Conveyor systems with animated elements

Abstract

A conveyor system for an attraction in an amusement park includes a bus bar configured to provide power, a conveyor configured to move relative to the bus bar, and an animated element assembly configured to be transported by the conveyor to move relative to the bus bar. The animated element assembly includes a bus bar arm that is configured to contact and move along the bus bar as the animated element assembly is transported by the conveyor and a powered component that is configured to receive the power from the bus bar via the bus bar arm.

1 . A conveyor system for an attraction in an amusement park, the conveyor system comprising:
 a bus bar configured to provide power;   a conveyor configured to move relative to the bus bar; and   an animated element assembly configured to be transported by the conveyor to move relative to the bus bar, wherein the animated element assembly comprises:
 a bus bar arm that is configured to contact and move along the bus bar as the animated element assembly is transported by the conveyor; and 
 a powered component that is configured to receive the power from the bus bar via the bus bar arm. 
   
     
     
         2 . The conveyor system of  claim 1 , wherein the animated element assembly comprises a housing with an appearance of an animal or a character. 
     
     
         3 . The conveyor system of  claim 1 , wherein the bus bar extends along an entirety of the conveyor. 
     
     
         4 . The conveyor system of  claim 1 , wherein the animated element assembly comprises a power storage component that is configured to receive the power from the bus bar via the bus bar arm and to store the power for subsequent use by the powered component. 
     
     
         5 . The conveyor system of  claim 1 , wherein the powered component comprises an actuator, a light emitter, or a speaker. 
     
     
         6 . The conveyor system of  claim 1 , wherein the powered component comprises an actuator that is configured to drive one portion of the animated element assembly to move relative to another portion of the animated element assembly. 
     
     
         7 . The conveyor system of  claim 1 , wherein the animated element assembly comprises processing circuitry that is configured to execute a programmed sequence to control the powered component to perform a show. 
     
     
         8 . The conveyor system of  claim 7 , wherein the processing circuitry is configured to receive an indication of the programmed sequence via a communication line of the bus bar. 
     
     
         9 . The conveyor system of  claim 1 , comprising a central controller that is configured to block delivery of the power through the bus bar. 
     
     
         10 . The conveyor system of  claim 1 , comprising an additional animated element assembly configured to be transported by the conveyor to move relative to the bus bar, wherein the additional animated element assembly comprises:
 an additional bus bar arm that is configured to contact and move along the bus bar as the additional animated element assembly is transported by the conveyor; and   an additional powered component that is configured to receive the power from the bus bar via the additional bus bar arm.   
     
     
         11 . A conveyor system for an attraction in an amusement park, the conveyor system comprising:
 a bus bar configured to provide power;   a conveyor configured to move relative to the bus bar; and   a plurality of animated element assemblies configured to be transported by the conveyor, wherein each animated element assembly of the plurality of animated element assemblies comprises:
 a bus bar arm that is configured to contact the bus bar as the animated element assembly is transported by the conveyor; and 
 a powered component that is configured to receive the power from the bus bar via the bus bar arm; and 
   a controller configured to control the power through the bus bar to turn on and off the plurality of animated element assemblies.   
     
     
         12 . The conveyor system of  claim 11 , wherein at least one animated element assembly of the plurality of animated element assemblies is devoid of a power storage component. 
     
     
         13 . The conveyor system of  claim 11 , wherein the powered component comprises an actuator, a light emitter, or a speaker. 
     
     
         14 . The conveyor system of  claim 11 , wherein the powered component comprises an actuator that is configured to drive one portion of the respective animated element assembly to move relative to another portion of the respective animated element assembly. 
     
     
         15 . The conveyor system of  claim 11 , wherein at least one animated element assembly of the plurality of animated element assemblies comprises processing circuitry that is configured to execute programmed sequences to control the powered component to perform a show. 
     
     
         16 . A method of operating a conveyor system, the method comprising:
 instructing, with a controller, a conveyor drive system to drive a conveyor to move relative to a bus bar;   instructing, with the controller, a voltage source to flow a current through the bus bar, wherein the bus bar extends along at least a portion of the conveyor;   transporting, with the conveyor, an animated element assembly to move relative to the bus bar; and   directing, via a bus bar arm that extends between the bus bar and the animated element assembly, the current to provide power to a powered component of the animated element assembly.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the powered component comprises a light emitter, and the method comprises illuminating, using the power, the light emitter of the animated element assembly. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , comprising instructing, with the controller, the voltage source to stop flow of the current through the bus bar. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , comprising:
 transporting, with the conveyor, an additional animated element assembly to move relative to the bus bar; and   directing, via an additional bus bar arm that extends between the bus bar and the additional animated element assembly, the current to provide the power to an additional powered component of the additional animated element assembly.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , comprising directing, via the bus bar arm that extends between the bus bar and the animated element assembly, the current to provide the power to an additional powered component of the animated element assembly.