Conveyor

The dual magnetic pole system enhances position detection sensitivity and reduces heat loss in container carrier transport by controlling the magnetic flux and thrust direction, addressing the inefficiencies of single-coil methods.

JP7825512B2Active Publication Date: 2026-03-06HITACHI HIGH TECH CORP
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Patent Information

Authority / Receiving Office
JP · JP
Patent Type
Patents
Current Assignee / Owner
Filing Date
2022-05-25
Publication Date
2026-03-06

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Existing methods for detecting the position of container carriers in sample analysis systems using electromagnetic attraction force suffer from increased heat loss and deviation from the transport path due to excessive current usage, which affects the sensitivity and stability of the detection process.

Method used

A conveying device with a magnet and magnetic poles, utilizing a dual magnetic pole system where current is supplied to adjacent magnetic poles to generate a thrust and control the position of the container carrier, thereby reducing heat loss and maintaining the carrier on the transport path.

Benefits of technology

Improves the sensitivity of position detection while minimizing heat loss and preventing deviation from the transport path, ensuring accurate and stable container carrier movement.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

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Abstract

To improve the sensibility of position detection of a container carrier while suppressing an increase in heat loss due to a coil resistance in driving of the container carrier.SOLUTION: A transport device comprises: a magnet provided on a transported material side; a magnetic pole composed of teeth and winding wound around an outer side of the teeth; a plurality of yokes adjacently arranged; and a driving circuit for supplying current to the winding. The transport device generates a magnetic field in the magnetic pole by the driving circuit, and is transported in a horizontal direction by generating a thrust in the magnet by the magnetic field. The magnetic pole is composed of a first magnetic pole in which the current is supplied to the winding so as to act power in a transport direction of the transported material; and at least one adjacent magnetic pole adjacently arranged at a predetermined interval from the first magnetic pole. The current is supplied to the winding of the at least one magnetic pole of the adjacent magnetic poles at the same time with the winding of the first magnetic pole, and a magnetic saturation level of the first magnetic pole is controlled by a magnetic flux generated by the at least one adjacent magnetic pole.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4
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Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a transport device, and more particularly to a transport device suitable for a sample analysis system that analyzes biological samples (hereinafter referred to as samples) such as blood and urine, or for a sample pretreatment device that performs pretreatment required for analysis. [Background technology]

[0002] Generally, in a sample analysis system that analyzes biological samples such as blood, plasma, serum, urine, and other bodily fluids, devices with multiple functions are connected to automatically process each step in order to test the specified analysis items for each sample. In other words, in a sample analysis system, analysis sections for multiple analytical fields such as biochemistry and immunology are connected by a conveying line, and multiple analyses are performed simultaneously.

[0003] The conveying methods for the conveying line include a belt conveyor system and a system that uses electromagnetic attraction force as thrust.

[0004] The method of using the electromagnetic attraction force as thrust involves providing a permanent magnet to a container carrier, such as a holder that holds a specimen, and using the electromagnetic attraction force generated by supplying current to the windings of a magnetic circuit provided on the transport surface as thrust for the container carrier.

[0005] Furthermore, a method of detecting the position of a container carrier is being considered that does not use sensors such as the Hall ICs described in Patent Documents 1 and 2, but instead utilizes the magnetic saturation phenomenon of a magnetic circuit caused by the magnetic flux of a permanent magnet.

[0006] The above-mentioned Patent Document 1 describes that a current is passed only through a single winding of the magnetic circuit, causing a change in inductance due to magnetic saturation, thereby detecting the position.

[0007] On the other hand, the above-mentioned Patent Document 2 describes a method in which, when a container carrier deviates from the transport path and stops, a voltage pulse is applied to one coil so that an attractive force is generated against a magnet built into the container carrier, and voltage pulses are applied indiscriminately to multiple coils around the coil that generated the attractive force so that a repulsive force is generated against the magnet, thereby detecting the position of the container carrier. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0008] [Patent Document 1] International Publication No. 2020 / 137182 [Patent Document 2] Patent Publication No. 2021-58052 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0009] However, in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, current is passed only through the winding of the magnetic circuit, causing an inductance change due to magnetic saturation and detecting the position of the container carrier, but there was a problem that increasing the current to cause magnetic saturation increases heat loss in the winding.

