Method and device for measuring the properties of moving objects

1. A method for measuring a property of a moving object such as a wooden semi-finished product, the method comprising the steps of:

transporting an object ( 100 ) on a first conveyor ( 2 ) having a first transport speed (T 1 ) which is constant;

transferring the object ( 100 ) from the first conveyor ( 2 ) to a second conveyor ( 8 ) having a second transport speed (T 2 ) which is constant and which is greater than the first transport speed (T 1 ) so that the object ( 100 ) is accelerated relative to the first transport speed;

transferring the object ( 100 ) to a third conveyor ( 10 ) having a third transport speed (T 3 ) which is constant and which is less than the first transport speed (T 1 );

transporting the object ( 100 ) on the third conveyor ( 10 ) at the constant third transport speed (T 3 ) past a station ( 5 ) where a predetermined property of the object ( 100 ) is measured, so that the measuring is conducted while the object is moving at the constant third transport speed (T 3 );

thereafter transferring the object ( 100 ) to the first conveyor ( 2 ).

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of transporting the object ( 100 ) on the first conveyor ( 2 ) comprises the steps of providing a plurality of pusher elements ( 3 ) with the same first transport speed (T 1 ) and integral with the first conveyor ( 2 ) and pushing the object ( 100 ) with a first pusher element or group of pusher elements ( 3 ).

3. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the first conveyor ( 2 ) has a first direction of feed, and wherein the pusher elements ( 3 ) are equidistant, the distance separating adjacent pusher elements in the first direction of feed being greater than the dimensions of the object ( 100 ) along the first direction of feed.

4. The method according to claim 2 wherein, when the object ( 100 ) is transported on the second conveyor ( 8 ), the object ( 100 ) is moved away from the first pusher element ( 3 ) and the pusher elements ( 3 ) are fed at the first conveyor ( 2 ) transport speed (T 1 ) without interfering with the second conveyor ( 8 ).

5. The method according to claim 2 wherein, during the step of transporting the object ( 100 ) on the third conveyor ( 10 ), the pusher elements ( 3 ) are fed at the first conveyor ( 2 ) transport speed (T 1 ) without interfering with the third conveyor ( 10 ).

6. The method according to claim 5 wherein the step of transferring the object ( 100 ) to the first conveyor ( 2 ) comprises transferring the object ( 100 ) from the third conveyor ( 10 ) to the first conveyor ( 2 ), and wherein, during or after the step of transferring the object ( 100 ) from the third conveyor ( 10 ) to the first conveyor ( 2 ), the first pusher element ( 3 ) reaches the object ( 100 ) to push it.

7. The method according to claim 6 wherein the object ( 100 ) transit time on the second and third conveyors ( 8 , 10 ) is substantially equal to the transit time of the pusher elements ( 3 ) along the length of the second and third conveyors ( 8 , 10 ).

8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of transferring the object ( 100 ) to the third conveyor ( 10 ) comprises transferring the object ( 100 ) from the second conveyor ( 8 ) to the third conveyor ( 10 ).

9. The method according to claim 1 wherein the step of transferring the object ( 100 ) to the first conveyor ( 2 ) comprises transferring the object ( 100 ) from the third conveyor ( 10 ) to the first conveyor ( 2 ).

10. The method according to claim 1 , wherein a succession of objects ( 100 ) pass in front of the measuring station ( 5 ); the objects ( 100 ) in said succession of objects being spaced out.

11. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising, after the accelerating step, a step of transferring the object ( 100 ) from the second conveyor ( 8 ) to the first conveyor ( 2 ), and a step of transferring the object ( 100 ) from the first conveyor ( 2 ) to the third conveyor ( 10 ).

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein said object is a wooden semi-finished product.

13. A device for measuring a property of a moving object, the device comprising:

a station ( 5 ) for measuring a predetermined property of the object ( 100 );

a first conveyor ( 2 ) for transporting the object ( 100 ) towards the measuring station ( 5 ), the first conveyor ( 2 ) having a constant first transport speed (T 1 );

accelerator means ( 6 ) for accelerating the object ( 100 ), acting on the object and positioned upstream of the measuring station ( 5 ), the accelerator means ( 6 ) comprising a second conveyor ( 8 ) operatively associated with the first conveyor ( 2 ); the second conveyor ( 8 ) transporting the object ( 100 ) at a constant second transport speed (T 2 ) greater than the first transport speed (T 1 );

and slowing means ( 7 ) for slowing the object ( 100 ), acting on the object and positioned at the measuring station ( 5 ), the slowing means ( 7 ) comprising a third conveyor ( 10 ) transporting the object ( 100 ) at the measuring station ( 5 ) at a constant third transport speed (T 3 ) which is lower than the first transport speed (T 1 ).

