The Board of Regents of the University of Ok

Samuel C Lee

An apparatus for optically scanning a log and selecting an optimal log orientation for sawing the log into lumber. The apparatus includes a log holder, a camera, and a computer system connected to the camera. The log holder comprises a set of rollers to facilitate rotation of the log and a red background to provide visual contrast with the log. Fluorescent lights directed toward the log are secured to a frame and directed toward the log to provide uniform lighting for scanning the log. The camera is mounted on the frame for movement parallel with the length of the log to obtain optical images of the entire log, one section at a time. The log is rotated 180.degree. in each section in order to scan the entire outer surface of the log. The computer system comprises an interface for converting the optical images into computer images. The computer system also includes software for generating a computer model of the log and its knots, for simulating the sawing of the log into boards, for grading the boards, and for assigning a value yield to the boards. The computer system determines a value yield for boards cut from the log according to a predetermined sawing pattern at 360 angles of log orientation and selects one angle as an optimal cutting angle. An optimal sawing pattern may be selected as well by determining an optimal value yield for several sawing patterns and selecting the sawing pattern with the highest value yield.

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Norman, OK, United States of America

Samuel C Lee