Patent ID: 6564702
Filing Date: 2003-05-20
Classification: B21D

Abstract:
A material measurement system in a press, comprising:a press machine including a lower die coupled to an upper die, wherein the lower die includes a top surface supporting a strip of material to be formed into a part after a stripper plate coupled to the upper die contacts the strip of material; a first material measurement sensor having a first end opposite a second end, and a center axis therebetween, wherein the first end is adjacent to a top surface of the strip of material and the first sensor generates a first measurement signal corresponding to the thickness of the strip of material; a second material measurement sensor having a first end opposite a second end, and a center axis therebetween, wherein the first end is adjacent to a bottom surface of the strip of material, the center axis of the first sensor aligns with the center axis of the second sensor, and the second sensor generates a second measurement signal corresponding to the thickness of the strip of material; a press controller coupled to the press machine, the first sensor, and the second sensor, wherein the controller processes the first and the second measurement signals, compares the first and the second measurement signals to a predetermined threshold value, and generates a command signal to the press machine to continue or stop forming the part based on the first and the second measurement signals.