US 11,851,093 B2
Section based safety functions for independent cart applications
Sawyer J. Desotelle, Eden Prairie, MN (US); Patrick E. Ozimek, Mequon, WI (US); Mark R. Cooper, Eden Prairie, MN (US); and David D. Van Dorpe, Eden Prairie, MN (US)
Assigned to Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc., Mayfield Heights, OH (US)
Filed by Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc., Mayfield Heights, OH (US)
Filed on Nov. 19, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/530,754.
Application 17/530,754 is a continuation of application No. 16/188,696, filed on Nov. 13, 2018, granted, now 11,186,302.
Prior Publication US 2022/0073115 A1, Mar. 10, 2022
Int. Cl. B61L 23/20 (2006.01); B61L 23/16 (2006.01); B61B 13/08 (2006.01); B61L 23/34 (2006.01)
CPC B61L 23/16 (2013.01) [B61B 13/08 (2013.01); B61L 23/20 (2013.01); B61L 23/34 (2013.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An independent cart system for moving articles or products within a controlled process, comprising:
a track having a plurality of track segments, wherein:
each track segment includes a plurality of coils spaced along the track segment and a first controller operative to regulate a current flow in the plurality of coils,
the track includes a plurality of sections defined along a length of the track, and
each of the plurality of sections includes at least one track segment;
a plurality of movers, wherein each mover includes a set of drive magnets and each mover is configured to travel along the track responsive to an interaction between the set of drive magnets on the mover and an electromagnetic field generated by the current flow in the plurality of coils; and
a second controller in communication with the first controller in at least one of the plurality of track segments, the second controller including at least one input configured to receive a safety signal corresponding to an interaction with the track, with one of the plurality of movers, or with the controlled process which requires operation at a desired safety level, wherein the second controller is operative to:
receive the safety signal at the at least one input,
execute a safety program to obtain the desired safety level responsive to receiving the safety signal, and
transmit an output signal to the first controller for each track segment in one of the plurality of sections with which the second controller is in communication responsive to executing the safety program, wherein the first controller for each track segment receiving the output signal is operative to execute a safety function responsive to receiving the output signal from the second controller; and
the first controller for each track segment not receiving the output signal is configured to control operation of each of the plurality of movers present on the corresponding track segment according to a motion command for each of the plurality of movers present on the corresponding track.