JP2019085257A - Transport device - Google Patents

Abstract

To realize a transport device that can reduce a cost.SOLUTION: A transport device includes: a support portion 21 that supports an article W; a guide portion 22 that guides the support portion 21 between a first position P1 and a second position P2; and an energizing portion 23 that energizes the support portion 21 in a first direction M1. The guide portion 22 is configured to guide the support portion 21 along an inclined surface which inclines downward as going in a second direction M2, and an energizing force of the energizing portion 23 is set so that in a state in which the article W is not supported by the support portion 21, the support portion 21 is moved to the first position P1 in the first direction M1 by the energizing force of the energizing portion 23, and in a state in which the article W is supported by the support portion 21, the support portion 21 is moved to the second position P2 in the second direction M2 by a weight of the support portion 21 and the article W supported by the support portion 21 against the energizing force of the energizing portion 23.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

  The present invention relates to a transport apparatus that transports an article from a first position to a second position by moving a support that supports the article.

  The conventional example of this conveyance apparatus is described in Unexamined-Japanese-Patent No. 2011-157184 (patent document 1). The conveyance device of Patent Document 1 includes a traveling body 100b that supports an article, and travels the traveling body 100b to convey an article from a first position to a second position. The traveling body 100b is provided with a traveling motor, and is configured to travel by the driving of the traveling motor. In such a transport apparatus, it is generally desired to reduce manufacturing costs and running costs.

JP, 2011-157184, A

  Therefore, it is desirable to realize a transport device that can reduce the cost.

In view of the above, the characterizing feature of the conveying device is to move the support portion for supporting the article to convey the article from the first position to the second position,
In the movement direction in which the support portion moves, a direction in which the first position exists with respect to the second position is a first direction, and an opposite direction is a second direction, between the first position and the second position A guide portion for guiding the support portion, and an urging portion for urging the support portion in the first direction, wherein the guide portion is an inclined surface which inclines downward in the second direction. The support portion is configured to guide the support portion along the direction, and the support portion is moved to the first position in the first direction by the biasing force of the biasing portion when the article is not supported by the support portion. When the article is supported by the support portion, the weight of the support portion and the article supported by the support portion against the biasing force of the support portion causes the support portion to move in the second direction. Biasing of the biasing portion to move to the second position But there is a point that has been set.

According to this configuration, by supporting the container by the support portion at the first position, the weight of the support portion and the container against the biasing force moves the support portion from the first position to the second position, and the container It can be transported to the second position. Then, by moving the container from the support portion to the second position, the support portion which no longer supports the container resists the weight of the carriage and the urging force of the urging portion moves the carriage from the second position to the first position. The next container can be moved and supported on the support at the first position.
As described above, since the article can be transported from the first position to the second position by providing the urging portion, there is no need to provide an electric motor for moving the support portion and a control device for controlling the electric motor. The manufacturing cost of the transport device can be reduced. Further, since the electric motor and the control device are not provided, the power consumption of the transfer device can be suppressed, and the running cost of the transfer device can be suppressed. Therefore, the conveyance apparatus which can hold down cost can be provided.

Side view of the article storage facility in the first embodiment Side view of the article storage facility in the first embodiment Side view showing the carriage of the transfer device in the first embodiment The side view of the conveying apparatus which shows the state which the trolley | bogie in 1st embodiment supported the container The side view of the conveying apparatus which shows the state which the trolley | bogie in 1st embodiment does not support the container The side view of the conveying apparatus which shows the state which the trolley | bogie in 2nd embodiment supported the container The side view of the conveying apparatus which shows the state which the trolley | bogie in 2nd embodiment does not support the container The side view of the conveying apparatus which shows the state which the trolley | bogie in 3rd embodiment supported the container The side view of the conveying apparatus which shows the state which the trolley | bogie in 3rd embodiment does not support the container The side view of the conveying apparatus which shows the state which the trolley | bogie in 4th embodiment supported the container The side view of the conveying apparatus which shows the state which the trolley | bogie in 4th embodiment does not support the container

1. First Embodiment A first embodiment of an article storage facility provided with a transport device will be described based on the drawings.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the article storage facility includes an article storage rack 2 provided with a plurality of storage sections 1 for storing a container W as an article, and a container W installed in front of the article storage rack 2 X1. A stacker crane 3 for transporting the container body, a wall 4 surrounding a space in which the article storage rack 2 and the stacker crane 3 are installed, and a transport device 5 installed in a state of penetrating the wall 4 to transport the container W; Is equipped.
The article storage facility is installed in a clean room, and a FOUP (Front Opening Unified Pod) for storing a semiconductor wafer is stored in the storage unit 1 as a container W.

  Hereinafter, although each configuration of the article storage facility will be described, the direction in which the stacker crane 3 moves is referred to as the width direction Y and the direction orthogonal to the width direction Y is referred to as the front-back direction . Further, in the front-rear direction X, the direction in which the stacker crane 3 is present with respect to the article storage rack 2 will be described as the front X1 and the opposite direction as the rear X2.

The article storage racks 2 are installed in a pair so as to face each other. Each of the pair of article storage racks 2 includes a plurality of storage portions 1 arranged in the vertical direction Z and the width direction Y.
The rear X2 side of each of the storage portions 1 is closed by the wall 4 and the front X1 side is open, and the container W can be taken in and out through the opening. Moreover, the support stand 7 is provided in each of the accommodating part 1, and the container W is accommodated in the state which supported the lower surface of the container W by the support stand 7 from the downward direction.

The stacker crane 3 includes a traveling body 12 traveling in the width direction Y on the floor surface, a mast 13 erected on the traveling body 12, and an elevating body 14 moving up and down along the mast 13. The elevating body 14 is provided with a transfer device 15 for transferring the container W between the storage unit 1 and the transfer device 5 and itself, and is pivotably provided around an axis along the vertical direction Z.
The transfer device 15 is provided with a support 16 for supporting the container W so as to be movable back and forth in the front and rear direction X, and the support 16 is projected to the article storage rack 2 side and to the elevator 14 side. Move to the retired position. Further, the transfer device 15 is configured to be able to change the projecting direction of the support 16 to one article storage rack 2 side and the other article storage rack 2 side by pivoting around an axis along the vertical direction Z. It is done.

The transport device 5 moves the carriage 21 as a support portion for supporting the container W to transport the container W from the first position P1 to the second position P2.
A carrying-in carrying unit 5A (see FIG. 1) used when carrying the container W into the article storage facility as the carrying unit 5, and a carry-out carrying unit 5B used when the vessel W is unloaded from the article holding facility (see FIG. 2) And are equipped. In the present embodiment, the carry-in conveying device 5A and the carry-out conveying device 5B are installed at the same height and in the width direction Y.
The first position P1 of the transport device 5A for loading is at the rear X2 with respect to the wall 4, and the second position P2 of the transport device 5A for loading is at the front X1 with respect to the wall 4. The first position P1 of the unloading transport device 5B is at the front X1 with respect to the wall 4, and the second position P2 of the unloading transport device 5B is at the rear X2 with respect to the wall 4.

In the article storage facility, when the container W is transported to the first position P1 of the carry-in transfer device 5A by the overhead transport vehicle 9, the container W is moved from the first position P1 to the second position P2 by the carry-in transport device 5A. After being transported, the stacker crane 3 transports the storage unit 1 from the second position P2 of the loading transfer device 5A.
The container W of the storage unit 1 is transported by the stacker crane 3 from the storage unit 1 to the first position P1 of the unloading transport device 5B, and is transported by the unloading transport device 5B from the first position P1 to the second position P2. Ru. The container W at the second position P2 of the unloading transport device 5B is transported by the ceiling transport vehicle 9 from the second position P2 of the unloading transport device 5B.

