In large, high production sawmills where success can be measured in board meters, the price per board is determined by the grade of each individual board. It is essential that every board be properly graded, sorted and processed. Operators grade each board as it travels along the conveyor line, marking it with a UV detectable crayon wherever there is a flaw or imperfection in the wood. A sensor or manual inspection is then used to detect the UV marks and direct the board to an area where it can be repaired or rejected.
Equipment used in sawmills faces unique environmental challenges from tree pulp, dirt and other debris. Traditional UV sensors frequently fail under these conditions. They also have a limited operating distance and therefore need to be mounted close to the sensing point, resulting in some mills preferring to use manual operator inspections. Banner Engineering were approached by a mill to offer a better solution to detect the UV marks, a solution which allowed the sensor to be mounted further away from the board and with a wide field-of- view to accommodate wide boards.
 The iVu Plus Remote TG image sensor from Banner proved to be a cost-effective UV detection system. The system consists of an image sensor with a built-in UV light, and a remote touch screen used to view the image and to program the sensor parameters.  The vision tools incorporated in the iVu Plus TG include Match, Sort, Area and Blemish - all in the one device. Ethernet communication enhances control and communications, and each sensor also offers three programmable discrete outputs. The durable IP67 rated enclosure ensures reliable performance even in the difficult environmental conditions. The remote touch screen makes it easy for the operator to monitor and manage the system.