TRANSPORT SYSTEM

Abstract

A transport system, in particular a multi-carrier system, comprises a plurality of linear motors, which are arranged in a row and have at least one guide rail that defines a path, and at least one transport element that can be moved by the linear motors in a first direction along the path. The guide rail has a guide structure, which cooperates with the transport element, for guiding the movement of the transport element in the first direction and for absorbing forces acting on the transport element transversely to the first direction. The guide structure is at least partly interrupted at at least one transfer point along the path so that a movement of the transport element is enabled in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction and the transport element can be moved by the guide rail and/or the linear motors for a transfer from the path to a secondary path or to a placement rail in the second direction.

Claims

1. A transport system comprising: a plurality of linear motors, which are arranged in a row and have at least one guide rail that defines a path, and at least one transport element that can be moved by the linear motors in a first direction along the path, wherein the guide rail has a guide structure, which cooperates with the transport element, for guiding the movement of the transport element in the first direction and for absorbing forces acting on the transport element transversely to the first direction, and wherein the guide structure is at least partly interrupted at at least one transfer point along the path so that a movement of the transport element is enabled in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction and the transport element can be moved in the second direction by the guide rail and/or the linear motors for a transfer from the path to a secondary path or to a placement rail.

2. The transport system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the guide rail has at least one main guide rail for absorbing forces in the second direction by means of the guide structure and at least one transfer guide rail for absorbing forces in the second direction by means of the guide structure, with the guide structure of the main guide rail being interrupted at the transfer point.

3. The transport system in accordance with claim 2, wherein at least one of the main guide rail and the transfer guide rail is configured to absorb forces in a third direction, which is orthogonal to the first direction and the second direction, by means of the guide structure.

4. The transport system in accordance with claim 2, wherein the transfer guide rail can be moved or inclined at least at the transfer point for moving the transport element in the second direction.

5. The transport system in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a secondary path, which is arranged at the transfer point and defined by a secondary guide rail, or by a placement rail that is suitable for being arranged at the transfer point.

6. The transport system in accordance with claim 5, wherein the placement rail is suitable for being positioned at the transfer point or moved away from the transfer point.

7. The transport system in accordance with claim 5, wherein the secondary guide rail has a pick-up guide rail that can be moved or inclined in the second direction.

8. A The transport system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the transport element is provided with running elements that cooperate with the guide structure, with all the running elements being arranged at a side of the transport element facing the guide rail.

9. A method for transferring a transport element from a path defined by a guide rail of a transport system to a secondary path or to a placement rail, wherein the transport system has a plurality of linear motors, which are arranged in a row and comprise the guide rail, and the transport element that can be moved by the linear motors in a first direction along the path, wherein the guide rail has a guide structure, which cooperates with the transport element, for guiding the movement of the transport element in the first direction and for absorbing forces acting on the transport element transversely to the first direction, and wherein the guide structure is at least partly interrupted at at least one transfer point along the path so that a movement of the transport element in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction is enabled and the transport element can be moved in the second direction for a transfer from the path to the secondary path or to the placement rail, wherein the method comprises: moving the transport element in the first direction to the transfer point, and moving the transport element in the second direction to transfer the transport element to the secondary path or to the placement rail.

10. The method in accordance with claim 9, wherein the transport element is moved in the second direction by the guide rail and/or the linear motors.

11. The method in accordance with claim 9, wherein the guide rail has a transfer guide rail that can be moved or inclined in the second direction at least at the transfer point, wherein the method further comprises that the transfer guide rail is moved or inclined at least at the transfer point for moving the transport element in the second direction.

12. The method in accordance with claim 9, wherein the transport element is moved in the first direction after the movement in the second direction in order to enter into guiding engagement with a secondary guide rail of the secondary path or with the placement rail.

13. The method in accordance with claim 12, wherein the secondary guide rail has a pick-up guide rail that can be moved or inclined in the second direction, with the method further comprising moving or inclining the pick-up guide rail to take over the transport element.

14. The method in accordance with claim 9, further comprising the step of positioning the placement rail at the transfer point or moving the placement rail away from the transfer point.

15. The transport system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the transport system is a multi-carrier system.

16. The transport system in accordance with claim 5, wherein the placement rail is suitable for being positioned at the transfer point or moved away from the transfer point by means of a gripper arm.

17. The method in accordance with claim 14, further comprising the step of positioning the placement rail at the transfer point or moving the placement rail away from the transfer point by means of a gripper arm.

Description

[0030] In the following, the invention will be described schematically and by way of example with reference to the drawings. It is shown therein:

[0031] FIG. 1 a plan view of a multi-carrier system;

[0032] FIG. 2 a cross-sectional view of a transfer point at which a transport element is transferred from a path to a secondary path; and

[0033] FIG. 3 a cross-sectional view of a transfer point at which a transport element is transferred from a path to a placement rail.

[0034] In FIG. 1, a transport system 10 that is configured as a multi-carrier system is shown in a plan view. The transport system 10 has a plurality of linear motors 11 that are arranged in a row and that form a revolving path 13 in the present example. Along the path 13, in this example, three carriers or transport elements 15a, 15b are arranged that are magnetically driven by the linear motors 11 due to a changing or wandering magnetic field and that can thereby be moved independently and separately from one another. In this respect, two transport elements 15a are formed symmetrically, as shown in cross-section in FIG. 2. The third transport element 15b, on the other hand, is formed asymmetrically, as shown in cross-section in FIG. 3.

[0035] In FIG. 1, the transport elements 15a, 15b are each associated with a co-moving coordinate system. In this respect, the x direction corresponds to the direction of movement, i.e. the direction of a velocity vector of the transport element 15a, 15b. The y direction is a transverse direction, orthogonal to the x direction. In the present embodiments, the x direction and the y direction lie in a horizontal plane. The z direction can be recognized in the cross-sectional views in accordance with FIGS. 2 and 3 and corresponds to the remaining direction of the Cartesian co-moving coordinate system.

[0036] By way of example, FIG. 1 furthermore shows a secondary path 25, of which a section is shown that extends in parallel with the path 13 adjacent to a transfer point 23 of the path 13. The secondary path 25 is arranged in the region of the transfer point 23 such that the symmetrically formed transport elements 15a cover the secondary path 25 in the present embodiment, as can also be seen from the cross-sectional view in FIG. 2. In FIG. 2, on the one hand, a linear motor 11 of the path 13 is shown at the right and, on the other hand, a further linear motor 11 of the secondary path 25 is shown at the left. The linear motors 11 of the path 13 are provided with a guide rail 17 that has main guide rails 19 and a transfer guide rail 21 in the present embodiment. Accordingly, the linear motors 11 of the secondary path 35 are provided with a secondary guide rail 29 that has a pick-up guide rail 31 and rails 33 in the present embodiment.

[0037] The guide rails 17, 29 have a guide structure schematically indicated in FIG. 2 and shown partly dashed. In this respect, guide structure refers to those structural features that engage into running elements 35 of the transport element 15a and cooperate with the running elements 35 such that the transport element 15a can be moved along the guide structure in the x direction, but forces in the y direction and the z direction are absorbed by the guide structure and movements of the transport element 15a away from the guide rail 17, 29 are thus prevented. The transport element 15a is thereby securely held at the respective guide rail 17, 29.

[0038] Before the transport element 15a moves into the transfer point 23, it is guided by the guide structures of the main guide rails 19 (shown dashed) and of the transfer guide rail 21. In the region of the transfer point 23, the guide structure of the main guide rails 19 is interrupted to the extent that the main guide rails 19 indeed still absorb forces in the y direction, but no longer in the z direction. The guide structure of the transfer guide rail 21, on the other hand, is not interrupted. A movement of the transport element 15a in the z direction thus becomes possible.

[0039] As indicated in FIG. 2, the guide structures of the rails 33 of the secondary path 25 are likewise interrupted in the region of the transfer point 23, whereas the guide structure of the pick-up guide rail 31 is not interrupted. As furthermore indicated in FIG. 2, the rails 33 and their guide structure are vertically offset from the main guide rails 19 along the z direction. To transfer the transport element 15a from the path 13 to the secondary path 25, the transport element 15a therefore has to be moved along the z direction so that the running elements 35 can be brought into engagement with the guide structure of the rails 33. In the present embodiment, this takes place by moving the transfer guide rail 21 in the z direction, as indicated by an arrow in FIG. 2, until the transport element 15a has reached the level of the secondary path 25. If this does not happen, the transport element 15a remains on the path 13. Additionally or alternatively, it is also conceivable that the pick-up guide rail 31 is moved in the z direction. Furthermore, it is also conceivable that the rails 21, 31 are not moved, but are inclined.

[0040] After the transport element 15a has reached the level of the secondary path 35, it can be transferred to the secondary path 35 by bringing its running elements 35 into engagement with the secondary guide rail 29. This can in particular take place through a driving by the linear motors 11 of the secondary path 35.

[0041] A further possible application can be seen from FIG. 3 that illustrates the transfer of a transport element 15b to a placement rail 27 instead of a secondary path. The basic mode of operation corresponds to the mode of operation described above so that not all the details will be presented again in the following, but only deviations will be explained separately.

[0042] In FIG. 3, guide structures of both the main guide rail 19 and the placement rail 27 are also shown dashed outside the transfer point 23. As can be seen from FIG. 3, the guide structures of the main guide rail 19 are interrupted in the region of the transfer point 23 such that a movement of the transport element 15b in the z direction is enabled. The placement rail 27 is furthermore arranged offset from the main guide rail 19 in the z direction. By moving the transfer guide rail 21 along the z direction (indicated by an arrow), the transport element 15b is raised so that the running elements 35 can be brought into engagement with guide structures of the placement rail 27. The transport element 15b can then be parked on the placement rail 27. Furthermore, the placement rail can, as shown in FIG. 3, be positioned or moved away by means of a gripper arm, not shown.

[0043] If, in accordance with the representation in FIG. 3, both rails are arranged at one side, it is possible to provide such an asymmetrical transport element 15b in which all the running elements 35 are arranged at the same side of the transport element 15b, namely at the side of the transport element 15b facing the guide rail 17 and the placement rail 27.

REFERENCE NUMERAL LIST

[0044] 10 transport system [0045] 11 linear motor [0046] 13 path [0047] 15a transport element [0048] 15b transport element [0049] 17 guide rail [0050] 19 main guide rail [0051] 21 transfer guide rail [0052] 23 transfer point [0053] 25 secondary path [0054] 27 placement rail [0055] 29 secondary guide rail [0056] 31 pick-up guide rail [0057] 33 rail [0058] 35 running element