Systems and methods are described for managing articles. The systems and methods described herein may comprise an example method for manufacturing an article. The systems and methods provides an end-to-end manufacturing value chain as a closed system and feedback loop.

The present invention relates to a plant for processing sheet metal, comprising a conveyor for moving sheet metal; at least one image acquisition apparatus placed above a horizontal plane defined by said conveyor. The apparatus in turn comprises a camera comprising a lens; first moving means for moving the camera parallel to the horizontal plane; an illuminator that is placed beneath the camera and is equipped with a plurality of light sources to illuminate a portion of said horizontal plane located beneath the camera. Said apparatus further comprises second moving means for moving said illuminator with respect to said camera perpendicularly to said horizontal plane supporting the sheet metal.

An electrode manufacturing device for manufacturing an electrode includes: a first support unit having a plate shape extending along a plane and injecting a first pressurized fluid in a 1.sup.st-1.sup.st direction perpendicular to the plane; a second support unit having a plate shape extending along one plane, disposed to face the first support unit at a certain distance, and injecting a second pressurized fluid in a 1.sup.st-2.sup.nd direction opposite to the 1.sup.st-1.sup.st direction; a transfer unit configured to transfer an electrode having a sheet-shape in a direction of gravity and dispose a first area of the electrode between the first support unit and the second support unit; and a laser beam notching unit configured to notch and cut a portion of a second area of the electrode by irradiating a laser beam to the electrode in the 1.sup.st-1.sup.st direction.

An apparatus is provided for cutting pieces from laminar material wound in coil using a laser or plasma cutting machine. In one apparatus according to the invention, a cutting station includes at least one moveable cutting head arranged between the station's entrance and exit, and a means to position a portion of laminar material on a cutting plane. The positioning means includes three separate locking devices, each of which can lock on a portion of the laminar material as it passes through the cutting station. The three locking devices are arranged in succession: the first near the cutting station's entrance, the second near the exit, and the third between the first and second locking devices. At least the third locking device is movable, in the space between the other two devices, along a portion of laminar material while the material is kept under tension.

A method for evaluating a laser cut edge of a workpiece includes capturing image data of the laser cut edge and its surroundings, segmenting the image data, and identifying a segment of interest of the image data. The segment of interest comprises image data of the laser cut edge. The method further includes carrying out an image quality detection for the segment of interest and generating, based on the image quality detection, an output for a user.

A method processes a belt with a belt body that has a first surface and a second surface connected to each other by side surfaces. Each side surface is smaller than each surface. At least one of the surfaces of the belt is coated with a coating having at least one layer. In a step i) the coating is interrupted or left out in a region of the belt to be processed, and a recess, in particular a gap-shaped or hole-shaped recess, interrupting the coating is produced in the region to be processed, which recess is at least partially delimited by opposite sections of the at least one coating. In a step ii) directly thereafter or after further intermediate steps, the recess is at least partially filled up with at least one material of the same type as that of the at least one layer of the coating.

A vehicle hood includes a unitary metallic hood frame including a plurality of embosses having respective curved surfaces and a plurality of openings. The vehicle hood includes a metallic reinforcement material welded to a subset of the respective curved surfaces of the metallic hood frame. The vehicle hood includes a hood skin attached to the hood frame. The selective placement of metallic reinforcement material may reduce deflection of the vehicle hood while reducing weight compared to metal supports or a thicker metallic hood frame.

A process for delineating a population of electrode structures in a web is disclosed. The web has a down-web direction, a cross-web direction, an electrochemically active layer, and an electrically conductive layer. The process includes laser machining the web in at least the cross-web direction to delineate members of the electrode structure population in the web without releasing the delineated members from the web and forming an alignment feature in the web that is adapted for locating each delineated member of the electrode structure population in the web.

A laser cutting machine including an X1 axis provided with clamps which make it possible to firmly grip a material to be cut in sheets or on reels (the blank) enabling the material to be moved from left to right; a Y-axis: perpendicular to the X1 axis, enabling the movement of a laser cutting head; an X2 axis with at least one pair of clamping rollers enabling the material to be moved to the left or to the right; a straightening/de-cambering/levelling system placed beside this X2 axis comprising an optimised number of rollers; a unit incorporating the X2 axis and the straightening system which can be moved upwards or downwards, and a motorized discharge table enabling the cut elements (scrap and good pieces) to be discharged at a precise point, delimiting a picking zone.

The invention relates to a method for cutting a sheet metal blank from a sheet metal strip (1) continuously conveyed in a transport direction (T), by means of at least one laser cutting device (3), having the following steps: providing a laser cutting device (3) with at least one laser cutting head (5) which has a cutting nozzle (7) and which can be moved along a cutting path (S1, S2, S1′, S2′) specified so as to correspond to the geometry of the sheet metal blank by means of a controller (6), incrementally measuring the distance between the cutting nozzle (7) and the surface of the sheet metal strip (1) at at least one radially outer position (P.sub.1, P.sub.2) relative to the cutting nozzle (7) by means of a first distance measuring device (8), controlling the movement of the laser cutting head such that the first distance measuring device (8, 9) constantly remains overlapping the sheet metal strip (1), into a second position, in which the cutting nozzle is overlapping the sheet metal strip (1), wherein the height of the cutting nozzle (7) relative to the surface of the sheet metal strip (1) is regulated using the first distance values supplied by the first distance measuring device (8, 9) when the cutting nozzle (7) is moved from the first position in the direction of the second position.