MARKING THE SURFACE OF METAL COILS WITH MATERIAL PROPERTY DATA

摘要

A marking system for a rolled metal coil to provide markings containing data about material properties within the metal proximate the markings. The material property data may be used for allocating blanks from the coil for different vehicle body stampings. A monitoring device may be configured to provide material property data of metal during formation of a coil. A marking device may be configured to provide a 2D-matrix as the marking on a surface of the coil. A controller may be programmed to, in response to receiving the data, utilize the marking device to provide the 2D-matrix containing the material property data on the coil proximate a location of the material property. The 2D-matrix may also allow for the traceability of a finished part back to the coil it was blanked and subsequently formed from.

主权项

1. A method of allocating aluminum blanks cut from a coil having optically detectable markings comprising:
reading at least one marking on a blank; decoding data encoded in the marking; and allocating the blank, in response to the decoded data, for production of a plurality of vehicle components.