# US 11,440,776 B2 · Monitoring solution for a conveyor system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,440,776 B2 - Document ID: US11440776B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/032,597 - Filed: 2020-09-25 - Published: 2021-01-21 - Granted: 2022-09-13 - Earliest claimed: 2018-04-19 - Assignees: Kone Corporation - Applicants: Kone Corporation - Inventors: Henri Wenlin; Antti Saarelainen; Janne Rossi; Asmo Tenhunen - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11440776B2 ## CPC - B66B 1/3415: {Control system configuration and the data transmission or communication within the control system} - B66B 25/006: {Monitoring for maintenance or repair (for security reasons B66B29/005)} - B66B 1/30: effective on driving gear {, e.g. acting on power electronics, on inverter or rectifier controlled motor} - B66B 1/308: {with AC powered elevator drive} - B66B 1/32: effective on braking devices {, e.g. acting on electrically controlled brakes (brake control H02P, lift brakes per se B66B5/02)} - B66B 1/3461: {between the elevator control system and remote or mobile stations} - B66B 1/3476: {Load weighing or car passenger counting devices (B66B5/14 takes precedence)} - B66B 5/0031: {for safety reasons} - H02P 6/16: Circuit arrangements for detecting position - H02P 6/24: Arrangements for stopping - H02P 29/662: {the rotor having permanent magnets (H02P29/67 takes precedence)} - B66B 23/02: Driving gear - B66B 25/003: {Methods or algorithms therefor} - B66B: ELEVATORS; ESCALATORS OR MOVING WALKWAYS ({apparatus for raising or lowering persons on theatrical stages or the like A63J5/12} ; funicular railbound systems with rigid ground-supported tracks and cable traction, e.g. cliff railways, B61B9/00; arrangements of ammunition handlers in vessels B63G3/00; hoists, lifts, or conveyors for loading or unloading in general B65G; braking or detent devices controlling normal movements of winding drums or barrels B66D; ship-lifting devices E02C; garages for many vehicles with mechanical means for lifting vehicles E04H6/12; hoists for feeding ammunition or projectiles to launching apparatus or to loading mechanisms F41A9/00) - H02P: CONTROL OR REGULATION OF ELECTRIC MOTORS, ELECTRIC GENERATORS OR DYNAMO-ELECTRIC CONVERTERS; CONTROLLING TRANSFORMERS, REACTORS OR CHOKE COILS ## Abstract The present invention relates to a conveyor system comprising: a drive machine, a conveyor control unit configured to control operation of a conveyor device, a sensor array comprising at least one sensor mounted to the drive machine and adapted to measure one or more properties of the drive machine, a processing unit associated with the drive machine, wherein the processing unit is connected to the sensor array and configured to obtain and process measurement data from the sensor array to generate in-formation about an operation of the drive machine, and a communication channel between the conveyor control unit and the processing unit. The conveyor system may be an elevator system, an escalator system or a moving walk system. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A conveyor system wherein the conveyor system comprises: a drive machine, a conveyor control unit configured to control operation of a conveyor device, a sensor array comprising a plurality of sensors mounted directly to the drive machine and adapted to measure different properties of the drive machine, wherein at least one of the plurality of sensors detects a physical property of the drive machine, a processing unit associated with the drive machine and comprising a sensor fusion portion, wherein the processing unit is connected to the sensor array and configured to obtain and process measurement data from the sensor array so as to determine, by the sensor fusion portion of the processing unit at least one operational parameter of the drive machine from the measurement data obtained from the plurality of sensors of the sensor array to generate information about an operation of the drive machine, and a communication channel between the conveyor control unit and the processing unit. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The conveyor system of claim 1, wherein the processing unit is configured to send to the conveyor control unit a data message containing information about the operation of the drive machine. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The conveyor system of claim 1, wherein the processing unit is configured to detect a non-optimal operation of the drive machine by detecting a deviation of the at least one operational parameter of the drive machine compared to a reference value. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The conveyor system of claim 3, wherein the processing unit is configured to send to the conveyor control unit a data message containing information about non-optimal operation of the drive machine. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The conveyor system of claim 1, wherein the processing unit is configured to generate condition information of the drive machine based on measurement data obtained from the sensor array. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The conveyor system of claim 5, wherein the processing unit is configured to send to the conveyor control unit a data message containing condition information of the drive machine. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The conveyor system of claim 1, wherein at least one sensor of the sensor array is adapted to sense a position of a rotating axis of the drive machine relative to a drive machine frame, and wherein the processing unit is configured to determine a load weight of the conveyor device based on the measurement data obtained from the at least one sensor adapted to sense the position of the rotating axis of the drive machine relative to the drive machine frame. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The conveyor system of claim 7, wherein the processing unit is configured to send to the conveyor control unit a data message containing information about load weight of the conveyor device. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The conveyor system of claim 1, wherein the conveyor device comprises a brake control circuit comprising at least one solid state switch configured to control current supply for at least one magnetizing coil of a drive machine brake. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The conveyor system of claim 9, wherein the brake control circuit comprises a DC link, and wherein a power supply cable is arranged between the conveyor control unit and the brake control circuit to energize the DC link. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The conveyor system of claim 9, wherein at least one sensor of the sensor array is adapted to sense a movement of an armature of the drive machine brake, and wherein the processing unit is configured to determine an operation of the drive machine brake based on measurement data obtained from the at least one sensor adapted to sense movement of the armature. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The conveyor system of claim 11, wherein the processing unit is configured to send to the conveyor control unit a data message containing information about operation of the drive machine brake. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The conveyor system of claim 1, wherein the processing unit and at least one sensor of the sensor array are referenced to a potential of the drive machine frame. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The conveyor system of claim 1, wherein the sensor array comprises at least one of the following: Hall sensor, inductive proximity sensor, magneto-resistive sensor, acceleration sensor, current sensor, voltage sensor. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The conveyor system of claim 1, wherein the conveyor system is one of the following: an elevator system, an escalator system, a moving walk system. ### Claim 16 A conveyor system wherein the conveyor system comprises: a drive machine, a conveyor control unit configured to control operation of a conveyor device, a sensor array comprising a plurality of sensors mounted to the drive machine and adapted to measure different properties of the drive machine, a processing unit associated with the drive machine and comprising a sensor fusion portion, wherein the processing unit is connected to the sensor array and configured to obtain and process measurement data from the sensor array so as to determine, by the sensor fusion portion of the processing unit at least one operational parameter of the drive machine from the measurement data obtained from the plurality of sensors of the sensor array to generate information about an operation of the drive machine, and a communication channel between the conveyor control unit and the processing unit, wherein at least one sensor of the sensor array is adapted to sense a stray magnetic field of a drive motor of the drive machine, and wherein the processing unit is configured to determine a rotor angle of the drive motor based on the measurement data obtained from the at least one sensor adapted to sense the stray magnetic field of the drive motor of the drive machine. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The conveyor system of claim 16, wherein the processing unit is configured to send to the conveyor control unit a data message containing information of the rotor angle of the drive motor. ### Claim 18 A conveyor system wherein the conveyor system comprises: a drive machine, a conveyor control unit configured to control operation of a conveyor device, a sensor array comprising a plurality of sensors mounted to the drive machine and adapted to measure different properties of the drive machine, a processing unit associated with the drive machine and comprising a sensor fusion portion, wherein the processing unit is connected to the sensor array and configured to obtain and process measurement data from the sensor array so as to determine, by the sensor fusion portion of the processing unit at least one operational parameter of the drive machine from the measurement data obtained from the plurality of sensors of the sensor array to generate information about an operation of the drive machine, and a communication channel between the conveyor control unit and the processing unit, wherein at least one sensor of the sensor array is adapted to sense a stray magnetic field of the drive motor of the drive machine, when a conveyor is idle, and wherein the processing unit is configured to determine a temperature of permanent magnets of the drive motor based on the measurement data obtained from the at least one sensor adapted to sense stray magnetic field of the drive motor of the drive machine, when the conveyor is idle. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The conveyor system of claim 18, wherein the processing unit is configured to send to the conveyor control unit a data message containing information about the temperature of permanent magnets of the drive motor. ### Claim 20 A conveyor system wherein the conveyor system comprises: a drive machine, a conveyor control unit configured to control operation of a conveyor device, a sensor array comprising a plurality of sensors mounted to the drive machine and adapted to measure different properties of the drive machine, a processing unit associated with the drive machine and comprising a sensor fusion portion, wherein the processing unit is connected to the sensor array and configured to obtain and process measurement data from the sensor array so as to determine, by the sensor fusion portion of the processing unit at least one operational parameter of the drive machine from the measurement data obtained from the plurality of sensors of the sensor array to generate information about an operation of the drive machine, and a communication channel between the conveyor control unit and the processing unit, wherein a rotating portion of the drive machine comprises an eccentric part made of conductive and/or ferromagnetic material, and at least one sensor is mounted to immediate vicinity of the eccentric part for measuring the rotor angle of the drive motor of the drive machine. ### Claim 21 A conveyor system wherein the conveyor system comprises: a drive machine, a conveyor control unit configured to control operation of a conveyor device, a sensor array comprising a plurality of sensors mounted to the drive machine and adapted to measure different properties of the drive machine, a processing unit associated with the drive machine and comprising a sensor fusion portion, wherein the processing unit is connected to the sensor array and configured to obtain and process measurement data from the sensor array so as to determine, by the sensor fusion portion of the processing unit at least one operational parameter of the drive machine from the measurement data obtained from the plurality of sensors of the sensor array to generate information about an operation of the drive machine, and a communication channel between the conveyor control unit and the processing unit, wherein the conveyor device comprises a brake control circuit comprising at least one solid state switch configured to control current supply for at least one magnetizing coil of a drive machine brake, wherein the at least one solid state switch is controlled with a pulse-width modulation generated by the processing unit.