The processing of natural products, such as trees, sets specific challenges. Different computer vision applications in the wood industry increase personnel safety, product quality and production efficiency by taking into account natural variations in shape, size and structure.
APIXA applies computer vision in a range of wood-related applications, including logs, oriented strand boards (OSB) and fiberboards. Felled trees are transported to the factory to convert into a variety of wood intermediate products. APIXA develops dedicated computer vision solutions, often based on 3D scanners, which capture the geometry of incoming logs and decide on pass or reject. Similarly, 3D profiles of a tree flake carpet are taken before it is compressed to form OSB boards. Other computer vision applications, based on laser triangulation, further drill down on the level of individual flakes or fibers to maintain high product quality.
As conveyor belts are used in most wood applications, the associated motion tolerances and vibrations must be accounted for. This adds to the complexity of such inline wood process applications. APIXA's specific solution configurations drive robust decision making in harsh outdoor conditions, generate production and supplier statistics, and allow for further image analysis.
Apixa 3D Log Scanner
About
The Apixa 3D Log scanner offers cutting-edge technology to capture the geometry of incoming logs of various sizes and shapes on a conveyor belt. This innovative solution uses the newest 3D scanning technology together with deep-learning algorithms to identify and analyze individual logs on the conveyor belt, providing real-time insight into the production process.
Outputs
Advanced AI techniques are applied to determine log length, average diameter, and volume, even when logs touch each other or lie next to each other. A conveyor speed encoder is used to account for belt accelerations and decelerations in relation to the log scanning. Out-of-spec logs are rejected to ensure personnel safety and avoid damage to machinery. On the economic side, the accumulated measurements are used to generate running production statistics and provide feedback to log providers.
System outputs can be extended according to the requirements of a particular production line.
Operational advantages
Apixa 3D Log Scanner provides a reliable and robust system for real-time insight on passing wood logs and production statistics.
Apixa 3D Mat Scanner
About
Apixa 3D Mat Scanner is a robust industrial 3D scanner for continuous monitoring of a flake mat on the OSB forming line before it enters the compressing stage. It allows timely detection and reporting of defects and deformations in the flake mat, like changes in height, local holes, or pileups. The early detection of these potential product issues drives corrective actions and avoids considerable material scrap. Visual data representations enable managers and operators to identify and evaluate production irregularities and trends. Historical inspection data also remain available for offline analysis.
Outputs
- Height map of the mat on the conveyor belt
- Mat cross-section and median height
- Trend graph of the median profile height over time
- Alarm notification upon anomaly detection with customizable thresholds
- Data statistics (25th percentile, median, trend, etc.)
Data can be viewed in real time for production view and offline for production analysis.
Apixa 3D Flake Scanner
About
The APIXA 3D Flake Scanner uses cutting edge technology to monitor an OSB production line. The solution can identify each flake in the scanned area of the forming belt and compute key features of the flake mat in real-time to better monitor and control the production processes.
The solution is composed of a 3D scanner placed above the forming belt and an industrial computer inside an air cooled IP66 electrical cabinet. A powerful AI software segments individual flakes in the scan and computes their features, irrespective of the flakes’ tilt and compensating for foreshortening effects.
Computed features, like flake geometry and orientation can be used for assessment of the OSB board's strength, tunning of the production process, or determening the time to sharpen or replace the shredder knives.
Outputs
Apixa 3D Flake scanner provides real time measurements visualization, including the distribution of the width of the flakes, distribution of the orientation of the flakes, and ratio between fines and flakes. This data is remotely accessible via web browser, as well as exported to a .CSV file for production analysis.
Data visualization
Apixa 3D Flake utilizes easy-to-use interface for viewing the statistical distributions of large number of processed images of flakes. It offers a historical view with a customizable time range of flake widths, flake orientations, and averages. The user can view real-time results of the Apixa 3D Flake Scanner system or view historical data.
Operational advantages
Apixa 3D Flake Scanner provides a reliable and robust system for real-time insight on key flake mat features and production statistics.
