Abstract: A conveyance apparatus includes a stator in which a plurality of coils is arranged along a first direction and a movable element to move along the plurality of coils. The stator includes a first magnet group including a plurality of first magnets arranged along the first direction and magnetized in one direction. The movable element includes a second magnet group including a plurality of second magnets arranged to face the plurality of coils, and a third magnet group including a plurality of third magnets arranged to face the first magnet group and magnetized in a direction repelling the first magnet group.

Abstract: A conveyance apparatus includes a stator including a plurality of coils arranged along a first direction and a mover. The mover moves along the plurality of coils and includes a first magnet group including a plurality of first magnets arranged to face the plurality of coils along the first direction, and a second magnet group including a plurality of second magnets arranged to face the plurality of coils along a second direction intersecting with the first direction. At least one of the plurality of coils includes a core, a wire-wound portion wound around the core, and a yoke. The yoke is adjacent to an outer periphery of a portion of the wire-wound portion along the first direction and extends in the first direction.

Abstract: An improved system and method for monitoring operation of movers in an independent cart system reduces the required communication bandwidth for monitoring operation of movers in a system where control is distributed among multiple controllers spaced along the track. As the mover is travelling along the track segment, each distributed controller monitors at least one operating characteristic of the mover. As a mover travels along the track, each distributed controller transmits the operating characteristic to a successive distributed controller, such the monitored operating characteristic is transmitted along the track as the mover travels along the track. At a reduced rate or upon request from a central controller, each distributed controller may transmit the status of a mover present on the corresponding track segment controlled by that distributed controller to the central controller.

Abstract: In a transition of a transport unit of a long stator linear motor from a first control zone to a following second control zone in a movement direction, a first segment control unit is responsible for controlling the movement of the transport unit and the first control zone is extended, in the movement direction, by a number of virtual drive coils. The first segment control unit, which is assigned to the first control zone, calculates manipulated variables for the virtual drive coils, and transmits the manipulated variables for the virtual drive coils to the second segment control unit, which is assigned to the second control zone. The second segment control unit uses the transmitted manipulated variables for the virtual drive coils in order to energize the drive coils of the second control zone for moving the transport unit.

Abstract: Drive coils in sections of a linear motor track that are normally used to electromagnetically propel movers along the track when such movers are nearby can be used to generate a mid-bus voltage for the section when not being used to propel movers. Such drive coils not being used to propel movers are considered “idle” and available for mid-bus voltage generation. The mid-bus voltage, and a full-bus voltage from which the mid-bus voltage is derived, in turn, can be applied across other drive coils that are near movers with varying polarities and magnitudes to propel movers along the track. Track sensors can be positioned along the track to detect presences or absences of movers with respect to drive coils for determining propulsion of such movers or generation of the mid-bus voltage. Accordingly, power supplies can be used more efficiently by not requiring them to generate mid-bus voltages in addition to full-bus voltages and DC references.

Abstract: A self-aligning interface (6300) is attached to a robotic carton unloader (6100) and provides an interface between an extendable conveyor (6200) and the robotic carton unloader (6100). The self-aligning interface (6300) can include a positional measurement device (6320, 6320b, 6320c) mounted on the robotic carton unloader (6100) and operatively engaged with the extendable conveyor (6200) to provide positional information about the location of the extendable nose conveyor (6220) relative to the positional measurement device (6320, 6320b, 6320c). A control unit (6180) is attached to the robotic carton unloader (6100) for full robotic control of robotic carton unloader (6100) and the unloading process. The control unit (6180) is connected to the positional measurement device (6320, 6320b, 6320c) and the extendable conveyor (6200).

Abstract: A linear conveyer includes a stationary module and a slider. The stationary module includes a frame extending linearly, a stator including armature coils and fixed to the frame, a rail, and a magnetic sensor. The slider movable along the rail with a driving linear motor includes magnetic poles, a rail guide fitted on the rail, and a magnetic scale. The magnetic scale includes a plastic magnet having magnetic poles and extending along an extending direction in which the rail extends, and a back yoke where the plastic magnet is placed. A position of the slider is detected by the magnetic sensor and the magnetic scale. The plastic magnet has a fixed portion that is fixed with respect to the back yoke and a portion other than the fixed portion, the portion being movable relative to the back yoke along an extending direction in which the magnetic scale extends.

Abstract: A stator device for a linear motor comprises an electrically energizable magnetic field generator for forming a magnetic field, the magnetic field generator comprising a stator tooth and a coil wound around the stator tooth and a holding module for holding the magnetic field generator, the holding module having a first and a second holding device, wherein the magnetic field generator is arranged between the two holding devices in that a first end of the stator tooth is fixed to the first holding device and a second end of the stator tooth is fixed to the second holding device.

Abstract: A linear conveyor includes: a linear motor stator which includes a plurality of electromagnets and in which each predetermined section can be individually controlled for conduction; a plurality of conveyance carriages each of which includes a linear motor mover; a linear scale which includes scale members secured to each of the conveyance carriages, and detectors disposed along a conveyance path; a plurality of motor controllers which individually controls conduction of electromagnets for each section based on the results of detecting the scale members by the detectors; and a data storage unit which stores position correction data for each conveyance carriage, determined based on the movement error of each conveyance carriage measured in advance using a common measurement jig. Each motor controller controls conduction of the electromagnets using the position correction data stored in the data storage.

