Apparatus for Reading Information Marks

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to an apparatus for reading information marks and, more particularly, an apparatus for reading fluorescent information marks in the wood products industry.

2. Prior Art

This invention replaces a key entry operator who would key in the information from the marks to an automatic trimmer. Electronic devices already in the prior art include a black and white line camera which used fluorescent marks on a piece of lumber. A fluorescent light, but not a strobe, was used to excite the fluorescent marks. A central processing unit enhances the character recognition. Color could not be recognized.

In a lumber production operation, for example, producing two by fours, the cut lumber is graded twice. Once after it is first cut into 2.times.4 (greenend) and second, after kiln drying, at the planer end. Information marks are placed on the lumber which grade the quality of the lumber and require cutting some length off the two by four. An error rate is calculated from the misread or mis-entered information. If a mark is not entered or not read, it will be sorted into a rerun bin and run through the system again. A mis-trimmed board will count in the error rate.

The problems in this area include speed, accuracy and, in the electronic version, technical. The manual system requires a person to read the lumber marks and key the number into the trimmer. This invention is substantially quicker by means of the reading of the lumber marks electronically and eliminating the key-in requirement. Additionally, this invention is directly connected to the trimmer.

With respect to accuracy, eliminating the key-in increases accuracy by decreasing the opportunities for error. Furthermore, direct transfer from reader to trimmer enhance accuracy.

Technical problems, particularly reading a moving, bouncing, vibrating board, have limited electronic devices in the area. By use of a rapid strobe, the board appears stationary. Furthermore, the rapid strobe also eliminates any problem of uneven chain movement. Finally, the camera used is different from a linear (line) camera.

An apparatus for reading information marks with at least one rapid strobe light which activates or reflects marks on objects or wood products. The strobe light with a filter operates at a sufficiently rapid rate so that vibration and movement of each piece of wood does not affect the camera reading the information marks. The camera in one embodiment, is a single camera which separates colors into red, green and blue. A signal ratio algorithm is used whereby different colors are detected. In another embodiment two or more cameras with different filters are used and the signal levels per threshold in each camera is compared to determine the color of the information marks. A central processing unit processes, solves and interprets character and color recognition. The solution is tranferred to other control system devices and/or reporting system devices. In addition, a monitor can display in real time or later the character and color read by the apparatus on each piece of wood.

It is an object of this invention to provide an inexpensive, cost efficient, information reader.

It is another object of this invention to be able to detect and evaluate the individual markers.

Another further object is to provide a quick and accurate information reader.

A further object is to provide a durable lumber grade reader in limited space.

A final object is to provide an information reader which easily interfaces with trimmer/sorter controls.

FIG. 1 is an overall view of the production line with the invention positioned on the line.

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a combined bottom and side view of the invention on the production line with schematic connection to other devices.

FIG. 4 is a system flow diagram.

FIG. 1 shows the production line 54. A conveyor or lugged chain moves the wood product 2 along the production line 54. Individual graders 51,52,53 use different color markers. Information marks 50 are placed on each wood product 2. The information marks contain information relating to the grade of the wood product and relating to any trimming of the wood product. The information reading apparatus 5 fits over the production line 54 with a skirt 6. A video screen 4 and a trimmer 3 are shown. The information marks may be reflective or active. It is preferred that the information marks 50 be made by fluorescent markers. For convenience three colors are shown; the preferred embodiment is not limited to the number of colors shown.

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the information reading apparatus 5. Square strobe openings 8 allow the light from the strobe 9 to emit. Two cameras 10 and 11 are enclosed within the information reading apparatus 5. A switch 12 is used to turn the apparatus 5 on. While two cameras and two strobes are shown, one camera and one strobe are included within the preferred embodiment. An RGB camera can be used.

FIG. 3 shows a UV filter 13 on strobe 8 and a UV filter 14 on the other strobe 8. Camera 10 uses filter 15 and camera 11 uses filter 16. A photocell is used to time the strobes 8. The wood product 2 is shown a stand-off distance 17 from the information reading apparatus 5. Only one piece of wood product 2 appears under the apparatus at a time. In addition, the bottom of the skirt 6 (see FIG. 1) brushes against the wood product 2 as it passes under the apparatus 5. The trimmer 3 and video screen 4 and computer 7 communicate with the apparatus 5.

FIG. 4 is the general preferred system flow diagram. The process controls 31 signal 44 the timing generator 23. The timing generator 23 may also be signalled by an encoder (not shown) on the conveyor 1. The timing generator 23 by means of the timing length 45 triggers the marker exciter source 21 generally a strobe. In addition, the timing generator 23 signals the marker detection (camera) 20 triggering an electronic shutter. The strobe 21 produces UV light 46 which strikes the marks 50 causing an image detected by the marker detection 20. The video image 34 is transferred to the image pre-processing 22. Image processing 22 provides analog data 39 to the color detection 29 which then transfers the marker code 40 to the marker identification 28. The diagram data 35 from the image pre-processing 22 is sent to the character recognition 25 and then the coded character 36 is transferred to the character identification 26. Character identification 26 sends the process solution to data processing 27 and the marker identification 28 sends the identity 41 to the data processing 27. In addition, the image pre-processing 22 by means of a digital image 43 sends the information directly to data processing 27. The identity and solution 38 from the data processing 27 is sent to a management information system 32 and the process commands 42 are sent to the process controls 31, generally a trimmer/sorter. The central processing unit 24 is shown.

In operation, one of the individual markers 51,52,53 examines a board 2 and places marks 50 on the board 2 indicating the grade of the board 2 and any trimming that is necessary. The individual marker is a fluorescent marker of different colors. In other words, each individual marker has a different colored fluorescent marker. The board 2 is replaced on the conveyor 1 and moves down the conveyor system 1 to the apparatus 5. By means of a signal generated either by the conveyor 1 itself or by the process controls of the trimmer or a photo-electric cell, the apparatus 5 is instructed that a board 2 is below it at that time. The strobe 8 is then signalled to flash. The UV filters 13,14 allow only ultraviolet light to strike the board 2. The fluorescent mark 50 fluoresces and the camera 10 or cameras 10,11 have a filter system 15,16 on them. In one embodiment, the filter for one of the cameras allows only red and orange to pass through and on the other camera only green and blue is allowed to pass through. One image is used to recognize the mark 50. By comparing the signal ratio received by each camera, the color is detected. If one RGB camera is used, the colors are separated into read, green and blue. A signal ratio algorithm is used to detect color. After processing and solution, the marks 50 are identified and the color of each mark is identified. That information is then sent to the trimmer 3 and to a video screen 4, either in real time or for later review, and can be used for generating management information reports 7. Specifically, each grader 51,52,53 can be reviewed because each grader is using different colors. Thus, it is possible to generate a management report 7 which shows how many pieces of wood each grader grades, and the grading performance. The error rate is calculated down stream. Any reject or problem with the character recognition requires the board to pass through the trimmer without being cut and then diverted to a bin to be rerun through the process.

The manual system in the prior art would allow an error rate of 1 to 2 percent at 40 lugs per minute. The error rate of the manual system would rise to three to five percent when the lug rate was placed at 70. Under the described prior art line scan camera there is a one to two percent error rate at 72 lugs per minute. Under this invention, the error rate at 72 lugs per minute is one-half percent or less. This is due primarily to the high intensity strobe and the speed of the strobe and camera.

The strobe flashes a maximum of 1 millisecond and the camera aperture is open for a maximum of 100 millisecond. The is preferred to be a xenon flash lamp. Finally, the strobe must produce a minimum of 25 joules per area in m.sup.2 per meters of stand off distance.

The method comprises the following steps:

1. Placing Fluorescent marks on an object;

2. Flashing a strobe light on said marks;

3. Detecting said marks;

4. Processing, solving and interpreting said marks; and

5. Communicating said solution to other devices.

The method also comprising using and detecting different color fluorescent marks.

While the specific example relates to the wood products or lumber, it is clear that any object that requires grading use this apparatus.