David Wayne Zeitler

6345217, Feb 5, 2002

Mar 31, 2000

09/539687

David W. Zeitler - Caledonia MI
Andrew R. Black - Ravenna MI
Clyde Miin-Arng Ko - Ada MI

Rapistan Systems Advertising Corp. - Grand Rapids MI

G05D 100

701 23, 318587

An automated guided vehicle system and method includes providing at least one automated-guided vehicle (AGV) and a pathway for the AGV. A sensor assembly on the AGV senses magnet assemblies on the pathway as the AGV is transported over that magnet assembly. A navigation and guidance system determines the location of the maximum magnitude of the magnetic field by mathematically fitting a curve to the magnitude of portions of the magnetic field sensed by said magnetic sensors and determines a maximum value of the curve. At least some of the said magnet assemblies each produce a bipolar magnetic field extending generally transverse to the pathway and the sensor assembly produces an output indicative of magnitude and polarity of respective portions of the bipolar magnetic field. The navigation and guidance system determines a location of maximum magnitude of the opposite polarities of the bipolar magnetic field and a correction factor. The correction factor corrects for offset of the maximum magnitudes of the field from a predetermined location on that magnet assembly including correcting for any skew of the bipolar magnetic field with respect to said pathway.

6799099, Sep 28, 2004

Jul 31, 2002

10/209766

David W. Zeitler - Caledonia MI
Garry Koff - Grand Rapids MI
Matt Werner - Ada MI

Rapistan Systems Advertising Corp. - Grand Rapids MI

G01C 2200

701 23, 701200, 701201, 701207, 340998

A material handling system uses high-frequency location devices for determining the location of mobile units, such as AGVs, overhead mono-rails, conveyor components, or individual articles being transported by such units. The high-frequency location devices may also be used to identify the contents and/or routing information for material being moved within a facility. AGVs may incorporate the high-frequency location devices into their navigation systems to utilize the position and/or heading updates provided by the location devices in guiding the vehicle. The location devices work in cooperation with a number of stationary location devices, such as beacons, that are positioned within the environment at known locations, such as in or adjacent the ceiling of the workplace environment. High-frequency radars may also be used to provide electronic bumpers to the AGVs, allowing them to sense obstacles and take appropriate action to avoid collisions with the obstacles.

6814216, Nov 9, 2004

Sep 28, 2001

09/968742

Frank W. Veit - Spring Lake MI
David W. Zeitler - Caledonia MI
Rhonda J. Verploegen - Sparta MI
Andrew R. Black - Fremont MI
Charles W. Bozarth - Comstock Park MI
Clyde Miin-Arng Ko - Ada MI

Rapistan Systems Advertising Corp. - Grand Rapids MI

B65G 4710

19837002, 19837003, 198890

A positive displacement sorter apparatus and method includes providing a plurality of slats being interconnected in an endless web, an upper run of the web defining a conveying surface, and a plurality of pusher shoes gliding along at least some of the slats to laterally displace articles on the conveying surface. A linear motor system is provided to propel the web and includes a plurality of linear motor secondaries at the slats and at least one primary for propelling the secondaries. A control system controls the primaries.

6866136, Mar 15, 2005

Feb 17, 2004

10/780408

Frank W. Veit - Spring Lake MI, US
David W. Zeitler - Caledonia MI, US
Rhonda J. Verploegen - Sparta MI, US
Andrew R. Black - Fremont MI, US
Charles W. Bozarth - Comstock Park MI, US
Clyde Miin-Arng Ko - Ada MI, US

Rapistan Systems Advertising Corp. - Grand Rapids MI

B65G047/10
B65G015/60

19837002, 198805, 198890

A positive displacement sorter apparatus and method includes providing a plurality of slats being interconnected in an endless web, an upper run of the web defining a conveying surface, and a plurality of pusher shoes gliding along at least some of the slats to laterally displace articles on the conveying surface. A linear motor system is provided to propel the web and includes a plurality of linear motor secondaries at the slats and at least one primary for propelling the secondaries. A control system controls the primaries.

