Patent ID: 8511235

Claim:
A linear transport device, comprising: a rail fixed to a base; a platform car movably supported on the rail; a linear motor including a stator disposed on the base and a mover disposed on the platform car so as to face the stator, one of the stator and the mover is a permanent magnet and the other is an electromagnet with a coil, the linear motor adapted to drive the platform car by generating propulsion between the stator and the mover by means of current supply to the coil; a support mechanism adapted to support the platform car on the rail detachably in an opposing direction along which the platform car faces a surface of the base to which the rail is fixed; and a relative position variable mechanism including a support part and a drive source, the support part being disposed at a specific portion of the base to support a part of the stator at the specific portion, and the drive source being adapted to displace the part of the stator through the support part relative to the mover so as to reduce magnetic suction force that is generated between the stator and the mover in a state that the coil is not energized.