[0010] On the other hand, in Patent Document 2, if the coils around the coil that attracts the container carrier are indiscriminately excited while the container carrier is being transported, there is a problem that exciting a large number of coils will excessively increase the heat loss of the coils, and there is also a problem that a force will act on the container carrier in a direction other than the original transport direction, causing the container carrier to deviate from the transport path.

[0011] In other words, when transporting a container carrier, in order to stop it at a predetermined stopping position, to control the speed to avoid swaying of the sample liquid loaded on the container carrier, or to avoid collisions between container carriers, it is necessary to accurately detect the position of the container carrier, and while it is desirable for the current to be relatively large in order to utilize the magnetic saturation phenomenon, an increase in current leads to increased heat loss due to winding resistance.

[0012] The present invention has been developed in consideration of the above points, and its object is to provide a conveying device that can improve the sensitivity of container carrier position detection while suppressing an increase in heat loss due to winding resistance during operation of the container carrier. [Means for solving the problem]

[0013] In order to achieve the above object, the conveying device of the present invention comprises a magnet provided on the side of the object to be conveyed, magnetic poles each consisting of teeth made of a ferromagnetic material and a winding wound around the outside of the teeth, a yoke forming a magnetic circuit made of a ferromagnetic material that connects a plurality of adjacently arranged magnetic poles, and a drive circuit that supplies current to the winding of the magnetic pole, wherein a magnetic field is generated in the magnetic pole by a voltage applied by the drive circuit, and the magnetic field generates a thrust in the magnet, thereby conveying the object to be conveyed in a horizontal direction, the magnetic poles include a first magnetic pole, the winding of which is supplied with a current so as to apply a force in the transport direction of the transported object, and at least one adjacent magnetic pole disposed adjacent to the first magnetic pole at a predetermined interval; At least one of the adjacent magnetic poles is a second magnetic pole arranged on the side of the first magnetic pole in the direction of travel of the transported object, and a current is supplied to the winding of the second magnetic pole simultaneously with the winding of the first magnetic pole, and a magnetic flux generated by the second magnetic pole is applied to the winding of the first magnetic pole. The amount of magnetic flux generated from the winding of the first magnetic pole required to magnetically saturate the It is characterized by: [Effects of the Invention]

[0014] According to the present invention, it is possible to improve the sensitivity of detecting the position of the container carrier while suppressing an increase in heat loss due to winding resistance during driving of the container carrier. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a conveying device according to a first embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2]1 is a diagram showing an example of the arrangement of a plurality of electromagnets in a conveying device according to a first embodiment of the present invention (the comparative example (prior art) has the same arrangement). [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram illustrating a magnetic circuit in a conveyance device according to a comparative example (prior art). [Figure 4] 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a magnetic circuit of a conveying device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] 1 is a characteristic diagram showing the relationship between current and magnetic flux amount in a conveyance device according to Example 1 of the present invention and a conveyance device according to a comparative example (prior art). [Figure 6] 1 is a diagram comparing heat loss due to winding resistance between a conveying device according to Example 1 of the present invention and a conveying device according to a comparative example (prior art). [Figure 7] 10 is a diagram showing the relationship between the inductance and the distance between the container carrier and the electromagnet in the transport device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram illustrating a magnetic circuit of a conveying device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram illustrating a magnetic circuit of a conveying device according to a third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] 10 is a diagram showing the relationship between current and magnetic flux amount in the case of Example 3 of the conveying device of the present invention and in the case where current is passed through only the electromagnet. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] The conveying device of the present invention will be described below based on the illustrated embodiments. Note that the same reference numerals will be used for the same components in each embodiment described below. Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described below, and the shape, arrangement, and other configurations may be changed as long as the desired effects of the present invention are obtained. [Example]

[0017] FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of a conveying device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

[0018] As shown in FIG. 1, the conveying device 1 of this embodiment includes a first electromagnet 25a forming a magnetic pole, a second electromagnet 25b which is an adjacent magnetic pole arranged adjacent to the first electromagnet 25a at a predetermined interval, a first drive circuit 50a, a second drive circuit 50b, a first current detection unit 40a, and a 2 The circuit is generally composed of a current detection unit 40 b, a calculation unit 41 and a power supply 55 .

