	US 12,421,056 B2
	Transport system and method for operating a transport system with collision monitoring
Christina Karolus, Eggelsberg (AT); and Benjamin Reichenwallner, Eggelsberg (AT)
Assigned to ABB SCHWEIZ AG, Baden (CH)
Filed by B & R INDUSTRIAL AUTOMATION GMBH, Eggelsberg (AT)
Filed on May 27, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/826,584.
Claims priority of application No. A 50435/2021 (AT), filed on May 31, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0380148 A1, Dec. 1, 2022
Int. Cl. B65G 54/02 (2006.01); B60L 3/00 (2019.01); B60L 13/03 (2006.01); B60L 15/38 (2006.01); G05D 1/00 (2024.01)

CPC B65G 54/02 (2013.01) [B60L 3/0015 (2013.01); B60L 13/03 (2013.01); G05D 1/0289 (2013.01); B60L 15/38 (2013.01); B65G 2203/0283 (2013.01)]

8 Claims

1. A method for operating a transport system in the form of a long-stator linear motor having a plurality of transport units, the method comprising:

during operation of the transport system:

monitoring a predetermined collision logic that a distance between adjacent transport units or between a transport unit and a barrier is sufficiently large, so that, taking into account predetermined collision movement limits and predetermined collision dimensions of the transport units or the transport unit, a collision between the adjacent transport units or the transport unit and the barrier is preventable; and

specifying a new movement limit or a new dimension for a first transport unit, and, before using the new movement limit as a collision movement limit or the new dimension as a collision dimension in the collision logic, checking whether the new movement limit or the new dimension results in a risk of collision with another, adjacent transport unit or a barrier of the transport system due to the predetermined collision logic; and

if no risk of collision is recognized, one of using the new movement limit in the collision logic as a collision movement limit for the first transport unit or using the new dimension in the collision logic as a collision dimension of the first transport unit.