Magnetic Mover Transport With Contactless Attitude Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing transport systems with movable magnet type linear motors face issues of contamination and increased friction due to mechanical contact, leading to reduced productivity and shorter linear guide life, and are hindered by the large number of linear motors or electromagnets required for non-contact magnetic levitation systems.
Innovation Solution
A transport system with a mover featuring parallel arrays of magnets and coils, allowing for contactless movement and attitude control using electromagnetic forces, reducing the number of coils needed by utilizing coils in two lines to face the magnets, thereby minimizing system size and complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a guide apparatus such as a linear guide involving mechanical contact is used, then the mover can be guided and supported, but contamination substances are issued from sliding portions and friction increases during high speed transportation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical contact-based linear guide with a magnetic field-based guidance system. The mover is equipped with magnets that interact with guide rails through magnetic attraction and repulsion forces, enabling contactless guidance. This substitution eliminates wear, friction, and contamination from lubricant oil while maintaining precise guidance capability during high-speed transportation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a magnetic field as an intermediary between the mover and the guide rail. Instead of direct mechanical contact, the magnetic field mediates the interaction, providing guidance and support forces without physical contact. This intermediary approach resolves the contradiction by enabling reliable guidance while eliminating the harmful effects of mechanical friction and contamination.
2Productivity
If a non-contact magnetic levitation type transport apparatus is used to avoid contamination and friction, then productivity is improved, but a large number of lines of linear motors or electromagnets are required which increases system size
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the levitation function and the guidance function into a single integrated magnetic field system. Instead of using separate electromagnets for levitation and separate linear motors for guidance, the invention uses a unified arrangement where magnets on the mover interact with guide rails that provide both vertical support and lateral guidance through magnetic forces. This merging reduces the total number of components while maintaining contactless operation and high productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide rail in the patent serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides vertical support through magnetic attraction, lateral guidance through magnetic repulsion or attraction, and positioning accuracy through precise magnetic field distribution. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate components for each function, reducing system complexity while maintaining high transport efficiency and productivity.
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
Enables efficient, contactless transportation and six-axis attitude control of the mover without increasing system size or complexity, enhancing productivity and extending the life of the linear guide by reducing friction and contamination risks.
Implementation Method 1
the mover is able to move in the first direction along the plurality of coils by electromagnetic force received by the first magnetic group from the plurality of coils
Implementation Method 2
an attitude of the mover is controlled by electromagnetic force received by the first magnetic group or the second magnetic group from the plurality of coils
Data Source
AI summary
A transport system includes: a mover having a first magnet group arranged in parallel to a first direction and a second magnet group arranged in parallel to a second direction crossing the first direction; and a plurality of coils arranged in parallel to the first direction so as to be able to face the first magnet group and the second magnet group, and the mover is able to move in the first direction along the plurality of coils by electromagnetic force received by the first magnetic group from the plurality of coils while an attitude of the mover is controlled by electromagnetic force received by the first magnetic group or the second magnetic group from the plurality of coils.