US Patent Issued to Eagle Machinery & Supply on April 14 for "Method and apparatus for detecting and removing sap wood and rays" (Michigan, Ohio Inventors)

ALEXANDRIA, Va., April 15 -- United States Patent no. 12,599,979, issued on April 14, was assigned to Eagle Machinery & Supply Inc. (Sugarcreek, Ohio).

"Method and apparatus for detecting and removing sap wood and rays" was invented by Andrew D. Timmer (Grand Haven, Mich.), Reuben R. Schlabach (Dundee, Ohio), Edward M. Hershberger (Apple Creek, Ohio), Andrew C. Sampsel (Coshocton, Ohio), Raymond A. Miller (Fresno, Ohio), Rudy A. Miller (Baltic, Ohio), Todd A. Spillman (Mineral City, Ohio) and Kirk E. Spillman (Zoar, Ohio).

According to the abstract* released by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "An automated inline rip saw system utilizing x-ray and optical scanning techniques to identify and detect flaws within a piece of wood. The pre...