NZ567071A - Method for slowing an object on a conveyor to enable measurement without effecting the total transit time - Google Patents

Abstract

A device for measuring the properties of moving objects is disclosed. The devise is able to more accurately determine the properties of the object as it passes more slowly. This is achieved without effecting the overall transit time though the system. The device comprises a station (5) for measuring predetermined properties of an object (100) and a first conveyor (2) for transferring the object (100) towards the measuring station (5). The device (1) has an accelerator means (6) for accelerating the object (100), acting on the object and positioned upstream of the measuring station (5) and slowing means (7) for slowing or stopping the object (100), acting on the object and positioned at the measuring station (5). A method for measuring the properties of moving objects comprises the steps of: transporting an object (100) along a first conveyor (2) having a predetermined feed speed (Tl); accelerating the object (100) relative to the first conveyor (2) feed speed (Tl) then slowing the object (100) relative to the first conveyor (2) feed speed (Tl) at least at a station (5) for measuring predetermined properties of the object (100).

Description

Received at IPONZ 15 July 2011 METHOD AND DEVICE FOR MEASURING THE PROPERTIES OF MOVING OBJECTS Technical Field The present invention relates to a method and a device for measuring the properties of moving objects.

In particular, the present invention relates to a method and a device for measuring the properties of moving objects which can be applied particularly in the woodworking sector, but which can also be used in any other sector.

Background Art Very often some properties of unmachined, semi-finished or machined objects have to be measured before they are subjected to further machining.

With reference to the woodworking sector, very often measurements must be taken, such as defining dimensions, a surface scan, defining the moisture content, of objects such as unmachined trunks, semi-finished boards, panels, before they are subjected to further cutting operations, in order to identify the type and optimum direction of cutting to which they must be subjected.

According to the prior art such measurements are taken as the objects are transported towards the machining station, to optimise machining system productivity.

In particular, objects are transported using conveyor belts, there being a measuring station along the direction of transport. However, to guarantee precise measurement of the properties to be identified, the objects must pass in front of the measuring station at a speed that is much lower than the transport speed.

For this purpose methods and devices have been produced for measuring the properties of moving objects which involve slowing, or even stopping, the objects transported close to the measuring station.

However, such prior art methods and devices entail an inevitable increase in the times the objects take to travel along the conveyors. 1 Received at IPONZ 15 July 2011 This increase in travelling times translates into a reduction in productivity, that is to say, a fall in the number of objects which can be machined in the unit of time.

Disclosure of the Invention In this context, the main technical purpose of the present invention is to propose a method and a device for measuring the properties of moving objects which is free of the above-mentioned disadvantages.

In particular, the present invention has for an aim to provide a method and a device for measuring the properties of moving objects which does not alter the times required for the objects to travel along the conveyors.

The present invention also has for an aim to propose a method and a device for measuring the properties of moving objects which maximises production capacity.

The present invention provides a method for measuring the properties of a moving object, including the steps of: transporting an object on a first conveyor having a first transport speed which is constant; transferring the object from the first conveyor to a second conveyor having a second transport speed which is constant and which is greater than the first transport speed so that the object is accelarated relative to the first transport speed; transferring the object to a third conveyor having a third transport speed which is constant and which is less than the first transport speed; transporting the object on the third conveyor at the constant third transport speed past at a station where a predetermined property of the object is measured, so that the measuring is conducted while the object is moving at the constant third transport speed; thereafter transferring the object to the first conveyor.

Preferably the object is a wooden semi-finished product.

In a preferred embodiment, the step of transporting the objecton the first conveyor includes the steps of preparing a plurality of pusher elements with the same first transport speed and integral with the first conveyor and pushing the object with a first pusher element or group of pusher elements. Preferably the first conveoyr has a first 2 Received at IPONZ 15 July 2011 direction of feed, and wherein the pusher elements are equidistant, the distance separating pusher elements in the first direction of feed being greater than the dimensions of the object along the first direction of feed.

Preferably the step of transferring the object to the third conveyor includes transferring the object from the second conveyor to the third conveyor. Alternatively, when the object is transported on the second conveyor, the object is moved away from the first pusher element and the pusher elements are fed at the first transport speed without interfering with the second conveyor. Preferably the step of transferring the object to the third conveyor includes transferring the object from the second conveyor to the third conveyor, and wherein, during the step of transporting the object on the third conveyor, the pusher elements are fed at the first transport speed without interfering with the third conveyor.

