Patent Abstract:
An apparatus for automatically processing random width wood-boards and selecting a matched set according to their surface colors and widths. The boards are manually placed on a conveyor, from a stacked supply, and subsequently measured for width and color. Thereafter, each board is electronically identified, incrementally tracked and stored in a linear array above the conveying surface. After filling the storage level to its full capacity, a microprocessor in combination with an incremental encoder, selects and matches a set of boards from the stored inventory, while continuously restoring its full capacity, and queuing the best blended order of contiguous boards. Moreover, the matching set of boards will have an overall dimension that falls within a prescribed value.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   (1) Technical Field 
   This invention relates generally to the sorting of wooden boards for building a panel, and more particularly, to the matching of boards by their visual qualities and width dimensions to form panels within a given overall dimension while minimizing color variations between contiguous boards. 
   (2) Description of the Prior Art 
   The following six documents relate to methods and apparatus for sorting objects according to their color or size. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 5,813,542 issued Sep. 29, 1998 to Cohn describes a method of classifying objects by sensing a multiple color image of at least a portion of the object and producing color signals indicative of a plurality of colors in response to sensing the multiple color images. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 5,351,833 issued Oct. 4, 1994 to B. S. Quick describes a method for selecting wood stock to form panels of predetermined size by automatically selecting and transmitting to further work stations appropriately sized pieces of stock which, when glued together saves time in the formation of an end product. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 5,533,628 issued Jul. 9, 1996 to Tao describes a color sorting apparatus employing a conveyor which drops the sorted objects into appropriate bins. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 4,624,571 issued Nov. 25, 1986 to Salda, et al. shows an apparatus for detecting the coloring of moving tiles for the purpose of dividing their flow into a plurality of flows as a function of the quality of their color. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 4,476,982 issued Oct. 16, 1984 to Paddock, et al. describes a method and apparatus for grading articles, particularly lemons, according to their surface color. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 4,278,538 issued Jul. 14, 1981 to Lawrence, et al. describes methods and apparatus for sorting work-pieces according to their color signature. 
   Generally, the steps taken prior to putting together a collection of boards to form a panel of a given overall size, for example, when sorting wood boards for aesthetic blending requires a trained eye to match adjacent boards in a panel array. Dimensional extent, on the other hand, requires a reference standard, or a template to use for measuring or for comparison. 
   Individual wood species often vary greatly in color. In the process of selecting boards for furniture, cabinetry, and millwork, wood stains are commonly used to produce even-colored wood products. In some cases, a variety of shades of wood stains would be used to blend the color of contiguous boards used for a panel. However, minimizing the use of wood stains that are necessary for esthetic blending would naturally enhance visual quality, and at the same time reduce overall product costs. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates to an apparatus adapted to categorize random width boards for storage and retrieval. Moreover, without human intervention, selecting a matching plurality of boards from storage, such that, when the boards are subsequently glued together will make up one closely blended unit. The apparatus of the invention provides the ensuing automated tasks, which occur after manually loading the boards on a conveyor track. These tasks include width measuring, color characterization, storing, cataloging, retrieving, and board blending. 
   A chain conveyor having an input end and an output end. The sides of the conveyor are adjustable and fixed to receive precut boards of a certain length and of a particular species, i.e., pine, oak, maple, etc. The precut boards are supplied with random width dimension in the range from about ¾ inches to about 6 inches. The random width boards are horizontally and laterally placed on a track conveyor. Each board prior to being scanned is stopped, squared up, and released for scanning under a plurality of sensors. A synchronized correlation between an edge detection sensor, positioned to sequentially sense the leading and trailing edge of each board, and an encoder that measures conveyor displacement, computes the width dimension for each board. Moreover, monochromatic sensors, each sensitive to a primary color, are positioned proximate each other for detecting a specific color intensity reflected from each board. The intensity levels, received from each of the sensors, are integrated and recorded. A color signature along with the board&#39;s width dimension are electronically identified and tracked for queuing. 
