft. The board supporting structure has a shoe mounting surface extending generally orthogonally from the first shaft. The board supporting structure also has a radially outer-most rim, radially outer-most relative to the first shaft. The rim is generally circular and generally circumferentially contiguous so as to form a board supporting surface around the rim. An elongate shoe has first and second ends. A board supporting heel is mounted on the shoe. The shoe is pivotally mounted at the first end of the shoe to the shoe mounting surface.

Abstract: A lumber video grading apparatus includes a vision system, processors, a grading station having visual displays, a storage and retrieval device, an identification device, and a timing system. The vision system may include cameras mounted proximate to a lumber transfer for optically acquiring real time images of exposed cut surfaces of lumber pieces conveyed on the lumber transfer. The processors process the real time images into individually identifiable retrievably storable images and also into visually displayable real time images. A selectable lumber grade is correlated at a grading station to selectable pieces of lumber on the lumber transfer. The displayable real time images or later retrieved individually identifiable retrievably storable images are displayable on a visual display at the grading station. The individually identifiable retrievably storable images are retrievably storable on, and selectively retrievably from, the storage and retrieval device.

Abstract: An edging and curve-sawing saw has a selectively skewable sawbox, skewable to a workpiece infeed path so as to receive workpieces translated longitudinally along the infeed path and into the sawbox. The sawbox rotatably supports a saw arbor. A plurality of saw blades are slidingly mounted on the saw arbor in a parallel laterally spaced array. The saw blade array spacing is selectively adjustable device mounted to the sawbox. The array is slide on the arbor relative to the sawbox according to an optimized profile.

Abstract: A lug loader singulates elongate workpieces from a lugged infeed transfer onto a lugged outfeed transfer. A disc is rotatable mounted between the infeed and outfeed transfers. Pivotable heels are mounted around the periphery of the disc. The heels are elongate and mounted so that they may be pivoted to extend outwardly from the periphery of the disc. When so extended the heels lift workpieces waiting on the infeed transfer and carry the workpieces over the disc as the disc rotates so as to release the workpieces onto the outfeed transfer. Each heel has a cam follower which travels along the lower cam surface of a selectively pivotable stop arm. When the stop arm is pivoted inwardly relative to the disc, the lower cam surface forces rotation of the heels into their outwardly extended position. Flow of workpieces is stopped when the stop arm is pivoted outwardly relative to the disc so as to remove the cam surface from the path of the cam followers.