A switch of a transport system for a movable transport element includes a main track and a secondary track branching off the main track. The movable transport element can be guided from a transition region in which the secondary track branches off from the main track. Devices for increasing a switching force to guide a moveable transport element along the main track or transfer the movable transport element to the secondary track are provided in the transition region.

The invention provides in some aspects a transport system comprising a guideway having a plurality of regions in which one or more vehicles are propelled, where each such vehicle includes a magnet. Disposed along each region are a plurality of propulsion coils, each comprising one or more turns that are disposed about a common axis, such that the respective common axes of the plurality of coils in that region are (i) substantially aligned with one another, and (ii) orthogonal to a direction in which the vehicles are to be propelled in that region. The plurality of coils of at least one such region are disposed on opposing sides of the magnets of vehicles being propelled along that region so as to exert a propulsive force of substance on those magnets. In at least one other region, the plurality of coils disposed on only a single side of the magnets of vehicles being propelled in that region exert a propulsive force of substance thereon-regardless of whether the plurality of coils in that region are disposed on a single or multiple (e.g., opposing sides) of those magnets.

Method for transferring a transport unit of a long stator linear motor at a transfer position from a first transport section to a second transport section. On each side of the transport unit, excitation magnets are arranged to interact with driving coils, and on both sides of the transport unit, excitation-magnetic lateral forces are acting on the transport unit by an interaction of the excitation magnets with ferromagnetic components of the guide structure. Method includes supplying on at least one side of the transport unit a stator current n a driving coil to generate a lateral force-forming electromagnetic force that acts on the transport unit, so that a resulting lateral force, as a sum of the acting excitation-magnetic lateral force and of the lateral force-forming electromagnetic force, on each side of the transport unit is different to produce a steering effect on the transport unit at the transfer position.

For a long stator linear motor comprising a switch and secure guidance of the transport vehicles in the direction of movement along the transport track, it is provided that the transport vehicle (Tn) is force-guided, at least in sections, in the direction of movement (x) outside the switch (W), and at least one one-sided track section (2d) is provided on the transport track (2), along which a vehicle guide element (7) only on one side of the transport track (2) interacts with the track guide element (6) on the assigned side of the transport track (2) for the mechanical forced guidance in the direction of movement (x), and the forced guidance in the direction of movement (x) in the transverse direction (y) is canceled in the region of the switch (W).

A point switch is designed such that the point plates (1, 2) of the point switch which support the track (11, 12) are placed vertically on top of one another and that the position of the points is set by vertically moving the point plates.

Long-stator linear motor with vehicle arranged for movement along transport path. Motor includes holding structure(s) having drive coils, on which passive part of vehicle is arranged; and guide surface and guide track running along path. Passive part has first drive magnet(s) arranged parallel to guide surface with air gap. Vehicle has first profile member(s) arranged on guide track and positioned by pressing force acting in transverse direction onto guide track with respect to an ascending direction running normally to movement direction and transverse direction. First running member(s) support passive part on holding structure against attractive force acting between drive magnets and drive coils to ensure the air gap. Vehicle has first auxiliary guide member(s) which, interacting with an auxiliary guide on holding structure at least in divergence and/or convergence areas of path, delimits movement of vehicle in a positive and/or negative ascending direction at least on one side.

Merging transportation pods onto transportation lines. A method includes requesting movement information associated with a set of transportation pods that will pass a junction. The method also includes determining whether to merge from the second transportation line to the first transportation line via the junction at the first time based on the movement information. The method further includes merging from the second transportation line to the first transportation line at the junction at the first time, in response to determining that the first transportation pod should merge from the second transportation line to the first transportation line via the junction at the first time.

A method comprises controlling at least one of a first distance between a first side of the vehicle and the first guidance track and a second distance between a second side of the vehicle and the second guidance track and receiving a direction instruction corresponding to one of the first side and the second side, the one side being a directional side. Having received directional instruction, a directional distance between the directional side of the vehicle and one of the first guidance track and the second guidance track provided at the directional side of the vehicle is controlled. With no contact between vehicle and a guiding track, for example comprising rails, the distance between the vehicle and the guiding tracks along the trajectory needs to be controlled, preferably at a safe distance. This concept provides such control.

Transport apparatus having at least one levitation generator and at least one drive generator. The at least one levitation generator configured to generate a levitating magnetic flux, move within a corresponding at least one lifting member, and elevate above a rest position relative to the at least one lifting member in response to the levitating magnetic flux. The at least one drive generator configured to generate a driving magnetic flux, move within a corresponding at least one drive member, and laterally move relative to the at least one drive member in response to the driving magnetic flux. At least a portion of the at least one levitation generator is movable relative to the at least one drive generator.

In order to implement a transfer position in a long-stator linear motor, in which position a transport unit is magnetically steered in order to be deflected from a first transport sections to a second transport section, a stator current is impressed into the drive coils interacting with the transport unit on a first side of the transport unit in the transfer area in order to generate the steering effect on this first side, which stator current either generates only an electromagnetic lateral force or causes only a braking force against the movement direction of the transport unit, or only a combination thereof.