Abstract: A mechanism for detecting the position of a carriage moveable along a track. The mechanism includes a wheel fixed to the carriage which rotates as the carriage moves along the track. A mark is disposed on a portion of the wheel. A detector is fixed to the carriage for sensing the mark as the wheel rotates and outputs a signal in response. A carriage processor receives the signal and determines the position of the carriage along the track.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 2, 1998
Date of Patent:
February 20, 2001
Assignee:
Sentry Technology, Corp.
Inventors:
Thomas A. Nicolette, Peter Y. Zhou, Lawrence Chao
Abstract: A moving electrical contact for connecting a track-mounted moveable carriage to a signal rail. The moving electrical contact comprises a spring plate secured to the moveable carriage on one end and a contact pad attached to the other end of the spring plate. The contact pad is biased against the signal rail by the tension in the spring plate. The contact pad is constructed from approximately sixteen layers of a wire mesh consisting of tin coated, stainless steel conductive wire knitted in a tricot pattern and may include conducting jelly.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
November 10, 1997
Date of Patent:
November 30, 1999
Assignee:
Sentry Technology, Corp.
Inventors:
Thomas A. Nicolette, Peter Y. Zhou, Dexing Pang