In a preferred embodiment, the step of transferring the object to the first conveyor includes transferring the object from the third conveyor to the first conveyor. Preferably, during the step of transferring the object from the third conveyor to the first conveyor, the first pusher element reaches the object to push it. More preferably, the object transit time on the second and third conveyors is substantially equal to the transit time of the pusher elements along the length of the second and third conveyors.

Preferably a succession of objects pass in front of the measuring station; the objects in said succession of objects being spaced out.

The method may further include, after the accelerating step, a step of transferring the object from the second conveyor to the first conveyor, and a step of transferring the object from the first conveyor to the third conveyor.

The present invention further provides a device for measuring a property of a moving object including: a station for measuring a predetermined property of an object; a first conveyor for transporting the object towards the measuring station, the first conveyor having a constant first transport speed; accelerator means for accelerating the object, acting on the object and positioned upstream of the measuring station, the accelerator means including a second conveyor operatively associated with the first conveyor; the second conveyor 3 Received at IPONZ 15 July 2011 transporting the object at a constant second transport speed greater than the first transport speed; and slowing means for slowing the object, acting on the object and positioned at the measuring station, the slowing means including a third conveyor transporting the 5 object at the measuring station at a constant third transport speed which is lower than the first conveyor transport speed.

Preferably the first conveyor includes a plurality of equidistant pusher elements, separated by a distance greater than the dimensions of the object along a direction of 10 transport; the object being pushed along the first conveyor by at least one of the pusher elements.

The third conveyor may be operatively associated with the first conveyor or the second conveyor to receive an object respectively from the first conveyor or the second 15 conveyor.

In a preferred embodiment, the pusher elements are integral with the first conveyor and are fed at the first transport speed without interfering with the second and third conveyors.

Preferably the second conveyor includes a first end giving on to the first conveyor to receive from it an object and move the object away from the pusher element, and a second end, opposite the first end, for releasing the object towards the measuring station.

Preferably the third conveyor includes a first end giving on to the accelerator means or the first conveyor to receive from them the object, and a second end, opposite the first end, giving on to the first conveyor.

In a preferred embodiment, the speeds of the second and third conveyors give an object transit time on the second and third conveyors substantially equal to the transit time of the pusher elements along the length of the second and third conveyors.

The present invention further provides a method for measuring a property of a moving 35 object, the method including the steps of: 4 Received at IPONZ 15 July 2011 transporting an object along a first conveyor having a predetermined first feed speed and making the object pass at a station for measuring a predetermined property of the object, wherein the step of transporting the object along the first conveyor includes the steps of preparing a plurality of pusher elements with the same feed 5 speed and integral with the first conveyor and pushing the object with a first pusher element or group of pusher elements; accelerating the object relative to the first feed speed by feeding and transporting the object on a second conveyor having a second transport speed which is greater than the first feed speed; during the step of transporting the object on the second conveyor, the object being moved away from the first pusher element or group of pusher elements towards a pusher element or a group of pusher elements immediately before it, the pusher elements being fed at the first feed speed without interfering with the second conveyor; slowing or stopping the object relative to the first feed speed at least at the 15 measuring station by transferring the object to a third conveyor which has a third transport speed lower than the first feed speed; during a step of transporting the object on the third conveyor, the pusher elements being fed at the first feed speed without interfering with the third conveyor; and feeding the object at the first feed speed after the object slowing or stopping step.

Preferably the object is a wooden semi-finished product.

In a preferred embodiment, the pusher elements are equidistant, the distance separating them being greater than the dimensions of the object along the direction of feed.

Preferably the step of slowing or stopping the object includes the step of transferring 30 the object from the second conveyor to the third conveyor.

The method may further include, after the accelerating step, a step of transferring the object from the second conveyor to the first conveyor, and wherein the step of slowing or stopping the object includes the step of transferring the object from the first 35 conveyor to the third conveyor.

