Abstract: A method and system of fault prediction in a packaging machine is disclosed. The method comprises registering data values associated with the motion of independently movable objects along a track in the packaging machine; determining a distribution of the data values; calculating a measure of central tendency of the data values in the distribution; calculating a quantified measure of a shape of the distribution; associating the measure of central tendency with said quantified measure of the shape as a coupled set of condition parameters; determining a degree of dispersion of a plurality of coupled sets of condition parameters associated with a plurality of motion cycles of the independently movable objects; and comparing the degree of dispersion with a dispersion threshold value, or determining a trend of the degree of dispersion over time, for said fault prediction.

Abstract: In order to provide a transport unit for a long stator linear motor, wherein the orientation thereof can be easily determined on the long stator linear motor during operational use, according to the invention, the transport unit (1) has a first guide side (FS1) on which a first guide group (G1) is arranged and a second guide side (FS2) on which a second guide group (G2) is arranged. A first magnetic side (S1) positioned laterally relative to the longitudinal direction (x) is opposite a second magnetic side (S2), wherein the first magnetic side (S1) has a magnetic variable with a first value (w1) at a first test distance (a1) from the center of the first longitudinal extension (I1) in the direction of the first end (I1e), and on the first magnetic side (S1), a magnetic variable with a second value (w2), corresponding to the first value (w1), at the first test distance (a1) from the center of the first longitudinal extension (I1) in the direction of the first start (I1a).

Abstract: An artificial muscle fiber includes an external fiber and an internal fiber. The external fiber includes a first linear array of actuators having protrusions directed in a first direction. The internal fiber includes a second linear array of actuators having protrusions directed in a second direction opposite to the first direction. Protrusions of the first linear array of actuators and protrusions of the second linear array of actuators are separated by a non-zero gap, and each actuator of the first linear array of actuators and the second linear array of actuators includes a soft magnetic material.

Abstract: An adaptive container loading assembly is provided and includes a container forming assembly, a container shuttle assembly, and a product transport assembly. The container forming provides a plurality of varying sized containers. The container shuttle assembly is positioned adjacent to the container forming assembly and includes a linear synchronous motor guideway shaped in an endless loop, and a plurality of transport vehicles moveable about the guideway, each transport vehicle a leading shuttle and a trailing shuttle spaced apart by a determined distance to accommodate and receive the plurality of varying sized containers. The product transport assembly is positioned adjacent the container shuttle assembly and includes a robot arm to position product in the plurality of varying sized containers.

Abstract: A robotic actuation system for sensorless force control of an interventional tool (14) having cable driven distal end (e.g., a probe, a steerable catheter, a guidewire and a colonoscope). The system employs a robotic actuator (30) having one or more motorized gears operate the cable drive of the interventional tool (14). The system further employs a robotic workstation (20) to generate motor commands for simultaneous actuation position and contact force control of the interventional tool (14). The motor commands are a function of an actuation position measurement and a motor current measurement of the at least one motorized gear for a desired actuation position of the interventional tool (14).

Abstract: A method of obtaining a mechanical position of a motor for an ESC includes obtaining magnetic field strengths of two or more Hall sensors respectively and determining the mechanical position of the motor based on the magnetic field strengths of the two or more Hall sensors. The magnetic field strengths are obtained by measuring a magnetic leakage of two or more pairs of magnetic poles by the two or more Hall sensors. The motor includes two or more Hall sensors and two or more pairs of magnetic poles. The motor is connected to the ESC; a phase difference between the two or more Hall sensors is a preset angle; and arrangements between each pair of magnetic poles and the two or more Hall sensors are different.

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.

Abstract: A linear motor system has multiple modular track sections joined end-to-end to form a track along which movers may be displaced by the control of magnetic fields generated by coils disposed in each track section. A curved track section is provided that includes a non-constant radius of curvature that is a non-linear function of the run length along the curved track section. The curved track section may have a number of different radii of curvature, and one or more of them may be based on a non-linear function of the run length. The resulting curvature provides improved dynamic performance of movers driven along the curved track section.

