JP2001341834A - Gas container transfer device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a gas container transfer device which can automatically transfer a gas container on a main carrying passage to a sub carrying passage in an upright condition with excellent accuracy and excellent safety. SOLUTION: When the container T on the main carrying passage C reaches a branch point to the sub carrying passage D, a gate part 2 is closed, the container T is moved to a starting end of a stand by part 1, an engagement pin 14 is abutted on and engaged with an inner circumference of a skirt part T1, and the container T is pulled to a terminating end of the stand by part while correcting the position thereof. At the terminating end of the stand by part, a pressing pin 16 pushes the container T, and transfers it to the starting end of the sub carrying passage onto a carrying base 4a, a sliding mechanism 4b is moved parallel to the loading position e of the sub carrying passage, the container T is left at the loading position e by an unloading mechanism 4c, and only the carrying base 4c is returned to the starting end of the sub carrying passage.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a transfer apparatus for transferring a high-pressure gas container (hereinafter, referred to as a "gas container") of LP gas or the like from a main transport path to an auxiliary transport path in an upright state.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a transfer apparatus of this kind, the applicant of the present invention has a transfer mechanism having a structure in which a gas container is lifted and transported using a small cylinder (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-178092), and an LP.
A transfer mechanism (refer to Japanese Patent Application Nos. 11-157828 and 11-167066) for holding and transporting a gas container in a suspended state has been proposed. These transfer devices proposed in the prior art are installed in a LP gas filling factory or a storage warehouse, etc., in a main transport path for transporting the gas container in an upright state, and branch off from the main transport path and extend to the side of the main transport path. When installed between the sub-transport path and used to transfer the gas container transported on the main transport path to the sub-transport path in an upright state, it is effective in reducing the number of transfer operations. However, when examined in detail, the following points required improvement.

[0003] That is, in the main transport path and the sub transport path, the transport direction of the gas container intersects (usually, the sub transport path is formed in a direction orthogonal to the main transport path). It cannot be said that there is no need for operator assistance, and in the case of the suspension type, it is necessary to perform a check in case of an accident such as a gas container falling down. There was room for improvement.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and has as its object to divide a gas container transported on a main transport path from the main transport path. A new gas container that can perform high-precision, unattended transfer without the need of an operator to perform transfer work in which the transfer is performed in an upright state to the sub-transport path that extends to the side, and is also excellent in safety. An object of the present invention is to provide a transfer device.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a gas container transfer device according to the present invention comprises a standby section formed between a main transport path and a sub-transport path, and a timely closing of the main transport path. An openable gate for sending the gas container on the main transport path to the standby section start end side, and a transfer section for sending the gas container at the standby section start end to the sub-transport path start end, wherein the transfer section is in a standby state. A first feed means for pulling the gas container at the beginning of the portion, by engaging the engaging member on the front side of the inner periphery of the skirt portion, and pulling to the end of the standby portion while aligning the axis of the gas container with the center of the standby portion, The gist of the invention is to have a second feeding means for feeding the gas container at the end of the standby section to the start of the sub-transport path while pressing the rear surface thereof (claim 1).

In such a configuration, when the gas container conveyed in the upright state by the main conveyance path reaches the branch point of the sub conveyance path, the gate closes and moves to the start end side of the standby section. At the start end of the standby portion, the first feeding means operates, and the engaging member abuts and engages with the front side of the inner periphery of the skirt portion of the gas container to pull the gas container toward the end of the standby portion. At this time, the center of the gas container is aligned with the center of the standby portion. At the end of the standby section, the second feeding means operates to feed the gas container to the start of the sub-transport path while pushing the rear surface. Therefore, the change of the transfer direction from the main transfer path to the sub transfer path can be smoothly performed by the gate portion, and the position of the gas container with respect to the sub transfer path can also be accurately corrected by the first feeding unit. In addition, there is no need for an operator to change the transport direction. In addition, since the gas container is sent to the sub-transport path in an upright state without being suspended and held, there is no danger that the gas container will fall, and no check is required.

[0007] In the above-described gas container transfer device, a second transfer portion for sending the gas container sent to the start end of the sub-transport path to the loading position of the sub-transport path is added. A transfer table for mounting the gas container sent by the two-feed means at the start of the sub-transport path, a sliding mechanism for moving the transfer table in parallel between the start end of the sub-transfer path and the loading position, It is preferable to provide a gas container lowering mechanism for returning only the transfer table to the sub-transfer path starting end while leaving the gas container on the table at the loading position (claim 2).

According to such a configuration, the gas container fed to the sub-transport path start end by the above-mentioned second feeding means can be automatically and accurately fed to the loading position of the sub-transport path in an upright state. Since the transfer table is used, a plurality of gas containers can be placed and transferred, and the transfer operation can be performed more efficiently.

The above-mentioned gas container lowering mechanism is provided at the rear side of the carrier so as to be able to move up and down, and a pressing body which comes into contact with the rear surface of the gas container on the carrier at the ascending position; And a delay mechanism for returning the presser body to the rear side of the transfer table after lowering only the transfer table and lowering the gas container from the transfer table to the loading position. In this case, the gas container on the carrier can be accurately and reliably lowered to the loading position.

The sub-conveying path may be constituted by a well-known conveying path including a slat conveyor, a chain conveyor, and a roller conveyor. However, a gas container conveying device previously proposed by the present applicant (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-178092, Japanese Patent Application No. 1
No. 1-167066), that is, a required number of pallets capable of supporting a plurality of gas containers, a pallet transport forward path for feeding these pallets at a predetermined pitch from the start end to the end of the sub transport path, and a pallet forward path for the transport forward path. A pallet transport return path formed below to return the pallet reaching the end of the sub transport path to the start end of the sub transport path, and a pallet lifting mechanism for raising and lowering the pallet between the ends of the pallet transport forward path and the transport return path. It is good to configure. In this case, the synergistic effect with the advantages of the previously proposed gas container transport device can make the promotion of unmanned gas container transport and the improvement of safety more effective.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a gas container transfer device according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG.
Is a plan view of a work place where a gas container T is filled with gas, where A is a gas container transfer device of the present example, B is a rotary gas filling device that automatically performs gas filling work, and C is a filling device. B
And D is a sub-transport path that branches off from the main transport path C and extends to the side to the shipping port E.

The rotary gas filling device B is a device previously proposed by the present applicant, and is disclosed in JP-B-63-61560.
It is well known in Japanese Patent Publication Nos. 4-18188, 6-33856, etc., and will not be described in detail.
A gas filling machine is installed in each container mounting portion arranged on the circumference of the container, and a predetermined amount of gas is automatically charged into the gas containers T sequentially loaded into each container mounting portion by the carry-in path, and then the filled gas container T Are sequentially sent out from the main transport path C.

The gas container T is a well-known gas cylinder which can be filled with a predetermined amount of LP gas and has a skirt T1 in a bottom shape. The main transport path C is a known transport path including a chain conveyor, a slat conveyor, a roller conveyor, and the like.

The sub-transport path D is for sending the gas container T conveyed by the main transport path C to the shipping port E. The sub-transport path D is arranged so that the container transport direction is substantially perpendicular to the main transport path C. A large number are formed at appropriate intervals in the transport direction. The sub-transport path D of this example is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-178092 and Japanese Patent Application No. 11-1.
No. 67066 and the like, and a gas container conveying device proposed by the applicant of the present application, the details of which are disclosed in these prior applications and will not be described in detail, but as shown in FIG. A pallet a for transferring the pallets a from the starting end D1 to the end D2 of the sub-conveying path at a predetermined pitch, and a sub-conveying path formed below the conveying forward path b. A pallet transport return path c for returning the pallet a reaching the terminal end D2 to the sub-transport path start end D1,
A pallet elevating mechanism d for elevating and lowering the pallet a between the ends of the pallet transport forward path b and the transport return path c.

The transfer device A is installed between the main transport path C and each of the sub transport paths D, and keeps the gas container T transported along the main transport path C in the upright state while supporting the corresponding sub transport path. The transfer is performed to the loading position e on the road D, and includes a standby unit 1, a gate unit 2, a transfer unit 3, and a second transfer unit 4. In this example, the sub-transport path D
Is a pallet transport type as described above, and the pallet a is a gas pallet a capable of receiving a total of nine gas containers T in three rows and three rows in a horizontal direction. Three units are installed in parallel on one pallet a to constitute a set, and the components (the up-and-down driving means 9, the cylinder 11, the second transfer unit, which will be described 4) are common, and the number of components is reduced as much as possible.

The standby section 1 is for holding the gas container T, whose transfer direction has been changed from the main transfer path C to the sub-transfer path D by the operation of a gate section 2 to be described later, before the sub-transfer path D. In this example, the roller conveyor is formed between the main conveyance path C and the sub conveyance path D. Specifically, a space having a width approximately equal to the diameter of the gas container T and a predetermined length is secured between the side edge of the main transport path C and the start end D1 of the auxiliary transport path. The first feeding means 3a and the second feeding means 3b, which will be described later, are arranged so that the side edge of the main conveyance path C and the start end D of the sub conveyance path
1 to leave a gap 5 for sliding between them.
The roller conveyor is formed by arranging a large number of short rolling rollers 6 on both right and left sides of the roller.

The gate section 2 changes the conveying direction of the gas container T which is conveyed upright on the main conveying path C and causes the gas container T to be mounted on the corresponding roller conveyor of the standby section 1.
The base end of the blocking member 7 that crosses obliquely upward is rotatably supported by a spindle 8 disposed along a side edge of the main transport path C opposite to the sub-transport path D, and the pivot is An up / down driving means for selectively opening / closing an appropriate position of the main transport path C by selectively raising and lowering the required number (three in this example) of the blocking members 7 supported by the gas container T in accordance with the transfer timing of the gas container T. 9 is provided. On the front side of each of the blocking members 7, a number of rolling rollers 10 are arranged side by side from the base end to the front end side. Is closed, and the gas container T which comes into contact with the blocking member 7 is closed.
Is placed on the roller conveyor of the standby unit 1 connected to the tip of the blocking member 7, and then the blocking member 7 rises by the operation of the up / down driving means 9 to open the main transport path C.

The opening and closing of the main transport path C by the standing and falling of the blocking member 7 is such that the gas containers T transported on the main transport path C can be sequentially supplied to the predetermined standby section 1, that is, the transport interval of the gas containers T In response to the above, the operation of the up / down driving means 9 is controlled by a control unit (not shown) so that the blocking member 7 at the appropriate position can stand up and fall in a timely manner.

In the transfer section 3, a cylinder 11 as a sliding drive means is installed below the main transport path C along the transport direction of the sub transport path D, and its piston shaft 12 is positioned below the standby section 1. A sliding frame 13 is provided at the tip of the piston shaft 12 so that the sliding frame 13 slides between the standby portion start end 1a and the end 1b within the opening width of the gap 5 by the expansion and contraction of the piston shaft 12. I do. Further, the sliding frame 13 protrudes and retracts between an engaging pin 14 as an engaging member, and a rising position where the engaging pin 14 protrudes above the standby unit 1 and a descending position where it is lowered below the standby unit 1. A first feeding means 3a is formed by providing a cylinder 15 as a driving means for driving. The sliding frame 13
Has a push pin 16 as a push member and the push pin 1
A second feeding means 3b is formed by providing a cylinder 17 as a driving means for protruding and retracting between a rising position at which the projection 6 projects above the standby section 1 and a descending position at which it descends below the standby section 1.

The first feeding means 3a projects the engaging pin 14 above the standby portion 1 and abuts and engages with the inner periphery of the skirt portion T1 of the gas container T on the standby portion start end 1a side. To extend the piston shaft 12 to pull the gas container T to the end 1b of the standby portion, and the gas container T is
The gas container shaft center T2 and the center L of the standby portion are aligned by rotating a small amount about the axis.

The second feed means 3b pushes the push pin 16 above the standby portion 1 and abuts the rear surface of the skirt portion T1 of the gas container T at the end 1b of the standby portion. Is extended, and the gas container T is fed to the sub-transport path start end D1 while pushing the rear surface thereof. In addition,
In this example, the above-mentioned cylinders 11 are provided at two positions on the left and right sides, and between the distal ends of the piston shafts 12 of the cylinders 11, the horizontally long receiving plate 1 that covers the gaps 5 of the three standby units 1.
3a are provided, and sliding frames 13 are provided at positions corresponding to the gaps 5 of the respective standby portions 1 on the receiving plate 13a.

The second transfer unit 4 transfers the gas container T sent to the sub-transport path start end D1 by the transfer unit 3 to a loading position e set at a predetermined position of the sub-transport path D. Feeding means 3
b, a carrier 4a for carrying the gas container T sent at b at the sub-transport path start end D1, a sliding mechanism 4b for moving the carrier 4a in parallel, and a loading position e for the gas container T on the carrier 4a. And a gas container lowering mechanism 4c for returning only the transfer table 4a to the sub-transfer path start end D1.

As described above, the transfer table 4a is capable of receiving the three gas containers T sent by the transfer units 3 of the respective standby units 1 arranged in parallel as a set of three units so that the three gas containers T can be mounted in parallel. Plate 20;
Side plates 21 and 21 rising at the left and right ends of the mounting plate 20
Consists of

The sliding mechanism 4b moves the carrier 4a in parallel between the sub-transport path start end D1 and the loading position e. The sliding mechanism 4b is provided before and after the carrier 4a projects outward from the left and right side plates 21 and 21 of the carrier 4a. Guide wheels 22, 22, guide rails 23, 23, which are installed on the left and right sides of the sub-transport path D, and which are rotatably engaged with the guide wheels 22, 22. Due to the expansion and contraction of the shaft 24, the carrier 4
a is constituted by cylinders 25, 25 as driving means for sliding back and forth between the sub-transport path start end D1 and the loading position e.

The gas container lowering mechanism 4c is provided on the rear side of the transfer table 4a so as to be able to move up and down, and a pressing rod 26 as a pressing body which comes into contact with the rear surface of the gas container T on the transfer table 4a at the raised position.
And cylinders 27, 27 as elevating means for elevating and lowering the holding rod 26 in a timely manner, and only the carrier 4a is retreated with the holding rod 26 left at the loading position e, and the gas container T is moved to the carrier 4a.
Is lowered to the loading position e, and the holding rod 26 is
and a delay mechanism 30 for returning to the rear side.

Cylinder 2 as means for raising and lowering presser rod 26
7, 27 are fixed to support plates 28, 28 attached to the left and right side plates 21, 21 of the carrier 4a, and the lower ends of the piston shafts 29 are connected to the left and right end portions of the holding rod 26.
With the lowering position located below the mounting plate 20 and the transfer table 4a.
The holding rod 26 is supported in parallel so as to be able to ascend and descend between an ascending position in contact with the rear surface of the upper gas container T.

Guide holes 31, 31 extending in the width direction are formed in upper and lower sides of the left and right side plates 21, 21 of the carrier 4a, and guides sliding in the guide holes 31, 31 are formed in the support plate 28. The shafts 32, 32 are provided so that the holding rod 26 can slide from the rear end to the front end of the side plate 21 together with the cylinder 27 and the supporting plate 28, and the holding rod 26 is attached to the side plate 21 by the cylinder 27 and the supporting plate 28. A spring 33 is provided as an urging member for urging the rear end of the side plate 21 integrally therewith. Further, at predetermined positions of the guide rails 23, 23,
Are provided at the loading position e, and the latching mechanisms 34, 34 for retracting only the transport table 4a are provided to constitute the delay mechanism 30.

The latching mechanism 34 rotatably supports a latching member 37 having a latching portion 36 which is removably engaged with a latched portion 35 provided on the support plate 28 in the machine frame D3. At the same time, the hooking member 37 is rotated in a timely manner to
A cylinder 38 is provided as driving means for engaging and disengaging the hook 6 with the hook 35, and the hook 36 is hooked on the hook 35 so that the holding rod 26 is left at the loading position e and
a retreats toward the sub-transport path start end D1, and the gas container T
Is lowered from the carriage 4a to the loading position e, the hook 36 is removed from the hooked part 35, and the pressing rod 26 is returned to the rear side of the carriage 4a by the urging force of the spring 33.

The operation of the gas container transfer device of this embodiment having the above-described configuration will be described below. The gas container T filled with gas by the gas filling device B is sequentially transported in the shipping direction on the main transport path C, and branches (P) at a predetermined location with the sub transport path D.
When approaching 1), the corresponding blocking member 7 closes the main transport path C by the operation of the gate portion 2, the gas container T abuts on the blocking member 7, the transport direction is changed by the rolling roller 10, and the standby is performed. It is sent to the beginning part 1a. Thereafter, the blocking members 7 rise and open the main transport path C, and when the next gas container T approaches the adjacent branch point (P2, P3), each corresponding blocking member 7 closes the main transport path C, It is sent to the corresponding standby section start end 1a.

As described above, when the gas containers T are placed on the respective start ends 1a of the three standby units 1, the engagement pins 14 are moved by the operation of the first feeding means 3a corresponding to each gas container T. The piston shaft 12 is extended in a state of abutting engagement with the inner periphery of T1, and each gas container T is pulled to the standby end 1b (FIG. 8).
(See (a) to (b) figures). At this time, each gas container T rotates a small amount around the engagement pin 14 so that the gas container axis T2 and the center L of the standby portion are aligned.

At the end 1b of the standby portion, the piston shaft 12 is extended in a state where the push pin 16 is in contact with the rear surface of the gas container skirt portion T1 by the operation of the second feeding means 3b corresponding to each gas container T, and T is sent to the sub-transport path start end D1 and placed on the transport table 4a (see FIGS. 8 (b) to 8 (c)).

When the gas container T is placed on the carrier 4a, the holding rod 26 is raised by the operation of the cylinder 27 and hits the rear surface of each gas container T, and then the carrier 4a is moved in parallel to the loading position e by the operation of the cylinder 25. (See FIGS. 9 (d) to 9 (e)).

At the loading position e, the latching member 37 is rotated by the operation of the cylinder 38, and the hooking portion 36 is engaged with the hooked portion 35. Then, by the operation of the cylinder 25, only the transport table 4a is sub-transported. Move to road start end D1. At this time, the holding rod 26 remains at the loading position e against the urging force of the spring 33, and each gas container T
From the transfer table 4a to the loading position e.

When each of the gas containers T is lowered to the loading position e, the engaging member 37 is rotated by the operation of the cylinder 38 so that the engagement between the engaging portion 36 and the engaged portion 35 is released, and the pressing rod 26 is moved.
Is returned to the rear end of the transport table 4a by the urging force of the spring 33, and returns to the sub-transport path start end D1 integrally with the transport table 4a.

Next, each pallet a on the forward path b is sequentially fed toward the sub-transport path end D2 at a pitch of one gas container T by the operation of the pallet transfer forward path b, and the next loading operation is performed. In parallel with this, at the sub-transport path terminal end D2 (shipping port), the operation of transferring the gas container T on the pallet a to the carrier of the transport vehicle or the like is performed by an operator or in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 2001-110,028.
This is performed using a hanging type container transfer device F disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 1-167066, Japanese Patent Application No. 11-157828, and the like. In the sub-transport path D, the pallet transport return path c
Then, the pallet elevating mechanism is operated, and the pallets a are circulated and transported.

The case where the gas container transfer apparatus A of the present invention is installed in the gas filling work place has been described above. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the residual gas recovery from the gas container T, container inspection, and container storage are performed. It can be applied to workplaces, storage warehouses, etc. where various operations such as are performed. Further, the gas container transfer device A of the present invention is not limited to a set of three units as in this example, and it goes without saying that an appropriate number is installed in accordance with the transfer capacity of the sub-transport path D. Further, even when the sub-transport path D is a pallet transport type as in this example, the number and size of the pallets, the number of gas containers T to be placed on the pallet, the loading form, and the like are not limited to those of the present example. It can be changed as appropriate.

[0037]

As described above, the present invention has the following advantages. (Claim 1) An operator performs each operation such as changing the transfer direction of the gas container from the main transfer path to the sub transfer path, correcting the position of the gas container accordingly, and transferring the gas container from the main transfer path to the sub transfer path. Can be performed automatically without the need for assistance, and since the gas container is sent to the sub-transport path in an upright state without being hung, the safety is excellent, so there is no need for an operator to check and the gas container is transported. It has many effects such as automation of work, promotion of unmanned operation and cost reduction.

(Claim 2) By using the transfer table, a plurality of gas containers can be automatically and accurately sent to the loading position of the sub-transport path in the upright state. As in the case of the pallet transfer type proposed previously by the applicant of the present application, it is possible to easily cope with a transfer structure in which a plurality of gas containers are arranged in parallel and transferred at a time, and the efficiency of the gas container transfer operation can be promoted. .

(Claim 3) The loading and unloading of the gas container on the carrier table can be performed with high precision, and the above-mentioned effect according to claim 2 can be made more effective.

(Claim 4) The advantage that the sub-transport path is of a pallet conveyance type, that is, the space on the sub-transport path can be effectively used as a gas container storage space, the work area can be reduced, and the gas container can be stabilized. The synergistic effect with the advantage of being able to transport the gas container, etc., can further improve the automation of the gas container transport operation, the promotion of unmanned operation, the reduction of the operation cost, and the like.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an example of an embodiment of a gas container transfer device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of a main part of FIG.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a main part of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional side view of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional front view of FIG. 3 showing a second transfer unit.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional front view of FIG. 3 showing a transfer unit.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of a main part showing a locking mechanism.

FIG. 8 is a simplified view of a main part for explaining the operation of the transfer unit.

FIG. 9 is a simplified view of a main part for explaining the operation of a second transfer unit.

[Explanation of Signs] A: Gas container transfer device 1: Stand-by unit 2: Gate unit 3: Transfer unit 3a: First transfer unit 3b: Second transfer unit 4: Second transfer unit 4a: Transport table 4b: Sliding mechanism 4c: Gas container lowering mechanism 7: Blocking member 9: Raising and lowering driving means 14: Engagement pin (engagement member) 16: Push pin (pressing member) 26: Holding rod (holding body) 30: Slowing mechanism 34: Latching mechanism T: Gas container T1: Skirt part T2: Container shaft center L: Center of standby part C: Main transport path D: Sub transport path a: Pallet

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A main transport path for transporting a gas container in an upright state, and a sub transport path branched from the main transport path and extending to the side of the main transport path. Transfer device for transferring the gas container to be transferred to the sub-transport path in an upright state, the standby section formed between the main transfer path and the sub-transport path, and the main transfer path being closed in a timely manner. An openable and closable gate section for sending the gas container on the transport path to the standby section, and a transfer section for sending the gas container at the standby section start end to the sub-transport path start end, wherein the transfer section is located at the standby section start end side. First feed means for pulling a certain gas container to the end of the standby portion while engaging the engaging member on the inner periphery of the skirt portion and aligning the axis of the gas container with the center of the standby portion, and at the end of the standby portion. Gas having a second feeding means for feeding the gas container to the start of the sub-transport path while pressing its rear surface Vessel transfer device. 2. A second transfer unit for sending a gas container sent to the start of the sub-transport path to a loading position set at a predetermined position in the sub-transport path, wherein the second transfer unit is configured to perform a second transfer. A carrier for loading the gas container sent by the means at the start of the sub-transport path, a sliding mechanism for moving the carrier parallel between the start of the sub-transport path and the loading position, and 2. The gas container transfer device according to claim 1, further comprising a gas container lowering mechanism for returning only the transfer table to the sub-transfer path start end while leaving the gas container at the loading position. 3. A gas container lowering mechanism is provided at the rear side of the carrier so as to be able to move up and down. The presser body contacts the rear surface of the gas container on the carrier at the ascending position. 3. The gas container transfer according to claim 2, further comprising: a delay mechanism for returning only the carrier to the loading position after the carrier is lowered from the carrier to the loading position while leaving the carrier alone. apparatus. 4. The sub-transport path, a required number of pallets capable of receiving a plurality of gas containers, a pallet transport forward path for feeding these pallets at a predetermined pitch from the start to the end of the sub-transport path, and A pallet transport return path formed below the forward path and returning the pallet reaching the end of the sub transport path to the start of the sub transport path; and a pallet lifting mechanism for lifting the pallet between the ends of the pallet transport forward path and the transport return path. The gas container transfer device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the gas container transfer device is a gas container transfer device.