Patents by Inventor Uwe Prüssmeier

Uwe Prüssmeier 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).

  • Publication number: 20240106364
    Abstract: A linear transport system comprises a first carriage and a second carriage, a linear motor for driving the first carriage and the second carriage and a guide rail. The linear motor comprises a stator and a first and a second rotor. The stator has a plurality of drive coils that are arranged along the guide rail individual motor modules comprise a plurality of drive coils. The first rotor is arranged on the first carriage and the second rotor is arranged on the second carriage. The first carriage has a first magnetic field generator. The second carriage has a second magnetic field generator. The first magnetic field generator differs from the second magnetic field generator at least in terms of its magnetic vector field, wherein the magnetic fields of the magnetic field generators are detected to identify the corresponding carriage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2023
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Inventors: Tobias Schönke, Marco Grabowski, Jan Achterberg, Manuel Bettenworth, Uwe Prüssmeier
  • Patent number: 11936273
    Abstract: A stator assembly for a planar electrical motor includes coil conductors arranged in a stator layer, elongated in a first direction and arranged side by side in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The coil conductors are connected to form a three-phase system, with a first forward conductor and first return conductor of the first phase connected in series to the first forward conductor, a second forward conductor and second return conductor of the second phase connected in series with the second forward conductor, and a third forward conductor and third return conductor of the third phase connected in series with the third forward conductor. The three-phase system has first and second opposite sides. The first forward conductor and the first return conductor are electroconductively connected in series by first and second horizontal connecting conductors arranged in the stator layer on the second and first side, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Beckhoff Automation GmbH
    Inventors: Rolf Brinkmann, Uwe Prüssmeier, Lukas Bentfeld
  • Publication number: 20240079926
    Abstract: A rotor for a planar drive system comprises a housing and at least one magnet arrangement. The housing comprises a basic housing body and a cover. The magnet arrangement is arranged in a recess of the basic housing body. The cover is attached to the basic housing body in such a way that the housing is configured to be fluid-tight, the cover covers the recess, and the magnet arrangement is arranged in an interior of the fluid-tight housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2023
    Publication date: March 7, 2024
    Inventors: Uwe Prüssmeier, Jörg Neufeld, Johannes Beckhoff, Felix Schulte
  • Patent number: 11916499
    Abstract: A linear transport system comprises a first carriage and a second carriage, a linear motor for driving the first carriage and the second carriage and a guide rail. The linear motor comprises a stator and a first and a second rotor. The stator has a plurality of drive coils that are arranged along the guide rail individual motor modules comprise a plurality of drive coils. The first rotor is arranged on the first carriage and the second rotor is arranged on the second carriage. The first carriage has a first magnetic field generator. The second carriage has a second magnetic field generator. The first magnetic field generator differs from the second magnetic field generator at least in terms of its magnetic vector field, wherein the magnetic fields of the magnetic field generators are detected to identify the corresponding carriage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Beckhoff Automation GmbH
    Inventors: Tobias Schönke, Marco Grabowski, Jan Achterberg, Manuel Bettenworth, Uwe Prüssmeier
  • Publication number: 20230256832
    Abstract: A linear transport system comprises a stationary unit and a movable unit. The linear transport system also comprises a drive for driving the movable unit, the drive comprising a linear motor, the linear motor comprising a stator and a rotor. The stator comprises the one or the plurality of stationary units, and the rotor is arranged on the movable unit and comprises one or a plurality of magnets. The stationary unit comprises an energy sending coil. The movable unit comprises an energy receiving coil. The movable unit comprises a fixing device, where the fixing device is set up to fix the movable unit in the linear transport system. The fixing device comprises a movable element, where the movable element can be moved between a first position and a second position, where in the first position the movable element initiates a mechanical fixing of the movable unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2023
    Publication date: August 17, 2023
    Inventors: Jan Achterberg, Manuel Bettenworth, Uwe Prüssmeier, Andreas Sinzenich
  • Publication number: 20230238868
