SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING POWER TO A MOVING ELEMENT ON A CONVEYOR AND ACCESSORY DRIVEN BY POWER PROVIDED TO A MOVING ELEMENT

1 . A system for providing power to an accessory on a moving element on a conveyor while the moving element is moving, the system comprising:

a plurality of moving elements, each moving element comprising one or more power pick-up panels; and

at least one track section with which the plurality of moving elements are associated, the track section comprising:

a control system;

a track on which the plurality of moving elements move; and

a track power system comprising a plurality of inductive panels,

wherein the one or more power pick-up panels extend into gaps between the plurality of inductive panels such that the one or more power pick-up panels and the plurality of inductive panels overlap in an interlaced fashion.

2 . A system according to claim 1 , wherein the accessory is selected from the group consisting of a vacuum system, a rotary gripper, a gripper, a heater, and a cooler.

3 . A method for providing power to an accessory on a moving element in a conveyor system, the method comprising:

tracking a position of each of a plurality of moving elements in the conveyor system; and

selectively operating a power system provided to the transport system based on the position of a power pick-up panel provided to the moving element such that power is independently transferred to each of the plurality of moving elements for use by the accessory.

4 . A method according to claim 3 , wherein the selectively operating the power system comprises providing different amounts of power to each of a plurality of moving elements.

5 . A moving element for use in a conveyor system, the moving element comprising:

a plurality of power pick-up panels adapted to receive power from the transport system, wherein the plurality of power pick-up panels are provided as extensions toward the track and configured to interlace with inductive panels on the track.

6 . An accessory for use with a moving element in a conveyor system, the accessory comprising at least one rotary gripper, the rotary gripper comprising:

a body;

a gripper motor;

a rotation motor; and

a plurality of grippers,

wherein the gripper motor is mechanically connected with and configured to open and close the plurality of grippers and the rotation motor is mechanically connected with and configured to rotate the plurality of grippers.

7 . An accessory according to claim 6 , further comprising:

a cam plate mechanically connected to the gripper motor; and

cam followers in contact with the cam plate and each of the plurality of grippers,

wherein movement of the cam plate by the gripper motor controls the opening and closing of the plurality of grippers via the cam followers.

8 . An accessory according to claim 6 , further comprising a plurality of torsion springs provided to the cam followers configured to bias the grippers to a closed position.

9 . An accessory for use with a moving element in a conveyor system, the accessory comprising:

an accessory controller provided to the moving element; and

at least one gripper mounted on the moving element and in communication with the accessory controller, the gripper comprising:

one or more gripper arms; and

a drive mechanism configured to move the one or more gripper arms,

wherein the accessory controller is configured to operate the gripper arms via the drive mechanism based on wireless communications from a master controller.

10 . An accessory according to claim 9 , further comprising:

a weigh scale provided to the gripper arms configured to weigh a part held by the gripper arms.

11 . An accessory according to claim 9 , further comprising a sensor to detect the force of the gripper arms on a part.

12 . An accessory for use with a moving element in a conveyor system, the accessory comprising:

an accessory controller provided to the moving element; and

a vacuum system mounted on the moving element and in communication with the accessory controller, the vacuum system comprising:

a vacuum pump; and

one or more hoses connecting the vacuum pump to a vacuum outlet on the moving element,

wherein the accessory controller is configured to control the vacuum pump to deliver vacuum at the vacuum outlet on the moving element.

13 . An accessory according to claim 12 , further comprising a sensor to detect the level of vacuum at the vacuum outlet.

14 . An accessory for use with a moving element in a conveyor system, the accessory comprising:

an accessory controller provided to the moving element; and

a heating system mounted on the moving element and in communication with the accessory controller, the heating system comprising a resistance heater,

wherein the accessory controller is configured to control the temperature of the heater by adjusting the power flow through the heater.

15 . An accessory according to claim 14 , further comprising a sensor to detect a temperature in relation to the resistance heater.

16 . An accessory for use with a moving element in a conveyor system, the accessory comprising:

an accessory controller provided to the moving element; and

a cooling system mounted on the moving element and in communication with the accessory controller, the cooling system comprising a Peltier device,

wherein the accessory controller is configured to control the temperature by adjusting the power flow through the Peltier device.