Centre De Recherche Industrielle Du Quebec

Jean-Pierre Couturier

Richard Gagnon

Feng Ding

Jean-Guy Boucher

Philippe Gagné

Fadi Ibrahim

Jean T Bédard

Gregory Dorval

Pierre Bédard

A method and system for detecting and controlling the quality of debarking at the surface of a wooden log provide information on main parameters related to the debarking quality of the log surface, including fiber loss and residual bark. The debarking quality detecting method and system involve measurement of three-dimensional profile of at least a portion of the log surface to generate corresponding profile image data, which is processed to generate data indicative of the texture of the log surface. The texture data is then analyzed to generate resulting data on the debarking quality parameters. That quality indicative information can be generated on a continuous basis to provide an objective assessment of the quality performance in real-time in view of target productivity, and may then be used to perform optimal adjustments of the debarker operating parameters, either manually by the operator or automatically through feedback control.

Method and system for detecting the quality of debarking at the surface of a wooden log

An apparatus and a method for optically scanning a surface of an object under an adverse external condition to which optical components are subjected, such as cameras and lighting sources sensitive to soiling, make use of a first imaging sensor unit having its optical components subjected to the adverse external condition, and being configured for generating reflection intensity image data associated with a target surface. A second imaging sensor unit having its optical components substantially not subjected to the adverse external condition, is configured for generating reflection intensity image data associated with a reference surface. Correction data are calculated from a comparison between the reflected intensity image data associated with the target and reference surfaces, which correction data are then applied to the reflected intensity image data associated with the target surface to generate corrected intensity image data compensating for the adverse external condition.

Apparatus and method for optically scanning a surface of an object under adverse external condition

Methods and apparatus for filtering noise of low frequency from an image of the surface characteristics of an object expressed with reference to orthogonal first and second axis and obtained with linear light scanning, involve calculating a difference between pixel values of an image column vector along the second axis adjacent a selected reference image column vector and respective pixel values of the selected reference image column vector to obtain a pixel difference vector. The pixel difference values not mainly associated with a corresponding atypical change of surface characteristics as compared with noise are then selected, and a mean value from the selected pixel difference values are calculated as an estimated value of the noise. The estimated noise value are subtracted from the adjacent image column vector to obtain a corrected image column vector. The calculations are repeated using the corrected image vector as the reference image column vector and a further adjacent image column vector to obtain further corrected image column vectors, from which a noise filtered image is generated.

Method and apparatus for image noise filtering

An apparatus for estimating the quantity of particles collected by a suction extractor includes a capturing element handling assembly including a pair of stationary plates disposed in a spaced relationship to define a gap therebetween, the stationary elements being provided with sets of main apertures disposed in alignment with each other to define a corresponding set of channels extending through the gap. A movable disk interposed within the gap is provided with a plurality of holders capable of receiving a plurality of filter-type particle capturing elements. An actuator operatively coupled to the movable disk provides controlled movement thereof relative to the stationary plates. One of the main apertures on the first stationary plate defines a first inlet in fluid communication with an output fluid carrying line, while one aligned aperture on the second stationary plate defines a first outlet for fluid communication with the output fluid carrying line. The apparatus further includes an optical sensing device disposed in alignment with a secondary aperture provided on the first stationary element and extending therethrough to communicate with the gap, for inspecting a selected particle capturing element to generate a measurement signal representative of optical characteristics of the captured particles, and a data processor for analyzing the measurement signal to generate an estimation of the quantity of particles captured by the selected element. A controller is operatively connected to the actuator to selectively displace the movable disk from a capturing position to an inspection position in respect of a selected particle capturing element. There is provided a device for cleaning a previously inspected capturing element while the selected capturing element is in the capturing position.

Growing community of inventors

CA

Jean-Pierre Couturier