A vibrator includes a vibrating part including a pair of vibrating plates and a piezoelectric material provided between the pair of vibrating plates, a supporting part including a pair of supporting plates and an interplate portion provided between the pair of supporting plates, and a wire provided in the vibrating part and the supporting part, wherein the wire is exposed from the supporting part.

A vibrator includes a vibrating part including a pair of vibrating plates and a piezoelectric material provided between the pair of vibrating plates, a supporting part including a pair of supporting plates and an interplate portion provided between the pair of supporting plates, and a wire provided in the vibrating part and the supporting part, wherein the wire is exposed from the supporting part.

A system for wirelessly transmitting power between a track and independent movers in a motion control system includes a pick-up coil provided proximate to the magnets on the movers. The fundamental component of the voltage applied to the drive coils interacts primarily with the magnetic field generated by the permanent magnets on the movers and not with the pick-up coil. Consequently, the pick-up coil does not interfere with desired operation of the movers but rather, interacts primarily with the harmonic components and has current and voltages induced within the pick-up coil as a result of the harmonic components. The energy captured by the pick-up coil reduces the amplitude of eddy currents on the mover. After harvesting the harmonic content, the pick-up coil may be connected to another circuit on the mover and serve as a supply voltage for the other circuit.

A system for wirelessly transmitting power between a track and independent movers in a motion control system includes a pick-up coil provided proximate to the magnets on the movers. The fundamental component of the voltage applied to the drive coils interacts primarily with the magnetic field generated by the permanent magnets on the movers and not with the pick-up coil. Consequently, the pick-up coil does not interfere with desired operation of the movers but rather, interacts primarily with the harmonic components and has current and voltages induced within the pick-up coil as a result of the harmonic components. The energy captured by the pick-up coil reduces the amplitude of eddy currents on the mover. After harvesting the harmonic content, the pick-up coil may be connected to another circuit on the mover and serve as a supply voltage for the other circuit.

A transfer apparatus includes a first linear transfer part which moves a slider in a first direction by using a first fixed linear module fixed on a first base; a module moving part which moves a module holding member holding a movable linear module in a second direction different from the first direction, to position the movable linear module at a first coupling position to couple with the first fixed linear module and cause the slider to transfer between the movable and first fixed linear modules; a linear scale having a scale extending in the second direction and a sensor which detects the scale; and a controller which acquires first module position information indicating a position of the movable linear module relative to the first fixed linear module in the second direction and controls movement of the module holding member based on the first module position information.

A modular switch device temporarily stores workpiece carriers for a linear conveyor system. The modular switch device is arrangeable between a changeover region, comprising a depositing and/or removal region, and a processing region of the linear conveyor system that conveys workpiece carriers at a conveyance level. The modular switch device includes a first and second horizontally arranged carrier unit. The carrier units are disposed vertically one above the other at a fixed distance. Each carrier unit has a respective guide apparatus, by which respective ones of the workpiece carriers are conveyable in a conveyance direction in interaction with a conveyor belt. The carrier units are movable together in a vertical direction by a lifting device in such a way that both guide apparatuses are positionable such that the respective workpiece carriers are conveyable at the conveyance level by the respective guide apparatuses.

A cargo aisle drive system is disclosed. In various embodiments, the system includes a drive track; and a drive car configured for motorized translation along a length of the drive track, the drive car including a first plate, a second plate having an upper surface and a lower surface, the first plate pivotally disposed on the upper surface of the second plate, a drive assembly connected to the lower surface of the second plate, and a first strain gauge sensor configured to detect a pivotal movement between the first plate and the second plate of the drive car.

A magnetic tray for a tray conveyor has a permanent-magnet array producing a magnetic field that interacts with an electromagnetic flux wave produced by a linear-motor stator to propel the tray in a conveying direction. The tray includes a top conveying platform supported on a mover housing the permanent-magnet array and a tray-clearing tool that removes conveyed articles or debris from the platform. The tray-clearing tool is powered by the stator.

A magnetic tray for a tray conveyor has a permanent-magnet array producing a magnetic field that interacts with an electromagnetic flux wave produced by a linear-motor stator to propel the tray in a conveying direction. The tray includes a top conveying platform supported on a mover housing the permanent-magnet array and a tray-clearing tool that removes conveyed articles or debris from the platform. The tray-clearing tool is powered by the stator.

A transfer operation control unit changes, according to an operating state index indicating a level of an operating state of a plurality of transport vehicles (1) present on a travel path, a setting of a transfer operation such that a required transfer time (Tr) from start to completion of the transfer operation is increased as the level of the operating state is reduced, while maintaining at least one setting of a traveling speed of the transport vehicles (1).