Patents Assigned to B&R INDUSTRIAL AUTOMATION GMBH
  • Publication number: 20210402881
    Abstract: In order to implement a secure monitoring function for a long-stator linear motor or planar motor, the invention proposes that at least one first measurement value of a first sensor is compared to a predefined plausibility threshold value, and in the event of said plausibility threshold value being exceeded by the first measurement value, an error is identified and an action is triggered.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2019
    Publication date: December 30, 2021
    Applicant: B&R Industrial Automation GmbH
    Inventors: Gerhard HANIS, Andreas MAYRHOFER
  • Patent number: 11193812
    Abstract: Method for weighing an object transported on a mover of an electromagnetic conveyor and electromagnetic conveyor. Method includes lifting object off the mover with a lifting device; setting down object onto at least one transport plane of a weighing station arranged at a weighing region of the track and arranged on at least one weigh cell. The transport plane extends in the direction of movement to support the object when in the weighing station. The method also includes actively driving object while lifted off from the mover and while supported on the transport plane with the mover as it moves along the track through a weighing region; weighing object with at least one weigh cell while the object is supported by the transport plane; and setting down object on the mover after weighing in the weighing station for onward movement of object along the track with the mover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: B&R INDUSTRIAL AUTOMATION GMBH
    Inventor: Stacey Derrick
  • Patent number: 11161701
    Abstract: Method for operating a transport apparatus that utilizes a long stator linear motor, the method includes moving a transport unit along a transport route of the long stator linear motor, causing drive magnets arranged on both sides of a main body of the transport unit to interact, at least in a region of a transfer position for transferring the transfer unit between two opposite route portions of the transport route, with drive coils of the opposite route portions of the transport route in order to generate a propulsive force (Fv), utilizing the drive magnets of the transport unit and the drive coils of the transport route of the long stator linear motor as sources of magnetomotive force of a magnetic circuit that develops at least in the region of the transfer position on both sides of the transport unit, and transferring the transport unit between the opposite route portions of the transport route in the transfer position by changing on at least one side of the transfer unit a magnetic flux (?1, ?2) of the m
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: B&R INDUSTRIAL AUTOMATION GMBH
    Inventor: Andreas Weber
  • Patent number: 11161700
    Abstract: In order to allow for more flexible process control of a transport apparatus in the form of a long stator linear motor, in particular in order to at least intermittently increase the maximum achievable speed of a transport unit without changing the energy-related basic conditions (maximum current or maximum voltage) of the transport apparatus, according to the invention, in order to change a magnetic flux in the magnetic circuit during movement of the transport unit along the transport route, a magnetic reluctance of the magnetic circuit is changed and/or a magnetomotive force of the magnetic circuit is changed on the transport unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: B&R INDUSTRIAL AUTOMATION GMBH
    Inventor: Andreas Weber
  • Publication number: 20210336522
    Abstract: Guide device for shuttles of a planar motor has a first end and a second end and defines a pose course of a shuttle between the first and second end. The first end, which defines an introductory pose of the shuttle, is arrangable on a first stator of the planar motor so that the introductory pose corresponds to an operationally controllable pose in relation to the first stator. The second end, which defines an exit pose of the shuttle, is arrangable on the first stator or a second stator of the planar motor so that the exit pose corresponds to an operationally controllable pose with respect to the first or second stator. The pose course includes at least one pose which is an operationally non-controllable pose with respect to stators of the planar motor. The guide device supports and stabilizes the shuttle in the at least one operationally non-controllable pose.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2021
    Publication date: October 28, 2021
    Applicant: B&R INDUSTRIAL AUTOMATION GMBH
    Inventors: Stefan FLIXEDER, Michael HAUER, Martin HAUDUM
  • Publication number: 20210331878
    Abstract: Support structure for a transport unit of a planar motor to reduce or prevent transmission of force to an active surface of a stator. The transport unit is movable by at least one stator of the planar motor and a product is positionable on the transport unit. In at least one support position of the transport unit defined in relation to the support structure, the support structure applies at least one supporting force to the transport unit, while at least one process force, which acts on the product, is at least partially transmitted to the transport unit and counteracted. The transport unit is movable into and out of the support position in a floating manner via the at least one stator. The support structure is mounted on a base and at least partially diverts the counterforce caused by the supporting force to the base.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2021
    Publication date: October 28, 2021
    Applicant: B&R INDUSTRIAL AUTOMATION GMBH
    Inventors: Michael HAUER, Stefan FLIXEDER, Martin HAUDUM
  • Patent number: 11149756
