APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR SCANNING A SURFACE OF AN ARTICLE

摘要

An apparatus and a method for scanning a surface of an article such as a wooden piece transported along a travel path axis, are capable of generating two complementary color image frames representing the surface of the article in an efficient way. While the sensing field of an imaging sensor is directed transversely toward the travel path axis, a first linear-shaped light beam characterized by a first wavelength is directed toward the scanning zone to form a first reflected line onto the article surface. A second linear-shaped light beam characterized by a second wavelength is directed toward the scanning zone to form a second reflected line onto the article surface. The first and second light sources are activated alternately according to a predetermined frequency, so that the imaging sensor is caused to capture alternately the first and second reflected lines to produce interlaced sequences of reflected intensity image data, which are then separated to generate two complementary color image frames representing the surface of the article.

主权项

1. An apparatus for scanning a surface of an article along a travel path axis, comprising:
an imaging sensor unit having a sensing field transversely directed toward said travel path axis and defining a scanning zone, said imaging sensor unit including:
a first light source characterized by a first wavelength and configured for directing a first linear-shaped light beam toward said scanning zone to form a first reflected line onto said article surface;a second light source characterized by a second wavelength and configured for directing a second linear-shaped light beam toward said scanning zone to form a second reflected line onto said article surface;a control device operatively connected to said first and second light sources for activating thereof alternately according to a predetermined frequency;a digital camera defining said sensing field and configured for generating reflected intensity image data, said camera capturing alternately said first and second reflected lines to produce interlaced sequences of reflected intensity image data; and data processing means programmed for separating said interlaced sequences of reflected intensity image data to generate two complementary color image frames representing the surface of said article.