The invention relates to an
electromagnetic actuator for a positioning movement along a curved movement path, in particular a circular path. In order to be able to use the
actuator in a more general way than known solutions, the
actuator according to the invention comprises: a. At least one
magnet module (2a, 2b) having a magnetic gap; b. At least one coil module (3a, 3b) having a solenoid coil; c. A
magnet carrier (4) having a plurality of
magnet module couplings (4a, 4b) for
coupling to each magnet module (2a, 2b); and d. A coil carrier (5) movable, in particular rotatable, relative to the magnet carrier (4) and having a plurality of coil module couplings (5a, 5b) for
coupling to each coil module (3a, 3b). The modules (2a, 2b; the coil modules (3a, 3b) can be coupled to the module couplings (4a, 4b) such that the solenoid coils of the coil modules (3a, 3b) coupled to the coil module couplings (5a, 5b) are arranged in the magnetic gap of the magnet modules (2a, 2b) coupled to the associated magnet module couplings (4a, 4b) such that when an
electrical current is applied to the solenoid coils, the coil modules (3a, 3b) are coupled to the coil module couplings (5a, 5b). The coil carrier (5) is moved relative to the magnet carrier (4) along a movement path (B) due to a magnetic force acting between the magnet modules (2a, 2b) and the coil modules (3a, 3b).