    Abstract: In order to carry out largely automated parameterisation of the closed-loop control parameters for closed-loop control of a hydraulic system comprising a servo drive, a method and a device for determining the closed-loop parameters of a closed-loop control unit of the hydraulic system are specified, wherein an actual system pressure of a hydraulic consumer of the hydraulic system is closed-loop controlled by means of a predefined set point rotational speed of a servo drive, wherein an actual rotational speed of the servo drive follows the predefined set point rotational speed, wherein an excitation signal is applied to the setpoint rotational speed, and the actual system pressure which is set here is measured, the dynamics of the hydraulic system are acquired from the actual rotational speed and/or the setpoint rotational speed and the actual system pressure, and the closed-loop control parameters are calculated from the acquired dynamics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: B&R INDUSTRIAL AUTOMATION GMBH
    Inventors: Kurt Zehetleitner, Lukas Wick, Leopold Griessler
  • Publication number: 20210237981
    Abstract: In order to specify a method for controlling a transport unit (TE) of a transport device (1) in the form of a long-stator linear motor, said method allowing safe transport of an object (O) without exposing the object (O) to critical movement limit values, the invention provides that a movement profile of the transport unit (TE) is established at least in sections along the transport path (2) depending on a relative movement profile of a relative point (PR) connected to the transport unit (TE) and spaced at a distance from a reference point (PT) of the transport unit (TE).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2019
    Publication date: August 5, 2021
    Applicant: B&R Industrial Automation GmbH
    Inventors: Stefan HUBER, Benjamin REICHENWALLNER
  • Publication number: 20210165025
    Abstract: In order to ensure safe operation of a multi-phase system, even a system including a plurality of phases, a number of phase groups is provided, which comprises some of the phases, wherein phase currents of the number of phase groups are merged in a group node to form a group sum current and a group sum current measurement value of the group sum current is captured. The current measurement values belonging to the number of phase groups are summed up to form a group sum and the group sum is compared with the group sum current measurement value to validate the phase currents of the phases in order to ensure safe operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2020
    Publication date: June 3, 2021
    Applicant: B&R INDUSTRIAL AUTOMATION GMBH
    Inventor: Andreas MAYRHOFER
  • Publication number: 20210167713
    Abstract: In order to ensure particularly good protection of individuals in an electromagnetic transport system, a safety area is provided in a transport area. Furthermore, a safety function is provided which, in accordance with a predetermined safety requirement level, ensures that the transport unit reaches the safety area at a speed less than or equal to a safety speed and/or with a transport unit force less than or equal to a safety force and/or a transport unit energy less than or equal to a safety energy, or prevents the transport unit from reaching the safety area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2020
    Publication date: June 3, 2021
    Applicant: B&R INDUSTRIAL AUTOMATION GMBH
    Inventors: Franz KAUFLEITNER, Franz SPANLANG, Stefan FLIXEDER
  • Publication number: 20210155422
    Abstract: In order to specify a flexible transport arrangement for a long stator linear motor which can be used more flexibly for the transport of products, a transport arrangement includes a transport unit and a product carrier. The transport unit and the product carrier each have at least one guide element arranged in the direction of movement and transport unit has drive magnets arranged in a direction of movement for driving the transport unit. The product carrier has no drive and is couplable to the transport unit via a coupling point and is drivable by the transport unit via the coupling point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2019
    Publication date: May 27, 2021
    Applicant: B&R INDUSTRIAL AUTOMATION GMBH
    Inventors: Christian KASTINGER, Philipp ROGNER
  • Patent number: 11003904
    Abstract: Apparatus for the detection of print marks with a sensor arrangement which has at least one contrast sensor, which for generation of a cyclical sensor signal is disposed above the area of printed material containing the print mark which is passed below the contrast sensor, said apparatus also having a signal conditioning unit. The signal conditioning unit has at least one filter unit with a first filter for determination of the first derivation of the sensor signal, and on the basis of an evaluation of at least the first derivation of the sensor signal the filter unit generates at least one output value which is representative of print marks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: B&R INDUSTRIAL AUTOMATION GMBH
    Inventor: Thomas Enzinger
  • Patent number: 10994943
    Abstract: In order to easily prevent a collision of transport units, which are moved along a conveyor line of a long stator linear motor, it is provided that a minimum distance to be maintained between the two transport units is changed as a function of the position of the two transport units along the conveyor line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: B&R INDUSTRIAL AUTOMATION GMBH
    Inventors: Stefan Huber, Dominic Walter, Benjamin Reichenwallner
  • Publication number: 20210124337
    Abstract: In order to improve the planning and implementation of the manufacture of a product in a manufacturing plant, the manufacturing plant is modeled via a machine network plan modeling the manufacturing plant as a network of manufacturing nodes, and the product to be manufactured being modeled via a product synthesis plan modeling the hierarchical structure of the product in the form of a tree of product synthesis nodes. The machine network plan and the product synthesis plan are linked with each other to form a manufacturing sequence, in which a manufacturing node of the machine network plan is selected for each operation node of the product synthesis plan, which selected manufacturing node carries out the manufacturing process to be carried out at the relevant operation node. The manufacturing sequence is carried out in the manufacturing plant via a system controller in order to produce the product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2020
