Linear motor system with powered curvilinear track sections

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9923444-B2
Application number	US-201514725111-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 29, 2015
Priority date	Jun 2, 2014
Publication date	Mar 20, 2018
Grant date	Mar 20, 2018

Abstract

A method for manufacturing a curvilinear track section including: forming a curvilinear track portion; cutting out a first slot grouping from an exterior edge of the curvilinear track portion, wherein the first slot grouping is at a first predetermined angle; cutting out a second slot grouping from the exterior edge of the curvilinear track portion, wherein the second slot grouping is at a second predetermined angle; and inserting motor units into the first and second slot groupings. A curvilinear track section having: a curvilinear track portion; a first slot grouping formed in an exterior edge of the curvilinear track portion, wherein the first slot grouping is at a predetermined angle relative to the exterior edge; a second slot grouping formed in the exterior edge of the curvilinear track portion, wherein the second slot grouping is at a second predetermined angle; and motor units inserted into the first and second slot groupings.

First claim

We claim:

1. A curvilinear track section of a linear motor system comprising:
a curvilinear track portion having a predetermined curved shape;
a first slot grouping formed in an exterior edge of the curvilinear track portion, wherein the first slot grouping is at a predetermined angle relative to the exterior edge of the curvilinear track portion;
a second slot grouping formed in the exterior edge of the curvilinear track portion, wherein the second slot grouping is at a second predetermined angle relative to the exterior edge of the curvilinear track portion; and
motor units inserted into the first and second slot groupings.

2. The curvilinear track section of claim 1 wherein each of the first and second slot groupings comprise pairs of slot groupings and the pairs of slot groupings interleave.

3. The curvilinear track section of claim 1 wherein the curvilinear track portion and the first and second slot groupings are configured to provide a sinusoidal angular velocity profile for moving elements on the curvilinear track section.

4. The curvilinear track section of claim 1 wherein the curvilinear track portion has at least one region with a clothoid profile.

5. The curvilinear track section of claim 1 wherein slots within each slot grouping have different slot depths.

6. The curvilinear track section of claim 5 wherein the depth of the slot depends on the angle of the slot relative the exterior edge of the curvilinear track portion.

7. The curvilinear track section of claim 5 wherein the depth of the slot on one end of the first slot grouping and the depth of the slot on another end of the first slot grouping are approximately equal to the depth of a straight section of the linear motor system and the depths of the slots in between are deeper.

8. The curvilinear track section of claim 5 further comprising a plurality of sensors positioned on the curvilinear track section, wherein the sensors are oriented perpendicular to the direction of motion.

9. The curvilinear track section of claim 8 wherein a first sensor of the plurality of sensors is calibrated based on the calibration of a last sensor on a straight track portion immediately preceding the curvilinear track selection.

10. The curvilinear track section of claim 8 further comprising:
a controller configured to provide a boost to a selected motor unit when a moving element approaches an apex of the curvilinear track section.

Assignees

• Ats Automation Tooling Systems Inc

Inventors

• Kleinikkink Albert
• Ditner John
• Mowat Don
• Scott Ryan
• Knap Graham
• Chubb Ryan

Classifications

• H02K11/21

  Devices for sensing speed or position, or actuated thereby (specially adapted for machines having non-mechanical commutating devices H02K29/06, H02K29/14) · CPC title

• Y10T29/49011

  Commutator or slip ring assembly · CPC title

• H02K41/0358

  moving along a curvilinear path · CPC title

• H02K1/165

  Shape, form or location of the slots · CPC title

• H02K41/02 Primary

  Linear motors; Sectional motors · CPC title