Received at IPONZ 15 July 2011 In a preferred embodiment, the step of feeding the object at the first feed speed after the object slowing or stopping step, is carried out by transferring the object from the third conveyor to the first conveyor. Preferably, during a step of transferring the object from the third conveyor to the first conveyor, the first pusher element reaches the 5 object to push it. More preferably the object transit time on the second and third conveyors is substantially equal to the transit time of the pusher elements along the length of the second and third conveyors.

Preferably a succession of objects pass in front of the measuring station; the objects in 10 said succession of objects being spaced out.

The third conveyor may be operatively associated with the first conveyor to release an object on it.

Preferably, during the step of transporting the object on the second conveyor, the object is moved away from the first pusher element or group of pusher elements until it almost reaches the pusher element or the group of pusher elements immediately before it.

The present invention further provides a device for measuring a property of a moving object, the device including: a station for measuring a predetermined property of the moving object; a first conveyor for transporting the object at a first transport speed towards the measuring station; the first conveyor including a plurality of equidistant pusher 25 elements, separated by a distance greater than the dimensions of the object along a direction of transport; the object being pushed along the first conveyor by at least one of the pusher elements; accelerator means for accelerating the object, acting on the object and positioned upstream of the measuring station, the accelerator means including a 30 second conveyor operatively associated with the first conveyor; the second conveyor transporting the object at a second transport speed greater than the first transport speed to move the object away from the at least one of the pusher elements towards a pusher element or a group of pusher elements immediately before it; the pusher elements being fed at the first transport speed without interfering with the second 35 conveyor; 6 Received at IPONZ 15 July 2011 and slowing means for slowing or stopping the object, acting on the object and positioned at the measuring station, the slowing means including a third conveyor transporting the object at the measuring station at a third transport speed which is lower than the first transport speed; the pusher elements being fed at the first transport 5 speed without interfering with the third conveyor.

Preferably the third conveyor includes a first end giving on to the second conveyor or the first conveyor to receive from them the object, and a second end, opposite the first end, giving on to the first conveyor.

In a preferred embodiment, the speeds of the second and third conveyors give an object transit time on the second and third conveyors substantially equal to the transit time of the pusher elements along the length of the second and third conveyors.

Preferably the second conveyor is transporting the object at the second transport speed to move the object away from the at least one of the pusher elements until the object almost reaches the pusher element or the group of pusher elements immediately before it.

Brief Description of the Drawings Further features and advantages of the present invention are more apparent in the description below, with reference to a preferred, non-limiting, embodiment of a method and a device for measuring the properties of moving objects, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic view of a device for measuring the properties of moving objects in accordance with the present invention, in a first operating condition; Figure 2 is a view of the device of Figure 1 in a second operating condition; Figure 3 is a view of the device of Figure 1 in a third operating condition; 30 Figure 4 is a view of the device of Figure 1 in a fourth operating condition; and Figure 5 is a view of the device of Figure 1 in a fifth operating condition.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments of the Invention With reference to the accompanying drawings, the numeral 1 denotes as a whole a 35 device for measuring the properties of moving objects. 7 Received at IPONZ 15 July 2011 The device 1 comprises a first conveyor 2 which feeds an object 100 at a predetermined speed T1.

It must be emphasised that in the preferred embodiment the object 100 is represented as a wooden semi-finished product, since the preferred form of the invention is intended for application in the woodworking sector.

However, the object according to the invention may be intended for any other technical sector.

The first conveyor 2 comprises a plurality of pusher elements 3 acting on the object 100 to be transported by pushing it.

In the preferred embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawings, the first conveyor 2 comprises one or more chains 4 parallel with one another, extending along a longitudinal direction of transport T and wound around pulleys (not illustrated), at least one of which is connect to a power source (not illustrated).

The pusher elements 3 are integral on the chains 4. The pusher elements push the objects 100 along the first conveyor 2.

The pusher elements 3 present on the various chains 4 (only one of which is visible in the accompanying drawings), are transversally aligned to push the object 100 to be transported along its entire transversal extension.

It should be noticed that the accompanying drawings show only one pusher element 3 for each transversal alignment of pusher elements, since the other pushers 3 are hidden, as one looks at the drawings, by the pusher element in view.

