Goods transport system, control unit, construction kit, simulation program product, and use of an active component of a planar motor

Abstract

The invention relates to a goods transport system (10) comprising a feed rail (12) and a discharge rail (14), each of which is designed as a linear motor (25). The rails are designed to linearly move a workpiece support (16). Furthermore, a deflecting module (20) is arranged between the feed rail (12) and the discharge rail (14), said deflecting module being designed to move the workpiece support (16) in a specifiable manner. According to the invention, the deflecting module (20) is designed as an active component (22) of a planar motor (24). The invention also relates to a control unit (30) for operating such a goods transport system 10, to a construction kit 45 for producing such a goods transport system (10), and to a simulation program product (50) for adjusting the operational behavior of such a goods transport system (10).

Description

[0001] Description

[0002] Goods transport system, control unit, kit, simulation program product and use of an active component of a planar motor

[0003] The invention relates to a goods transport system and an associated control unit. The invention also relates to a kit designed to produce a corresponding goods transport system. Furthermore, the invention relates to a simulation program product designed to simulate the operating behavior of a corresponding goods transport system.

[0004] International application WO 2022 / 063848 A1 discloses an electromagnetic transport system comprising a plurality of transport units that are movable along transport paths via drive coils. The transport paths can be equipped with long-stator linear motors, planar motors, or combinations thereof.

[0005] Patent application US 2021 / 0336522 A1 discloses a transport system comprising a plurality of planar motors on which goods are movable on flat transport gliders. The transport gliders can be controlled by the planar motors in such a way that their direction of movement can be changed.

[0006] Goods transport systems are used in a wide variety of automated systems, particularly manufacturing plants or logistics systems. There is a need for increasing transport capacity, particularly in the form of increased throughput speed of the goods transport system. At the same time, there are increasing demands in terms of versatility in order to serve different transport routes within the goods transport system. At the same time, increased cost-effectiveness is required. The invention is based on the object of providing a possibility that offers an improvement in at least one of the aspects outlined.

[0007] The problem is solved by a goods transport system according to the invention which can be used in an automation system, for example a production system or a logistics system. The goods transport system comprises at least one feed rail and one discharge rail, each of which is designed as a linear motor. A workpiece carrier can be moved in a predeterminable manner on the feed rail. The movement of the workpiece carrier essentially consists of contactless gliding through electromagnetic fields. When the goods transport system is in normal operation, the workpiece carrier, which is used to transport a transport item, can move linearly in a predeterminable direction, speed and acceleration. Analogously, the feed rail is used to move the workpiece carrier in a predeterminable linear manner.In the sense of the goods transport system according to the invention, the supply rail serves to supply the workpiece carrier and the discharge rail serves to discharge the workpiece carrier on which the goods to be transported can be transported.

[0008] The goods transport system has a deflection module which is arranged between the feed rail and the discharge rail. The deflection module is arranged in such a way that the workpiece carrier glides over the deflection module on the way from the feed rail to the discharge rail. The deflection module is designed to influence a movement of the workpiece carrier. According to the invention, the deflection module is designed for this purpose as an active component of a planar motor. The deflection module is provided with controllable electromagnetic components, in particular electromagnets, which are designed to act on the workpiece carrier. As a result, the workpiece carrier can be moved along and transversely to a direction predetermined by the feed rail. The direction predetermined by the feed rail and / or the transport rail is to be understood as the main transport direction.During operation of the goods transport system according to the invention, the deflection module can be used as a switch, by means of which the workpiece carrier can be deflected onto a discharge rail, which can be aligned essentially as desired. This allows, for example, the workpiece carrier to be deflected with a reduced curve radius. Geometrically more complex deflections of the workpiece carrier are also possible. The goods transport system according to the invention therefore allows complex automation systems to be designed in a compact manner. At the same time, by using linear motors as the supply rail and as the discharge rail, an increased transport speed can be achieved, i.e. an increased throughput speed in the goods transport system. The use of complex manipulators, for example robot arms, for deflecting workpiece carriers and / or transport goods to other goods transport systems is also unnecessary.As a result, the goods transport system according to the invention is cost-effective and also suitable for transported goods that are susceptible to damage when handled by manipulators. Linear motors and planar motors have a reduced number of moving parts and thus offer increased robustness against wear. The goods transport system according to the invention therefore also exhibits increased reliability.

