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US 12,368,402 B2Granted
Position hold control for a conveying process
AssigneeEaton Intelligent Power Limited
InventorsSteven Andrew Dimino, Zhe Zhang
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A control apparatus for a conveying system includes: a control module configured to control a power converter coupled to a motor, and a modification module. The modification module is configured to: estimate a size parameter of an item conveyed by the motor, determine if a hold command is received; and if a hold command is received, modify one or more parameters of the control module based on the estimated size parameter of the item to thereby hold a rotor of the motor at a rotor hold position.
Claims20
A control apparatus for a conveying system, the control apparatus comprising:
- a control module configured to control a power converter coupled to a motor;
- and
- a modification module configured to:
- estimate a size parameter of an item conveyed by the motor;
- determine if a hold command is received;
- and
- if a hold command is received, modify one or more parameters of the control module based on the estimated size parameter of the item to thereby hold a rotor of the motor at a rotor hold position, wherein the modification module is configured to analyze data from a motor sensor after modifying the one or more parameters and to determine whether a rotor of the motor is oscillating based on the analysis of the data from the motor sensor.
4 more elements
A method comprising:
- generating a motor driver signal for a motor by controlling a power converter with a switching signal, wherein the switching signal is determined by a control scheme associated with one or more control parameters;
- receiving an indication of a load on the motor as the motor conveys an item through a zone;
- estimating a size parameter of the item based on the indication of the load;
- receiving a hold command when the item is at a location in the zone;
- and
- after receiving the hold command:
- modifying one or more of the control parameters based on the estimated size parameter, wherein modifying the one or more of the control parameters modifies the motor driver signal such that the motor holds the item at the location in the zone;
- receiving indications of a position of a rotor of the motor over time;
- and
- determining whether the rotor is oscillating based on the indications of position of the rotor.
7 more elements
A system comprising:
- a power converter configured to drive a motor, the power converter comprising a plurality of controllable switches;
- and
- a control apparatus comprising:
- a control module configured to generate a switching signal for the power converter, wherein, when applied to the power converter, the switching signal controls a state of the controllable switches to produce a motor driver signal;
- and
- a modification module configured to:
- determine if a hold command is received while an item is at a location in a zone associated with the motor;
- if a hold command is received:
- estimate a size parameter of an item conveyed by the motor;
- and modify one or more parameters of the control module based on the estimated size parameter of the item to modify the motor driver signal such that the motor holds the item at the location, wherein the modification module is further configured to analyze data from a motor sensor after modifying the one or more parameters and to determine whether a rotor of the motor is oscillating based on the analysis of the data from the motor sensor.
7 more elements
A control apparatus for a conveying system, the control apparatus comprising:
- a control module configured to control a power converter coupled to a motor by providing a switching signal to the power converter, the switching signal being sufficient to cause the power converter to generate a driving signal that, when applied to the motor, controls one or more of torque, speed, and direction of the motor;
- and
- a modification module configured to:
- estimate a size parameter of an item conveyed by the motor;
- determine if a hold command is received;
- and
- if a hold command is received:
- modify one or more parameters of the control module based on the estimated size parameter of the item,
- produce the switching signal based on the one or more modified parameters, such that, when the driving signal is applied to the motor, a rotor of the motor is held at a rotor hold position.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.