Linear Motor Transport Apparatus with Multi-Roller Guiding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing transporting apparatuses with linear motor technology suffer from excessive play or clearance between wheels and guide elements, leading to mispositioning of movable elements and tools in machines, particularly in packaging machines, which affects the precision and accuracy of operations.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus features a track with a guiding member having parallel and curved branches and movable elements equipped with multiple rollers and rotation units, ensuring minimal clearance and precise alignment by preventing movement along perpendicular axes, thus maintaining high stiffness and accurate positioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If wheels are used to move movable elements along the track, then the apparatus can convey objects, but excessive play or clearance between wheels and guide elements causes mispositioning
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional wheel-based mechanical guiding system with a linear motor system. The linear motor uses electromagnetic fields to propel the movable element along the track, eliminating physical contact between wheels and guide elements. This substitution removes the clearance issue inherent in wheel-based systems while maintaining precise positioning capability through electromagnetic control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a linear motor as an intermediary between the power source and the movable element. The linear motor converts electrical energy directly into linear motion, serving as a mediator that eliminates the need for mechanical transmission components like wheels and belts, thereby removing the source of clearance and mispositioning.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the movable element supports a machine tool, then the apparatus can perform machine operations, but mispositioning of the movable element causes mispositioning of the tool
Solution Approach 1:
By replacing the mechanical wheel-based propulsion and guiding system with a linear motor system, the patent eliminates the cumulative errors and clearance issues that affect tool positioning accuracy. The direct electromagnetic drive provides more precise control over the movable element's position, ensuring accurate tool placement while maintaining the versatility of supporting various machine tools.
3Speed
If traditional wheel-based propulsion is used, then the apparatus can move movable elements, but excessive clearance leads to play and mispositioning
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical wheel-based propulsion system with a linear motor system that uses electromagnetic forces to directly propel the movable element. This eliminates the clearance and play inherent in wheel-based systems, ensuring that high-speed operation does not compromise positioning accuracy. The linear motor provides precise control over both speed and position simultaneously.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration allows for precise and accurate positioning of tools in machines, even under significant loads, by minimizing play and ensuring the movable elements move only in the intended advancing direction, enhancing the apparatus's stiffness and ability to handle heavy objects.
Implementation Method 1
Transporting apparatus based on linear motor technology are known, which comprise a track that houses a stator armature formed by a plurality of individually-excitable solenoids
Implementation Method 2
a plurality of movable elements or carts that house respective permanent magnets and are independently moved along the track by individually controlling the solenoids
Implementation Method 3
The movable elements comprise a plurality of rollers that are slidably coupled with the guiding member
Data Source
AI summary
A transporting apparatus comprises a track (2) and at least one movable element (3) movable along said track (2), said movable element (3) comprising a supporting body (14), said track (2) comprising a first guiding surface (11a) and a further first guiding surface (lib) facing towards said supporting body (14), a second guiding surface (12a) and a further second guiding surface (12b) facing away from said supporting body (14), and a third guiding surface (13a) arranged transversally to said first guiding surface (11a) and said second guiding surface (12a) and a further third guiding surface (13b) arranged transversally to said further first guiding surface (lib) and said further second guiding surface (12b), wherein said movable element (3) comprises a first couple of rollers (15) slidably coupled to said first guiding surface (11a), a further first couple of rollers (16) slidably coupled to said further first guiding surface (lib), a second couple of rollers (17) slidably coupled to said second guiding surface (12a), a further second couple of rollers (18) slidably coupled to said further second guiding surface (12b), a third couple of rollers (19) slidably coupled to said third guiding surface (13a) and a further third couple of rollers (20) slidably coupled to said further third guiding surface (13b).