Abstract: A power tool is provided with a multi-phase brushless motor including a rotor and a stator having stator windings corresponding to at least three phases of the motor. A power switch circuit is provided including high-side and low-side power switches. A power supply interface receives alternating-current (AC) power from an AC power supply or battery direct-current (DC) power from one or more battery packs. A rectifier converts the AC power to a rectified DC voltage on a bus line. A capacitor is disposed across the bus line such that, within each half cycle of the AC power voltage waveform, the power switch circuit draws current from the AC power supply within a first time period and from the capacitor within a second time period, the capacitor having a capacitance value such that the first time period is greater than the second time period.

Abstract: A linear motor includes a stator and a rotor that is axially moveable relative to the stator, wherein the rotor is permanently excited by a rotor magnetic field which is periodic with a first period length (PP) along its longitudinal axis, wherein the linear motor comprises a position detection device, which is designed to detect a position of the rotor in relation to the stator, wherein the position detection device comprises at least a first magnetic field sensor (S1) and a second magnetic field sensor (S2), wherein the first magnetic field sensor (S1) and the second magnetic field sensor (S2) are arranged on the stator spaced apart from each other by a first distance (d1) along the longitudinal axis of the rotor, wherein the first distance (d1) is at least approximately an odd multiple of one-sixth of the first period length (PP).

Abstract: A drive module for a linear transport system comprises a housing and a stator, wherein a conveying device of the linear transport system with a magnet arrangement can be arranged on the housing. The stator is arranged in the housing, wherein the stator comprises at least one coil arrangement having at least one coil with at least one stator tooth. The coil arrangement is designed to switchably provide a magnetic traveling field, wherein the magnetic traveling field exits from the coil arrangement at the end faces and passes through the housing shells in order to enter into operative connection with the magnet arrangement of the conveying device of the linear transport system on the outer side of the housing for the purpose of forming a magnetic coupling.

Abstract: A motor controller is provided that executes a commutation routine in one of a plurality of operating modes to regulate current provided to drive coils in a linear motion system. The motor controller generated currents for each of the drive coils in a first operating mode to minimize the copper losses in the drive coils, in a second operating mode to maximize the force applied to the mover, in a third operating mode to provide balanced currents between the drive coils, and in a fourth operating mode to provide currents according to a selected operating point that combines characteristics of the first three operating points. The motor controller may also monitor each of the drive coils for saturation and redistribute at least a portion of the current required to control operation of the mover to the other drive coils when one of the drive coils is saturated.

Abstract: An improved system for determining the identification of movers in a motion control system is disclosed, where the motion control system includes multiple movers traveling on a closed track. The physical construction of at least one element of one of the movers is different on one mover than on each of the other movers. The control system for the movers detects the difference in construction and identifies the unique mover as a first mover. Each of the other movers along the track are assigned an identifier based on their relative position to the first mover. According to one embodiment, a position sensing system is utilized to identify the first mover. According to another embodiment, the drive system for the movers is utilized to identify the first mover. In still another embodiment, a combination of the position sensing system and the drive system is utilized to identify the first mover.

Abstract: The invention relates to an arrangement (11, 21, 41) for transferring electric energy to a vehicle, in particular to a track bound vehicle such as a light rail vehicle (81) or to a road automobile, wherein—the arrangement (11, 21, 41) comprises an electric conductor arrangement (41) for producing an alternating electromagnetic field and for thereby transferring the energy, —the conductor arrangement (41) comprises a plurality of consecutive segments (T1, T2, T3, T4, T5), wherein the segments (T1, T2, T3, T4, T5) extend in the direction of travel of the vehicle, —each of the consecutive segments (T1, T2, T3, T4, T5) comprises at least one alternating current line (44a, 44b, 44c) for carrying a phase of an alternating current in order to produce the alternating electromagnetic field, —each of the consecutive segments (T1, T2, T3, T4, T5) is combined with an assigned controller (CTR1; 31) adapted to control the operation of the segment (T1, T2, T3, T4, T5) independently of the other segments (T1, T2, T3, T4, T5)

