Coe Newnes/mcgehee, Ulc

Cae Electronics Ltd. Cae Electronique Ltee

Cae Inc.

Cae Electronics Ltd.

Coe Newnes/mcgehee Inc.

Cae Newnes Ltd.

Emeric Johnson

Harry Ogloff

Michael McGuire

Steven W Michell

Steve Woods

Zvonimr Skocic

William R Newnes

James G Jackson

Brian T Stroud

John Sergeant

Robert B Van Varseveld

Zvonimir Skocić

Steve C Woods

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. The processor is configured with a first producer thread program which, in response to the receipt of a first set of signals by the computer system, receives a data subscription request from a subsystem which uses data and transmits the signals from the computer readable memory to the generator of the data subscription request. The processor is further configured to generate a second producer thread in response to storage of a second set of signals in the computer readable memory. The second producer thread is configured to receive one of the data subscription requests and selectively send the second set of signals to the generator of the data subscription request. A tracking device for tracking selective kinematics of a workpiece moving through a plant is also disclosed. The tracking device includes an encoder wheel configured to tangentially contact a workpiece and rotate at an angular velocity coincident with the linear velocity of the workpiece. The tracking apparatus further includes a drive mechanism for driving the encoder wheel at a first angular velocity approaching the angular velocity of the encoder wheel which is coincident with the linear velocity of the workpiece. The tracking device also includes a signal generator configured to interact with the encoder wheel and generate a signal in response to the angular velocity of the encoder wheel. The tracking apparatus can be incorporated into the apparatus for detecting defects within a workpiece by providing the signal from the signal generator to the control subsystem.

Method and apparatus for improved inspection classification of attributes of a workpiece

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 to a producer subsystem via the consumer server objects; receive acknowledgments from a producer subsystem in response to requests from the producer subsystem via the consumer client objects; and, receive data from a producer subsystem in response to requests from the producer subsystem via the consumer client objects.

Method and apparatus for improved inspection and classification of attributes of a workpiece

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.

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. A cam follower is mounted to the shoe at generally the second end of the shoe so as to protrude from the shoe away from the shoe mounting surface.

High speed revolving board singulator with retracting shoe and variable dwell duckers

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. The identification device is for selectively applying an individual identifier to the selectable pieces of lumber on the lumber transfer. The timing system is for correlating the real time images to the selectable lumber pieces.

Method and apparatus for video lumber grading

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.

Method and apparatus for curve sawing or traverse edging with an active

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. The heels are thus not rotated into their outwardly extended position and therefore do not pick up workpieces waiting on the infeed transfer.

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Salmon Arm, Canada

Emeric Johnson