[0009] According to the invention, the workpiece carrier can be rotated about an axis of rotation in a predetermined manner by means of the deflection module. The axis of rotation is essentially perpendicular to the main plane of the deflection module, which the workpiece carrier traverses during normal operation. The direction of rotation can be predetermined by appropriately controlling the deflection module, i.e. the active component. This allows the workpiece carrier to be passed on from the feed rail to the discharge rail while adapting its orientation. In particular, the workpiece carrier can be brought into an orientation on the deflection module which enables simplified threading onto the discharge rail. This makes further handling unnecessary or at least simplified in an automation system in which the goods transport system is used. Furthermore, according to the invention, the feed rail and / or the discharge rail are provided with mechanical guide elements which enable threading out or...Threading of the workpiece carrier is supported. This can further assist in redirecting the workpiece carrier.

[0010] In one embodiment of the claimed goods transport system, the linear motor, which is used, for example, as a feed rail or discharge rail, can be designed only for linear movement of the workpiece. Consequently, the workpiece can only move one-dimensionally on the feed rail and / or discharge rail. Such linear motors are simpler and more cost-effective than planar motors, which allow at least two-dimensional movement of the workpiece carrier, in particular movement along two translational axes. The use of complex and cost-intensive planar motors is thus reduced in the claimed goods transport system.

[0011] The deflection module can also be designed to be free of mechanical guide elements, at least in a central area. The central area of ​​the deflection module can be an area in which the workpiece carrier is deflected during normal operation. The central area can in particular be an area on the deflection module in which possible paths of the workpiece carrier cross and / or branch off. The deflection of the workpiece carrier can therefore be specified via control commands that can be issued by a control unit of the goods transport system. Because the deflection module is designed to be free of guide elements, at least in the central area, the degrees of freedom that the workpiece carrier has on the deflection module can be utilized to a greater extent. The technical potential of the deflection module is therefore utilized appropriately.Optionally, the deflection module can be provided with a mechanical guide element in at least one edge region, for example, to prevent a workpiece carrier from leaving the deflection module and thus the goods transport system. Alternatively, the deflection module can be designed without mechanical guide elements.

[0012] In one embodiment of the claimed goods transport system, the workpiece carrier can be provided with at least one passive component of a planar motor. A passive component is understood to be a counterpart to the active component which cannot be directly controlled and has exclusively passive components. The workpiece carrier can be provided with a single passive component, which makes it easy to control. In particular, detection of a position and / or orientation of the workpiece is simplified. Alternatively, the workpiece carrier can be provided with a plurality of passive components. The passive components can be arranged at a distance from a center of gravity of the workpiece carrier, the transported goods or a combined center of gravity of the workpiece carrier and the transported goods. The resulting increased lever lengths allow accelerated rotation of the workpiece carrier.This reduces speed loss and, consequently, time loss at the deflection module. This allows the workpiece carrier's achievable speed on the feed rail to be utilized more effectively.

[0013] In a further embodiment of the claimed goods transport system, the feed rail and the discharge rail can be offset from one another with respect to their main transport axes. Accordingly, the workpiece carrier misses the discharge rail when moving further in a straight line along the main transport axis of the feed rail. As a result, the deflection module is designed to offset a path of the workpiece carrier parallel to its main plane, for example to deflect it in an arc or S-shape. The feed rail and the discharge rail can have essentially any alignment with respect to one another. The claimed goods transport system is therefore adaptable to an existing automation system and can be retrofitted during a conversion or upgrade. In particular, the versatility of an existing automation system can be increased by the claimed goods transport system.