7086519, Aug 8, 2006

Mar 15, 2005

11/081040

Frank W Veit - Spring Lake MI, US
David W Zeitler - Caledonia MI, US
Rhonda J Verploegen - Sparta MI, US
Andrew R Black - Fremont MI, US
Charles W Bozarth - Comstock Park MI, US
Clyde Miin-Arng Ko - Ada MI, US

Dematic Corp. - Grand Rapids MI

B65G 47/10
B65G 47/46

19837002, 19837013, 1985022, 198890

A positive displacement sorter apparatus and method includes providing a plurality of slats being interconnected in an endless web, an upper run of the web defining a conveying surface, and a plurality of pusher shoes gliding along at least some of the slats to laterally displace articles on the conveying surface. A linear motor system is provided to propel the web and includes a plurality of linear motor secondaries at the slats and at least one primary for propelling the secondaries. A control system controls the primaries.

7191895, Mar 20, 2007

Oct 5, 2004

10/958955

David W Zeitler - Caledonia MI, US
Martin R Doane - Rockford MI, US
Douglas L Milliman - Hastings MI, US

Dematic Corp. - Grand Rapids MI

B65G 43/00

1984601, 198572, 198575, 198577, 198608

A conveyor system, such as an induction subsystem for supplying articles to a sortation subsystem, and method of conveying articles includes providing a conveying surface for conveying a series of articles and at least one sensor for sensing the articles on the conveying surface. A control is provided which establishes at least one parameter for each of the articles and controls the conveying surface as a function of the at least one parameter of each of the articles. The control includes a computer and a program for the computer. The program includes at least one probability estimator. The control determines the at least one parameter of each of the articles at least in part by the at least one probability estimator. The control controls gaps between articles or synchronizes arrival of articles at the sortation system.

7284652, Oct 23, 2007

Sep 15, 2005

11/162580

David W. Zeitler - Caledonia MI, US
Andrew R. Black - Fremont MI, US
Clyde Miin-Arng Ko - Ada MI, US

Rapistan Systems Advertising Corp. - Grand Rapids MI

B65G 47/10

19837002, 198741, 198718

A control architecture for material handling includes multiple tiers of controllers, such as three. The lowest-level controllers interact directly with sensors and actuators used in the material handling system, such as photo-eyes and motors used with conveyors. The lowest-level controllers receive higher level commands from one or more mid-level controllers. The mid-level controllers, in turn, receive still higher level commands and information from at least one upper level controller. Each mid and low level controller is designed to include sufficient intelligence to deal with many of the signals and messages it receives without having to forward those signals or messages to the next higher level controller and await instructions from that higher level controller. The system thus distributes intelligence amongst the controllers. The system is well-adapted for application to conveyor control systems.

7413071, Aug 19, 2008

Mar 8, 2007

11/683618

David W Zeitler - Caledonia MI, US
Martin R Doane - Rockford MI, US
Douglas L Milliman - Hastings MI, US

Dematic Corp. - Grand Rapids MI

B65G 43/00

1984601, 198572, 1984611

An induction subsystem for a conveyor sortation system and method of inducting articles includes providing a plurality of tandem conveying surfaces. The speeds of the conveying surfaces are individually controllable. At least one sensor is provided for sensing articles on at least one of the conveying surfaces. A control is responsive to the at least one sensor for controlling the speeds of said conveying surfaces in a manner that controls relative positions of articles. The control defines a plurality of feedback-gapping algorithms. Each of the feedback-gapping algorithms is defined between adjacent conveying surfaces for adjusting relative speeds of those adjacent conveying surfaces as a function of at least one parameter of the articles. The control controls relative positions of articles with the feedback-gapping algorithms beginning with a pair of adjacent conveying surfaces and cascading through adjacent pairs of adjacent conveying surfaces.