[0019] The first electromagnet 25a is composed of first teeth 22a made of a magnetic material and first windings 21a wound around the outer peripheries of the first teeth 22a. Similarly, the second electromagnet 25b is composed of second teeth 22b and second windings 21b wound around the outer peripheries of the second teeth 22b. Note that, although the first teeth 22a and second teeth 22b are cylindrical in this embodiment, the shape is not limited thereto and may be, for example, a rectangular column.

[0020] In addition, a container carrier 110, which is the object to be transported (transported body), is placed on the upper surface of the first electromagnet 25a and the second electromagnet 25b so that it can move horizontally, and there is a transport surface (not shown) between the container carrier 110 and the first electromagnet 25a or the second electromagnet 25b, and the container carrier 110 slides horizontally on this transport surface.

[0021] Furthermore, a permanent magnet (not shown) that forms the magnet is built into the container carrier 110. A neodymium alloy, ferrite, or the like is preferably used as the permanent magnet of the container carrier 110. Note that, in some cases, a soft magnetic material or the like may be used instead of the permanent magnet.

[0022] Further, examples of the container carrier 110 include a sample holder that holds one sample container such as a test tube or sample cell containing a liquid sample, or a sample rack that holds a plurality of sample containers.

[0023] The first winding 21a and the second winding 21b of the first electromagnet 25a and the second electromagnet 25b are connected to the first drive circuit 50a and the second drive circuit 50b, respectively. The first electromagnet 25a and the second electromagnet 25b generate magnetic fields by voltages applied by the first drive circuit 50a and the second drive circuit 50b, respectively. This magnetic field is generated upward from the upper ends of the first teeth 22a and the second teeth 22b. The magnetic field generated upward from the upper ends of the first teeth 22a and the second teeth 22b generates a thrust force on the permanent magnets built into the container carrier 110.

[0024] The first current detector 40a and the second current detector 40b detect currents from the first drive circuit 50a and the second drive circuit 50b that flow through the first winding 21a and the second winding 21b of the first electromagnet 25a and the second electromagnet 25b, respectively, and send the current values ​​detected by the first current detector 40a and the second current detector 40b to the calculation unit 41. The calculation unit 41 uses the current values ​​detected by the first current detector 40a and the second current detector 40b to output control signals to the first drive circuit 50a and the second drive circuit 50b to move the container carrier 110. This allows the container carrier 110 to be transported to a desired position.

[0025] The first current detection unit 40a and the second current detection unit 40b may be configured to measure the voltage of a series resistor, to use a current transformer, or to use a Hall current sensor, but are not limited to these.

[0026] Furthermore, the calculation unit 41 calculates the relative positional relationship between the first teeth 22a and the second teeth 22b and the container carrier 110 based on the current values ​​detected by the first current detection unit 40a and the second current detection unit 40b, and calculates the position of the container carrier 110 within the transport device 1. In other words, it calculates the current position of the container carrier 110 within the transport device 1. Furthermore, the calculation unit 41 uses the calculated position information of the container carrier 110 to determine the amount of current required to drive the container carrier 110 and the timing to supply that current.

[0027] A power supply 55 is connected to the first drive circuit 50a and the second drive circuit 50b, and this power supply 55 may be either AC or DC. In the case of DC, a battery may be used.

[0028] Figure 2 shows an example of the arrangement of the first electromagnet 25a in the conveying device 1 of this embodiment, the second electromagnet 25b and the fifth electromagnet 25e, which are adjacent magnetic poles arranged on the traveling direction side of the container carrier 110 relative to the first electromagnet 25a, and the third electromagnet 25c and the fourth electromagnet 25d, which are adjacent magnetic poles arranged adjacent to the first electromagnet 25a on the normal direction side of the container carrier 110 (the arrangement of the electromagnets in the comparative example (prior art) described later is also the same arrangement). Note that the yoke is not shown in Figure 2.

[0029] Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a magnetic circuit in a conveying device in a comparative example (prior art), and Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating a magnetic circuit in a conveying device 1 in Example 1. Note that the first electromagnet 25a, the second electromagnet 25b, the third electromagnet 25c, the fourth electromagnet 25d, and the fifth electromagnet 25e are adjacent to each other at an interval of pitch A.

