Abstract: Disclosed herein is an apparatus for storing and handling an article at a ceiling, including: an internal rail configured to hang on the ceiling; a storage system configured to hang on the ceiling and including a shelf of a first row and a shelf of a second row disposed on both sides of the internal rail to face each other and a transport in/out port connected to any one of the shelf of the first row and the shelf of the second row; and an internal transfer robot configured to be movably connected to the internal rail and convey the article between any one of the shelf of the first row and the shelf of the second row and the transport in/out port.

Abstract: A transport system includes a plurality of transport vehicles. Each transport vehicle includes: a distance detecting portion configured to detect a distance to a preceding transport vehicle, which is another transport vehicle traveling in front of the corresponding transport vehicle; a signal transmitting portion for transmitting a start signal to a subsequent transport vehicle, which is another transport vehicle traveling behind the corresponding transport vehicle; and a signal receiving portion for receiving the start signal that is transmitted from the preceding transport vehicle. Each transport vehicle is configured to transmit, when starting to travel, the start signal using the signal transmitting portion, to start to travel upon receiving the start signal from the preceding transport vehicle using the signal receiving portion, and to stop when the distance to the preceding transport vehicle that is detected by the distance detecting portion is equal to or smaller than a set distance.

Abstract: Before a moving member that moves along a moving path stops, an article transport facility starts protrusion control by which a moving support portion that is provided on the moving member is moved so as to protrude toward a fixed support portion, and thereafter the article transport facility appropriately determines whether or not to continue the protrusion control. Upon the moving member reaching a protrusion start position, the protrusion control is started so that the moving support portion is moved to protrude, even if the moving member has not stopped. After the moving member has reached a position at which a detection unit that is fixed to the moving member can detect a detection target member that is provided on the fixed support portion, the execution of the protrusion control is continued as long as the detection unit is detecting the detection target member.

Abstract: A storage facility for objects of paying of respects includes a partition wall located to partition off the support position from a respects-paying position for a person visiting to pay respects, a window member including a variable-light-transmittance member whose light transmittance is adjustable, an illuminating device for which an amount of light emitted thereby is adjustable, and a controller. A window for allowing the person visiting to pay respects to view an object of paying of respects is formed in an area, of the partition wall, toward which the object of paying of respects faces when supported in the support position. The window is provided with a window member. And the illuminating device is so positioned that light therefrom reaches the object of paying of respects supported in the support position.

Abstract: An article transport apparatus includes a plurality of supports, a supporting rotator that rotatably supports the supports at a plurality of positions, a driving portion for rotating the supporting rotator, an attitude maintenance mechanism for keeping the plurality of supports in a constant attitude irrespective of a phase of the supporting rotator, an article carry-in portion for carrying an article into the support located at a first position, and an article carry-out portion for carrying an article out of the support located at a second position.

Abstract: A planar storage facility is provided with a storage/retrieval device for suspending and transporting storage items between a desired position in a storage item placement plane and a storage conveyor and a retrieval conveyor. A plurality of passage regions dividing the storage item placement plane into small areas are established in the storage item placement plane. At least one end of the passage regions opens to the outside of the periphery of the storage item placement plane. The task of manually unloading the storage items in the small areas can be performed from within the passage regions forming the small areas.

Abstract: A goods transport facility for transporting goods along a transportation path including a curved part, and in particular a goods transport facility provided with a plurality of transport carriages that move along a pair of left and right rails, which are provided along the transportation path, so as to transport goods. A rail width adjusting mechanism capable of changing a rail width between the left and right rails and is provided in at least one of a curving region and an S-curve region in the curved part of the transportation path.

Abstract: A conveyance facility for conveying a bag includes: a carrier including a traveling wheel, and a support supporting the bag being suspended, the carrier conveying the bag; and a traveling rail supporting the traveling wheel so as to be travelable. The traveling rail forms a first path, and a detour path branching from a location in the middle of the first path. A branch unit for switching a conveyance path of the carrier from the first path to the detour path is provided at a branch portion between the first path and the detour path. The branch unit is capable of directing the support from the first path to the detour path.

Abstract: A conveyance facility for conveying a bag along a conveyance path includes a carrier including a traveling wheel traveling on the conveyance path, and a support supporting the bag being suspended, the carrier conveying the bag along the conveyance path; and a traveling rail provided along the conveyance path, and supporting the traveling wheel so as to be travelable. The traveling rail includes an accumulation belt causing the traveling wheel to travel in frictional contact with the support; and a tracking conveyance belt being meshed with the support to thereby cause the traveling wheel to travel.

Abstract: A conveyance facility for conveying a bag includes a carrier including a support supporting the bag, and traveling wheels. A conveyance path includes a straight section and a curve section. In the curve section, a pulley rotatable along the curve section and in frictional contact with the support; and a guide rail guiding the traveling wheels are provided. The guide rail includes a rotation guide rail guiding one traveling wheel of a pair of the traveling wheels, and rotating with the pulley; a fixed guide rail guiding another traveling wheel of the pair of traveling wheels, and being provided along the rotation guide rail; and an upper guide rail and a side guide rail guiding the support.

