Apparatus and method for producing a magnet arrangement

Abstract

An apparatus (200) for producing a magnet arrangement (130) is described, which has a plurality of permanent magnets (126, 127) that are attached to a corresponding plurality of different segments (121) of a flux-conducting carrier (125). The apparatus (200) comprises a holder (201) with a plurality of shelves (401) for storing the corresponding plurality of permanent magnets (126, 127). Furthermore, the apparatus (200) is designed to change the magnetic attraction force (205) of the plurality of permanent magnets (126, 127) to the holder (201) during the production of the magnet arrangement (130).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to an apparatus and a method for producing a magnet arrangement which is, for example, part of a rotor of an axial flux machine.

[0002] An at least partially electrically powered vehicle comprises an electric machine for driving the vehicle. The electric machine can be an axial flux machine in which the stator and rotor of the electric machine are arranged one behind the other in the axial direction, i.e., along the shaft of the electric machine.

[0003] The rotor of the electric machine may comprise an array of permanent magnets. This document addresses the technical problem of efficiently and precisely producing a magnet array, in particular an array of magnetized magnets, for a rotor of an electric machine.

[0004] The problem is solved by each of the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments are described, among other things, in the dependent claims. It should be noted that additional features of a patent claim dependent on an independent patent claim, without the features of the independent patent claim or only in combination with a subset of the features of the independent patent claim, can form a separate invention independent of the combination of all features of the independent patent claim, which can be made the subject of an independent claim, a divisional application, or a subsequent application.

[0005] This applies equally to technical teachings described in the description, which may constitute an invention independent of the features of the independent patent claims.

[0006] According to one aspect, an apparatus for producing a magnet arrangement is described, wherein the magnet arrangement has a plurality of permanent magnets which are fastened to a corresponding plurality of different segments of a flux-guiding carrier. The magnet arrangement can be designed, for example, as the rotor of an axial flux machine or as part of a linear motor. The magnet arrangement can have 2 or more, or 4 or more, or 8 or more, or 12 or more permanent magnets. In this case, first permanent magnets with a first (e.g. positive) polarity and second permanent magnets with an opposite second (e.g. negative) polarity can be arranged alternately on the carrier (e.g. on the iron core).

[0007] The flux-guiding carrier (for a rotor) preferably has a circular shape. Furthermore, the flux-guiding carrier is typically made of a magnetic flux-guiding material, which in particular comprises iron. The flux-guiding carrier can be disc-shaped with a circular outer edge. In this case, a stator side of the flux-guiding carrier can be provided to face the stator of an electrical machine, and an opposite rear side of the flux-guiding carrier can be provided to face away from the stator. A flat contact surface for contacting (and securing) the plurality of permanent magnets can be provided on the stator side of the flux-guiding carrier.

[0008] The apparatus comprises a holder with a plurality of shelves for storing the corresponding plurality of permanent magnets. The holder can comprise a flux-conducting, in particular a ferromagnetic, material. The holder can be configured such that the plurality of permanent magnets are held to the corresponding plurality of shelves of the holder by magnetic attraction.

[0009] The apparatus is configured to (actively) change the magnetic attraction force of the plurality of permanent magnets to the holder during the manufacture of the magnet assembly. The attraction force can be reduced for the placement of the permanent magnets on the corresponding shelves of the holder (actively, if applicable). On the other hand, the attraction force can be increased following the placement of the permanent magnets on the corresponding shelves of the holder and for the attachment of the carrier of the magnet assembly to the plurality of permanent magnets (actively, if applicable).

[0010] By varying the attractive force between the multitude of permanent magnets and the holder, efficient and precise production of a magnet assembly can be achieved. Furthermore, the direct mounting of (already magnetized) permanent magnets onto the magnet assembly can be achieved, eliminating the need for subsequent magnetization of the magnets. This in turn ensures saturation of the magnets and / or prevents magnetic imbalance in the magnet assembly.

[0011] The apparatus may comprise one or more electromagnets configured to change the magnetic attraction force of the plurality of permanent magnets to the holder by activating or deactivating the one or more electromagnets. In particular, the apparatus may comprise a plurality of coils for the corresponding plurality of shelves. Furthermore, the apparatus may be configured to change the current through the plurality of coils in order to change the magnetic attraction force of the plurality of permanent magnets to the holder. By using electromagnets, in particular coils, the magnetic attraction force between the permanent magnets and the holder can be adjusted in a particularly precise manner in order to be able to produce a magnet arrangement in a particularly efficient and precise manner.