    Abstract: This application provides a method for controlling a planar drive system, where the planar drive system comprises at least a controller, a stator module having a stator surface, and a rotor that may is positionable and movable on the stator surface. The method comprises positioning an object on a rotor in a first arrangement state of the object in a positioning step, carrying out an accelerating movement of a defined movement pattern of the rotor; and, by the accelerating movement, arranging the object positioned on the rotor in the first arrangement state in a second arrangement state relative to the rotor, in an arranging step. The application further provides a planar drive system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2023
    Publication date: July 27, 2023
    Inventors: Uwe Prüssmeier, Jan Achterberg
  • Patent number: 11552587
    Abstract: A method for moving a rotor in a planar drive system having a first and second stator modules and a rotor. The stator modules are arranged at a distance, forming a gap. First and second magnetic fields are generated by the first and stator modules. The first and second magnetic fields hold the rotor in a vertical position, at a distance from a surface of the first and/or second stator module. The first and/or second magnetic fields have a first magnetic field strength to maintain the rotor in the vertical position, and may be used to change a horizontal position of the rotor. The first stator module has a first close range adjacent the gap, where the first magnetic field has a second field strength when the rotor is moved across the gap, greater than the first magnetic field strength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: BECKHOFF AUTOMATION GMBH
    Inventor: Uwe Prüssmeier
  • Patent number: 11552524
    Abstract: A stator module for driving a rotor of an electrical planar-drive system comprises a power module, a stator assembly arranged on a top surface of the power module, and a connector. The power module is embodied to provide drive currents for driving the rotor. The stator assembly comprises coil conductors electrically connected to the power module via the connector for charging with the drive currents. The power module and the stator assembly each have a plate-shaped embodiment. The power module is mechanically fastened to the stator assembly by the connector. The stator assembly comprises a contact structure with contact holes arranged side by side, and the power module comprises a connecting arrangement with further contact holes arranged side by side. The connector comprises contact pins arranged side by side to engage in the further contact holes of the connecting arrangement, and in the contact holes of the contact structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: Beckhoff Automation GmbH
    Inventors: Rolf Brinkmann, Lukas Bentfeld, Uwe Pruessmeier
  • Publication number: 20220388401
    Abstract: A method is provided for transferring energy from a stationary unit to a movable unit of a linear transport system. The system includes a guide rail for guiding the movable unit, a plurality of stationary units, a controller, and a linear motor for driving the movable unit along the guide rail. The linear motor includes a stator and a rotor. The stator comprises the stationary units, each having one or more drive coils. The rotor is arranged on the movable unit, and has one or a more magnets. In addition, the stationary units each have one or more energy-transmitting coils, and the movable unit has at least one energy-receiving coil. The controller determines position data for the energy-receiving coil, selects at least one energy-transmitting coil based on the position data, and outputs a control signal to the stationary unit, with identification information for identifying the energy-transmitting coil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2022
    Publication date: December 8, 2022
    Inventors: Uwe Prüssmeier, Andreas Brinker, Irina Stockem, Thomas Vorbohle
  • Patent number: 11522433
    Abstract: A stator module for two-dimensionally driving a rotor having first and second magnet units includes a stator assembly with first and second stator segments configured for interacting with drive magnets of the first and second magnet units. The individual stator segments can each be energized independently from the remaining stator segments. The stator assembly includes first, second, third and fourth stator sectors. The first stator segments of the individual stator sectors each extend in a second direction over all second stator segments of the relevant stator sector, arranged side by side, and the second stator segments of the individual stator sectors each extend in a first direction over all first stator segments of the relevant stator sector arranged side by side. Extensions of the stator sectors in the first and second directions are respectively smaller than extensions of a magnet arrangement including the first and second magnet units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: Beckhoff Automation GmbH
    Inventors: Rolf Brinkmann, Lukas Bentfeld, Uwe Pruessmeier
  • Patent number: 11489428