The pusher elements 3 are longitudinally equidistant, that is to say along the direction of transport T, separated by a distance greater than the transversal dimension of the objects 100. On one hand this is because the conveyor 2 must be able to transport objects 100 having different dimensions, and on the other hand it facilitates the loading and unloading of objects 100 on and from the conveyor 2. 8 Received at IPONZ 15 July 2011 The device 1 also comprises a measuring station 5, schematically illustrated, for detecting certain features or properties of the objects 100.

The measuring station 5 may be a gauge for measuring object dimensions, or a 5 scanner for the surface of the object 100, or a detector of the moisture present in the object 100, or another unit.

Irrespective of the specific type or types of measuring units present in the measuring station 5, it is important to emphasise that such sensors need a time for inspection of 10 the object which is greater than the time for which the object 100 remains in front of the sensor when the object is transported at the first conveyor 2 feed speed T1.

In order to take the measurement correctly, the device 1 comprises accelerator means 6, for accelerating the object 100, acting on the object itself and positioned 15 upstream of the measuring station 5, and slowing means 7, for slowing or stopping the object 100, acting on the object itself and positioned at the measuring station 5.

In this way, as explained below, the object 100 remains in front of the measuring station 5 for the time needed for the measurement without increasing the time it takes 20 to travel between the conveyor 2 infeed and outfeed.

In particular, the accelerator means 6 comprise a second conveyor 8 having a first end 8a giving directly onto the first conveyor 2 (at a first end 2a in the accompanying drawings) to take the objects 100 to be measured from it, and a second end 8b, 25 opposite the first 8a, for releasing the objects 100. In the accompanying drawings the second end 8b of the second conveyor 8 gives onto the slowing means 7. However, in other embodiments it may give onto the first conveyor 2.

The second conveyor 8 comprises one or more conveyor belts 9 (of which only one is 30 visible in the accompanying drawings), or devices similar from a functional viewpoint, extending along the direction of transport T and which may, for example, be inserted between the chains 4 of the first conveyor 2, so that the pushers 3 can be pulled by the chains 4 without interfering with the conveyor belts 9. 9 Received at IPONZ 15 July 2011 In other words, in the case of chains 4 and conveyor belts 9 inserted between them, the transversal dimensions of the pushers 3 are less than the distance between two parallel conveyor belts 9.

In this way, the objects 100 transported by the first conveyor 2, and in particular pushed by the pushers 3 which are transversally aligned with one another, are pushed onto the second conveyor 8 (which in the embodiments illustrated lifts them relative to the first conveyor 2).

The second conveyor 8 transports the objects 100 at a speed T2 which is greater than the transport speed T1 of the first conveyor 2, moving the objects 100 away from the respective pushers 3.

The latter continue in their trajectory parallel with the direction of transport T, for 15 example running between one conveyor belt 9 and the other (emerging from them in the accompanying drawings), pulled by the respective chains 4.

In the accompanying drawings the slowing means 7 comprise a third conveyor 10 having a first end 10a giving directly onto the second end 8b of the second conveyor 8 20 to receive from the latter objects 100 to be transferred in front of the measuring station 5, and a second end 10b, opposite the first end 10a, giving onto a second end 2b of the first conveyor to release onto the latter the objects 100 which have already passed in front of the measuring station 5. However, in other embodiments, if the third conveyor 10 is at a distance from the second conveyor 8, the first end 10a of 25 the third conveyor 10a may give directly onto the first conveyor 2.

The third conveyor 10 may also comprise one or more conveyor belts 11 (of which only one is visible in the accompanying drawings), or devices similar from a functional viewpoint, extending along the direction of transport T and which may be inserted 30 between two or more chains 4 of the first conveyor 2, so that the pushers 3 can be pulled by the chains 4 without interfering with the conveyor belts 11.

In other words, the transversal dimensions of the pushers 3 are less than the distance between two parallel conveyor belts 11.

Received at IPONZ 15 July 2011 In this way, the objects accelerated by the second conveyor 8 are picked up by the third conveyor 10 which transports them at a speed T3 that is lower than the first conveyor 2 feed speed T1.

The speed T3 of the third conveyor 10 is such that it presents the objects 100 at the measuring station 5 for the time needed to take a precise measurement.

Once the measurement has been taken, the third conveyor 10 releases the object 100 to the first conveyor 2, and in particular to a pusher 3 which transports the object 100 at the speed T1.

