A method for determining an air gap between a transport rotor and a stator segment, wherein an acceleration run of the transport rotor is performed and, here, the present stator current is measured and actual speed values are determined, from which a change in speed per time unit is determined, and from which an acceleration is determined, where the present propulsion force is determined from the product of the force constant and the present stator current, where the present propulsion force and the acceleration are used to determine a virtual mass of the transport rotor, and where for a statement about the currently prevailing air gap a relationship between an increase in the virtual mass and an enlargement of the air gap is used and a size value for the air gap is calculated therefrom.

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.

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.

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 curved portion, an integral straight portion, and a fit spline transition between the curved portion and the straight portion. The integration of the straight portion smooths the transition between the curved and straight areas of the track, and allows for improved performance.

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 curved portion, an integral straight portion, and a fit spline transition between the curved portion and the straight portion. The integration of the straight portion smooths the transition between the curved and straight areas of the track, and allows for improved performance.

A linear transport system comprises a stationary unit and a movable unit. The linear transport system also comprises a drive for driving the movable unit, the drive comprising a linear motor, the linear motor comprising a stator and a rotor. The stator comprises the one or the plurality of stationary units, and the rotor is arranged on the movable unit and comprises one or a plurality of magnets. The stationary unit comprises an energy sending coil. The movable unit comprises an energy receiving coil. The movable unit comprises a fixing device, where the fixing device is set up to fix the movable unit in the linear transport system. The fixing device comprises a movable element, where the movable element can be moved between a first position and a second position, where in the first position the movable element initiates a mechanical fixing of the movable unit.

A linear transport system comprises a stationary unit and a movable unit. The linear transport system also comprises a drive for driving the movable unit, the drive comprising a linear motor, the linear motor comprising a stator and a rotor. The stator comprises the one or the plurality of stationary units, and the rotor is arranged on the movable unit and comprises one or a plurality of magnets. The stationary unit comprises an energy sending coil. The movable unit comprises an energy receiving coil. The movable unit comprises a fixing device, where the fixing device is set up to fix the movable unit in the linear transport system. The fixing device comprises a movable element, where the movable element can be moved between a first position and a second position, where in the first position the movable element initiates a mechanical fixing of the movable unit.

External interaction with a mover in an independent cart system is allowed at known locations along the track. The mover is initially propelled along the track in a first operating state. When the mover arrives at a station, the controller generates a signal to alert the external actuator of the presence of a mover at the station. After waiting at the station for a first predefined time interval, the controller switches to a second operating state, in which the coils are de-energized or the controller is reconfigured to operate in a less responsive manner than in the first operating state. The controller remains in the second operating state for a second predefined interval, during which the external actuator interacts with the mover or a load on the mover. After the second predefined interval, the controller enters a third operating state, and the controller propels the mover away from the station.

An improved method and system increases throughput in an independent cart system. The independent cart system includes multiple movers, controlled by a first controller, travelling along a track. At least one station is defined, where a device external to the track interacts with the movers on the track. A process controller controls operation of the external device and receives a communication from the first controller to begin execution of a task that the external device must complete prior to interaction with the mover. The first controller determines a time to destination for each mover to reach the station and transmits the signal or data packet to the process controller to initiate execution of the preparation task with sufficient time for the process controller to begin or complete the preparation task prior to the mover arriving at the station.

In Steps S54 to S55, when a change rate Δτ* of a torque command value to a motor 10 is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, a frequency switching speed Δfc of a carrier frequency fc is set based on the number of rotations N of the motor 10 so that a response frequency ωfc of a frequency switching speed Δfc of the carrier frequency fc becomes faster than a response frequency ωACR of a current control unit 70. In Steps S54 and S56, when the change rate Δτ* of the torque command value to the motor 10 is less than a predetermined value, the frequency switching speed Δfc of the carrier frequency fc is set based on a torque command value τ* to the motor 10 and the number of rotations N of the motor 10 regardless of the response frequency ωACR of the current control unit 70. According to the invention, it is possible to suppress the torque fluctuation at the time of switching the carrier frequency while preventing the response deterioration of the motor control device, and it is possible to stably drive the motor in a wide operating range.