Method for scanning the internal quality of wooden elements having a main direction of extension, such as logs or planks

Abstract

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≧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≧5.