Patents by Inventor Stefan FLIXEDER

Stefan FLIXEDER has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11964824
    Abstract: In order to at least temporarily increase the throughput of transported objects in a transport device in the form of a planar motor, without negatively influencing the movement of the transport units, at least one engagement portion is provided on each of the at least two transport units, it being possible for the at least two transport units to be moved in succession in the transport plane in a direction of movement into an engagement position in which the engagement portions of the transport units are at least partially engaged. The engagement portions are designed to overlap with one another in the engagement position at least in the direction of movement such that a total extent of the transport units in the direction of movement is smaller than a sum of the individual transport-unit extents of the transport in the direction of movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: B&R INDUSTRIAL AUTOMATION GMBH
    Inventors: Michael Hauer, Stefan Flixeder
  • Patent number: 11772912
    Abstract: A transport system in the form of a long-stator linear motor and method for operating a transport system in the form of a long-stator linear motor including a stator on which a plurality of magnetic-field-generating units is arranged and a plurality of transport units which are moved along the stator simultaneously. In an event of a system error in a part of the transport system, the method includes defining an error area on the stator that includes only a part of the stator with a defective part of the transport system, and transferring the magnetic-field-generating units within the defined error area to a specified error state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: B&R INDUSTRIAL AUTOMATION GMBH
    Inventors: Stefan Flixeder, Benjamin Reichenwallner, Michael Hauer, Birgit Zimmer
  • Patent number: 11722044
    Abstract: Guide device for shuttles of a planar motor has a first end and a second end and defines a pose course of a shuttle between the first and second end. The first end, which defines an introductory pose of the shuttle, is arrangeable on a first stator of the planar motor so that the introductory pose corresponds to an operationally controllable pose in relation to the first stator. The second end, which defines an exit pose of the shuttle, is arrangeable on the first stator or a second stator of the planar motor so that the exit pose corresponds to an operationally controllable pose with respect to the first or second stator. The pose course includes at least one pose which is an operationally non-controllable pose with respect to stators of the planar motor. The guide device supports and stabilizes the shuttle in the at least one operationally non-controllable pose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: B&R INDUSTRIAL AUTOMATION GMBH
    Inventors: Stefan Flixeder, Michael Hauer, Martin Haudum
  • Publication number: 20230185312
    Abstract: To reduce the risk of collisions of transport units or of a transport unit with an obstacle in the movement plane in a planar motor, at least two movement paths in the movement plane are expanded two-dimensionally around the respective movement path, at least in sections, to form a movement route in the movement plane. A conflict zone, in which there is a risk of collision, is determined by checking, whether there is any overlap between the at least two movement routes, in either individual movement route or between a movement route and an obstacle. The determined conflict zone is taken into account when controlling the movement of the transport units along the assigned movement path in order to avoid collisions between transport units moving on movement routes involved in the conflict zone or between a transport unit and the obstacle in the movement path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2022
    Publication date: June 15, 2023
    Applicant: B&R INDUSTRIAL AUTOMATION GMBH
    Inventors: Michael HAUER, Stefan FLIXEDER
  • Publication number: 20230174312
    Abstract: In order to at least temporarily increase the throughput of transported objects in a transport device in the form of a planar motor, without negatively influencing the movement of the transport units, at least one engagement portion is provided on each of the at least two transport units, it being possible for the at least two transport units to be moved in succession in the transport plane in a direction of movement into an engagement position in which the engagement portions of the transport units are at least partially engaged. The engagement portions are designed to overlap with one another in the engagement position at least in the direction of movement such that a total extent of the transport units in the direction of movement is smaller than a sum of the individual transport-unit extents of the transport in the direction of movement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2021
    Publication date: June 8, 2023
    Applicant: B&R INDUSTRIAL AUTOMATION GMBH
    Inventors: Michael HAUER, Stefan FLIXEDER
  • Publication number: 20230097926
