US 11,787,649 B2
System and method for determining real-time orientation on carts in an independent cart system
Shankha S. Seal, Westbury, NY (US); Jadav Das, Lake Grove, NY (US); Tracy M. Clark, Boston, MA (US); Michaela R. Kaufmann, Fox Point, WI (US); Dayin Xu, Shanghai (CN); Xikai Sun, Shanghai (CN); and John Floresta, Commack, NY (US)
Assigned to Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc., Mayfield Heights, OH (US)
Filed by Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc., Mayfield Heights, OH (US)
Filed on Apr. 7, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/224,322.
Prior Publication US 2022/0324663 A1, Oct. 13, 2022
Int. Cl. B65G 67/12 (2006.01); B60W 40/11 (2012.01); B60W 40/112 (2012.01); B60W 40/114 (2012.01)
CPC B65G 67/12 (2013.01) [B60W 40/11 (2013.01); B60W 40/112 (2013.01); B60W 40/114 (2013.01); B60W 2300/40 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for real-time determination of orientation for a physical location on a mover in an independent cart system, the system comprising:
a track having a plurality of track segments;
a mover mounted on and configured to travel along the track in a two-dimensional coordinate system;
a sensor mounted on the mover, wherein the sensor is configured to generate at least one feedback signal corresponding to a physical orientation of the mover in a coordinate system, wherein an origin of the coordinate system travels with the mover;
a control circuit mounted on the mover, wherein the control circuit is configured to receive the at least one feedback signal and to generate a data packet including a value of the at least one feedback signal corresponding to the physical orientation of the mover;
a transmitter mounted on the mover, wherein the transmitter is configured to receive the data packet from the control circuit and to transmit the data packet to a receiver located external from the mover; and
a controller located remotely from the mover, wherein the controller is configured to:
communicate with and to receive the data packet from the receiver,
determine at least one rotational position of the mover as a function of the value of the at least one feedback signal in the data packet, wherein the rotational position of the mover includes rotation in a third dimension, the third dimension perpendicular to the two-dimensional coordinate system; and
control operation of either the mover or an actuator, configured to interact with the mover, in real-time responsive to the at least one rotational position of the mover.