System and method for providing power to a moving element

A system for providing power to a moving element on a transport system comprising a plurality of electromagnetic coils arranged along a track and a controller for controlling the plurality of electromagnetic coils to drive the moving element along the track, the system for providing power comprising:

• a power pick-up panel provided to the moving element;
• and
• a software module for adapting the controller to transfer power to the moving element by adjusting a pulse width modulation of a signal provided to selected electromagnetic coils of the plurality of electromagnetic coils that are approximately adjacent to the power pick-up panel, wherein the transferred power is used for applications other than driving the moving element.

A system for providing power to a moving element on a transport system comprising a plurality of electromagnetic coils arranged along a track and a controller for providing a signal to the plurality of electromagnetic coils to drive the moving element along the track, the system for providing power comprising:

• a power pick-up panel provided to the moving element for receiving power to be used for applications other than driving the moving elements;
• and
• the controller adapted to transfer power to the power pick-up panel by adjusting a pulse width modulation of the signal provided to selected electromagnetic coils of the plurality of electromagnetic coils that are approximately adjacent to the power pick-up panel.

A moving element for use in a transport system, the moving element comprising:

• a plurality of power pick-up panels adapted to receive power from the transport system, wherein the plurality of power pick-up panels are provided in spaced relation with respect to a lateral center axis of the moving element.

A moving element according to claim 13 wherein the plurality of power pick-up panels comprise one or more inductive coils and the transport system comprises an electromagnetic power system for transferring power to the inductive coils wherein the characteristics of the one or more inductive coils and the quantity of the plurality of power pick up panels is determined based on an amount of power needed on the moving element.