Planar Tub Transport With Magnetic Lateral Support in Clean Rooms
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing transport systems for sterile-product tubs require mechanical adaptations and sensors to control and monitor the location, orientation, and position, which are not flexible and not suitable for clean room environments.
Innovation Solution
A planar transport system with independently movable platforms that use support elements to secure sterile-product tubs laterally, allowing flexible transport paths and reliable positioning without mechanical contact, suitable for clean rooms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If mechanical stops, sensors and actuators are used to control and monitor the location, orientation and position of sterile-product tubs, then the transport system can reliably control tub position, but the system becomes complex and requires mechanical adaptations to different tub sizes and shapes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the conventional mechanical transport system with a planar magnetic field-based transport system. Instead of using mechanical stops, sensors and actuators to control tub position, the invention uses controllable magnetic fields generated by the planar mover to achieve contactless positioning and transport of sterile-product tubs. This eliminates complex mechanical components while maintaining reliable position control through magnetic field manipulation.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the transport system is designed to accommodate different sizes and shapes of sterile-product tubs, then the system becomes adaptable, but mechanical adaptations and changes to the mechanical periphery are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables adaptability to different tub sizes and shapes by changing magnetic field parameters rather than mechanical configurations. The planar mover can adjust the strength, distribution, and pattern of magnetic fields to accommodate various tub geometries without requiring physical modifications to the transport system structure. This allows the same mechanical periphery to handle diverse tub types through software-controlled magnetic field adjustments.
3Productivity
If a conventional conveyor belt system is used to transport sterile-product tubs, then the system provides straightforward transport, but mechanical contact with the conveyor belt can contaminate tubs and is unsuitable for clean room environments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates mechanical contact between the transport system and sterile-product tubs by substituting magnetic field interaction for physical conveyor belt contact. The planar mover generates magnetic fields that interact with ferromagnetic elements in the tubs, enabling transport without mechanical touch. This contactless approach prevents contamination while maintaining efficient transport productivity, making the system suitable for clean room and sterile manufacturing environments.
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
The system provides high positioning accuracy, flexibility, and reliability for transporting sterile-product tubs of varying sizes and shapes, ensuring secure transport and operation in clean room environments.
Implementation Method 1
The transport platform and the first additional platform are movable independently of one another on the drive surface... Planar transport systems exhibit a high degree of positioning accuracy and reliable operation. Furthermore, these planar transport systems are frictionless, since the transport platform and the first additional platform do not touch the drive surface but are spaced from the drive surface via a working gap.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a transport system for sterile-product tubs (18), having a conveyor element for arranging a sterile-product tub and having a drive for moving the conveyor element, wherein the transport system is a planar transport system (10), wherein the conveyor element is a transport platform which has a placement surface for placing a sterile-product tub that is to be transported, wherein the drive comprises a drive surface (12) to which the transport platform can be electromagnetically coupled and which can move parallel to the drive surface, and wherein the planar transport system has a first additional platform (34) which can be electromagnetically coupled to the drive surface and can be moved independently of the transport platform parallel to the drive surface, and which has at least one support element (46) assigned to the first additional platform in order to support a side wall of a sterile-product tub placed on the placement surface of the transport platform.