Abstract: A method for detecting the three-dimensional structure of a log comprises the operating steps of: making the log (2) rotate axially, leaving it free to translate during the rotation; during said rotation repeating the step of detecting the relative surface structure of the log (2) at least at one log surface portion (13), so that the relative surface structure of substantially all of the points of at least the log (2) lateral surface is detected at least once; and combining the relative surface structures detected to reconstruct an overall surface structure for at least the log (2) lateral surface, the detection steps being carried out in such a way that each detection step result shares at least several points with at least one other detection step result, while the step of combining the relative surface structures is carried out in such a way that the shared points are made to coincide with each other.

Abstract: A fully-automatic pencil sharpener is provided according to embodiments of the present application, which may avoid the problem of the pencil being overly sharpened in the conventional electric pencil sharpener, and realize a maximized utilization of the length of the pencil, thus is more economical and environmental friendly compared to the conventional electric pencil sharpener. The fully-automatic pencil sharpener according to embodiments of the present application includes a pencil-pushing module, a pencil-sharpening module, a power module, a detection module, a control module and a housing. The pencil-pushing module is adapted to push a pencil to a preset position, for example pushing the pencil to the pencil-sharpening module when the pencil is placed in the pencil sharpener, and pushing the pencil out of the fully-automatic pencil sharpener when the pencil has been sharpened.

Abstract: An apparatus for clipping ends of a book of sheets comprises a first detector for detecting a first end of the book of sheets, a clipper positioning system and a first clipper including a knife. The clipper positioning system is adapted to automatically position the first clipper to a proposed first clipping position based on the detected first end of the book of sheets. A method of processing a plurality of sheets comprises assembling the plurality of sheets into a book of sheets, detecting a first end of the book of sheets to propose a first position for clipping the book of sheets, positioning a first clipper based on the detected first end of the book of sheets, advancing the book of sheets to an infeed conveyor, detecting, the presence of the book of sheets in the infeed conveyor, advancing the book of sheets to the first clipper, clipping the first end of the book of sheets, and advancing the book of sheets from the first clipper.