Magnetizing printer and method for re-magnetizing at least a portion of a previously magnetized magnet

• US 9,367,783 B2
• Filed: 05/09/2014
• Issued: 06/14/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Correlated Magnetics Research, LLC
• Original Assignee: Correlated Magnetics Research, LLC
• Inventors: Fullerton, Larry W., Roberts, Mark D.
• Primary Examiner(s): BARRERA, RAMON M
• Application Number:
  US14/274,030
• Publication Number:
  US 20140299668A1
• Time in Patent Office: 767 Days
• Field of Search: 335/284
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 18/00 Testing or calibrating apparatus or arrangements provided for in groups G01D1/00 - G01D15/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06187 with magnetically detectable marking
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2019/06281 rewritable
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 13/003 Methods and devices for magnetising permanent magnets permanent magnets H01F7/02
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 7/02 Permanent magnets [PM]
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 7/0242 Magnetic drives, magnetic coupling devices
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 7/0273 Magnetic circuits with PM for magnetic field generation
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 7/0284 using a trimmable or adjustable magnetic circuit, e.g. for a symmetric dipole or quadrupole magnetic field
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 15/03 having permanent magnets
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 21/24 with magnets axially facing the armatures, e.g. hub-type cycle dynamos
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 49/10 of the permanent-magnet type
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4902 Electromagnet, transformer or inductor

Abstract

A magnetizing printer and a method are described herein for printing one or more magnetic sources (maxels) having a first polarity onto a side of a previously magnetized magnet having an opposite polarity.

Claims

1. A magnetizing printer adapted to re-magnetize at least a portion of a previously magnetized magnet, the magnetizing printer comprising:

a magnetizer print head configured to print one or more magnetic sources having a first polarity at one or more locations on a side of the previously magnetized magnet having an opposite polarity, wherein the first polarity associated with the one or more magnetic sources is substantially exposed at the one or more locations on the side of the previously magnetized magnet but the opposite polarity associated with the one or more magnetic sources is not substantially exposed at the one or more locations on the side of the previously magnetized magnet, wherein the magnetizer print head comprises a plurality of layers of a metal conductor that form an inductor coil, and wherein the plurality of layers have a hole extending there through, said metal conductor having a width between an outer perimeter of the magnetizer print head and an outer perimeter of the hole, said width being greater than or equal to a diameter of the hole, said magnetizer mint head configured to generate a magnetizing field having a first magnetic flux density in and near said hole and a second magnetic flux density elsewhere when a current is applied to said magnetizer mint head, and wherein said first magnetic flux density is higher than the second magnetic flux density.

2. The magnetizing printer of claim 1, wherein the plurality of layers are soldered together or welded together.

3. The magnetizing printer of claim 1, wherein the previously magnetized magnet is a conventional magnet.

4. The magnetizing printer of claim 1, further comprising a movement handler configured to move the magnetizer print head while the previously-magnetized magnet remains in a fixed position.

5. The magnetizing printer of claim 1, further comprising a movement handler configured to move the previously-magnetized magnet while the magnetizer print head remains in a fixed position.

6. The magnetizing printer of claim 1, further comprising a movement handler configured to move both the magnetizer print head and the previously-magnetized magnet in order for the magnetizer print head to print the one or more magnetic sources at the one or more locations on the side of the previously magnetized magnet.

7. A method implemented by a magnetizing printer for re-magnetizing at least a portion of a previously magnetized magnet, wherein the magnetizing printer comprises a magnetizer print head, and wherein the method comprises:

printing, by the magnetizer print head, a first magnetic source comprising a first pole having a first polarity and a second pole having a second polarity at a first location on a side of the previously magnetized magnet having said second polarity, said second polarity being opposite said first polarity, wherein the first pole of the first magnetic source is substantially exposed within a first area about the first location on the side of the previously magnetized magnet but the second pole of the first magnetic source is not substantially exposed on the side of the previously magnetized magnet; and

printing, by the magnetizer print head, a second magnetic source comprising a first pole having the second polarity and a second pole having the first polarity at a second location on the side of the previously magnetized magnet, wherein the first pole of the second magnetic source is substantially exposed within a second area about the second location on the side of the previously magnetized magnet but the second pole of the second magnetic source is not substantially exposed on the side of the previously magnetized magnet.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the printing operations comprise printing the first and second magnetic sources to have alternate polarities, randomized polarities, predefined codes, correlative codes, or some combination thereof on the side of the previously magnetized magnet.

9. A method implemented by a magnetizing printer for re-magnetizing at least a portion of a previously magnetized magnet, wherein the magnetizing printer comprising a magnetizer print head, and wherein the method comprises:

providing the previously magnetized magnet; and

printing, by the magnetizer print head, one or more magnetic sources having a first polarity at one or more locations on a side of the previously magnetized magnet having an opposite polarity, wherein the first polarity associated with the one or more magnetic sources is substantially exposed at the one or more locations on the side of the previously magnetized magnet but the opposite polarity associated with the one or more magnetic sources is not substantially exposed at the one or more locations on the side of the previously magnetized magnet, wherein the magnetizer print head comprises a plurality of layers of a metal conductor that form an inductor coil, and wherein the plurality of layers have a hole extending there through, said metal conductor having a width between an outer perimeter of the magnetizer print head and an outer perimeter of the hole, said width being greater than or equal to a diameter of the hole, said magnetizer print head configured to generate a magnetizing field having a first magnetic flux density in and near said hole and a second magnetic flux density elsewhere when a current is applied to said magnetizer print head, and wherein said first magnetic flux density is higher than the second magnetic flux density.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the plurality of layers are soldered together or welded together.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the previously magnetized magnet is a conventional magnet.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

moving the magnetizer print head while the previously-magnetized magnet remains in a fixed position.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

moving the previously-magnetized magnet while the magnetizer print head remains in a fixed position.

14. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

moving both the magnetizer print head and the previously-magnetized magnet in order for the magnetizer print head to print the one or more magnetic sources at the one or more locations on the side of the previously magnetized magnet.