  Next, although the conveying device 5 will be described, since the conveying device 5A for carrying in and the conveying device 5B for carrying out are configured in the same manner except that the conveying direction is different, the conveying device 5A for carrying in is simply referred to , And the description of the unloading transport device 5B is omitted. Further, in the moving direction M in which the carriage 21 moves, the direction in which the first position P1 is present with respect to the second position P2 will be described as a first direction M1 and the opposite direction as a second direction M2.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the transport device 5 includes a carriage 21 for supporting the container W, a guide portion 22 for guiding the carriage 21 between the first position P1 and the second position P2, and the carriage 21. And a biasing portion 23 for biasing in the first direction M1.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the guide portion 22 is configured to guide the bogie 21 along the inclined surface 22 </ b> A that inclines downward in the second direction M <b> 2. The guide portion 22 includes a guide rail 25 installed along the moving direction M, and the upper surface of the guide rail 25 forms an inclined surface 22A.

  The carriage 21 is provided with a plurality of (three in the present embodiment) positioning pins 24 in a state of projecting upward from the upper surface 21A. When the carriage 21 is positioned on the guide rails 25, the upper surface 21A is horizontal, and the upper ends of the plurality of positioning pins 24 all have the same height. The carriage 21 is supported by one or both of the plurality of positioning pins 24 and the upper surface 21A in a state in which the plurality of positioning pins 24 are engaged with the recessed portion W1 of the container W. The container W is supported in a horizontal posture as shown in FIG.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the guide portion 22 includes a first shock absorber 26 and a second shock absorber 27. The first shock absorber 26 is provided at a position where the carriage 21 at the first position P1 comes in contact from the second direction M2. The first shock absorber 26 relieves an impact when the first restricting portion 28 which restricts the movement of the carriage 21 in the first direction M1 from the first position P1, and when the carriage 21 contacts the first restricting portion 28. Function as a first buffer 29. The second shock absorber 27 is provided at a position where the carriage 21 at the second position P2 comes in contact with the first direction M1. The second shock absorber 27 reduces the impact when the bogie 21 contacts the second regulating portion 30 with the second regulating portion 30 that regulates movement of the bogie 21 in the second direction M2 from the second position P2. Function as a second buffer unit 31.
Thus, by providing the first shock absorber 26 and the second shock absorber 27, the first restricting portion 28, the first buffer portion 29, the second restricting portion 30, and the second buffer portion 31 can be provided in the guide portion 22. It will be equipped.

  In the state where the container W is not supported by the carriage 21 for the biasing unit 23, the carriage 21 moves to the first position P1 in the first direction M1 by the biasing force of the biasing unit 23, and the container W is supported by the carriage 21 In the state where the carriage 21 is moved to the second position P2 in the second direction M2 by the weight of the carriage W and the container W supported by the carriage 21 against the biasing force of the biasing unit 23, The biasing force of the biasing unit 23 is set. In the present embodiment, the biasing force of the biasing unit 23 is set so that the carriage 21 moves as described above even in the empty state (the container W is the lightest) in which the semiconductor wafer is not accommodated in the container W. It is done.

As described above, when the transport device 5 includes the biasing unit 23, the first shock absorber 26, and the second shock absorber 27, the container W is transported by the ceiling transport vehicle 9 onto the carriage 21 at the first position P1. The carriage 21 supporting the container W moves in the second direction M2 against the biasing force of the biasing unit 23, and is received by the second shock absorber 27 at the second position P2 so that the carriage 21 is at the second position P2 To stop. By moving the carriage 21 from the first position P1 to the second position P2 as described above, the container W is transported from the first position P1 to the second position P2.
Further, when the container W is transported from the cart 21 at the second position P2 by the stacker crane 3, the cart 21 not supporting the container W moves in the first direction M1 by the biasing force of the biasing unit 23, and The carriage 21 is stopped at the first position P1 by being received by the first shock absorber 26 at the one position P1.

The transport device 5 further includes a holding unit 33 that holds the carriage 21 not supporting the container W at the first position P1. As shown in FIG. 3, the holding unit 33 is supported by the carriage 21, and as the container W is supported by the carriage 21, the holding mechanism 33 is configured to release the holding on the carriage 21 by the weight of the container W. Have.
In the present embodiment, the release mechanism 34 engages with the operated portion 36, which is pressed downward by the container W as the container W is supported by the carriage 21, and the engaging portion, which engages with the engaged portion 37. 38 and a link portion 39 for interlocking the operated portion 36 and the engagement portion 38. The engaged portion 37 is disposed at a position deviated in the width direction Y with respect to the movement trajectory of the wheel 21B so as not to interfere with the wheel 21B of the carriage 21 rolling on the inclined surface 22A.

