US 12,448,230 B2
Virtual slots for independent cart system
Brian M. Perreault, Stow, MA (US); Yuhong Huang, Acton, MA (US); and Daniel I. Lanier, North Billerica, MA (US)
Assigned to Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc., Mayfield Heights, OH (US)
Filed by Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc., Mayfield Heights, OH (US)
Filed on Jan. 25, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/422,474.
Prior Publication US 2025/0243015 A1, Jul. 31, 2025
Int. Cl. B65G 54/02 (2006.01); B65G 43/10 (2006.01); H02K 41/03 (2006.01)
CPC B65G 54/02 (2013.01) [B65G 43/10 (2013.01); H02K 41/031 (2013.01); B65G 2811/095 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of coordinating traffic flow in an independent cart system, the system comprising:
assigning a plurality of virtual slots to travel along a first portion of a track for the independent cart system;
controlling each of the plurality of virtual slots to continually move along the first portion of the track;
assigning a mover to a first virtual slot, selected from the plurality of virtual slots;
controlling the mover to enter the first virtual slot from a second portion of the track for the independent cart system;
synchronizing motion of the mover to travel within the first virtual slot along the first portion of the track; and
controlling the mover to exit the first virtual slot to a third portion of the track for the independent cart system.