公开(公告)号：US11667480B2

公开(公告)日：2023-06-06

申请号：US17350682

申请日：2021-06-17

Applicant: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.

Inventor： Kyle A. Crum ,  Robert H. Schmidt ,  David A. Vasko ,  Neil R. Bentley ,  Tracy M. Clark ,  Michael D. Cook

IPC: B65G47/90 ,  B65G47/38 ,  B65G35/08 ,  B65G54/02 ,  B25J9/00 ,  B61C13/04

CPC classification number: B65G47/90 ,  B25J9/0093 ,  B61C13/04 ,  B65G35/08 ,  B65G47/38 ,  B65G2203/0266 ,  B65G2207/02

Abstract: An industrial transportation system includes one or more movers and a robot system. The robot system is configured to load one or more items on the surface of respective movers and unload the one or more items from the surface of respective movers. Each of the one or more movers includes a first surface configured to provide reversible adhesion between the mover and an item loaded on the mover. The reversible adhesion of the surface is activated at loading and deactivated at unloading.

公开(公告)号：US20210403762A1

公开(公告)日：2021-12-30

申请号：US17350455

申请日：2021-06-17

Applicant: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.

Inventor： Kyle A. Crum ,  Robert H. Schmidt ,  David A. Vasko ,  Neil R. Bentley ,  Tracy M. Clark ,  Michael D. Cook

IPC: C09J7/20

Abstract: A reversible adhesive apparatus includes a base and an adhesive layer. The base is configured with a series of concave and convex shapes at a top surface of the base according to some embodiments. The base is configured with a raised portion and a surrounding portion at a top surface of the base according to some other embodiments. The adhesive layer is disposed on top of the base. The adhesive layer configured to provide reversible adhesion on a top surface of the adhesive layer.

公开(公告)号：US10432117B1

公开(公告)日：2019-10-01

申请号：US16015699

申请日：2018-06-22

Applicant: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.

Inventor： Yuhong Huang ,  Oliver C. Haya ,  Neil R. Bentley ,  Robert H. Schmidt ,  Eric J. Wildi

IPC: H02P7/025 ,  H02K41/035 ,  H02K11/21 ,  B65G23/00 ,  B65G51/03 ,  B65G43/00 ,  H02K11/35 ,  H04L29/08

Abstract: An improved system and method for monitoring operation of movers in an independent cart system reduces the required communication bandwidth for monitoring operation of movers in a system where control is distributed among multiple controllers spaced along the track. As the mover is travelling along the track segment, each distributed controller monitors at least one operating characteristic of the mover. As a mover travels along the track, each distributed controller transmits the operating characteristic to a successive distributed controller, such the monitored operating characteristic is transmitted along the track as the mover travels along the track. At a reduced rate or upon request from a central controller, each distributed controller may transmit the status of a mover present on the corresponding track segment controlled by that distributed controller to the central controller.

公开(公告)号：US20210234488A1

公开(公告)日：2021-07-29

申请号：US17228944

申请日：2021-04-13

Applicant: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.

Inventor： Xikai Sun ,  Jadav Das ,  Tracy M. Clark ,  Robert H. Schmidt ,  Neil R. Bentley

IPC: H02P25/064 ,  B65G23/23 ,  H02K41/03 ,  H02K11/00 ,  H02K11/04 ,  B65G35/06

Abstract: A system for wirelessly transmitting power between a track and independent movers in a motion control system includes a pick-up coil provided proximate to the magnets on the movers. The fundamental component of the voltage applied to the drive coils interacts primarily with the magnetic field generated by the permanent magnets on the movers and not with the pick-up coil. Consequently, the pick-up coil does not interfere with desired operation of the movers but rather, interacts primarily with the harmonic components and has current and voltages induced within the pick-up coil as a result of the harmonic components. The energy captured by the pick-up coil reduces the amplitude of eddy currents on the mover. After harvesting the harmonic content, the pick-up coil may be connected to another circuit on the mover and serve as a supply voltage for the other circuit.

公开(公告)号：US10720864B2

公开(公告)日：2020-07-21

申请号：US16560243

申请日：2019-09-04

Applicant: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.

Inventor： Yuhong Huang ,  Oliver C. Haya ,  Neil R. Bentley ,  Robert H. Schmidt ,  Eric J. Wildi

IPC: H02P7/025 ,  H02K41/035 ,  H02K11/21 ,  B65G23/00 ,  B65G51/03 ,  B65G43/00 ,  H02K11/35 ,  H04L29/08

Abstract: An improved system and method for monitoring operation of movers in an independent cart system reduces the required communication bandwidth for monitoring operation of movers in a system where control is distributed among multiple controllers spaced along the track. As the mover is travelling along the track segment, each distributed controller monitors at least one operating characteristic of the mover. As a mover travels along the track, each distributed controller transmits the operating characteristic to a successive distributed controller, such the monitored operating characteristic is transmitted along the track as the mover travels along the track. At a reduced rate or upon request from a central controller, each distributed controller may transmit the status of a mover present on the corresponding track segment controlled by that distributed controller to the central controller.