Abstract: An apparatus for moving objects comprising a plurality of transport movers individually movable by means of magnetic conveying technology and/or linear motor technology for transporting the objects; a path system for the transport movers in which the transport movers are movable along at least one predefined path in a transport direction; and a control device for controlling the movements of the transport movers in the path system, wherein the path system has a guide for the transport movers which extends along the path, characterized in that at least one rolling element or sliding element is arranged at each transport mover; and in that the guide takes up at least substantially vertical forces via the rolling element or sliding element, with the guide having at least one running surface, which extends along the path, for the rolling element or sliding element.

Abstract: Disclosed is a linear vibration motor comprising a vibrator and a stator arranged parallel to the vibrator. The vibrator comprises a counterweight block and a vibration block embedded and fixed in the counterweight block. The vibration block comprises at least two permanent magnets. The stator comprises a coil. A magnetic conductive core is arranged in the coil. The adjacent end surfaces of the at least two adjacent permanent magnets form slopes parallel to each other. The slopes form an acute angle with the axis of the magnetic conductive core. The slopes extend obliquely in the direction approaching the corresponding magnetic conductive core. The motor not only ensures the maximization of the sizes of the permanent magnets, but also increases the effective magnetic field intensity between a gap between the adjacent permanent magnets and the magnetic conductive core, thus increasing a driving force driving the vibrator into vibration.

Abstract: A transport system includes a plurality of coils; and a carriage that has a magnet and is movable in a first direction along the plurality of coils in accordance with electromagnetic force to which the magnet is subjected from the plurality of coils, and the carriage has a movable mechanism that is provided so as to be able to interlock with the magnet and is driven by electromagnetic force to which the magnet is subjected in a second direction intersecting with the first direction from the plurality of coils.

Abstract: An electrical linear machine includes a stator that is fixed to a housing and an armature that is configured to be axially displaced and supports a permanent magnet. The stator has a first stator yolk and a second stator yoke with the stator yolks each forming a stator pole. The stator poles are arranged in a manner distributed radially and uniformly around the armature. The first stator yoke is associated with at least one coil to which current is applied so as to generate a first magnetic flux through the first stator yoke and the permanent magnet. A magnetic north pole of the permanent magnet is associated with a stator pole of the second stator yoke and a magnetic south pole of the permanent magnet is associated with the other stator pole of the second stator yoke in order to generate a second magnetic flux through the second stator yoke.

Abstract: A numerical controller adapted to perform an operation based on table-format data includes a table management unit that selects a plurality of tables of table-format data used for a machining operation, a distribution processing unit that generates, for each table of the table-format data, distributed interpolation data for an axis to be controlled on the basis of the table-format data according to the plurality of tables of table-format data read out by the table readout unit, and a selection and superimposition unit that selects and superimposes, for each control axis, the plurality of tables of distributed interpolation data generated by the distribution processing unit.

Abstract: A conveyor system includes a moving stage, a track, a control circuit and a driver. The moving stage has a plurality of magnets and an optical scale. The track carries the moving stage and includes a first work area provided with a plurality of Hall sensor modules and a second work area provided with the Hall sensor modules and a read head module. When the moving stage is in the first work area, the Hall sensor module generates a first sensing signal. When the moving stage is in the second work area, the Hall sensor module generates the first sensing signal and the read head module generates a second sensing signal. The control circuit determines the position of the moving stage based on the first sensing signal and the second sensing signal, and generates a driving signal. The driver drives the coil windings according to the driving signal.

Abstract: A numerical controller adapted to perform an operation based on table-format data includes a table management unit that selects a plurality of tables of table-format data used for a machining operation, a distribution processing unit that generates, for each table of the table-format data, distributed interpolation data for an axis to be controlled on the basis of the table-format data according to the plurality of tables of table-format data read out by the table readout unit, and a selection and superimposition unit that selects and superimposes, for each control axis, the plurality of tables of distributed interpolation data generated by the distribution processing unit.

