A conveying-path rotary switching unit that is a conveying path switching device includes a base, stators arranged along conveying paths for branching for a conveying carriage, a first conveying path provided on the base, and a second conveying path that is provided on the base and is different from the first conveying path. As for a conveying path on which the conveying carriage travels, the first conveying path and the second conveying path are switchable by rotation. The stators are used for both the first conveying path and the second conveying path in a shared manner.

A transport system in the form of a long-stator linear motor and method for operating a transport system in the form of a long-stator linear motor including a stator on which a plurality of magnetic-field-generating units is arranged and a plurality of transport units which are moved along the stator simultaneously. In an event of a system error in a part of the transport system, the method includes defining an error area on the stator that includes only a part of the stator with a defective part of the transport system, and transferring the magnetic-field-generating units within the defined error area to a specified error state.

A power supply apparatus for furnishing short-term peak loads for an electrical drive system, encompassing an AC voltage source and a DC voltage source; a rectifier and a DC voltage conductor section being arranged between the AC voltage source and a connector configuration for electrical connection of the electrical drive system; the rectifier being connected on the input side to the AC voltage source and on the output side to the DC voltage conductor section; the DC voltage source being connected to the DC voltage conductor section in order to transfer electrical energy wherein the DC voltage source is a battery reservoir.

A coupler or magnetic levitation interface is configured to controllably and repeatedly engage with and disengage from a body configured to contain at least one passenger and/or cargo and to be propelled via magnetic levitation along a portion of a magnetic rail system or magnetic track.

A coupler or magnetic levitation interface is configured to controllably and repeatedly engage with and disengage from a body configured to contain at least one passenger and/or cargo and to be propelled via magnetic levitation along a portion of a magnetic rail system or magnetic track.

Systems and methods are disclosed for wireless powering and control of conveyors on shuttles. An example system may include a track, and a shuttle configured to move along the track, the shuttle having a conveyor, and a first induction coil. The system may include a second induction coil disposed at a first location along the track, where the second induction coil is configured to interact with the first induction coil to power the conveyor. The shuttle may not have an onboard power source coupled to the conveyor.

Contactless electrical motion apparatus in which power is contactlessly made available to a moving part from a static part, comprises, a stator which in cross section comprising a magnetisable outer wall enclosing a conductor and a hollow space, the magnetizable outer wall having a discontinuity forming an airgap, the stator and hollow space in longitudinal section forming a rail. A moving part has a shoe or slider that fits within the hollow space to ride along the rail, the mover contactlessly filling the air gap at any given location when passing. With the airgap closed a magnetic circuit forms through the magnetizable outer wall and passes via the shoe or slider. The mover has a coil in which currents are induceable from the closed magnetic circuit.

Contactless electrical motion apparatus in which power is contactlessly made available to a moving part from a static part, comprises, a stator which in cross section comprising a magnetisable outer wall enclosing a conductor and a hollow space, the magnetizable outer wall having a discontinuity forming an airgap, the stator and hollow space in longitudinal section forming a rail. A moving part has a shoe or slider that fits within the hollow space to ride along the rail, the mover contactlessly filling the air gap at any given location when passing. With the airgap closed a magnetic circuit forms through the magnetizable outer wall and passes via the shoe or slider. The mover has a coil in which currents are induceable from the closed magnetic circuit.

A method of operating a transport system, in particular a multi-carrier system, which comprises a plurality of linear motors, which are arranged in a row and have a guide track, and a plurality of transport elements that are movable along the guide track by means of the linear motors, has the following steps: generating a travel job for a first one of the transport elements for travelling along at least a part section of the guide track, generating a first movement profile of the first transport element for the travel job based on predetermined movement characteristic values, matching the first movement profile with a second movement profile of a second transport element directly in front of the first transport element and determining whether a predetermined minimum distance between the first transport element and the second transport element is fallen below during the execution of the travel job, updating the first movement profile to maintain the minimum distance if it has been determined that the minimum distance is fallen below, and controlling the linear motors to move the first transport element in accordance with the first movement profile.

A method of operating a transport system, in particular a multi-carrier system, which comprises a plurality of linear motors, which are arranged in a row and have a guide track, and a plurality of transport elements that are movable along the guide track by means of the linear motors, has the following steps: generating a travel job for a first one of the transport elements for travelling along at least a part section of the guide track, generating a first movement profile of the first transport element for the travel job based on predetermined movement characteristic values, matching the first movement profile with a second movement profile of a second transport element directly in front of the first transport element and determining whether a predetermined minimum distance between the first transport element and the second transport element is fallen below during the execution of the travel job, updating the first movement profile to maintain the minimum distance if it has been determined that the minimum distance is fallen below, and controlling the linear motors to move the first transport element in accordance with the first movement profile.