公开(公告)号：US20190393813A1

公开(公告)日：2019-12-26

申请号：US16560243

申请日：2019-09-04

Applicant: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.

Inventor： Yuhong Huang ,  Oliver C. Haya ,  Neil R. Bentley ,  Robert H. Schmidt ,  Eric J. Wildi

IPC: H02P7/025 ,  B65G51/03 ,  B65G23/00 ,  B65G43/00 ,  H02K11/35 ,  H02K41/035 ,  H02K11/21

Abstract: An improved system and method for monitoring operation of movers in an independent cart system reduces the required communication bandwidth for monitoring operation of movers in a system where control is distributed among multiple controllers spaced along the track. As the mover is travelling along the track segment, each distributed controller monitors at least one operating characteristic of the mover. As a mover travels along the track, each distributed controller transmits the operating characteristic to a successive distributed controller, such the monitored operating characteristic is transmitted along the track as the mover travels along the track. At a reduced rate or upon request from a central controller, each distributed controller may transmit the status of a mover present on the corresponding track segment controlled by that distributed controller to the central controller.

公开(公告)号：US11829158B2

公开(公告)日：2023-11-28

申请号：US17411791

申请日：2021-08-25

Applicant: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.

Inventor： Yuhong Huang ,  Tracy M. Clark ,  Jason A. Young ,  Neil R. Bentley ,  Jesse R. Mendenhall

IPC: G05D1/02

CPC classification number: G05D1/0293 ,  G05D1/0223 ,  G05D1/0276 ,  G05D1/0295

Abstract: Synchronization of multiple vehicles in an independent cart system to reduce spacing and increase throughput designates one of the movers as a leader and at least one additional mover as a follower, defining a chain of vehicles. A motion command for the chain is provided to a controller for the leader, and the controller generates a motion profile. The controller passes this motion profile to a controller for each of the follower movers. If the follower is unable to maintain the motion profile for the leader, the controller for the follower generates a message to the controller for the leader indicating a modification to the motion profile is required. The controller for the leader modifies the motion profile and forwards the modified motion profile to controllers for each follower. If all movers are following the modified profile, the controller for the leader may return to the original motion profile.

公开(公告)号：US20230068768A1

公开(公告)日：2023-03-02

申请号：US17411791

申请日：2021-08-25

Applicant: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.

Inventor： Yuhong Huang ,  Tracy M. Clark ,  Jason A. Young ,  Neil R. Bentley ,  Jesse R. Mendenhall

IPC: G05D1/02

Abstract: Synchronization of multiple vehicles in an independent cart system to reduce spacing and increase throughput designates one of the movers as a leader and at least one additional mover as a follower, defining a chain of vehicles. A motion command for the chain is provided to a controller for the leader, and the controller generates a motion profile. The controller passes this motion profile to a controller for each of the follower movers. If the follower is unable to maintain the motion profile for the leader, the controller for the follower generates a message to the controller for the leader indicating a modification to the motion profile is required. The controller for the leader modifies the motion profile and forwards the modified motion profile to controllers for each follower. If all movers are following the modified profile, the controller for the leader may return to the original motion profile.

公开(公告)号：US20210403252A1

公开(公告)日：2021-12-30

申请号：US17350682

申请日：2021-06-17

Applicant: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.

Inventor： Kyle A. Crum ,  Robert H. Schmidt ,  David A. Vasko ,  Neil R. Bentley ,  Tracy M. Clark ,  Michael D. Cook

IPC: B65G47/90 ,  B65G47/38 ,  B61C13/04 ,  B25J9/00 ,  B65G35/08

Abstract: An industrial transportation system includes one or more movers and a robot system. The robot system is configured to load one or more items on the surface of respective movers and unload the one or more items from the surface of respective movers. Each of the one or more movers includes a first surface configured to provide reversible adhesion between the mover and an item loaded on the mover. The reversible adhesion of the surface is activated at loading and deactivated at unloading.

公开(公告)号：US20210099119A1

公开(公告)日：2021-04-01

申请号：US16587177

申请日：2019-09-30

Applicant: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.

Inventor： Xikai Sun ,  Jadav Das ,  Tracy M. Clark ,  Robert H. Schmidt ,  Neil R. Bentley

IPC: H02P25/064 ,  H02K11/00 ,  H02K11/04 ,  H02K41/03 ,  B65G35/06 ,  B65G23/23

Abstract: A system for wirelessly transmitting power between a track and independent movers in a motion control system includes a pick-up coil provided proximate to the magnets on the movers. The fundamental component of the voltage applied to the drive coils interacts primarily with the magnetic field generated by the permanent magnets on the movers and not with the pick-up coil. Consequently, the pick-up coil does not interfere with desired operation of the movers but rather, interacts primarily with the harmonic components and has current and voltages induced within the pick-up coil as a result of the harmonic components. The energy captured by the pick-up coil reduces the amplitude of eddy currents on the mover. After harvesting the harmonic content, the pick-up coil may be connected to another circuit on the mover and serve as a supply voltage for the other circuit.