   The boards are conveyed towards the output end of the conveyor. A multiplicity of lifters is contiguously disposed at each side along the length of the conveyor. The lifters are synchronized to operate in pairs, one from each side, for lifting a single board to a holding level above the conveyor plane. The inventory of boards stored at the holding level is directly related to the length of the conveyor, therefore, the longer the conveyor, the greater the choice for selecting a matching set of boards for making up a panel. The board&#39;s queue address and distinctiveness, which includes the board&#39;s width and color, are recorded in memory. 
   After a full inventory of boards at the holding level is completed, a “matched board&#39;s” list is generated using the following methodology. Given the widths and colors of all boards currently on the lifters, find the combination of boards that will be equal to or larger than the desired panel width with the minimum total error. Error is a weighted combination of the amount the total width is greater than the desired width and the total amount of color variation among boards in the panel. Once the best combination of boards to make up a panel is determined, “blend” the panel by determining what order the boards should be placed in the set so as to minimize the color variation between each board and it&#39;s neighbor. Subsequently, lower the boards in the chosen order to the conveyor surface for transport to the output end where the chosen set is transferred, en masse, to a panel-stacking zone. 

   
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing an incoming stack of wood boards to be processed according to the invention. 
       FIG. 2  symbolically illustrates a multiplicity of randomly selected wood boards to be processed according to the invention. 
       FIG. 3  symbolically illustrates a subset of matching wood boards selected according to the invention. 
       FIG. 4  symbolically illustrates a completed wood panel according to the invention. 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective illustration of the linear configuration of the apparatus according to the invention. 
       FIG. 6  shows a top view illustrating various sectors making up the apparatus according to the invention. 
       FIG. 7  illustrates a top view of a portion of the handling and queuing sector according to the invention. 
       FIG. 8  shows a cross-sectional end view of the apparatus illustrating a stored wood board at the holding level of the lifter sector according to the invention. 
       FIG. 9  shows a cross-sectional end view illustrating the lowering of a stored wood board from the holding level, of the lifter sector, to the conveyor level according to the invention. 
       FIG. 10  shows a cross-sectional end view illustrating a wood board passing under the edge and color detectors in the scanning sector according to the invention. 
       FIG. 11  shows a cross-sectional end view illustrating a wood board stored at the holding level in the lifter sector while a wood board is being transported at the conveyor level according to the invention. 
       FIG. 12  is a flow chart indicating the manner in which the microprocessor controlling the apparatus shown in  FIG. 6  operates to sort the wood boards by size and color. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   This invention relates to an apparatus that is adapted to continuously receive hand loaded workpieces, particularly wood-boards and to categorize each by color and width. Furthermore, without human intervention, to routinely select a matching plurality of boards so that when the boards are subsequently glued together will make up one closely blended unit whose overall size is close to a predetermined dimension. The apparatus of the invention provides the following automated tasks, which occur after loading the boards on a conveyor. These tasks include;
     a—Measuring width of each board.   b—Detecting the surface color of each board.   c—Storing each board along with attributes.   d—Updating records of stored inventory.   e—Selecting boards from storage so that the accumulated width of the boards is equal to or over a predetermined size and the neighbooring boards are of similar surface color.   

     FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing a stacked supply  10  containing wood-boards  11  of a particular species, e.g., pine, maple, oak, etc. The boards are precut to a specific thickness and length. The widths may vary from about three quarters of an inch to about six inches.  FIG. 2  illustrates a plurality of wood-boards  11  having various widths and color. The boards are randomly selected from the incoming stack, and placed contiguous each other to demonstrate the task of; categorizing by width and color and selecting a matching set from an inventory that blends and conforms to an overall dimension while maintaining a full and updated inventory. The illustration attempts to show dissimilarity between boards by width size and color. Color varies with grain pattern, grain density, and natural stains.  FIG. 3  shows a subset  14  with matching color blended boards  11 , also, the sum of each board&#39;s width must measure at or above a prescribed overall dimension  15 .  FIG. 4  shows a completed panel  16  made up from subset  14 . 
