JP3516440B2 - Gas container transfer device - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

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

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The applicant of the present application, as a transfer device of this type, uses a transfer mechanism having a structure in which a small cylinder is used to lift and convey a gas container (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-178092) and an LP.
A transfer mechanism (see Japanese Patent Application No. 11-157828, Japanese Patent Application No. 11-167066, etc.) that holds and transports a gas container in a suspended state has been previously proposed. In the LP gas filling factory, storage warehouse, etc., these transfer devices proposed earlier are branched from the main transport path for transporting the gas container in an upright state and extend from the main transport path to the side of the main transport path. If it is installed between the sub-transport path and the gas container transported in the main transport path is used to transfer it to the sub-transport path in an upright state, it is effective in reducing the number of transfer operations. However, upon detailed examination, the following points needed improvement.

That is, since the transport direction of the gas container intersects between the main transport path and the sub transport path (usually, the sub transport path is formed in the direction orthogonal to the main transport path), the transport direction is changed. It can be said that no operator's assistance is necessary at all, and in the case of the type that suspends and holds it, it is necessary to check in case of a gas container falling, etc. There was room for improvement.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to divide a gas container conveyed in a main conveyance path from the main conveyance path. A new gas container that does not require the intervention of a worker and can be transferred with high precision in an unmanned state, and is also excellent in safety. It is to provide a transfer device.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a gas container transfer device of the present invention has a standby portion formed between a main conveyance path and a sub-conveyance path, and a main conveyance path is closed at appropriate times. And a gate part that can be opened and closed to send the gas container on the main transport path to the start end side of the standby part, and a transfer part that sends the gas container at the start end of the standby part to the start end of the sub-transport path. A first feeding means for pulling the gas container at the start end of the part to the end of the standby part while engaging the engagement member with the front side of the inner circumference of the skirt part and aligning the gas container axis and the center of the standby part, The gist of the present invention is to have a second feeding means for feeding the gas container at the end of the standby portion to the starting end of the sub-transporting path while pushing the rear surface (claim 1).

In such a structure, 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 section is closed and moved to the starting end side of the standby section. At the start of the standby portion, the first feeding means operates, and the engaging member abuts and engages with the front side of the inner circumference of the skirt of the gas container to pull the gas container toward the end of the standby portion. At this time, the axis of the gas container and the center of the standby portion are aligned with each other. At the end of the standby section, the second feeding means is activated to push the rear surface of the gas container and feed it to the starting end of the sub-transport path. Therefore, the transfer direction from the main transport path to the sub transport path can be smoothly changed by the gate portion, and the position of the gas container with respect to the sub transport path can be corrected accurately by the first feeding means. No need for operator intervention when changing the transport direction. Further, since the gas container is sent to the sub-conveyance path in an upright state without being suspended and held, there is no fear that the gas container will fall, and checking is unnecessary.

In the above-mentioned gas container transfer device, a second transfer part for sending the gas container sent to the starting end of the sub-transport path to the loading position of the sub-transport path is added, and the second transfer part is (Ii) a carrier table for receiving the gas container sent by the feeding means at the starting end of the sub-transporting path, a sliding mechanism for moving the carrying table in parallel between the starting end of the sub-transporting path and the loading position, It is preferable to provide a gas container lowering mechanism for returning only the carrier table to the starting end of the auxiliary carrier path while leaving the gas container on the table at the loading position (claim 2).

According to this structure, the gas container, which has been sent to the starting end of the sub-transportation path by the above-mentioned second feeding means, is automatically and accurately transported to the loading position of the sub-transportation path in the upright state. In addition, since the carrier is used, a plurality of gas containers can be placed and transferred, and the transfer operation can be performed more efficiently.

The above-described gas container lowering mechanism is provided on the rear side of the carrier so as to be able to move up and down, and has a pressing member that abuts on the rear surface of the gas container on the carrier at the raised position, and the pressing member. However, it is preferable to provide a retarding mechanism for retracting only the carrier table, lowering the gas container from the carrier table to the loading position, and then returning the pressing body to the rear side of the carrier table (claim 3). In this case, the gas container on the carrier can be accurately and surely lowered to the loading position.

The sub-conveyance path may be constituted by a well-known conveyance path consisting of a slat conveyor, a chain conveyor, and a roller conveyor, but the gas container conveying device previously proposed by the applicant of the present application (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-178092, Japanese Patent Application 1
No. 1-167066), that is, a required number of pallets that can carry a plurality of gas containers, a pallet transport forward route that feeds these pallets from the start end of the sub-transport route toward the end at a predetermined pitch, and the pallet transport forward route. It is provided with a pallet transport return path that returns the pallet that is formed below and reaches the end of the sub transport path to the start end of the sub transport path, and a pallet lifting mechanism that raises and lowers the pallet between the ends of the pallet transport forward path and the transport return path. Good to configure. In this case, due to the synergistic effect with the advantages of the previously proposed gas container transfer device, it is possible to make the unmanned gas container transfer more effective and improve the safety.

