A paint roller manufacturing system and method are described. In an embodiment, an inner strip of material and an outer strip of material are wound about a mandrel in offset relation. The inner strip of material and the outer strip of material each comprise material that results in a final paint roller which shrinks by less than 2.5 percent of the final paint roller axial length, or which has shrinkage that varies by less +/0.1%, upon hardening and setting. An adhesive is applied to at least a portion of the outer strip as it is wound about the mandrel. A length of fabric is wound about at least the outer strip to form a paint roller tube, and compression is applied to the paint roller tube while advancing the paint roller tube in a direction parallel to the mandrel. A precision measuring or sensing device is used to control a cutting device causing the cutting device to cut the advancing paint roller tube into pre-selected lengths prior to the paint roller tube hardening and setting.

The present invention relates to a machining device (100), a control apparatus (200) and a method for the continuous machining of workpieces (W.sub.1-W.sub.3), preferably plate-shaped workpieces (W.sub.1-W.sub.3), which preferably consist at least in sections of wood, wood material and/or synthetic material, a synchronization of a movement of a machining aggregate (130) with a feed movement of the workpiece (W.sub.1-W3) being carried out by a first control (201) and a positioning of the machining aggregate (130) according to a preset machining movement being carried out by a second control (202) with electronic cam disc.

A sawmill feedspeed control system having a force sensor operatively coupled to a sawguide of a sawblade, the output of the force sensor being processed and supplied to a motion controller and driver for reducing or increasing feed velocity of a workpiece so as to prevent overfeed or underfeed, while minimizing deviations of the blade from a straight cut and maximizing production throughput.

In various embodiments, a dynamically directed workpiece positioning system may include a transport, a sensor positioned to detect a workpiece on the transport, a cutting member positioned along or downstream of the transport, and a computer system. The sensor may scan the workpiece as the workpiece is moved relative to the transport by a human operator or a positioning device. Based on the scan data, the computer system may generate commands to guide the human operator or positioning device in moving the workpiece to a desired position corresponding to a cut solution for the workpiece. Optionally, the computer system may cause the cutting member to be repositioned while the workpiece is being moved relative to the transport. Once the workpiece is in the desired position, the transport may be used to move the workpiece toward the cutting member. Corresponding methods and apparatuses are also disclosed.

A CNC machining center that includes a machine base and a machine tool positioned on the base for carrying out a machining operation on a workpiece. A work table is positioned on the base and is adapted for supporting the workpiece and moving the workpiece relative to the machine tool during a machining operation. A saw is positioned above the work table in a longitudinally-offset direction from the machine tool for carrying out a sawing operation on the workpiece. The saw may be a band saw.

In various embodiments, a scanner optimizer system may generate a virtual model of a predicted flitch based on a 3D model of a log/cant and a cut solution for the log/cant. The scanner optimizer system may compare a virtual model of an actual flitch to virtual models of predicted flitches by comparing data points at a fixed elevation relative to one or both faces of the models. Based on the comparisons, the scanner optimizer system may identify the source log from which the actual flitch was cut. In addition, the scanner optimizer system may identify the saw used to cut the actual flitch, and/or other relevant information, and use the additional information to monitor and adjust the saws and other equipment. Embodiments of corresponding apparatuses and methods are also described.

In various embodiments, a dynamically directed workpiece positioning system may include a transport, a sensor positioned to detect a workpiece on the transport, a cutting member positioned along or downstream of the transport, and a computer system. The sensor may scan the workpiece as the workpiece is moved relative to the transport by a human operator or a positioning device. Based on the scan data, the computer system may generate commands to guide the human operator or positioning device in moving the workpiece to a desired position corresponding to a cut solution for the workpiece. Optionally, the computer system may cause the cutting member to be repositioned while the workpiece is being moved relative to the transport. Once the workpiece is in the desired position, the transport may be used to move the workpiece toward the cutting member. Corresponding methods and apparatuses are also disclosed.

Systems and methods may use a sensor to detect a torque on or from a sawblade. A method may include detecting, using a sensor, a torque on a robotic arm, the torque caused by a sawblade received within a cut guide attached to the robotic arm, generating, in response to receiving a signal from the sensor indicative of the torque on the robotic arm, a visual representation of at least a portion of the torque, and displaying, using a display device, the visual representation of the torque.

A saw and inspection system configured to allow for cutting a sample portion of a tube and inspect it without removing the tube from the production line. The sample portion of the tube may be cut with a saw and the sample portion is moved to the inspection table via a conveyer belt. This allows for a more rapid inspection of the tube without having to remove the tube from the production line, cut the sample portion and then inspect it.

A computer-implemented method for controlling sawing of logs, including obtaining information of a timber lot configured to be produced from logs configured to be sawn, obtaining an optimization objective for a statistical optimization model configured to be used for producing the timber lot, and determining a sawing configuration including at least one sawing pattern for a saw, which sawing configuration is determined based on the optimization objective, which at least one sawing pattern is configured to be used for sawing the logs to timber of the timber lot. The disclosure further relates to a sawing controlling system and a computer program product performing the method.