It must be emphasised that the pusher which picks up the object 100 at the third conveyor 10 outfeed is the same pusher that released the object to the second conveyor 8, guaranteeing that the object 100 travelling time is determined by the first conveyor 2 speed T1.

For this purpose, 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.

In the preferred embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawings, the first, second and third conveyors 2, 8 and 10 are aligned with one another along a substantially straight path, but they could form any feed path.

Moreover, in the preferred embodiment, the feed speeds of all of the conveyors are constant, for maximum simplification of all moving parts (not illustrated).

A method for measuring the properties of moving objects in accordance with the present invention may be implemented using any device able to implement its steps, including the device 1 described above.

Therefore, for the sake of convenience, the method disclosed will be described with specific reference to the device 1, without in any way limiting the scope for its implementation to the device 1 described. 11 Received at IPONZ 15 July 2011 The method involves feeding the object 100 on the first conveyor 2, for example by placing the object 100 in contact with a first group of pushers 3, transversally aligned as described above.

The pushers 3 push the object 100 at the first conveyor 2 feed speed T1 along the feed direction T.

Close to the first end 8a of the second conveyor 8, the object 100 is pushed by the pushers 3 onto the second conveyor 8, as is schematically illustrated in Figure 1.

The second conveyor 8, with feed speed T2 which is greater than the first conveyor 2 feed speed T1, accelerates the object 100 distancing it from the first group of pushers 3, which continue their stroke at the speed T1 without interfering with the second conveyor 8.

In particular, the pushers 3 can pass between one conveyor belt 9 and another belonging to the second conveyor 8.

During transport on the second conveyor 8, the object 100 moves further and further 20 away from the first group of pushers 3, until it almost reaches the group of pushers immediately before it, as illustrated in Figure 2.

At this point, the second end 8b of the second conveyor 8 transfers the object 100 onto the third conveyor 10 (see Figure 3) which transports the object 100 at a 25 speed T3 which is lower than the first conveyor 2 transport speed T1.

The third conveyor 10 slows the object 100 feed speed along the direction of transport T, making the object 100 pass in front of the measuring station 5 at the speed needed for a correct measurement.

It should be noticed that the pushers 3 may pass between one conveyor belt 11 and another belonging to the third conveyor 10.

During transport on the third conveyor 10, the pushers 3 have a feed speed T1 which 35 is greater than object 100 feed speed T3, therefore, the pushers 3 move towards the 12 Received at IPONZ 15 July 2011 object 100 making up the delay built up as the object was transported along the second conveyor 8, as illustrated in Figure 4.

Once the object 100 has passed in front of the measuring station 5, the object 100 is 5 transported by the third conveyor 10 towards its second end 10b, opposite the end 10a which picked up the object from the second conveyor 8.

At this point, as shown in Figure 5, the pusher elements 3 have made up the delay built up as the object was transported on the second conveyor 8 and again engage the 10 object 100 and transport it at the first conveyor 2 speed T1.

It must be emphasised that the pusher element which picks up the object 100 at the third conveyor 10 outfeed is the same pusher that released the object to the second conveyor 8, guaranteeing that the object 100 travelling time on the second and third 15 conveyors 8, 10 is determined precisely by the time the first conveyor 2 takes to transfer the pusher elements 3 over the same distance.

The invention described above therefore achieves the preset aims.

Thanks to the fact that the object to be measured is first accelerated and then slowed, the time it takes the object to travel between the first end of the first conveyor and the second end of the first conveyor is precisely that given by the distance between said two points divided by the first conveyor speed T1, without altering the travelling time at all.

Moreover, since the above-mentioned travelling time is precisely that which would be required by an object not subject to any measurement, the production capacity of a system comprising the device disclosed is maximised. 13 Received at IPONZ 15 July 2011

Claims (36)

Claims

1. A method for measuring the properties of a moving object, including the steps of: transporting an object on a first conveyor having a first transport speed which is constant; transferring the object from the first conveyor to a second conveyor having a second transport speed which is constant and which is greater than the first transport speed so that the object is accelarated relative to the first transport speed; transferring the object to a third conveyor having a third transport speed which is constant and which is less than the first transport speed; transporting the object on the third conveyor at the constant third transport speed past at a station where a predetermined property of the object is measured, so that the measuring is conducted while the object is moving at the constant third transport speed; thereafter transferring the object to the first conveyor.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the object is a wooden semi-finished product.

