Encoder controlled stepper motor system
OwnerStephen Nabarowskyinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention is a motor controller. An encoder manipulates the motor controller in a manner that is new and novel. The encoder tracks movement of a material along an assembly line and reports the results of the tracking through electronic signals. Those electronic signals are used to manipulate the motor controller to produce unique and responsive control signals to manipulate the motors, particularly during the acceleration and deceleration of the motors. Other motor control systems have used encoders as a part of a feedback loop, but none allow encoders to exert the level of control over the motors as accomplished in the present invention.
Claims12
A motor controller for controlling motors along an assembly line, the motors including at least one movement motor and at least one manipulating motor, the at least one movement motor engaging a material in movement across the assembly line, the controller comprising:
- a programmable circuit;
- an encoder physically in contact with the material on the assembly line;
- at least one responsive electronic signal transmitted by the encoder to the programmable circuit, wherein the electronic signal is indicative of the material moving a preprogrammed distance;
- and
- at least one control signal transmitted from the programmable circuit and received by the movement motors relative to the electronic signals thereby causing the movement motors to maintain a present speed until the material moves the preprogrammed distance.
A method of controlling motors along an assembly line, said method comprising the steps of:
- initiating at least one movement motor at a present rate;
- pulling a material along the assembly line using the movement motor;
- identifying a distance traveled by the material over regular time intervals using an encoder;
- determining when the material is traveling at a same rate as the movement motor using a programmable circuit;
- and
- incrementally increasing the present rate of the movement motors when the material is traveling at the same rate as the movement motor.
A system for controlling motors along an assembly line, which has a material on the assembly line, the system comprising:
- a movement means for moving the material across the assembly line;
- a manipulating means for manipulating at least a portion of the material on the assembly line;
- a tracking means for directly tracking movement of the material across the assembly line;
- and
- a control means for controlling the movement means and the manipulating means based at least partly on input from the tracking means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.