Patent ID: 8810083

Claim:
An electromagnetic drive, comprising a hollow-cylindrical drive coil; an armature containing iron or consisting of iron in the form of a piston, which is arranged in an axially movable manner in the coil cavity axially with respect to the coil center axis along a rectilinear movement path; wherein axial end stops define axial end stations of the armature; characterized in that the drive coil is designed for generating a respective electromagnetic drive pulse which acts on the armature in the coil cavity and the length of which is shorter than the axial movement duration of the armature which is required by the armature with its axial iron center optionally in each case either from one end station or from the other end station until reaching the axial center of the movement path, wherein the electromagnetic force of the drive pulse is strong enough to drive the armature in each case from one end station or from the other end station through the axial center of the movement path right into the relevant other end station; wherein holders are provided in such a way that they hold the armature in the end station respectively reached in each case until the armature is driven again, by an electromagnetic drive pulse of the drive coil acting on it once again, from the end station reached through the axial center of the movement path right into the relevant other end station.