[0012] As already explained above, the holder of the apparatus can comprise flux-conducting, in particular ferromagnetic, material. The apparatus can be designed such that a property, in particular the quantity and / or the (spatial) dimension, of the flux-conducting, in particular ferromagnetic, material can be changed in order to change the magnetic attraction force of the plurality of permanent magnets to the holder.

[0013] The holder of the apparatus can, for example, comprise a frame in which a variable number of plates made of a flux-conducting, particularly ferromagnetic, material can be arranged to vary the magnetic attraction force of the plurality of permanent magnets to the holder. The attraction force can typically be increased by increasing the number of plates and reduced by reducing the number of plates.

[0014] By changing a magnetic property of the device's holder, the magnetic attraction force between the permanent magnets and the holder can be adjusted in a particularly efficient and robust manner.

[0015] The apparatus can comprise a control unit (e.g. for controlling the current through the individual coils) which is configured to cause the magnetic attraction force of the plurality of permanent magnets to the holder to be set to a first value and / or reduced for a manufacturing step in which the plurality of permanent magnets are deposited and / or placed on the corresponding plurality of shelves of the holder of the apparatus. In this way, a particularly efficient and precise placement of the permanent magnets can be achieved. Furthermore, the control unit can be configured to cause the magnetic attraction force of the plurality of permanent magnets to the holder to be set to a second value and / or increased for a manufacturing step in which the plurality of permanent magnets are attached to the carrier, wherein the second value is higher than the first value.This allows for a particularly reliable and robust attachment of the permanent magnets to the carrier.

[0016] The individual shelves of the plurality of shelves can each have a recess for accommodating a single permanent magnet of the plurality of permanent magnets. The recess can have a shape corresponding to and / or complementary to the permanent magnet to be used. By providing recesses in the individual shelves, particularly precise positioning of the permanent magnets on the carrier can be achieved.

[0017] The apparatus, in particular the holder of the apparatus, can comprise a (possibly flux-conducting) storage plate which has the plurality of shelves on the front side. The storage plate can be made of a flux-conducting, in particular ferromagnetic, material. The apparatus can be designed such that means, in particular means with a plurality of magnets for the corresponding plurality of shelves, can be arranged on the opposite rear side of the storage plate, which means are designed to reduce or increase the force of attraction of the plurality of permanent magnets to the holder (possibly permanently). On the rear side, for example, a plurality of permanent magnets or a plurality of electromagnets (for the corresponding plurality of shelves) can be arranged.

[0018] By selectively reducing the force of attraction, a particularly comfortable and precise placement of the permanent magnets on the shelves of the device can be achieved and / or a particularly efficient and comfortable removal of the magnet arrangement from the device can be achieved.

[0019] The support plate can be used, for example, to place the magnet assembly in an oven for curing the adhesive layer. The attractive force exerted by the support plate on the individual permanent magnets of the magnet assembly enables stable and reliable transport of the magnet assembly. Furthermore, this makes it possible to use the means for selectively reducing the attractive force for the parallel production of multiple magnet assemblies.

[0020] According to a further aspect, a method for producing a magnet assembly is described, which has a plurality of permanent magnets that are attached to a corresponding plurality of different segments of a flux-conducting carrier. The method comprises placing the plurality of permanent magnets on or at a corresponding plurality of shelves of the holder of the apparatus for producing a magnet assembly (described in this document), while the attractive force of the plurality of permanent magnets to the holder has a (relatively small) first value. The method further comprises increasing the attractive force of the plurality of permanent magnets to the holder to a second value that is greater than the first value. Furthermore, the method comprises attaching the plurality of permanent magnets to the carrier, while the attractive force of the plurality of permanent magnets to the holder has the second value.Attaching the plurality of permanent magnets to the support may include curing an adhesive layer between the plurality of permanent magnets and the support. For this purpose, the apparatus with the permanent magnets and the support may be placed in an oven.

[0021] The method may further comprise reducing the attractive force of the plurality of permanent magnets to the holder to a third value that is smaller than the second value (and optionally substantially equal to the first value). The magnet assembly can then be released from the holder of the apparatus in a particularly efficient manner while the attractive force of the plurality of permanent magnets to the holder has the third value.

