Patent ID: 8720673

Claim:
A transport apparatus for conveying a product ( 20 ), comprising: a moveable conveying element ( 2 ) for conveying the product, a stationary, continuously arranged slide rail ( 3 ) for guiding the conveying element ( 2 ), and a linear motor drive device ( 5 ) for driving the conveying element ( 2 ), wherein the conveying element ( 2 ) comprises a main body ( 2 a ), a pusher finger ( 15 ) that can be brought into contact with the product, and a permanent magnet ( 6 ) that is operatively connected to the linear motor drive device ( 5 ), wherein the conveying element ( 2 ) comprises a first running device ( 10 ), which is arranged on one side of the conveying element ( 2 ) in a running direction (A) of the conveying element ( 2 ), and a second running device ( 11 ), which is arranged on an other side of the conveying element ( 2 ) in the running direction (A) of the conveying element ( 2 ), wherein the first and second running devices ( 10 , 11 ) support the conveying element ( 2 ) on the slide rail ( 3 ) with a force (F z ) in opposing directions along a first direction (Z), wherein the conveying element ( 2 ) comprises a guiding device ( 12 , 22 ) that is arranged such that a resulting pre-stressing force (F) between the permanent magnet ( 6 ) and the linear motor drive device ( 5 ) guides the conveying element ( 2 ) on the slide rail ( 3 ), supported by a counterforce (F), the pre-stressing force (F) acting along a second direction (Y), wherein the running direction (A), the first direction (Z), and the second direction (Y) are each perpendicular to one another, wherein at least one of the first and second running devices ( 10 , 11 ) is a profile-free track roller which contacts the slide rail ( 3 ) only in a non-form fit manner, or at least one of the first and second running devices ( 10 , 11 ) is an electromagnetic or pneumatic running device, wherein the counterforce (F) and the pre-stressing force (F) generate a force couple (F, F), and the running devices ( 10 , 11 ) generate a force couple (F z , F z ), and wherein the first and second running devices ( 10 , 11 ) and the guiding device ( 12 , 22 ) are arranged on the conveying element ( 2 ) such that the force couple (F, F) and the force couple (F z , F z ) form an equilibrium of moments.