Transport system

• US 9,926,141 B2
• Filed: 10/16/2015
• Issued: 03/27/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Vierbergen, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): HARP, WILLIAM RAY
• Application Number:
  US14/885,270
• Publication Number:
  US 20160114983A1
• Time in Patent Office: 893 Days
• Field of Search: 19881003
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 2811/095 Speed variation control means
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 43/08 Control devices operated by article or material being fed, conveyed or discharged and controlling the discharging devices B65G47/42
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 47/28 during transit by a single conveyor
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4185 characterised by the network communication
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4189 characterised by the transport system
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/15072 Modules in daisy chain, connected by parallel cable
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31152 Separate lan for sensors, detectors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]

Abstract

A transport system for linear movements includes at least two sensors configured to determine a position of one or more carriers along a carrier track. Each of the sensors are interconnected with each other and arranged in a daisy-chained manner along the carrier track. The sensors create a position sensor bus configured to transmit a digital position sensor signal. The transport system further includes a motion controller connected to the sensor bus and configured to control at least one position of the carriers along the carrier track.

Claims

1. A transport system for linear movements, comprising:

at least two sensors configured to determine a position of one or more carriers along a carrier track, each of the at least two sensors being interconnected with each other and arranged in a daisy-chained manner along the carrier track to create a position sensor bus configured to transmit a digital position sensor signal;

a motion controller connected to the sensor bus and configured to control at least one position of the carriers along the carrier track; and

a scale including at least two subdivisions, each subdivision corresponds uniquely to one sensor in the at least two sensors, the scale being configured to;

add measurement data from each of the at least two sensors into the at least two subdivisions of the scale in response to the one or more carriers passing each sensor; and

transmit the scale as an end signal to the motion controller to enable the motion control to identify the measurement data that are specific to each of the at least two sensors based on the at least two subdivisions in the scale.

2. The transport system according to claim 1, wherein the motion controller is furthered configured to determine the position of at least one carrier along the carrier track using sensor data of the at least two sensors.

3. The transport system according to claim 1, wherein the sensor bus is a digital communication bus configured to connect the at least two sensors to the motion controller.

4. The transport system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a first sensor connected to a motion system by the position sensor bus and configured to provide a first position sensor signal; and

a second sensor connected to the first sensor and configured to provide a second position sensor signal,

wherein the first and second position sensor signals are multiplexed digitally.

5. The transport system according claim 4, further comprising:

a cable break detection system configured to detect a cable break of at least one of the bus system and of the motion system.

6. The transport system according claim 1, wherein the position sensor bus performs digital multiplexing.

7. The transport system according to claim 1, further comprising configuration parameters of the at least two sensors, wherein the configuration parameters are at least partially stored within each of the at least two sensors.

8. The transport system according to claim 1, wherein the transport system is configured to carry at least one of wafers and wafer products.