Abstract: A sinusoidal signal that is frequency-swept so as to have a frequency region in which each frequency has a different number of cycles and/or application duration is applied to a control system in a movement device that moves a movement target, time-series data for transmission characteristics obtained from said control system as a result of the application of the aforementioned sinusoidal signal is acquired, and said time-series data is subjected to spectral analysis. This allows the provision of a positioning control device and a frequency-characteristics measurement method that make it possible to optimize measuring precision while minimizing increases in the amount of time it takes to measure frequency characteristics.

Abstract: A robotic actuation system for sensorless force control of an interventional tool (14) having cable driven distal end (e.g., a probe, a steerable catheter, a guidewire and a colonoscope). The system employs a robotic actuator (30) having one or more motorized gears operate the cable drive of the interventional tool (14). The system further employs a robotic workstation (20) to generate motor commands for simultaneous actuation position and contact force control of the interventional tool (14). The motor commands are a function of an actuation position measurement and a motor current measurement of the at least one motorized gear for a desired actuation position of the interventional tool (14).

Abstract: A linear drive transport system may include a track that includes first, second, third, and fourth track surfaces that define perimeter boundaries of the track and a magnetic drive system. The first, second, third, and fourth track surfaces include first, second, third, and fourth trajectories about the track, respectively, which are each different from one another. A mover may move along the track and include first and second leading bearings that interact with the first and second track surfaces, respectively, and first and second lagging bearings that interact with the third and fourth track surfaces, respectively, and a reaction element that interacts with the magnetic drive system to generate a propulsive force. The first and second leading bearings may be coupled to the mover at a first fixed distance from one another, and the first and second lagging bearings may be coupled to the mover at a similar distance.

Abstract: A common-stator macro/micro integrated precision motion one-dimensional linear motor assembly, includes a base, linear guide rails, slide blocks, a U-shaped linear motor stator, a macro motion rotor, a micro motion rotor and a macro/micro integrated platform. A macro and micro motion platforms are connected to form an integrated platform through an elastic member, an outer frame of the macro/micro integrated platform is mounted on the linear guide rails and the slide blocks, the U-shaped linear motor stator is arranged on the base, rotors are respectively mounted on the macro and micro motion platforms, and large-scale overall high-speed motion can be realized when macro and micro rotors are simultaneously driven, and when a motion deviation occurs, the micro motion platform realizes precise displacement output by virtue of elastic deformation due to small inertia and zero friction, and high-frequency motion deviation compensation can be realized by virtue of individual drive.

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: The present invention provides an actuator including a motor; a lead screw rotating by coupling to the motor; a nut part moving forward or backward by coupling to the lead screw; a magnet coupled to the nut part; a sensor unit configured to sense a change amount of magnetic flux depending on a position of the magnet and convert the sensed change amount of magnetic flux into measured voltage data; and a control unit controlling the motor; wherein the magnet comprises a first pole and a second pole arranged in order in the movement direction of the nut part, wherein, if the sensor unit senses the first pole when the nut part is moved forward, the control unit performs a first motion in which a forward movement of the nut part is stopped and moves the nut part backward, and if the sensor unit senses the second pole after the first motion, the control unit performs a second motion in which the movement of the nut part is stopped and moves the nut part forward.

Abstract: Linear motor having optimized power, including a U-shaped profiled stator housing, which forms an inner installation space for receiving a winding packet consisting of multiple coils. The installation space is delimited on the cover side by a carriage driven so it is longitudinally displaceable by magnetic force on the stator housing, on which carriage a length scale is fastened, opposite to which a position sensor is arranged in the stator housing. The installation area for the arrangement of the winding packet in the stator housing is uninfluenced by the position sensor also arranged in the stator housing.

