Transporting Arrangement With Lateral Guide And Motor

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing transport devices for moving products in filling or packaging systems face challenges in maintaining low-maintenance, safe operation with compact design and high accuracy, while also accommodating tight radii and varying product formats.

Innovation Solution

A transport device featuring a guide system with a fixed guide rail and support elements, a linear motor drive with a stator unit and magnetic elements, and a measuring system for precise positioning, allowing for compact and efficient movement of products with minimal space requirements and reduced wear.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If the guide system and motor are arranged separately in lateral positions, then the space requirement is reduced and tight radii can be moved, but the structural complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespace requirementVSAvoidstructural complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The guide system is arranged laterally to the linear motor drive device instead of vertically above or below, creating a side-by-side configuration. This lateral arrangement in the horizontal plane reduces the vertical space requirement and allows tight radii movement while distributing components across different spatial dimensions to manage complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The transport unit base body is divided into functional zones: a guide system region with support elements rolling on the guide rail, and a motor region with the linear motor drive device. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each subsystem while reducing overall spatial requirements through compact lateral integration

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Shape

If the guide rail is positioned laterally to the motor, then tight radii can be achieved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetight radii capabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing precision
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The linear motor drive device replaces traditional mechanical drive mechanisms (gears, belts, chains) that would require precise mechanical tolerances for tight radius operation. The electromagnetic drive provides direct force application to the transport unit, eliminating complex mechanical transmission systems and reducing manufacturing precision requirements while enabling tight radii capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The support elements are designed to roll on the guide rail with specific contact geometries that accommodate lateral positioning variations. By optimizing the rolling contact parameters and support element configuration, the system achieves tight radius capability while being tolerant of manufacturing variations in the lateral arrangement between guide rail and motor

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If support elements are used to guide the transport unit, then low-maintenance operation is achieved, but measurement precision for position detection decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelow-maintenance operationVSAvoidposition detection precision
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

A measuring system with measuring marks and detection means is introduced as an intermediary between the transport unit and the control system. This separate measurement subsystem does not interfere with the mechanical rolling contact between support elements and guide rail, maintaining low-maintenance operation while providing precise position detection through optical or electromagnetic measurement marks

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 solution enables low-maintenance, safe, and accurate operation with reduced space requirements, allowing for efficient movement of products with minimal wear and improved accuracy, even in tight spaces, while maintaining high performance and reduced operational costs.

Implementation Method 1

By appropriately controlling the coils in the stator unit, a magnetic force acts on these magnetic elements of the transport unit. As a result, the transport units can be accelerated, braked and/or positioned at a standstill.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic force: Lorentz Force

Implementation Method 2

A linear motor drive device ensures that the transport unit can be driven individually.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic propulsion: Electromagnetic Propulsion

Implementation Method 3

The support elements, in particular designed as rollers and/or slides and/or levitation elements, i.e. freely floating elements, are guided on the guide rail.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRolling: Roller

Data Source

PatentEP3038959B1Transporting arrangement
Publication Date: 2017.11.22 ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
  • EP3038959B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3038959B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3038959B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to a transporting arrangement (1) comprising at least one guide system having a fixed guide rail (4) and supporting elements (6) which are guided on the guide rail (4), in particular ones designed in the form of rollers and/or sliders, also comprising at least one transporting unit (5), which can be moved in a movement direction (8) and on which the supporting elements are fastened, wherein the transporting unit (5) is guided on the guide rail (4) by means of the supporting elements (6), and further comprising a linear motor drive arrangement having a fixed stator unit (3) and at least one magnetic element (15), in particular a permanent magnet, on the transporting unit (5), wherein a vertical guide plane (16) is defined, this running parallel to the movement direction (8) and through the centre of the guide system, wherein a vertical motor plane (17) is defined, this running parallel to the movement direction (8) and through the centre of the linear motor drive arrangement, and wherein a basic body (11) of the transporting unit (5) is arranged between the guide plane (16) and the motor plane (17).