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Modular conveyor system having multiple moving elements under independent control

  • US 6,191,507 B1
  • Filed: 02/24/2000
  • Issued: 02/20/2001
  • Est. Priority Date: 05/02/1997
  • Status: Expired
First Claim
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1. Apparatus for detecting the position of a moving element relative to a stationary element, said apparatus comprising:

  • a plurality of linear encoder readers spaced generally along the stationary element at fixed positions relative thereto;

    a device readable by the linear encoder readers, the readable device being mounted on the moving element and having a length which is greater than the spacing between any given pair of adjacent linear encoder readers;

    a guide for aligning the readable device in order to interact with the linear encoder readers; and

    circuitry, connected to each linear encoder reader, for associating the readable device with only one linear encoder reader in a state of interaction with the readable device at any time and for resolving and providing a reading of the overall position of the moving element based on the fixed position of the associated linear encoder reader and a relative position of the readable device in relation to the associated linear encoder reader.

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