Method and apparatus for detecting and removing sap wood and rays

A method of detecting and removing rays in a piece of wood comprising:

• scanning a piece of wood with an x-ray scanner to detect an internal grain pattern thereof;
• scanning the piece of wood with an optical scanner to detect a surface grain pattern thereof;
• comparing the internal and the surface grain patterns to locate one or more rays in the piece of wood;
• determine the angle of any located rays relative to a direction of the grain patterns in the piece of wood;
• skew the piece of wood with a skewing unit of a saw system to align the piece of wood with at least one saw assembly of the saw system, wherein the skewing unit comprises a skewing assembly having a first section moveable between a first end of the skewing assembly and a continuous path, and a second section moveable between a second end of the skewing assembly that is opposite to the first end and the continuous path;
• and
• cutting out any located rays angled at 45° or greater relative to the direction of the grain pattern with the at least one saw assembly.

A method of detecting and removing sapwood in a piece of wood comprising:

• scanning a piece of green wood with an x-ray scanner to detect at least one density variation within the piece of wood;
• scanning the piece of green wood with an optical scanner;
• comparing an x-ray image from the x-ray scanner with an optical image from the optical scanner to locate at least one area of sapwood within the piece of wood;
• skew the piece of green wood with a skewing unit of a saw system to align the piece of wood with at least one saw assembly of the saw system, wherein the skewing unit comprises a skewing assembly having a first section moveable between a first end of the skewing assembly and a continuous path, and a second section moveable between a second end of the skewing assembly that is opposite to the first end and the continuous path;
• and
• cutting out any detected areas of sapwood with the at least one saw assembly.