A method for determining the thickness of a material strip (5) when feeding the material strip (5) to the processing zone of a machine tool (1). The material strip (5) is clamped between two rotatable rollers (3, 4), whose relative position to each other in the original state with clean rollers and zero roller spacing was detected (reference relative position) and whose relative position to each other in the intended feed operation is determined for each feed interval (current relative position). The difference between the current relative position and the reference relative position, which gives the thickness of the strip material (5) when the rollers are clean in their original state, is corrected according to the invention for any changes in diameter of the rollers (3, 4) that may have occurred, for example, due to contamination. For this purpose, in the original state with clean rollers (3, 4) in a reference feed operation, an assigned reference angle of rotation of the roller (3) is additionally detected for at least one of the rollers (3) at a detected reference feed length, so that the original ratio of feed length/angle of rotation for this roller (3) is known and thus its original diameter is also clearly defined. If there are deviations from these parameters during the intended feed operation, the deviations are converted into a diameter change of the at least one roller (3) and taken into account in the calculation of the thickness of the material strip (5). The invention makes it possible to solve today's problems in strip thickness measurements with rollers.

A method for determining the thickness of a material strip (5) when feeding the material strip (5) to the processing zone of a machine tool (1). The material strip (5) is clamped between two rotatable rollers (3, 4), whose relative position to each other in the original state with clean rollers and zero roller spacing was detected (reference relative position) and whose relative position to each other in the intended feed operation is determined for each feed interval (current relative position). The difference between the current relative position and the reference relative position, which gives the thickness of the strip material (5) when the rollers are clean in their original state, is corrected according to the invention for any changes in diameter of the rollers (3, 4) that may have occurred, for example, due to contamination. For this purpose, in the original state with clean rollers (3, 4) in a reference feed operation, an assigned reference angle of rotation of the roller (3) is additionally detected for at least one of the rollers (3) at a detected reference feed length, so that the original ratio of feed length/angle of rotation for this roller (3) is known and thus its original diameter is also clearly defined. If there are deviations from these parameters during the intended feed operation, the deviations are converted into a diameter change of the at least one roller (3) and taken into account in the calculation of the thickness of the material strip (5). The invention makes it possible to solve today's problems in strip thickness measurements with rollers.

Provided is a plate-like material feeding device configured to sandwich a plate-like material between a lower roll rotatably supported on a device main body and an upper roll which is rotatable and arranged to face the lower roll in parallel thereto, so as to convey the plate-like material. The plate-like material feeding device includes: a lower gear integrally provided on a rotation shaft of the lower roll; an intermediate gear which is meshed with the lower gear, and is integrally provided on a rotation shaft of the upper roll; an upper gear meshed with the intermediate gear; a lower-roll drive motor which is coupled to the rotation shaft of the lower roll so as to drive the rotation shaft of the lower roll to rotate; and an upper-roll drive motor configured to drive the upper gear to rotate.

Provided is a plate-like material feeding device configured to sandwich a plate-like material between a lower roll rotatably supported on a device main body and an upper roll which is rotatable and arranged to face the lower roll in parallel thereto, so as to convey the plate-like material. The plate-like material feeding device includes: a lower gear integrally provided on a rotation shaft of the lower roll; an intermediate gear which is meshed with the lower gear, and is integrally provided on a rotation shaft of the upper roll; an upper gear meshed with the intermediate gear; a lower-roll drive motor which is coupled to the rotation shaft of the lower roll so as to drive the rotation shaft of the lower roll to rotate; and an upper-roll drive motor configured to drive the upper gear to rotate.

The present invention relates to a pressing cylinder for a material conveying device, in particular for a roller feed, comprising: a piston rod which is configured to engage with a movable component of the material conveying device; a cylinder space which is configured to at least partially guide the piston rod; a piston which is arranged in the cylinder space and which is connected to the piston rod; and a motor; wherein the piston rod comprises a first piston rod element and a second piston rod element which are configured such that a rotational movement of the first piston rod element causes a translational movement of the second piston rod element relative to the piston; wherein the motor is configured to cause the rotational movement of the first piston rod element.

A press system and a control method of the press system that can automatically set a timing for coordinating a press machine and a feeding device. A leveler feeder includes feed rolls that convey a coil material to the press machine in a closed state in which the coil material is clamped, and are brought into an open state in which the coil material is released when stamping by the press machine is started. The press machine includes a sensor for detecting a load F at a time of the stamping, a pilot pin that is inserted into a hole pierced in the coil material for positioning at a time of the stamping, and a controller for controlling the leveler feeder and the press machine so as to perform the stamping in coordination with each other. The controller determines a release start timing Tos (a position Ps+L) at which the feed rolls are switched from the closed state to the open state based on a result of detecting by the sensor as well as a length L of the pilot pin.

A press system and a control method of the press system that can automatically set a timing for coordinating a press machine and a feeding device. A leveler feeder includes feed rolls that convey a coil material to the press machine in a closed state in which the coil material is clamped, and are brought into an open state in which the coil material is released when stamping by the press machine is started. The press machine includes a sensor for detecting a load F at a time of the stamping, a pilot pin that is inserted into a hole pierced in the coil material for positioning at a time of the stamping, and a controller for controlling the leveler feeder and the press machine so as to perform the stamping in coordination with each other. The controller determines a release start timing Tos (a position Ps+L) at which the feed rolls are switched from the closed state to the open state based on a result of detecting by the sensor as well as a length L of the pilot pin.

The present invention is directed to a dual sided incremental sheet forming apparatus and method for incrementally forming sheet materials such as sheet metal by utilizing opposed primary and secondary forming tool assemblies and a sheet feeding assembly. The primary forming tool assembly includes a rigid tool and the secondary forming tool assembly includes a compressible and resilient backing layer having either a cylindrical or flat configuration. The sheet feeding assembly positions the sheet material between the two forming tools. The rigid tool applies force to one surface of the sheet material while the resilient backing tool applies counter force to the opposite surface of the work piece as it supports the work piece. This dual sided process localizes the forces on the sheet material so that stresses are advantageously controlled to produce accurately formed asymmetric shapes, without the need for expensive dies. The use of a rigid tool with an opposed resilient backing tool both having linear independent motion also avoids potential wrinkling and tearing of the resulting work piece and enables the formation of numerous, highly detained asymmetric products.

Provided is a plate material feeding device that can achieve reduced power consumption, improve durability, and supply plate material with high precision. A plate material feeding device is provided with a housing, a lower roll, an upper roll, a lower roll support member for supporting the lower roll, an upper roll support member for supporting the upper roll, and a slider movable in the horizontal direction along the upper roll support member, and can feed plate material clamped by the lower roll and the upper roll. A hole is provided in the slider, and a rod is provided in the upper roll support member. By inserting at least part of the rod in the hole in a slidable manner, the upper roll support member can move in the vertical direction when the slider moves in the horizontal direction.

Provided is a plate material feeding device that can achieve reduced power consumption, improve durability, and supply plate material with high precision. A plate material feeding device is provided with a housing, a lower roll, an upper roll, a lower roll support member for supporting the lower roll, an upper roll support member for supporting the upper roll, and a slider movable in the horizontal direction along the upper roll support member, and can feed plate material clamped by the lower roll and the upper roll. A hole is provided in the slider, and a rod is provided in the upper roll support member. By inserting at least part of the rod in the hole in a slidable manner, the upper roll support member can move in the vertical direction when the slider moves in the horizontal direction.