# US 11,440,748 B2 · Linear motor conveyor system for clean/aseptic environments > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,440,748 B2 - Document ID: US11440748B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/944,951 - Filed: 2020-07-31 - Published: 2020-11-19 - Granted: 2022-09-13 - Earliest claimed: 2018-02-02 - Applicants: Ats Automation Tooling Systems Inc. - Inventors: Louis Ian Cameron; Albert Kleinikkink; Roger Hogan; Martin John Juritsch; Bradley James Woodward; Blake Robert Lambert - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11440748B2 ## CPC - B65G 54/02: electrostatic, electric, or magnetic - H02K 5/10: with arrangements for protection from ingress, e.g. water or fingers - B65G 21/2054: {comprising elements movable in the direction of load-transport} - B65G 21/22: Rails or the like engaging sliding elements or rollers attached to load-carriers or traction elements - H02K 9/08: by gaseous cooling medium circulating wholly within the machine casing (H02K9/10 takes precedence) - H02K 41/02: Linear motors; Sectional motors - H02K 41/03: Synchronous motors; Motors moving step by step; Reluctance motors (H02K41/035 takes precedence) - B65G 2203/0266: relating to the load carrier(s) - B65G 2203/042: Sensors - B65G 2207/48: Wear protection or indication features - H02K 2213/12: Machines characterised by the modularity of some components - B65G: TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS (packaging B65B; handling thin or filamentary materials, e.g. paper sheets or thread, B65H; cranes B66C; portable mobile or lifting or hauling appliances, e.g. hoists, B66D; devices for lifting or lowering goods for loading or unloading purposes, e.g. fork-lift trucks, B66F9/00; emptying bottles, jars, casks, barrels or similar containers, not otherwise provided for, B67C9/00; delivering or transferring liquids B67D; filling or discharging vessels for liquefied, solidified or compressed gases F17C; pipe-line systems for fluids F17D) - H02K: DYNAMO-ELECTRIC MACHINES (dynamo-electric relays H01H53/00; conversion of DC or AC input power into surge output power {H03K3/53}) ## Abstract 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A linear motor conveyor system comprising: 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, wherein the stepped groove comprises: a rear gap portion sized to receive the gasket; and a front gap portion sized to enable a bearing to ride along the track section while promoting cleaning of the front gap portion. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A linear motor conveyor system according to claim 1, wherein the rear gap portion comprises a gap of between 1 and 5 mm; and the front gap portion comprises a gap of between 0.25 and 0.5 mm. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A linear motor conveyor system according to claim 1, wherein the front gap portion is more steeply angled than the rear gap portion. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A linear motor conveyor system according to claim 1, further comprising an internal cooling system configured to draw air inwards towards the electronic circuitry housed within the track system. ### Claim 5 A linear motor conveyor system comprising: at least one track section comprising: a guide rail portion configured to support a moving element transporting an object; an angled top portion configured to direct air flow to contact the object prior to another element of the linear motor conveyor system; and a curved edge connecting the angled top to the guide rail portion, wherein the curved edge is configured to reduce air recirculation. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) A linear motor conveyor system according to claim 5, wherein the at least one track section further comprises a plurality of sensors provided to read a machine readable medium located on the moving element, wherein the plurality of sensors are sealed within the at least one track section. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) A linear motor conveyor system according to claim 6, wherein the plurality of sensors are sealed by stainless steel tape. ### Claim 8 A conveyor system comprising: at least one track section comprising: a first guide rail having a protrusion with opposing angled profiles; a second guide rail having a flat profile; electronic circuitry housed within a body of the track section; a rotatable segment configured to provide access to the electronic circuitry, the rotatable segment having an end profile that abuts another track section to form a stepped groove sealed by a gasket; an angled top configured to direct air flow around the track section; a curved edge between the first guide rail and the angled top configured to reduce air recirculation; and a plurality of sensors sealed within a top portion of the track section; and at least one moving element comprising: a body; a first set of bearings attached to the body and configured to abut against the opposing angled profiles of the protrusion on the first guide rail; a second set of bearings attached to the body and configured to abut against the second guide rail; and a machine readable medium configured to be read by the plurality of sensors. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) A conveyor system according to claim 8 wherein the conveyor system further comprises a solid lubricant. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) A conveyor system according to claim 9 wherein the solid lubricant is polytetrafluoroethylene. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) A conveyor system according to claim 8, wherein the plurality of sensors are sealed by stainless steel tape. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) A conveyor system according to claim 8, wherein the stepped groove comprises: a rear gap portion comprising a gap of between 1 and 5 mm; and a front gap portion comprising a gap of between 0.25 and 0.5 mm. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) A conveyor system according to claim 8, wherein the stepped groove comprises: a rear gap portion sized to receive the gasket; and a front gap portion sized to enable a bearing to ride along the track section while promoting cleaning of the front gap portion. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) A conveyor system according to claim 13, wherein the front gap portion is more steeply angled than the rear gap portion. ### Claim 15 (depends on 8) A conveyor system according to claim 8, further comprising an internal cooling system configured to draw air inwards towards the electronic circuitry housed within the track section.