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OLI-CS3 at F.H. Stoltze Land & Lumber Co. TURNS out great ! |
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- Their ability to provide a ''next-generation'' OLI-CS3 (optimized length infeed with continuous scan, slew and skew) infeed that offered the performance of a conventional DLI in the available footprint
- The additional recovery benefits associated with ''real-time'' rotation monitoring and ''on-the-fly'' correction
- Comact's successful track record on R & D projects
- Comact's demonstrated ability to execute the specialized engineering associated with the re-use of the existing canter and bandmill.
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The OLI-CS3 at F.H. Stoltze Land & Lumber Co. is configured similar to a conventional DLI in that logs are reliably fed (from a Wave Feeder with gap control) at a pre-determined minimum gap spacing to a V-flight conveyor running between 200 and 550 fpm, where they are scanned and solved for optimum rotation utilizing true-shape C1-Scan / Opto-rotation technology. In the same fashion as a DLI, the logs proceed to the 4-roll log turner for rotation, but it is after the turner that conventional concepts disappear, giving way to revolutionary ''optimized length'' technology. While the log is in the turner, a true-shape C2-Scan ''confirmation scanner'' located immediately downstream of the turning rolls continuously monitors the outside profile of the log to confirm its position while the ultra-fast QNX-based optimization system compares it ''real time'' to the expected profile of the log at the target rotation angle, ''feeding back'' the correction required to the PLC for instantaneous implementation at the turner. Precisely rotated, the log is fed to an ''optimized lenght'' skewing and slewing step chain conveyor, where stacked arrays (configured to minimize the lenght requirements of the infeed) of true-shape C2-Scan scanners re-scan the log and optimize it for maximum recovery over a full range of taper combinations.
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With the solution determined, the infeed is skewed and incrementally slewed to achieve the desired log position before it is introduced to canter heads utilizing ''direct-feed'' technology to minimize inadvertent log motion. After the log has been canted and prior to being sawn, a retro-fitted set of powered feed rolls and anvils maintains precise cant orientation / position and speed for absolute control in the sawing process. The sideboard separating outfeed is also specially configured in that it is designed for the future addition of a specialized handling system for side cant solutions in the event that the mill should require this flexibility.
The F.H. Stoltze Land & Lumber Co. OLI-CS3 system start-up was exceptional in that target production was reached in its first week of operation, and while everyone associated with this project could see the benefits of precise rotation the quality of the lumber being produced, they were not measurable until the performance testing was undertaken. While the performance testing on the system was rigorous and comprehensive with respect to rotation accuracy, throughput efficiency and volume recovery, Comact passed all aspects of the test on the first attempt, effectively setting new benchmarks in the industry for primary breakdown in feed technology: |
- System-wide rotation accuracy of less than +/- 5o
- Average throughput efficiency greater than 94%
- Recovery capability at the final ''solution'' scanner greater than that predicted by the rotation optimization
- Actual, ''piece measured'' mill recovery in excess of 98% of that predicted by the solution optimization system |
Everyone at Comact would like to pass on their sincere appreciation to all members of the F.H. Stoltze Land & Lumber Co. team for the invaluable and numerous contributions that helped to make this project a success. In addition, special thanks are extended to Mr. Ron Buentemeier, Joe O'Rourke and Larry Jellison for having the vision to ''step outside the box'' and pioneer this quantum leap in sawmilling technology.
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