A lumber sorter includes a plurality of bins. A conveyor carries lumber (e.g. boards) along a path extending above the plurality of bins. A diverter is selectively operable to allow the conveyor to carry the boards past one or more bins or to divert a selected board into a selected bin. The diverter may comprise an upstream gate and a downstream gate, each operable to move between respective closed positions and open positions. In the closed positions, the top surfaces of the upstream and downstream gates are substantially level and allow boards to travel along the path as directed by the conveyor. The diverter may be actuated to the open position in which the upstream and downstream gates are separated, thereby providing a path for a board to fall into a bin.

A lumber sorter includes a plurality of bins. A conveyor carries lumber (e.g. boards) along a path extending above the plurality of bins. A diverter is selectively operable to allow the conveyor to carry the boards past one or more bins or to divert a selected board into a selected bin. The diverter may comprise an upstream gate and a downstream gate, each operable to move between respective closed positions and open positions. In the closed positions, the top surfaces of the upstream and downstream gates are substantially level and allow boards to travel along the path as directed by the conveyor. The diverter may be actuated to the open position in which the upstream and downstream gates are separated, thereby providing a path for a board to fall into a bin.

A floor joist including a first piece of lumber including a first set of fingers and a first set of grooves is provided. A second piece of lumber including a second set of fingers and a second set of grooves is also provided. A finger joint is formed by a combination of the first second of fingers with the second set of grooves and a combination of the second set of fingers with the first set of grooves. A first set of pockets are formed between the combination of the first second of fingers with the second set of grooves, and a second set of pockets are formed between the combination of the second set of fingers with the first set of grooves.

Lumber sorting systems and methods that use adaptive lumber management to tailor the distribution of lumber to improve the yield and aesthetic properties of a product are disclosed. An adaptive lumber management system in accordance with the present disclosure may comprise a lumber scanner configured to record one or more characteristics of each board and create a data file for each board comprising information regarding the characteristic of the board. A processor may be configured to determine a target tray for each board based on the data files. The processor may be further configured to generate at least one mapping. The system may further comprise a sorting mechanism configured to sort the plurality of boards into their respective target trays and at least one tipple configured to select each board or the plurality of boards from the plurality of trays according to the at least one mapping.

Lumber sorting systems and methods that use adaptive lumber management to tailor the distribution of lumber to improve the yield and aesthetic properties of a product are disclosed. An adaptive lumber management system in accordance with the present disclosure may comprise a lumber scanner configured to record one or more characteristics of each board and create a data file for each board comprising information regarding the characteristic of the board. A processor may be configured to determine a target tray for each board based on the data files. The processor may be further configured to generate at least one mapping. The system may further comprise a sorting mechanism configured to sort the plurality of boards into their respective target trays and at least one tipple configured to select each board or the plurality of boards from the plurality of trays according to the at least one mapping.

A method for processing material that contains biomass. The material is led onto a conveyor. The conveyor conveys the material to an apparatus for mechanical processing and/or to a further processing plant. The moisture content is measured and/or the size of pieces of non-combustible material and/or the content of non-combustible material in the material flow is measured in connection with the conveyor. Based on at least one of the measurements, material is conveyed to the material to be conveyed for further processing and/or to the apparatus for mechanical processing, or to at least one material to be conveyed elsewhere than to the further processing plant or the apparatus for mechanical processing. Also a system for processing material that contains biomass.

A sorting and combining system for board pieces is provided by the present invention. The system comprises a conveying system for the board pieces in association with at least one robotic arm and accumulating rows. The system may further comprise side rows for additional storing of board pieces. With the help of stopping systems, board pieces of the conveyor are assembled into stacks of predetermined length by the at least one robotic arm on the accumulating rows before being sent to an outfeed section. A method is further provided, the method analyzing the presence of board pieces on a conveyor, stopping gates and a reserve in order to complete stacks of rows of predetermined length on sorting boxes. The method makes the use of a robotic arm for the manipulation and displacement of board pieces.

A sorting and combining system for board pieces is provided by the present invention. The system comprises a conveying system for the board pieces in association with at least one robotic arm and accumulating rows. The system may further comprise side rows for additional storing of board pieces. With the help of stopping systems, board pieces of the conveyor are assembled into stacks of predetermined length by the at least one robotic arm on the accumulating rows before being sent to an outfeed section. A method is further provided, the method analyzing the presence of board pieces on a conveyor, stopping gates and a reserve in order to complete stacks of rows of predetermined length on sorting boxes. The method makes the use of a robotic arm for the manipulation and displacement of board pieces.

A system (100A) to track logs in a wood processing chain, includes a database arrangement (102) that includes pre-recorded image of a given log, wherein the given log is associated with log identification information. The system further includes a plurality of imaging devices implemented at a sorting station. The plurality of imaging devices (104) is configured to capture a first set of images from at least a first prespecified oblique angle. The system further includes a data processing arrangement (106) that is configured to: identify the given log at the sorting station; compare the at least one pre-recorded image with the captured first set of images at the sorting station in order to find an optimum image from the compared images for identification of the given log; determine a plurality of physical characteristics; and append the log identification information with the determined physical characteristics of the given log.

A system (100A) to track logs in a wood processing chain, includes a database arrangement (102) that includes pre-recorded image of a given log, wherein the given log is associated with log identification information. The system further includes a plurality of imaging devices implemented at a sorting station. The plurality of imaging devices (104) is configured to capture a first set of images from at least a first prespecified oblique angle. The system further includes a data processing arrangement (106) that is configured to: identify the given log at the sorting station; compare the at least one pre-recorded image with the captured first set of images at the sorting station in order to find an optimum image from the compared images for identification of the given log; determine a plurality of physical characteristics; and append the log identification information with the determined physical characteristics of the given log.