Ats, Inc.

Ats Automation Tooling Systems Inc.

Other

Roger Hogan

Albert Kleinikkink

Blake Robert Lambert

Kenneth Wayne Nicholson

Ian Cameron

Philip David Munroe

Louis Ian Cameron

David Andrew Tait

Martin John Juritsch

Gustavo Barea

Bradley James Woodward

Robert James MacGregor

James Mark McLean

Michael Barclay

Steve Aikens

John Ditner

Jayson Jones

Anton Dolgovykh

Braden Jon Guenther

Jonathan Coulombe

Amir Rajabi

Clayton Ditzend

Richard Lees

Paul Green

Robert James Macgregor

Stephen Aikens

James Mark Mclean

Andrew McKAY

Evan Walsh

Phillip David Monroe

Albert John Kleinikkink

An O-ring processing station for an automated mass production system includes: (a) at least one feed device operable to control discharge of O-rings from an output end of the feed device; (b) an indexing device having a plurality of O-ring retainers, the indexing device operable to advance each retainer to a loading position in alignment with the output end for receiving an O-ring from the feed device, and an unloading position spaced apart from the loading position for unloading the O-ring from the retainer; and (c) a pick-and-place robot including at least one end effector movable between a pick-up position in alignment with a retainer at the unloading position for removing the O-ring from the retainer, and a drop-off position spaced apart from the pick-up position for installation of the O-ring onto a workpiece.

Automated O-ring processing stations and related methods

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.

Conveyor system using moving elements to adjust part pitch

A system and method for supporting and connecting conveyor track sections. The system including a mounting stand including: a base configured to connect with a stable surface; and a plurality of adjustable sections, with at least one of each of the plurality of adjustable sections being adjustable in relation to the base and the track section in at least one of at least 5 degrees of freedom, wherein at least some of the plurality of adjustable sections connect with the track sections. The method including: installing and securing a mounting stand on a stable surface; attaching a temporary clamp to align adjacent track sections; adjusting the mounting stand about at least 5 degrees of freedom to match with the adjacent track sections; connecting the mounting stand to the adjacent track sections while maintaining the alignment provided by the temporary clamp; and releasing the temporary clamp.

System and method for supporting and connecting conveyor track

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.

System and method for controlling a moving element on a curved track in a conveyor system

A method of inverting workpieces in a mass production process includes: advancing an end effector in electronic synchronization with advancement of a carrier to synchronize arrival of the carrier at a stop position with arrival of the end effector at an unloading position, in which the end effector is in alignment with a workpiece held by the carrier for engaging the workpiece; while the end effector is in engagement with the workpiece, retracting the end effector away from the carrier to unload the workpiece from the carrier and advancing the end effector back toward the carrier to load the workpiece back into the carrier; and rotating the end effector relative to the carrier to invert the workpiece in electronic synchronization with the retracting and advancing of the end effector for loading the workpiece back into the carrier when inverted.

Automated workpiece inversion systems and related methods

A packaging system for film including: a controller; and a seal jaw controlled by the controller, wherein the seal jaw includes: a first sealing bar; a second sealing bar; a servo motor controlling movement of at least one of the first and the second sealing bars between an open position and a closed position, where the sealing bars are in contact; and a pneumatic cylinder, connected with at least one of the first and second sealing bars, and controlling a pressure between the sealing bars when in the closed position. A method of creating a seal in packaging film, the method including: moving, via a servo motor, a first sealing bar and a second sealing bar from an open position to a closed position; and upon reaching the closed position, clamping, via a pneumatic cylinder, the sealing bars to create a seal in the packaging film.

Packaging system and seal jaw for packaging film

A transporting system and method for a linear motor conveyor system, wherein the conveyor system includes at least one moving element and at least one track on which the moving element moves, the transporting system including: a rotatable element; a motor for rotating the rotatable element; a coupler connected to the rotatable element, wherein the coupler is configured to engage with the moving element when the coupler is positioned in a predetermined relationship with the moving element; and a controller configured to: operatively connect with the linear motor conveyor system; and control at least one of the moving element and the rotatable element so that the coupler is positioned in the predetermined relationship with the moving element on the track such that the coupler strips the moving element off the track.

System and method for moving element transport in a conveyor system

A system and method for tracking a location of a moving element on a conveyor system. The system including: magnetic sensors; a magnetic encoder strip that is readable by the magnetic sensors; and a processor for receiving and processing the sensor readings to determine a location of the moving element. The method including: sensing a current location of the moving element, wherein at least one of the magnetic sensors and magnetic encoder are associated with the moving element; and providing a current location to a conveyor system controller. The system may further include: color sensors; and a color gradient encoder strip that is readable by the color sensors, wherein the color gradient encoder strip and color sensors provide moving element location at start up and the magnetic sensors and magnetic encoder strip track moving element location during operation. In this case, the method is adjusted accordingly.

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

A linear motor conveyor system including: a track comprising a shaped guide rail; a plurality of moving elements, each moving element having: a body; at least two bearings supported by the body and configured to match with the shaped guide rail, wherein the bearings are mounted to the moving element such that the moving elements overlap along the direction of the track providing a reduced tooling pitch between the moving elements. A moving element for moving on a track of a conveyor system, the moving element including: a first set of bearings shaped to match with a first shaped guide rail; a second set of bearings configured to abut against a second guide rail; and a body supporting the first and the second bearing, wherein the body is shaped to allow the first bearing to at least partially overlap the body of an adjacent moving element.

Linear motor conveyor system and moving elements therefor providing a reduced tooling pitch

Processing O-rings in an automated mass production system includes advancing an O-ring retainer toward a loading position in alignment with an output end of a feed device, discharging a leading O-ring from the output end in electronic synchronization with advancement of the O-ring retainer to the loading position to initiate loading of the O-ring into the retainer prior to the retainer arriving at the loading position, after loading the O-ring into the retainer, advancing the retainer away from the loading position toward an unloading position, and moving an end effector in electronic synchronization with advancement of the retainer to the unloading position to synchronize arrival of the retainer at the unloading position with arrival of the end effector at a pick-up position in alignment with the O-ring at the unloading position for pick up of the O-ring by the end effector.

A linear motor conveyor system having a moving element comprising a first and a second magnetic element on opposite sides; a first track comprising a first linear motor configured to generate a dynamic magnetic field which acts on the first magnetic element to provide a first dynamic lateral force and a first dynamic longitudinal force; a second track with a transfer region positioned adjacent to the first track, the second track configured to generate a magnetic field that acts on the second magnetic element to provide a second lateral force; and a controller to control the first linear motor such that the first dynamic lateral force is configured to bias the moving element toward the first linear motor until the moving element reaches a switch point in the transfer region, after which the dynamic lateral forces are selectively adjusted to bias the moving element toward the first or second track.

Linear motor conveyor system with diverter and method for design and configuration thereof

A linear motor conveyor system including: at least one track section comprising: electronic circuitry housed within the track section; and a rotatable segment comprising an end profile that abuts another track section to form a stepped groove sealed by a gasket. A moving element for a linear motor conveyor system including: a body; a first set of bearings attached to the body and angled to abut against a first guide rail of a conveyor system having a protrusion with opposing angled profiles; a second set of bearing attached to the body and designed to abut against a flat profile of a second guide rail of the conveyor system. A dry lubricant provided to the body and configured to lubricate a bearing surface of the linear motor conveyor system supporting the first set of bearings.

Linear motor conveyor system for clean/aseptic environments

A linear motor conveyor system including: a plurality of track sections including a track and an interior area; a track cover covering the track of the plurality of track sections; a top plate covering at least a portion of the interior area of the plurality of track sections; at least one top cover covering at least a portion of the top plate and any uncovered portions of the interior area; and a plurality of gaskets providing a seal between the track cover and track, top cover and top plate such that the interior area of the plurality of track sections are sealed. The track cover may be a strong, flexible material configured to wrap along or around the track to cover any joints between track sections and provide a sealed, easy to clean cover.

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Cambridge, Canada

Roger Hogan