  The operated portion 36 and the engagement portion 38 are configured to be movable between a projecting position shown by a solid line in FIG. 3 and a retracted position shown by an imaginary line in FIG. When the operated portion 36 is in the retracted position, the engaging portion 38 is in the retracted position, and when the operated portion 36 is in the projecting position, the engaging portion 38 is engaged with the operated portion 36 so that the engaging portion 38 is in the projecting position. The coupling portion 38 is interlocked and linked by the link portion 39. When the container W is not supported by the carriage 21, the weight of the operated portion 36 and the engagement portion 38 is moved to the projecting position by the weight of the engagement portion 38 and the carriage is moved When the container 21 supports the container W, the operated part 36 and the engaging part 38 are set to move to the retracted position by the weight of the container W.

  As shown by the solid line in FIG. 3, when the carriage 21 is at the first position P1 and the container W is not supported by the carriage 21, the operated portion 36 and the engagement portion 38 protrude due to the weight of the engagement portion 38 In position. Therefore, even if the carriage 21 moves in the second direction M2, the engagement portion 38 engages with the engaged portion 37, thereby restricting the movement of the carriage 21 in the second direction M2 from the first position P1. ing. When the container W is supported by the carriage 21 at the first position P1, the operated portion 36 and the engagement portion 38 are in the retracted position due to the weight of the container W, and the carriage 21 in the second direction M2 from the first position P1. Are allowed to move. When the carriage 21 moves from the second position P2 to the first position P1, the container W is not placed on the carriage 21, and the engaging portion 38 is in the projecting position and contacts the engaged portion 37. However, since the engaged portion 37 is formed in a shape in which the surface facing the second direction M2 is inclined in the first direction M1 as going upward, the engaging portion 38 rides over the engaged portion 37. It has become.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the biasing portion 23 comprises a weight 41, a flexible connecting member 42, a weight guide body 43 (see FIGS. 1 and 2) for guiding the weight 41, and a flexible connecting member 42. And a winding body 44 for guiding the In the present embodiment, the flexible connecting member 42 is constituted by a wire. Further, the weight guide body 43 guides the weight 41 in the vertical direction Z (vertical direction).
One end of the flexible connection member 42 is connected to the end of the carriage 21 in the first direction M1, and the flexible connection member 42 is in the first direction M1 from the end of the carriage 21 in the first direction M1. It has a first portion 42A extending up to the winding body 44. Further, the other end of the flexible connecting member 42 is connected to the upper end portion of the weight 41, and the flexible connecting member 42 extends upward from the upper end portion of the weight 41 to the winding body 44 It has a second portion 42B. In the present embodiment, the biasing unit 23 includes, as the wound body 44, the first wound body 44A to which the first portion 42A extends and the second wound body 44B to which the second portion 42B extends, The connecting member 42 has a third portion 42C extending from the first wound body 44A in the second direction M2 to the second wound body 44B between the first portion 42A and the second portion 42B. There is. As described above, the flexible connecting member 42 includes the third portion 42C, whereby the weight 41 and the weight guide body 43 can be installed in the second direction M2 side from directly below the first wound body 44A.
Thus, one end of the flexible connecting member 42 is connected to the carriage 21, and the other end of the flexible connecting member 42 is connected to the weight 41.

The tension that pulls the carriage 21 in the first direction M1 due to the gravity of the weight 41 is larger than the component of gravity acting on the carriage 21 not supporting the container W along the second direction M2, and the container W is supported. It is smaller than the component force of gravity acting on the carriage 21 along the second direction M2. Note that various resistances, the weight of the flexible connecting member 42, and the like are taken into consideration for the relationship between the tension and the component force.
Therefore, when the container W is not supported by the carriage 21, the carriage 21 moves in the first direction M1 to the first position P1 by the weight of the weight 41. Then, in a state where the container W is supported by the carriage 21, the carriage 21 is moved to the second position P2 in the second direction M2 by the weight of the carriage 21 and the container W supported by the carriage 21 against the weight of the weight 41. Go to

2. Second Embodiment Next, a second embodiment of the transport device 5 will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7. In the present embodiment, the biasing portion 23 is different from the first embodiment. Hereinafter, the urging unit 23 according to the present embodiment will be described focusing on differences from the first embodiment. In addition, about the point which is not demonstrated in particular, suppose that it is the same as that of said 1st embodiment.