[0011]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An example of an embodiment of a gas container transfer device according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Figure 1
FIG. 1 is a plan view of a work place for performing a gas filling work on a gas container T, in which A is a gas container transfer device of this example, B is a rotary gas filling device that automatically performs gas filling work, and C is a filling device. B
The main transport path serving as an unloading path for shipping the gas container T filled with the gas is a sub-transport path that branches from the main transport path C and extends laterally to reach the shipping port E.

The rotary gas filling device B was previously proposed by the applicant of the present invention, and is disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 63-61560.
Since it is well known from Japanese Examined Patent Publication No. 4-18188 and Japanese Examined Patent Publication No. 6-33856, turntable B1 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 filled in the gas container T sequentially loaded into each container mounting portion through the loading 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 that can be filled with a predetermined amount of LP gas and has a skirt-shaped skirt portion T1 at the bottom thereof. The main transport path C is a well-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 transported in the main transport path C to the shipping port E. The main transport path C 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 conveyance direction of. The sub-conveyance path D of this example is disclosed in JP-A-9-178092 and Japanese Patent Application No. 11-1.
The present invention is composed of a gas container transporting device previously proposed by the applicant of the present application, such as that disclosed in No. 67066, and the details thereof will be omitted because they are disclosed in these prior applications, but as shown in FIG. A required number of pallets a, a pallet transport forward path b for feeding the pallets a from the start end D1 to the end D2 of the sub transport path at a predetermined pitch, and a sub transport path formed below the transport forward path b. A pallet conveyance return path c for returning the pallet a reaching the end D2 to the auxiliary conveyance path start end D1;
It comprises a pallet elevating mechanism d for elevating the pallet a between the ends of the pallet conveyance forward path b and the conveyance return path c.

The transfer device A is installed between the main conveyance path C and each sub-conveyance path D, and the gas container T conveyed on the main conveyance path C is kept upright and the corresponding sub-conveyance is performed. It is transferred to the stacking 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-conveyance path D
Is a pallet-conveying type as described above, and the pallet a is capable of holding a total of nine gas containers T in three rows and three rows, so that the transfer device A is as shown in the drawing. Three machines are installed in parallel for one pallet a and are configured as one set, and constituent elements that can be shared by the respective transfer devices (raising and lowering drive means 9, cylinder 11, second transfer section described later) are provided. 4) are shared and the number of components is reduced as much as possible.

The standby unit 1 waits for the gas container T whose transport direction is changed from the main transport route C to the sub transport route D by the operation of the gate unit 2 which will be described later, before the sub transport route D. In this example, the roller conveyor is formed between the main transport path C and the sub transport path D. Specifically, a space having a width approximately equal to the diameter of the gas container T and having a predetermined length is secured between the side edge of the main transport path C and the sub-transport path start end D1, and the widthwise center portion of the space is provided. The first feeding means 3a and the second feeding means 3b, which will be described later, have a main transport path C side edge and a sub-transport path start end D.
1 to leave a gap 5 for sliding between
A large number of short rolling rollers 6 are arranged side by side on the left and right sides of the roller conveyor to form a roller conveyor.

The gate portion 2 changes the transport direction of the gas container T which is transported upright in the main transport path C and allows the gas container T to be placed on the roller conveyor of the corresponding standby portion 1.
A base end portion of the blocking member 7 which obliquely crosses above is rotatably supported by a support shaft 8 arranged along a side edge of the main transfer path C on the side opposite to the auxiliary transfer path D, and the support shaft is also supported. An undulation drive means for selectively opening and closing a proper position of the main transport path C by selectively erected a required number (three in this example) of the blocking members 7 supported by 8 in accordance with the transfer timing of the gas container T. 9 is provided. A large number of rolling rollers 10 are arranged side by side on the front surface side of each blocking member 7 from the base end toward the tip side, and any blocking member 7 is tilted by the operation of the undulating drive means 9 and the main conveyance path C is reached. Of the gas container T that closes the appropriate position of the
Is mounted 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-and-down driving means 9 to open the main conveyance path C.

The opening and closing of the main transport path C by raising and lowering the blocking member 7 is performed so that the gas containers T transported on the main transport path C can be sequentially supplied to a predetermined standby portion 1, that is, the transport interval of the gas containers T. Corresponding to the above, the operation of the up-and-down drive means 9 is controlled by a control unit (not shown) so that the blocking member 7 in a proper position rises and falls in a timely manner.

