Abstract: Overhead transport vehicles with a hoist travel on a traveling rail for the overhead transport vehicles including a straight segment and a curved segment. A traveling rail for a local vehicle is provided below the traveling rail for the overhead transport vehicles, allows articles passing upward and downward over the traveling rail, has one end below the straight segment, extends from the one end parallelly to an extended line of the straight segment to a transfer position at the ground side, and has the other end outside an area under the straight segment. A buffer for the articles is provided below the straight segment and also below the traveling rail for the local vehicle. The local vehicle with a hoist traveling on the traveling rail for the local vehicle transfers the articles between the transfer position at the ground side and the buffer.

Abstract: Overhead transport vehicles with a hoist travel on a traveling rail for the overhead transport vehicles including a straight segment and a curved segment. A traveling rail for a local vehicle is provided below the traveling rail for the overhead transport vehicles, allows articles passing upward and downward over the traveling rail, has one end below the straight segment, extends from the one end parallelly to an extended line of the straight segment to a transfer position at the ground side, and has the other end outside an area under the straight segment. A buffer for the articles is provided below the straight segment and also below the traveling rail for the local vehicle. The local vehicle with a hoist traveling on the traveling rail for the local vehicle transfers the articles between the transfer position at the ground side and the buffer.

Abstract: A temporary storage apparatus is provided with a slidable buffer which does not prevent installation of the apparatus and maintenance of equipment, has increased storing capacity for carriers without a lateral transfer mechanism in a local vehicle, stores carriers between overhead travelling vehicles and a load port, and is provided with the local vehicle travelling on a rail below the rail for the overhead travelling vehicles and a slidable buffer comprising a cell to support a carrier and a guide mechanism sliding the slidable buffer between an advanced position under the rail and a backward position laterally shifted from the rail. The guide mechanism moves between an active position laterally protruding from the rail and a retracted position allowing transfer by the overhead travelling vehicles between the load port. The rail extends along the front face of the equipment to a waiting position separated from a position over the port.

Abstract: The interference between overhead travelling vehicles and a local vehicle is prevented, in a situation where an overhead travelling vehicle has trouble, and the overhead travelling vehicles and the controller cannot communicate. Carriers are temporarily stored between the overhead travelling vehicles and the load port. The local vehicle travels along a travelling rail for the local vehicle located below a travelling rail for the overhead travelling vehicles and over a load port, and plural buffers are provided. The overhead travelling vehicles and the local vehicle communicate with a controller via a terminal, and a sensor is provided at a height without interference with the local vehicle and detects an element of a hoist of the overhead travelling vehicles or a carrier raised/lowered. The local vehicle is restricted from travelling when the sensor detects an element of hoist or the carrier.

Abstract: Without a lateral transfer mechanism in a local vehicle, the buffering capacity of a temporary storage apparatus is increased. The temporary storage apparatus stores carriers temporarily between overhead travelling vehicles and load ports. A travelling rail for the local vehicle is provided to allow the local vehicle to run below the travelling rail for the overhead vehicles and over the load ports. A slidable buffer slidable between a position under the travelling rail for the local vehicle and a position shifted laterally and a controller for controlling the local vehicle and the slidable buffer are provided, and the local vehicle waits at a position separated from an area over the load ports.

Abstract: Carriers to be temporarily stored are increased in number, without providing a local vehicle with a lateral transfer mechanism. Carriers are transported between load ports of equipment by overhead travelling vehicles and local vehicles, both provided with a hoist, and the overhead travelling vehicles are provided with a lateral transfer mechanism for laterally moving the hoist. A travelling rail for the overhead travelling vehicles is provided so as to pass over a load port, and a travelling rail for the local vehicle is provided below the travelling rail for the overhead travelling vehicles and over the load port. Slidable buffers are provided and configured to slide between forward positions under the travelling rail for the local vehicle and rearward positions laterally separated from the positions under the travelling rail for the local vehicle. A space over the slidable buffers at the rearward position is open for the transfer of carriers.

Abstract: The interference between overhead travelling vehicles and a local vehicle is prevented, in a situation where an overhead travelling vehicle has trouble, and the overhead travelling vehicles and the controller cannot communicate. Carriers are temporarily stored between the overhead travelling vehicles and the load port. The local vehicle travels along a travelling rail for the local vehicle located below a travelling rail for the overhead travelling vehicles and over a load port, and plural buffers are provided. The overhead travelling vehicles and the local vehicle communicate with a controller via a terminal, and a sensor is provided at a height without interference with the local vehicle and detects an element of a hoist of the overhead travelling vehicles or a carrier raised/lowered. The local vehicle is restricted from travelling when the sensor detects an element of hoist or the carrier.

Abstract: Without a lateral transfer mechanism in a local vehicle, the buffering capacity of a temporary storage apparatus is increased. The temporary storage apparatus stores carriers temporarily between overhead travelling vehicles and load ports. A travelling rail for the local vehicle is provided to allow the local vehicle to run below the travelling rail for the overhead vehicles and over the load ports. A slidable buffer slidable between a position under the travelling rail for the local vehicle and a position shifted laterally and a controller for controlling the local vehicle and the slidable buffer are provided, and the local vehicle waits at a position separated from an area over the load ports.

Abstract: Carriers to be temporarily stored are increased in number, without providing a local vehicle with a lateral transfer mechanism. Carriers are transported between load ports of equipment by overhead travelling vehicles and local vehicles, both provided with a hoist, and the overhead travelling vehicles are provided with a lateral transfer mechanism for laterally moving the hoist. A travelling rail for the overhead travelling vehicles is provided so as to pass over a load port, and a travelling rail for the local vehicle is provided below the travelling rail for the overhead travelling vehicles and over the load port. Slidable buffers are provided and configured to slide between forward positions under the travelling rail for the local vehicle and rearward positions laterally separated from the positions under the travelling rail for the local vehicle. A space over the slidable buffers at the rearward position is open for the transfer of carriers.

Abstract: A temporary storage apparatus is provided with a slidable buffer which does not prevent installation of the apparatus and maintenance of equipment, has increased storing capacity for carriers without a lateral transfer mechanism in a local vehicle, stores carriers between overhead travelling vehicles and a load port, and is provided with the local vehicle travelling on a rail below the rail for the overhead travelling vehicles and a slidable buffer comprising a cell to support a carrier and a guide mechanism sliding the slidable buffer between an advanced position under the rail and a backward position laterally shifted from the rail. The guide mechanism moves between an active position laterally protruding from the rail and a retracted position allowing transfer by the overhead travelling vehicles between the load port. The rail extends along the front face of the equipment to a waiting position separated from a position over the port.

Abstract: A nozzle that can introduce gas into containers placed at a predetermined interval. The nozzle introduces gas into the container without contacting the container, and includes a main opening where the gas at a first flow rate is discharged and a sub-opening where the gas at a second flow rate is discharged in a same direction as the direction of the gas discharged from the main opening.

Abstract: The present invention provides a nozzle which can introduce gas into containers placed at a predetermined interval. The nozzle introduces the gas into the container without contacting the container, and includes the main opening where the gas at a first flow rate is discharged and the sub-opening where the gas at the second flow rate is discharged in a same direction as the direction of the gas discharged from the main opening.