Linear motor conveyor system for clean/aseptic environments

{
  "publication_number": "US12134531B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Linear motor conveyor system for clean/aseptic environments",
  "abstract": "A linear motor conveyor system including: at least one track section comprising: electronic circuitry housed within the track section; and a rotatable segment comprising an end profile that abuts another track section to form a stepped groove sealed by a gasket. A moving element for a linear motor conveyor system including: a body; a first set of bearings attached to the body and angled to abut against a first guide rail of a conveyor system having a protrusion with opposing angled profiles; a second set of bearing attached to the body and designed to abut against a flat profile of a second guide rail of the conveyor system. A dry lubricant provided to the body and configured to lubricate a bearing surface of the linear motor conveyor system supporting the first set of bearings.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A moving element for a linear motor conveyor system comprising: a body; a first set of metal bearings attached to the body and angled to abut against a first guide rail of a conveyor system having a protrusion with opposing angled profiles; a second set of metal bearings attached to the body and designed to abut against a flat profile of a second guide rail of the conveyor system; and a dry lubricant provided to the body and configured to lubricate a bearing surface of the linear motor conveyor system supporting the first set of bearings.",
    "2. A moving element according to claim 1, wherein the first set of bearings comprise at least one pair of bearings wherein a top bearing abuts against a top of the angled profile of the first guide rail and a bottom bearing abuts against a bottom of the angled profile of the first guide rail.",
    "3. A moving element according to claim 1, wherein the dry lubricant is selected from the group consisting of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), Ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE), graphite, graphene, and fluorinated ethylene propylene (FPE).",
    "4. A moving element according to claim 1, wherein the dry lubricant is configured to lubricate a bearing surface of the linear motor conveyor system supporting the second set of bearings.",
    "5. A linear motor conveyor system comprising: at least one track section comprising: a first guide rail having a protrusion with opposing angled profiles; a second guide rail having a flat profile; at least one moving element comprising: a body; a first set of bearings attached to the body and configured to abut against the opposing angled profiles of the protrusion on the first guide rail; a second set of bearings attached to the body and configured to abut against the second guide rail; and a dry lubricant provided to the body and configured to lubricate the first guide rail.",
    "6. A linear motor conveyor system according to claim 5, wherein the dry lubricant is selected from the group consisting of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), Ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE), graphite, graphene, and fluorinated ethylene propylene (FPE).",
    "7. A linear motor conveyor system according to claim 5, wherein the dry lubricant is configured to lubricate the second guide rail.",
    "8. A linear motor conveyor system according to claim 5, further comprising an internal cooling system configured to draw air inwards toward the at least one track section.",
    "9. A linear motor conveyor system according to claim 5, further comprising: an angled top portion configured to direct air flow over the at least one moving element; and a curved edge connecting the angled top to the guide rail portion, wherein the curved edge is configured to reduce air recirculation."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The present disclosure relates generally to linear motor conveyor systems and bearing systems for moving elements on a linear motor conveyor. More particularly, the disclosure relates to a linear motor conveyor and moving element, which may be configured for use in an environment that requires reduced levels of contaminants such as a clean or aseptic environment.\n\nIn conventional linear motor conveyors or systems, a moving element is controlled to move along a track by electromotive force. In a moving magnet linear motor, the moving element typically includes a magnet that interacts with the magnetic field produced from the stationary coils on the track to propel the moving element along the track. In order to allow movement, the moving element generally has one or more bearings, which run along the track and are supported by guide rails or the like on the track. The bearings are provided to the moving element such that the moving element can move along the track/guide rail while a bearing surface of the bearing is in contact with the guide rail. Depending on the application, the bearings may include, for example, wheels, rollers, plain bearings, ball bearings, needle bearings, roller bearings and the like. Conventional linear motor conveyor systems are not designed to operate in aseptic environments (sometimes called “clean rooms” or the like). This may be an issue because some products, such as pharmaceuticals, medical products, electronics or the like, may require clean, aseptic or sterile environments in which, dust, debris, bacteria and other contaminates are reduced, controlled or eliminated during manufacturing.",
  "cpc": [
    "B65G 54/02",
    "B65G 21/2054",
    "B65G 21/22",
    "B65G 2203/0266",
    "B65G 2203/042",
    "B65G 2207/48",
    "H02K 2213/12",
    "H02K 41/02",
    "H02K 41/03",
    "H02K 5/10",
    "H02K 9/08"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "B65G 21/20",
    "B65G 21/22",
    "B65G 54/02",
    "H02K 41/03",
    "H02K 9/08"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "ATS CORP"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "CAMERON LOUIS IAN",
    "KLEINIKKINK ALBERT",
    "HOGAN ROGER",
    "JURITSCH MARTIN JOHN",
    "WOODWARD BRADLEY JAMES",
    "LAMBERT BLAKE ROBERT"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2023-09-01",
  "publication_date": "2024-11-05",
  "grant_date": "2024-11-05",
  "priority_date": "2018-02-02",
  "application_number": "US-202318460096-A",
  "family_id": "67477872",
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}