US3698818A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Log diameter scanner including a plurality of photodetectors
Assignee: Black Clawson Co
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Filing: 1971-04-27
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Granted: 1972-10-17
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Expires: 1991-04-27
Abstract
Abstract A log diameter measuring device includes a plurality of spaced apart photodetectors positioned to receive light from a corresponding number of lamps. A conveyor transports logs or veneer blocks between the photodetectors and the lamps with the log axis parallel thereto. A tachometer pulse generator attached to the conveyor supplies pulses for predetermined increments of log movement, and gate circuits are employed to gate these tachometer pulses into counters during the time that the photodetectors are darkened due to the presence of the log. One counter circuit accumulates pulses representing the average number of photodetectors darkened for each tachometer pulse and thus contains a number representing the average diameter of the log. Another counter circuit is employed to count the number of tachometer pulses which occur when all of the photodetectors are darkened, thus representing the diameter of the maximum right cylinder contained within the log. An augmenting circuit may be used to provide pulses to this last counter representing the minimum diameter of the log at any of the locations sensed by the photodetectors. A paper tape perforator is employed to record permanently the information stored in the counters for each log, and this information may then be used to determine the actual volume of useable wood entering a veneer mill.
Inventors
- 👤 John F Bowker
- 👤 Warren H Odegard
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 16:58
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01B; G01B5/00; G01B5/0035
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
192 words
Apparatus for scanning logs including an elongated source of light; a plurality of photodetectors Arranged in a row parallel to the direction of elongation of said source of light; means for moving a log with its axis parallel to and between said source of light and said photodetectors; means for supplying pulses representing increments of movement of the log; clock means for providing a second source of pulses; a first counter; gate means connected to said clock means and to the output of said pulse supplying means for applying clock pulses to said first counter for each increment of travel of the log; second gate means connected to the output of said first counter and to individual ones of said photodetectors for providing an output for each photodetector which is darkened due to the presence of the log between said photodetector and said light source; a divider for dividing the number of pulses from said second gate means by the number of photodetectors in operation; and a second counter for counting the total pulse output from said divider for each log to provide an indication of the average diameter of the log.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
192 words
Apparatus for scanning logs including an elongated source of light; a plurality of photodetectors Arranged in a row parallel to the direction of elongation of said source of light; means for moving a log with its axis parallel to and between said source of light and said photodetectors; means for supplying pulses representing increments of movement of the log; clock means for providing a second source of pulses; a first counter; gate means connected to said clock means and to the output of said pulse supplying means for applying clock pulses to said first counter for each increment of travel of the log; second gate means connected to the output of said first counter and to individual ones of said photodetectors for providing an output for each photodetector which is darkened due to the presence of the log between said photodetector and said light source; a divider for dividing the number of pulses from said second gate means by the number of photodetectors in operation; and a second counter for counting the total pulse output from said divider for each log to provide an indication of the average diameter of the log.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
81 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further including third gate means connected to the output of all of said photodetectors and to said pulse supplying means to provide a number of pulses during that period when all of said photodetectors are darkened due to the presence of the log; and third counter means connected to the output of said third gate means for recounting said pulses to provide an indication of the diameter of the maximum right cylinder available in the log.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
47 words
The apparatus of claim 2 further including counting means connected to the output of said photodetectors and to said third counter to provide additional pulses to said third counter to provide an indication of the minimum diameter of said log at any one of the photodetector locations.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for supplying pulses representing increments of movement of the log includes means for converting these pulses into other pulses having a predetermined spacing specifically related to conventional units of length measurement.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
148 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said pulse converting means includes clock means for supplying clock pulses at a rate higher than the pulse rate of said pulse supplying means; first and second adjustable counter means; gate means enabled by pulses from said pulse supply means for connecting said clock to said first and second counter means; said gate means being disabled when said first counter obtains a predetermined count and said first counter being reset to receive clock pulses on the occurrence of subsequent pulses from said pulse supply means; said second counter means providing an output pulse each time it obtains a predetermined count; and whereby the rate of the pulse output from said second counter means is determined by the rate of pulses from said pulse supply means as modified by the ratio of the predetermined counts set into said first and second counter means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
174 words
Apparatus for scanning logs including: an elongated source of light; a plurality of photo detectors arranged in a row parallel to the direction of elongation of said source of light; means for moving a log with its axis parallel to and between said source of light and said photo detectors; means for supplying pulses representing increments of movement of the log; gate means connected to the output of all of said photo detectors and to said pulse supplying means for providing pulses during that period when all of said photo detectors are darkened due to the presence of a log; counter means connected to the output of said gate means for counting said pulses to provide an indication of the diameter of the maximum right cylinder in the log; and means connected to the output of individual ones of said photo detectors and to said counter means for providing additional pulses to said counter means to provide an indication of the minimum diameter of the Log at any one of the photo detector locations.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
174 words
Apparatus for scanning logs including: an elongated source of light; a plurality of photo detectors arranged in a row parallel to the direction of elongation of said source of light; means for moving a log with its axis parallel to and between said source of light and said photo detectors; means for supplying pulses representing increments of movement of the log; gate means connected to the output of all of said photo detectors and to said pulse supplying means for providing pulses during that period when all of said photo detectors are darkened due to the presence of a log; counter means connected to the output of said gate means for counting said pulses to provide an indication of the diameter of the maximum right cylinder in the log; and means connected to the output of individual ones of said photo detectors and to said counter means for providing additional pulses to said counter means to provide an indication of the minimum diameter of the Log at any one of the photo detector locations.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
83 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said means for providing additional pulses includes: a plurality of individual counters each connected to a corresponding photo detector; means for supplying clocking pulses to said individual counters when said corresponding photo detectors are darkened; means for inhibiting said clocking pulses to all of said individual counters when all of said photo detectors are darkened; and means for determining the individual counter storing the fewest number of pulses and for supplying those pulses to said counter means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-10-17 | 1976-04-17 | 1976-10-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-10-17 | 1980-04-17 | 1980-10-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-10-17 | 1984-04-17 | 1984-10-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |