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.

To safely avoid a collision of two transport units in the switch area during operation of a conveyor in the form of a long stator linear motor with a switch, a collision zone is provided in the switch area, wherein the collision zone extends from the beginning of the switch in each case a length on the respective conveyor section, and to define the collision zone, the transport units are considered as two-dimensional objects and a position of the first transport unit on the first conveyor section is determined, which the first transport unit is allowed to occupy, so that the second transport unit can be moved as a two-dimensional object along the second conveyor section without collision through the switch and a distance between this first position and the beginning of the switch is determined and at least this distance is used as the first length.

The invention provides in some aspects a transport system comprising a guideway with a plurality of propulsion coils disposed along a region in which one or more vehicles are to be propelled. One or more vehicles are disposed on the guideway, each including a magnetic flux source. The guideway has one or more running surfaces that support the vehicles and along which they roll or slide. Each vehicle can have a septum portion of narrowed cross-section that is coupled to one or more body portions of the vehicle. The guideway includes a diverge region that has a flipper and an extension of the running surface at a vertex of the diverge. The flipper initiates switching of vehicle direction at a diverge by exerting a laterally directed force thereon. The extension continues switching of vehicle direction at the diverge by contacting the septum. Still other aspects of the invention provide a transport system, e.g., as described above, that includes a merge region with a flipper and a broadened region of the running surface. The flipper applies a lateral force to the vehicle to alter an angle thereof as the vehicle enters the merge region, and the broadened region continues the merge by contacting the septum of the vehicle, thereby, providing further guidance or channeling for the merge. The flipper, which can be equipped for full or partial deployment, is partially deployed in order to effect alteration of the vehicle angle as the vehicle enters the merge.

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.

The invention relates to a device for moving portions, which each comprise at least one slice cut from a food product, in particular by means of a slicing device, in particular a high-speed slicer, comprising a plurality of individually movable transport movers each for at least one portion, a track system for the transport movers, in which track system the transport movers can be moved along at least one specified track in a transport direction, and a control apparatus for controlling the movements of the transport movers in the track system, wherein the transport movers each comprise at least one runner that interacts with the track system and at least one carrier for at least one portion, the at least one carrier being attached to the runner by means of a retainer, and wherein the drive for each transport mover is formed by the runner and the track system, which together form an electromagnetic drive for the transport mover.

The invention provides in some aspects a transport system comprising a guideway with a plurality of propulsion coils disposed along a region in which one or more vehicles are to be propelled. One or more vehicles are disposed on the guideway, each including a magnetic flux source. The guideway has one or more running surfaces that support the vehicles and along which they roll or slide. Each vehicle can have a septum portion of narrowed cross-section that is coupled to one or more body portions of the vehicle. The guideway includes a diverge region that has a flipper and an extension of the running surface at a vertex of the diverge. The flipper initiates switching of vehicle direction at a diverge by exerting a laterally directed force thereon. The extension continues switching of vehicle direction at the diverge by contacting the septum. Still other aspects of the invention provide a transport system, e.g., as described above, that includes a merge region with a flipper and a broadened region of the running surface. The flipper applies a lateral force to the vehicle to alter an angle thereof as the vehicle enters the merge region, and the broadened region continues the merge by contacting the septum of the vehicle, thereby, providing further guidance or channeling for the merge. The flipper, which can be equipped for full or partial deployment, is partially deployed in order to effect alteration of the vehicle angle as the vehicle enters the merge.

Switch (1) of a transport system for a movable transport element (T), where the switch (1) comprises a main track (3) and a secondary track (4) branching off, where the movable transport element (T) can be guided from a transition region (2), in which the secondary track (4) branches off from the main track (3), optionally along the main track (3) or transferred into the secondary track (4), where one or more linear motor sections (5a, 5b, 5c, 5d) are respectively provided at the main track (3) and at the secondary track (4) for moving the movable transport element (T), where a switching force can be generated by way of the one or more linear motor sections (5a, 5b, 5c, 5d) with which the movable transport element (T) can be guided along the main track (3) or transferred into the secondary track (4), characterized in that devices for creasing the switching force are provided in the transition region (2). Transport system comprising such a switch and transport element for such a transport system.

A switch is presented for a magnetically suspended or at least guided vehicle. The switch comprises a fork from a first track segment to a second and third track segment. An elongate conductive module, for example a conductive wire is provided along at least the first track segment and optionally along the second and third track segment. The conductive module comprises conductor segments that guide a current with a directional component substantially parallel the length of the track, at a first surface of the track. With an electromagnet provided on a carriage having a pole directed to the first surface of the track, a Lorentz force may be provided for urging the carriage in a direction perpendicular to the length of the track. This allows a carriage moving along the first track segment to be urged towards the second or third track segment at the other side of the fork.

In a long stator linear motor, in order to implement a transfer position in which a transport unit (Tn) is magnetically steered in order to be redirected from a first transport section (Am) to a second transport section (An) and in order that the forward movement of the transport unit (Tn) remains as unaffected as possible by the transfer, it is provided that at the transfer position (U) on at least one side of the transport unit (Tn), the stator current (i.sub.A) of at least one driving coil (7, 8) interacting with an excitation magnet (4, 5) of the transport unit (Tn) is supplied as a current vector with a propulsive force-forming current component (i.sub.Aq) and a lateral force-forming current component (i.sub.Ad), and the stator current (i.sub.A) generates a propulsive force-forming electromagnetic force (F.sub.EMV) and/or lateral force-forming electromagnetic force component (F.sub.EMS) which is superimposed on the propulsive force (F.sub.V) acting on the transport unit (Tn) for production of a steering effect (L).

The invention relates to a switch (1) of a transport system for a movable transport element (T), where the switch (1) comprises a main track (3) and a secondary track (4) branching off. where the movable transport element (T) can be guided from a transition region (2), in which the secondary track (4) branches off from the main track (3), optionally along the main track (3) or transferred into the secondary track (4), where one or more linear motor sections (5a, 5b, 5c, 5d) are respectively provided at the main track (3) and the secondary track (4) for moving the movable transport element (T), where a normal force is present between the movable transport element (T) and the adjacent linear motor section or the adjacent linear motor sections (5a, 5b, 5c, 5d), characterized in that devices for altering the normal force are provided in the transition region. The invention also relates to a transport system comprising such a switch and a transport element for such a transport system.