The transfer section 3 is provided with a cylinder 11 as a sliding drive means below the main conveyance path C along the conveyance direction of the sub-conveyance 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 start portion 1a and the end portion 1b of the standby portion within the opening width of the gap 5 by expansion and contraction of the piston shaft 12. To do. Furthermore, the sliding frame 13 appears and disappears between an engaging pin 14 as an engaging member, and between an ascending position where the engaging pin 14 is projected above the standby portion 1 and a descending position where it is retracted below the standby portion 1. A cylinder 15 is provided as a driving unit for forming the first feeding unit 3a. In addition, the sliding frame 13
Includes a push pin 16 as a push member and the push pin 1.
The cylinder 17 is provided as a driving means for projecting and retracting between the ascending position for projecting the 6 onto the standby portion 1 and the descending position for retracting below the standby portion 1 to form the second feeding means 3b.

The first feeding means 3a projects the engagement pin 14 onto the standby portion 1 and abuts and engages it with the inner circumference of the skirt portion T1 of the gas container T on the standby portion starting end 1a side. To extend the piston shaft 12 to pull the gas container T to the standby portion end 1b, and the gas container T is engaged with the engagement pin 14
The gas container shaft core T2 and the standby portion center L are aligned with each other by rotating a little about the axis.

The second feeding means 3b projects the push pin 16 onto the standby portion 1 and abuts it on the rear surface of the skirt portion T1 of the gas container T at the end portion 1b of the standby portion, and in that state, the piston shaft 12 Is extended to push the rear surface of the gas container T and feed it to the starting end D1 of the sub-transportation path. In addition,
In this example, the above-mentioned cylinders 11 are provided at two positions on the left and right sides, and between the tip ends of the piston shafts 12 of the cylinders 11, a horizontally long receiving plate 1 that covers the gaps 5 of the standby portions 1 for three machines is provided.
3a is erected, and sliding frames 13 are provided on the receiving plate 13a at positions corresponding to the gaps 5 of the respective standby portions 1.

The second transfer section 4 transfers the gas container T sent to the starting end D1 of the sub-transport path by the transfer section 3 to the loading position e set at a predetermined position of the sub-transport path D. Feeding means 3
b, the carrier 4a for supporting the gas container T sent by b at the starting end D1 of the auxiliary carrier path, the sliding mechanism 4b for moving the carrier 4a in parallel, and the loading position e for the gas container T on the carrier 4a. The gas container lowering mechanism 4c is provided for returning only the carriage 4a to the sub-transport path starting end D1.

On the carrier table 4a, as described above, the three gas containers T sent by the respective transfer sections 3 of the respective standby sections 1 arranged in parallel as a set of three machines can be placed in parallel. Board 20
Side plates 21 and 21 standing up on the left and right ends of the mounting plate 20.
Consists of.

The sliding mechanism 4b is for moving the carrying table 4a in parallel between the starting end D1 of the auxiliary carrying path and the stacking position e, and is provided before and after being projected outside the left and right side plates 21, 21 of the carrying table 4a. The guide wheels 22 and 22, guide rails 23 and 23 that are erected on the left and right sides of the sub-conveyance path D and that engage with the guide wheels 22 and 22 in a rollable manner, and the tip of the piston shaft 24 are fixed to the side plate 21. By the expansion and contraction of the shaft 24, the carrier 4
A is composed of cylinders 25, 25 as a driving means for sliding the sub-transport path starting end D1 and the stacking position e back and forth.

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 in a raised position, a pressing rod 26 as a pressing member that abuts the rear surface of the gas container T on the transfer table 4a.
Cylinders 27, 27 as an elevating means for raising and lowering the holding rod 26 in a timely manner, and only the carrying table 4a is retracted leaving the holding rod 26 at the loading position e, and the gas container T is carried by the carrying table 4a.
From the loading position e to the presser bar 26
a Delay mechanism 30 for returning to the rear side.

Cylinder 2 as means for raising and lowering the holding rod 26
7 and 27 are fixed to support plates 28 and 28 attached to the left and right side plates 21 and 21 of the carriage 4a, and the lower end of the piston shaft 29 thereof is connected to the left and right end portions of the holding rod 26 so that the holding rod 26
To the lower position of the mounting plate 20 and the carriage 4a.
The holding rod 26 is supported in parallel so as to be able to move up and down between it and a raised position where it comes into contact with the rear surface of the upper gas container T.

