Patents by Inventor Glen C. Wernersbach
Glen C. Wernersbach 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: 20190177097Abstract: A transport system comprising linear motor modules utilized both straight and curved track modules, with movers displaced on the track modules by control of power applied to coils of the modules. Curved track modules have modified spline geometries to provide desired acceleration and jerk characteristics. The modified spline geometries may be defined by more than one generators, such as an equation generator and a spline fit between the equation-generated segment and one or more constrained points or locations. The curved track modules may be divided into 180 degree modules, or may be reduced to 90 degree, 45 degree or other fractional arcs to provide for modular assembly, mirror-image geometries and motion profiles, and the like. The system may be adapted to provide improved motion characteristics based on modification of a conventional spline geometry.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 21, 2019Publication date: June 13, 2019Inventors: Glen C. Wernersbach, Marc D. Koeppel, Keith G. Jacobs
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Patent number: 10310474Abstract: An industrial system and method for monitoring and analyzing industrial operations such that data is obtained from one or more sensors of one or more industrial components and transmitted to a master controller as a data stream through a communication network, the transmitted data is captured, copied, and stored for analysis without interfering with the data stream.Type: GrantFiled: February 11, 2016Date of Patent: June 4, 2019Inventors: Philip Wernersbach, Glen C. Wernersbach
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Patent number: 10280016Abstract: Present embodiments include a linear drive transport system. The system includes a plurality of fixed tracks and a junction track disposed on a conveyor configured to align the junction track with each of the plurality of fixed tracks. The plurality of fixed tracks and the junction track include one of electromagnetic coils or permanent magnets arranged in series along the respective plurality of fixed tracks and the junction track. Further, present embodiments include a plurality of movers configured to move along the fixed tracks and configured to transition between each of the plurality of fixed tracks and the junction track when aligned, wherein the movers comprise the other of the electromagnetic coils or the permanent magnets.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2018Date of Patent: May 7, 2019Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Glen C. Wernersbach, Keith G. Jacobs, Dean L. Higgins, James A. Craver, Peter T. Boyle
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Publication number: 20190131907Abstract: A controlled motion system having a plurality of movers controlled as they travel along both smart and simple sections of a track. The controlled motion system comprises a control system for controlling the speed of a mover as it travels along a simple section, and permits the pitch or distance between movers to increase or decrease as they travel along a simple section. In a preferred embodiment the controlled motion system includes at least one coupling feature having a driving feature on a simple section for engaging and operably driving a driven feature on each mover such that positive control of each mover is maintained throughout its transition from a smart section to a simple section.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 27, 2018Publication date: May 2, 2019Inventors: Glen C. Wernersbach, Keith G. Jacobs
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Patent number: 10273094Abstract: A transport system comprising linear motor modules utilized both straight and curved track modules, with movers displaced on the track modules by control of power applied to coils of the modules. Curved track modules have modified spline geometries to provide desired acceleration and jerk characteristics. The modified spline geometries may be defined by more than one generators, such as an equation generator and a spline fit between the equation-generated segment and one or more constrained points or locations. The curved track modules may be divided into 180 degree modules, or may be reduced to 90 degree, 45 degree or other fractional arcs to provide for modular assembly, mirror-image geometries and motion profiles, and the like. The system may be adapted to provide improved motion characteristics based on modification of a conventional spline geometry.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 2016Date of Patent: April 30, 2019Assignee: Rockwell Automation, Inc.Inventors: Glen C. Wernersbach, Marc D. Koeppel, Keith G. Jacobs
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Patent number: 10243441Abstract: A linear controlled motion system comprises a track formed from one or more track sections and having at least one mover mounted to the track and effective for receiving articles at one location and transporting the articles to another location. The system includes at least one magnetic linear motion motor for providing a magnetic field effective for moving each mover in a controlled motion along the track and a magnetic flux bridge for reducing changes in the magnetic flux that reduces the efficiency or interferes with the operation of the controlled motion system.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2014Date of Patent: March 26, 2019Assignee: Rockwell Automation, Inc.Inventors: Keith G. Jacobs, Glen C. Wernersbach
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Patent number: 10193484Abstract: A controlled motion system having a plurality of movers controlled as they travel along both smart and simple sections of a track. The controlled motion system comprises a control system for controlling the speed of a mover as it travels along a simple section, and permits the pitch or distance between movers to increase or decrease as they travel along a simple section. In a preferred embodiment the controlled motion system includes at least one coupling feature having a driving feature on a simple section for engaging and operably driving a driven feature on each mover such that positive control of each mover is maintained throughout its transition from a smart section to a simple section.Type: GrantFiled: February 17, 2017Date of Patent: January 29, 2019Assignee: Rockwell Automation, Inc.Inventors: Glen C. Wernersbach, Keith G. Jacobs