    Abstract: A transport device in the form of a planar motor having at least one transport segment which forms a transport plane and having at least one transport unit, which can be moved at least two-dimensionally in the transport plane, to allow more versatile process management, is provided in the transport device. At least one coupling apparatus for releasably coupling the transport unit to the coupling unit is arranged on the transport unit and, on the coupling unit in each case, the transport unit and the coupling unit can be coupled, at least temporarily, by the coupling apparatuses to form an assembly by way of a relative movement in the transport plane. The coupling apparatuses interact in the coupled assembly in order to limit a relative movement between the transport unit and the coupling unit in at least one degree of freedom of movement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2021
    Publication date: March 30, 2023
    Applicant: B&R INDUSTRIAL AUTOMATION GMBH
    Inventors: Michael HAUER, Stefan FLIXEDER, Martin HAUDUM
  • Patent number: 11616463
    Abstract: In order to ensure particularly good protection of individuals in an electromagnetic transport system, a safety area is provided in a transport area. Furthermore, a safety function is provided which, in accordance with a predetermined safety requirement level, ensures that the transport unit reaches the safety area at a speed less than or equal to a safety speed and/or with a transport unit force less than or equal to a safety force and/or a transport unit energy less than or equal to a safety energy, or prevents the transport unit from reaching the safety area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: B&R INDUSTRIAL AUTOMATION GMBH
    Inventors: Franz Kaufleitner, Franz Spanlang, Stefan Flixeder
  • Publication number: 20230026030
    Abstract: Various aspects of the present disclosure are directed to a transport device in the form of a planar motor. In one example embodiment, the transport device includes at least one transport segment forming a transport plane, at least one transport unit movable in the transport plane in at least two-dimensions associated with two main movement directions, and first and second coil groups. The first coil group defines the first main movement direction and has drive coils arranged on the at least one transport segment, and the second coil group defines the second main movement direction and has drive coils arranged on the at least one transport segment. The transport device further includes drive magnets arranged on the at least one transport unit and a control unit. The control unit controls the drive coils of the first coil group and the drive coils of the second coil group.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2020
    Publication date: January 26, 2023
    Inventors: Stefan Flixeder, Michael Hauer, Martin Haudum
  • Publication number: 20230006529
    Abstract: Various aspects of the present disclosure are directed to a transport device in the form of a planar motor. In one embodiment, the transport device includes at least one transport segment, first and second coil groups, frive magnets and a control unit. The at least one transport segment forms a transport plane and includes at least one transport unit that moves in the transport plane at least two-dimensionally along two main movement directions. The first coil group, which defines the first main movement direction and has first drive coils, is arranged on the at least one transport segment. The second coil group defines the second main movement direction and has second drive coils is arranged on the at least one transport segment. The drive magnets are arranged on the at least one transport unit. The control unit controls the first drive coils, and the second drive coils.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2020
    Publication date: January 5, 2023
    Inventors: Stefan Flixeder, Michael Hauer, Martin Haudum
  • Publication number: 20220416633
    Abstract: Various aspects of the present disclosure are directed to a transport device in the form of a planar motor. In one example embodiment, the transport device includes at least one transport segment that forms a transport plane, at least one first transport unit that moves at least two-dimensionally on the transport plane, and a plurality of drive coils arranged on the at least one segment. The transport device further includes at least one first and at least one second magnet group arranged on the at least one first transport unit. Each magnet group has a plurality of drive magnets with a different direction of magnetization arranged one behind the other in a specific arrangement direction with a specific pole pitch. The transport device further includes a first coil group having a first plurality of drive coils, and a second coil group having a second plurality of drive coils.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2020
    Publication date: December 29, 2022
    Inventors: Michael Hauer, Stefan Flixeder, Karlo Radman
  • Publication number: 20220306406
    Abstract: A transport system in the form of a long-stator linear motor and method for operating a transport system in the form of a long-stator linear motor including a stator on which a plurality of magnetic-field-generating units is arranged and a plurality of transport units which are moved along the stator simultaneously. In an event of a system error in a part of the transport system, the method includes defining an error area on the stator that includes only a part of the stator with a defective part of the transport system, and transferring the magnetic-field-generating units within the defined error area to a specified error state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2022
    Publication date: September 29, 2022
    Applicant: B&R INDUSTRIAL AUTOMATION GMBH
    Inventors: Stefan FLIXEDER, Benjamin REICHENWALLNER, Michael HAUER, Birgit ZIMMER
  • Patent number: 11370622
