Method and Apparatus for Power Transfer to an Independent Moving Cart During Travel Along a Track

An apparatus for providing power to a mover in a motion control system, the apparatus comprising;

• a plurality of movers;
• a plurality of electrical devices, wherein at least one of the electrical devices is mounted to each of the plurality of movers;
• a closed track defining a continuous path along which each of the plurality of movers travels;
• an optical transmitter mounted on the closed track and operative to emit light at a predefined frequency;
• a plurality of optical receivers, wherein each optical receiver is mounted to one of the plurality of movers and is oriented to receive the light emitted by the optical transmitter as the mover travels along the closed track;
• and
• a plurality of power converters, wherein each of the plurality of power converters is mounted to one of the plurality of movers and is operative to receive power from the optical receiver and to supply power to the at least one electrical device mounted on the mover.

An apparatus for providing power to a mover in a motion control system, the apparatus comprising:

• a plurality of movers;
• a plurality of electrical devices, wherein at least one of the electrical devices is mounted to each of the plurality of movers;
• a closed track defining a continuous path along which each of the plurality of movers travels;
• a primary winding mounted along the closed track, wherein the primary winding is configured to receive power from a power supply;
• a plurality of secondary windings, wherein:
• each secondary winding is mounted to one of the plurality of movers,
• each secondary winding is generally aligned with the primary winding as the mover travels along the closed track, and
• an air gap separates each secondary winding from the primary winding;
• and
• a plurality of power converters, wherein each of the plurality of power converters is mounted to one of the plurality of movers and is operative to receive power from the secondary winding mounted to the mover and to supply power to the at least one electrical device mounted on the mover.