Guide holes 31, 31 extending in the width direction are vertically formed in the left and right side plates 21, 21 of the carrier table 4a, and guides sliding in the guide holes 31, 31 are formed in the support plate 28. By providing the shafts 32, 32, the holding rod 26 can slide together with the cylinder 27 and the supporting plate 28 from the rear end to the front end of the side plate 21, and the side rod 21 is provided with the holding rod 26 for the cylinder 27 and the supporting plate 28. A spring 33 as an urging member that urges the side plate 21 toward the rear end of the side plate 21 is integrally provided. Further, the holding rod 26 is provided at a predetermined position of the guide rails 23, 23.
Is provided at the stacking position e, and the delay mechanism 30 is configured by providing hooking mechanisms 34, 34 for retracting only the carriage 4a.

The hooking mechanism 34 rotatably supports a hooking member 37 having a hooking portion 36 that is releasably engaged with a hooked portion 35 provided on the support plate 28 in the machine frame D3. At the same time, the hook member 37 is rotated in a timely manner so that the hook portion 3
A cylinder 38 is provided as a driving means for engaging and disengaging 6 to and from the hooked portion 35, and by hooking the hooking portion 36 on the hooked portion 35, the pressing rod 26 is left at the loading position e and the carrier table 4 is held.
Only a moves backward toward the starting end D1 of the sub-transport path, and the gas container T
After being unloaded from the carriage 4a to the loading position e, the hooking portion 36 is removed from the hooked portion 35, and the pressing rod 26 is returned to the rear side of the carriage 4a by the biasing force of the spring 33.

The operation of the gas container transfer device of the present example thus constructed will be described below. The gas container T, which is filled with gas by the gas filling device B, is sequentially transported in the shipping direction by the main transport path C, and a branch point (P) with the sub transport path D at a predetermined location.
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, and the rolling roller 10 changes the transport direction to wait. It is sent to the starting point 1a. Thereafter, the blocking member 7 rises to open the main transport path C, and when the next gas container T approaches the adjacent branch points (P2, P3), the corresponding blocking members 7 close the main transport path C, It is sent to the corresponding standby unit start end 1a.

In this way, when the gas containers T are placed on the respective starting ends 1a of the standby parts 1 of the three machines, the engagement pin 14 is moved to the skirt part by the operation of the first feeding means 3a corresponding to each gas container T. The piston shaft 12 extends in a state of abuttingly engaging the inner circumference of T1 and pulls each gas container T to the standby portion end 1b (FIG. 8).
(A) to (b) See Fig.). Further, at this time, each gas container T is rotated a small amount about the engaging pin 14 as an axis to align the gas container axis T2 with the standby portion center L.

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

When the gas container T is placed on the carrier 4a, the cylinder 27 is actuated to raise the pressing rod 26 to hit the rear surface of each gas container T, and then the cylinder 25 is actuated to move the carrier 4a in parallel to the loading position e. (See FIGS. 9 (d) to 9 (e)).

At the loading position e, the locking member 37 is rotated by the operation of the cylinder 38 so that the hooking portion 36 is engaged with the locked portion 35, and then the operation of the cylinder 25 causes only the sub-transportation of the transport table 4a. Move to the beginning D1 of the road. At this time, the pressing rod 26 remains at the loading position e against the biasing force of the spring 33, and each gas container T
Is lowered from the carrier 4a to the loading position e.

When each of the gas containers T is lowered to the loading position e, the locking member 37 is rotated by the operation of the cylinder 38 to release the engagement between the hook portion 36 and the hooked portion 35, and the pressing rod 26.
Is returned to the rear end of the carrier table 4a by the urging force of the spring 33, and returns to the auxiliary carrier path start end D1 integrally with the carrier table 4a.

Then, by the operation of the pallet transport forward path b, each pallet a on the forward path b is sequentially fed toward the end D2 of the sub-transport path at a pitch of one gas container T, and the next loading operation is performed. In parallel with this, at the end D2 (shipping port) of the sub-transportation path, the operation of transferring the gas container T on the pallet a to the loading platform of the transportation vehicle is performed by the operator or Japanese Patent Application No.
It is carried out using a hanging type container transfer device F disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 1-167066 and Japanese Patent Application No. 11-157828. Further, in the sub-conveyance path D, in parallel with the forward feeding of each pallet a by the pallet conveyance forward path b, the pallet conveyance backward path c
Also, the pallet lifting mechanism is operated to circulate and convey each pallet a.

Although the case where the gas container transfer device A of the present invention is installed in the gas filling work place has been described above, the present invention is not limited to this, and residual gas recovery from the gas container T, container inspection, container storage. It is possible to deal with a work place, a storage warehouse, etc. where various kinds of work are performed. Further, the gas container transfer device A of the present invention is not limited to a set of three machines as in the present example, and it goes without saying that an appropriate number is installed according to the transfer capacity of the sub-transport path D. Further, even when the sub-transport path D is of a pallet transport type as in this example, the number and size of pallets, the number of gas containers T to be loaded on the pallet, the loading form, etc. are not limited to those in this example. It can be changed as appropriate.

[0037]

Since the present invention is configured as described above, it has the following effects. (Claim 1) A worker is required to perform various operations such as changing the transport direction of the gas container from the main transport path to the sub transport path, correcting the position of the gas container accordingly, and transferring the gas container from the main transport path to the sub transport path. It can be done automatically without the need for assistance, and because it is sent to the sub-transport path in an upright state without suspending the gas container, it is excellent in safety and does not require operator's checking, and gas container transportation It has many effects such as automation of work, promotion of unmanned operation, and cost reduction.

(Claim 2) By using the carrier table, a plurality of gas containers can be automatically and accurately sent to the loading position of the sub carrier path while keeping the gas container upright. As in the case of the pallet transfer type previously proposed 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 one time, and the efficiency of gas container transfer work can be promoted. .

(Claim 3) The gas containers on the carrier can be loaded and unloaded accurately, 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 the pallet transport 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. Due to the synergistic effect with the advantage of being able to carry the gas container, it is possible to further improve automation of the gas container carrying work, promotion of unmanned work, reduction of work cost, and the like.

[Brief description of 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 cross-sectional view of a main part of FIG.

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

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional side view of FIG.

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

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

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

FIG. 8 is a schematic view of a main part for explaining the operation of the transfer section.

FIG. 9 is a schematic view of a main part for explaining an operation of a second transfer section.

[Explanation of symbols]

A: Gas container transfer device 1: Standby part 2: Gate part 3: Transfer section 3a: first feeding means 3b: second feeding means 4: Second transfer section 4a: carrier 4b: Sliding mechanism 4c: Gas container lowering mechanism 7: Blocking member 9: undulation driving means 14: Engagement pin (engagement member) 16: Push pin (pushing member) 26: Presser bar (presser body) 30: Delay mechanism 34: Latching mechanism T: Gas container T1: Skirt part T2: Container axis L: Center of standby section C: Main transport path D: Sub transport path a: pallet

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. A main transport path for transporting a gas container in an upright state, and a sub-transport path that branches from the main transport path and extends laterally of the main transport path, and transports the main container on the main transport path. A transfer device for transferring the gas container to the sub-transport path in an upright state, the main transfer path being closed at a suitable time by the standby section formed between the main transport path and the sub-transport path. An openable / closable gate part for sending the gas container on the transport path to the standby part, and a transfer part for sending the gas container on the standby part start end side to the auxiliary transfer path start end are provided, and the transfer part is provided on the standby part start end side. A certain gas container is provided with a first feeding means for engaging the engagement member with the inner circumference of the skirt and pulling it to the end of the standby part while aligning the axis of the gas container with the center of the standby part, and at the end of the standby part. A gas characterized by having a second feeding means for feeding the gas container to the starting end of the sub-transporting path while pushing the rear surface of the gas container. Vessel transfer device. 2. A second transfer section for sending the gas container sent to the starting end of the sub-transport path to a loading position set at a predetermined position of the sub-transport path, wherein the second transfer section has a second feed section. On the carrier table, a carrier table for receiving the gas container sent by the means at the starting end of the auxiliary carrier path, a sliding mechanism for moving the carrier table in parallel between the starting end of the auxiliary carrier path and the loading position. 2. The gas container transfer device according to claim 1, further comprising a gas container lowering mechanism for returning only the carrier to the starting end of the sub-transport path while leaving the gas container in the loading position. 3. The gas container lowering mechanism is provided on the rear side of the carrier so as to be able to move up and down, and has a holding body that abuts on the rear surface of the gas container on the carrier at the raised position, and the holding body is at the loading position. 3. The gas container transfer according to claim 2, further comprising a delay mechanism for returning the pressing body to the rear side of the carrier after only the carrier is retracted and the gas container is lowered from the carrier to the loading position. apparatus. 4. The sub-conveyance path comprises a required number of pallets capable of holding a plurality of gas containers, a pallet conveyance forward path for feeding these pallets from a start end of the sub-conveyance path toward a terminal end at a predetermined pitch, and the conveyance. A pallet transport return path that returns the pallet that is formed below the forward path to the end of the secondary transport path to the starting end of the secondary transport path, and a pallet lifting mechanism that raises and lowers 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, which is a thing.