Patent ID: 8408081

Claim:
A method for determining the nodosity of a wooden plank having a main direction of extension, a lateral surface ( 4 ) substantially parallel with the main direction of extension and two end surfaces ( 5 ) substantially transversal to the main direction of extension, comprising the operating steps of: observing the lateral surface ( 4 ) of the wooden plank ( 1 ) to identify its zones ( 7 ) corresponding to knots ( 6 ); assessing the overall extent of the knots ( 6 ) inside the plank ( 1 ) and the relative volume; and determining the nodosity as a ratio of the volume occupied by the knots ( 6 ) to the overall volume of the plank ( 1 ) or the remaining volume of the plank ( 1 ); the method being characterised in that the step of assessing the extent of the knots ( 6 ) in turn comprises the operating steps of: inspecting at least one end surface ( 5 ) of the plank ( 1 ) to detect at this end surface the development curves of the growth rings ( 3 ) belonging to the log ( 2 ) from which the wooden plank ( 1 ) was obtained; based on the trend of the development curves of the rings ( 3 ), estimating the position in space, relative to the plank ( 1 ), of the longitudinal axis ( 8 ) of the log ( 2 ) from which the plank ( 1 ) was obtained; assuming that each knot ( 6 ) identified on the outer surface extends, inside the log ( 2 ) from which the plank ( 1 ) was cut, as a conical body extending radially from the longitudinal axis ( 8 ) with its vertex on the longitudinal axis, and passing through the zone ( 7 ) of the lateral surface ( 4 ) of the plank ( 1 ) corresponding to the knot ( 6 ); and calculating the volume of the knots ( 6 ) as the intersection between said bodies and the plank ( 1 ).