[0030] In the comparative example shown in Figure 3 and Example 1 shown in Figure 4, the container carrier 110 moves on the conveying surface 65 from the side of the third electromagnet 25c toward the first electromagnet 25a, with the target stopping position being directly above the first electromagnet 25a.

[0031] FIG. 5 is a characteristic diagram showing the relationship between current and magnetic flux amount in the conveying device of the comparative example (shown by the dashed line) and the conveying device of Example 1 (shown by the solid line), and FIG. 6 is a diagram comparing the heat loss due to winding resistance between the conveying device of the comparative example and the conveying device 1 of Example 1.

[0032] In the comparative example shown in Figure 3, current flows only through the first electromagnet 25a located at the target stop position. At this time, the magnetic field generated by the first electromagnet 25a acts, driving the container carrier 110 to the left in Figure 3. As the container carrier 110 moves on the conveying surface 65, the magnetic flux 71 of the permanent magnet built into the container carrier 110 interlinks with the first electromagnet 25a and constructively interacts with the magnetic flux 70a generated by the first electromagnet 25a, causing magnetic saturation within the first electromagnet 25a and reducing inductance. This change in inductance is utilized to detect the position of the container carrier 110 (for example, the position of the container carrier 110 is identified by the value of the change in inductance).

[0033] In the comparative example shown in Figure 3, when a current of 1 p.u. is passed through the first electromagnet 25a as shown in Figure 5, magnetic saturation is insufficient, and the magnetic flux amount Φm+Φp (Φm is the magnitude of the magnetic flux 70a, and Φp is the magnitude of the magnetic flux 71 of the permanent magnet) within the first electromagnet 25a is located at a point where the rate of change between the current and the magnetic flux is linear.

[0034] This is a location where the inductance does not change because magnetic saturation does not occur, and therefore it is difficult to detect the position by utilizing the change in inductance.

[0035] 3, when the current flowing through the first electromagnet 25a is increased to 2 p.u., the magnetic flux amount of the first electromagnet 25a is 2Φm+Φp, and the relationship between the current and the magnetic flux becomes nonlinear due to magnetic saturation, and the device operates in a region where the inductance changes, making position detection easier.

[0036] However, since the heat loss due to winding resistance is the product of the square of the current and the winding resistance, as shown in Figure 6, the heat loss when the current is 2 p.u. is 4 p.u., which is four times the heat loss when the current is 1 p.u.

[0037] 2 and 4, a current is simultaneously applied to the second electromagnet 25b, which is adjacent to the first electromagnet 25a and is located on the transport direction side of the container carrier 110 relative to the first electromagnet 25a. In addition to the second electromagnet 25b, the electromagnets adjacent to the first electromagnet 25a also include a third electromagnet 25c, a fourth electromagnet 25d, and a fifth electromagnet 25e.

[0038] When current is applied to either the third electromagnet 25c or the fourth electromagnet 25d, an electromagnetic force acts on the container carrier 110 in the direction normal to the transport direction, causing the container carrier 110 to deviate from the transport path (for example, the container carrier 110 moves in the direction of the third electromagnet 25c and the fourth electromagnet 25d), resulting in abnormal transport.

[0039] When a current of 1 p.u. is passed through the first electromagnet 25a, a current of 1 p.u. in the opposite direction is passed through the second electromagnet 25b. Magnetic flux 70b generated by the second electromagnet 25b interlinks with the first electromagnet 25a via the yoke 26 that forms a magnetic circuit and also serves as a base for the electromagnet (see the downward dashed arrow representing the magnetic flux flowing through the first electromagnet 25a in FIG. 4), and reinforces the magnetic flux 70a generated by the first electromagnet 25a and the magnetic flux 71 of the permanent magnet.

[0040] At this time, the amount of magnetic flux in the first electromagnet 25a is Φm + Φp + Φa = 2Φm + Φp for a total current of 1 p.u. This point of sum (shown as P in Figure 5) is the point where the relationship between current and magnetic flux in Figure 5 becomes nonlinear and the inductance changes due to magnetic saturation. This makes it easy to detect the position of the container carrier 110.

[0041] The heat loss due to winding resistance in this case is 1 p.u. each for the first electromagnet 25a and the second electromagnet 25b, totaling 2 p.u. Therefore, the heat loss can be reduced by half compared to the comparative example in which current flows only through the first electromagnet 25a.

[0042] Figure 7 shows the relationship between inductance and the distance between the container carrier 110 and the first electromagnet 25a in Example 1 of the conveying device 1 of the present invention, where the dashed line represents the case where no current flows to the adjacent coil and the solid line represents the case where current flows to the adjacent coil.

[0043] As shown in FIG. 7, in the first embodiment of FIG. 4, the current is passed to the adjacent coil. Not In this case, the inductance changes from 1 p.u. to approximately 0.89 pu, but when current is applied to the adjacent coil, the inductance changes from 1 p.u. to approximately 0.68 pu, which shows that the amount of change in inductance with respect to the position of the container carrier 110 increases, improving the sensitivity of detecting the position of the container carrier 110.

[0044] From the above, by controlling the magnetic flux amount of the first electromagnet 25a, which detects the position of the container carrier 110, using the second electromagnet 25b adjacent to it on the side in the direction of travel of the container carrier 110 (by increasing or decreasing the current flowing through the second electromagnet 25b), it is possible to increase the position detection sensitivity while suppressing heat loss without causing the container carrier 110 to deviate from the transport path.

[0045] Furthermore, since a current flows through the second electromagnet 25b in the opposite direction to that of the first electromagnet 25a, a magnetic field is generated that generates a repulsive force against the permanent magnet built into the container carrier 110, and this magnetic field acts as a braking force that prevents the container carrier 110 from passing over the first electromagnet 25a, which is the target stopping position.

[0046] According to this embodiment, while the container carrier 110 is being driven, the increase in heat loss due to winding resistance can be suppressed, while improving the sensitivity of position detection of the container carrier 110 in a sensorless position detection method using the magnetic saturation phenomenon. [Example]

[0047] FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram illustrating a magnetic circuit of the conveyance device 1 according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

[0048] 8, when a current is passed from the third electromagnet 25c, which is disposed adjacent to the first electromagnet 25a on the normal side of the traveling direction of the container carrier 110, to the first electromagnet 25a, with the first electromagnet 25a being set as the target stop position, to drive the container carrier 110 on the transport surface 65, a current in the opposite direction to the current passed through the first electromagnet 25a is passed through both the adjacent third electromagnet 25c and the fourth electromagnet 25d, which is disposed adjacent to the first electromagnet 25a on the normal side of the traveling direction of the container carrier 110. At this time, it is desirable that the currents passed through the third electromagnet 25c and the fourth electromagnet 25d have the same magnitude.

[0049] As a result, the magnetic field created by the third electromagnet 25c and the fourth electromagnet 25d acts on the container carrier 110, and an electromagnetic force acts in a direction normal to the transport direction of the container carrier 110.However, by passing the same current through the third electromagnet 25c and the fourth electromagnet 25d, the electromagnetic forces acting in the direction normal to the transport direction of the container carrier 110 become equal in magnitude and are canceled out.

[0050] Therefore, the magnitude of the electromagnetic force acting in the normal direction to the transport direction of the container carrier 110 is apparently zero, so the container carrier 110 does not deviate from the transport path, and the sensitivity of position detection can be improved.

[0051] 8, the magnetic flux generated by the third electromagnet 25c and the fourth electromagnet 25d interlinks with the first electromagnet 25a via the yoke 26. At this time, the magnetic flux 70a generated by the first electromagnet 25a, the magnetic flux 70c generated by the third electromagnet 25c, the magnetic flux 70d generated by the fourth electromagnet 25d, and the magnetic flux 71 of the permanent magnet are all in the same direction and therefore reinforce each other.

[0052] In this embodiment, a current of 0.5 pu flows through the first electromagnet 25a, 0.25 pu through the third electromagnet 25c, and 0.25 pu through the fourth electromagnet 25d. The amount of magnetic flux linking the first electromagnet 25a is Φm + Φp + 0.5Φa × 2 = 2Φm + Φp for a total current of 1 pu, and it operates at the point where the inductance changes due to magnetic saturation shown in the relationship between current and magnetic flux in Figure 5. The total heat loss due to winding resistance at this time is 0.375 pu. A similar amount of magnetic flux can be obtained by passing a current of 2 pu through the first electromagnet 25a, but the heat loss becomes 4 pu, significantly increasing the heat loss.

[0053] From the above, by passing current through both the third electromagnet 25c and the fourth electromagnet 25d, which are adjacent to the first electromagnet 25a that detects the position of the container carrier 110 in the normal direction to the transport direction of the container carrier 110, it is possible to increase the sensitivity of the position detection of the container carrier 110 while suppressing heat loss without causing the container carrier 110 to deviate from the transport path. [Example]

[0054] FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram illustrating a magnetic circuit of the conveyance device 1 according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

[0055] 9, a current having the same direction as the current flowing through the first electromagnet 25a is passed through the second electromagnet 25b. At this time, the magnetic flux 70a generated by the first electromagnet 25a and the magnetic flux 70b generated by the second electromagnet 25b are in opposite directions and cancel each other out, so the amount of magnetic flux in the first electromagnet 25a can be reduced.

[0056] FIG. 10 shows the relationship between current and magnetic flux when current is passed through only the first electromagnet 25a (shown by the solid line) and in the case of Example 3 (shown by the dashed line).

[0057] As shown in Figure 10, in Example 3 of Figure 9, when a current of 1 p.u. is passed only through the first electromagnet 25a, the amount of magnetic flux within the first electromagnet 25a becomes Φm + Φp, but due to the excessive magnetic saturation state, the change in inductance becomes small, making it difficult to detect the position of the container carrier 110.

[0058] Therefore, by passing a current through the second electromagnet 25b in the same direction as the current through the first electromagnet 25a, the amount of magnetic flux is reduced to Φm + Φp - Φa, and the relationship between current and magnetic flux becomes nonlinear, operating at a point where the inductance changes, making it easier to detect the position of the container carrier 110.

[0059] As described above, by reducing the amount of magnetic flux of the first electromagnet 25a that detects the position of the container carrier 110 by the adjacent second electromagnet 25b, it is possible to increase the sensitivity of detecting the position of the container carrier 110.

[0060] When a current is passed only through the first electromagnet 25a to move the container carrier 110 past the first electromagnet 25a and directly above the second electromagnet 25b, the current to the first electromagnet 25a is set to zero before current begins to flow through the second electromagnet 25b. This reduces the electromagnetic force acting on the container carrier 110 (the force that drives the container carrier 110) when switching the magnetic pole to be energized. Because the reduction in electromagnetic force reduces the speed, it becomes necessary to increase the current to restore the speed before the magnetic pole was switched. Increasing the current increases heat loss. Furthermore, fluctuations in electromagnetic force increase the risk of sample liquid spillage due to shaking.

[0061] 9, however, by passing a current through the first electromagnet 25a and the second electromagnet 25b at the same time, even if the current through the first electromagnet 25a is set to 0 at the moment the container carrier 110 passes the first electromagnet 25a, the electromagnetic force of the second electromagnet 25b acts on the container carrier 110, thereby suppressing a decrease in the force for driving the container carrier 110. In other words, this leads to an increase in the current required to restore the original speed and to the prevention of liquid sloshing.

[0062] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and includes various modifications. For example, the above-described embodiments have been described in detail to clearly explain the present invention, and the present invention is not necessarily limited to those including all of the described configurations. Furthermore, it is possible to replace part of the configuration of one embodiment with the configuration of another embodiment, and it is also possible to add the configuration of another embodiment to the configuration of one embodiment. Furthermore, it is possible to add, delete, or replace part of the configuration of each embodiment with other configurations. [Explanation of symbols]

[0063] 1...conveying device, 21a...first winding, 21b...second winding, 22a...first teeth, 22b...second teeth, 25a...first electromagnet, 25b...second electromagnet, 25c...third electromagnet, 25d...fourth electromagnet, 25e...fifth electromagnet, 26...yoke, 40a...first current detection unit, 40b...second current detection unit, 41...calculating unit, 50a...first drive circuit, 50b...second drive circuit, 55...power supply, 65...conveying surface, 70a...magnetic flux generated by first electromagnet, 70b...magnetic flux generated by second electromagnet, 70c...magnetic flux generated by third electromagnet, 70d...magnetic flux generated by fourth electromagnet, 71...magnetic flux of permanent magnet, 110...container carrier.

Claims

1. a yoke that forms a magnetic circuit made of a ferromagnetic material connecting a plurality of adjacently arranged magnetic poles; and a drive circuit that supplies current to the windings of the magnetic poles; wherein a magnetic field is generated in the magnetic poles by a voltage applied by the drive circuit, and the magnetic field generates a thrust force in the magnets, thereby transporting the transported object in a horizontal direction; the magnetic poles include a first magnetic pole, the winding of which is supplied with a current so as to apply a force in the transport direction of the transported object, and at least one adjacent magnetic pole disposed adjacent to the first magnetic pole at a predetermined interval; At least one of the adjacent magnetic poles is a second magnetic pole arranged on the side of the first magnetic pole in the direction of travel of the transported object, and a current is supplied to the winding of the second magnetic pole simultaneously with the winding of the first magnetic pole, thereby reducing the amount of magnetic flux generated from the winding of the first magnetic pole required to magnetically saturate the first magnetic pole by the magnetic flux generated by the second magnetic pole.

2. The conveying device according to claim 1 , A conveying device characterized in that a current having a direction opposite to that of the current supplied to the first magnetic pole is supplied to the second magnetic pole.

3. The conveying device according to claim 2, A conveying device, wherein the current supplied to the second magnetic pole is the same in magnitude as the current supplied to the first magnetic pole.

4. The conveying device according to claim 1 , A conveying device comprising: a conveying mechanism for supplying a current to the second magnetic pole in the same direction as the current supplied to the first magnetic pole;

5. A conveying device comprising: magnets provided on the side of a conveyed object; magnetic poles each made of a ferromagnetic material and a winding wound around the tooth; a yoke forming a magnetic circuit made of a ferromagnetic material that connects a plurality of adjacently arranged magnetic poles; and a drive circuit that supplies current to the winding of the magnetic poles, wherein a magnetic field is generated in the magnetic poles by a voltage applied by the drive circuit, and the magnetic field generates a thrust in the magnet, thereby conveying the conveyed object in a horizontal direction, the magnetic poles include a first magnetic pole, the winding of which is supplied with a current so as to apply a force in the transport direction of the transported object, and at least one adjacent magnetic pole disposed adjacent to the first magnetic pole at a predetermined interval; At least one of the adjacent magnetic poles is a third or fourth magnetic pole arranged adjacent to the first magnetic pole on the normal side of the direction of travel of the moving transported object, and a current is supplied to the windings of the third and fourth magnetic poles simultaneously with the winding of the first magnetic pole, thereby reducing the amount of magnetic flux generated from the winding of the first magnetic pole required to magnetically saturate the first magnetic pole by the magnetic flux generated by the third and fourth magnetic poles.

6. The conveying device according to claim 5, A conveying device characterized in that a current having a direction opposite to that of the current supplied to the first magnetic pole is supplied to the third and fourth magnetic poles.

7. 7. The conveying device according to claim 6, A conveying device, wherein the currents supplied to the third and fourth magnetic poles are the same in magnitude as the current supplied to the first magnetic pole.

8. 8. The conveying device according to claim 1, A conveying apparatus characterized in that the object to be conveyed is held by a container carrier, the magnet is a permanent magnet built into the container carrier, and the magnetic pole is an electromagnet.

9. 9. The conveying device according to claim 8, The conveying device is characterized by comprising a current detection unit that detects the current from the drive circuit flowing through the winding of the electromagnet, and a calculation unit that outputs a control signal to the drive circuit to move the container carrier based on the current value detected by the current detection unit.

10. 9. The conveying device according to claim 8, The conveying device is characterized in that it comprises a current detection unit that detects the current from the drive circuit flowing through the winding of the electromagnet, and a calculation unit that calculates the relative positional relationship between the teeth and the container carrier based on the current value detected by the current detection unit and calculates the position of the container carrier within the conveying device.

11. 11. The conveying device according to claim 10, The transport device according to claim 1, wherein the calculation unit uses the calculated position information of the container carrier to determine the amount of current required to drive the container carrier and the timing to supply the current.

Citation Information

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