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Publication number: 20180373255Abstract: A moving system comprising a master controller for monitoring and controlling a master operation comprising one or more individual movers such that each mover arrives at predefined end point at selected times. Each mover includes a mover control system that interacts with the master controller and has a predefined virtual vector path with one or more defined end points. The predefined virtual vector path comprises a plurality of discrete points, wherein each discrete point has a vector axis for use by the master controller and the mover control system to direct the mover to move such that it arrives at each defined end point at a selected time. In operation, the master controller functions to modify the predefined virtual path and sends commands to the mover control system in response to changes in the master operations.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 4, 2018Publication date: December 27, 2018Inventor: Glen C. Wernersbach
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Patent number: 10105849Abstract: A manufacturing system having a master controller for monitoring and controlling a master axis of a manufacturing line and one or more individual robotic apparatus with an end point capable of performing two dimensional or three dimensional movements and a robotic control system that interacts with the master controller such that standard motion commands from the master controller are used to modify the end points in response to changes in the master axis.Type: GrantFiled: July 14, 2015Date of Patent: October 23, 2018Inventor: Glen C Wernersbach
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Patent number: 10108193Abstract: A moving system comprising a master controller for monitoring and controlling a master operation comprising one or more individual movers such that each mover arrives at predefined end point at selected times. Each mover includes a mover control system that interacts with the master controller and has a predefined virtual vector path with one or more defined end points. The predefined virtual vector path comprises a plurality of discrete points, wherein each discrete point has a vector axis for use by the master controller and the mover control system to direct the mover to move such that it arrives at each defined end point at a selected time. In operation, the master controller functions to modify the predefined virtual path and sends commands to the mover control system in response to changes in the master operations.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 2016Date of Patent: October 23, 2018Inventor: Glen C Wernersbach
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Publication number: 20180237232Abstract: Present embodiments include a linear drive transport system. The system includes a plurality of fixed tracks and a junction track disposed on a conveyor configured to align the junction track with each of the plurality of fixed tracks. The plurality of fixed tracks and the junction track include one of electromagnetic coils or permanent magnets arranged in series along the respective plurality of fixed tracks and the junction track. Further, present embodiments include a plurality of movers configured to move along the fixed tracks and configured to transition between each of the plurality of fixed tracks and the junction track when aligned, wherein the movers comprise the other of the electromagnetic coils or the permanent magnets.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 24, 2018Publication date: August 23, 2018Inventors: Glen C. Wernersbach, Keith G. Jacobs, Dean L. Higgins, James A. Craver, Peter T. Boyle
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Patent number: 9957119Abstract: A linear drive transport system includes a plurality of fixed tracks and a junction track disposed on a conveyor configured to align the junction track with each of the plurality of fixed tracks. The plurality of fixed tracks and the junction track include one of electromagnetic coils or permanent magnets arranged in series along the respective plurality of fixed tracks and the junction track. In addition, the linear drive transport system includes a plurality of movers configured to move along the fixed tracks and configured to transition between each of the plurality of fixed tracks and the junction track when aligned, wherein the movers comprise the other of the electromagnetic coils or the permanent magnets.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 2017Date of Patent: May 1, 2018Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies Inc.Inventors: Glen C. Wernersbach, Keith G. Jacobs, Dean L. Higgins, James A. Craver, Peter T. Boyle
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Publication number: 20170344009Abstract: A moving system comprising a master controller for monitoring and controlling a master operation comprising one or more individual movers such that each mover arrives at predefined end point at selected times. Each mover includes a mover control system that interacts with the master controller and has a predefined virtual vector path with one or more defined end points. The predefined virtual vector path comprises a plurality of discrete points, wherein each discrete point has a vector axis for use by the master controller and the mover control system to direct the mover to move such that it arrives at each defined end point at a selected time. In operation, the master controller functions to modify the predefined virtual path and sends commands to the mover control system in response to changes in the master operations.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 27, 2016Publication date: November 30, 2017Inventor: Glen C. Wernersbach
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Publication number: 20170235292Abstract: An industrial system and method for monitoring and analyzing industrial operations such that data is obtained from one or more sensors of one or more industrial components and transmitted to a master controller as a data stream through a communication network, the transmitted data is captured, copied, and stored for analysis without interfering with the data stream.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 11, 2016Publication date: August 17, 2017Inventors: Philip Wernersbach, Glen C. Wernersbach
