Abstract: A stick distributing unit and corresponding method for laying spacer sticks over a board layer is provided. The unit includes a frame defining a stick-receiving area for receiving sticks and a hold-and-release mechanism configured to dispense each stick one-by-one. The hold-and-release mechanism includes a lower holding member selectively operable to hold and release a bottommost stick, and an upper holding member selectively operable to hold and release a penultimate stick. The unit also includes a controller configured to operate the lower and upper holding members to release the bottommost stick from the stick-receiving area and knock on the penultimate stick. The unit further has a stick-laying mechanism configured to receive and lay the released bottommost stick over the board layer.

Abstract: A stick distributing unit and corresponding method for laying spacer sticks over a board layer is provided. The unit includes a frame defining a stick-receiving area for receiving sticks and a hold-and-release mechanism configured to dispense each stick one-by-one. The hold-and-release mechanism includes a lower holding member selectively operable to hold and release a bottommost stick, and an upper holding member selectively operable to hold and release a penultimate stick. The unit also includes a controller configured to operate the lower and upper holding members to release the bottommost stick from the stick-receiving area and knock on the penultimate stick. The unit further has a stick-laying mechanism configured to receive and lay the released bottommost stick over the board layer.

Abstract: A bin sorter for sorting lumber is provided. The bin sorter includes a plurality of bins disposed in a side-by-side configuration. Each bin includes a pair of spaced-apart walls defining a compartment therebetween for receiving lumber. Each compartment has a compartment inlet provided at a top end thereof, and a compartment outlet provided at a bottom end thereof. At least one of the plurality of bins has a support assembly for supporting one or more piles of lumber within the compartment. The support assembly includes a pair of support members having a support base vertically displaceable between the top and bottom ends of the compartment and a support arm connected to the support base and extending within the compartment towards the other support arm. Each support arm is adapted to support a respective pile of lumber or cooperate with one another to support a single pile of lumber.

Abstract: A board stacking system for stacking board layers into a stack, and associated method are provided. The board stacking system includes a board stacking apparatus adapted to arrange board layers into the stack. The board stacking apparatus having a stack holder comprising an adjustable stacking area for supporting the stack, the stacking area having a length defined between a front edge and a back edge. The board stacking apparatus further having one or more stacking arms operable to receive board layers from a board dispensing mechanism and sequentially arrange the board layers onto the forming stack. The board stacking system further includes a scanner positioned and configured for measuring a width of the board layers and transfer the information to the stack holder to allow adjustment of the length of the stacking area to substantially correspond to the width of the previously measured board layer.

Abstract: A board stacking system for stacking board layers into a stack, and associated method are provided. The board stacking system includes a board stacking apparatus adapted to arrange board layers into the stack. The board stacking apparatus having a stack holder comprising an adjustable stacking area for supporting the stack, the stacking area having a length defined between a front edge and a back edge. The board stacking apparatus further having one or more stacking arms operable to receive board layers from a board dispensing mechanism and sequentially arrange the board layers onto the forming stack. The board stacking system further includes a scanner positioned and configured for measuring a width of the board layers and transfer the information to the stack holder to allow adjustment of the length of the stacking area to substantially correspond to the width of the previously measured board layer.

Abstract: A board stacking apparatus having one or more movable supports having at least two arms each, a rear stopper and a power assembly operatively connected to the movable support to move the same according to a layer stacking routine. The layer stacking routine includes positioning the movable support at a receiving position, maintaining the movable support in the receiving position while the boards are dispensed thereon, and moving the movable support in a rearward direction. The board stacking apparatus further comprises abutment components located proximate to and slightly below a board dispensing mechanism of the apparatus to support the receiving end of corresponding arms when in the receiving position.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing spaced boards is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a receiving section, a spacing section and a delivery section. The apparatus is characterized by the presence of overlapping providing means and conveying means, releasable stopping means and vertical pushing means which are operatively connected for releasing one board at a time. Repeated stopping and releasing of boards result in a continuous and regular flow of evenly spaced boards.

Abstract: An architecture which allows real-time video editing using a 2D/3D graphics engine. This architecture comprises input and output buffers. It receives video streams from either compressed sources of data or non compressed sources of data. This architecture allows a flexible upgrade of the video effects using software plug ins.

Abstract: An architecture which allows real-time video editing using a 2D/3D graphics engine. This architecture comprises input and output buffers. It receives video streams from either compressed sources of data or non compressed sources of data. This architecture allows a flexible upgrade of the video effects using software plug ins.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing spaced boards is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a receiving section, a spacing section and a delivery section. The apparatus is characterized by the presence of overlapping providing means and conveying means, releasable stopping means and vertical pushing means which are operatively connected for releasing one board at a time. Repeated stopping and releasing of boards result in a continuous and regular flow of evenly spaced boards.

Abstract: A stick placer is disclosed for placing a stick at a target position, the stick placer comprising a base, a vertically elongated container attached to the base for containing a plurality of sticks in a planar mat, a stick dispensing mechanism secured to the vertically elongated container for selectively dispensing a bottom stick of the plurality of sticks from the vertically elongated container, guiding means secured to the base for guiding the dispensed stick to a horizontal resting position, grasping means for grasping the stick in the horizontal resting position and moving means attached to the grasping means and to the base for selectively moving the grasping means between the horizontal resting position and the final target position.

