Abstract: A method for controlling a planar drive system includes transmitting a communication message with the aid of a main controller to a sub-controller via the communication system, where the communication message comprises a start command for starting the automation process to be carried out by the rotor and is configured to drive the sub-controller to control the automation process, and receiving a response message transmitted by the sub-controller to the main controller via the communication system, the response message comprising a status indication of a status of the automation process controlled by the sub-controller. The application also provides a rotor, a stator assembly and a planar drive system.

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.

Abstract: The invention relates to a planar drive system comprising at least a stator assembly with a plurality of coil groups for generating a stator magnetic field, a stator surface above the stator assembly, and a rotor. The rotor comprises a plurality of magnet assemblies for generating a rotor magnetic field. In a first operating state, the rotor can be moved above the stator surface in parallel to the stator surface with the aid of an interaction of the stator magnetic field with the rotor magnetic field. In a second operating state, the rotor is at least restricted in its ability to move in parallel to and perpendicularly with regard to the stator surface by a safety system.

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.

Abstract: A planar drive system includes a stator module and a rotor. The stator module has a stator assembly with at least one coil arrangement that can be energized to generate a stator magnetic field above a stator surface, and a magnetic field sensor. The rotor has a magnet arrangement and can be moved above the stator surface via interaction between the stator magnetic field the magnet arrangement. The rotor can be used as an input device or output device, or both. A controller can compare the position of the rotor magnetic field detected with the sensor to the position expected based on energization of the coil arrangement, to determine any deviation of the expected position as an external movement, and to recognize an input thereby. The controller can control an output via a predetermined movement of the rotor, and to energize the coil arrangement so the rotor moves as defined.

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.

Abstract: A linear transport system includes a movable carriage, a guide rail for guiding the carriage, and a linear motor for driving the carriage along the guide rail. A system is provided for contactless power and data transmission; e.g., where power and data are each sent inductively via separate coils to the carriage of the linear transport system and/or received by the carriage of a linear transport system. A method of operating such a linear transport system and a contactless power and data transmission system are also included.

Abstract: A planar drive system has at least one stator assembly with a plurality of coil groups for generating a stator magnetic field, a stator surface above the stator assembly, and first and second rotors. The rotors each have a plurality of magnet units for generating a rotor magnetic field. The rotors can be moved above the stator surface in first and second directions, with the aid of an interaction of the stator magnetic field with the rotor magnetic field. A connection can be formed between the rotors with the aid of a coupling device. A controller is arranged to output control signals to the stator assembly. The stator assembly is configured to energize the coil groups on the basis of the control signals so that movements of the rotors, coordinated with one another with respect to the coupling device, are carried out with the aid of the stator magnetic field.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.