[0014] Furthermore, the active component of the planar motor can have a pole pair width that essentially corresponds to the pole pair width of a linear motor, for example the supply rail and / or the discharge rail. Alternatively, the active component of the planar motor can have a pole pair width that essentially corresponds to an integer multiple or integer fraction of the pole pair width of the respective linear motor. For this purpose, coils in the active component of the planar motor and in the linear motor can each have suitable pole widths. The coils in the linear motors can be arranged in rows of coils and the coils in the active component of the planar motor in a grid or array arrangement. As a result of the appropriately adapted pole pair widths, the workpiece carrier on the deflection module and the supply rail or discharge rail can be controlled, i.e. steered, in the same way.

[0015] Furthermore, the workpiece carrier in the claimed goods transport system can be provided with mechanical guide elements spaced apart from the main plane of the deflection module. The mechanical guide elements do not contact the main plane. The guide elements can be designed, for example, as rollers, rubber lips, spring struts, or rails.

[0016] In a further embodiment of the claimed goods transport system, at least the linear motor, which serves as the feed rail or discharge rail, comprises a plurality of parallel rows of coils that can be controlled independently. The parallel arrangement relates to the respective main transport direction of the feed rail or discharge rail. Correspondingly, magnet packages can be arranged on the workpiece carrier in the region of parallel edges of the workpiece carrier. By means of the parallel rows of coils, a more precise electromagnetic intervention between the respective linear motor, i.e. its active components, and the workpiece carrier is possible. This enables accelerated movement of the workpiece carrier on the feed rail or discharge rail and more precise guidance of the workpiece carrier.Likewise, a rotational impulse can be exerted on the workpiece carrier upon reaching the deflection module by unevenly controlling the coil rows. This can initiate and / or support a complex deflection of the workpiece carrier on the deflection module.

[0017] Furthermore, in the claimed goods transport system, a detection means can be provided in a region of the deflection module, which detection means is designed to detect a position and / or orientation of the workpiece carrier. The detection means can be at least one electrical detection means that detects at least one electrical variable at a coil of the active component of the planar motor, i.e. at the deflection module. The electrical detection means can, for example, be designed as Hall sensors, which can be structurally identical. Such electrical detection means can be arranged in a series arrangement or in an array arrangement. The detection means can also be an optical detection means, for example an optical sensor, which is attached to the active component of the planar motor or to the linear motor and is designed to detect a position of the workpiece carrier.Such optical sensors can also be designed in a series or array arrangement and can be constructed identically. Furthermore, the detection means can be, for example, a camera which is coupled to an image processing unit. The camera can, for example, be positioned above the planar motor. By means of the image processing unit, for example, a workpiece carrier and / or the goods to be transported can be identified. The operation of the claimed goods transport system can therefore be easily monitored and controlled. In particular, positions and / or orientations of workpiece carriers can be stored during operation of the goods transport system and made available as a training data set for an artificial intelligence system, for example a neural network.The artificial intelligence can be part of a computer program product for controlling the freight transport system, which can be executed, for example, on a control unit that can be coupled to the freight transport system. The invention is based, among other things, on the surprising finding that the claimed freight transport system can be further developed in a particularly advantageous manner using training data sets obtained during operation.

[0018] Furthermore, in the claimed goods transport system at least three discharge rails can be arranged on the deflection module. The at least three discharge rails can essentially be arranged in any desired form on the deflection module. The deflection module is easily suitable for serving as a complex switch or crossing for the workpiece carrier. Consequently, a workpiece carrier, and thus also the associated transported goods, can easily reach at least three separate processing stations in an automation system after the deflection module. Particularly in a goods transport system which has a plurality of deflection modules, an increased number of combinations can be implemented as to which processing stations a workpiece carrier, and thus a transported goods, can reach in one pass through the automation system.As a result, essentially parallel production of different end products is possible in the automation system, thereby increasing its productivity.

