System and method for printing a code on an elongate article and the code so printed

A method and apparatus for printing a redundant code on an elongate article are disclosed. The apparatus includes an ink unit, at least one printing head and a controller. The printing head includes two, or three, valves, controlled by the controller. As the elongate article passes through a printing station, the controller selectively actuates the valves to release ink, and thus print the code. The two valves are preferably aligned and laterally spaced from each other in order to print the same code twice on the article.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a system and method for printing a code on an elongate article, particularly a piece of wood, and the code so printed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Recently, there have been developments in the field of wood processing in order to automate the various processes involved therein. More particularly, it has become more prevalent to optimize planers, and to automate wood grading stations.

In this context, automatic grading systems using linear scanner need a method to identify each board and retrieve board data down the line on the lug chain. Previously, when a board is scanned, an identification code is printed on the board, which is read later on the lug chain with a machine adapted to read the code, the code is then used to retrieved the grading decision previously saved.

One of the disadvantages of such systems is that the code so printed on the piece of wood takes up too much space, or is printed with a large quantity of ink. This results in an unsightly mark, which will not come off. Alternative embodiments have used UV ink to print the code, but the UV ink has a tendency to fade to yellow in time, again resulting in unsightliness.

Finally, since the code must be printed on the piece of wood at high speeds, it can result it sloppy marks, which are unreadable by the code reading apparatus.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to provide a method and apparatus for marking a piece of wood which obviates the disadvantages of the prior art mentioned above. It is also an object of the invention to provide a code which is discreet, and which is redundant, increasing the accuracy of the reading apparatus.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, this object is achieved with an apparatus for printing a code on an elongate article passing through a printing station, said article passing through said station in a longitudinal direction, said apparatus comprising:an ink unit for storing ink to be delivered;at least one printing head, said printing head being operatively connected to said ink unit, said printing head including at least two valves, said valves being laterally spaced from each other; anda controller for controlling said ink unit and said at least one printing head, so that said controller is adapted to actuate said valves in order to print a code on said elongate article as said article passes through said printing station, said code being printed at least twice on said elongate article.

In accordance with another object of the invention, there is provided a method for printing a redundant code on an elongate article as said elongate article passes through a printing station, comprising the steps of:(a) providing an ink unit;(b) providing at least one printing head, said printing head including at least two valves being laterally spaced from each other;(c) providing a controller operatively associated with said ink unit and said at least one printing head; and(d) actuating said valves with said controller in order to print said code.

In accordance with yet another object of the invention, this object is achieved with a code to be printed on a piece of wood, said code comprising a longitudinal area within which a plurality of lines may or may not be printed. Furthermore, the code is preferably printed at least twice simultaneously, the at least two codes being laterally spaced from each other, to provide redundancy.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

Referring now toFIG. 1, there is shown a schematic representation of the system for printing a code on an elongate article.

As mentioned in the prior art, printing a code on an elongate article has been done previously. However, the codes so printed are generally large, and there has not been previously a motivation to print a redundant code on the article. However, with an increase in speed of wood processing plants, and with an increase in the unreadability of the previous codes, there is now a need to provide a system and apparatus for printing a redundant code on a elongate article which obviates the prior art deficiencies mentioned above.

Thus, the system10of the present invention comprises an ink unit11, at least one printing head13and a controller15.

The ink unit11, in a preferred embodiment, includes an ink reservoir21, preferably of the type “bag-in-box”. Other components include a return valve23, filter25, pump27, air eliminator29, bleeding valve31associated with reservoir33, pressure transducer35, pressure reservoir37and main valve39, all interconnected in the usual manner. A person skilled in the art will appreciate that the above description is for a standard printing circuit, and that variations are well within the scope of the present invention.

The printing head13includes a filter41and at least two, preferably three, valves43. In a preferred embodiment, the valves43are micro-valves, which are adapted to open and close rapidly, spraying droplets of ink. The valves are also preferably aligned with each other, and laterally spaced apart.

A controller15controls all of the elements of the ink unit11, and the printing head13.

The code that is to be printed takes up a predetermined length (footprint) on the piece of wood. The code word is comprised of a plurality of “bits”, which may be on (presence of the bit) or off (absence of the bit). In a preferred embodiment, each bit is a longitudinal line, preferably printed with UV ink. The bits are printed by the controller sending a signal to the valves to open for a predetermined amount of time. In the context of processing wood in a wood processing plant, the valves are only open for a few microseconds. However, given the speed at which the wood travels, this results in each bit being approximately 1 cm long. The footprint of the code is approximately 25 cm, leaving sufficient time (or space) between successive bits that there would not be confusion between two successive “on” bits.

The code word according to a preferred embodiment of the invention is comprised of ten bits. However, it will be appreciated that more or less bits may also fulfill the objects of the present invention, according to the needs of the particular user.

As mentioned previously, and as shown inFIG. 2, the code word is printed at least twice simultaneously, where each code is laterally spaced from the other one. In a more preferred embodiment, the code is printed three times, insuring better redundancy.

Referring now toFIG. 3, there is shown three code words51printed simultaneously on a piece of wood100. As can be seen, bit1is on, bit2is off, bit3is off, bit4is on, etc. If the code word were printed only once, errors could occur due to variations on the texture of the wood, presence of knots, etc. By printing the code at least twice, and preferably three times, the accuracy when reading the code downstream is further increased.

The ink used for the apparatus is preferably UV as mentioned previously. Furthermore, advantageous characteristics of the ink include fast drying, so that less ink is required, and the ink must be adapted to be readable on wood.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the apparatus of the present invention comprises two print heads.

The second print head is useful to mark square boards, i.e. boards that have tendency to rotate 90 degrees, in which situation the printed mark stays on the side and cannot be detected by the code reader. The second print head is preferably mounted at a 90 degrees angle from the first print head, that is oriented to print the code on another lateral surface of the board. This embodiment is better shown inFIG. 4. This view is a schematic end view of an apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention where the apparatus includes two print heads13and13′ adapted to print the code on two separate lateral faces of the piece of wood100.

Although the present invention has been explained hereinabove by way of a preferred embodiment thereof, it should be pointed out that any modifications to this preferred embodiment within the scope of the appended claims is not deemed to alter or change the nature and scope of the present invention.