Abstract: A conveyor system and a moving element therefor, wherein the moving element includes: a body; at least one canted bearing configured to abut against a first portion of a first guide rail of the conveyor system; and an articulation mechanism provided to the body that allows the canted bearing to rotate so that a line of contact of the canted bearing with the first guide rail remains at 90 degrees to a direction of travel of the canted bearing and parallel to an axis of rotation of the canted bearing. The articulation mechanism may include a bearing body and a third bearing, wherein the bearing body supports the canted bearing and rotates about an articulation axis, or may include a trunnion and a trunnion support with a virtual pivot at a center of contact of the canted bearing and the guide rail.

Abstract: A linear motor conveyor system with actuation and method for actuation including: a track; a moving element configured to move on the track, the moving element including: a main body; a sidecar; and an actuation mechanism, the actuation mechanism including: an actuator; and a sidecar linkage connecting the sidecar to the actuator, wherein the main body and sidecar are independently moveable relative to each other and the sidecar linkage is configured such that movement of the sidecar and/or main body relative to each other provides energy to the actuation mechanism. A method of actuation for a linear motor conveyor system, the method including providing a sidecar with a sidecar linkage connecting the sidecar to a main body of a moving element; and independently moving the sidecar and/or the main body relative to each other such that the sidecar linkage provides energy to an actuator provided to the moving element.

Abstract: An automation system including a primary conveyor, the system including: an auxiliary conveyor provided to an overlap portion in which the auxiliary conveyor overlaps with the primary conveyor; wherein the auxiliary conveyor is configured to connect with at least one of the plurality of pallets to control the at least one of the plurality of pallets to augment the function of the primary conveyor. A method for controlling an automation system including: providing an auxiliary conveyor in an overlap portion of the automation system, wherein the auxiliary conveyor is configured to connect with at least one of a plurality of pallets; and when the at least one of the plurality of pallets is in the overlap portion, selectively connecting the auxiliary conveyor to the at least one of the plurality of pallets to provide functions to the automation system not available using the primary conveyor.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

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: 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 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: 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: 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: 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.

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: 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: 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 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.

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.