[0019] In a further embodiment of the claimed goods transport system, the workpiece carrier can be designed so as to be tiltable in a predetermined manner when it crosses the deflection module. The active components of the planar motor serving as the deflection module can be suitably controlled to generate corresponding electromagnetic fields that cause the workpiece carrier to tilt. Tilting here is understood to mean a rotational movement about an axis of rotation essentially parallel to the main plane of the deflection module. This can be used, for example, to counteract the tipping of the transported goods under increased acceleration. Alternatively or additionally, the transported goods can be tilted for processing. The versatility of the claimed goods transport system is thus further increased.

[0020] Furthermore, the workpiece carrier in the claimed goods transport system can have at least two pairs of magnet packages. The pairs of magnet packages are arranged in a crossing manner. This means that, along a direction of rotation of the workpiece carrier, the magnet packages of a first pair are each located between the magnet packages of the second pair. The workpiece carrier can be substantially rectangular or square, and the magnet packages are each located in the region of an edge of the workpiece carrier. This allows the workpiece carrier to be moved quickly, easily, and precisely in translation and rotation.

[0021] The problem described at the outset is similarly solved by a control unit according to the invention which is designed to output control commands to at least one active component of a planar motor. The control unit is set up for a predeterminable movement of a workpiece carrier on the active component. According to the invention, the control unit is set up to move the workpiece carrier from a feed rail via the active component to a discharge rail in a sliding manner. The control unit can be coupled to a goods transport system according to one of the embodiments described above or can be part of a corresponding goods transport system. Furthermore, the control unit can be provided with a computer program product which can be executed on the control unit. The computer program product can be set up to operate a goods transport system according to one of the embodiments described above. The computer program product orThe control unit can comprise artificial intelligence, in particular a neural network, which can be trained using a training data set. As explained above, the training data set can be obtained during ongoing operation of the goods transport system or an identically constructed goods transport system. The features of the claimed goods transport system are transferable to the control unit according to the invention.

[0022] The problem outlined above is likewise solved by a kit according to the invention for producing a goods transport system. The kit comprises at least one supply rail, a plurality of discharge rails and at least one deflection module. The deflection module is designed as an active component of a planar motor. According to the invention, the kit is configured to produce a goods transport system according to at least one of the embodiments outlined above. This comprises at least mechanical compatibility between the supply rail and the discharge rails. It can also comprise electrical compatibility between these components, which can be operated, for example, via a common control unit. The features of the claimed goods transport system are readily transferable to the kit according to the invention.

[0023] The underlying problem is also solved by a simulation program product according to the invention, which is designed to simulate the operating behavior of a goods transport system. For this purpose, the simulation program product has commands which, when executed on a computer, cause the computer to simulate the operating behavior of the goods transport system. According to the invention, the goods transport system to be simulated is designed according to one of the embodiments presented above. The simulation program product can comprise a digital image of at least the deflection module and a workpiece carrier which is moved in a predeterminable manner over the deflection module.

[0024] The simulation program product can have a physics module for simulation in which the workpiece carrier is at least partially mapped. In particular, the physics module can be used to determine the exertion of electromagnetic forces on the workpiece carrier by appropriately controlling an active component of a planar motor that serves as the deflection module. Furthermore, the physics module can be used to determine the kinematic behavior of the workpiece carrier as a result of existing speeds, rotations, translational and rotational moments of inertia, weight forces and / or torques. The weight forces or torques can be exerted by the workpiece carrier itself and / or an associated transport item. Alternatively or additionally, the workpiece carrier can also be stored as a computer model in the physics module. The physics module is also designed to simulate adjustable operating conditions.This includes the control behavior of the active component. The simulation program product can have a data interface via which corresponding data can be specified via a user input, a data connection to a real goods transport system, and / or other simulation-oriented computer programs. The simulation program product can also have a data interface for outputting simulation results to a user and / or other simulation-oriented computer programs. Using the simulation program product, for example, a defective component in the deflection module, in the supply rail and / or the discharge rail can be identified. Likewise, a control strategy for the goods transport system developed using artificial intelligence can be tested using the simulation program product.Alternatively, a control strategy for the freight transport system can be developed using a simulation coordinated by artificial intelligence on the simulation program product according to the invention. This can be done, in particular, based on so-called machine learning.

