US 9,428,347 B2 · Conveyor bearing system

Abstract

A conveyor system including: a track comprising a first magnetic element; and a moving element comprising a second magnetic element for interacting with the track to provide a magnetic force that retains the moving element on the track; wherein absent the magnetic force, the moving element is released from the track. In another aspect, a conveyor system includes: a track having at least one guide rail; and a moving element; wherein a magnetic force controls movement of the moving element in a direction of travel and the magnetic force supports the moving element in a second direction perpendicular to the direction of travel; and wherein the at least one guide rail supports the moving element in a third direction perpendicular to both the direction of travel and the second direction.

Claims16

Dependent claims

A linear motor conveyor system comprising:

a track comprising:
a first magnetic element for generating a magnetic field;
and
a first guide rail;
and
a moving element comprising a second magnetic element and a first bearing,
wherein the bearing engages with the first guide rail to support the moving element in both a direction of travel along the track (x-axis) and in a direction perpendicular to the direction of travel along the track (z-axis) that is also perpendicular to a magnetic force between the first magnetic element and the second magnetic element (y-axis) such that the moving element is substantially supported on the track by a magnetic force that is generated between the first magnetic element and the second magnetic element along the z-axis to retain the moving element on the track;
wherein, absent the magnetic force, the moving element is removable from the track without mechanical disassembly of the bearing or the first guide rail.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Conveyor bearing system

Life of this patent

Conveyor bearing system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims16