Electromagnetic conveyor system

A conveyor system comprising:

• a first conveyor conveying electrically conductive articles in a first direction to an exit end;
• a second conveyor conveying the electrically conductive articles from an entrance end in a second direction, wherein the angle θ between the first direction and the second direction is given by 0°<θ≤90°;
• a diverter forming a junction between the exit end of the first conveyor and the entrance end of the second conveyor;
• wherein the diverter includes:
• a top surface;
• an entrance adjacent to the exit end of the first conveyor receiving the electrically conductive articles on the top surface from the exit end of the first conveyor;
• an exit adjacent to the entrance end of the second conveyor;
• a plurality of coils arranged in parallel below the top surface and having magnetic axes in a third direction oblique to the first direction and producing an electromagnetic flux wave that forces the electrically conductive articles on the top surface above the coils to move in the third direction, wherein the angle a between the first direction and the third direction is given by 0°<α<θ;
• wherein the electrically conductive articles are directed from the entrance to the exit by the coils and onto the second conveyor.

A conveyor system comprising:

• a first conveyor conveying electrically conductive articles in a first direction to an exit end;
• a second conveyor conveying the electrically conductive articles from an entrance end in a second direction different from the first direction;
• a diverter forming a junction between the exit end of the first conveyor and the entrance end of the second conveyor;
• wherein the diverter includes:
• a top surface;
• an entrance adjacent to the exit end of the first conveyor receiving the electrically conductive articles on the top surface from the exit end of the first conveyor;
• an exit adjacent to the entrance end of the second conveyor;
• a plurality of coils arranged in an arc below the top surface from the entrance to the exit wherein, in a plan view perpendicular to the top surface, each of the coils has a narrow end at the inside of the arc and an opposite wider end at the outside of the arc;
• wherein the electrically conductive articles are directed from the entrance to the exit by the coils and onto the second conveyor.

A conveyor system comprising:

• an electromagnetic conveyor including:
• a top surface;
• an entrance over which electrically conductive articles are transferred onto the top surface;
• an exit over which electrically conductive articles are transferred off the top surface;
• a plurality of coils arranged below the top surface in an array and producing electromagnetic flux waves causing forces that move the electrically conductive articles across the top surface from the entrance to the exit;
• a controller driving the coils with drive waveforms characterized by a first amplitude and periodic pulses of a greater second amplitude that periodically increase the forces acting on the electrically conductive articles in low-force regions on the top surface to enhance movement of the electrically conductive articles from low-force regions on the top surface.

A conveyor system comprising:

• an electromagnetic conveyor including:
• a top surface;
• an entrance over which electrically conductive articles are transferred onto the top surface;
• an exit over which electrically conductive articles are transferred off the top surface;
• a plurality of coils arranged below the top surface in individual zones and producing electromagnetic flux waves causing forces that move the electrically conductive articles through the zones across the top surface from the entrance to the exit;
• controllers associated with the zones and driving the coils with drive waveforms having different frequencies or phase angles in adjacent zones to enhance movement of the electrically conductive articles from zone to zone.