3. The method according to either claim 1 or 2, wherein the step of transporting the objecton the first conveyor includes the steps of preparing a plurality of pusher elements with the same first transport speed and integral with the first conveyor and pushing the object with a first pusher element or group of pusher elements.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the first conveoyr has a first direction of feed, and wherein the pusher elements are equidistant, the distance separating pusher elements in the first direction of feed being greater than the dimensions of the object along the first direction of feed.

5. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the step of transferring the object to the third conveyor includes transferring the object from the second conveyor to the third conveyor. 14 Received at IPONZ 15 July 2011

6. The method according to either one of claims 3 or 4, wherein, when the object is transported on the second conveyor, the object is moved away from the first pusher element and the pusher elements are fed at the first transport speed without interfering with the second conveyor. 5

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the step of transferring the object to the third conveyor includes transferring the object from the second conveyor to the third conveyor, and wherein, during the step of transporting the object on the third conveyor, the pusher elements are fed at the first transport speed 10 without interfering with the third conveyor.

8. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, the step of transferring the object to the first conveyor includes transferring the object from the third conveyor to the first conveyor. 15

9. The method according to claim 8 wherein, during the step of transferring the object from the third conveyor to the first conveyor, the first pusher element reaches the object to push it. 20

10. The method according to claim 9 wherein, the object transit time on the second and third conveyors is substantially equal to the transit time of the pusher elements along the length of the second and third conveyors.

11. The method according to any one of the foregoing claims, wherein a 25 succession of objects pass in front of the measuring station; the objects in said succession of objects being spaced out.

12. The method according to any one of the foregoing claims, further including, after the accelerating step, a step of transferring the object from the second 30 conveyor to the first conveyor, and a step of transferring the object from the first conveyor to the third conveyor.

13. A device for measuring a property of a moving object including: a station for measuring a predetermined property of an object; 35 a first conveyor for transporting the object towards the measuring station, the first conveyor having a constant first transport speed; 15 Received at IPONZ 15 July 2011 accelerator means for accelerating the object, acting on the object and positioned upstream of the measuring station, the accelerator means including a second conveyor operatively associated with the first conveyor; the second conveyor transporting the object at a constant second transport speed greater 5 than the first transport speed; and slowing means for slowing the object, acting on the object and positioned at the measuring station, the slowing means including a third conveyor transporting the object at the measuring station at a constant third transport speed which is lower than the first conveyor transport speed. 10

14. The device according to claim 13, wherein the first conveyor includes a plurality of equidistant pusher elements, separated by a distance greater than the dimensions of the object along a direction of transport; the object being pushed along the first conveyor by at least one of the pusher elements. 15

15. The device according to either one of claims 13 or 14, wherein the third conveyor is operatively associated with the first conveyor or the second conveyor to receive an object respectively from the first conveyor or the second conveyor. 20

16. The device according to either claim 14, or claim 15 when dependent on claim 14, wherein the pusher elements are integral with the first conveyor and are fed at the first transport speed without interfering with the second and third conveyors. 25

17. The device according to claim 14, claim 15 when dependent on claim 14, or claim 16, wherein the second conveyor includes a first end giving on to the first conveyor to receive from it an object and move the object away from the pusher element, and a second end, opposite the first end, for releasing the 30 object towards the measuring station.

18. The device according to any of the claims from 15 to 17, wherein the third conveyor includes a first end giving on to the accelerator means or the first conveyor to receive from them the object, and a second end, opposite the first 35 end, giving on to the first conveyor. 16 Received at IPONZ 15 July 2011

19. The device according to claim 16, wherein the speeds of the second and third conveyors give an object transit time on the second and third conveyors substantially equal to the transit time of the pusher elements along the length of the second and third conveyors. 5