[0022] It should be noted that the methods, devices, and systems described in this document can be used both alone and in combination with other methods, devices, and systems described in this document. Furthermore, any aspects of the methods, devices, and systems described in this document can be combined in a variety of ways. In particular, the features of the claims can be combined in a variety of ways. Furthermore, features listed in parentheses are to be understood as optional features.

[0023] The invention will be described in more detail below using exemplary embodiments. Fig. 1a an exemplary axial flow machine in a side view; Fig. 1b an exemplary axial flow machine in a perspective view; Fig. 1c shows an exemplary magnet arrangement for a rotor of an axial flux machine in a perspective view; Fig. 1d shows an exemplary magnet arrangement for a linear motor in a perspective view; Fig. 2a to 2d show different steps of a method for producing a magnet arrangement by means of an apparatus having coils for adjusting the force acting on the magnets; Fig. 3a to 3d show different steps of a method for producing a magnet arrangement using an apparatus having different numbers of iron cores for adjusting the force acting on the magnets; Fig. 4a and Fig. 4b an example recess for holding a magnet: Fig. 5a and Fig. 5b exemplary additional measures to reduce the force acting on the magnets; and Fig. 6 a flowchart of an exemplary method for manufacturing a magnet assembly.

[0024] As stated at the beginning, this document deals with the efficient and precise manufacture of a magnet assembly, for example, for the rotor of an axial flux machine. In this context, Fig. 1a and Fig. 1b shows an exemplary axial flux machine 100 comprising a stator 110 and two rotors 120 surrounding the stator 110. The rotors 120 are fixedly connected to the shaft 101 of the electric machine 100. The stator 110 is configured to generate a magnetic flux 102 that runs in the axial direction to the rotors 120 and that is configured to cause the rotors 120 to rotate about the rotor axis of the rotors 120, wherein the rotor axis of the rotors 120 runs coaxially to the shaft 101 of the electric machine.

[0025] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 1b, the stator 110 has different stator teeth 111, which are evenly distributed around the shaft 101. The magnetic flux 102 is generated by the different stator teeth 111. Electrical windings can be arranged in each of the individual stator teeth 111, each of which is designed to generate a magnetic field.

[0026] The individual rotors 120 have different segments 121 with different magnetic polarities. Permanent magnets can be arranged in each of the individual segments 121. The different segments 121 can be evenly distributed around the shaft 101 or around the rotation axis. Furthermore, directly adjacent segments 121 can each have opposite magnetic polarities.

[0027] As in Fig. As illustrated in Figure 1b, the magnetic flux 102 generated by stator teeth 111 of the stator 110 passes through a pair of directly adjacent segments 121 of the two rotors 120. By appropriately energizing the windings of the individual stator teeth 111 of the stator 110, the magnetic flux 102 can be caused to rotate around the shaft 101 or rotor axis, and thus drive the rotors 120 of the electric machine 100.

[0028] Fig. 1c shows an exemplary magnet arrangement 130 that can be used for the rotor 120 of an axial flux machine 100. The magnet arrangement 130 comprises a plurality of segments 121 arranged on a carrier 125. The carrier 125 consists of a flux-conducting, in particular ferromagnetic, material. In the Fig. In the example shown in Figure 1c, the magnet arrangement 130 has 12 different segments 121. A permanent magnet 126, 127 is arranged in each individual segment 121, with a first permanent magnet 126 with a first (e.g., positive or north pole) polarity following a second permanent magnet 127 with a second (e.g., negative or south pole) polarity.

[0029] Fig. 1d shows an exemplary magnet arrangement 130 for a linear motor, which has a rectilinear carrier 125 with a sequence of segments 121 in which permanent magnets 126, 127 with the first and second polarity, respectively, are arranged alternately.

[0030] To produce a magnet arrangement 130, permanent magnets 126, 127 with opposite polarities must be arranged and fixed next to each other on a flux-conducting carrier 125. Magnetic (attractive) forces arise, which make precise placement of the individual permanent magnets 126, 127 in the different segments 121 difficult.

[0031] This document describes a method and apparatus for the efficient and precise manufacture of a magnet assembly 130. Fig. 2a to 2d, an apparatus 200 is used which uses electromagnets, in particular coils 216, 217, to change the forces 205 acting during the manufacture of a magnet arrangement 130. In the Fig. 3a to 3d, an apparatus 200 is used in which the forces 205 acting during the production of a magnet arrangement 130 are changed by changing the dimension of a flux-conducting holder for the permanent magnets 126, 127. In the figures, the strength of the respective (attractive) forces 205 is represented by the length of the arrows shown.