    Publication date: April 29, 2021
    Applicant: B&R INDUSTRIAL AUTOMATION GMBH
    Inventors: Thomas ZEHNDER, Stefan HUBER
  • Patent number: 10978969
    Abstract: In order to enable safe deceleration of a transport unit of a long-stator linear motor, wherein in a normal mode a plurality of drive coils of the long-stator linear motor are energized in such a way that a magnetic field coupled to a transport unit is moved along a direction of motion in order to move the transport unit along the direction of motion, according to the invention a switching to a controlled short-circuit mode is performed during the braking operation of the transport unit, in which at least some of the drive coils are short-circuited at least over a first time interval in said mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: B&R INDUSTRIAL AUTOMATION GMBH
    Inventors: Andreas Weber, Leopold Faschang, Stefan Brucker
  • Patent number: 10937145
    Abstract: To produce a real-time smart camera that can be flexibly configured in terms of hardware, a camera core is provided. The camera core is designed as a hardware arithmetic logic unit, and a real-time data bus interface, for connecting a real-time data bus, and a camera control unit are additionally provided in the camera core. The camera control unit is connected to both the real-time data bus interface and the image sensor interface, and the camera control unit is actuated via the real-time data bus interface to prompt the capture of an image. The camera control unit controls the image sensor interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: B&R INDUSTRIAL AUTOMATION GMBH
    Inventor: Andreas Waldl
  • Patent number: 10931924
    Abstract: To correct aberrations in the image plane of a camera while modifying selected, modifiable camera settings that influence aberrations quickly and simply, a plurality of features with different known feature positions is provided in space. For each selected, modifiable camera setting influencing the aberration, at least two defined setting specifications are provided for modifying respective camera settings. For each setting specification, the camera captures the plurality of features. The camera determines positions of features in the image plane. Via a known mathematical method, a connection between different known feature positions in space and corresponding image positions in the image plane of the camera is determined. For each of the setting specifications of the selected modifiable camera settings, correction parameters of at least one mathematical correction model are determined for correcting the aberration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: B&R INDUSTRIAL AUTOMATION GMBH
    Inventor: Andreas Waldl
  • Patent number: 10923997
    Abstract: Long-stator linear motor with vehicle arranged for movement along transport path. Motor includes holding structure(s) having drive coils, on which passive part of vehicle is arranged; and guide surface and guide track running along path. Passive part has first drive magnet(s) arranged parallel to guide surface with air gap. Vehicle has first profile member(s) arranged on guide track and positioned by pressing force acting in transverse direction onto guide track with respect to an ascending direction running normally to movement direction and transverse direction. First running member(s) support passive part on holding structure against attractive force acting between drive magnets and drive coils to ensure the air gap. Vehicle has first auxiliary guide member(s) which, interacting with an auxiliary guide on holding structure at least in divergence and/or convergence areas of path, delimits movement of vehicle in a positive and/or negative ascending direction at least on one side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: B&R INDUSTRIAL AUTOMATION GMBH
    Inventors: Martin Hoeck, Alexander Dicker
  • Patent number: 10917027
    Abstract: Method for transferring a transport unit of a long stator linear motor at a transfer position from a first transport section to a second transport section. On each side of the transport unit, excitation magnets are arranged to interact with driving coils, and on both sides of the transport unit, excitation-magnetic lateral forces are acting on the transport unit by an interaction of the excitation magnets with ferromagnetic components of the guide structure. Method includes supplying on at least one side of the transport unit a stator current n a driving coil to generate a lateral force-forming electromagnetic force that acts on the transport unit, so that a resulting lateral force, as a sum of the acting excitation-magnetic lateral force and of the lateral force-forming electromagnetic force, on each side of the transport unit is different to produce a steering effect on the transport unit at the transfer position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: B&R INDUSTRIAL AUTOMATION GMBH
    Inventors: Andreas Weber, Friedrich Forthuber
  • Patent number: 10913362
    Abstract: For a long stator linear motor comprising a switch and secure guidance of the transport vehicles in the direction of movement along the transport track, it is provided that the transport vehicle (Tn) is force-guided, at least in sections, in the direction of movement (x) outside the switch (W), and at least one one-sided track section (2d) is provided on the transport track (2), along which a vehicle guide element (7) only on one side of the transport track (2) interacts with the track guide element (6) on the assigned side of the transport track (2) for the mechanical forced guidance in the direction of movement (x), and the forced guidance in the direction of movement (x) in the transverse direction (y) is canceled in the region of the switch (W).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: B&R INDUSTRIAL AUTOMATION GMBH
    Inventors: Alois Holzleitner, Martin Höck, Michael Brucker