Abstract: A conveying apparatus includes: a housing; a movable member; a linear motor; and a cover. The linear motor includes a primary magnetic pole and a secondary magnetic pole each having a facing surface that faces the other and that is a plane along the longitudinal direction of the housing. The cover allows the primary magnetic pole to be located in an atmospheric environment, and the secondary magnetic pole to be located in a vacuum environment or a reduced pressure environment by separating the primary magnetic pole and the secondary magnetic pole from each other. The primary magnetic pole and the secondary magnetic pole face each other so that a direction of a magnetic attraction force generated therebetween and acting on their facing surfaces is different from directions of forces acting, due to an atmospheric pressure outside the housing, on the wall of the housing on which the cover is provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a sorting system including a conveyor comprising a plurality of carts for carrying articles, in particular for sorting articles such as parcels and baggage. The conveyor has a linear synchronous motor drive system with stators arranged along a track which the carts follow. Reaction elements are mounted on each of the carts. The reaction elements each comprise an even or an uneven number of permanent magnets arranged on a plate-like carrier. The magnets on reaction elements of adjacent carts are arranged to form arrow of magnets with alternating polarity, said row having two neighboring magnets. At least one of the two neighboring magnets has a reduced dimension in the transport direction, and the two neighboring magnets are situated at a transition between adjacent carts.

Abstract: The linear motor includes: a frame; a slider having an mounting portion to allow the suction nozzle to be coupled thereto, wherein the slider is support by the frame in a movable manner in an up and down direction; a plurality of permanent magnets fixed to the slider while being aligned in the up and down direction; a spring member installed between the frame and a region of the slider spaced from the fixation position of the permanent magnets in the up and down direction, to bias the slider upwardly; a coil supported by the frame in such a manner as to be opposed to the permanent magnets; and an encoder supported by the frame in side-by-side relation with the coil in the up and down direction and adapted to detect a movement of the slider. The encoder and the spring member are arranged side-by-side in a horizontal direction.

Abstract: A magnet unit includes a first magnetic pole (7a), a second magnetic pole (7b) and a third magnetic pole (7c) at a center between the first magnetic pole (7a) and the second magnetic pole (7b), providing an E-shaped configuration. In the magnet unit, a first magnet is defined between the first magnetic pole (7a) and the third magnetic pole (7c) by connecting two electromagnets (71aa, 73aa) with each other through a permanent magnet (72a), while a second magnet is defined between the second magnetic pole (7b) and the third magnetic pole (7c) by connecting two electromagnets (71ba, 73ba) with each other through a permanent magnet (72b). With this configuration, it is possible to reduce a deviation in the length of respective magnetic paths from the permanent magnets (72a, 72b) up to their respective magnetic poles. By controlling exciting currents to the respective electromagnets (71aa, 73aa, 71ba, 73ba), it is also possible to adjust fluxes (or flux density) in respective directions x, y individually.

Abstract: A controlled motion system with movers mounted on a hybrid track system comprised of at least one smart section and at least one dumb section. The smart sections control each mover independently, while the dumb sections drive all movers at the same speed. The transition between these sections is characterized by positive control of the movers at all points in the transition. A soft magnetic composite core for the smart sections is disclosed. Also, a single-sided mover for smart sections that is constrained against loads in all direction, except for the direction of motion, is disclosed.

Abstract: A cooling device of a linear motor to cool a primary side of the linear motor including an iron core and a coil accommodated in slots of the iron core, including an elongate cover covering coil end portions exposed from both side faces of the iron core in a longitudinal direction, an air channel serving as blower for forcing a current of cooling air inside the cover, and a partition plate dividing the inside of the cover into upper and lower spaces. It is configured in such a manner that the upper space divided by the partition plate is used as a ventilation portion through which a current of cooling air is forced and the lower space is used as a cooling portion in which the coil end portions are accommodated and cooled. A slit is formed almost along a full length of the partition plate on a side closer to the iron core for bringing the ventilation portion and the cooling portion into communication with each other, and a vent is provided in a lower portion of the cooling portion.

Abstract: A magnet unit includes a first magnetic pole (7a), a second magnetic pole (7b) and a third magnetic pole (7c) at a center between the first magnetic pole (7a) and the second magnetic pole (7b), providing an E-shaped configuration. In the magnet unit, a first magnet is defined between the first magnetic pole (7a) and the third magnetic pole (7c) by connecting two electromagnets (71aa, 73aa) with each other through a permanent magnet (72a), while a second magnet is defined between the second magnetic pole (7b) and the third magnetic pole (7c) by connecting two electromagnets (71ba, 73ba) with each other through a permanent magnet (72b). With this configuration, it is possible to reduce a deviation in the length of respective magnetic paths from the permanent magnets (72a, 72b) up to their respective magnetic poles. By controlling exciting currents to the respective magnetic poles.

Abstract: A controlled motion system with movers mounted on a hybrid track system comprised of at least one smart section and at least one dumb section. The smart sections control each mover independently, while the dumb sections drive all movers at the same speed. The transition between these sections is characterized by positive control of the movers at all points in the transition. A soft magnetic composite core for the smart sections is disclosed. Also, a single-sided mover for smart sections that is constrained against loads in all direction, except for the direction of motion, is disclosed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a drying cylinder which is used to dry a paper, cardboard, tissue or other web of fibrous material in a machine for the production and/or for the transformation thereof. The drying cylinder includes a support body and an external cover layer which is heated by a hot fluid. The thermal flow passing through the external cover layer is increased such that at least one cavity is provided between the support body and the external cover layer through which the fluid flows. The external cover layer is predominately so thin that the ratio formed by the thermal conductivity of the material and the thickness of the external cover layer is greater than a threshold value of 3.2 kW/m2K for steel, 30 kW/m2K for aluminum, 18 kW/m2K for bronze alloys, 3.4 kW/m2K for copper and 6.1 kW/m2K for magnesium.