[0025] The underlying goods transport system can be essentially completely described with the control data, i.e. the control commands that are sent to the active component of the deflection module, the feed rail and / or the discharge rail, and the detection data for the position and / or orientation of the workpiece carrier. This data can be easily and precisely adapted to one another by so-called upsampling and downsampling. The invention is based, among other things, on the surprising discovery that this data permits a fast simulation of the underlying goods transport system. This enables real-time monitoring of the goods transport system by the simulation program product, which enables reliable and safe operation. The term “real-time capability” is to be understood in the light of the respective application, in particular the type of automation system in which the goods transport system is to be used.The simulation program product can also be designed as a so-called digital twin, as described, for example, in the document US 2017 / 286582 A1. The disclosure content of US 2017 / 286582 A1 is incorporated by reference into the present application. The simulation program product can be monolithic, i.e., executable entirely on a hardware platform. Alternatively or additionally, the simulation program product can be modular and comprise a plurality of subprograms that can be executed on separate hardware platforms and interact via a communicative data connection. Such a communicative data connection can be a network connection, an internet connection, and / or a mobile radio connection. The individual features of the claimed freight transport system are readily transferable to the simulation program product.

[0026] The underlying problem is also solved by a method according to the invention for simulating the operating behavior of a goods transport system. The method comprises a first step in which a data set is provided by which a mode of operation of the goods transport system to be simulated by the method can be at least partially reproduced. The method further comprises a second step in which at least one operating parameter is specified by which the operating behavior to be simulated is described.The at least one operating parameter can, for example, be information about the number of workpiece carriers used on the goods transport system, their loading, their starting position, their target position, a control of the feed rail and / or the discharge rail, a compilation of transport tasks to be fulfilled and / or an operating specification of the goods transport system, for example a speed limit for the workpiece carriers. Furthermore, the method comprises a third step in which a simulation program product is executed which is designed to simulate the operating behavior of the goods transport system. The simulation of the operating behavior takes place based on the data set from the first step and the at least one operating parameter from the second step.The simulation program product determines at least one performance parameter, for example a duration for fulfilling at least one transport task or an energy requirement for this. According to the invention, the goods transport system whose operating behavior is simulated using the claimed method is designed according to one of the embodiments described above. The features of the simulation program product outlined above are optionally transferable to the claimed method. In particular, the underlying problem is solved by a simulation program product that is designed to carry out a method according to one of the embodiments described above.

[0027] Furthermore, the object outlined above is achieved by the inventive use of an active component of a planar motor in a goods transport system. The goods transport system has linear motors which serve as at least one feed rail and one discharge rail. According to the invention, the active component is used as a switch or crossing for workpiece carriers between the feed rail and the discharge rail. The goods transport system can be designed according to one of the embodiments presented above. The features of the claimed goods transport system are therefore readily transferable to the use of the active component. The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to individual embodiments in figures. The figures are to be read as mutually complementary in that identical reference symbols in different figures have the same technical meaning.The features of the individual embodiments can also be combined with one another. Furthermore, the embodiments shown in the figures can be combined with the features outlined above. They show in detail:

[0028] FIG 1 shows schematically an embodiment of the claimed goods transport system in a plan view;

[0029] FIG 2 schematically shows an embodiment of a workpiece carrier.

[0030] FIG 1 shows a schematic plan view of a first embodiment of the claimed goods transport system 10. The goods transport system 10 comprises feed rails 12, over which workpiece carriers 16 can be moved in a predeterminable linear manner. The goods transport system 10 also comprises discharge rails 14, over which the workpiece carriers 16 can also be moved in a predeterminable linear manner. Between the feed rails 12 and the discharge rails 14 there is arranged a deflection module 20, over which a workpiece carrier 16 crosses in order to get from one of the feed rails 12 to one of the discharge rails 14. The feed rails 12 and the discharge rails 14 are each designed as active components 22 of a linear motor 25. The active components 22 are designed as rows of coils 28 which can be controlled separately. The workpiece carrier 16 is provided with a plurality of magnet packages 18 and thus forms a passive component.When the workpiece carrier 16 is located on the feed rail 12, the coil rows 18 and the workpiece carrier 16 form the linear motor 25. Correspondingly, the separately controllable coil rows 28 on the discharge rails 14 also form active components 22 for a linear motor 25. When the workpiece carrier 22 is located on one of the discharge rails 14, a linear motor 25 is formed. The feed rails 12 and the discharge rails 14 are each provided with mechanical guide elements 13 that support the guidance of workpiece carriers 16.

