Drive unit

A drive unit for driving a carriage travelable along a transport path, the drive unit having a barrel cam, with the barrel cam being drivable to make a rotational movement and the barrel cam having a drive groove for an engagement of a follower arranged at the carriage, the drive unit further having a control device for controlling the drive of the carriage,

• wherein the barrel cam has a first barrel section and a second barrel section separate from the first barrel section, with the first and second barrel sections being drivable independently of one another, and with the control device being configured to accelerate the carriage after a takeover from a separate drive unit by means of the first barrel section and to supply the accelerated carriage to the second barrel section.

A method of transporting objects along a transport path in which a carriage which is travelable along the transport path and on which at least one object is to be arranged is moved from a transfer section of the transport path onto a process section of the transport path provided for a machining of the objects, wherein the carriage is driven in the process section by means of a first barrel cam which is drivable to make a rotational movement and which has a drive groove into which a follower arranged at the carriage engages;

• and wherein the carriage is driven to make a movement in the transfer section by means of a separate drive, wherein the carriage is accelerated by means of a second barrel cam drivable independently of the first barrel cam to move from the transfer section to the process section.

A transport apparatus for transporting objects along a transport path, having at least one carriage which is travelable along the transport path and which is configured for receiving at least one object to be transported;

• and having means for the controlled driving of the carriage, wherein the transport path comprises at least one process section provided for a machining of the objects and at least one transfer section separate therefrom;
• wherein a drive unit having at least one barrel cam drivable to make a rotational movement is provided for driving the carriage in the process section, said barrel cam having a drive groove into which a follower arranged at the carriage engages;
• and wherein a linear motor having at least one fixed-position stator element and a runner element arranged at the carriage is provided for driving the carriage in the transfer section.