Wood Scanners
Since 2005, EBI Electric has been developing and integrating artificial vision systems for the wood processing industry: flooring, components, furniture, paneling, and other fields such as fiber cement and Canexel.
EBI scanners are used in several applications: edging, cross-cutting, profiling, finishing, color control, and quality control.
The equipment in the EBI Inspector scanner range combines:
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2D and 3D vision (cameras, lasers)
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Detection of physical defects and appearance characteristics
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Dimensional and profile control
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Artificial intelligence (classification and segmentation of images)
Different Types of EBI Electric Inspector Scanners
EBI scanning solutions come in several complementary products:
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Inspector B : linear scanner for cross-cutting and edging
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Inspector T : transverse scanner
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Inspector F : finishing scanner (staining, varnish, color) for wood, Canexel, fiber cement, OSB, etc.
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Inspector E : end crack and end board control scanner
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Inspector P : profile scanner
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Inspector S : wood species detector
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Inspector R : identification rereading system (OCR, barcodes)
These scanners share a common technological vision:
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User-friendly Windows interface
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Setting of production recipes and tolerances
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Real-time production statistics
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Possible integration with printing or marking systems for traceability
Optimisation and Cross-Cutting – Inspector B
The Inspector B is a linear cross-cutting scanner for all types of wood.
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Optimization:
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Linear scanner (edging, cross-cutting, NHLA grading)
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Consistent interface for all scanner optimizations
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Detection of color characteristics
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Detection of physical defects
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Scanning of 1, 2, or 4 sides
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Color or 3D cameras
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Operator assistance
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The main objective of the scanner is to optimize material yield and value by proposing the best cutting decision for each board in real time.
Edging and Transverse Scanner – Inspector B / T
These systems serve to:
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Recognize defects on boards
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Optimize edging position
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Support automated grading according to rules and production needs
In a project for automated edging and grading of cedar shingles, for example, the EBI scanning solution enabled:
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Integration of a dual-sided vision system
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Use of AI to enhance detection efficiency of sound knots, rotten knots, cracks, and decay
Finishing Inspection – Inspector F (Staining, Varnish, Color)
The Inspector F is the color and defect inspection scanner for finishing lines (staining, varnish, color).
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Optimization / Finishing:
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Scanner for staining, varnish, color
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Detection of defects and tolerance deviations
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Helps standardize products in terms of their appearance
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EBI Electric's surface and color control scanning system after finishing aims to:
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Track production data related to color
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Measure floor surface by panel and overall for targeted production
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3D camera for locating paneling for color inspection
The inspection is carried out on the total production.
The analysis and validation of the color are based on predefined colors in the EBI scanning system. The color selection process is based on a software tool that allows defining colors according to pixels from the image saved earlier by the scanner.
End Crack Detection and End Control – Inspector E
The Inspector E is a scanner for detecting end cracks of boards and controlling the dimensions of the ends.
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Multi-sensor 2D and 3D scanner (lasers and cameras)
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Precision adjusted according to: species, quality, customer needs, and dimensional control
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Detection rules (size, tolerances) and inspection zones configurable
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Detection of end defects:
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End cracks ("splits")
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Broken corners
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Tongue defects
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Groove defects
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Micro-V defects
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Dimensional control:
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Thickness (Th)
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Micro-V height (Vh)
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Position, length, and thickness of the tongue (ToP, ToL, ToTh)
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Position, depth, and thickness of the groove (GrP, GrD, GrTh)
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Performance:
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Thickness: 3/8" to 1"
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Maximum width: 1" to 12"
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Production and quality:
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Inspection at 160 boards/min
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Reduction of dependency on skilled labor for end inspection (absenteeism, training, fatigue, etc.)
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Traceability:
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Possibility of printing a code on each board to identify ends with one or more defects
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Profile Scanner – Inspector P
The Inspector P is a wood board profile scanner.
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Operation:
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Detects and measures any dimensional deviation at the output of a planer or molder
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Detects deviations in width, length, and thickness
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Deviations at the joint (tongue and groove)
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Advantages:
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Ensures uniformity of each board profile
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Controls quality at all times on 100% of production
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Eliminates non-compliant production
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Notifies the manager of any misalignment of the planer or molder
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Allows setting alarms based on production recipes and tolerances
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Reduces reaction time during misalignment
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Interface:
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Very user-friendly in a Windows environment
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Setting of tolerances by production recipe
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Programming of different types of alarms (warning or line stoppage)
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Marking (optional):
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Coupled with a board printing system, allows marking non-compliant boards
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Learning profiles for quality control
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Wood Species Detector – Inspector S
The Inspector S is a wood species detector.
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Detection / control of wood species within the same production batch
This allows to:
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Differentiate species: for example, red/white oak, maple, hickory, etc.
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Better control the consistency of batches
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Adapt production and grading parameters based on species
Identification Rereading – Inspector R
The Inspector R is an identification rereading system for OCR, barcodes, and process automation.
This scanner allows, for example:
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To reread and validate markings (codes, labels, identifiers)
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To integrate this information into production control and traceability
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Artificial Intelligence: Classification, Detection, Segmentation
EBI vision systems use several types of AI tasks depending on the needs:
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Classification:
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Used to classify whole images.
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Used, for example, for the wood species detector (Inspector S) or classification in cross-cutting applications.
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Detection:
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Used to classify regions (object instances) within images.
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Useful when only the position of characters is needed for optimization.
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Ideal for "go/no-go" applications.
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Used particularly on Inspector B, T, E.
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Segmentation:
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Classifies pixels of an image into regions.
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Very advantageous for features difficult to distinguish from the surface: decay, heated spots, "hit and miss," non-contrasting knots.
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Allows significantly increasing detection efficiency on these defects.
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Used on Inspector B, T, E, F, R.
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Benefits for Manufacturers (Yield, Rejects, Labor)
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Turnkey solution:
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Adaptable to your production line configuration
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Material yield:
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Increase in material yield by 3 to 7%
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Higher quality and fewer returns
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Labor:
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Reduction in labor
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Decreased dependency on skilled staff for classification
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Production management:
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Management of average board lengths in real time
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Real-time production statistics: grades, average length, rejections, quantity of cuts, defects.
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Traceability:
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Printed solutions on boards for traceability (black or UV printing, or electronic solution)
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Grade value:
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Increase in grade value, consistency, and flexibility (final classification done by scanner)
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Some EBI scanner customers
Acme Flooring
Action Flooring
Anthony Oak Flooring
Bois Kennebec
Bois Tremtech
Composantes Lab-Co
J.M. Champeau
Lauzon
Lewis Lumber
Maibec
Maine Tradition Hardwood Flooring
Menuiserie des pins
Menuiserox
Mercier
Middle Tennessee Lumber
Mirage
Missouri Hardwood Products
Mobilier Rustique
Oak Crest
Ort Flooring
PG Model
Plancher des Appalaches
Planchers Wickham
Premier Hardwood Flooring
Préverco
SBC Cedar
Ten Oak