Anorad Corporation

Rockwell Automation Technologies Incorporated

Ford Motor Company Limited

Frederick A Sommerhalter, Jr

Anwar K Chitayat

Mustansir A Faizullabhoy

Nandakumar Thirunarayan

Gerald Liam Swift

Robert A Syskowski

Michael H Backman

Richard Ogletree

John Floresta

Claude Chirignan

Chris Stollberger

Charles L Jerzycke

Stephen R Safranek

A linear controlled motion system include 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. The ends of each track section of the magnetic linear motion motor may include end teeth that have a small recess in the top portion thereof. The recesses may be sized to fit the lip of a cover placed over the track section so that the ends of each track section form substantially smooth and planar surfaces that may be joined together to substantially eliminate any air gap between the joined track sections.

Controlled motion system having end teeth to facilitate the formation of a magnetic flux bridge joining linear motor sections

A system, method and apparatus for controlling a linear stage a pallet is described herein. In one aspect, a conveyor system includes a conveyor pallet that includes a first mobile magnetic component and a second mobile magnetic component. A first stationary magnetic component can magnetically engage the first mobile magnetic component. A second stationary magnetic component can magnetically engage the second mobile magnetic component. A first controller can activate a first magnetic displacement between the first stationary magnetic component and the first mobile magnetic component when the conveyor pallet is in a first range of positions. A second controller can activate a second magnetic displacement between the second stationary magnetic component and the second mobile magnetic component when the conveyor pallet is in a second range of positions.

Direct drive transport system

A linear actuator, method manufacturing and method of using the linear actuator are provided. The invention includes a linear actuator having a plurality of annular magnets surrounded by a bobbin assembly having a coil system. The plurality of annular magnets can be arranged with alternating polarity. The bobbin assembly can be movable along a longitudinal axis extending through the plurality of annular magnets and can further comprise a coil system having coils arranged to, when energized, interact with at least one of the plurality of annular magnets to move the bobbin in a linear mode. Thus, by selectively energizing one or more of the coils, a motive force can be generated on the bobbin assembly by interacting with fields generated by the plurality of annular magnets.

Apparatus, method of manufacturing and method of using a linear actuator

An armature assembly that may be encapsulated and a corresponding method to encapsulate a motor assembly are disclosed. The armature assembly includes a core having slots in which one or more windings are disposed. An outer covering, such as a thermally conductive thermoplastic material, encapsulates at least a substantial portion of the armature assembly. Some of the encapsulating material extends within the slots so as to facilitate its attachment to the assembly and/or to inhibit movement of the windings relative to their associated slots.

Encapsulated armature assembly and method of encapsulating an armature assembly

A linear actuator, method of manufacturing and method of using the linear actuator are provided. The invention includes a linear actuator having a plurality of annular magnets surrounded by a bobbin assembly having a coil system. The plurality of annular magnets can be arranged with alternating polarity. The bobbin assembly can be movable along a longitudinal axis extending through the plurality of annular magnets and can further comprise a coil system having coils arranged to, when energized, interact with at least one of the plurality of annular magnets to move the bobbin in a linear mode. Thus, by selectively energizing one or more of the coils, a motive force can be generated on the bobbin assembly by interacting with fields generated by the plurality of annular magnets.

A path for a linear motor system includes routing system between a trunk of the path and two or more branches. The routing system is operative to couple the trunk with a selected branch to enable a stage to travel between the trunk and the selected branch. The routing system includes armature windings that may be energized to effect movement of the stage in a desired direction between the trunk and the selected branch.

Path arrangement for a multi-track linear motor system and method to control same

A linear motor assembly having enhanced mechanical stiffness, comprising: (a) at least one pair of rigidly interconnected tandem rails defining a first axis of movement and spaced apart normal to such first axis; (b) at least one pair of frames movable along said pair of rails, each frame presenting at least one pair of opposed parallel bearing surfaces; (c) at least one linear motor effective to operate between each rail and frame; (d) bearings supported between each rail and each bearing surface of each frame, said bearings being preloaded with an interference load while permitting bearing movement; and (e) support structure between said frames defining axes of movement actuated by other linear motors.

Growing community of inventors

Oyster Bay, NY, United States of America

Frederick A Sommerhalter, Jr