[0032] The Fig. The apparatus 200 shown in Figures 2a to 2d comprises a holder 201 on which the permanent magnets 126, 127 for a magnet arrangement 130 can be placed. The holder 201 can have a plurality of shelves 206, 207 for the corresponding plurality of permanent magnets 126, 127 of the magnet arrangement 130. The shelves 206, 207 can be shaped and / or arranged corresponding to the segments 121 of the magnet arrangement 130. The holder 201 can have one or more first shelves 206, on each of which a first permanent magnet 126 with the first polarity is arranged. Furthermore, the holder 201 can have one or more second shelves 207, on each of which a second permanent magnet 127 with the second polarity is arranged. The holder 201 can be made at least partially or entirely of a flux-conducting material.

[0033] An electromagnet can be arranged on each of the individual shelves 206, 207, wherein the individual electromagnets are each designed to generate a magnetic field when needed. The individual electromagnets can each have a coil 216, 217. The coil 216 on a first shelf 206 can be designed to generate a magnetic field with the second polarity, which is designed to reduce the magnetic field of a first permanent magnet 126 (with the first polarity). Correspondingly, the coil 217 on a second shelf 207 can be designed to generate a magnetic field with the first polarity, which is designed to reduce the magnetic field of a second permanent magnet 127 (with the second polarity).

[0034] For the placement of the individual permanent magnets 126, 127 on the individual shelves 206, 207 of the apparatus 200, the individual coils 216, 217 can be operated to at least partially or completely compensate the magnetic (attraction) forces 205 of the individual permanent magnets 126, 127 (see Fig. 2a). This allows for precise placement of the individual permanent magnets 126, 127.

[0035] After the individual permanent magnets 126, 127 have been arranged on the holder 201 of the apparatus 200, the individual coils 206, 207 can be deactivated, whereby the magnetic (attraction) forces 205 of the individual permanent magnets 126, 127 are increased, so that the individual permanent magnets 126, 127 are reliably held on the holder 201 (see Fig. 2b).

[0036] The relatively high attraction forces 205 of the permanent magnets 126, 127 to the holder 201 (with deactivated coils 206, 207) can be used to position the carrier 125 over the individual permanent magnets 126, 127 and to attach it to the individual permanent magnets 126, 127 by means of an adhesive layer 230 (see Fig. 2c). The apparatus 200 with the permanent magnets 126, 127 and the carrier 125 can then be placed in an oven to cure the adhesive layer 230.

[0037] Finally, the individual coils 206, 207 can be reactivated to reduce the magnetic attraction forces 205 of the individual permanent magnets 126, 127 to the holder 201 (see Fig. 2d). As a result, the carrier 125 with the permanent magnets 126, 127 attached thereto, ie, the magnet assembly 130, can be detached from the holder 201 in an efficient and safe manner.

[0038] The Fig. The apparatus 200 shown in Figures 3a to 3d comprises a holder 201 for arranging the plurality of permanent magnets 126, 127, in which one or more properties, in particular the quantity and / or dimension, of the flux-conducting material can be varied in order to change the (magnitude) attractive forces 205 with which the individual permanent magnets 126, 127 are attracted to the holder 201. The apparatus 200 can, for example, comprise a frame 300 in which a variable number of flux-conducting plates 301 can be arranged. By changing the number of plates 301, the attractive force 205 can be changed.

[0039] The individual permanent magnets 126, 127 can be placed on the corresponding shelves 206, 207 of the holder 201, while only a relatively small number (e.g. only one or none) of plates 301 are arranged in the frame 300 (see Fig. 3a). The number of plates 301 in the frame 300 can then be increased to fix the individual permanent magnets 126, 127 to the holder 201 ( Fig. 3b) and to attach the permanent magnets 126, 127 to the carrier 125 of the magnet arrangement 130 ( Fig. 3c). Finally, the number of plates 301 in the frame 300 can be reduced again (e.g., to exactly one plate 301 or to no plate 301) in order to separate the magnet assembly 130 from the apparatus 200 ( Fig. 3d).

[0040] In the Fig. 4a and Fig. 4b shows an exemplary support 401, 206, 207 for a permanent magnet 126, 127. The support 401 can have a recess 402 for receiving a permanent magnet 126, 127. This allows for particularly efficient and precise positioning of the individual permanent magnets 126, 127 of a magnet arrangement 130. In particular, the use of a recess 402 can prevent lateral movement of a magnet 126, 127.

[0041] Fig. 5a and Fig. 5b show exemplary measures with which the attractive force 205 can be further reduced (in terms of amount) (for the placement of the individual permanent magnets 126, 127 and / or for separating the magnet arrangement 130 from the apparatus 200). The apparatus 200 can have (e.g. as part of the holder 201) a storage plate 501 on which the individual permanent magnets 126, 127 can be placed (and which may have individual storage areas 401 for the individual permanent magnets 126, 127). The storage plate 501 can be a plate 301 of the type described in connection with the Fig. 3a to 3d. The support plate 501 can be made of a flux-conducting, particularly ferromagnetic, material.

[0042] On the (rear) side of the storage plate 501 facing away from the permanent magnets 126, 127, magnets can be arranged by which the magnetic field generated by the individual permanent magnets 126, 127 is (permanently) weakened in order to reduce the attractive force 205 of the individual permanent magnets 126, 127 to the storage plate 501. This can be achieved by appropriately polarized permanent magnets 526, 527 (see Fig. 5a) or by appropriately operated coils 536, 537 ( Fig. 5b). Coils 536, 537 can provide appropriately polarized electromagnets (to reduce the attractive force 205).

[0043] The apparatus 200 can be configured such that the magnets for reducing the attractive force 205 can be arranged on the back of the storage plate 501 if necessary. The magnets for reducing the attractive force 205 can be arranged on a flux-conducting, in particular ferromagnetic, body 502 and, together with the body 502, can form a coherent device that can be placed as a whole on the back of the storage plate 501 or removed as a whole from the back of the storage plate 501.

[0044] The apparatus 200 can thus have several separable parts (in particular the support plate 501 and the magnets arranged on the flux-conducting body 502) that can be used separately from one another.

[0045] By using a support plate 501, the manufactured magnet assembly 130 can be processed together with the support plate 501, thereby ensuring stable placement of the individual permanent magnets 126, 127. For example, the magnet assembly 130 can be fed together with the support plate 501 into the curing process to cure the adhesive layer 230.

[0046] The magnets for further reducing the attractive force 205 can, if necessary, only be used when the individual permanent magnets 126, 127 are placed on the holder 201 and / or when the magnet assembly 200 is removed from the holder 201. Thus, these magnets can be used efficiently for the parallel production of multiple magnet assemblies 200. This further reduces the manufacturing costs of the individual magnet assemblies 200.

[0047] As already explained above, during the manufacture of motors 100 with flat magnets 126, 127, particularly during the manufacture of axial flux motors (AFM) and linear motors (LM), handling the magnetized magnets 126, 127 can be difficult due to the attractive forces 205 exerted on the respective iron core 125. During manufacture, it should be ensured that a reliable adhesive layer 230 is formed between the individual magnets 126, 127 and the iron core 125.

[0048] Alternatively, magnetization of the magnets 126, 127 could be performed in the assembled rotor 120 and / or actuator, but this requires the use of special devices. Furthermore, complete saturation of the magnets 126, 127 often cannot be guaranteed, which can lead to reduced performance of the motor 100 and (in the presence of inhomogeneous magnetization) to electromagnetic imbalance in the rotor 120.

[0049] This document describes an apparatus 200 and a method for mounting magnetized, surface-mounted magnets 126, 127 onto an iron core 125. The apparatus 200 is configured to attract the magnets 126, 127 to a holder 201 of the apparatus with a variable force 205, wherein the strength of the attractive force 205 can be controlled depending on the manufacturing step (magnet placement, magnet bonding, curing, and / or removal from the holder 201).

[0050] This enables the efficient and precise installation of magnetized magnets 126, 127, ensuring sufficiently high and homogeneous magnetization, thus avoiding performance deficiencies and electromagnetic imbalance. Furthermore, the costs of a dedicated magnetization device can be avoided. Furthermore, precise placement of the individual magnets 126, 127 can reduce electromagnetic imbalance between the poles of a rotor 120.

[0051] An apparatus 200 is described in which coils 216, 217 are used to weaken the field of the permanent magnets 126, 127 as needed, allowing the permanent magnets 126, 127 to be positioned (manually or with a positioning device) and removed from the apparatus 200 in an efficient and precise manner. By using coils 216, 217, the attractive forces 205 can be adjusted in an efficient and precise manner (within a continuous range of values).

