The transfer operation of moving the slider between one fixed linear module and the movable linear module while locating the movable linear module in the facing range facing toward the one fixed linear module, out of the plurality of linear modules arranged in parallel, is performed. At this time, a judgement process of judging whether or not the coordinate axis of the one fixed linear module and the coordinate axis of the movable linear module are continuous is performed. If it is judged that the coordinate axes are not continuous, the transfer operation is performed while the speed control is executed for the slider. Thus, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of a situation where the transfer operation of moving the slider between the movable linear modules cannot be performed due to the discontinuity of the coordinate axes respectively set for the movable linear modules.

In a transport system that moves a moving portion, which moves in a transport direction along a fixed portion, while detecting a position of the moving portion by a scale and a sensor, a guide block is installed on a second surface of a first part of the moving portion, a guide rail is installed on a first surface of the fixed portion, the scale is installed at an end of the first part of the moving portion on an opposite side across the guide block, and a sensor that has a detecting unit at a position facing the scale is installed in the fixed portion.

In a transport system that moves a moving portion, which moves in a transport direction along a fixed portion, while detecting a position of the moving portion by a scale and a sensor, a guide block is installed on a second surface of a first part of the moving portion, a guide rail is installed on a first surface of the fixed portion, the scale is installed at an end of the first part of the moving portion on an opposite side across the guide block, and a sensor that has a detecting unit at a position facing the scale is installed in the fixed portion.

A conveyor system includes a rail having one or more channels therein and one or more sleds operatively associated with the rail. A sled can include a body and one or more wheels mounted on the body and configured to move through the one or more channels in the rail. A sled can also include a holding device connected to the body. The holding device can be configured to engage a packaging container to move the packaging container along the rail. Multiple sleds can be used to secure a packaging container therebetween and move the packaging container along the rail. The conveyor system may also include a queue system that dynamically moves packaging containers to packaging stations.

A packaging system has a system for assembling a package, a method for assembling a package, and a machine for assembling a package. The packaging system comprises at least one main transportation unit (104) and at least one moveable closed loop transportation unit (102), where the at least one moveable closed loop transportation unit (102) moves three-dimensionally with respect to the at least one main transportation unit (104) for providing the packaging material components to the main transportation unit (104) and/or performing packaging process operations to a package in assembly present at the main transportation unit (104). The at least one moveable closed loop transportation unit (102) includes a number of tools mounted on independently motion-controlled movers for providing the packaging material components to the package in assembly and/or providing the packaging operations to the packaging in assembly. In addition, the present invention also provides systems, methods, and machines for assembly of any other article.

A packaging system has a system for assembling a package, a method for assembling a package, and a machine for assembling a package. The packaging system comprises at least one main transportation unit (104) and at least one moveable closed loop transportation unit (102), where the at least one moveable closed loop transportation unit (102) moves three-dimensionally with respect to the at least one main transportation unit (104) for providing the packaging material components to the main transportation unit (104) and/or performing packaging process operations to a package in assembly present at the main transportation unit (104). The at least one moveable closed loop transportation unit (102) includes a number of tools mounted on independently motion-controlled movers for providing the packaging material components to the package in assembly and/or providing the packaging operations to the packaging in assembly. In addition, the present invention also provides systems, methods, and machines for assembly of any other article.

Provided are a transport device and an analysis system in which a stability of transport at a time of restart is further enhanced while achieving cost reduction by a position-sensorless configuration. A transport device includes: a plurality of coils 25a, 25b configured to generate a thrust to transport a transport container 20; a drive circuit 50 configured to apply a voltage to each of the plurality of coils 25a, 25b; and a calculation unit 40 configured to estimate a position of the transport container 20 based on current information when voltage pulses 80, 81 are applied to the coils 25a, 25b. When a power supply of the device is activated, the calculation unit 40 applies a voltage pulse 80 in a positive direction and a voltage pulse 81 in a negative direction to the target coils 25a, 25b so as to detect the position of the transport container 20 from the current information of current flowing through the coils 25a, 25b.

Provided are a transport device and an analysis system in which a stability of transport at a time of restart is further enhanced while achieving cost reduction by a position-sensorless configuration. A transport device includes: a plurality of coils 25a, 25b configured to generate a thrust to transport a transport container 20; a drive circuit 50 configured to apply a voltage to each of the plurality of coils 25a, 25b; and a calculation unit 40 configured to estimate a position of the transport container 20 based on current information when voltage pulses 80, 81 are applied to the coils 25a, 25b. When a power supply of the device is activated, the calculation unit 40 applies a voltage pulse 80 in a positive direction and a voltage pulse 81 in a negative direction to the target coils 25a, 25b so as to detect the position of the transport container 20 from the current information of current flowing through the coils 25a, 25b.

The transfer device comprises a central structure (20) having at least one transport segment (S21, S22, S23) with drive means (30-1, 30-2, 30-3). The transport segment is intended to receive a carriage (C1, C2, C3) which is mounted so as to be movable with respect to the central structure in a direction of movement. Said carriage has a plate bearing a series of permanent magnets in the direction of movement. The drive means (30) comprise a worm (30-1, 30-2, 30-3) along the transport segment (S21, S22, S23), said worm comprising a ferromagnetic helical perimeter, being mounted so as to be rotatable about an axis parallel to said direction of movement, and being arranged such that the successive turns of the helical perimeter are adjacent to at least some of the permanent magnets of said series.

The transfer device comprises a central structure (20) having at least one transport segment (S21, S22, S23) with drive means (30-1, 30-2, 30-3). The transport segment is intended to receive a carriage (C1, C2, C3) which is mounted so as to be movable with respect to the central structure in a direction of movement. Said carriage has a plate bearing a series of permanent magnets in the direction of movement. The drive means (30) comprise a worm (30-1, 30-2, 30-3) along the transport segment (S21, S22, S23), said worm comprising a ferromagnetic helical perimeter, being mounted so as to be rotatable about an axis parallel to said direction of movement, and being arranged such that the successive turns of the helical perimeter are adjacent to at least some of the permanent magnets of said series.