Method and apparatus for non-destructive inspection of a log to identify inner zones that are free of bluestain

This invention relates to a method for non-destructive inspection of a log ( 1) to identify inner zones of sapwood (14) of the log (1) that have not been attacked by fungi that cause bluestain in the wood. The method comprises a first step of carrying out a tomographic scan of the log (1) to be inspected using X-ray beams that pass through the log (1) and a second step of obtaining a three-dimensional representation of the log (1) that is representative of the local moisture content of the log， the local moisture content being correlated with attenuation of the X-ray beams through the log. The method comprises the step of processing the three-dimensional representation of the log (1) to identify inner regions (145) of the log (1)， in which the local moisture content is greater than or equal to a moisture threshold value for a spatial extent greater than an extent threshold. The moisture threshold value corresponds， for trees of the same species as the log (1)， to a sapwood (14) with local moisture content such that it excludes the growth of fungi that cause bluestain in the wood. Each inner region (145) identified in this way is classed as a sapwood (14) zone free of bluestain. This invention also relates to a procedure for obtaining one or more wooden products from a log (1)， as well as an apparatus for carrying out a non-destructive inspection of a log (1).

本发明涉及一种原木（log）(1)的无损检测方法，用于识别原木(1)中未受致木材蓝变（bluestain）真菌侵袭的边材（sapwood）(14)内部区域。该方法包含两个步骤：第一步，采用穿透待检测原木(1)的X射线束（X-ray beams）对其开展断层扫描（tomographic scan）；第二步，获取可表征原木(1)局部含水率（moisture content）的三维表征结果，其中局部含水率与穿过原木(1)的X射线束的衰减（attenuation）程度呈相关关系。该方法还包括对原木(1)的三维表征结果进行处理，以识别原木(1)中满足如下条件的内部区域(145)：其局部含水率大于或等于含水率阈值（moisture threshold value），且该高含水率状态的空间范围（spatial extent）大于范围阈值（extent threshold）。对于与该原木(1)同树种的树木而言，该含水率阈值对应于其边材(14)的局部含水率水平，该水平可抑制致木材蓝变真菌的滋生。通过上述方式识别出的每个内部区域(145)均被归类为无木材蓝变的边材(14)区域。本发明还涉及一种从原木(1)中获取一件或多件木制品的工艺，以及一种用于对原木(1)进行无损检测的装置。