Feed rate measuring method and system

A system for measuring a feed rate of a workpiece into machining means, comprising:

• first and second sensors, each including first and second sensing electrodes, separated by a predetermined distance along a feed path and being positioned above and in proximity to said workpiece;
• field generating means for generating first and second electric fields between the first and second, sensing electrodes of said first and second sensors, respectively;
• means for feeding said workpiece into said machining means along said feed path;
• field sensing means for sensing any effects in said first and second electric fields produced by said workpiece being disposed within said first and second electric fields;
• image processing means for sequentially producing first and second image signals representative of the contour of said workpiece along the feed path in response to said field sensing means;
• time measuring means for measuring the amount of time that elapses between corresponding portions of said first image signal and said second image signal sequentially produced by said image processing means;
• and
• feed rate determining means for determining said feed rate in response to the amount of time measured by said time measuring means based on said predetermined distance separating said first and second preview sensors.