Abstract: An article transport facility in which reduction in the transport capacity can be prevented while simplifying the structure and making the facility less expensive is provided. The facility includes, as travel paths, a first travel path and a second travel path which straddles the first travel path from one side to the other side in a lateral direction of the first travel path. In a straddling portion, which is a part of the second travel path that straddles the first travel path, the second travel path is provided at a different height from the first travel path in a vertical direction, and is configured such that travel of the article transport vehicle along the first travel path and travel of the article transport vehicle along the second travel path are mutually allowed.

Abstract: An article transport facility includes a traveling rail hung from a ceiling portion and configured for guiding an article transport carriage, an article loading unit disposed laterally and downwardly of the traveling rail and configured for loading and supporting an article to be transferred to/from the article transport carriage, and a supporting mechanism for supporting the article loading unit hung from the ceiling portion in such a manner that the article loading unit is rendered position-adjustable between a transferring position for transferring the article to/from the article transport carriage and a retracted position retracted upwards from the transferring position. The supporting mechanism is capable of causing the article loading unit loading an article thereon to be position-changeable between the transferring position and the retracted position.

Abstract: A Raman scattered light enhancement device including a waveguide provided in a photonic crystal (20) made of a semiconductor substrate in which holes (20a) are formed. The waveguide has resonant modes with respect to incident light at a plurality of frequencies. A difference in frequency between one resonant mode and another resonant mode is equal to a Raman shift frequency of the semiconductor substrate. A waveguide forming direction with respect to a crystal plane orientation of the semiconductor substrate is set so as to maximize a Raman transition probability which is represented by electromagnetic field distribution of the two resonant modes and a Raman tensor of the semiconductor substrate.

Abstract: Articles are stored while preventing disruption of the flow of clean air from an upper region to a lower region to alleviate degradation of clean air with an article supported by an article support. The article support (28) is provided with a movable body (30) which is supported to a fixed frame (29) to be movable in a far-near direction with respect to a travel path and which is formed to extend downwardly from the fixed frame (29), and a support member (31) formed to extend in the far-near direction from a lower end portion of the movable body (30).

Abstract: A Raman scattered light enhancement device including a waveguide provided in a photonic crystal (20) made of a semiconductor substrate in which holes (20a) are formed. The waveguide has resonant modes with respect to incident light at a plurality of frequencies. A difference in frequency between one resonant mode and another resonant mode is equal to a Raman shift frequency of the semiconductor substrate. A waveguide forming direction with respect to a crystal plane orientation of the semiconductor substrate is set so as to maximize a Raman transition probability which is represented by electromagnetic field distribution of the two resonant modes and a Raman tensor of the semiconductor substrate.

Abstract: An article storage facility is provided, which can reduce required space for installation in the rack fore and aft direction while preventing the configuration to become more complex. An article storage rack 2 having a plurality of storage units 1 arranged in a vertical direction and in a lateral direction, and an article transport device 4 which can transport articles 3 to each storage unit 1 in the article storage rack 2 are provided.

Abstract: An article transport facility includes a traveling rail hung from a ceiling portion and configured for guiding an article transport carriage, an article loading unit disposed laterally and downwardly of the traveling rail and configured for loading and supporting an article to be transferred to/from the article transport carriage, and a supporting mechanism for supporting the article loading unit hung from the ceiling portion in such a manner that the article loading unit is rendered position-adjustable between a transferring position for transferring the article to/from the article transport carriage and a retracted position retracted upwards from the transferring position. The supporting mechanism is capable of causing the article loading unit loading an article thereon to be position-changeable between the transferring position and the retracted position.

Abstract: Disclosed is an article transport facility in which reduction in the transport capacity can be prevented while simplifying the structure and making the facility less expensive. The facility includes, as travel paths, a first travel path and a second travel path which straddles the first travel path from one side to the other side in a lateral direction of the first travel path. In a straddling portion, which is a part of the second travel path that straddles the first travel path, the second travel path is provided at a different height from the first travel path in a vertical direction, and is configured such that travel of the article transport vehicle along the first travel path and travel of the article transport vehicle along the second travel path are mutually allowed.

Abstract: An article transport facility in which electricity can be supplied properly from an electricity supply line to a power receiving portion even in a curved portion of a predetermined travel path without providing the power receiving portion to a connecting shaft. An article transport vehicle includes a travel portion having a guide wheel and a travel wheel that contacts the travel rail and is driven. The travel portion is connected to the vehicle main body by a connecting shaft. The power receiving portion is supported by the vehicle main body such that the power receiving portion can be moved in the lateral direction of the article transport vehicle. The article transport vehicle includes means for moving the power receiving portion outwardly of the curved portion of the article transport vehicle in association with the rotation of the connecting shaft when the travel portion rotates while traveling in the curved portion.

