Microtec S.r.l.

Biometic S.r.l.

Federico Giudiceandrea

Enrico Ursella

Martin Bacher

Marco Boschetti

Enrico Vicario

Peter Matthews

Davide Barbiero

Davide Boschetto

Jöst Frank

Mauro Cossi

Frank Jöst

A processing head () for a forestry machine () is intended to process a tree () having a trunk () with a longitudinal direction (), branches () extending from the trunk () transversely to the longitudinal direction () and knots () extending into the trunk (). The processing head () comprises: a frame () having a seat () for receiving the trunk () of the tree () to be processed; a motorised device for moving the trunk () relative to the seat (), by advancing the trunk () through the seat () along the longitudinal direction () of the trunk (); one or more blades () for cutting the branches () from the trunk () as the trunk () advances; a detection system for detecting positions of the branches () and/or of the knots () on the trunk () as the trunk () advances. Information on the positions of the branches () and/or of the knots () is processed to determine an identification code that is based on said positions and that refers to said trunk () or to a segment obtained from said trunk (). The identification code is comparable against a code determined a posteriori for a specific trunk or for a specific segment of trunk, in order to establish whether the specific trunk or the specific segment of trunk corresponds to said trunk () or to said segment of trunk (). The information on the positions of branches () and/or of knots () can also be used to determine, during a processing of the tree (), one or more positions on the trunk () in which to cut the trunk () perpendicularly or transversely to the longitudinal direction (), which is to say to optimise the truncation of the trunk ().

Processing head for a forestry machine

Apparatus for peeling a log () comprising a cutting station (), a loading station () and a device () for transferring logs () from the loading station () to the cutting station (), the cutting station (), the loading station () and the transfer device (), in use, interacting with each other to position the log () in the cutting station (). The loading station () comprises a device () for axially rotating the log () about a second rotation axis () and a radiographic examination device () configured to generate, in use, radiographic scans of the log (). An electronic unit is connected both to the radiographic examination device (), to receive digital-format data from it relating to each radiographic scan generated by it, and to the axial rotation device (), and which is programmed to use said digital-format data to control the operation of the transfer device () and/or the cutting station ().

Apparatus for peeling logs

Method and apparatus for capturing an image of a lateral face of a wooden board, where the lateral face () is parallel to a main axis of development of the wooden board (), with the method comprising a step for feeding the wooden board () with the lateral face () transverse to a feeding direction (), a step for illuminating the lateral face (), a step for capturing, using a plurality of area scan cameras (), a plurality of first digital images at different times, where each first digital image comprises a portion () of the lateral face () extending for an entire height of the lateral face () transverse to the main axis of development and for part of a length of the lateral face () along the main axis of development, where the set of all such portions () corresponds to the entire lateral face (), and a merging step for merging the first digital images using an electronic processing unit to obtain a second digital image showing the entire lateral face ().

Method and apparatus for capturing an image of a lateral face of a wooden board

A computer-implemented method for training a software infrastructure based on machine-learning techniques to analyse data obtained from a instrumental examination of objects of a predetermined type, where each of the objects has been obtained by splitting a product into smaller pieces, wherein the software infrastructure receives, for each object in a training set, training input data comprising the data obtained from the instrumental examination and training output data comprising information on the characteristics of interest of the training object, wherein the information on the characteristics of interest is, at least in part, information that has been obtained from the results of a tomographic examination of the product from which the training object was obtained, and wherein the software infrastructure processes, through its own training unit, the training input data and the training output data for each training object in order to set internal processing parameters for the software infrastructure which correlate the training input data to the training output data.

Computer-implemented method for training or using a software infrastructure based on machine-learning techniques

A method for recovering a posteriori information about the operation of a plant for automatic classification and sorting of fruit, wherein digital images of a reference piece of fruit previously processed by means of the plant are processed so as to identify its first group of individualizing features, which are then compared with each of a series of second groups of individualizing features each corresponding to a different piece of fruit processed by the plant, in order to establish a match; then, there is extraction from an electronic database of operating information which corresponds to information used or generated by the plant for automatic classification and sorting for classification of the relative processed piece of fruit and/or to information about sorting of the relative piece of fruit processed by the plant for automatic classification and sorting, where in the electronic database the operating information is associated with the second group of individualizing features for which during the comparison step the match with the first group of individualizing features has been established.

Method for recovering a posteriori information about the operation of a plant for automatic classification and sorting of fruit

Computer implemented method for training a software infrastructure based on machine learning techniques and intended for analysis of data obtained from a three-dimensional tomographic inspection of objects of a predetermined type, such as logs, with the aim of determining information about internal characteristics of interest of the self-same objects, wherein, once a training set comprising a plurality of objects of the same predetermined type has been selected, for each object the software infrastructure is supplied with training input data and corresponding training output data, which are processed by the software infrastructure for setting internal processing parameters of the software infrastructure which correlate the training input data with the training output data; where the training input data comprise data obtained from a three-dimensional tomographic inspection of the object, and the training output data comprise information about internal characteristics of interest assessed at internal points of the object, and where the information about the internal characteristics of interest is at least partly assessed at real internal points of the object, previously made accessible by cutting or breaking the object.

Computer implemented methods for training or using a software infrastructure based on machine learning techniques

A method and a related apparatus for performing a tomographic examination of an object () which advances through an examination area (), wherein the examination area () is irradiated with x-rays transversally to a motion trajectory of the object () and the residual intensity of the x-rays which have crossed the object () is repeatedly detected to obtain, for each detection, an electronic two-dimensional pixel map, the two-dimensional maps thus obtained being processed by a computer to obtain a three-dimensional tomographic reconstruction of the object (); wherein, during the advancement, the object () is made or let rotate, at least partly uncontrolled, in such a way that the object () rotates around one or more rotation axes which are transversal both to the motion trajectory and to the propagation directions of the x-rays crossing it; and wherein a computer also determines the spatial position in which the object () is located relative to the one or more emitters () and/or the one or more detectors () at the instant when each two-dimensional map is detected, and factors this in the tomographic reconstruction.

