Apparatus for peeling a log (5) comprising a cutting station (3), a loading station (2) and a device (4) for transferring logs (5) from the loading station (2) to the cutting station (3), the cutting station (3), the loading station (2) and the transfer device (4), in use, interacting with each other to position the log (5) in the cutting station (3). The loading station (2) comprises a device (10) for axially rotating the log (5) about a second rotation axis (11) and a radiographic examination device (19) configured to generate, in use, radiographic scans of the log (5). An electronic unit is connected both to the radiographic examination device (19), to receive digital-format data from it relating to each radiographic scan generated by it, and to the axial rotation device (10), and which is programmed to use said digital-format data to control the operation of the transfer device (4) and/or the cutting station (3).

Method for determining an angular orientation of a log (2) about one of its longitudinal development axes, comprising a first generation step, during which one or more first digital images are generated of the lateral surface of the log placed in a reference position, using one or more first digital photographs, a second generation step, during which one or more second digital images are generated of the lateral surface (1) of the log (2) placed in a second position using the one or more second digital photographs, a step of comparing the one or more second digital images with the one or more first digital images, and a step of determining the angular orientation of the log (2) in the second position with reference to a reference angular orientation of the log (2) in the reference position, based on information related to the first digital images and the second digital images for which a match was identified. Also claimed is a device which can implement is programmed to perform the following of the steps described above: the second generation step, the comparison step and the determination step.

Method for determining an angular orientation of a log (2) about one of its longitudinal development axes, comprising a first generation step, during which one or more first digital images are generated of the lateral surface of the log placed in a reference position, using one or more first digital photographs, a second generation step, during which one or more second digital images are generated of the lateral surface (1) of the log (2) placed in a second position using the one or more second digital photographs, a step of comparing the one or more second digital images with the one or more first digital images, and a step of determining the angular orientation of the log (2) in the second position with reference to a reference angular orientation of the log (2) in the reference position, based on information related to the first digital images and the second digital images for which a match was identified. Also claimed is a device which can implement is programmed to perform the following of the steps described above: the second generation step, the comparison step and the determination step.

When the absolute value (|TtTc|) of the difference between the turning time Tt of a log PW and the transport time Tc of the log PW is longer than a reference measurement time Ts, the turning-axis center line measurement time Tm is set to the absolute value (|TtTc|) (Step S120), the rotation speed W of centering spindles 24a and 24b is set to a speed (WsTs/Tm) lower than a reference rotation speed Ws, and also the measurement rotation angle is set to an angle (sTs/Tm) smaller than a reference measurement rotation angle as (Step S122). When the absolute value (|TtTc|) is equal to or less than the reference measurement time Ts, the turning-axis center line measurement time Tm is set to the reference measurement time Ts (Step S116), the rotation speed W of the centering spindles 24a and 24b is set to the reference rotation speed Ws, and also the measurement rotation angle is set to the reference measurement rotation angle s (Step S118).

When the absolute value (|TtTc|) of the difference between the turning time Tt of a log PW and the transport time Tc of the log PW is longer than a reference measurement time Ts, the turning-axis center line measurement time Tm is set to the absolute value (|TtTc|) (Step S120), the rotation speed W of centering spindles 24a and 24b is set to a speed (WsTs/Tm) lower than a reference rotation speed Ws, and also the measurement rotation angle is set to an angle (sTs/Tm) smaller than a reference measurement rotation angle as (Step S122). When the absolute value (|TtTc|) is equal to or less than the reference measurement time Ts, the turning-axis center line measurement time Tm is set to the reference measurement time Ts (Step S116), the rotation speed W of the centering spindles 24a and 24b is set to the reference rotation speed Ws, and also the measurement rotation angle is set to the reference measurement rotation angle s (Step S118).