A method and apparatus for estimating a heating value of a biological material. The method includes irradiating of the biological material with X-ray radiation of at least two different energy levels, measuring of an amount of radiation transmitted through the biological material at these energy levels, and measuring fluorescent radiation emitted by the biological material when irradiated at these energy levels. A final estimate of the heating value is then determined based on a preliminary estimate of the heating value of the biological material based on the measured transmitted radiation and a correction value based on the fluorescent radiation.

This invention relates to a method for non-destructive inspection of a log (1) to identify inner zones of sapwood (14) of the log (1) that have not been attacked by fungi that cause bluestain in the wood. The method comprises a first step of carrying out a tomographic scan of the log (1) to be inspected using X-ray beams that pass through the log (1) and a second step of obtaining a three-dimensional representation of the log (1) that is representative of the local moisture content of the log, the local moisture content being correlated with attenuation of the X-ray beams through the log. The method comprises the step of processing the three-dimensional representation of the log (1) to identify inner regions (145) of the log (1), in which the local moisture content is greater than or equal to a moisture threshold value for a spatial extent greater than an extent threshold. The moisture threshold value corresponds, for trees of the same species as the log (1), to a sapwood (14) with local moisture content such that it excludes the growth of fungi that cause bluestain in the wood. Each inner region (145) identified in this way is classed as a sapwood (14) zone free of bluestain. This invention also relates to a procedure for obtaining one or more wooden products from a log (1), as well as an apparatus for carrying out a non-destructive inspection of a log (1).

Frame data of tomographic planes that are parallel in the scan direction and between an X-ray tube and an X-ray detecting unit is generated based on detected frame data. The generation of frame data is based on the fan-shaped spreading of an X-ray beam and the differences in position in a height direction between the tomographic planes from a detection surface. Tomographic images are respectively generated from the frame data of the tomographic planes based on laminography technique. Edge information based on the changes in pixel values in each tomographic image is calculated for each pixel. A three-dimensional distribution of the edge information is generated and the edge information is searched in a direction passing through the tomographic planes and pixels indicating a maximum value in the edge information are detected. Only pixels in the tomographic images that positionally correspond to detected pixels are combined into a single composite image.

Frame data of tomographic planes that are parallel in the scan direction and between an X-ray tube and an X-ray detecting unit is generated based on detected frame data. The generation of frame data is based on the fan-shaped spreading of an X-ray beam and the differences in position in a height direction between the tomographic planes from a detection surface. Tomographic images are respectively generated from the frame data of the tomographic planes based on laminography technique. Edge information based on the changes in pixel values in each tomographic image is calculated for each pixel. A three-dimensional distribution of the edge information is generated and the edge information is searched in a direction passing through the tomographic planes and pixels indicating a maximum value in the edge information are detected. Only pixels in the tomographic images that positionally correspond to detected pixels are combined into a single composite image.

A method for detecting at least one foreign object in a mat includes: providing that the mat is spread on a conveyor device in a process for producing manufactured boards, the mat including (i) fibers or chips and (ii) at least one binding agent which are pressed under an increased temperature in a continuous press; using a first sensor device, which operates with electromagnetic waves, ultrasonic waves, magnetic fields, or radiometry and which is directed at at least one spatial measuring area of the mat in order to detect the foreign object, the first sensor device recognizing a material of the foreign object; aligningif necessary, temporally offseta second sensor device with the at least one spatial measuring area; and determining, by the second sensor device, at least one foreign object dimension of the foreign object.

A method and apparatus for determining the concentration of a specific analyte in a sample of biological material are disclosed. The sample is placed in a sample container (10) which provides at least two radiation paths (14) with different lengths through the sample container (10), and is sequentially irradiated with electromagnetic radiation, e.g. X-rays. The amount of radiation penetrating the sample is detected, and absorbance is determined based on the detected radiation. During irradiation, the sample container (10) is moved in relation to the radiation source (1) and detector (5) so that absorbance measurements at different path-lengths are acquired. A regression line from the absorbance values and path lengths is determined, such that a slope of the regression line is obtained, and based on this slope, the concentration of the specific analyte is determined.

An optical apparatus and a method for identifying wood species of a raw wooden log involve directing light onto a representative portion of a peripheral surface of the wooden log, sensing light reflected on the illuminated representative log portion to generate reflection intensity image data including color image data, subdividing the reflection intensity image data into a plurality of image data regions each containing a preset number of image pixels, analyzing the image data regions to generate associated texture data, analyzing the color and texture data associated with each image data region to assign thereto a probable one of a plurality of species indications, and selecting a majority species indication for the inspected wooden log.

A processing head (10) for a forestry machine (1) is intended to process a tree (9) having a trunk (92) with a longitudinal direction (90), branches (94) extending from the trunk (92) transversely to the longitudinal direction (90) and knots (96) extending into the trunk (92). The processing head (10) comprises: a frame (2) having a seat (20) for receiving the trunk (92) of the tree (9) to be processed; a motorised device for moving the trunk (92) relative to the seat (20), by advancing the trunk (92) through the seat (20) along the longitudinal direction (90) of the trunk (92); one or more blades (26) for cutting the branches (94) from the trunk (92) as the trunk (92) advances; a detection system for detecting positions of the branches (94) and/or of the knots (96) on the trunk (92) as the trunk (92) advances. Information on the positions of the branches (94) and/or of the knots (96) is processed to determine an identification code that is based on said positions and that refers to said trunk (92) or to a segment obtained from said trunk (92). The identification code is comparable against a code determined a posteriori for a specific trunk or for a specific segment of trunk, in order to establish whether the specific trunk or the specific segment of trunk corresponds to said trunk (92) or to said segment of trunk (92). The information on the positions of branches (94) and/or of knots (96) can also be used to determine, during a processing of the tree (9), one or more positions on the trunk (92) in which to cut the trunk (92) perpendicularly or transversely to the longitudinal direction (90), which is to say to optimise the truncation of the trunk (92).

An automated inline rip saw system utilizing x-ray and optical scanning techniques to identify and detect flaws within a piece of wood. The present system may further utilize a precision skewing unit which may reduce or eliminate errors while allowing for precision rip cuts to be performed. Further, the present automated inline rip saw system may utilize multiple independently controlled saw blades to perform precision cuts. Finally, the present inline rip saw system may allow for more accurate detection of flaws or undesirable inclusions within the wood earlier in the wood production process, including the ability to scan for, identify, and remove sap wood from green lumber.

A method includes: receiving a recycled wood workpiece populated with a set of metal fasteners; accessing an internal imaging scan; detecting the set of metal fasteners embedded in the recycled wood workpiece based on internal features detected in the internal imaging scan; for each metal fastener in the set of metal fasteners, extracting an initial position and an initial orientation of the metal fastener from the internal imaging scan; generating a virtual model of the recycled wood workpiece based on the internal imaging scan; accessing an image captured by an optical sensor; detecting a first metal fastener in the recycled wood workpiece; deriving a first position and a first orientation of the first metal fastener; and, in response to identifying the first metal fastener analogous to an initial metal fastener in the virtual model, isolating the first metal fastener in the virtual model and generating a fastener removal schedule.