Linear drive transport system and method
First Claim
1. A linear drive transport system, comprising:
- a plurality of fixed tracks;
a junction track disposed on a conveyor configured to align the junction track with each of the plurality of fixed tracks, wherein the plurality of fixed tracks and the junction track comprise one of electromagnetic coils or permanent magnets arranged in series along the respective plurality of fixed tracks and the junction track, and wherein the conveyor comprises a linear drive; and
a plurality of movers configured to move along the fixed tracks and configured to transition between each of the plurality of fixed tracks and the junction track when aligned, wherein the movers comprise the other of the electromagnetic coils or the permanent magnets, wherein the plurality of fixed tracks are positioned in an aligned orientation between the junction track disposed on the conveyor and an additional junction track disposed on an additional conveyor such that the plurality of movers can be transitioned between any of the plurality of fixed tracks by the junction track for traversal to the additional junction track and then transitioned for return along a different one of the plurality of fixed tracks.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Present embodiments include a linear drive transport system. The system includes a plurality of fixed tracks and a junction track disposed on a conveyor configured to align the junction track with each of the plurality of fixed tracks. The plurality of fixed tracks and the junction track include one of electromagnetic coils or permanent magnets arranged in series along the respective plurality of fixed tracks and the junction track. Further, present embodiments include a plurality of movers configured to move along the fixed tracks and configured to transition between each of the plurality of fixed tracks and the junction track when aligned, wherein the movers comprise the other of the electromagnetic coils or the permanent magnets.
43 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A linear drive transport system, comprising:
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a plurality of fixed tracks; a junction track disposed on a conveyor configured to align the junction track with each of the plurality of fixed tracks, wherein the plurality of fixed tracks and the junction track comprise one of electromagnetic coils or permanent magnets arranged in series along the respective plurality of fixed tracks and the junction track, and wherein the conveyor comprises a linear drive; and a plurality of movers configured to move along the fixed tracks and configured to transition between each of the plurality of fixed tracks and the junction track when aligned, wherein the movers comprise the other of the electromagnetic coils or the permanent magnets, wherein the plurality of fixed tracks are positioned in an aligned orientation between the junction track disposed on the conveyor and an additional junction track disposed on an additional conveyor such that the plurality of movers can be transitioned between any of the plurality of fixed tracks by the junction track for traversal to the additional junction track and then transitioned for return along a different one of the plurality of fixed tracks. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A shuttle system for a linear drive transport system, comprising:
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a conveyor configured to move along a path that is transverse to a plurality of linear drive tracks that are configured to transport a linear drive mover in one of a moving magnet configuration or a moving coil configuration, wherein the conveyor comprises a linear drive; and a junction track disposed on the conveyor, wherein the junction track is configured to transport the linear drive mover in the same one of the moving magnet configuration or the moving coil configuration as the plurality of linear drive tracks and wherein the conveyor is configured to align the junction track with at least a subset of the plurality of linear drive tracks to facilitate transfer of the linear drive mover there between, wherein the plurality of linear drive tracks are positioned in an aligned orientation between the junction track disposed on the conveyor and an additional junction track disposed on an additional conveyor such that the linear drive mover can be transitioned between any of the plurality of linear drive tracks by the junction track for traversal to the additional junction track and then transitioned for return along a different one of the plurality of linear drive tracks. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method of positioning movers in a linear drive transport system, comprising:
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aligning a junction track with a first fixed track of a plurality of fixed tracks by moving the junction track with a conveyor on which the junction track is disposed by employing electromagnetic propulsion; impelling at least one mover along the first fixed track, transitioning the at least one mover from the first fixed track to the junction track, aligning the junction track with a second fixed track of the plurality of fixed tracks using the conveyor, and transitioning the at least one mover to the second fixed track under the influence of electromagnetic force resulting from interaction between at least one electromagnet coil and at least one permanent magnet; and aligning an additional junction track disposed on an additional conveyor with the second fixed track by moving the additional junction track with the additional conveyor, wherein the plurality of fixed tracks are positioned in an aligned orientation between the junction track and the additional junction track; and impelling the at least one mover along the second fixed track, transitioning the at least one mover from the second fixed track to the additional junction track; aligning the additional junction track with a third fixed track of the plurality of fixed tracks using the additional conveyor, and transitioning the at least one mover to the third fixed track under the influence of electromagnetic force resulting from interaction between the at least one electromagnet coil and the at least one permanent magnet, wherein each of the first fixed track, the second fixed track, and the third fixed track is different. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification