US 11,186,302 B2 · Section based safety functions for independent cart applications

Abstract

An independent cart system with safety functions prevents unintended motion independently within different sections of the track while permitting motion along other sections of the track. A safety controller receives one or more input signals corresponding to operating conditions along the track. A safety program executing in the safety controller monitors the state of the input signals to determine whether a safety function is to be executed. When a safety program is executed, the safety controller transmits an output signal to one or more segment controllers present in one section along the track. Each segment controller is responsible for regulating current flow to the coils mounted to the corresponding track segment. In response to the signal from the safety controller, each segment controller in the section controls the power output to the coils along that section of track to achieve the safe operation desired in that segment.

Claims20

Dependent claims

An independent cart system, comprising:

a track having a plurality of track segments, wherein each track segment includes;
a plurality of coils spaced along the track segment, and
a segment controller operative to regulate a current flow in the plurality of coils;
a plurality of movers, wherein each mover includes a set of drive magnets and each mover is configured to travel along the track responsive to an interaction between the set of drive magnets on the mover and an electromagnetic field generated by the current flow in the plurality of coils;
and
a safety controller in communication with the segment controller in at least one of the plurality of track segments, the safety controller including at least one input configured to receive a safety configured to indicate the presence of a technician, wherein the safety controller is operative to:
receive the safety signal at the at least one input,
execute a safety program responsive to receiving the safety signal to achieve a desired safety level, and
transmit an output signal to the segment controller with which the safety controller is in communication responsive to executing the safety program, wherein the segment controller is operative to perform a safety function responsive to receiving the output signal from the safety controller.

6 more elements

A method for implementing a safety function in an independent cart system, wherein the independent cart system includes a track having a plurality of track segments and a plurality of movers configured to travel along the track, the method comprising the steps of:

regulating a current in a plurality of coils present along each track segment, selected from the plurality of track segments, with a segment controller corresponding to each track segment, wherein the current is regulated to control operation of each of the plurality movers present on the corresponding track segment;
receiving at a safety controller an input signal configured to indicate the presence of a technician. Wherein:
the input signal configured for operation at a desired safety level is required in at least one section of the track,
the track includes a plurality of sections defined along the track, and
at least one track segment is present in each of the plurality of sections;
executing a safety program in the safety controller responsive to receiving the input signal, wherein the safety program achieves the desired safety level;
transmitting an output signal from the safety controller to each segment controller corresponding to each track segment within the at least one section of the track in which safe operation is desired;
and
executing a safety function with the segment controller in each track segment within the at least one section of the track in which safe operation is desired responsive to receiving the output signal at the corresponding segment controller.

6 more elements

An independent cart system having a track with a plurality of segments and a plurality of movers configured to travel along the track, the independent cart system comprising:

a plurality of segment controllers, wherein each segment controller corresponds to one of the plurality of segments and is operative to regulate a current output to a plurality of coils spaced along the segment responsive to a motion command for at least one of the plurality of movers located on the segment;
and
a safety controller in communication with each of the plurality of segment controllers, the safety controller including at least one input configured to receive a safety signal configured to indicate the presence of a technician, wherein the safety controller is operative to:
receive the safety signal at the at least one input,
execute a safety program responsive to receiving the safety signal to achieve a desired safety level, and
transmit an output signal to at least one of the plurality of segment controllers with which the safety controller is in communication responsive to executing the safety program, wherein the segment controller is operative to perform a. safety function responsive to receiving the output signal from the safety controller.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Section based safety functions for independent cart applications

Life of this patent

Section based safety functions for independent cart applications

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20