[0052] Alternatively or additionally, the apparatus 200 can use stacked layers (e.g., plates) 301 of ferromagnetic material to modify the magnetic force of attraction 205 of the magnets 126, 127 to the holder 201 of the apparatus 200. By increasing the number of layers 301, the force of attraction 205 to the apparatus 200 can be increased and / or reduced to the (flux-conducting) carrier 125. The force required to remove a single layer 301 is typically lower than to remove the entire stack of layers 301. By using stacked, flux-conducting layers 301, the force of attraction 205 can be modified in a particularly efficient (purely mechanical) manner.

[0053] Thus, an apparatus 200 is described with a holder 201 having a plurality of shelves 401 for a corresponding plurality of permanent magnets 126, 127. The plurality of shelves 401 may be arranged on a (flux-conducting) support plate 501. The apparatus 200 may be configured to receive means, or the apparatus 200 may have means, by which the attractive force 205 of the holder 201 on the plurality of permanent magnets 126, 127 can be selectively increased or reduced. In connection with the Fig. 2a to 2d and 3a to 3d describe means (e.g. coils 126, 127 or flux-conducting plates 301) by which the attractive force 205 can be selectively increased. Fig. 5a and Fig. 5b describes means (e.g., permanent magnets 526, 527 or coils 536, 537) by which the attractive force 205 can be selectively reduced. The means for increasing or reducing the attractive force 205 can, if necessary, be combined in a common apparatus 200. In particular, the apparatus 200 can be configured to accommodate or provide means for increasing or reducing the attractive force 205, depending on the manufacturing step of the manufacturing method for producing a magnet arrangement 130.

[0054] Fig.6 shows a flowchart of an exemplary method 600 for manufacturing a magnet assembly 130, wherein the magnet assembly 130 comprises a plurality of permanent magnets 126, 127 attached to a corresponding plurality of different segments 121 of a flux-conducting support 125. The plurality of permanent magnets 126, 127 can, for example, be arranged in a ring around a central axis of the (circular) support 125. The plurality of permanent magnets 126, 127 can be attached to a flat surface of the support 125.

[0055] The method 600 comprises placing 601 the plurality of permanent magnets 126, 127 on a corresponding plurality of shelves 401 of a holder 201 of an apparatus 200 for producing a magnet arrangement 130. The placing is carried out while the attractive force 205 of the plurality of permanent magnets 126, 127 to the holder 201 has a (relatively low) first value. This allows for efficient and precise positioning of the individual permanent magnets 126, 127. First permanent magnets 126 with the first polarity and second permanent magnets 127 with the second polarity can be arranged alternately next to one another on the holder 201 of the apparatus 200.The arrangement of the plurality of permanent magnets 126, 127 and the corresponding plurality of shelves 401 of the holder 201 can correspond to (in particular be the same as) the desired arrangement of the plurality of permanent magnets 126, 127 on the carrier 125 of the magnet arrangement 130.

[0056] The method 600 further includes increasing 602 the attractive force 205 of the plurality of permanent magnets 126, 127 to the holder 201 to a second value that is greater (in magnitude) than the first value (after the plurality of permanent magnets 126, 127 have been placed on the corresponding plurality of shelves 401 of the holder 201). The second value may, for example, be 20% or more, or 50% or more, higher than the first value. By increasing the attractive force 205, a stable and robust attachment of the permanent magnets 126, 127 to the holder 201 can be effected.

[0057] Furthermore, the method 600 comprises attaching 603 the plurality of permanent magnets 126, 127 to the carrier 125 (e.g., by means of an adhesive layer 230), while the attractive force 205 of the plurality of permanent magnets 126, 127 to the holder 201 has the second value.

[0058] By varying the attractive force 205, the magnet arrangement 130 can be manufactured in a particularly efficient and precise manner.

[0059] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments shown. In particular, it should be noted that the description and figures are intended only to illustrate the principle of the proposed methods, devices, and systems by way of example.

