Abstract: An article conveyance apparatus including a front imaging device, a left-side imaging device, and a right-side imaging device. The front imaging device determines the presence or absence of an obstacle ahead of the imaging device and calculates a distance from the obstacle based on a comparison between images captured by a plurality of cameras. In a transition region from a linear section to a curved section, the left-side imaging device and the right-side imaging device capture images ahead of the left or the right side and determine the presence or absence of an obstacle ahead of the left or the right side. If a distance from a front obstacle is at most a predetermined threshold value and if it is determined that an obstacle is present ahead of the left or the right side, a controller avoids a collision between the article conveyance apparatus and the obstacle.

Abstract: In an overhead conveyance vehicle that travels along a rail serving as a conveyance track mounted on a ceiling and conveys a target magazine along the rail, when an elevating unit holding the magazine is hoisted or lowered between a conveyance position and a transfer position, a controller for controlling the operation of the overhead conveyance vehicle determines, based on an image captured by a camera, the presence or absence of an obstacle in an imaging range captured by the camera.

Abstract: Regarding a transfer system that includes a plurality of transfer vehicles that transfer articles, the present invention realizes technology that can alleviate congestion that is caused due to the travel speed of a specific vehicle that performs a specific task being lower than that of the transfer vehicles. The transfer system includes a plurality of transfer vehicles that travel on a transfer path to transfer articles, and the transfer system further includes: a specific vehicle that performs a specific task while travelling on the transfer path at a speed lower than that of the transfer vehicles; and a congestion determination unit that determines whether or not there is congestion behind the specific vehicle. Upon the congestion determination unit determining that there is congestion, the specific vehicle suspends the task and performs evacuation travel to evacuate from a task point at which the specific vehicle was performing the task.

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 control system for mechanical equipment is provided with: a manual operation mechanism provided with a minimum required number of operation switches and a mechanical equipment identification signal transmission unit for transmitting a mechanical equipment identification signal that identifies mechanical equipment; an operation assistance terminal in which the mechanical equipment identification signal received from the transmission unit is used as a basis to display a manual operation assistance screen including a manually operated device selection section and a control content display section that displays control content assigned to the operation switches of the manual operation mechanism for a selected manually operated device; and a control device that connects the control unit of an identified control target device and the operation switches of the manual operation mechanism by receiving a control target device switching signal identified by operation of the manually operated device selection section.

Abstract: A storage facility includes N accommodating sections, where N is a positive integer, M main pipes through which an inert gas flows, where M is a positive integer of 2?M<N, M flow control devices, M branch pipe groups, and a plurality of switching valves. Each branch pipe group includes N branch pipes, and the switching valves are respectively provided on the branch pipes included in at least (M?1) of the branch pipe groups. Each flow control device is configured to control the flow rate of the inert gas flowing through the main pipe to which this flow control device is connected, based on a flow-through pipe count, which is the number of the branch pipes for which the flow of the inert gas is not blocked by the switching valve, out of the N branch pipes of the branch pipe group that corresponds to this main pipe.

Abstract: A first cable body allows a first transport apparatus to move in a first movement area by deforming as the first transport apparatus moves along a first direction. A second cable body allows a second transport apparatus to move in a second movement area, which at least partially overlaps the first movement area, by deforming as the second transport apparatus moves along the first direction. Assuming that a direction perpendicular to both the first direction and an up-down direction is a second direction, the first cable body and the second cable body are arranged on the same side in the second direction relative to a rail so that the respective arrangement areas in the second direction overlap each other at least partially.

Abstract: The article transport vehicle travels with its wheel rolling on the travel surface provided on the upper surface of the travel rail. The travel rail has a peripheral wall that includes a surface on which the travel surface is formed, and an internal space that is enclosed by the peripheral wall, and extends along the travel path. The travel surface has a through hole that passes through the peripheral wall, and brings the internal space into communication with an external space. The travel rail is provided with a suction device that is in communication with the internal space, and is configured to suck air in the internal space. The internal space is closed except for the through hole, and a connection portion for the suction device.

Abstract: A control unit controls a sorting unit and a send-out unit to transport articles received by a receiving unit to an upstream accumulating unit so that articles that belong to the same article group are accumulated on the same upstream branch accumulating unit, and articles that belong to different article groups are accumulated on different upstream branch accumulating units, to transport articles accumulated in the upstream accumulating unit to a final accumulating unit so that articles that belong to the same article group are accumulated on different final branch accumulating units, and an article group with smaller designated sequence numbers is accumulated on a downstream side, in a transportation direction, of an article group with larger designated sequence numbers, and to send out articles accumulated in the final accumulating unit from the send-out unit in accordance with the designated sequence numbers.

Abstract: A support portion includes: a first portion that is supported on a travel portion; a second portion that is coupled to a holding portion; and a damper portion that is provided between the first portion and the second portion. The damper portion includes: a guide portion that guides movement of the first portion relative to the second portion along a specific guiding direction; a link mechanism that is coupled to each of the first portion and the second portion, and that moves in conjunction with movement of the first portion relative to the second portion; and an elastic body. The elastic body is coupled to the link mechanism so as to dampen operation of the link mechanism.

Abstract: An article transport facility includes an article transport vehicle, a storage rack configured to store articles, and a for-rack transport device. The article transport vehicle is configured to travel along one or more rails suspended from, and supported by, a ceiling. The storage rack is suspended from, and supported by, the ceiling. The for-rack transport device is located on an opposite side from the one or more rails with respect to the storage rack.

Abstract: An article transfer device includes: a guide movement mechanism for moving a first guide portion and a second guide portion independently along a first direction; and an interlocking mechanism for interlocking movement of the first guide portion and the second guide portion along the first direction with movement of an article supporting portion such that the article supporting portion is located midway between the first guide portion and the second guide portion in the first direction.

Abstract: A sliding fire door is disclosed with an improved tightness of the closure by the door main body. The sliding fire door includes an opening frame, a fire door, and a guiding mechanism. The guiding mechanism includes a guide roller group which includes a plurality of guide rollers arranged one adjacent to another along the slide direction and which is configured to guide the door main body. The guiding mechanism is configured to guide the door main body such that the door main body is moved from an opening position to a closing position. The door main body has a first opposing surface which is oriented toward the wall. The opening frame has a second opposing surface which is oriented toward the first opposing surface of the door main body in the closing position. The guiding mechanism moves the door main body to cause the first opposing surface to be moved closer to the second opposing surface when the door main body is moved from the opening position to the closing position.

Abstract: Conveying operation equipment has a conveying carriage with an operating region between a workpiece support portion and a side of the conveying carriage. A reciprocating movement path of an operation device is provided such that part or the whole of the operation device is overlaid on the operating region on the conveying carriage and a synchronous forward-traveling mechanism which makes the operation device travel synchronously with the conveying carriage is formed with a transmission mechanism in an upper portion of the conveying carriage and a passive portion in a bottom portion of the operation device and a transmission state switch which switches the transmission mechanism to a transmission state at the beginning end position of the reciprocating movement path and which switches the transmission mechanism to a transmission release state at the terminal end position of the reciprocating movement path.

Abstract: An opening for allowing an object of paying of respects to be moved therethrough is formed in a wall. An inside support position for an object of paying of respects to be supported at is set at a position that is in the internal area and across from the opening and in a range over which the transport device is capable of moving an object of paying of respects. A support portion configured to support an object of paying of respects is also configured to be moved, through the opening, between the inside support position and an outside support position for an object of paying of respects to be supported at such that at least a portion of the object of paying of respects is located outside the internal area.

Abstract: A facility comprises an inactive gas supplying device configured to supply inert gas to a container, a transport device configured to carry a container into, and out of, a storage section, a first controller configured to control the transport device, a second controller configured to control the inactive gas supplying device, and a third controller configured to transmit a first command to the first controller through a communications relay device, and to transmit a second command to the second controller Hp. The transport device receives electric power from the first electric power supply whereas the inactive gas supplying device, the second controller, the third controller, and the communications relay device receive electric power from one or more different-path electric power supplies each of which is different from the first electric power supply.

Abstract: A rail inspection device comprises a carriage having wheels, a first roller in contact with a side surface of a first rail, a second roller in contact with a side surface of a second rail, a first position sensor configured to detect a position of a side surface of the first rail or an outer surface of the first roller, a second position sensor configured to detect a position of a side surface of the second rail or an outer surface of the second roller, and at least one rotation sensor each configured to detect a rotation angle of a wheel, the first roller, or the second roller.

Abstract: A travelling path includes a first path and a second path that branches off from or merges with the first path at a connection position of the first path. A management area and a check area are provided for the first path. The management area includes a section from the connection position to a position that is at a first preset distance upstream of the connection position, and a section from the connection position to a position that is at a second preset distance downstream of the connection position. The check area includes a section from a preset position to a position that is at a fourth preset distance upstream of the preset position. In a state where an article transport vehicle that includes a control unit is located in the check area, the control unit determines whether or not the article transport vehicle is in a leading state where no other article transport vehicle is present forward of the article transport vehicle in the check area.

Abstract: An article transport facility includes a transport device which has a connecting portion connected to the storage device, and which is configured to transport an article. The connecting portion is located on the first side with respect to the first path whereas a subject path is located on the second side with respect to the first path. The transporting path of an article by the transport device is so located to cross the first path in plan view and to extend at least from the connecting portion and to the second side with respect to the first path. A first transfer portion to or from which an article is transferred by a transport vehicle traveling along the subject path is set in a portion of the transporting path that is located on the second side with respect to the first 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.