14. The device according to claim 13 , wherein the first conveyor ( 2 ) comprises a plurality of equidistant pusher elements ( 3 ), separated by a distance greater than the dimensions of the object ( 100 ) along a direction of transport (T); the object ( 100 ) being pushed along the first conveyor ( 2 ) by at least one of the pusher elements ( 3 ).

15. The device according to claim 14 , wherein the pusher elements ( 3 ) are integral with the first conveyor ( 2 ) and are fed at the first transport speed (T 1 ) without interfering with the second and third conveyors ( 8 , 10 ).

16. The device according to claim 14 , wherein the speeds (T 2 , T 3 ) of the second and third conveyors ( 8 , 10 ) give an object ( 100 ) transit time on the second and third conveyors ( 8 , 10 ) substantially equal to the transit time of the pusher elements ( 3 ) along the length of the second and third conveyors ( 8 , 10 ).

17. The device according to claim 14 , wherein the second conveyor ( 8 ) comprises a first end ( 8 a ) giving onto the first conveyor ( 2 ) to receive from it an object ( 100 ) and move the object away from the pusher element ( 3 ), and a second end ( 8 b ), opposite the first end ( 8 a ), for releasing the object ( 100 ) towards the measuring station ( 5 ).

18. The device according to claim 13 , wherein the third conveyor ( 10 ) is operatively associated with the first conveyor ( 2 ) or the second conveyor ( 8 ) to receive an object respectively from the first conveyor ( 2 ) or the second conveyor ( 8 ).

19. The device according to claim 18 , wherein the third, conveyor ( 10 ) comprises a first end ( 10 a ) giving onto the accelerator means ( 6 ) or the first conveyor ( 2 ) to receive from them the object ( 100 ), and a second end ( 10 b ), opposite the first end ( 10 a ), giving onto the first conveyor ( 2 ).

20. The device according to claim 13 , wherein the third conveyor ( 10 ) is operatively associated with the first conveyor ( 2 ) to release an object on it.

21. The device according to claim 20 , wherein the third conveyor ( 10 ) comprises a first end ( 10 a ) giving onto the second conveyor ( 8 ) or the first conveyor ( 2 ) to receive from them the object ( 100 ), and a second end ( 10 b ), opposite the first end ( 10 a ), giving onto the first conveyor ( 2 ).

22. The device according to claim 20 , wherein the speeds (T 2 , T 3 ) of the second and third conveyors ( 8 , 10 ) give an object ( 100 ) transit time on the second and third conveyors ( 8 , 10 ) substantially equal to the transit time of the pusher elements ( 3 ) along the length of the second and third conveyors ( 8 , 10 ).

23. A method for measuring a property of a moving object such as a wooden semi-finished product, the method comprising the steps of:

transporting an object ( 100 ) along a first conveyor ( 2 ) having a predetermined first feed speed (T 1 ) and making the object ( 100 ) pass at a station ( 5 ) for measuring a predetermined property of the object ( 100 ), wherein the step of transporting the object ( 100 ) along the first conveyor ( 2 ) comprises the steps of preparing a plurality of pusher elements ( 3 ) with the same feed speed (T 1 ) and integral with the first conveyor ( 2 ) and pushing the object ( 100 ) with a first pusher element or group of pusher elements ( 3 );

accelerating the object ( 100 ) relative to the first feed speed (T 1 ) by feeding and transporting the object ( 100 ) on a second conveyor ( 8 ) having a second transport speed (T 2 ) which is greater than the first feed speed (T 1 );

during the step of transporting the object ( 100 ) on the second conveyor ( 8 ), the object ( 100 ) being moved away from the first pusher element or group of pusher elements ( 3 ) towards a pusher element or a group of pusher elements ( 3 ) immediately before it, the pusher elements ( 3 ) being fed at the first feed speed (T 1 ) without interfering with the second conveyor ( 8 );

slowing or stopping the object ( 100 ) relative to the first feed speed (T 1 ) at least at the measuring station ( 5 ) by transferring the object ( 100 ) to a third conveyor ( 10 ) which has a third transport speed (T 3 ) lower than the first feed speed (T 1 ),

during a step of transporting the object ( 100 ) on the third conveyor ( 10 ), the pusher elements ( 3 ) being fed at the first feed speed (T 1 ) without interfering with the third conveyor ( 10 ); and

feeding the object ( 100 ) at the first feed speed (T 1 ) after the object ( 100 ) slowing or stopping step.