    Abstract: A stator module for electromagnetically driving a rotor of a planar drive system comprises a connection module to provide drive energy. A power module has a current-generating unit to generate a drive current, which drives the rotor, from the drive energy. A stator unit has a coil conductor, to which the drive current can be applied, for generating a magnetic field which drives the rotor. A sensor module comprises a position-detecting unit to detect a position of the rotor over the sensor unit. The sensor module is arranged in a module housing. The stator unit and power module are arranged on a top side of the module housing and the connection module is arranged on a bottom side. The current-generating unit and the connection module are connected via a drive energy line. The drive energy line passes through the module housing in a manner electrically insulated from the sensor module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: Beckhoff Automation GmbH
    Inventors: Rolf Brinkmann, Lukas Bentfeld, Uwe Pruessmeier, Joerg Neufeld
  • Patent number: 11437893
    Abstract: A planar-drive system includes a rotor and stator module with a housing, a stator assembly for driving the rotor, and a sensor module for detecting the rotor position. The sensor module has a 2D arrangement of magnetic-field sensors arranged on a carrier in first and second periodic grids, extending in first and second directions. Adjacent magnetic-field sensors are arranged at first and second distances in the first and second directions. The grids are shifted by a vector having first and second components smaller than the respective first and a second distances. The rotor has first and second magnet units, each with an arrangement of magnets with first and second periodic lengths aligned in the first and second directions. The first and second components of the vector, and a difference between the first and second distances and the respective components, are each smaller than the respective first and second periodic lengths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: Beckhoff Automation GmbH
    Inventors: Rolf Brinkmann, Lukas Bentfeld, Uwe Pruessmeier
  • Patent number: 11437902
    Abstract: A stator module for two-dimensionally driving a rotor having first and second magnet units comprises a stator assembly including first and second stator segments for interacting with drive magnets of the first and second magnet units. The individual stator segments may each be energized independently from the remaining stator segments. The stator assembly comprises first, second, third and fourth stator sectors. The first stator segments of the individual stator sectors each extend in a second direction over all second stator segments of the relevant stator sector arranged side by side, and the second stator segments of the individual stator sectors each extend in a first direction over all first stator segments of the relevant stator sector arranged side by side. Extensions of the stator sectors in the first and second directions are respectively smaller than extensions of a magnet arrangement comprising the magnet units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: Beckhoff Automation GmbH
    Inventors: Rolf Brinkmann, Lukas Bentfeld, Uwe Pruessmeier
  • Publication number: 20220134540
    Abstract: An industrial robot comprises a modular robot arm having a plurality of arm modules, where a rotation transfer device for optical signal transmission is provided in an arm module or between a first and a second arm module. The rotation transfer device comprises an optomechanical rotation interface having a first interface side and a second interface side, which face each other and are substantially rotationally symmetrical and complementary. The first and second interface sides are configured to rotate relative to each other. The first and second interface sides are mechanically mounted with respect to each other, with a radial plain bearing on one interface side and a slide bearing shell complementary thereto on the other interface side. A gap is formed between the first and second interface sides, in the axial direction of the rotation transfer device, across which the optical signal transmission takes place.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2022
    Publication date: May 5, 2022
    Inventors: Peter Kastler, Clemens Maier, Thomas Morscher, Armin Pehlivan, Christoph Zech, Leo Büchinger, Hans Beckhoff, Dirk Janssen, Uwe Prüssmeier, Michael Pfister
  • Publication number: 20220131426
    Abstract: An assembly of stator modules for a planar drive system comprises a first stator module and a second stator module, The first stator module and/or the second stator module each comprise stator segments with a segment width, the stator segments being energizable, where the stator segments can provide a magnetic field in order to interact with the magnet arrangements of a rotor for driving and/or holding the rotor of the planar drive system. The first stator module and the second stator module are arranged spaced apart from each other and thereby form a gap, where the gap has a gap width, and where the gap width is smaller than or equal to the segment width.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2021
    Publication date: April 28, 2022
    Inventor: Uwe Prüssmeier
  • Publication number: 20220118634
    Abstract: An active arm module for the robot arm of a modular industrial robot has a first housing, first and connection sides arranged at an offset, and a drive device. The first connection side is mounted rotatably relative to the first housing, and is connected to the drive device in a torque-locking manner. The second connection side is connected to the first housing in a torque-proof manner, the drive device being arranged in the first housing and configured to rotate the first connection side relative to the first housing. A further module can be connected to the first and/or second connection side, where the first connection side is optically, electrically, power-electrically and/or fluidically connected to the second connection side, and an optical signal, electrical signal, electrical power, and/or a fluid can be exchanged with the further module via the and/or second connection side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2021
    Publication date: April 21, 2022
    Inventors: Michael Pfister, Hans Beckhoff, Dirk Janssen, Uwe Prüssmeier, Christoph Zech, Leo Büchinger, Thomas Morscher, Armin Pehlivan, Peter Kastler, Clemens Maier
  • Patent number: 11309763
    Abstract: A stator assembly for driving a rotor of an electrical planar motor includes a first arrangement of longitudinal stator layers and a second arrangement of oblique stator layers. The longitudinal stator layers comprise first coil conductors and the oblique stator layers comprise second coil conductors. The second coil conductors interact with second drive magnets to drive the rotor in a first direction, and the first coil conductors interact with first drive magnets to drive the rotor in a second direction, different from the first direction. The longitudinal and oblique stator layers are arranged on top of one another in a third direction, perpendicular to the first and second directions, where the first arrangement of longitudinal stator layers and the second arrangement of oblique stator layers have a shared central plane, each being symmetrically arranged with regard to the shared central plane, in the third direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Beckhoff Automation GmbH
    Inventors: Rolf Brinkmann, Lukas Bentfeld, Uwe Prüssmeier
  • Patent number: 11296571
    Abstract: A stator assembly for driving a rotor of a planar electrical motor includes longitudinal stator layers with first coil conductors and inclined stator layers with second coil conductors. The first coil conductors extend in an elongated manner in a first direction, and the second coil conductors extend in an elongated manner in a second direction, different from the first direction. The longitudinal and inclined stator layers are arranged on top of one another in a third direction, oriented perpendicularly to the first and second direction. An uppermost and lowermost stator layer of the stator assembly are each formed as a longitudinal stator layer with first coil conductors. The longitudinal stator layers are arranged in the third direction at most on one side next to an inclined stator layer, and the inclined stator layers are arranged in the third direction at most on one side next to a longitudinal stator layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: Beckhoff Automation GmbH
    Inventors: Rolf Brinkmann, Lukas Bentfeld, Uwe Prüssmeier
  • Patent number: 11050243
    Abstract: A safety module for a field-bus system comprising a switch-on unit, a control unit, a supply input provided to feed supply power, a first supply output provided to relay secured supply power to a consumer, a first switching element to electrically connect or disconnect the supply input and the first supply output, and a supply module to provide an operating power via an operating-power-supply line for operating the control unit. The control unit is connected to the first switching element to secure the supply power being relayed via the first supply output by actuating the first switching element. The supply module is electrically connected to the supply input and to a field-bus-power input. The field-bus-power input is provided to feed a field-bus power into the safety module for operating the switch-on unit. The supply module is provided to generate the operating power either from the supply power or field-bus power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: Beckhoff Automation GmbH
    Inventors: Lars Walther, Jens Heidenhöfer, Michael Jost, Uwe Prüssmeier, Christian Jürgenhake
  • Publication number: 20210184612
    Abstract: A method for moving a rotor in a planar drive system having a first and second stator modules and a rotor. The stator modules are arranged at a distance, forming a gap. First and second magnetic fields are generated by the first and stator modules. The first and second magnetic fields hold the rotor in a vertical position, at a distance from a surface of the first and/or second stator module. The first and/or second magnetic fields have a first magnetic field strength to maintain the rotor in the vertical position, and may be used to change a horizontal position of the rotor. The first stator module has a first close range adjacent the gap, where the first magnetic field has a second field strength when the rotor is moved across the gap, greater than the first magnetic field strength.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2021
    Publication date: June 17, 2021
    Inventor: Uwe Prüssmeier