Method and apparatus for performing a tomographic examination of an object

A method for detecting the three-dimensional structure of a log comprises the operating steps of:

Method and apparatus for detecting the three-dimensional structure of a log

A method for identifying the orientation of wood fibres () comprises the operating steps of generating at least one beam of light () polarised in a predetermined first polarisation plane, projecting the beam of light () onto a surface of a piece of wood () to illuminate a zone of said surface and generate diffuse light without polarisation and reflected light () polarised in a second polarisation plane (pX), detecting the linearly polarised reflected light () and identifying the orientation of the illuminated fibres () at least indirectly based on the orientation in space of the second polarisation plane (pX) of the reflected light (). Also claimed is an apparatus () for implementing the method, comprising means for supporting a piece of wood (), a light source () for generating at least one beam of light () polarised in a first polarisation plane (pS), a detection device () for detecting, in practice, the light coming from a zone of the piece of wood () illuminated by the beam of light () and for filtering said light based on its polarisation, and a processing device operatively connected at least to the detection device () for processing what is detected and identifying the orientation of the wood fibres () at the illuminated zone.

Method and apparatus for identifying the orientation of wood fibres

A process for checking the quality of logs, each log having a front surface (), a rear surface () and a lateral surface (). In the process, the quality check being carried out by means of a visual examination of the outer appearance of the logs (). The process also comprising the operating steps of obtaining a first flat photographic representation () which represents the flat extension of the lateral surface () of the log (), and if necessary a second flat photographic representation () which represents the front surface () of the log (), and a third flat photographic representation (), representing a rear surface () of the log (). Finally, the quality of the log () is evaluated by means of an examination of the photographic representations (), (), ().

Process for checking the quality of logs

A device for proof loading wooden boards including a deformer () for deforming the boards () which is designed to cause the boards () to elongate along their main direction of extension, said deformer including first and second feeders (), () positioned at a first and a second segment (), () of a feed path along which the boards () are fed parallel with their main direction of extension, and being able to apply a longitudinal tractive force on the boards () using the first and the second feeders (), (). A method for proof loading wooden boards is also disclosed, which can be implemented without interrupting board feed along its feed path.

Device and method for proof loading wooden boards

A method for determining the nodosity of a wooden plank comprises the operating steps of observing the lateral surface () of the wooden plank () to identify its zones () corresponding to knots (), assessing the overall extent of the knots () inside the plank () and the relative volume, and determining the nodosity as a ratio of the volume occupied by the knots () to the overall volume of the plank () or the remaining volume of the plank (). The step of assessing the extent of the knots () in turn comprises the operating steps of estimating the position in space, relative to the plank (), of the longitudinal axis () of the log () from which the plank () was obtained and assuming that each knot () comprises a conical body extending radially from the longitudinal axis () with the vertex on the longitudinal axis, and passing through the zone () of the lateral surface () of the plank () corresponding to the knot (), and calculating the volume of the knots () as the intersection between said bodies and the plank ().

Method and apparatus for determining the nodosity of a wooden plank

An apparatus for identifying the position of defects () in bodies (), comprises feed means () for moving the body () along a feed direction (A), an emitter () designed to direct towards the body () a plurality of beams (,) of electromagnetic radiation lying in lying planes (P, P, P) set at different angles to each other, and transversal to the feed direction (A), and a plurality of sensors () each facing the emitter () for receiving a respective beam () after the beam () has passed through the body (). The lying planes (P, P, P) are positioned one after another along the feed direction (A), allowing each portion of the body () to be struck by successive beams () as the body () is fed forward. A corresponding method is also claimed.

Apparatus and method for identifying the position of defects in bodies, in particular in wooden bodies such as logs or planks

An apparatus for identifying the modulus of elasticity of logs includes a device () equipped for detecting at least one log (T) eigenfrequency (natural frequency) and with a plurality of supports () able to move by rotating between a pick up position, in which they are located at a loading station (), and a release position in which they are located at an unloading station () which is on the opposite side of a supports () axis of rotation relative to the loading station (). A method for identifying the modulus of elasticity of logs includes the steps of picking up a log (T) while it is fed along a first direction (A) on a first conveyor line (); subjecting the log (T) to a step of detecting at least one natural frequency; and a step of releasing the log (T) on a second conveyor line () defining a second feed direction (A) which is transversal to the first conveying direction (A).

Method and apparatus for identifying the modulus of elasticity of logs

A method for scanning the internal quality of wooden elements () such as logs or planks comprises the operating steps of irradiating the wooden element () with at least one beam () of electromagnetic radiation according to one or more directions of irradiation which are transversal to the main axis of extension, at the same time creating a relative helicoidal movement between the wooden element () and the beam (). During the movement, for a plurality of separate reciprocal positions of the wooden element () and the beam (), the residual intensity of the electromagnetic radiation which passed through the wooden element () is detected for a detection length (L). The relative movement is created in such a way that the helix has a pitch P equal to Y times the sum of the detection length (L) of all of the detectors used, where Y&#x2267;5. Moreover, reconstruction of the internal structure of the wooden element (), at a cross-section of it, is at least implicitly performed by dividing the volume of the wooden element (), at the section to be reconstructed, into a plurality of basic volumes having a dimension along the main axis of extension which is equal to at least X times the detection length (L) of each detector used, where X&#x2267;5.

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Bressanone, Italy

Federico Giudiceandrea