Abstract: A segmented, belt-driven conveyor system for use in clean environments is described. High speed, high density, collision free throughput of work piece carriers is enabled through belt-driven conveyor segments each having co-rotating drive wheels. The drive wheels have a cylindrical profile. Predefined acceleration/deceleration profiles may be employed by a motor controller to affect optimal changes in work piece carrier speed across the respective drive segment.

Abstract: A conveyor segment for clean manufacturing applications. Each conveyor belt segment includes a pair of side rails parallel to each other; a pair of belt-drives for transporting work pieces from a first end to a second end of the belt segment; a pair of driving wheels for turning the belt-drives. The belt of each of the belt-drives is disposed in a serpentine path about plural, load-bearing upper idler wheels, around either a lower loop-back idler wheel or a driving wheel, and back up and around another pair of upper idler wheels. This sequence is repeated a selected number of times about additional pairs of upper idler wheels and lower loop-back idler wheels or a driving wheel before the belt is disposed beneath plural return idler wheels and back up to the starting point. Slipping between the belt and wheels is thus minimized, even in the absence of a work piece on the belt segment.

Abstract: Means and methods for optimizing the utilization of monorail-based vehicles carrying a work-in-progress in a clean manufacturing environment. The method includes increasing the number of pick up and drop off points on a primary or secondary monorail transportation network, to amplify the number and frequency of pick up and drop off events per vehicle per circumnavigation of the network or loop. By increasing the number of pick up and drop off events, the empty run or idle time of the corresponding vehicle will decrease, improving utilization and throughput.

Abstract: A conveyor for clean manufacturing applications. The conveyor comprises interconnected conveyor modules, each of which includes a conveyor belt segment(s). Each conveyor belt segment includes a pair of side rails that are in parallel or substantially in parallel to each other; a pair of autonomous, belt-drives for transporting work pieces or objects carrying work pieces from a proximal end of the belt segment to a distal end of the belt segment; a pair of driving wheels for turning the belt-drives, and a motor for directly or indirectly driving each of the pair of driving wheels. One of the driving wheels is mechanically or magnetically coupled to a magnetic hysteresis clutch that allows the driving wheels to disengage from the drive shaft of the motor if the inertia of the work piece does not permit synchronization of work piece with the drive speed of the motor during acceleration or deceleration.

Abstract: A conveyor for clean manufacturing applications. The conveyor comprises interconnected conveyor modules, each of which includes a conveyor belt segment (s). Each conveyor belt segment includes a pair of side rails that are in parallel or substantially in parallel to each other; a pair of autonomous, belt-drives for transporting work pieces or objects carrying work pieces from a proximal end of the belt segment to a distal end of the belt segment; a pair of driving wheels for turning the belt-drives, and a motor for directly or indirectly driving each of the pair of driving wheels. One of the driving wheels is mechanically or magnetically coupled to a magnetic hysteresis clutch that allows the driving wheels to disengage from the drive shaft of the motor if the inertia of the work piece does not permit synchronization of work piece with the drive speed of the motor during acceleration or deceleration.

Abstract: Means and methods for optimizing the utilization of monorail-based vehicles carrying a work-in-progress in a clean manufacturing environment. The method includes increasing the number of pick up and drop off points on a primary or secondary monorail transportation network, to amplify the number and frequency of pick up and drop off events per vehicle per circumnavigation of the network or loop. By increasing the number of pick up and drop off events, the empty run or idle time of the corresponding vehicle will decrease, improving utilization and throughput.

Abstract: A configurable storage system particularly suited for use with clean-environment conveyors is disclosed. The storage system includes modular conveyor track elements which may be provided parallel to and adjacent a ceiling mounted conveyor highway. Conveyor elements may be provided as one-way paths which, when provided with plural transfer elements with respect to a conveyor highway, enable the rotation of a work-piece from a storage matrix to a transfer path and back to the storage matrix. Adjacent storage conveyor elements may be used to realize loops of storage elements. A single storage conveyor element may be shared by multiple loops of storage elements. The modularity of the present system enables the realization of plural, nested loops of storage elements. Control over such systems may be provided locally, centrally or some combination of both, and may adjust the behavior of individual storage conveyor elements based on a variety of factors.

Abstract: A configurable storage system particularly suited for use with clean environment conveyors is disclosed. The storage system includes modular conveyor track elements which may be provided as one way paths which, when provided with plural transfer elements with respect to a conveyor highway, enable the rotation of a workpiece from a storage matrix to a transfer path and back to the storage matrix.

Abstract: An improvement in a conveyor system having sets of laterally spaced drive and idler wheels, a plurality of at least two different size carriers for containing articles to be worked on and for operating on the same conveyor system; and two runners attached to the sides of each carrier, one runner on each side thereof, each runner having at least one riding surface for supporting the carrier on the wheels, the runners of each carrier being attached and sized and shaped in such manner as to effectuate such support, whereby two different size of carriers can be used at the same time on a single conveyor system. Each carrier having a lower surface, separate from the runners, for handling, storage and stacking of the carriers. The runners are removably attached to the carriers. The runners may be connected to the carriers at an angle with respect to the lower surface of the carriers. The runners may be the same length as the carriers, shorter than the carriers, or longer than the carriers.

Abstract: An asynchronous conveyor system with controlled smooth stopping and starting. The conveyer system defines a path with sections (Z1 . . . Z6) independently driven. The conveyed items (2A, . . . 2D) may be independently accumulated on one or more path sections of the conveyor system. External sensors (8, 8A, 14, 14A) are distributed along different path sections of the conveyors system and are used to control the location and the flow of items in either direction. An idler wheel with a sensed rest position is also disclosed as an item sensing mechanism. The drive system for the conveyor system may be stepper motors, DC, AC, hysteresis motors or other such motors. In each case the motors are controlled to provide smooth transportation of the items. In another embodiment, servomotors are used and an internal sensed characteristic of the servo motor provides and indication of an item being on the conveyor path section associated with the servo. The operation then is similar to the use of an actual sensor.

Abstract: A cassette (2) or storage box for integrated circuit wafers or memory disks arranged and constructed for directly being placed onto the driven rollers (6) of contaminant free conveyors. The cassettes have a flat canted surface (10) for riding on the rollers. The cant is enough such that the loaded wafers lean against the sides of their individual pockets as the cassette travels. The leaning reduces damaged to the wafers by the vibrations involved with physically moving the cassette.

Abstract: Parts transport system for factory operations and the like comprising arranged length sections (1) defining a transport path, workpiece supports (20) riding on the path and drive wheels (24) along the path for engaging the supports, corner drive members (18) and an effective modularity using integrally multiplied length sections in combination with the corners which are a basic unit of such integral multiplication series.