   The workpieces are processed in the following manner: 1) measures a board&#39;s width by detecting its leading and trailing edges thereafter calculating its width from its traversed distance; 2) sensing colors reflected from each board; 3) electronically labeling and storing a plurality of boards in a holding area; 4) determining the best combination of boards from the stored plurality that will be equal to or larger than the desired panel width with a minimum total error of width and color; 5) queuing and releasing the best combination of boards from the stored plurality to make a panel with a minimum of color variation between contiguous boards, and 6) continuously replacing and updating the stored inventory. 
   Referring now to the preferred embodiment, and particularly to  FIGS. 5 ,  6 , and  7  while also making references to  FIGS. 8 through 11  that show sequential operations of a portion of the apparatus during the handling of the wood-boards  11 .  FIG. 5  is a perspective and symbolic illustration of the apparatus, while  FIG. 6  gives an overall systems configuration. A stacked supply  10  of wood-boards  11 , precut in length and thickness but vary in width between about ¾ inch to about 6 inches, is positioned for an operator to handily place one board at a time, flat and crossways spanning conveyor guides  21  and  22 . The operator gives each board a cursory look to quickly determine the better of the two sides to face upwards while rejecting those with obvious anomalies. Conveyor guide  22  is laterally adjustable to accommodate longer boards. This lateral adjustment is partially shown in position  23 . The apparatus is designed to operate routinely with a continuous supply of boards placed on its conveying surface. 
     FIG. 6  is a plan view showing the linear configuration of apparatus  80  divided into five sectors, an input sector  20 , scanning sector  30 , lifter/storage sector  50 , collector/transfer sector  60 , and output sector  70 . The random width boards  11  are manually removed from the stack  10  and placed, one at a time, flat and crossways on supporting surfaces  21 ,  22  at the input sector  20 . A conveyor consisting of a pair of continuous and parallel conveyor chains spanning the length from the input sector to the collector/transfer sector  60 . Each of the conveyor chains are looped around sprockets and driven by separate motors  42 ,  43 . The motors run at about the same speeds, driving the conveyor belts synchronously. An incremental shaft encoder  44  is also coupled to one conveyor. The encoder  44  interfaces with a computer to translate pulses giving increment displacement signals to be processed by a simple counter circuit for use by a microprocessor. 
   Refer also to  FIG. 7  showing a more detailed view of sectors  20 ,  30  and  50 . Prior to processing the boards, a first pair of gates  32  and a second pair  33  are in a raised position. Gate  32  prevents the boards from advancing while momentarily sliding in place as the conveyor chain continues to run. Gates  32  and  33  are normally in the raised position. A sensor (not shown) senses a board as it nears the first pair of gates  32  that provides a signal indicating that there are an adequate number of boards at the input end to begin processing. The computer controls the operating of the gates. Both pairs working in unison, momentarily trapping the board between them. The continuous movement of the conveyor urges the board against the second pair of gates  32 , appropriately squaring the board to the direction of travel of the conveyor. This action is followed by lowering of the gates to permit the board&#39;s entrance into the scanning sector  30  while trapping the next board in line. In the scanning sector, the board passes under a plurality of sensors. A synchronized correlation between an edge detection sensor  34 , positioned to sequentially sense the leading and trailing edge of each board, and an encoder  44  that measures conveyor displacement, provides the necessary data for computing the width dimension for each board. Detection of the leading edge initiates the scanning of three light sensors,  36 ,  37 ,  38  each sensitive to a primary color range, are positioned proximate each other to detect color intensity levels reflected from each board. After the trailing edge from a board is detected, scanning is terminated and a coded signature is assigned to the board. The coded signature consists of the board&#39;s average color composite, and its width dimension. 