Claims

[1] Apparatus (200) for producing a magnet assembly (130) comprising a plurality of permanent magnets (126, 127) attached to a corresponding plurality of different segments (121) of a carrier (125); wherein - the apparatus (200) comprises a holder (201) with a plurality of shelves (401) for storing the corresponding plurality of permanent magnets (126, 127); and - the apparatus (200) is designed to change a magnetic attraction force (205) of the plurality of permanent magnets (126, 127) to the holder (201) during the manufacture of the magnet arrangement (130). [2] Apparatus (200) according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus (200) comprises one or more electromagnets configured to change the magnetic attraction force (205) of the plurality of permanent magnets (126, 127) to the holder (201) by activating or deactivating the one or more electromagnets. [3] Apparatus (200) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein - the apparatus (200) comprises a plurality of coils (216, 217) for the corresponding plurality of trays (401); and - the apparatus (200) is configured to vary a current through the plurality of coils (216, 217) in order to vary the magnetic attraction force (205) of the plurality of permanent magnets (126, 127) to the holder (201). [4] Apparatus (200) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein - the holder (201) of the apparatus (200) comprises flux-conducting, in particular ferromagnetic, material; and - the apparatus (200) is designed such that a property, in particular a quantity and / or a dimension, of the flux-conducting, in particular ferromagnetic, material can be changed in order to change the magnetic attraction force (205) of the plurality of permanent magnets (126, 127) to the holder (201). [5] Apparatus (200) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the holder (201) of the apparatus (200) comprises a frame (300) in which a variable number of plates (301) with a flux-conducting, in particular ferromagnetic, material can be arranged in order to change the magnetic attraction force (205) of the plurality of permanent magnets (126, 127) to the holder (201). [6] Apparatus (200) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the apparatus (200) comprises a control unit arranged - to cause, for a manufacturing step in which the plurality of permanent magnets (126, 127) are placed on the corresponding plurality of shelves (401) of the holder (201) of the apparatus (200), the magnetic attraction force (205) of the plurality of permanent magnets (126, 127) to the holder (201) to be set to a first value and / or reduced; and - to cause, for a manufacturing step in which the plurality of permanent magnets (126, 127) are attached to the carrier (125), the magnetic attraction force (205) of the plurality of permanent magnets (126, 127) to the holder (201) to be set to a second value and / or increased; wherein the second value is higher than the first value. [7] Apparatus (200) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the individual shelves (401) of the plurality of shelves (401) each have a trough (402) for receiving an individual permanent magnet (126, 127) of the plurality of permanent magnets (126, 127). [8] Apparatus (200) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein - the apparatus (200), in particular the holder (201), comprises a storage plate (501) with a flux-conducting, in particular ferromagnetic, material, which has the plurality of shelves (401) on a front side; and - the apparatus (200) is designed such that means, in particular means with a plurality of permanent magnets (526, 527) or a plurality of electromagnets (536, 537) for the corresponding plurality of shelves (401), can be arranged on the opposite rear side of the storage plate (501), which means are designed to reduce the force of attraction (205) of the plurality of permanent magnets (126, 127) to the holder (201). [9] Apparatus (200) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the magnet arrangement (130) is designed as a rotor (120) of an axial flux machine (100) or as part of a linear motor. [10] A method (600) for manufacturing a magnet assembly (130) comprising a plurality of permanent magnets (126, 127) attached to a corresponding plurality of different segments (121) of a flux-conducting carrier (125); the method (600) comprising - placing (601) the plurality of permanent magnets (126, 127) on a corresponding plurality of shelves (401) of a holder (201) of an apparatus (200) for producing a magnet arrangement (130), while an attractive force (205) of the plurality of permanent magnets (126, 127) to the holder (201) has a first value; - increasing (602) the attractive force (205) of the plurality of permanent magnets (126, 127) to the holder (201) to a second value which is greater than the first value; and - fixing (603) the plurality of permanent magnets (126, 127) to the support (125) while the attractive force (205) of the plurality of permanent magnets (126, 127) to the holder (201) has the second value. [11] The method (600) of claim 10, wherein the method (600) further comprises - reducing the attractive force (205) of the plurality of permanent magnets (126, 127) to the holder (201) to a third value which is smaller than the second value; and - Detaching the magnet arrangement (130) from the holder (201) of the apparatus (200) while the attractive force (205) of the plurality of permanent magnets (126, 127) to the holder (201) has the third value. [12] The method (600) according to any one of claims 10 to 11, wherein attaching (603) the plurality of permanent magnets (126, 127) to the carrier (125) comprises curing an adhesive layer (230) between the plurality of permanent magnets (126, 127) and the carrier (125).

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