Patents by Inventor Albert John KLEINIKKINK
Albert John KLEINIKKINK has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Publication number: 20240083686Abstract: A linear motor conveyor system with alternate drive. The system includes: at least one linear motor track section; at least one alternate drive track section having the same configuration as the linear motor track section but incorporating an alternate drive mechanism; a plurality of moving elements configured to move along the linear motor track section and alternate drive track section; and a control system for controlling the moving elements to move on the linear motor track section and the alternative drive track section. The alternate drive track section may include: a belt drive including a belt, a belt drive motor and a friction element on the moving element to engage with the belt such that movement of the belt causes the moving element to move along the track section due to friction. The alternate drive track section may alternatively include a simplified linear motor track section.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 14, 2023Publication date: March 14, 2024Inventors: Blake Robert LAMBERT, Albert John KLEINIKKINK
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Publication number: 20230294926Abstract: A conveyor system configured to allow adjustment of part pitch by moving elements. The conveyor system including: a track; at least two moving elements configured to move on the track; and a pitch assembly mounted on the at least two moving elements, the pitch assembly including: at least one rail provided on at least one of the moving elements; a plurality of nests; and a mechanical linkage connected to the at least two moving elements; wherein the nests are slidably engaged with the rail to maintain linear motion and connected with the mechanical linkage such that, as the moving elements move closer together, the mechanical linkage contracts and slides the plurality of nests closer together for a reduced pitch, and, as the moving elements move apart from each other, the mechanical linkage extends and slides the plurality of nests apart for an increased pitch.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 20, 2023Publication date: September 21, 2023Inventors: Blake Robert LAMBERT, Roger HOGAN, Albert John KLEINIKKINK
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Publication number: 20230242351Abstract: A conveyor system and method for controlling the same. The conveyor system includes: at least one moving element; a track including: a straight track section with a first mechanism for moving the moving element; and a curved track section connected to the straight track section including a second mechanism for moving the moving element; and a controller configured to control a speed of the moving element as the moving element moves from the straight track section to the curved track section and vice versa such that a velocity profile of the moving element includes a sinusoidal portion to provide a transition from straight to rotary motion or from rotary to straight motion having a linear position profile. In the method, the controller controls at least one of the first mechanism and the second mechanism to move the moving element according to the velocity profile including the sinusoidal portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 3, 2023Publication date: August 3, 2023Inventors: Roger HOGAN, Blake Robert LAMBERT, Anton DOLGOVYKH, Braden Jon GUENTHER, Philip David MUNROE, Albert John KLEINIKKINK, Kenneth Wayne NICHOLSON
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Patent number: 10670079Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2016Date of Patent: June 2, 2020Assignee: ATS AUTOMATION TOOLING SYSTEMS INC.Inventors: Albert John Kleinikkink, Ryan Scott, Don Mowat
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Patent number: 10273096Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: November 24, 2017Date of Patent: April 30, 2019Assignee: ATS AUTOMATION TOOLING SYSTEMS INC.Inventors: Albert John Kleinikkink, Donald James Mowat, Ryan Lloyd Willis Arthur Scott
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Publication number: 20180099822Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 24, 2017Publication date: April 12, 2018Inventors: Albert John KLEINIKKINK, Donald James MOWAT, Ryan Lloyd Willis Arthur SCOTT
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Patent number: 9828191Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2016Date of Patent: November 28, 2017Assignee: ATS AUTOMATION TOOLING SYSTEMS INC.Inventors: Albert John Kleinikkink, Donald James Mowat, Ryan Lloyd Willis Arthur Scott
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Publication number: 20170247200Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 29, 2016Publication date: August 31, 2017Inventors: Albert John KLEINIKKINK, Donald James MOWAT, Ryan Lloyd Willis Arthur SCOTT
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Patent number: 9600851Abstract: A system for tracking position and identification of a moving element on a conveyor system having a track, the system including: a machine readable medium provided to one of the moving element or the track, wherein the machine readable medium is configured with at least two channels with a predetermined phase difference therebetween; a sensor provided to the other of the moving element or the track, wherein the sensor is configured to read the at least two channels; and a controller configured to receive data from the sensor and determine a position and/or identification of the moving element on the track based on the phase difference.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2014Date of Patent: March 21, 2017Assignee: ATS AUTOMATION TOOLING SYSTEMS INC.Inventors: Albert John Kleinikkink, John Leo Ditner, Graham Richard Knap
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Publication number: 20160368718Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 29, 2016Publication date: December 22, 2016Inventors: Albert John KLEINIKKINK, Donald James MOWAT, Ryan Lloyd Willis Arthur SCOTT
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Publication number: 20160281789Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 23, 2016Publication date: September 29, 2016Inventors: Albert John KLEINIKKINK, Ryan SCOTT, Don MOWAT
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Patent number: 9428347Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2014Date of Patent: August 30, 2016Assignee: ATS AUTOMATION TOOLING SYSTEMS INC.Inventors: Albert John Kleinikkink, Donald James Mowat, Ryan Lloyd Willis Arthur Scott
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Publication number: 20150028098Abstract: A system for tracking position and identification of a moving element on a conveyor system having a track, the system including: a machine readable medium provided to one of the moving element or the track, wherein the machine readable medium is configured with at least two channels with a predetermined phase difference therebetween; a sensor provided to the other of the moving element or the track, wherein the sensor is configured to read the at least two channels; and a controller configured to receive data from the sensor and determine a position and/or identification of the moving element on the track based on the phase difference.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 29, 2014Publication date: January 29, 2015Inventors: Albert John KLEINIKKINK, John Leo DITNER, Graham Richard KNAP
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Publication number: 20150027860Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 29, 2014Publication date: January 29, 2015Inventors: Albert John KLEINIKKINK, Donald James MOWAT, Ryan Lloyd Willis Arthur SCOTT