  The biasing portion 23 includes a coil spring 46, a flexible connecting member 42, and a winding body 44 for guiding the flexible connecting member 42. One end of the coil spring 46 is connected to the flexible connecting member 42, and the other end of the coil spring 46 is connected to the fixed portion 47 of the guide 22. The coil spring 46 is installed in tension along the moving direction M It is done. The coil spring 46 corresponds to an elastic member.

  One end of the flexible connection member 42 is connected to the end of the carriage 21 in the first direction M1, and the flexible connection member 42 is in the first direction M1 from the end of the carriage 21 in the first direction M1. It has a first portion 42A extending up to the winding body 44. Further, the other end of the flexible connecting member 42 is connected to one end of the coil spring 46, and the flexible connecting member 42 extends from the one end of the coil spring 46 in the first direction M1 and is wound on the winding body 44 It has the fourth portion 42D up to. In the present embodiment, the biasing unit 23 includes, as the winding body 44, one first winding body 44A to which the first portion 42A extends and to which the fourth portion 42D extends.

The tension for pulling the carriage 21 in the first direction M1 by the elastic force of the coil spring 46 is larger than the component of gravity along the second direction M2 acting on the carriage 21 not supporting the container W, thereby supporting the container W The component force of gravity acting on the carriage 21 is smaller than the component force along the second direction M2.
Therefore, in a state where the container W is not supported by the carriage 21, the carriage 21 moves to the first position P1 in the first direction M1 by the elastic force of the coil spring 46. Then, in a state where the container W is supported by the carriage 21, the carriage 21 is moved in the second direction M2 by the weight of the container 21 supported by the carriage 21 and the carriage 21 against the elastic force of the coil spring 46. Move to position P2.

3. Third Embodiment Next, a third embodiment of the transport device 5 will be described using FIGS. 8 and 9. In the present embodiment, the biasing portion 23 is different from the first embodiment. Hereinafter, the urging unit 23 according to the present embodiment will be described focusing on differences from the first embodiment. In addition, about the point which is not demonstrated in particular, suppose that it is the same as that of said 1st embodiment.

  The biasing portion 23 includes a spiral spring 49, a flexible connecting member 42, and a winding body 44 for guiding the flexible connecting member 42. One end of the spiral spring 49 is connected to the flexible connecting member 42, and the spiral spring 49 is installed with one end extending and retracting along the moving direction M. The other end of the spiral spring 49 is fixed to the guide 22. The spiral spring 49 corresponds to an elastic member.

  One end of the flexible connection member 42 is connected to the end of the carriage 21 in the first direction M1, and the flexible connection member 42 is in the first direction M1 from the end of the carriage 21 in the first direction M1. It has a first portion 42A extending up to the winding body 44. Further, the other end of the flexible connecting member 42 is connected to the tip of the spiral spring 49, and the flexible connecting member 42 extends from one end of the spiral spring 49 in the first direction M 1 to be wound To the fourth portion 42D. In the present embodiment, the biasing unit 23 includes, as the winding body 44, one first winding body 44A to which the first portion 42A extends and to which the fourth portion 42D extends.

The tension for pulling the carriage 21 in the first direction M1 by the elastic force of the spiral spring 49 is greater than the component of gravity along the second direction M2 acting on the carriage 21 not supporting the container W, thereby supporting the container W The component force of gravity acting on the carriage 21 is smaller than the component force along the second direction M2.
Therefore, in a state where the container W is not supported by the carriage 21, the carriage 21 is moved to the first position P1 in the first direction M1 by the elastic force of the spiral spring 49. Then, in a state where the container W is supported by the carriage 21, the carriage 21 is moved in the second direction M2 by the weight of the container 21 supported by the carriage 21 and the carriage 21 against the elastic force of the spiral spring 49. Move to position P2.

4. Fourth Embodiment Next, a fourth embodiment of the transport apparatus 5 will be described using FIGS. 10 and 11. In the present embodiment, the biasing portion 23 is different from the first embodiment. Hereinafter, the urging unit 23 according to the present embodiment will be described focusing on differences from the first embodiment. In addition, about the point which is not demonstrated in particular, suppose that it is the same as that of said 1st embodiment.

  The biasing portion 23 is a rail that guides the first weight 51, the second weight 52 as the weight 41, the flexible connection member 42, the first weight 51, the second weight 52, and the flexible connection member 42. And 53. In the present embodiment, the flexible connecting member 42 is configured by connecting a plurality of connecting bodies 55. The flexible connecting member 42 has flexibility because the plurality of connecting members 55 are swingably connected to another connecting member 55 adjacent thereto along an axis along the width direction Y. There is.

The first weight 51 is coupled to the carriage 21 so as to move integrally with the carriage 21.
One end of the flexible connecting member 42 is connected to the end of the first weight 51 in the second direction M2, and the flexible connecting member 42 is connected to the end of the first weight 51 in the second direction M2. It has a fifth portion 42E extending in two directions M2. Further, the other end of the flexible connecting member 42 is connected to the end of the second weight 52 in the second direction M2, and the flexible connecting member 42 is an end of the second weight 52 in the second direction M2. And a sixth portion 42F extending in the second direction M2 from the portion. Also, the flexible connecting member 42 has a bent seventh portion 42G located between the fifth portion 42E and the sixth portion 42F.

  The rail 53 includes a first rail 53A, a second rail 53B, and a third rail 53C. The first rail portion 53A is installed along the moving direction M and guides the first weight 51 and the fifth portion 42E of the flexible connecting member 42. The second rail portion 53B is installed along the moving direction M to guide the second weight 52 and the sixth portion 42F of the flexible connecting member 42. The third rail portion 53C is installed in an arc shape to guide the seventh portion 42G of the flexible connecting member 42.

The pushing force that pushes the carriage 21 in the first direction M1 due to the gravity of the second weight 52 is a component of gravity along the first direction M1 acting on the carriage 21 that does not support the container W and the first weight 51. It is larger and smaller than the component of gravity acting on the carriage 21 supporting the container W and the first weight 51 along the first direction M1. That is, the weight of the second weight 52 is larger than the weight of the carriage 21 and the first weight 51, and smaller than the weight of the carriage 21, the first weight 51, and the container W (here, the container W in the empty state).
Therefore, in a state where the container W is not supported by the carriage 21, the carriage 21 moves to the first position P1 in the first direction M1 by the weight of the second weight 52 against the weight of the carriage 21 and the first weight 51 . And, in a state where the container W is supported by the carriage 21, the carriage 21 is held by the weight of the carriage 21, the container W supported by the carriage 21 and the weight of the first weight 51 against the weight of the second weight 52. It moves to the second position P2 in the second direction M2.

5. Other Embodiments Next, other embodiments of the transport apparatus will be described.

(1) In the first to fourth embodiments described above, the holding portion 33 for holding the carriage 21 not supporting the container W at the first position P1 is provided. May be omitted if it is possible to properly hold the first position P1.

(2) In the first to fourth embodiments described above, the first shock absorber 26 and the second shock absorber 27 having the functions of the restricting portion and the shock absorbing portion are provided. However, instead of these, the restricting portion and the shock absorbing portion are provided. You may provide elastic bodies, such as a rubber material provided with the function of part.
Moreover, you may provide the recessed part which wheel 21B fits in the 1st position P1 and the 2nd position P2 as a control part or a buffer part. When a recess is provided at the first position P1 or the second position P2, the biasing force of the biasing unit 23 and the size of the recess are determined by the wheel 21B when the container W is supported by the carriage 21 at the first position P1. When the truck 21 moves in the second direction M2 out of the recess in the first position P1 and the truck 21 in the second position P2 does not support the container W, the wheel 21B moves out of the recess in the second position P2 and the truck 21 may be set to move in the first direction M1.

(3) In the second embodiment, although the carriage 21 is urged in the first direction M1 by the coil spring 46 in the tension state, the carriage 21 is urged in the first direction M1 by the coil spring 46 in the compression state. It is also good.

(4) In the second and third embodiments, one end of the coil spring 46 or the spiral spring 49 is indirectly connected to the carriage 21 through the flexible connecting member 42. However, the coil spring 46 or the spiral spring One end of 49 may be directly connected to the carriage 21.

(5) In the fourth embodiment, although the first weight 51 and the second weight 52 are provided, only the second weight 52 of the first weight 51 and the second weight 52 may be provided.

(6) In the first to fourth embodiments, the holding portion 33 holds the carriage 21 at the first position P1 by engaging the engaging portion 38 with the engaged portion 37, but the holding portion 33 The configuration of the holding portion 33 for holding the carriage 21 at the first position P1 may be changed as appropriate, for example, the carriage 21 is held at the first position P1 by frictional force by bringing the contact portion into contact with the inclined surface 22A.

(7) In the above embodiment, the configuration including the carry-in carrier 5A (see FIG. 1) and the carry-out carrier 5B (see FIG. 2) as the carrier 5 has been described as an example. However, the invention is not limited thereto. For example, when the transport device 5 pivots about an axis along the vertical direction Z, the inclination direction of the inclined surface 22A is inclined downward toward the article storage rack 2; It is also preferable as a configuration that can be changed to a direction that inclines downward toward the side away from the article storage rack 2. With such a configuration, the single transport device 5 can execute the loading operation of loading the container W into the article storage facility and the unloading operation of unloading the container W from the article storage facility.

(8) Note that the configurations disclosed in the above-described embodiments can be applied in combination with the configurations disclosed in the other embodiments as long as no contradiction arises. As for the other configurations, the embodiments disclosed herein are merely illustrative in all respects. Therefore, various modifications can be made as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure.

6. Outline of the Embodiment Hereinafter, the outline of the transfer device described above will be described.

  The transport device moves the support portion for supporting the article to transport the article from the first position to the second position, and the first position exists relative to the second position in the moving direction in which the support portion moves. A guiding portion for guiding the supporting portion between the first position and the second position, with the first direction being the direction and the second direction being the opposite direction, and the supporting portion being biased in the first direction A biasing portion is further provided, wherein the guide portion is configured to guide the support portion along an inclined surface which inclines downward in the second direction, and the article is supported by the support portion. In the absence state, the support portion is moved to the first position in the first direction by the biasing force of the biasing portion, and in a state where an article is supported by the support portion, the biasing force of the biasing portion is used. The weight of the support and the article supported by the support against More so that the support portion is moved to said second position in said second direction, the biasing force of the biasing unit is set.

According to this configuration, by causing the support portion at the first position to support the article, the weight of the support portion and the article against the biasing force causes the support portion to move from the first position to the second position, and the article It can be transported to the second position. And the support part which stopped supporting the article by pulling the article from the support part at the second position resists the weight of the support part and the urging force of the urging part causes the support part to move from the second position to the first position Move to Therefore, the support portion is in a state capable of supporting the next article at the first position.
Thus, by providing the biasing portion, the support portion supporting the article is moved from the first position to the second position, and the support portion not supporting the article is moved from the second position to the first position. It can be moved. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide the electric motor for moving a support part, or the control apparatus which controls an electric motor, and can hold down the manufacturing cost of a conveying apparatus. Further, since the electric motor and the control device are not provided, the power consumption of the transfer device can be suppressed, and the running cost of the transfer device can be suppressed. Therefore, the conveyance apparatus which can hold down cost can be provided.

  Here, it is preferable that the biasing portion includes an elastic member, one end of the elastic member is connected to the support portion, and the other end of the elastic member is fixed to the guide portion.

  According to this configuration, by biasing the support portion in the first direction by the elastic force of the elastic member, the support portion can be moved from the second position to the first position without including the electric motor.

  Further, the biasing portion includes a weight and a flexible connection member, one end of the flexible connection member is connected to the support portion, and the flexible connection member is connected to the support portion. It is preferable that the flexible connecting member is disposed so as to extend from the connecting portion along the inclined surface in the first direction, and the other end of the flexible connecting member is connected to the weight.

  According to this configuration, by pulling down the flexible connection member by the weight of the weight, one end of the flexible connection member can be moved in the first direction along the inclined surface, whereby the support portion can be It can be biased in the direction. As described above, by biasing the support in the first direction by the weight of the weight, the support can be moved from the second position to the first position without the electric motor.

  Further, the guide portion reduces the impact when the first restricting portion which restricts the movement of the support portion in the first direction from the first position, and the support portion contacts the first restricting portion. First shock absorbing portion, a second restricting portion that restricts the movement of the supporting portion in the second direction from the second position, and a shock when the supporting portion contacts the second restricting portion And a second buffer unit.

  According to this configuration, the support can be appropriately stopped at the second position by the second restricting portion being in contact with the support moving in the second direction. And an impact when a support body contacts a 2nd control part is eased by the 2nd buffer part. In addition, the support can be properly stopped at the first position by the first restricting portion being in contact with the support moving in the first direction. And an impact when a support body contacts a first control part is eased by the first buffer part. In this manner, the support can be properly stopped at the first position and the second position with reduced impact.

Further, the apparatus further comprises a holding unit for holding the support not supporting the article at the first position,
It is preferable that the holding unit includes a release mechanism that releases the holding on the support by the weight of the article as the article is supported by the support.

  According to this configuration, since the support portion at the first position is held at the first position by the holding portion in a state where the support portion does not support the article, the support portion unexpectedly moves in the second direction from the first position. Can be prevented. Then, by causing the support portion at the first position to support the article, the release mechanism releases the holding on the support portion, so that the support portion is allowed to move in the second direction from the first position.

  The technique according to the present disclosure can be used for a transport apparatus that transports an article from a first position to a second position.

5: Transport device 21: Bogie (support part)
22: guide portion 22A: inclined surface 23: urging portion 28: first regulating portion 29: first buffer portion 30: second regulating portion 31: second buffer portion 33: holding portion 34: releasing mechanism 41: weight 42: Flexible connecting member 46: coil spring (elastic member)
49: Spiral spring (elastic member)
52: Second weight (weight)
M: moving direction M1: first direction M2: second direction P1: first position P2: second position W: container (article)

Claims (5)

A transport apparatus for transporting an article from a first position to a second position by moving a support portion for supporting the article,
In the movement direction in which the support portion moves, a direction in which the first position exists with respect to the second position is a first direction, and an opposite direction is a second direction.
The apparatus further comprises a guide unit for guiding the support unit between the first position and the second position, and a biasing unit for biasing the support unit in the first direction,
The guide portion is configured to guide the support portion along an inclined surface which inclines downward toward the second direction,
When the article is not supported by the support section, the support section moves to the first position in the first direction by the biasing force of the biasing section, and the article is supported by the support section. The biasing unit is configured to move the supporting unit to the second position in the second direction by the weight of the supporting unit and an article supported by the supporting unit against the biasing force of the biasing unit; Transport device in which the biasing force of the part is set. The biasing portion comprises an elastic member;
The conveyance device according to claim 1, wherein one end of the elastic member is connected to the support portion, and the other end of the elastic member is fixed to the guide portion. The biasing portion comprises a weight and a flexible connecting member;
One end of the flexible connection member is connected to the support portion, and the flexible connection member is arranged to extend in the first direction along the inclined surface from the connection portion with the support portion And the other end of the flexible connecting member is connected to the weight.   The guiding portion is a first restricting portion that restricts the movement of the supporting portion in the first direction from the first position, and a shock that is reduced when the supporting portion contacts the first restricting portion. A buffer portion, a second restricting portion that restricts the movement of the support portion in the second direction from the second position, and a shock that reduces an impact when the support portion contacts the second restricting portion The transfer apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising: two buffer units. It further comprises a holding unit for holding the support not supporting an article in the first position,
The said holding | maintenance part is provided with the releasing mechanism which cancels | releases the holding | maintenance with respect to the said support part by the weight of the said articles | goods as the articles | goods are supported by the said support part. Transport device.

Images