Linear motor conveyor system with diverter and method for design and configuration thereof

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12187552-B2
Application number	US-202318360081-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 27, 2023
Priority date	Mar 6, 2017
Publication date	Jan 7, 2025
Grant date	Jan 7, 2025

Abstract

A linear motor conveyor system having a moving element comprising a first and a second magnetic element on opposite sides; a first track comprising a first linear motor configured to generate a dynamic magnetic field which acts on the first magnetic element to provide a first dynamic lateral force and a first dynamic longitudinal force; a second track with a transfer region positioned adjacent to the first track, the second track configured to generate a magnetic field that acts on the second magnetic element to provide a second lateral force; and a controller to control the first linear motor such that the first dynamic lateral force is configured to bias the moving element toward the first linear motor until the moving element reaches a switch point in the transfer region, after which the dynamic lateral forces are selectively adjusted to bias the moving element toward the first or second track.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A linear motor conveyor system comprising:
a moving element comprising at least one magnetic element;
a first track on which the moving element moves, the first track comprising a first linear motor, the first linear motor configured to generate a dynamic magnetic field which acts on the first magnetic element to provide both a first dynamic lateral force and a first dynamic longitudinal force on the moving element, wherein the first track and magnetic element are configured to have a first predetermined magnetic gap between the first track and the magnetic element;
a second track with at least a transfer region of the second track positioned adjacent the first track, the second track configured to generate a magnetic field that acts on the magnetic element-to provide a second lateral force on the moving element, wherein the second track and magnetic element are configured to have a second predetermined magnetic gap between the second track and the magnetic element in the transfer region. wherein the second predetermined magnetic gap is different from the first predetermined magnetic gap; and
a controller to control at least the first linear motor such that the first dynamic lateral force from the first linear motor acting over the first predetermined magnetic gap supports the moving element on the first track and, if the moving element is to be transferred to the second track, in the transfer region, adjusts the first linear motor such that the first dynamic lateral force is reduced such that the second lateral force from the second track acting over the second predetermined magnetic gap biases the moving element toward the second track.

2. A linear motor conveyor system according to claim 1 , wherein the first track comprises a first magnetic material which acts on the first magnetic element to provide a first static lateral force in addition to the first dynamic lateral force, wherein the controller adjusts the first static lateral force in addition to the first dynamic lateral force.

3. A linear motor conveyor system according to claim 2 , wherein the second track comprises a second magnetic material which acts on the magnetic element to provide a second static lateral force, and wherein the controller selectively adjusts the first dynamic lateral force to bias the moving element toward the second track by overcoming net static forces from the first and second static lateral forces.

4. A linear motor conveyor system according to claim 3 , wherein the first static lateral force is set based on the first predetermined magnetic gap, and the second static lateral force is set based on the second predetermined magnetic gap.

5. A linear motor conveyor system according to claim 4 , wherein the second track comprises at least one electromagnet and the first longitudinal force is configured to propel the moving element along the second track while held to the second track by the lateral forces of the at least one electromagnet.

6. A linear motor conveyor system according to claim 1 , wherein the moving element further comprises at least one cover for the magnetic element to shield the magnetic field.

7. A linear motor conveyor system comprising:
a moving element comprising at least one magnetic element;
a first track on which the moving element moves, the first track comprising a first linear motor, the first linear motor configured to have a first predetermined magnetic gap between the first linear motor and the magnetic element;
a second track having at least a transfer region positioned adjacent the first track such that the moving element has a second predetermined magnetic gap between the second track and the magnetic element, wherein the second predetermined magnetic gap is different from the first predetermined magnetic gap; and
a controller to control the first linear motor such that, if the moving element is to be transferred to the second track, in the transfer region, the first linear motor is adjusted to alter a lateral magnetic force over the first predetermined magnetic gap and the moving element is biased toward the second track.

8. A linear motor conveyor system according to claim 7 , wherein the at least one magnetic element comprises a first magnetic element on a first side of the moving element and a second magnetic element on a second side, opposite to the first side.

9. A linear motor conveyor system according to claim 7 , wherein the second track comprises at least one electromagnet and the first linear motor is configured to propel the moving element along the second track while held to the second track by the lateral forces of the electromagnet acting on the at least one magnetic element.

10. A moving element for a linear motor conveyor system, the moving element comprising:
at least one magnetic element having a magnetically calibrated position in relation to the moving element such that there is a first predetermined magnet gap between the at least one magnetic element and a first linear motor on a first track and a second predetermined magnetic gap between the at least one magnetic element and a magnetic field associated with a second track.

11. A moving element according to claim 10 , further comprising:
a magnet positioning device for adjusting position of the magnetic element.

12. A moving element according to claim 10 , wherein the at least one magnetic element comprises a first magnetic element on a first side of the moving element and a second magnetic element on a second side, opposite to the first side.

13. A moving element according to claim 10 , further comprising a stabilizer configured to reduce rotation of the moving element.

14. A moving element according to claim 10 , further comprising at least one cover for the at least one magnetic element to shield the magnetic field.

Assignees

• Ats Corp

Inventors

• Kleinikkink Albert
• Hogan Roger

Classifications

• H02K11/0141

  Shields associated with casings, enclosures or brackets · CPC title

• H02K41/031

  of the permanent magnet type · CPC title

• H02K7/08

  Structural association with bearings · CPC title

• H02K41/00

  Propulsion systems in which a rigid body is moved along a path due to dynamo-electric interaction between the body and a magnetic field travelling along the path {(electromagnetic launchers F41B6/00)} · CPC title

• B65G54/02 Primary

  electrostatic, electric, or magnetic · CPC title