Abstract: An inspection system capable of identifying particles within a liquid container such as a vial or syringe. The inspection system captures images of a container after it has stopped spinning while it is moving in a linear path through the field of view of an imager. A plurality of images are captured of the container at different positions within the field of view. The images are registered to each other and combined in order to identify particles that have moved between images, which are considered particles.

Abstract: A system for part transfer and transport, the system including: a first conveyor system for transporting a plurality of trays containing a two-dimensional grid of parts; a second conveyor system for transporting the parts to a predetermined destination in a linear arrangement; and a selection apparatus for transferring a linear array of parts selected from the grid of the first conveyor system to the linear arrangement of the second conveyor system, the selection apparatus comprising: a pick and place apparatus which may be cam driven for moving the parts; and a feed screw defining a plurality of singulated part spaces separated by a part pitch along the second conveyor to facilitate insertion of the linear array of parts into the linear arrangement.

Abstract: The system includes a cell framework for defining a manufacturing area. The system includes at least one workplace within the manufacturing area. The system includes at least one manufacturing component within the manufacturing area and configured to be movable along three axes in relation to the at least one workplace. The system includes a conveying mechanism configured to move a part into the at least one workplace to be worked on by the at least one manufacturing component.

Abstract: Various systems and methods for modeling a manufacturing assembly line are disclosed herein. Some embodiments relate to operating a processor to receive cell data and line production data, determine one or more production associations between the cell data and the line production data; evaluate the one or more production associations to identify one or more critical production associations; retrieve the cell data and the line production data associated with the one or more critical production associations; and train a predictive model with the retrieved cell data and the retrieved line production data to predict the production level of the manufacturing assembly line.

Abstract: A linear motor conveyor system having a moving element comprising a first and a second magnetic element on opposite sides; a first track comprising a first linear motor configured to generate a dynamic magnetic field which acts on the first magnetic element to provide a first dynamic lateral force and a first dynamic longitudinal force; a second track with a transfer region adjacent to the first track, the second track configured to generate a magnetic field that acts on the second magnetic element to provide a second lateral force; and a controller to control the first linear motor such that the first dynamic lateral force is configured to bias the moving element toward the first linear motor until the moving element reaches a switch point in the transfer region, after which the dynamic lateral forces are selectively adjusted to bias the moving element toward the first or second track.

Abstract: A linear motor conveyor system including: a track comprising a shaped guide rail; a plurality of moving elements, each moving element having: a body; at least two bearings supported by the body and configured to match with the shaped guide rail, wherein the bearings are mounted to the moving element such that the moving elements overlap along the direction of the track providing a reduced tooling pitch between the moving elements. A moving element for moving on a track of a conveyor system, the moving element including: a first set of bearings shaped to match with a first shaped guide rail; a second set of bearings configured to abut against a second guide rail; and a body supporting the first and the second bearing, wherein the body is shaped to allow the first bearing to at least partially overlap the body of an adjacent moving element.

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.

Abstract: A linear motor conveyor system and method for lubrication including: a linear motor track comprising a first guide rail and a second guide rail, wherein the first guide rail has a shaped profile and the second guide rail has a flat profile; at least one moving element provided to the linear motor track comprising a first bearing having a shaped profile with a first bearing surface of polymer configured to engage the first guide rail and a second bearing having a flat profile with a second bearing surface configured to engage the second guide rail; and a lubrication system provided to one of the track and the at least one moving element and configured to provide a lubricant between the first guide rail and the first bearing surface.

Abstract: An automated device for producing a closed part, commencing with an open part having a cap joined with a hinge to a body, the device comprising: a tool having a guide surface defined in an operating plane substantially orthogonal to a hinge axis; a part gripper disposed on a computer numerically controlled shuttle, the part gripper operable to: select an open part from a stream of identical open parts; engage one of: the cap; and the body, on a start point on the guide surface; slide the open part, within the operating plane from the start point to a finish point on the guide surface, to rotate the cap about the hinge axis from an open position to a closed position relative to the body; and release the closed part from the part gripper at a release station.

Abstract: A system and method for providing power to a plurality of moving elements in a transport system that include: tracking a position of each of the plurality of moving elements in the transport system; and selectively operating a power system provided to the transport system based on the position of each of the plurality of the moving element such that power is independently transferred to each of the plurality of moving elements. In another embodiment, the system and method include: adapting the plurality of moving elements to receive power from a drive component used to drive the plurality of moving elements along the transport system; and controlling the drive component to provide power to the plurality of moving elements, and, in particular, while the moving elements are moving.

Abstract: A conveyor system including: a track comprising a first magnetic element; and a moving element comprising a second magnetic element for interacting with the track to provide a magnetic force that retains the moving element on the track; wherein absent the magnetic force, the moving element is released from the track. In another aspect, a conveyor system includes: a track having at least one guide rail; and a moving element; wherein a magnetic force controls movement of the moving element in a direction of travel and the magnetic force supports the moving element in a second direction perpendicular to the direction of travel; and wherein the at least one guide rail supports the moving element in a third direction perpendicular to both the direction of travel and the second direction.

Abstract: A system for providing vacuum to a moving element of a transport system, the system includes: a vacuum chamber on the moving element for storing vacuum; a vacuum source; a vacuum inlet provided on the vacuum chamber and for connection to the vacuum source; and a vacuum outlet in communication with the vacuum chamber and positioned on the moving element. The vacuum source may be provided on and travel with the moving element or on the transport system and periodically engage with the vacuum chamber. Where the vacuum source is provided on the moving element, a vacuum chamber may not be required. Further, the vacuum source may be driven by electrical energy and/or mechanical energy in various configurations.

Abstract: Various embodiments of methods and devices for drying coated stents in an oven are described herein.

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.

Abstract: According to an aspect herein, there is provided a method of decorating multiple parts, the method includes: loading a plurality of parts onto a pallet; registering location of each of the plurality of parts in relation to the pallet; registering location of each of the plurality of parts with each of a plurality of templates; decorating the plurality of parts using the plurality of templates; and inspecting the decorated parts to monitor for defects. According to another aspect herein, there is provided a method of decorating a part, the method includes: positioning a part for decoration; starting a decoration process for the part; and adjusting one or more parameters of the decoration process during the decoration process based on predetermined characteristics of the part or the decoration to provide for enhanced print coverage or quality.

Abstract: There is provided a conveyor system including: a track comprising a first magnetic element; and a moving element comprising a second magnetic element for interacting with the track to provide a magnetic force that retains the moving element on the track; wherein absent the magnetic force, the moving element is released from the track. In another aspect, there is provided a conveyor system that includes: a track having at least one guide rail; and a moving element; wherein a magnetic force controls movement of the moving element in a direction of travel and the magnetic force supports the moving element in a second direction perpendicular to the direction of travel; and wherein the at least one guide rail supports the moving element in a third direction perpendicular to both the direction of travel and the second direction.

Abstract: Various embodiments of methods and devices for coating stents are described herein.