US 11,731,303 B2
Precut processing of logs based on selected cut patterns
Christopher W. Blomquist, Ridgefield, WA (US)
Assigned to USNR, LLC, Woodland, WA (US)
Filed by USNR, LLC, Woodland, WA (US)
Filed on Oct. 4, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/493,050.
Application 17/493,050 is a continuation of application No. 16/003,977, filed on Jun. 8, 2018, granted, now 11,135,735.
Application 16/003,977 is a continuation of application No. 15/087,056, filed on Mar. 31, 2016, granted, now 9,993,933, issued on Jun. 12, 2018.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/141,062, filed on Mar. 31, 2015.
Prior Publication US 2022/0024063 A1, Jan. 27, 2022
Int. Cl. B26D 5/00 (2006.01); B27B 1/00 (2006.01); B26D 11/00 (2006.01); G05B 19/19 (2006.01)
CPC B26D 5/005 (2013.01) [B26D 5/007 (2013.01); B26D 11/00 (2013.01); B27B 1/002 (2013.01); G05B 19/19 (2013.01); G05B 2219/36515 (2013.01); G05B 2219/45229 (2013.01); G05B 2219/49372 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of processing a workpiece along a processing line to obtain a desired cut product, wherein the workpiece is a log or a cant and the desired cut product is a board, and wherein the processing line includes a profiler module, a first saw module downstream of the profiler module, and an edger module downstream of the first saw module along a path of flow, the method comprising:
determining a first group of cut patterns for implementation by at least the profiler module and the first saw module to form the longitudinal sides of the board along a first side of the workpiece and to cut the board from the workpiece, respectively;
determining a second group of cut patterns for implementation by at least the profiler module, the first saw module, and the edger to form the longitudinal sides of a block along the first side of the workpiece, to cut the block from the workpiece, and to cut the block into the board and at least a first waste piece, respectively, wherein the first waste piece includes at least a portion of one of the longitudinal sides of the block;
determining a value of each of said groups of cut patterns based at least on one or more parameters, wherein the one or more parameters includes a wood volume recovery parameter or a throughput speed parameter, and wherein each of said groups of cut patterns defines a through- cut to be made through the workpiece along a cutting plane by at least the profiler module and the first saw module;
selecting one of the groups of cut patterns for implementation based at least on a comparison of the determined values; and
causing the profiler module to cut the workpiece according to a corresponding one of cut patterns of the selected group such that the profiler module makes a first portion of the through- cut through the workpiece along the cutting plane.