Linear motor with a plurality of stages independently movable on the same path
DCFirst Claim
1. A linear motor comprising:
- a motor controller;
a path;
said path including a plurality of armature windings therein;
at least first and second linear motor stages independently movable on said path;
a plurality of motor permanent magnets on each of said first and second stages facing said path for interaction with said armature windings;
a first encoder associated with said first linear motor stage;
said first encoder including wireless means for communication at least one of motion and position of said first linear motor stage to a motor controller;
a second encoder associated with said second linear motor stage;
said second encoder including wireless means for communication of at least one of motion and position of said second linear motor stage to said motor controller;
said path including first means for applying first drive power from said motor controller to those of said plurality of armature windings within a magnetic influence of said motor permanent magnets on said first stage;
said path including second means for applying second drive power from said motor controller to those of said plurality of armature windings within a magnetic influence of said motor permanent magnets on said second stage; and
said first and second means being simultaneously operable, whereby simultaneous independent drive of said first and second linear motor stages is enabled.
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Abstract
A motor controller produces independent first and second drive power signals for independent application to first and second linear motor stages movable on the same path. Each armature winding in the path is connected to a first switch receiving the first drive power and to a second switch receiving the second drive power. A first switch control device associated with the first linear motor stage actuates the first switches in its vicinity, while leaving the remaining first switches unactuated. A second switch control device associated with the second linear motor stage actuates the second switches in its vicinity, while leaving the remaining second switches unactuated. Each linear motor stage has an encoder associated with it to inform the motor controller of its position and/or motion.
66 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A linear motor comprising:
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a motor controller; a path; said path including a plurality of armature windings therein; at least first and second linear motor stages independently movable on said path; a plurality of motor permanent magnets on each of said first and second stages facing said path for interaction with said armature windings; a first encoder associated with said first linear motor stage; said first encoder including wireless means for communication at least one of motion and position of said first linear motor stage to a motor controller; a second encoder associated with said second linear motor stage; said second encoder including wireless means for communication of at least one of motion and position of said second linear motor stage to said motor controller; said path including first means for applying first drive power from said motor controller to those of said plurality of armature windings within a magnetic influence of said motor permanent magnets on said first stage; said path including second means for applying second drive power from said motor controller to those of said plurality of armature windings within a magnetic influence of said motor permanent magnets on said second stage; and said first and second means being simultaneously operable, whereby simultaneous independent drive of said first and second linear motor stages is enabled. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A linear motor comprising:
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a motor controller; said motor controller producing first and second motor drive power; a path; said path including a plurality of armature windings therein; a plurality of first switches; each of said plurality of first switches controlling the application of said first motor drive power to a respective one of said plurality of armature windings; a plurality of second switches; each of said plurality of second switches controlling the application of said second motor drive power to a respective one of said plurality of armature windings; first and second linear motor stages movable on said path; said first and second linear motor stages each including a plurality of permanent magnets thereon facing said plurality of armature windings, for magnetic interaction with said armature windings to produce a force in a direction of said path; a first switch controller; said first switch controller including means for controlling the application of said first motor drive power only to those of said plurality of armature windings within a magnetic influence of said permanent magnets on said first linear motor stage; a second switch controller; and said second switch controller including means for controlling the application of said second motor drive power only to those of said plurality of armature windings within a magnetic influence of said permanent magnets on said second linear motor stage, whereby said first linear motor stage is driven only by said first motor drive power and said second linear motor stage is driven by said second motor drive power independently of said first linear motor stage, and said first and second linear motor stages can be driven to any point on said path. - View Dependent Claims (7)
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8. A linear motor comprising:
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a path; a plurality of armature windings in said path; first and second linear motor stages movable on said path; a first plurality of switches for applying a first motor drive power only to those of said plurality of armature windings in the vicinity of said first linear motor stage; and a second plurality of switches for applying a second motor drive power only to those of said plurality of armature windings in the vicinity of said second linear motor stage, whereby said first and second linear motor stages are independently driveable. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification