Abstract:
In a forestry operation, it is desirable to associate certain information, such as size, species, owner, or the like, with individual logs. Logs are normally stored for a time before processing, and an operator must be able to select certain logs meeting predetermined characteristics from the plurality of stored logs. The present invention provides a method and apparatus for labeling logs in such a way that the information associated with each log may be read from a remote location and the operator need not travel to each log to determine the characteristics of that log.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
         [0001]    This invention is a system for labeling logs and, more specifically, a system which allows individual log information to be obtained remotely.  
         BACKGROUND  
         [0002]    In the forestry industry, trees are cut down and the resulting logs are often stored in the woods for some time. This delay may allow time to “season” the wood or to wait until processing capability or a buyer is available. It is desirable to mark the logs somehow so that certain characteristics of each log are apparent to an operator returning to the woods to collect logs of a desired type. Currently, the industry practice is to mark the logs with certain colors of paint to indicate the log owner, type of wood, or the like, but this system is by no means standardized and the colors may have different meanings in different areas. Moreover, the amount of information that can be indicated by the paint is quite limited. It is also labor-intensive to manually mark the logs. An operator must be able to view the logs from a certain angle and distance in order to see the paint, which could cause the operator to travel out of his intended path and be unduly time-consuming. Finally, the paint can become weathered or obscured by brush while the logs are left in the woods, negating the advantages of the marking.  
           [0003]    PCT International Application No. PCT/FI91/00039, published Sep. 5, 1991 (hereafter referenced as &#39;39) discloses a method for marking logs in which a code number is placed, using an inkjet printer for example, on a worked surface of the log and data corresponding to that log is filed under the code number in a central memory bank. Unfortunately, the code number of &#39;39 is subject to smudging and weathering and may be difficult to read later. The operator must get close enough to the log to visually read the code number, which may be difficult in areas having thick undergrowth. Also, the code number memory bank must be accessible and if the operator has not yet downloaded the memory of the cutting machine or if the master memory has become corrupted, the log data of &#39;39 can be lost.  
           [0004]    The present invention is directed to overcoming one or more of the problems as set forth above.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a log labeling system is disclosed. The log labeling system includes an electronic control module adapted to produce a label information signal, a label writer adapted to receive the label information signal and responsively produce a label, and a label applier adapted to associate the label with the log. The label contains individual log information and is readable from a remote location.  
           [0006]    In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a method of identifying a log is disclosed. The method includes the steps of: obtaining individual log information, producing a label including the individual log information, associating the label with the log, and reading the label from a remote location.  
           [0007]    In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a method for managing logs is disclosed. The method includes the steps of: cutting at least one tree to produce at least one log, labeling the log with individual log information, remotely reading the individual log information, and identifying the log having individual log information corresponding to at least one predetermined desired information value.  
           [0008]    In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a tree harvesting apparatus is disclosed. The tree harvesting apparatus includes a harvesting head adapted to sever the tree and controllably release the resulting log; and a log labeling system associated with the harvesting head. The log labeling system includes: an electronic control module adapted to produce a label information signal, a label writer adapted to receive the label information signal and responsively produce a label, and a label applier adapted to associate the label with the log, wherein the label contains individual log information and is readable from a remote location. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]    [0009]FIG. 1 is a side view of a tree harvesting apparatus including a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0010]    [0010]FIG. 1 depicts a tree harvesting apparatus  100  according to the present invention. Though the present invention may be utilized at any suitable step in the logging process, it will be described herein as occurring at the time of harvesting of the tree, for ease of reference. Other opportune times for implementing the present invention include, but are not limited to, when the log is being loaded onto a transport to a processing facility, and before the tree is harvested.  
         [0011]    A work machine  102 , for example, the harvester  102  shown in FIG. 1, carries a harvesting head  104  and is adapted to power and control the harvesting head  104 . The harvesting head  104  severs a tree  106  and controllably releases the resulting log  108  in a known manner. A pile of logs  108  is shown in FIG. 1. The log  108  may be released and stored in the woods or may be taken to a central warehousing point by the work machine  102  carrying the harvesting head  104  or by any other suitable work machine  102 , such as a forwarder, skidder, on- or off-highway truck, wheel loader, or the like. A log labeling system is associated with the harvesting head  104  in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1—as before, the log labeling system can be associated with any work machine  102  or with any step in the logging process. The log labeling system may also or instead be hand-held by the operator and carried to the log  108  or the tree  106  to be labeled.  
