US 3,983,403 A · Method and device for optical scanning of a series of transversal dimensional values at a board or plank

Abstract

A method and apparatus for optically scanning a board having at least one wane, comprising illuminating the board from at least one side in a direction substantially parallel to a sawn planar face of the board, receiving light reflected by the wane by an objective, and forming, by means of the objective images of at least the terminal parts of selected illuminated transverse zones of the board substantially in the image plane of the objective, placing a plurality of photosensitive elements generating electrical signals in proportion to the light received substantially at the image plane of the objective, forming the photosensitive elements as one rectilinear array of photosensitive signal generators oriented in the direction of the image of the illuminated transverse zone, and moving at least one of the objective and the array of generators relative to the board such that the point of intersection of the imaging axis of the objective and the board scans the board in the longitudinal direction thereof whereby images of different transverse zones of the board are consecutively formed on the array of signal generators.

Claims13

Dependent claims

A method of optically scanning the dimensions of a plurality of selected transverse zones of a board having two sawn planar and parallel faces, at least on one side said faces being connected by an oblique wane, so that one of the said planar faces is narrower than the other, said method including the step of:

transporting the board to a scanning station and stopping it there in motionless position;
illuminating at least a first selected transverse zone of the board from each side where the board has an oblique wane by a beam of light substantially parallel with the planar faces, so that on each existing wane a maximum and on each planar face a minimum of light is reflected;
receiving the reflected light by at least one objective lens disposed at a location spaced from and opposite the narrower planar face;
forming by means of said objective lens an optical image of the light reflecting parts of the board on a rectilinear array of photosensitive pulse generators disposed behind the objective lens substantially in the image plane thereof and parallel with the selected transverse zone of the board;
transmitting the pulses generated by said generators in the array which have been activated by incident light to computer means for processing;
consecutively moving at least one of the objective lens and the array relative to the motionless board in such a way that an optical image of another selected transverse zone of the board is formed on the array;
and
repeating the scanning and transmitting steps.

5 more elements

Apparatus for optically scanning the dimensions of a plurality of selected transverse zones of a board having two sawn, planar and parallel faces, at least on one side said faces being connected by an oblique wane so that one of the said planar faces is narrower than the other, said apparatus comprising:

a scanning station for the board;
transport and stopping means for transporting the board to the scanning station and stopping it there in motionless position;
at least one light source for each wane of the board and operable to illuminate at least a selected transverse zone of the board from the side substantially parallel with the planar faces of the board;
at least one objective lens disposed spaced from and opposite the narrower plane sawn face of the board when in its immobilized position in the scanning station;
for each objective lens one rectilinear array of photosensitive pulse generators disposed behind the objective lens and substantially in the image plane thereof and parallel with the selected transverse zone of the board;
electrical circuitry means for transmitting the pulses from the generators to a computer means;
and
means for moving at least one of the said objective lens and said array of signal generators relative to said board in such a way that an optical image of another selected transverse zone of the board is formed on said rectilinear array.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and device for optical scanning of a series of transversal dimensional values at a board or plank

Life of this patent

Method and device for optical scanning of a series of transversal dimensional values at a board or plank

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims13