Back to results
US 6,607,073 B2Granted
Conveyor system
AssigneeDenipro AG
InventorsRobert Büchi, Daniel Hinder
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Loading patent…
Loading patent…
AssigneeDenipro AG
InventorsRobert Büchi, Daniel Hinder
Estimating the term…
In a conveyor system, a magnet element row aligned at least partly parallel to the conveyor path is arranged in a driving region to serve as a stationary drive device. Conveyor elements include conducting parts (4) and are movable along the conveyor path through the drive region. The magnet element row (11) includes alternatingly orientated permanent magnets and produces a magnetic field locally changing along the row (11). The conducting parts (4) are arranged on the conveyor elements (2) such that in the drive region they are positioned in the effective range of the magnet element row (11). A relative movement between the magnetic element row (11) and the conveyor element (2) produces eddy currents in the conducting parts (4) effecting forces counteracting the relative movement. The relative movement is produced by annular magnet element rows (11) that are revolvingly driven and of which a part moves parallel to the conveyor path being in interaction with the conducting parts (4) of conveyor elements (2). The drive device works without contact and permits jolt-free conveyance, particularly when used in conjunction with independently movable conveyor elements.
A conveyor system with predetermined conveyor paths, with conveyor elements (2) movable along the conveyor paths and with at least one drive means arranged stationarily in a region of one of the conveyor paths and acting in a drive region of said one conveyor path on the conveyor elements (2) in an accelerating or braking manner, wherein the drive means comprises a plurality of magnet elements (12) arranged in a row and producing a magnetic field changing along a magnet element row (11), wherein in the drive region at least part of the magnet element row (11) is arranged essentially parallel to the one conveyor path and wherein each conveyor element (2) comprises a conducting part (4) of electrically conducting material, said conducting part (4) being arranged on the conveyor element (2) such that, in the drive region, the conducting part is positioned in the effective range of the magnet element row (11) and such that a relative movement parallel to the conveyor path between the magnet element row (11) and a conducting part (4) produces eddy currents in the conducting part (4) and therewith forces counteracting the relative movement.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.