Passive switch for a linear-motor-operated transport system for piece goods

A method for switching a passive track switch of a transport system with a transport track and at least one transport element, the at least one transport element being arranged movably on the transport track, the passive track switch including a main track and first and second diverging side tracks of the transport track, the transport track including (i) a first guide rail;

• (ii) a second guide rail that is located opposite to the first guide rail in the region of the main track;
• (iii) a first linear motor string that is arranged in parallel to the first guide rail;
• and (iv) a second linear motor string that is arranged in parallel to the second guide rail, the first guide rail and the first linear motor string being arranged along the first diverging side track and the main track, and the second guide rail and the second linear motor string being arranged along the second diverging side track and the main track, the method comprising:
• moving the transport element along the main track to a branching region of the passive track switch through interaction of the at least one permanent magnet or non-switching electromagnet, the at least one permanent magnet or non-switching electromagnet being arranged in a transversal position to the transport track, the at least one permanent magnet or non-switching electromagnet being disposed on a response element of the transport element, and the response element being engaged within a gap between the first and the second linear motor string;
• and
• guiding the transport element located in the branching region of the passive track switch in a direction of the first diverging side track by means of the first linear motor string,
• wherein the first and the second guide rail are fixed, and
• wherein a magnetic polarity of at least one of the first linear motor string or the second linear motor string in the branching region of the passive track switch is inverted by means of a control unit of the transport system when the transport element enters the branching region to support guiding of the transport element in the direction of the first diverging side track.

A transport system, comprising:

• a transport track with at least one passive track switch, the transport track including (i) a first guide rail, (ii) a second guide rail that is located opposite to the first guide rail in the region of a main track, (iii) a first linear motor string that is arranged parallel to the first guide rail, and (iv) a second linear motor string that is arranged parallel to the second guide rail;
• and
• at least one transport element arranged movably on the transport track,
• wherein:
• the at least one passive track switch comprises the main track and first and second diverging side tracks of the transport track,
• the transport element has a response element with at least one permanent magnet or non-switching electromagnet, the response element being engaged within a gap between the first and the second linear motor string,
• the transport element is movable along the transport track by means of interaction of the at least one permanent magnet or non-switching electromagnet with the first or second linear motor string,
• the first and the second guide rail are fixed, and
• the first and the second linear motor string in the branching region of the passive track switch are formed in a way such that magnetic poles associated with the first and the second linear motor string, respectively, located opposite to each other are polarized in one of (i) a cophasal manner, or (ii) an antiphase manner, as a function of at least one of an orientation of the at least one permanent magnet or a polarity of the non-switching electromagnet of the transport element.