Abstract: A software library using a 3D graphics engine to produce a real time 3D particle explosion effect is provided. The particle explosion effect creation tool allows users to create their own particle explosion effect by defining their own shapes in a graphics image data file and allows to graphically define a plurality of explosion parameters of the video particle explosion effect in the graphics image data file. Particles are driven by a particle system algorithm that is controlled by real-world attributes such as gravity, direction and dispersion. These attributes can be keyframed by the users within a video editing application to produce specific 3D Particle explosion effects such as transitions and filters on video or graphics.

Abstract: A heat exchanger has oil core plates and coolant core plates disposed in alternating, stacked relationship. Flow passages are provided between adjacent plates, so that the oil flow passages alternate with the coolant flow passages, and the oil can flow from an oil inlet opening of each oil plate, and through the oil flow passage to an oil outlet opening, and coolant can flow from a coolant inlet opening of each coolant plate through the coolant flow passage to a coolant outlet opening. The oil inlet openings are adjacent to one end of the plates, and the oil outlet openings are spaced from the oil inlet openings, with a passageway for flow of the oil between upstanding bosses of the coolant plates on opposed sides of each oil plate and extending from a gap in an upstanding flange of the oil plate to the oil outlet opening.

Abstract: A heat exchanger has oil core plates and coolant core plates disposed in alternating, stacked relationship. Flow passages are provided between adjacent plates, so that the oil flow passages alternate with the coolant flow passages, and the oil can flow from an oil inlet opening of each oil plate, and through the oil flow passage to an oil outlet opening, and coolant can flow from a coolant inlet opening of each coolant plate through the coolant flow passage to a coolant outlet opening. The oil inlet openings are adjacent one end of the plates, and the oil outlet openings are spaced from the oil inlet openings, with a passageway for flow of the oil between upstanding bosses of the coolant plates on opposed sides of each oil plate and extending from a gap in an upstanding flange of the oil plate to the oil outlet opening.

Abstract: An architecture which allows real-time video editing using a 2D/3D graphics engine. This architecture comprises input and output buffers. It receives video streams from either compressed sources of data or non compressed sources of data. This architecture allows a flexible upgrade of the video effects using software plug ins.

Abstract: An architecture which allows real-time video editing using a 2D/3D graphics engine. This architecture comprises input and output buffers. It receives video streams from either compressed sources of data or non compressed sources of data. This architecture allows a flexible upgrade of the video effects using software plug ins.

Abstract: A heat exchanger has a plurality of oil core plates, and a plurality of coolant core plates, with each plate having an oil inlet opening adjacent one end of the plate, an oil outlet opening spaced from the oil inlet opening towards an opposed end of the plate, a coolant inlet opening, and a coolant outlet opening, and with the coolant inlet and outlet openings being adjacent the opposed end of the plate. Each oil core plate has an inwardly inclined, upstanding flange surrounding the oil inlet opening in the plate except for a portion thereof adjacent the one end of the plate at which a gap is provided in the flange. The oil outlet opening in the plate extends to adjacent the opposed end of the plate, and a further inwardly inclined, upstanding flange surrounds the oil outlet opening in the plate except adjacent the opposed end of the plate at which a further gap or gaps are provided in the further flange.

Abstract: A stacked plate-type heat exchanger including a plurality of dish-shaped heat exchanger plates arranged one next to the other to form a nested heat exchanger plate stack. A plurality of first and second fluid flow channels are formed between the heat exchanger plates for first and second fluids respectively, and first fluid and second fluid chambers are formed in the stack in communication with the first and second fluid channels respectively. An end plate for the heat exchanger has an end plate central planar portion and a peripheral flange projecting from the end plate central planar portion, the peripheral flange of the end plate projecting in an opposite direction and sealably nested within the peripheral flange of a final heat exchanger plate in the plate stack.

Abstract: A sort bin for unloading sorted lumber pieces on a conveyor is disclosed. The sort bin comprises a compartment having first and second spaced-apart walls for containing the lumber pieces in a pile, an entry located at an upper portion of the compartment for introducing lumber pieces, and an exit located at a bottom portion, the conveyor being below the exit and spaced apart therefrom. The sort bin further comprises a support for supporting the pile of lumber pieces contained in the compartment. The support is movable along a course extending between an upper position adjacent to the entry and a lower position below the exit of the compartment; and has side members for preventing a spill of lumber pieces on the conveyor when the support is in its lower position. One of the side members is pivotable between a standard position and an unloading position.

Abstract: The saw trimmer is used for trimming lumber pieces. The saw trimmer comprises a conveyor for longitudinally moving lumber pieces across the saw trimmer. The lumber pieces are transversely disposed on the conveyor with reference to the longitudinal direction. A plurality of adjacent drop saw assemblies are located above the conveyor. Each drop saw assembly comprises a circular saw blade parallel to the longitudinal direction, a corresponding hydraulic motor and an actuated positioning system for selectively raising and lowering the saw blade. Each lumber piece is held during the trimming thereof by a retaining assembly comprising a plurality of spaced-apart and parallel elongated rails positioned above the conveyor and extending longitudinally. These rails engage the upper surface of the lumber pieces. A plurality of rolls are positioned under a corresponding rail with an upper edge emerging above the conveyor and are driven into rotation. These rolls engage the bottom surface of the lumber pieces.