Linear induction motor-driven divert mechanisms
First Claim
1. A conveyor system comprising:
- an ingress conveyor;
at least one egress conveyor; and
a linear induction motor-driven divert mechanism comprising;
a plurality of spherical rotors rotatably positioned between an upper frame and a nesting table; and
a power table having a stator plate associated with each of the plurality of spherical rotors;
wherein the power table is positioned beneath the nesting table, andwherein each of the spherical rotors is adapted to rotate about an axis upon an application of alternating current to a stator plate corresponding to the spherical rotor.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Linear induction motor-driven divert mechanisms may be installed or associated with conveying systems and may cause a change in velocity of one or more objects (i.e., a change in direction and/or a change in speed) to passing through the conveying systems. The divert mechanisms may include one or more spherical rotors including magnetizable slugs, and the spherical rotors may be rotatably positioned above positioned above one or more stator plates. Energizing one or more of the stator plates causes the corresponding spherical rotors to rotate in a given direction. Therefore, the divert mechanism may be used to transport or direct objects within conveying systems by controlling the rotation and angular velocity of one or more of the spherical rotors, which may impart motion to the objects.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A conveyor system comprising:
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an ingress conveyor; at least one egress conveyor; and a linear induction motor-driven divert mechanism comprising; a plurality of spherical rotors rotatably positioned between an upper frame and a nesting table; and a power table having a stator plate associated with each of the plurality of spherical rotors; wherein the power table is positioned beneath the nesting table, and wherein each of the spherical rotors is adapted to rotate about an axis upon an application of alternating current to a stator plate corresponding to the spherical rotor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A conveying system comprising:
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a linear induction motor-driven conveying apparatus comprising a plurality of spherical rotors and a plurality of stator plates, wherein each of the stator plates is positioned beneath one of the spherical rotors, and wherein two or more of the plurality of spherical rotors are adapted to rotate about parallel axes upon energizations of the stator plates associated with the two or more spherical rotors. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A conveying system comprising:
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a linear induction motor-driven conveying apparatus comprising a spherical rotor, a stator plate associated with the spherical rotor, an upper frame and a nesting table, wherein the spherical rotor is rotatably provided between an opening of the upper frame and a cavity in the nesting table, wherein the spherical rotor is adapted to rotate about a predetermined axis upon an energization of the stator plate with alternating current, and wherein an angular velocity of the spherical rotor is based at least in part on a frequency of the alternating current. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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17. A method for conveying objects comprising:
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providing a conveying system comprising a linear induction motor-driven divert mechanism in series between an ingress and a plurality of egresses, wherein the divert mechanism comprises a plurality of spherical rotors rotatably positioned above a plurality of stator plates; selecting a first one of the plurality of egresses; selecting a first group of the plurality of spherical rotors for directing objects to the first egress; applying an alternating current in a given polarization to at least one of the stator plates corresponding to the first group of spherical rotors, wherein the alternating current causes the first group of spherical rotors to rotate about parallel or collinear axes at an angular velocity defined at least in part on a frequency of the alternating current; transporting at least one object from the ingress to the divert mechanism; and causing the at least one object to be directed to the first egress. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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Specification