Various aspects of the present disclosure are directed to a transport device in the form of a planar motor. In one embodiment, the transport device includes at least one transport segment, first and second coil groups, frive magnets and a control unit. The at least one transport segment forms a transport plane and includes at least one transport unit that moves in the transport plane at least two-dimensionally along two main movement directions. The first coil group, which defines the first main movement direction and has first drive coils, is arranged on the at least one transport segment. The second coil group defines the second main movement direction and has second drive coils is arranged on the at least one transport segment. The drive magnets are arranged on the at least one transport unit. The control unit controls the first drive coils, and the second drive coils.

A magnetic field apparatus includes a main magnet that generates a magnetic field with respect to an armature, a member made of a soft magnetic material and disposed adjacent to an end surface of the main magnet on a side opposing the armature, an auxiliary magnet that increases a magnetic flux of a magnetic pole of the main magnet on the side opposing the armature and disposed adjacent to the main magnet and the member in a relative moving direction between the magnetic field apparatus and the armature, and a restricting part that restricts the magnetic flux of the main magnet passing through an end surface of the member along a third direction that is perpendicular to both a first direction in which the main magnet and the armature oppose each other, and a second direction corresponding to the relative moving direction between the magnetic field apparatus and the armature.

A tray conveyor comprising ice-coated magnetic trays driven by a linear-motor stator along a rail track. The ice coating is applied to the trays to provide a product-bearing ice surface. After the product is processed and transferred off the tray, the top layer of the contaminated ice coating is removed and the tray with the remaining ice coating reused.

A driving mechanism is provided, including a fixed portion, a movable portion, a driving assembly and a connecting element. The movable portion may move relative to the fixed portion and is used for holding an optical module. The driving assembly moves the movable portion relative to the fixed portion. The connecting element is movably connected to the fixed portion and the movable portion.

Provided is a linear motor capable of having enhanced thrust density. The linear motor includes a magnetic pole element and an armature including coils. The magnetic pole element includes magnetic pole element cores and permanent magnets. The magnetic element cores include first cores, second cores, third cores, and fourth cores, each aligned in the linear motion direction. The permanent magnets are interposed between mutually adjacent magnetic element cores among the magnetic element cores. The armature is divided into a first armature portion opposed to the first and third cores, a second armature portion opposed to the first and second cores, a third armature portion opposed to the third and fourth cores.

The present invention provides an electromagnetic suspension capable of suppressing interference with other components and devices, being mounted in a narrow space, and having a small thrust pulsation, a large thrust, and a high damping performance even for a high-frequency vibration source. An electromagnetic suspension of the present invention includes a linear motor that includes an armature and a permanent magnet portion, the armature including a winding and a magnetic body, the permanent magnet portion being disposed on an outer periphery of the armature and including a permanent magnet and a cylindrical magnetic body, and the armature and the permanent magnet portion being relatively linearly driven in the linear motor, in which a recess recessed from an outer peripheral portion of the cylindrical magnetic body and a protrusion protruding from the outer peripheral portion are disposed on the same circumference of the outer peripheral portion of the cylindrical magnetic body.

Various embodiments relate to magnetically moveable displacement devices or robotic devices. Particular embodiments provide systems and corresponding methods for magnetically moving multiple movable robots relative to one or more working surfaces of respective one or more work bodies, and for moving robots between the one or more work bodies via transfer devices. Robots can carry one or more objects among different locations, manipulate carried objects, and/or interact with their surroundings for particular functionality including but not limited to assembly, packaging, inspection, 3D printing, test, laboratory automation, etc. A mechanical link may be mounted on planar motion units such as said robots.

The present disclosure relates to an actuator. The actuator includes at least two iron cores, each iron core including a pole extending in a first direction parallel to a direction of gravity; a permanent magnet disposed between the at least two iron cores so as to generate a magnetic field along a shape of a combination of the at least two iron cores arranged so as to be adjacent to each other in a direction not parallel to the first direction; and a winding wound around the pole of each of the at least two iron cores.

A low height type actuator capable of performing a two-dimensional motion includes a magnet structure that includes a first array in which the first and second magnets are alternately arranged in x-direction and a second array in which the first and second magnets are alternately arranged in y-direction, and first and second wirings. The first wiring crosses the first magnets included in the first array in y-direction, and the second wiring crosses the first magnets included in the second array in x-direction. According to the present invention, by making current flow in the first and second wirings, a two-dimensional motion can be achieved. Further, since the first and second wirings are each a planar wiring that crosses the magnets, height reduction can be achieved.

Disclosed embodiment provide a sliding step assembly for a vehicle or a rail vehicle, comprising at least one footboard, which is guided on a guiding device for movement along a travel path between a retracted position and an extended position by driving by a drive. The drive contains at least one electrical linear motor operating without contact, wherein the driving force of the electrical linear motor is transferred to the footboard without mechanical connection.