Modular conveyor system having multiple moving elements under independent control

摘要

The invention relates to a linear motor for use in conveyor systems. This application is a divisional application of EP-A-1 015 851 and relates specifically to a moving-magnet type linear motor comprising a plurality of moving elements travelling along a track; a stator armature provided substantially along the entire travelling track of moving elements; wherein each moving element travels separately and independently and comprises a number of permanent magnets disposed face to face with the stator armature, said magnets being arranged in alternating North and South sequence and having a pole pitch P; wherein the stator armature comprises a plurality of individual coils arranged in a substantially contiguous sequence of individual polyphase-like sets, each set comprising p overlapping coils having centres thereof spaced apart by a distance P/p, where p >= 2; and a servocontrol system for regulating and commutating the coils so as to produce a separate moving MMF for each moving element and independently control each moving element.