Abstract: Temperature-dependent motor control device, including: a motor controller configured to switch a motor control state among an activated state in which the motor is activated by a first current, an activation stopped state in which activation of the motor is stopped by stopping current supply, and an activation suspended state in which activation of the motor is suspended with a second current smaller than the first current kept supplied; and a temperature estimator configured to calculate an estimated motor temperature value and to perform a first calculation for gradually increasing the estimated value when the motor is in the activated state, a second calculation for gradually decreasing the estimated value when the motor is in the activation stopped state, and a third calculation for gradually decreasing the estimated value at a rate of decrease lower than that in the second calculation when the motor is in the activation suspended state.

Abstract: A linear motor includes a magnet unit and a coil unit. The magnet unit includes two magnet arrays oppositely parallel and symmetrically located on a magnetic yoke: a first and a second magnet array. The coil unit is disposed in a magnetic gap between the two magnet arrays. In a spatial rectangular coordinate system defined by X, Y and Z axes, the coil unit includes a first and a second coil array arranged in a stacked manner in the Z-axis direction and staggered from each other by a distance of ?P in the Y-axis direction.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a doubly salient permanent magnet electric machine that has a winding structure in which series-connected windings are included in the phase windings of a mover, and that has a stator implemented as an iron core having a plurality of permanent magnets and a plurality of stator salient poles neighboring the permanent magnets, thus reducing the number of permanent magnets by half. An electric machine is configured such that a mover moves while facing a stator and includes an N (a number of power phases) multiple number of teeth and phase windings wound around the teeth, and one or more pairs of phase windings of the mover mutually having a phase difference of 180° are connected in series, and the stator includes permanent magnets in depressions between individual stator salient poles of an iron core in which the stator salient poles are formed.

Abstract: Provided is a stepping motor which includes a bracket, a stator and a rotor disposed at the bracket, a lead screw of which both ends are fixed to the bracket, and rotating while coupled to the rotor, and a moving part coupled to the lead screw and guided along a side surface of the bracket to move, wherein guide protrusions are formed at both side surfaces of the moving part, the bracket includes guide slots formed at side surfaces and into which the guide protrusions are inserted, and the guide slots are formed to have heights higher than those of the guide protrusions, thereby providing an advantageous effect of minimizing friction contact.

Abstract: A system has a first operation substrate, the operation substrate having at least one sliding surface and at least one conductive trace in a layer in the substrate, at least one flex circuit magnetically coupled to the operation substrate, the flex circuit having at least one sliding surface and at least one conductive trace in the substrate, and at least one manipulator moveable across the sliding surfaces of the operation substrate and the flex circuit by magnetic fields generated by application of current to the conductive traces.

Abstract: A vibration actuator includes: a movable element that includes a magnet and moves reciprocatingly; first and second coils arranged to surround the magnet; a housing that includes a bottom portion and a lid portion that oppose each other in a movement direction of the movable element; and a plate-like magnetic body arranged at bottom portion of the housing, magnetic attraction being generated between the plate-like magnetic body and the magnet, and the movable element being drawn towards the bottom portion side.

Abstract: A system for measuring a physical characteristic of mechanical face seal includes a permanent magnet and a magnetic sensor. The permanent magnet is affixed to a structure proximate to a bearing surface of the mechanical face seal. The permanent magnet has a magnetic field that decreases as a function of temperature. The magnetic sensor is mounted on the mechanical face seal in a magnetic field sensing relationship with the permanent magnet. The magnetic sensor is configured to generate a voltage signal corresponding to a sensed magnetic field.

Abstract: A linear motor is equipped with sensor substrates that are attached to main motor bodies in the X-direction along a conveyance path in such a manner that the sensor substrates are accommodated within the dimensions of the main motor bodies. Each sensor substrate is equipped with a sensor for outputting an A-phase position detection signal upon detecting a slider, a sensor for outputting a B-phase position detection signal, and a position detection signal summer unit. Each position detection signal summer unit adds up, for A-phase and for B-phase, position detection signals that are output from the position detections unit of the adjoining substrates provided on either side of the relevant substrate.

Abstract: Provided is a stepping motor which includes a bracket, a stator and a rotor disposed at the bracket, a lead screw of which both ends are fixed to the bracket, and rotating while coupled to the rotor, and a moving part coupled to the lead screw and guided along a side surface of the bracket to move, wherein guide protrusions are formed at both side surfaces of the moving part, the bracket includes guide slots formed at side surfaces and into which the guide protrusions are inserted, and the guide slots are formed to have heights higher than those of the guide protrusions, thereby providing an advantageous effect of minimizing friction contact.

Abstract: A method and apparatus comprising a sleeve, at least one linear electric motor connected to the sleeve, and a controller. The sleeve is configured to move between a first position and a second position. The sleeve exposes a cascade when in the second position. The at least one linear electric motor is configured to move the sleeve between the first position and the second position. The controller is configured to control operation of the at least one linear electric motor to move the sleeve between the first position and the second position.

Abstract: This specification describes technologies relating to converting vibration energy to electrical energy through electromagnetic transduction. According to an aspect, an apparatus to convert kinetic energy to electricity through electromagnetic transduction can include: an array of magnets arranged in a first plane; and an array of coils arranged in a second plane with respect to the first plane to form a gap between the array of magnets and the array of coils. According to another aspect, an energy harvester can include: a two dimensional array of magnets; a two dimensional array of coils; a housing configured and arranged to limit a direction of motion of either the two dimensional array of magnets or the two dimensional array of coils; and additional magnets configured and arranged to form a suspension system for either the two dimensional array of magnets or the two dimensional array of coils in the direction of motion.

Abstract: A conveying device for conveying a product, comprising a plurality of individually movable conveying elements (2, 2?) for conveying the products, a stationary, circumferentially arranged guide rail (3), which defines a running path for the conveying elements (2, 2?), and a linear motor drive device (4) for driving the conveying elements (2, 2?), said conveying elements (2, 2?) each having permanent magnets (5, 5?) which are actively connected to the coils (6) of the linear motor drive device (4), each conveying element (2, 2?) having at least one first sub-component (21) and one second sub-component (22) which are connected to one another in an articulated manner by means of a hinge (7), each sub-component (21, 22) having at least one permanent magnet (5, 5?), each conveying element (2, 2?) having a reflux plate (15), and the hinge (7) being arranged on the reflux plate (15) in such a way that the reflux plate (15) is sub-divided into a first plate part (16) and a second plate part (17), which are connected t

Abstract: An optical module includes: a light source configured to emit diffusion light to tracks; one light receiving array and another light receiving array which are arranged across the light source in a width direction substantially vertical to the measurement direction; a light receiving array arranged between the one light receiving array and the light source, and configured to receive light which is reflected at the tracks having a first incremental pattern; and a light receiving array arranged between the another first light receiving array and the light source, and configured to receive light which is reflected at the tracks having a second incremental pattern which pitch is longer than a pitch of the first incremental pattern.

Abstract: An encoder includes a plurality of slit tracks, a point light source, a first to third light-receiving arrays. The plurality of slit tracks respectively comprises a plurality of reflection slits. The point light source emits diffusion light to the plurality of slit tracks. The first light-receiving array receives light reflected by the slit track comprising an incremental pattern. The second light-receiving array receives light reflected by the slit track comprising an incremental pattern longer in pitch than other incremental patterns, and is disposed at a position on a side of a direction where the point light source is disposed, than the first light-receiving array, The third light-receiving array receives light reflected by the slit track comprising an absolute pattern, and is disposed at a position on a side of a direction where the point light source is disposed, than the first light-receiving array.

