Ats Automation Tooling Systems Inc.

Ats, Inc.

Graham Knap

Albert Kleinikkink

John Ditner

Ryan Chubb

Don Mowat

Ryan Scott

Allan Dubeau

A curvilinear track section of a linear motor system for use with a moving element including a machine readable medium, the track section including: a curvilinear track portion having a predetermined curved shape; a plurality of sensors provided to the track portion such that each of the plurality of sensors is oriented perpendicular to the direction of motion while the plurality of sensors are placed along the direction of motion and the plurality of sensors are configured such that the machine readable medium will overlap at least two of the plurality of sensors at the same time; and a processor configured to determine a position of the moving element on the curvilinear track section based on the readings from the sensors.

Curvilinear track sections having position sensors

A method for manufacturing a curvilinear track section including: forming a curvilinear track portion; cutting out a first slot grouping from an exterior edge of the curvilinear track portion, wherein the first slot grouping is at a first predetermined angle; cutting out a second slot grouping from the exterior edge of the curvilinear track portion, wherein the second slot grouping is at a second predetermined angle; and inserting motor units into the first and second slot groupings. A curvilinear track section having: a curvilinear track portion; a first slot grouping formed in an exterior edge of the curvilinear track portion, wherein the first slot grouping is at a predetermined angle relative to the exterior edge; a second slot grouping formed in the exterior edge of the curvilinear track portion, wherein the second slot grouping is at a second predetermined angle; and motor units inserted into the first and second slot groupings.

Method for manufacturing a curvilinear track section

Linear motor system with powered curvilinear track sections

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.

System and method for tracking a moving element in a conveyor system

A system for controlling moving elements including: a zone controller; a first network and a second network; at least one first motor gateway associated with a portion of the conveyor and assigned to the first network; and at least one second motor gateway associated with a different portion of the conveyor and assigned to the second network; wherein the zone controller and the motor gateways are configured to: communicate data to control the moving elements via the first and second networks in a structured manner to compensate for network or processing timing. A method for controlling moving elements including: communicating data related to control of the moving element conveyor, in a structured manner to compensate for network or processing timing, between a zone controller and first and second motor gateways.

Growing community of inventors

Cambridge, Canada

Graham Knap