24. The method according to claim 23 , wherein the pusher elements ( 3 ) are equidistant, the distance separating them being greater than the dimensions of the object ( 100 ) along the direction of feed (T).

25. The method according to claim 23 , wherein the step of slowing or stopping the object ( 100 ) comprises the step of transferring the object ( 100 ) from the second conveyor ( 8 ) to the third conveyor ( 10 ).

26. The method according to claim 23 , further comprising, after the accelerating step, the step of transferring the object ( 100 ) from the second conveyor ( 8 ) to the first conveyor ( 2 ), and wherein the step of slowing or stopping the object ( 100 ) comprises the step of transferring the object ( 100 ) from the first conveyor ( 2 ) to the third conveyor ( 10 ).

27. The method according to claim 23 wherein the step of feeding the object ( 100 ) at the first feed speed (T 1 ) after the object ( 100 ) slowing or stopping step, is carried out by transferring the object ( 100 ) from the third conveyor ( 10 ) to the first conveyor ( 2 ).

28. The method according to claim 23 wherein, during a step of transferring the object ( 100 ) from the third conveyor ( 10 ) to the first conveyor ( 2 ), the first pusher element ( 3 ) reaches the object ( 100 ) to push it.

29. The method according to claim 23 wherein the object ( 100 ) transit time on the second and third conveyors ( 8 , 10 ) is substantially equal to the transit time of the pusher elements ( 3 ) along the length of the second and third conveyors ( 8 , 10 ).

30. The method according to claim 23 , wherein a succession of objects ( 100 ) pass in front of the measuring station ( 5 ); the objects ( 100 ) in said succession of objects being spaced out.

31. The method of claim 23 , wherein, during the step of transporting the object ( 100 ) on the second conveyor ( 8 ), the object ( 100 ) is moved away from the first pusher element or group of pusher elements ( 3 ) until it almost reaches the pusher element or the group of pusher elements ( 3 ) immediately before it.

32. A device for measuring a property of a moving object, the device comprising:

a station ( 5 ) for measuring a predetermined property of the object ( 100 );

a first conveyor ( 2 ) for transporting the object ( 100 ) at a first transport speed (T 1 ) towards the measuring station ( 5 ); the first conveyor ( 2 ) comprising a plurality of equidistant pusher elements ( 3 ), separated by a distance greater than the dimensions of the object ( 100 ) along a direction of transport (T); the object ( 100 ) being pushed along the first conveyor ( 2 ) by at least one of the pusher elements ( 3 );

accelerator means ( 6 ) for accelerating the object ( 100 ), acting on the object and positioned upstream of the measuring station ( 5 ), the accelerator means ( 6 ) comprising a second conveyor ( 8 ) operatively associated with the first conveyor ( 2 ); the second conveyor ( 8 ) transporting the object ( 100 ) at a second transport speed (T 2 ) greater than the first transport speed (T 1 ) to move the object ( 100 ) away from the at least one of the pusher elements ( 3 ) towards a pusher element or a group of pusher elements immediately before it; the pusher elements ( 3 ) being fed at the first transport speed (T 1 ) without interfering with the second conveyor ( 8 );

and slowing means ( 7 ) for slowing or stopping the object ( 100 ), acting on the object and positioned at the measuring station ( 5 ), the slowing means ( 7 ) comprising a third conveyor ( 10 ) transporting the object ( 100 ) at the measuring station ( 5 ) at a third transport speed (T 3 ) which is lower than the first transport speed (T 1 ); the pusher elements ( 3 ) being fed at the first transport speed (T 1 ) without interfering with the third conveyor ( 10 ).

33. The device of claim 32 , wherein the second conveyor ( 8 ) is transporting the object ( 100 ) at the second transport speed (T 2 ) to move the object ( 100 ) away from the at least one of the pusher elements ( 3 ) until the object ( 100 ) almost reaches the pusher element or the group of pusher elements immediately before it.