System and method for collision prevention in a linear motion system
US11117471B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 30, 2018 |
| Grant date | Sep 14, 2021 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 8, 2039 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB60L13/03
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An improved system for preventing collisions between movers while improving throughput in a linear drive system utilizes a continually variable vehicle length for each mover. A vehicle length is assigned to each mover, where the vehicle length is a minimum track length required by the vehicle to avoid physically contacting a neighboring vehicle along the track. The vehicle length for each mover is then determined for each location along the track based on both the track geometry and the mover geometry. The vehicle length is continually variable along the length of the track allowing movers to be positioned as close together as possible for each location along the track based on both the track geometry and the mover geometry. The continually variable vehicle length provides collision prevention between movers while increasing throughput of movers along segments of the track that do not require the largest spacing between movers.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.