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US 10,947,049 B2Granted
Conveyor system with automated carriers
AssigneeSST Systems, Inc.
InventorsChad Martin Andreae, Bradley M. Andreae, Stephen C. Mann, Anthony C. Scoville
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A conveyor system comprising a fixed, non-powered rail defining a conveyor path and an automated conveyor carrier (ACC) supported on the rail to be movable along the conveyor path. The ACC includes an on-board motor and an on-board electrical power source selectively powering the on-board motor to drive the ACC along the rail. The ACC may include a wireless sleep mode module operable to selectively shut off power to an on-board ACC controller.
Claims20
A conveyor system comprising:
- a fixed, non-powered rail defining a conveyor path;
- an automated conveyor carrier (ACC) supported by the rail, the ACC comprising an on-board motor, an on-board electrical power source, and an on-board controller selectively powering the on-board motor, the on-board controller comprising an inverter configured to power the on-board motor from the on-board electrical power source according to a drive signal from the on-board controller, and a wireless communication module configured to communicate electrical signals with at least one external wireless device;
- and
- a sleep mode module on-board the ACC comprising a secondary wireless communication module and a processor, the sleep mode module configured to selectively turn on and turn off power from the on-board power source to the on-board controller,
- wherein the ACC is operable in a first mode to power the on-board motor and drive the ACC along the rail according to the drive signal from the on-board controller;
- wherein the ACC is operable in a second mode in which the on-board controller is actively energized, without driving the ACC along the rail;
- wherein the ACC is operable in a third mode of operation, which is a sleep mode in which power to the on-board controller is shut off and the secondary wireless communication module is powered to wirelessly monitor for a wake signal, the sleep mode module configured to wake the ACC from the sleep mode by re-establishing power to the on-board controller in response to the wake signal.
4 more elements
A method of operating a conveyor system, the method comprising:
- providing a fixed, non-powered rail defining a conveyor path, the rail supporting an automated conveyor carrier (ACC) comprising an on-board motor, an on-board electrical power source, and an on-board controller selectively powering the on-board motor, the on-board controller comprising an inverter powering the on-board motor from the on-board electrical power source according to a drive signal from the on-board controller, and a wireless communication module communicating electrical signals with at least one external wireless device, the ACC having a load suspended therefrom;
- operating the ACC in a first mode to power the on-board motor and drive the ACC along the rail according to the drive signal from the on-board controller;
- operating the ACC in a second mode in which the on-board controller is actively energized, and the ACC remains idle without movement along the rail;
- transitioning the ACC from the second mode into a third mode of operation, which is a sleep mode in which power to the on-board controller is shut off;
- and
- wirelessly monitoring for a wake signal with a secondary wireless communication module on-board the ACC, the secondary wireless communication module re-establishing power to the on-board controller to wake the ACC from the sleep mode in receipt of the wake signal.
3 more elements
A method of operating a conveyor system, the method comprising:
- suspending a load from an automated conveyor carrier (ACC);
- suspending the ACC from a fixed, non-powered rail defining a conveyor path;
- driving the automated conveyor carrier (ACC) along the rail by transmitting electrical power from an on-board battery pack of one or more batteries to an on-board motor under the control of an on-board controller;
- providing secondary power to the ACC while suspended from the rail along the conveyor path, the secondary power being provided by:
- on an outside of a first enclosure containing the on-board battery pack, disconnecting the motor from the on-board controller and the on-board battery pack,
- coupling a secondary battery and a secondary controller to the ACC, and
- connecting power between the secondary battery and the motor through the secondary controller;
- and
- driving the ACC along the rail by transmitting electrical power from the secondary battery to the motor through the secondary controller.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.