Linear guideway assembly for contactless linear displacement of a rigid body relative to another rigid body along a linear displacement path

Abstract

The invention relates to a linear guideway assembly for contactless linear displacement of a rigid body relative to another rigid body along a linear displacement path (x), said linear guideway assembly comprising: one, single rigid body formed as a linear guideway defining said linear displacement path as well as at least one rigid body formed as a product carrier being displaceable along said single linear guideway, wherein the linear guideway assembly further comprises multiple magnetic bearing assemblies for allowing contactless linear displacement of the at least one product carrier relative to the single, linear guideway, wherein all magnetic bearing assemblies are mounted to the product carrier in such way that the magnetic bearing assemblies are arranged in constraining five degrees of freedom (y, z, θ, Φ and ψ) of the product carrier relative to the single, linear guideway, whilst allowing one, translational degree of freedom (x) of the product carrier along the single, linear guideway, wherein all magnetic bearing assemblies, seen in the translational direction (x) of the linear displacement path, are mounted at the side of the product carrier closest to the single, linear guideway.