Abstract: The encoder includes a plurality of slit tracks, a point light source, two first light-receiving arrays, two second light-receiving arrays, and a third light-receiving array. The plurality of slit tracks respectively comprises a plurality of reflection slits arranged along a measurement direction. The point light source is configured to emit diffusion light to the plurality of slit tracks. The two first light-receiving arrays are disposed sandwiching the point light source in a width direction substantially orthogonal to the measurement direction. The two second light-receiving arrays are disposed sandwiching the point light source in the measurement direction. The third light-receiving array is configured to receive light reflected by the slit track comprising an incremental pattern that differs in pitch from other incremental patterns, and is disposed at a position in a direction where the first light-receiving array is disposed than the point light source.

Abstract: An encoder includes a plurality of slit tracks, a point light source, a first light-receiving array, and a second light-receiving array. The plurality of slit tracks respectively comprises a plurality of reflection slits arranged along a measurement direction. The point light source is configured to emit diffusion light to the plurality of slit tracks. The first light-receiving array is configured to receive light reflected by the slit track comprising an incremental pattern, and is disposed at a position in a first direction than the point light source. The second light-receiving array is configured to receive light reflected by the slit track comprising an incremental pattern that differs in pitch from the slit track corresponding to the first light-receiving array, and is disposed at a position in a second direction than the point light source. The second direction forms an angle ? with respect to the first direction.

Abstract: A drive section for a substrate transport arm including a frame, at least one stator mounted within the frame, the stator including a first motor section and at least one stator bearing section and a coaxial spindle magnetically supported substantially without contact by the at least one stator bearing section, where each drive shaft of the coaxial spindle includes a rotor, the rotor including a second motor section and at least one rotor bearing section configured to interface with the at least one stator bearing section, wherein the first motor section is configured to interface with the second motor section to effect rotation of the spindle about a predetermined axis and the at least one stator bearing section is configured to effect at least leveling of a substrate transport arm end effector connected to the coaxial spindle through an interaction with the at least one rotor bearing section.

Abstract: The invention relates to a linear actuator including a driver for driving a movable assembly between a rest position and an active position, and to an electronic module for controlling the driver. The actuator further includes a damper that damps the return to the rest position of the movable assembly. The electronic module is configured to acquire a representative quantity of the instantaneous force provided by the driver and of the time derivative of this quantity. The electronic module is also able to control the interruption of the operation of the driver if the derivative exceeds a first predetermined value during the phase for returning the movable assembly to the rest position.

Abstract: A stator device for a linear motor comprises an electrically energizable magnetic field generator for forming a magnetic field, and a first holding device for holding the magnetic field generator, wherein the magnetic field generator is fastened to the first holding device, wherein the first holding device is formed at least partially from an any of an electrically and magnetically non-conductive material, wherein the magnetic field generator comprises a coil and a stator tooth as a core around which the coil is wound, and wherein the first holding device is in the form of a printed circuit board for electrical contacting of the magnetic field generator.

Abstract: A magnetic device includes at least one stator and at least one translator. The translator is moveable in relation to the stator in a translator moving direction. The translator moves in a direction oriented towards the stator. The at least one stator and the translator are arranged along an axis. The magnetic device includes a control device, the control device includes a device for controlling a distance r?0 (r being equal to or greater than 0) between the translator and the stator in relation to the force generated between the stator and the translator when the magnetic device is in operation. The translator is movable in relation to the stator in the translator moving direction along a linear translator movement axis. The at least one stator and the translator are oriented along the translator moving axis.

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 linear motor comprises a stator (1) which has a longitudinal axis (16), and an armature (2) which is movable relative to the stator (1) between two end positions in the direction of the longitudinal axis (16). Either the stator (1) or the armature (2) has energizable electric coils (12) and the armature (2) or the stator (1) is excited by a permanent magnetic field which is periodic in the direction of the longitudinal axis (16). The linear motor further comprises a position detection system (100; 200; 300; 400; 500) for detecting the position of the armature (2) relative to the stator (1). The position detection system (100; 200; 300; 400; 500) is a contactless operating position detection system which is adapted to generate a signal that corresponds to the distance between a reference location (11a; 15a) on the stator (1) and a reference location (24a) on the armature (2).