Abstract: A container storage facility includes a storage rack having a plurality of storage sections as storage section groups, a gas supply device configured to supply a cleaning gas to the storage sections via a branch-type supply pipe, a transport apparatus configured to transport containers to the storage sections, and a control unit configured to control operations of the transport apparatus. When a plurality of containers are to be stored in the storage sections, the control unit controls the operations of the transport apparatus so as to transport the containers of the same type to the storage sections that belong to the same storage section group.

Abstract: A flat storage facility includes a storage/retrieval device having a Y-direction moving member with a length corresponding to the width of a storage item placement plane in an X direction and that is movable in a forward/backward Y direction of the storage item placement plane. A carriage is supported on the Y-direction moving member and is movable in the X direction. A storage item gripping mechanism is supported on the carriage so as to be freely raised and lowered. Lowering of the storage item gripping mechanism is controlled such that downward flexural deformation distances between end portions of the Y-direction moving member in the X direction are determined. Lowering distance adjustment values of the storage item gripping mechanism for the storage item placement points are set based on the downward flexural deformation distances, and lowering distances of the storage item gripping mechanism are reduced by the lowering distance adjustment values.

Abstract: A storage facility includes a storage rack including a plurality of storage sections and a gas supply portion that supplies an inactive gas to containers stored in the storage sections. Struts are installed at left and right ends of the storage rack and between adjacent ones of the storage sections, and placement portions are fixed to mutually adjacent ones of the struts. Each vertical pipe included in the gas supply portion is fixed to one of the struts to which the placement portion to which the inactive gas is supplied by the vertical pipe is fixed.

Abstract: A transport device includes a conveyor, a plurality of movable guide rails each of which is provided at a corresponding one of a plurality of locations along a lateral width direction, a drive shaft disposed to extend along the lateral width direction, and an actuator configured to drivingly rotate the drive shaft. A plurality of cam members are fixed to the drive shaft in respective fixing attitudes. Each movable guide rail of a plurality of movable guide rails is configured to be moved to change a height thereof depending on a fixing attitude of corresponding one of the cam members as the actuator drivingly rotates the drive shaft.

Abstract: A container storage facility includes a storage rack that has a plurality of storage sections as a storage section group, a gas supply device for supplying a cleaning gas to the storage sections via a branch-type supply pipe, a transport apparatus for transporting containers to the storage sections, and a control unit for controlling operation of the transport apparatus. When a container is first stored in a storage section included in the storage section group, the control unit controls operations of the transport apparatus so as to transport the container to a storage section to which the cleaning gas is supplied from an end area of the supply pipe.

Abstract: A lifting facility for a workpiece is provided in a drying furnace for drying the workpiece, and comprises: a drop lift that conveys the workpiece so as to raise and lower the workpiece between one of a carrying-in position at which the workpiece is carried in the drying furnace and a carrying-out position at which the workpiece is carried out from the drying furnace and a high-temperature zone which is formed above the carrying-in position and the carrying-out position and in which the workpiece is dried; and a strut that supports the drop lift so as to raise and lower the drop lift. The strut is extended to the high-temperature zone in the drying furnace.

Abstract: A container storage facility has storage portions for storing containers, and supplies a purge gas to the interior of the containers. The container storage facility includes ejection portions that eject the purge gas, a gas supply device that controls the supply flow rate of the purge gas, a main pipe that conducts the purge gas output from the gas supply device, and branch pipes that are branched from the main pipe and are connected to the ejection portions. The ejection portions eject the purge gas regardless of whether or not containers are stored in the storage portions, and the gas supply device controls the supply flow rate of the purge gas so as to increase as the total number of containers stored in the storage portions decreases.

Abstract: An automatic case loader for loading product in a trailer is disclosed. A mobile base structure provides a support framework for a drive subassembly, conveyance subassembly, an industrial robot, a distance measurement sensor, and a control subassembly. Under the operation of the control subassembly, product advances through a powered transportation path to an industrial robot which places the product within the trailer. The control subassembly coordinates the selective articulated movement of the industrial robot and the activation of the drive subassembly based upon the distance measurement sensor detecting objects within a detection space, dimensions of the trailer provided to the control subassembly, and dimensions of the product provided to the control subassembly.

Abstract: A transport vehicle for transporting a transportation-target object to a placement location that is provided at a lower position, includes: a supporting portion configured to support the transportation-target object; a lifting/lowering portion configured to lift and lower the transportation-target object in a suspended state; and a weight detecting portion configured to detect a weight of the transportation-target object, wherein a lowering speed of the transportation-target object is increased after a detection value that is detected by the weight detecting portion while the transportation-target object is being lowered by the lifting/lowering portion in a state where the transportation-target object is supported by the supporting portion has become smaller than or equal to a first set value, and thereafter, the supporting of the transportation-target object by the supporting portion is canceled after the suspending of the transportation-target object by the lifting/lowering portion has been canceled.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a robot for transferring an article: a body configured to be moved while hanging on a moving rail; a holding unit configured to hold the article; a two-way sliding unit configured to be connected to the holding unit and slide the holding unit to both sides of the body; and an elevation-driving unit configured to be installed at the body and connected to the two-way sliding unit to elevate the two-way sliding unit along a height direction of the body.