20. A method for measuring a property of a moving object, the method including the steps of: transporting an object along a first conveyor having a predetermined first feed speed and making the object pass at a station for measuring a 10 predetermined property of the object, wherein the step of transporting the object along the first conveyor includes the steps of preparing a plurality of pusher elements with the same feed speed and integral with the first conveyor and pushing the object with a first pusher element or group of pusher elements; accelerating the object relative to the first feed speed by feeding and 15 transporting the object on a second conveyor having a second transport speed which is greater than the first feed speed; during the step of transporting the object on the second conveyor, the object being moved away from the first pusher element or group of pusher elements towards a pusher element or a group of pusher elements immediately 20 before it, the pusher elements being fed at the first feed speed without interfering with the second conveyor; slowing or stopping the object relative to the first feed speed at least at the measuring station by transferring the object to a third conveyor which has a third transport speed lower than the first feed speed; 25 during a step of transporting the object on the third conveyor, the pusher elements being fed at the first feed speed without interfering with the third conveyor; and feeding the object at the first feed speed after the object slowing or stopping step. 30

21. The method according to claim 20, wherein the object is a wooden semifinished product.

22. The method according to either one of claims 20 or 21, wherein the pusher 35 elements are equidistant, the distance separating them being greater than the dimensions of the object along the direction of feed. 17 Received at IPONZ 15 July 2011

23. The method according to any one of claims 20 to 22, wherein the step of slowing or stopping the object includes the step of transferring the object from the second conveyor to the third conveyor. 5

24. The method according to any one of claims 20 to 23, further including, after the accelerating step, a step of transferring the object from the second conveyor to the first conveyor, and wherein the step of slowing or stopping the object includes the step of transferring the object from the first conveyor to the third 10 conveyor.

25. The method according to any one of claims 20 to 24, wherein the step of feeding the object at the first feed speed after the object slowing or stopping step, is carried out by transferring the object from the third conveyor to the first 15 conveyor.

26. The method according to claim 25 wherein, during a step of transferring the object from the third conveyor to the first conveyor, the first pusher element reaches the object to push it. 20

27. The method according to claim 26, wherein the object transit time on the second and third conveyors is substantially equal to the transit time of the pusher elements along the length of the second and third conveyors. 25

28. The method according to any one of claims 20 to 27, wherein a succession of objects pass in front of the measuring station; the objects in said succession of objects being spaced out.

29. The method according to any one of claims 20 to 28, wherein the third 30 conveyor is operatively associated with the first conveyor to release an object on it.

30. The method according to any one of claims 20 to 29, wherein, during the step of transporting the object on the second conveyor, the object is moved away 35 from the first pusher element or group of pusher elements until it almost 18 Received at IPONZ 15 July 2011 reaches the pusher element or the group of pusher elements immediately before it.

A device for measuring a property of a moving object, the device including: a station for measuring a predetermined property of the moving object; a first conveyor for transporting the object at a first transport speed towards the measuring station; the first conveyor including a plurality of equidistant pusher elements, separated by a distance greater than the dimensions of the object along a direction of transport; the object being pushed along the first conveyor by at least one of the pusher elements; accelerator means for accelerating the object, acting on the object and positioned upstream of the measuring station, the accelerator means including a second conveyor operatively associated with the first conveyor; the second conveyor transporting the object at a second transport speed greater than the first transport speed to move the object away from the at least one of the pusher elements towards a pusher element or a group of pusher elements immediately before it; the pusher elements being fed at the first transport speed without interfering with the second conveyor; and slowing means for slowing or stopping the object, acting on the object and positioned at the measuring station, the slowing means including a third conveyor transporting the object at the measuring station at a third transport speed which is lower than the first transport speed; the pusher elements being fed at the first transport speed without interfering with the third conveyor.

The device according to claim 31, wherein the third conveyor includes a first end giving on to the second conveyor or the first conveyor to receive from them the object, and a second end, opposite the first end, giving on to the first conveyor.

The device according to either one of claims 31 or 32, wherein the speeds of the second and third conveyors give an object transit time on the second and third conveyors substantially equal to the transit time of the pusher elements along the length of the second and third conveyors. Received at IPONZ 15 July 2011

34. The device according to any one of claims 31 to 33, wherein the second conveyor is transporting the object at the second transport speed to move the object away from the at least one of the pusher elements until the object almost reaches the pusher element or the group of pusher elements immediately 5 before it.

35. A method for measuring a property of a moving object, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 10

36. A device for measuring a property of a moving object, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings. 20