Abstract: An article transport facility includes an article transporting mobile body; an article support for storing an article, the article support being configured to be moved between an article transfer position and an article storage position; an operating device provided on the mobile body for shifting the article support between the article storage position and article transfer position; an operated element supported to be movable in a direction of access between a proximate position adjacent the mobile body standing still in an article transfer location and a remote position away from the mobile body standing still in the article transfer location, the operated element being operable, in the proximate position, to place the article support in the article storage position, and in the remote position, to place the article support in the article transfer position; and a guide device for guiding the operating device in a fore and aft direction to a proper operative position relative to the operated element when the

Abstract: An article processing facility includes an article carrier movable along a track and having an article gripper, and a pair of article racks for temporarily supporting articles. Each of the article racks is configured to be shiftable between an extended position and a retracted position. When an article for loading gripped by the article gripper is to be delivered to an article loading and unloading station but an article for unloading is present at the article loading and unloading station, the article for loading is stored temporarily on one of the article racks, and thereafter the article for unloading at the article loading and unloading station is temporarily stored on the other article rack.

Abstract: An article transport facility includes an article transporting mobile body configured to move along a path and having an article holder; an article support for storing an article, the article support is configured to be moved between an article transfer position and an article storage position; a lock device provided on the article support to be switchable between a locking state for locking the article support in the article storage position, and an unlocking position for releasing the locking state; and an operating device provided on the mobile body for moving the article support and switching the lock device.

Abstract: An article transport facility in which electricity can be supplied properly from an electricity supply line to a power receiving portion even in a curved portion of a predetermined travel path without providing the power receiving portion to a connecting shaft. An article transport vehicle includes a travel portion having a guide wheel and a travel wheel that contacts the travel rail and is driven. The travel portion is connected to the vehicle main body by a connecting shaft. The power receiving portion is supported by the vehicle main body such that the power receiving portion can be moved in the lateral direction of the article transport vehicle. The article transport vehicle includes means for moving the power receiving portion outwardly of the curved portion of the article transport vehicle in association with the rotation of the connecting shaft when the travel portion rotates while traveling in the curved portion.

Abstract: The article storage facility comprises an article transporter configured to move along a path via an article transfer location with respect to an article storage rack; an article loader for bringing articles into and taking articles out of the article storage rack, provided to the article storage rack so as to project and retract between a protruding position for article receipt that projects to an outside of the article storage rack, and a retracted position for retracting toward the article storage rack; and a protrusion and retraction operating device provided to the article transporter, for causing the article loader to protrude and retract between the protruding position and the retracted position when the article transporter is at the article transfer location.

Abstract: An article transport facility includes an article carrier movable along a track, and an article rack arranged along the track. Each article rack has a fixed frame, and a movable frame supported to be movable relative to said fixed frame between an extended position projecting toward the track and a retracted position retracted away from the track. A movable guide shiftably supports and guides the movable frame to be movable relative thereto in a shifting direction. A fixed guide is mounted on the fixed frame for supporting and guiding the movable guide to be movable in the shifting direction.

Abstract: An article storage facility is provided, which can reduce required space for installation in the rack fore and aft direction while preventing the configuration to become more complex. An article storage rack 2 having a plurality of storage units 1 arranged in a vertical direction and in a lateral direction, and an article transport device 4 which can transport articles 3 to each storage unit 1 in the article storage rack 2 are provided.

Abstract: Articles are stored while preventing disruption of the flow of clean air from an upper region to a lower region to alleviate degradation of clean air with an article supported by an article support. The article support (28) is provided with a movable body (30) which is supported to a fixed frame (29) to be movable in a far-near direction with respect to a travel path and which is formed to extend downwardly from the fixed frame (29), and a support member (31) formed to extend in the far-near direction from a lower end portion of the movable body (30).

Abstract: An article transport device comprises an endless revolving body that is configured to move along a cyclic path in a substantially horizontal direction; a plurality of article supports each of which supports an article, wherein the article supports move together with the endless revolving body with the supports spaced apart from each other in a traveling direction; a support mechanism for supporting the article supports to the endless revolving body such that the article supports can move between a transport position adjacent the endless revolving body and an away position spaced apart from the transport position; and a guide mechanism for causing at least some of the article supports to move from the transport position to the away position and to move from the away position to the transport position, at an article delivering location or an article receiving location along the cyclic path of the endless revolving body.

Abstract: The article storage facility comprises an article transporter configured to move along a path via an article transfer location with respect to an article storage rack; an article loader for bringing articles into and taking articles out of the article storage rack, provided to the article storage rack so as to project and retract between a protruding position for article receipt that projects to an outside of the article storage rack, and a retracted position for retracting toward the article storage rack; and a protrusion and retraction operating device provided to the article transporter, for causing the article loader to protrude and retract between the protruding position and the retracted position when the article transporter is at the article transfer location.

Abstract: An article processing facility includes an article carrier movable along a track and having an article gripper, and a pair of article racks for temporarily supporting articles. Each of the article racks is configured to be shiftable between an extended position and a retracted position. When an article for loading gripped by the article gripper is to be delivered to an article loading and unloading station but an article for unloading is present at the article loading and unloading station, the article for loading is stored temporarily on one of the article racks, and thereafter the article for unloading at the article loading and unloading station is temporarily stored on the other article rack.