A novel concept for distributed low-power-drives in multidirectional conveyor matrix

Increasing the flexibility of automated production systems requires the optimization of the linking conveying system, so that this is changeable on demand to face different material handling tasks. Todays intralogistic conveying systems are very inflexible in the point of view, that they cannot be changed in topology, route through production areas and their possible destinations. A more flexible conveying system, called conveyor matrix, is proposed as a possible enhancement [1]. The matrix is composed of conveying modules. Each module consists of a conveying drive and a swivel drive for chaining the conveying direction. This concept leads to a transportation system based on a large number of scalable low-power drives. Disadvantages of state-of-the-art low-power drives are relatively high power losses and investment costs. The proposed concept reduces these disadvantages by using a DC-bus power distribution grid and an innovative, pluggable and integrated drive system based on a motor with an external rotor. To reach the aim of a commercial overall conveying system, each drive has to be based on a inexpensive solution. For that reason the number of components is minimized, in particular the mechanical gear and the rotor position encoder is saved. This research and development project is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) within the Framework Concept Research for Tomorrows Production and managed by the Project Management Agency Karlsruhe (PTKA). The author is responsible for the contents of this publication.