A transport device has a stator and at least one transport element. The transport device is designed to transport the transport element in a controlled manner relative to the stator, and the stator or the transport element has multiple movable actuating magnets, each of which is connected to the stator or transport element via an actuating element. The actuating element is designed to change the position and/or orientation of the connected actuating magnet relative to the stator or transport element in a controlled manner. The respective other part has at least two stationary magnets fixedly connected to the respective other part. The stator and the transport element are magnetically coupled by means of the stationary magnets and actuating magnets, and the transport device is designed to transport the transport element relative to the stator by the control positioning and/or orientation of the actuating magnets by means of the actuating magnets.

A transport device has a stator and at least one transport element. The transport device is designed to transport the transport element in a controlled manner relative to the stator, and the stator or the transport element has multiple movable actuating magnets, each of which is connected to the stator or transport element via an actuating element. The actuating element is designed to change the position and/or orientation of the connected actuating magnet relative to the stator or transport element in a controlled manner. The respective other part has at least two stationary magnets fixedly connected to the respective other part. The stator and the transport element are magnetically coupled by means of the stationary magnets and actuating magnets, and the transport device is designed to transport the transport element relative to the stator by the control positioning and/or orientation of the actuating magnets by means of the actuating magnets.

Systems and methods of non-contact tensioning of a metal strip during metal processing include passing the metal strip adjacent a magnetic rotor. The magnetic rotor is spaced apart from the metal strip by a first distance. The systems and methods also include tensioning the metal strip through the magnetic rotor by rotating the magnetic rotor. Rotating the magnetic rotor induces a magnetic field into the metal strip such that the metal strip is tensioned in an upstream direction or a downstream direction. In other aspects, rotating the magnetic rotor induces a magnetic field into the metal strip such that a force normal to a surface of the metal strip is applied to the metal strip.

An apparatus for holding, positioning and/or moving an object is described. The apparatus includes a base, and a carrier which is movable relative to the base. The apparatus further includes at least three magnetic bearings, by means of which the carrier is supported on the base in a contactless manner such that the carrier can be displaced with respect to at least one predefined direction, wherein at least two of the magnetic bearings are configured as actively controllable magnetic bearings. The apparatus has at least one damping unit, which is fixed to the carrier or to the base.

An apparatus for holding, positioning and/or moving an object is described. The apparatus includes a base, and a carrier which is movable relative to the base. The apparatus further includes at least three magnetic bearings, by means of which the carrier is supported on the base in a contactless manner such that the carrier can be displaced with respect to at least one predefined direction, wherein at least two of the magnetic bearings are configured as actively controllable magnetic bearings. The apparatus has at least one damping unit, which is fixed to the carrier or to the base.

The present invention relates to a magnetic levitator. The magnetic levitator comprises a first portion having a first arrangement of a plurality of permanent magnets, and the first arrangement has first and second circumferences. The magnetic levitator also comprises a second portion having a second arrangement of a plurality of permanent magnets, and the second arrangement has a third circumference. The first and second arrangements are rotationally symmetrical, and the first circumference is larger than the third circumference. In use, one of the portions is magnetically levitated by the other one of the portions, and the second circumference is arranged substantially aligned to the third circumference.

The present invention relates to a magnetic levitator. The magnetic levitator comprises a first portion having a first arrangement of a plurality of permanent magnets, and the first arrangement has first and second circumferences. The magnetic levitator also comprises a second portion having a second arrangement of a plurality of permanent magnets, and the second arrangement has a third circumference. The first and second arrangements are rotationally symmetrical, and the first circumference is larger than the third circumference. In use, one of the portions is magnetically levitated by the other one of the portions, and the second circumference is arranged substantially aligned to the third circumference.

Systems and methods of non-contact tensioning of a metal strip during metal processing include passing the metal strip adjacent a magnetic rotor. The magnetic rotor is spaced apart from the metal strip by a first distance. The systems and methods also include tensioning the metal strip through the magnetic rotor by rotating the magnetic rotor. Rotating the magnetic rotor induces a magnetic field into the metal strip such that the metal strip is tensioned in an upstream direction or a downstream direction. In other aspects, rotating the magnetic rotor induces a magnetic field into the metal strip such that a force normal to a surface of the metal strip is applied to the metal strip.

The disclosure relates to a method for operating a movement apparatus having a first assembly and a second assembly. The first assembly includes a base and several permanent-magnet arrangements that are connected to the base via actuators such that they move as a whole relative to the base in at least one degree of freedom by the assigned actuator, the second assembly including a base and a permanent-magnet arrangement arranged firmly relative to the base. Position controllers are provided, each with a controlled variable and with a correcting variable. The controlled variable is one of six possible degrees of freedom with regard to a relative position between the first and second assembly. The correcting variable represents a force or a torque that has been assigned to the degree of freedom. Desired positions of the actuators are computed from the correcting variables and the actuators are set accordingly.

The disclosure relates to a method for operating a movement apparatus having a first assembly and a second assembly. The first assembly includes a base and several permanent-magnet arrangements that are connected to the base via actuators such that they move as a whole relative to the base in at least one degree of freedom by the assigned actuator, the second assembly including a base and a permanent-magnet arrangement arranged firmly relative to the base. Position controllers are provided, each with a controlled variable and with a correcting variable. The controlled variable is one of six possible degrees of freedom with regard to a relative position between the first and second assembly. The correcting variable represents a force or a torque that has been assigned to the degree of freedom. Desired positions of the actuators are computed from the correcting variables and the actuators are set accordingly.