US-12617634-B2 - Linear conveyance system

US12617634B2US 12617634 B2US12617634 B2US 12617634B2US-12617634-B2

Abstract

A linear conveyance system includes a plurality of stator modules forming a conveyance path, and a mover including a plurality of magnets disposed on both side surfaces. The plurality of stator modules includes a one-side stator module and a both-side stator module, the one-side stator module being disposed on one side of a non-branch portion of the conveyance path, the both-side stator module being disposed on both sides of a branch portion of the conveyance path. Each of the one-side stator module and the both-side stator module includes an iron core and a plurality of coils. The mover is propelled by electromagnetic force produced by the plurality of coils. A coil amount of the one-side stator module is equal to a coil amount of the both-side stator module.

Inventors

Yuichiro Nakamura
Shinichi Yamaguchi
Hideaki Arita

Assignees

MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION

Dates

Publication Date: 20260505
Application Date: 20220302

Claims (15)

1 . A linear conveyance system comprising: a plurality of stator modules forming a conveyance path; and a mover including a plurality of magnets disposed on both side surfaces, wherein the plurality of stator modules includes a one-side stator module and a both-side stator module, the one-side stator module being disposed on one side of a non-branch portion of the conveyance path, the both-side stator module being disposed on both sides of a branch portion of the conveyance path, each of the one-side stator module and the both-side stator module includes an iron core and a plurality of coils, the mover is propelled by electromagnetic force produced by the plurality of coils, and a coil amount of the one-side stator module is equal to a coil amount of the both-side stator module, the one-side stator module being disposed at the non-branch portion of the conveyance path, the both-side stator module being disposed at the branch portion of the conveyance path.
2 . The linear conveyance system according to claim 1 , wherein the iron core includes a plurality of teeth, each of the plurality of coils is wound around any one of the plurality of teeth, the coils are disposed on only some of the plurality of teeth in the both-side stator module, and the coils are disposed on all of the plurality of teeth in the one-side stator module.
3 . The linear conveyance system according to claim 1 , wherein the iron core includes a plurality of teeth, each of the plurality of coils is wound around any one of the plurality of teeth, for each of a first stator module and a second stator module, a tooth around which a coil is wound and a tooth around which no coil is wound are alternately arranged in a direction of travel of the mover, the first stator module being one of two stator modules included in the both-side stator module, the second stator module being another of the two stator modules included in the both-side stator module, with regard to a tooth of the first stator module and a tooth of the second stator module facing each other, a coil is wound around a tooth of one of the first stator module and the second stator module, and no coil is wound around a tooth of another of the first stator module and the second stator module, a number of teeth included in each of the first stator module and the second stator module is an even number, and a number of turns in each coil in the one-side stator module is equal to a number of turns in each coil in the first stator module and the second stator module.
4 . The linear conveyance system according to claim 1 , wherein a ratio of each of the plurality of coils included in the both-side stator module to a slot area is ½ or less.
5 . The linear conveyance system according to claim 3 , wherein the plurality of coils included in the one-side stator module is wound in a same direction, a coil included in a first stator module and a coil included in a second stator module are wound in opposite directions, the first stator module being one of two stator modules included in the both-side stator module, the second stator module being another of the two stator modules included in the both-side stator module.
6 . The linear conveyance system according to claim 1 , wherein a first stator module and a second stator module do not face each other, and are disposed at different positions in a direction perpendicular to a direction of travel of the mover and perpendicular to directions of lines of magnetic force to be produced by the plurality of magnets included in the mover traveling through the both-side stator module, the first stator module being one of two stator modules included in the both-side stator module, the second stator module being another of the two stator modules included in the both-side stator module.
7 . The linear conveyance system according to claim 2 , wherein the iron core includes a plurality of teeth, each of the plurality of coils is wound around any one of the plurality of teeth, for each of a first stator module and a second stator module, a tooth around which a coil is wound and a tooth around which no coil is wound are alternately arranged in a direction of travel of the mover, the first stator module being one of two stator modules included in the both-side stator module, the second stator module being another of the two stator modules included in the both-side stator module, with regard to a tooth of the first stator module and a tooth of the second stator module facing each other, a coil is wound around a tooth of one of the first stator module and the second stator module, and no coil is wound around a tooth of another of the first stator module and the second stator module, a number of teeth included in each of the first stator module and the second stator module is an even number, and a number of turns in each coil in the one-side stator module is equal to a number of turns in each coil in the first stator module and the second stator module.
8 . The linear conveyance system according to claim 2 , wherein a ratio of each of the plurality of coils included in the both-side stator module to a slot area is ½ or less.
9 . The linear conveyance system according to claim 3 , wherein a ratio of each of the plurality of coils included in the both-side stator module to a slot area is ½ or less.
10 . The linear conveyance system according to claim 7 , wherein a ratio of each of the plurality of coils included in the both-side stator module to a slot area is ½ or less.
11 . The linear conveyance system according to claim 7 , wherein the plurality of coils included in the one-side stator module is wound in a same direction, a coil included in a first stator module and a coil included in a second stator module are wound in opposite directions, the first stator module being one of two stator modules included in the both-side stator module, the second stator module being another of the two stator modules included in the both-side stator module.
12 . The linear conveyance system according to claim 4 , wherein the plurality of coils included in the one-side stator module is wound in a same direction, a coil included in a first stator module and a coil included in a second stator module are wound in opposite directions, the first stator module being one of two stator modules included in the both-side stator module, the second stator module being another of the two stator modules included in the both-side stator module.
13 . The linear conveyance system according to claim 8 , wherein the plurality of coils included in the one-side stator module is wound in a same direction, a coil included in a first stator module and a coil included in a second stator module are wound in opposite directions, the first stator module being one of two stator modules included in the both-side stator module, the second stator module being another of the two stator modules included in the both-side stator module.
14 . The linear conveyance system according to claim 9 , wherein the plurality of coils included in the one-side stator module is wound in a same direction, a coil included in a first stator module and a coil included in a second stator module are wound in opposite directions, the first stator module being one of two stator modules included in the both-side stator module, the second stator module being another of the two stator modules included in the both-side stator module.
15 . The linear conveyance system according to claim 10 , wherein the plurality of coils included in the one-side stator module is wound in a same direction, a coil included in a first stator module and a coil included in a second stator module are wound in opposite directions, the first stator module being one of two stator modules included in the both-side stator module, the second stator module being another of the two stator modules included in the both-side stator module.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application is a national stage application, pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 371, of International Patent Application No. PCT/JP2022/008807, filed Mar. 2, 2022, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. FIELD The present disclosure relates to a linear conveyance system that uses thrust of a linear motor. BACKGROUND There is known a technique in which a mover with a plurality of magnets attached thereto moves along a linear guide including a plurality of stator modules, and electromagnetic force enables a path to be branched, and also enables paths to be merged. For example, Patent Literature 1 discloses an invention in which coils of a stator are disposed on both sides in a branch section, and coils on one side are energized to apply lateral force that causes a mover to move in a branch direction. CITATION LIST Patent Literature Patent Literature 1: Japanese Patent No. 6633516 SUMMARY OF INVENTION Problem to be Solved by the Invention However, since the same coils as coils disposed at a non-branch portion are disposed on both sides of a branch portion in the conventional linear conveyance system, the conventional linear conveyance system has a problem in that the weight of a motor increases. Furthermore, in a case where the same inverters are used for the branch portion and the non-branch portion, with coils disposed on both sides only in the branch portion, half of the coils of the branch portion just need to be energized so as to generate equal thrust in the branch portion and the non-branch portion. Thus, some of the inverters are not utilized. Alternatively, current flowing through the branch portion is ½ of current flowing through the non-branch portion, so that only ½ of performance of the inverter can be utilized. Thus, the conventional linear conveyance system has a problem in that the inverter increases in size. The present disclosure has been made in view of the above, and an object of the present disclosure is to obtain a linear conveyance system that reduces the weight of a motor and the capacity of an inverter, and contributes to miniaturization of the inverter. Means to Solve the Problem In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, a linear conveyance system according to the present disclosure includes a plurality of stator modules forming a conveyance path, and a mover including a plurality of magnets disposed on both side surfaces. The plurality of stator modules includes a one-side stator module and a both-side stator module, the one-side stator module being disposed on one side of a non-branch portion of the conveyance path, the both-side stator module being disposed on both sides of a branch portion of the conveyance path. Each of the one-side stator module and the both-side stator module includes an iron core and a plurality of coils. The mover is propelled by electromagnetic force produced by the plurality of coils. The both-side stator module includes two stator modules. A coil amount of the one-side stator module is equal to a coil amount of the both-side stator module, the one-side stator module being disposed at the non-branch portion of the conveyance path, the both-side stator module being disposed at the branch portion of the conveyance path. Effects of the Invention The linear conveyance system according to the present disclosure has an effect of reducing the weight of a motor and the capacity of an inverter and contributing to miniaturization of the inverter. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an overall configuration of a linear conveyance system according to a first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a both-side stator module included in the linear conveyance system according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the both-side stator module included in the linear conveyance system according to the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a mover included in a linear conveyance system according to a first modification of the first embodiment. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a mover included in a linear conveyance system according to a second modification of the first embodiment. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a one-side stator module included in the linear conveyance system according to the first embodiment. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a both-side stator module included in a linear conveyance system according to a second embodiment. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a mover included in a linear conveyance system according to a modification of the second embodiment. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a both-side stator module included in a linear conveyance system according to a third embodiment. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a both-side stator module included in a linear conveyance system according to a fourth embodiment. FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a both-side stator module included in a