[0031] The deflection module 20 is designed as an active component 22 which comprises a plurality of coils 21. A planar motor 24 is formed with the deflection module 20 when the workpiece carrier 16 is located above the deflection module 20. The workpiece carrier 16, as a passive component, forms the functional counterpart to the deflection module 20 designed as an active component 22. The coils 21 of the deflection module 20 can be controlled separately. As a result, the magnet packages 18 on the workpiece carrier 16 can be acted upon in a predeterminable manner. The workpiece carrier 16, which leaves the feed rail 12, is controlled by the deflection module 20 such that it is moved essentially transversely to the main transport direction 15. Likewise, the deflection module 20 imparts a rotation 19 about a rotation axis 23 to the workpiece carrier 16. The axis of rotation 23 is essentially perpendicular to a main plane of the deflection module 20, i.e. perpendicular to the plane of the drawing in FIG 1.The workpiece carrier 16 is threaded by the deflection module 20 with a changed orientation into the discharge rail 14 sketched at the bottom of FIG. 1. The workpiece carrier 16 follows a substantially S-shaped path 17. Upon reaching the feed rail 14 shown at the bottom of FIG. 1, the workpiece carrier 16 is moved substantially along its main transport direction 15. The deflection module 20 serves as a switch or crossing for the workpiece carrier 16 in the goods transport system 10.

[0032] The goods transport system 10 also comprises a control unit 30 which is connected to the feed rails 12, the discharge rails 14 and the deflection module 20. The row of coils 28 and the coils 21 of the feed rails 12, the discharge rails 14 and the deflection module 20 can be controlled separately via control commands 31 by the control unit 30. As a result, the workpiece carrier 16 can be moved in a predetermined manner in essentially any direction on the deflection module 20. For this purpose, the control unit 30 is equipped with a computer program product 40 by means of which the control commands 31 can be predetermined. The control unit 30 is also coupled to a detection means 26 which is arranged in the region of the deflection module 20. The detection means 26 is designed as a camera by means of which a position and an orientation of the workpiece carrier 16 can be detected. Position data 27 recorded via the recording means 26 can be forwarded to the control unit 40 for further evaluation.The computer program product 40 can form a control system with the detection means 26 and / or monitor the operation of the goods transport system 10. The position data 27 can include not only the positions of the workpiece carrier 16 but also its orientation. The computer program product 40 is equipped with an artificial intelligence 42 which is designed as a neural network. The position data 27 are provided together with the associated control commands 31 as training data sets. On the basis of these, the artificial intelligence 42 can be further trained. Based on an artificial intelligence 42 further trained in this way, new control strategies for the goods transport system 10 can be developed. Furthermore, the goods transport system 10 according to FIG. 1 is depicted in a simulation program product 60 (not shown in detail), which is designed as a digital twin.The simulation program product 60 is configured to monitor the operation of the goods transport system 10. Alternatively or additionally, the simulation program product 60 is suitable for simulating the operating behavior of the goods transport system 10. In interaction with the artificial intelligence 42, control strategies for the goods transport system 10 can thus be automatically developed via simulation. The goods transport system 10 is manufactured from a kit 45, which comprises the deflection module 20, the supply rails 12, and the discharge rails 14.

[0033] An embodiment of a workpiece carrier 16 is shown schematically in a bottom view in FIG 2. The workpiece carrier 16 is essentially square and is provided on its underside with a plurality of magnet packs 18. The arrangement of the magnet packs 18 represents a passive component 26 for a linear motor 25 and / or a planar motor 24, as shown for example in FIG 1. The magnet packs 18, which are essentially rectangular, are positioned on the workpiece carrier 16 in the region of its edges 36. Magnet packs 18 on opposite edges 34 form a first magnet pack pair 33 and a second magnet pack pair 35. The first and second magnet pack pairs 33, 35 are accordingly arranged so as to cross one another. The arrangement of the magnet pack pairs 33, 35 allows the workpiece carrier 16 to rotate in a predetermined manner about an axis of rotation 23.

Claims

Patent claims 1. Goods transport system (10) comprising a supply rail (12) and a discharge rail (14), each designed as a linear motor (25) and designed to linearly move a workpiece carrier (16), wherein a deflection module (20) is arranged between the feed rail (12) and the discharge rail (14) and is designed for a predeterminable movement of the workpiece carrier (16), which can be rotated in a predeterminable manner by the deflection module (20) about an axis of rotation (23) perpendicular to a main plane of the deflection module (20), characterized in that the deflection module (20) is designed as an active component (22) of a planar motor (24), wherein the feed rail (12) and / or the discharge rail (14) are each provided with mechanical guide elements (13) which assist in guiding the workpiece carrier (16).

2. Goods transport system (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the linear motor (25) is designed to move the workpiece carrier (16) only linearly.

3. Goods transport system (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the deflection module (20) is free of mechanical guide elements at least in a central area (13) is formed.

4. Goods transport system (10) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the workpiece carrier (16) is provided with at least one passive component (36) of a planar motor (24).

5. Goods transport system (10) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the feed rail (14) and the discharge rail (14) are arranged with respect to their main transport axes (15) are arranged offset from one another.

6. Goods transport system (10) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the active component (22) of the Planar motor (24) has a pole pair width which corresponds to a pole pair width of a linear motor (25) or an integer multiple or integer fraction of the pole pair width of the linear motor (25).

7. Goods transport system (10) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the workpiece carrier (16) is provided with mechanical guide elements (13) at a distance from the main plane of the deflection module (20).

8. Goods transport system (10) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the linear motor (25) of the supply rail (12) and / or the discharge rail (14) comprises a plurality of parallel arranged coil rows (28) which can be controlled independently.

9. Goods transport system (10) according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that in a region of the deflection module (20) at least one detection means (26) for detecting a position and / or orientation of the workpiece carrier (16) is provided.

10. Goods transport system (10) according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that at least three discharge rails (14) are arranged on the deflection module (20).

11. Goods transport system (10) according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the workpiece carrier (16) can be tilted in a predetermined manner when crossing the deflection module (20).

12. Goods transport system (10) according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the workpiece carrier (16) has at least two pairs of magnet packages (18) which are arranged in a crossing manner.

13. Control unit (30) for outputting control commands (31) to at least one active component (22) of a planar motor (24) which is used for the predeterminable movement of a workpiece carrier (16) and is designed to move the workpiece carrier (16) from a feed rail (12) via the active component (22) in a sliding manner to a discharge rail (14), characterized in that the control unit (30) is designed to operate a goods transport system (10) according to one of claims 1 to 12.

14. Kit (45) for producing a goods transport system (10), comprising at least one supply rail (12), a plurality of discharge rails (14) and at least one deflection module (20) which is designed as an active component (22) of a planar motor (24), characterized in that the kit (45) is designed for producing a goods transport system (10) according to one of claims 1 to 12.

15. Simulation program product (50) for simulating an operating behavior of a goods transport system (10), which has a digital image of the goods transport system (10), characterized in that the goods transport system (10) is designed according to one of claims 1 to 12.

16. Use of an active component (22) of a planar motor (24) in a goods transport system (10) with linear motors (25) as at least one supply rail (12) and at least one discharge rail (14), which is used for workpiece carriers (16) as a switch and / or crossing between the supply rail (12) and the discharge rail (14), characterized in that the goods transport system (10) is designed according to one of claims 1 to 12.

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