An apparatus for monitoring alignment of a transverse member conveyor wherein the member is attached transversely at opposite end portions to two parallel endless chains and includes two position sensors affixed and located transversely adjacent to each chain and each other. One or more targets are attached to link of each chain, and at predetermined distances from the member. The position sensors inductively or magnetically sense the relative position of the target on each chain with respect to the respective position sensor adjacent the chain, and send a signal comparing the target and sensor proximity with respect to the target on each chain. This allows determination of whether the opposite end portions of the member attached to the respective chains are aligned transversely within predetermined tolerance limits. Another aspect is monitoring a single position on an endless chain. Another aspect monitors chain catenary.

Disclosed is a detector for detecting a product flow on a conveyor, including a base, to be fixed at a side of the conveyor, a pendulum, fixed to the based with a rotation to an axis, the pendulum rotating when products are pushed against it, a sensor, for detecting the position of the pendulum. The pendulum includes at an end thereof a contact unit having a flat plate shape, with a non-metallic surface for contacting the products.

A linear motor system has multiple modular track sections joined end-to-end to form a track along which movers may be displaced by the control of magnetic fields generated by coils disposed in each track section. A curved track section is provided that includes a non-constant radius of curvature that is a non-linear function of the run length along the curved track section. The curved track section may have a number of different radii of curvature, and one or more of them may be based on a non-linear function of the run length. The resulting curvature provides improved dynamic performance of movers driven along the curved track section.

The present invention is a medication dispensing system and device comprising a multiple compartment dispensing cartridge made of rigid and flexible materials. The cartridge is preloaded with dispensable contents and inserted into the housing of the dispensing device. A flexible ribbon with an opening run through a plurality of slits in the vertical walls in a closed loop manner resulting in formation of compartments. The ribbon is moved, by a motor, such that the opening reaches a specific compartment at a specific time, thereby releasing the contents of that compartment at that time. Other features, such as a microcontroller is provided to control the dispensing date and time of the contents based on pre-determined conditions.

Methods and apparatus for cleaning a mat are disclosed. The disclosed process receives a user identifier, such as a phone number and/or PIN, at a mat cleaner from a user. The mat cleaner then accepts a mat, such as a yoga mat, form the user and conveys the mat through the mat cleaner. Various guides and sensors are employed to facilitate straight insertion and smooth conveyance of the mat through the mat cleaner. As the mat is conveyed, the mat is illuminated with ultraviolet light and sprayed with a recirculated cleaning solution. The mat cleaner includes a sensor, such as a float switch, to facilitate determination of the circulated cleaning solution level.

This invention relates to a method for feeding magnetic objects in a stream which are singulated each from the next in a supply path where there is provided a series of electromagnets which provides a sequence of magnetic fields along the supply path to direct the magnetic objects by the series of electromagnets in a required direction toward a required location. The method can be used for carrying out an operation on a workpiece by interaction of the objects as individual tools with the workpiece including sorting, shaping, material removal, physical modification, chemical modification, addition of material cutting, polishing, abrading peening and addition of energy. A lubricant/purge material is supplied to the workpiece to arrive at different times relative to the tools.

An independent mover transport system and related method. The system comprises a mover having an axis, and a track. The track includes first and second track segments, and a controller operative to drive a first coil of the first track segment to control movement of the mover along the first track segment towards the second track segment. The controller is further operative to define a first zone for the first track segment, define a second zone for the first track segment, drive the first coil to control movement of the mover with the first set of controller gain values when the location of the axis is in the first zone, and drive the first coil to control movement of the mover with second set of controller gain values when the location of the axis is in the second zone.

A system automatically calibrates gains and/or offsets for each position feedback signal in order to reduce variations between position feedback signals for each sensor in a linear drive system. As a mover travels along a track segment, the segment controller records the position feedback signal output from each position sensor corresponding to a magnet on the mover passing the position sensor. The segment controller periodically monitors the position feedback values generated by one mover as it travels along the track segment and automatically updates the sensor gains as a function of a ratio of a target peak value to a measured peak value of the position feedback signal. The segment controller also records the position feedback signal from each sensor when no mover is traveling past the sensor. The segment controller periodically monitors the position feedback values received when no mover is present and automatically updates sensor offset values.

A conveyor system includes a transport chain with a sequence of interconnected chain links, a guide structure for slidingly supporting the transport chain so that chain links of the transport chain define a substantially flat support surface for supporting articles to be transported, and a motor means for causing the transport chain to move with respect to the guide structure along a first direction parallel to the support surface. The motor means comprises an electric linear motor including a plurality of magnets, each one located in a respective chain link, and a plurality of propulsion electromagnets located on the guide structure.

The invention relates to a roller testing device for a roller adapter of an overhead conveyor system comprising a drive unit for rotatably driving at least one carrying roller of the roller adapter, a sensor unit for capturing a measured value correlating with a state of wear of a pivot bearing of the at least one carrying roller and an evaluation unit for determining the state of wear on the basis of the measured value.