NIR spectroscopic monitoring of resin-loading during assembly of engineered wood product

A method for calibrating near infrared (NIR) spectroscopic instrumentation so as to enable use in quantitative measurement of resin-loading of wood- materials during in-line assembly for subsequent bonding during production of a composite wood-product, comprises (A) providing NIR spectroscopic instrumentation including an associated source of NIR radiation covering a range of wavelengths selected within about 350 nm to about 2500 nm; (B) quantitatively pre-establishing resin-loading of reference-source test-samples of wood-materials of a type selected for in-line assembly, and capable of providing for bonding to produce a composite wood-product; (C) supporting the pre-established resin-loaded test-samples on a conveyance surface capable of establishing a controlled rate of relative movement between the supported test-samples and the source of NIR radiation for irradiating wood-materials of the test-samples; (D) establishing the controlled rate of relative movement for the test-samples simulating a selected in- line controlled-rate of movement of resin-loaded wood- materials being directed in-line for assembly; (E) irradiating the pre-established resin-content test-samples with NIR radiation, covering the selected range of wavelengths, during relative movement between the NIR source and the test samples at a selected controlled rate for quantitative measurement of absorption of the NIR radiation of the wood-materials of the pre-established resin-content test-samples, and (F) calibrating the spectroscopic instrumentation by providing a calibration curve enabling quantitative analyses of resin-loading of test-sample during the controlled movement of the test samples, by measuring non-absorbed NIR energy within the selected range of wavelengths as reflected by the exposed test-samples on the conveyance surface.