   The boards are conveyed to the lifter/storage sector  50 . A multiplicity of lifters  53  is contiguously disposed at each side along the length of the lifter/storage sector. Lifters  53  are synchronized to operate in pairs, one from each side, to lift a single board to a holding level above the conveyor plane. The inventory of boards stored at the holding level is directly related to its filled capacity and the length of the conveyor, therefore, the longer the conveyor, the greater the choice for selecting a matching set of boards for making up a panel. The operating sequence therefore, requires filling each of the lifter/storage positions prior to selecting and queuing the best-matched set from the filled inventory of boards.  FIGS. 8 ,  9 ,  10 , and  11  are end views  46  having common numbered items in each of the Figs. and will be described in  FIG. 8  and not the others. Each of the end views  46  illustrates various sequences in the operation of the lifters  53 .  FIG. 8  shows a board  11  lifted to a holding level by lifter  53 . A pair of tubular guide bearings  47  attached to each lifter is slideably engaged by shafts  48  fixed at each end to bracket  49 . The extended and retracted positions of each set of lifters are set in motion by linear actuators  52  that are synchronized in pairs in response to a tool microprocessor (not shown). Conveyor chain  55  is shown looped around sprocket  41 . The board&#39;s queue address and distinctiveness, which includes the board&#39;s width and color, are recorded in memory.  FIG. 9  shows the lifters  53  below the conveyor chain  55  permitting the board  11  to pass over the lifters without interference.  FIG. 10  depicts the board  11  passing under the scanner in the scanning sector  30 .  FIGS. 7 and 11  show a board  11  on the conveyor chain  55  passing under another board stored in the holding position. This interchange is ongoing since other previously scanned boards are constantly replacing selected boards from the holding level. 
   After receiving a full inventory of boards at the holding level, a “matched board&#39;s” list is generated using the following methodology. Given the widths and colors of all boards currently on the lifters, find the combination of boards that will be equal to or larger than the desired panel width with the minimum total error. Error is a weighted combination of the amount the total width is greater than the desired width and the total amount of color variation among boards in the panel. Once the best combination of boards to make up a panel is determined, “blend” the panel by determining what order the boards should be placed in the set so as to minimize the color variation between each board and it&#39;s neighbor. Subsequently, the selected boards are lowered, in order, to the conveyor chains for transport to the output end where the chosen set is transferred, en masse, to a panel-stacking zone. As a selected board is lowered and taken away, a replacement board is lifted to fill its vacancy. This sequence is continuous until the stacked supply of boards is completely processed. 
     FIG. 12  outlines a microprocessor&#39;s iterative control steps performed during the processing of the wooden boards. Also refer to  FIGS. 6 and 7  for referenced item numbers. In step  1205 , a photoelectric sensor positioned proximal the entrance to gate  32  continuously searches for a board. If a new board is detected, step  1210  releases the new board from the input sector. The new board is momentarily trapped between gates  32  and  33  while squaring up to against gate  33 . The microprocessor determines and assigns a lifter address from memory as stated in step sequence  1215 . In step  1220  the microprocessor executes lowering of gates  32  and  33  releasing the new board to the scanning sector. When edge detector  34  detects the leading edge of the new board, the microprocessor initializes an encoder count of zero and continues to add to its forward movement from its initial point to its assigned lifter address. In step  1225 , the board&#39;s width and color are measured and electronically assigned a descriptive label, which complies with step  1230 . In step  1235 , the assigned lifter lowers and releases a matched board to the collector/transfer sector  60 , and in step  1240  the microprocessor and encoder compare incremental counts which satisfies the incremental lifter address for the new board for lifting the new board, step  1245 , to the holding level. 
   The microprocessor executes all the steps in a parallel mode. Concomitantly therefore, step  1250  is continuously looking for the last board that completes a matched panel set at the collector/transfer sector  60 . When the last board arrives, the stacker pushes the matched set to the output sector  70 . 
   A second flow chart explains the control logic regarding the queuing of the new board and the updating of the matched board&#39;s list. In step  1260 , which applies only when starting a new batch of wood-boards, the microprocessor repetitively interrogates the matched board&#39;s list for vacant lifter positions. The remainder of steps  1265  through  1280  explains the microprocessor&#39;s real time execution for queuing boards and maintaining an updated matched board&#39;s list based on an ever-changing inventory of wood-boards. 
   While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to the preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Technology Classification (CPC): 1