         [0012]    The log labeling system includes an electronic control module (ECM)  110 , which may be the same ECM  110  associated with the work machine  102 , and which is adapted to produce a label information signal. A label writer  112  receives the label information signal and responsively produces a label  114 , which is adapted to be remotely read. By “remotely read”, it is meant that an operator need not be near the log or in eyesight of the log to obtain the information from the label  114 . Even if the operator is within sight of the log, the use of a non-visual device to receive information from the label  114  would fall under the meaning of “remote read”.  
         [0013]    The label  114  is preferably a computer chip  114  or other device adapted to transmit the label information signal and may include some provision for powering the transmitter. The label  114  may also or instead be nonpowered and passively read, much like the proximity sensor-equipped identification badges used in many secured buildings. The label writer  112  could be a computer chip burner or another type of information encoder—the term “writer” does not necessarily connote literal writing. In addition to the label information signal, the label  114  may include information intended to be seen by an operator and collected in a known manner, such as visually-accessible writing or a bar code, without departing from the scope of the present invention.  
         [0014]    A label applier  116  associates the label  114  with the log  108 . The label  114  may be contacting the surface of the log  108 , inserted or implanted into the log  108 , attached to the log  108  by an intermediate member (such as a cable tie, adhesive, wire, or the like) or placed in any other location in which the label  114  identifies a log  108 . In addition, a single label  114  could collectively identify a group of logs  108  and need not be associated with an individual log  108 . (The label  114  will be described below, however, as being associated with a single log  108  for clarity.) The label  114  need not be visible by an operator before or after the log  108  is released from the harvesting head  104  in the embodiment in which the label  114  is associated with the log  108  during the harvesting process. Examples of suitable label appliers  116  include a device adapted to fire a label  114  enclosed in a bullet-type shell into the log  108 , a device adapted to affix a label  114  to the log  108  in a staple-like manner, a device adapted to adhesively affix the label  114  to the log  108 , a device adapted to tie the label  114  around a log  108  with or without an intermediate member, and any other device operable to associate a label  114  with a log  108  or group of logs  108 .  
         [0015]    The label  114  of the present invention contains individualized information about the log  108  with which it is associated. This individual log information may optionally be obtained manually and/or automatically. When log  108  information is obtained manually, the work machine  102  includes an operator interface  120 , optionally located within an operator compartment  118 . The operator interface  120  is adapted to receive an operator input and responsively produce an operator input signal, and the ECM  110  produces the label information signal at least partially responsive to the operator input signal. The operator input signal may contain information about and/or a value for one or all of: a log identifier (a unique code number), a log owner, a log species, an operator-produced log quality (“eyeballed” by the operator), a cut location, a log price, an operator identity, a cut date, and a cut time.  
         [0016]    For automatically generated log  108  information, at least one of a log measurement system  122 , a work machine location sensor  124 , and the ECM  110  is preferably used. The log measurement system  122  is associated with the harvesting head  104  and senses physical characteristics of the log  108 . The log measurement system  122  produces a log measurement signal which is then provided to the ECM  110  and the label information signal is responsively produced. The log measurement signal may contain information about, or a value for, at least one of: a measured log quality, a log weight, a log girth, a log length, a log diameter, and a log volume. The work machine location sensor  124  produces an automatic location signal, possibly using Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) technology, and the ECM  110  produces the label information signal responsive to the automatic location signal. The ECM  110  itself may generate a value specifying the cut date, cut time, and/or log identifier, which then would be included in the label information signal sent to the label writer  112 . The ECM  110  preferably combines information and values from one or more of the operator input signal, log measurement signal, automatic location signal, and ECM-generated information to responsively produce the label information signal.  
         [0017]    The ECM  110  may additionally compile a historical database of the label information signals for a plurality of logs. This database may be searchable by a log code number or may be a duplication of the label information signal. The label  114  on a log  108  would not necessarily include all of or the same information as in the historical database. The historical database may be stored in the ECM  10  or downloaded to a central database serving a plurality of work machines  102 .  
       INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY  
       [0018]    When an operator wishes to obtain information about a log  108 , a remote reading device  126  is employed to remotely read the label  114 . The remote reading device  126  may be one or more of an automatic ground level scanner (possibly carried by a work machine  102 ), a handheld scanner, a satellite system, and the like. The label  114  need not be visible to the eye of the operator during the remote read, due to distance, obstruction, or any other factor.  
         [0019]    Other aspects, objects and advantages of the present invention can be obtained from a study of the drawings, the disclosure and the appended claims.