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Publication number: 20170183170Abstract: Present embodiments include a linear drive transport system. The system includes a plurality of fixed tracks and a junction track disposed on a conveyor configured to align the junction track with each of the plurality of fixed tracks. The plurality of fixed tracks and the junction track include one of electromagnetic coils or permanent magnets arranged in series along the respective plurality of fixed tracks and the junction track. Further, present embodiments include a plurality of movers configured to move along the fixed tracks and configured to transition between each of the plurality of fixed tracks and the junction track when aligned, wherein the movers comprise the other of the electromagnetic coils or the permanent magnets.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 10, 2017Publication date: June 29, 2017Inventors: Glen C. Wernersbach, Keith G. Jacobs, Dean L. Higgins, James A. Craver, Peter T. Boyle
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Publication number: 20170163197Abstract: A controlled motion system having a plurality of movers controlled as they travel along both smart and simple sections of a track. The controlled motion system comprises a control system for controlling the speed of a mover as it travels along a simple section, and permits the pitch or distance between movers to increase or decrease as they travel along a simple section. In a preferred embodiment the controlled motion system includes at least one coupling feature having a driving feature on a simple section for engaging and operably driving a driven feature on each mover such that positive control of each mover is maintained throughout its transition from a smart section to a simple section.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 17, 2017Publication date: June 8, 2017Inventors: Glen C. Wernersbach, Keith G. Jacobs
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Patent number: 9611107Abstract: Present embodiments include a linear drive transport system. The system includes a plurality of fixed tracks and a junction track disposed on a conveyor configured to align the junction track with each of the plurality of fixed tracks. The plurality of fixed tracks and the junction track include one of electromagnetic coils or permanent magnets arranged in series along the respective plurality of fixed tracks and the junction track. Further, present embodiments include a plurality of movers configured to move along the fixed tracks and configured to transition between each of the plurality of fixed tracks and the junction track when aligned, wherein the movers comprise the other of the electromagnetic coils or the permanent magnets.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 2014Date of Patent: April 4, 2017Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Glen C. Wernersbach, Keith G. Jacobs, Dean L. Higgins, James A. Craver, Peter T. Boyle
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Publication number: 20170081135Abstract: A transport system comprising linear motor modules utilized both straight and curved track modules, with movers displaced on the track modules by control of power applied to coils of the modules. Curved track modules have modified spline geometries to provide desired acceleration and jerk characteristics. The modified spline geometries may be defined by more than one generators, such as an equation generator and a spline fit between the equation-generated segment and one or more constrained points or locations. The curved track modules may be divided into 180 degree modules, or may be reduced to 90 degree, 45 degree or other fractional arcs to provide for modular assembly, mirror-image geometries and motion profiles, and the like. The system may be adapted to provide improved motion characteristics based on modification of a conventional spline geometry.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 6, 2016Publication date: March 23, 2017Inventors: Glen C. Wernersbach, Marc D. Koeppel, Keith G. Jacobs
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Patent number: 9590539Abstract: A controlled motion system having a plurality of movers controlled as they travel along both smart and simple sections of a track. The controlled motion system comprises a control system for controlling the speed of a mover as it travels along a simple section, and permits the pitch or distance between movers to increase or decrease as they travel along a simple section. In a preferred embodiment the controlled motion system includes at least one coupling feature having a driving feature on a simple section for engaging and operably driving a driven feature on each mover such that positive control of each mover is maintained throughout its transition from a smart section to a simple section.Type: GrantFiled: November 24, 2014Date of Patent: March 7, 2017Assignee: Rockwell Automation, Inc.Inventors: Glen C. Wernersbach, Keith G. Jacobs
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Patent number: 9511681Abstract: A transport system comprising linear motor modules utilized both straight and curved track modules, with movers displaced on the track modules by control of power applied to coils of the modules. Curved track modules have modified spline geometries to provide desired acceleration and jerk characteristics. The modified spline geometries may be defined by more than one generators, such as an equation generator and a spline fit between the equation-generated segment and one or more constrained points or locations. The curved track modules may be divided into 180 degree modules, or may be reduced to 90 degree, 45 degree or other fractional arcs to provide for modular assembly, mirror-image geometries and motion profiles, and the like. The system may be adapted to provide improved motion characteristics based on modification of a conventional spline geometry.Type: GrantFiled: May 9, 2014Date of Patent: December 6, 2016Assignee: Rockwell Automation, Inc.Inventors: Glen C. Wernersbach, Marc D. Koeppel, Keith G. Jacobs