    Abstract: Support structure for a transport unit of a planar motor to reduce or prevent transmission of force to an active surface of a stator. The transport unit is movable by at least one stator of the planar motor and a product is positionable on the transport unit. In at least one support position of the transport unit defined in relation to the support structure, the support structure applies at least one supporting force to the transport unit, while at least one process force, which acts on the product, is at least partially transmitted to the transport unit and counteracted. The transport unit is movable into and out of the support position in a floating manner via the at least one stator. The support structure is mounted on a base and at least partially diverts the counterforce caused by the supporting force to the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: B&R INDUSTRIAL AUTOMATION GMBH
    Inventors: Michael Hauer, Stefan Flixeder, Martin Haudum
  • Patent number: 11245348
    Abstract: In order to improve control of a long-stator linear motor, a first measured value is ascertained in a first measurement section and a second measured value is ascertained in a second measurement section, in each case along a transport path in a movement direction. The first measurement section overlaps, in the movement direction, the second measurement section in an overlap region, and the first measured value and the second measured value represent the same actual value of a physical quantity. An operating parameter of the long-stator linear motor determined based on a deviation occurring between the first measured value and the second measured value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: B&R INDUSTRIAL AUTOMATION GMBH
    Inventors: Stefan Flixeder, Stefan Huber, Alexander Almeder
  • Publication number: 20210336522
    Abstract: Guide device for shuttles of a planar motor has a first end and a second end and defines a pose course of a shuttle between the first and second end. The first end, which defines an introductory pose of the shuttle, is arrangable on a first stator of the planar motor so that the introductory pose corresponds to an operationally controllable pose in relation to the first stator. The second end, which defines an exit pose of the shuttle, is arrangable on the first stator or a second stator of the planar motor so that the exit pose corresponds to an operationally controllable pose with respect to the first or second stator. The pose course includes at least one pose which is an operationally non-controllable pose with respect to stators of the planar motor. The guide device supports and stabilizes the shuttle in the at least one operationally non-controllable pose.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2021
    Publication date: October 28, 2021
    Applicant: B&R INDUSTRIAL AUTOMATION GMBH
    Inventors: Stefan FLIXEDER, Michael HAUER, Martin HAUDUM
  • Publication number: 20210331878
    Abstract: Support structure for a transport unit of a planar motor to reduce or prevent transmission of force to an active surface of a stator. The transport unit is movable by at least one stator of the planar motor and a product is positionable on the transport unit. In at least one support position of the transport unit defined in relation to the support structure, the support structure applies at least one supporting force to the transport unit, while at least one process force, which acts on the product, is at least partially transmitted to the transport unit and counteracted. The transport unit is movable into and out of the support position in a floating manner via the at least one stator. The support structure is mounted on a base and at least partially diverts the counterforce caused by the supporting force to the base.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2021
    Publication date: October 28, 2021
    Applicant: B&R INDUSTRIAL AUTOMATION GMBH
    Inventors: Michael HAUER, Stefan FLIXEDER, Martin HAUDUM
  • Publication number: 20210167713
    Abstract: In order to ensure particularly good protection of individuals in an electromagnetic transport system, a safety area is provided in a transport area. Furthermore, a safety function is provided which, in accordance with a predetermined safety requirement level, ensures that the transport unit reaches the safety area at a speed less than or equal to a safety speed and/or with a transport unit force less than or equal to a safety force and/or a transport unit energy less than or equal to a safety energy, or prevents the transport unit from reaching the safety area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2020
    Publication date: June 3, 2021
    Applicant: B&R INDUSTRIAL AUTOMATION GMBH
    Inventors: Franz KAUFLEITNER, Franz SPANLANG, Stefan FLIXEDER
  • Publication number: 20200287493
    Abstract: In order to improve control of a long-stator linear motor, a first measured value is ascertained in a first measurement section and a second measured value is ascertained in a second measurement section, in each case along a transport path in a movement direction. The first measurement section overlaps, in the movement direction, the second measurement section in an overlap region, and the first measured value and the second measured value represent the same actual value of a physical quantity. An operating parameter of the long-stator linear motor determined based on a deviation occurring between the first measured value and the second measured value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2020
    Publication date: September 10, 2020
    Applicant: B&R INDUSTRIAL AUTOMATION GMBH
    Inventors: Stefan FLIXEDER, Stefan HUBER, Alexander ALMEDER