IP Library Granted Patent US 12,074,493
Granted Patent B2
US 12,074,493 · App. 17/760,942 · Granted Aug 27, 2024

Conveyor system

Inventor: Paolo Mignano (Novara, IT)
Assignee: Material Handling Systems, Inc.
H02K41/025B65G23/23B65G54/02H02K16/04
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,074,493
App. No.
17/760,942
Granted
Aug 27, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

A conveyor system includes multiple carts that move along a track, along with a plurality of induction motors located along the track to propel the cart. Each cart includes a flipper, and each linear induction motor includes a first linear stator extending along a longitudinal axis of the motor and a second linear stator extending parallel to the first linear stator and positioned a distance away from the first linear stator. As the flipper of the cart passes between the first linear stator and the second linear stator, the cart is propelled along the track.

Claims (37)

1. A linear induction motor, comprising:

a first linear stator extending along a longitudinal axis of the motor; and

a second linear stator extending parallel to the first linear stator and positioned a distance away from the first linear stator;

wherein the first linear stator and the second linear stator propel a flipper positioned between the first linear stator and the second linear stator along the longitudinal axis of the motor; and

wherein the first linear stator and the second linear stator each have a slot-pole configuration in which coils do not overlap in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the motor.

2. The linear induction motor of claim 1 , wherein the first linear stator, the second linear stator, or both the first linear stator and the second linear stator are three-phase laminated stators.

3. The linear induction motor of claim 1 , wherein the first linear stator and the second linear stator each have a 9-6 slot-pole configuration.

4. The linear induction motor of claim 1 , wherein the first linear stator is connected in parallel with the second linear stator.

5. The linear induction motor of claim 1 , wherein the first linear stator and the second linear stator are three-phase laminated stators;

wherein a U phase of the first linear stator is connected in parallel with a U phase of the second linear stator;

wherein a V phase of the first linear stator is connected in parallel with a V phase of the second linear stator; and

wherein a W phase of the first linear stator is connected in parallel with a W phase of the second linear stator.

6. The linear induction motor of claim 1 , wherein the linear induction motor further includes one or more thermal sensors positioned adjacent to the first linear stator and the second linear stator.

7. A linear induction motor, comprising:

a first linear stator extending along a longitudinal axis of the motor; and

a second linear stator extending parallel to the first linear stator and positioned a distance away from the first linear stator;

wherein the first linear stator and the second linear stator propel a flipper positioned between the first linear stator and the second linear stator along the longitudinal axis of the motor; and

wherein the first linear stator includes multiple thermal sensors connected in parallel, the second linear stator includes multiple thermal sensors connected in parallel, and the thermal sensors of the first linear stator are connected in series with the thermal sensors of the second linear stator.

8. A conveyor system including a cart that moves along a track and a plurality of linear induction motors located along the track to propel the cart, each of the plurality of linear induction motors comprising:

a first linear stator extending along a longitudinal axis of the track;

a second linear stator extending parallel to the first linear stator and positioned a distance away from the first linear stator;

wherein as a flipper of the cart passes between the first linear stator and the second linear stator, the cart is propelled along the track; and

wherein the flipper defines a plurality of slots that extend through the entire thickness of the flipper.

9. The conveyor system of claim 8 , wherein the flipper is comprised of aluminum.

10. The conveyor system of claim 8 , wherein the flipper is about 800 mm long.

11. The conveyor system of claim 8 , wherein the flipper is about 5 mm thick.

12. The conveyor system of claim 8 , wherein the flipper is formed from a single plate.

13. The conveyor system of claim 8 , wherein each slot of the plurality of slots is about 4 mm wide.

14. The conveyor system of claim 8 , wherein the first linear stator, the second linear stator, or both the first linear stator and the second linear stator are three-phase laminated stators.

15. The conveyor system of claim 8 , wherein the first linear stator and the second linear stator each have a slot-pole configuration.

16. The conveyor system of claim 8 , wherein the first linear stator and the second linear stator each have a 9-6 slot-pole configuration.

17. The conveyor system of claim 8 , wherein the first linear stator is connected in parallel with the second linear stator.

18. The conveyor system of claim 8 , wherein the first linear stator and the second linear stator are three-phase laminated stators;

wherein a U phase of the first linear stator is connected in parallel with a U phase of the second linear stator;

wherein a V phase of the first linear stator is connected in parallel with a V phase of the second linear stator; and

wherein a W phase of the first linear stator is connected in parallel with a W phase of the second linear stator.

19. The conveyor system of claim 8 , wherein the first linear stator includes multiple thermal sensors connected in parallel, the second linear stator includes multiple thermal sensors connected in parallel, and the thermal sensors of the first linear stator are connected in series with the thermal sensors of the second linear stator.

Assignments (6)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 10, 2026
From: FORTNA INC.; FORTNA EQUIPMENT, LLC; FORTNA SYSTEMS, INC.
To: WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB
Reel/Frame 075234/0044 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 10, 2025
From: FORTNA SYSTEMS, INC.
To: ARES AGENT SERVICES, L.P., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AND COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 070795/0675 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Nov 14, 2024
From: MATERIAL HANDLING SYSTEMS, INC.
To: FORTNA SYSTEMS, INC.
Reel/Frame 069361/0776 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 1, 2022
From: OCM S.P.A.
To: MATERIAL HANDLING SYSTEMS, INC.
Reel/Frame 061945/0740 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 1, 2022
From: OPTRICITY CORPORATION; MHS EQUIPMENT, LLC; MATERIAL HANDLINGS SYSTEMS, INC.; MHS CONVEYOR CORP.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 060075/0344 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 13, 2022
From: MIGNANO, PAOLO
To: OCM S.P.A.
Reel/Frame 059898/0709 →
Priority Claims (1)
IT 102019000017441 · Sep 27, 2019 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20220302814A1 · Sep 22, 2022