Veneer Sheet Sorting System with Pre-Scan Alignment
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The manufacturing of wood products, particularly veneer sheets, faces challenges in sorting and transferring due to variations in size and orientation, leading to issues like dropping or transferring multiple sheets at once, which existing suction-based transfer devices struggle to manage effectively.
Innovation Solution
A system and method involving a feeding section with a hoisting device to adjust veneer sheet height, detection devices for scanning and determining properties, and transfer devices with suction capabilities, controlled by a system to pick up and sort veneer sheets based on predetermined criteria, ensuring accurate alignment and orientation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If suction-based transfer devices are used to handle veneer sheets, then the veneer sheets can be transferred from stack to location, but the devices struggle to manage variations in size and orientation, causing dropping or transferring multiple sheets
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary scanning and detection of the veneer sheet's size and orientation using detection devices before the transfer operation. The control system processes this information and positions the suction-based transfer devices accordingly, ensuring they are properly aligned with the veneer sheet edges before gripping. This preliminary action prevents dropping or transferring multiple sheets by establishing correct positioning in advance.
2Manufacturing precision
If the size and orientation of veneer sheets are defined before transferring, then accurate transfer can be achieved, but this requires imaging the top surface with inspection devices which adds complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The detection devices serve multiple functions: they scan the top surface of veneer sheets to detect size and orientation, provide imaging data for the control system, and enable sorting decisions. This multi-functional approach achieves accurate sorting without requiring separate specialized inspection devices for each function, thereby reducing overall system complexity while maintaining manufacturing precision.
3Measurement precision
If multiple detection devices are used to scan the top surface of veneer sheets, then accurate detection of size and orientation is achieved, but the scanning time and processing complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses multiple detection devices that can operate simultaneously or in coordinated sequences, dynamically adjusting their scanning patterns based on the detected veneer sheet characteristics. The control system processes data from multiple devices in parallel where possible, reducing overall scanning time while maintaining detection precision through coordinated multi-device operation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system enables efficient sorting and transfer of veneer sheets by accurately identifying and handling variations in size and orientation, reducing errors and improving the processing efficiency in wood product manufacturing.
Implementation Method 1
The transfer devices may comprise a plurality of suction devices, such as cups or nozzles, arranged in one or more rows for gripping by suction to the top surface of the veneer sheet to be transferred
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a system for sorting veneer sheets. The system comprises: an assembly section; a reject section; a feeding section arranged between the assembly section and the reject section; at least one detection device configured to scan a top surface of a topmost veneer sheet of a stack of veneer sheets to provide a plurality of successive scan lines images; at least two parallel transfer devices; and a control system. The control system is configured to provide a surface scan image from the plurality of successive scan lines images, determine one or more properties of the veneer sheet based on the surface scan image, and to control the at least two transfer devices to: move from an avoidance position to a pick-up position determined based on the surface scan image; pick up the topmost veneer sheet of the stack of veneer sheets; and transfer the picked-up veneer sheet to the assembly section in response to detecting that each of the determined one or more properties of the veneer sheet meets a respective predetermined criterion, or otherwise transfer the picked-up veneer sheet to the reject section. The invention relates also to a method for sorting veneer sheets.