Abstract: A transport device includes a carriage that travels along a traveling path that is predetermined; a transfer mechanism provided on the carriage and transfers an article in a transfer space set in the traveling path; a first movable element that is a rod shaped component attached to the carriage, extends in a traveling direction of the carriage, and operates by magnetism to drive the transfer mechanism; and a first stator fixedly disposed with respect to the traveling path, has a partially cutout ring shape, and causes the first movable element to operate by magnetism when part of the carriage is positioned outside the transfer space.

Abstract: The object is to provide a vehicle system capable of suppressing a decrease in article transport efficiency while ensuring a route of an operator. The vehicle system includes a grid-patterned rail, a vehicle traveling on the rail, a controller that controls the vehicle, a work terminal that transmits identification information indicating an actual location to the controller, and a scaffold for allowing an operator carrying the work terminal to walk below the rail, the scaffold being provided below the rail. If entry permission to one or more cells formed by the rail is obtained from the controller, the vehicle enters the one or more cells. If entry permission to the one or more cells is not obtained from the controller, the vehicle does not enter the one or more cells.

Abstract: A first lid opening-and-closing mechanism includes: a first holder that holds an upper lid of a first container; a first protrusion provided to protrude from the first holder toward one side direction with respect to the first holder and extends to outside of a casing; and a first raising/lowering driver that raises and lowers the first holder in a cantilevered manner with the first protrusion interposed therebetween. A second lid opening-and-closing mechanism includes: a second holder that holds an upper lid of a second container; a second protrusion provided to protrude from the second holder toward the one side direction and extends to the outside of the casing; and a second raising/lowering driver that raises and lowers the second holder in a cantilevered manner with the second protrusion interposed therebetween. The first raising/lowering driver and the second raising/lowering driver are located outside the casing in the one side direction.

Abstract: A rack for automated warehouses includes: a plurality of first support posts arranged on an installation surface along a first horizontal direction; a plurality of second support posts arranged on the installation surface along the first horizontal direction; a plurality of beam members laid over between the first support posts and the second support posts; a plurality of upper intermediate posts disposed on upper sides of the beam members and connected to the beam members; and a plurality of lower intermediate posts disposed between the installation surface and the beam members and connected to the beam members. The lower intermediate posts include a plurality of first lower intermediate posts disposed in series along the first horizontal direction. The first lower intermediate posts are disposed such that the distance to the first support posts is greater than the distance to the second support posts.

Abstract: An overhead transport vehicle includes an elevator including a base and a first support supporting the base to be vertically movable from below in a vertical direction through a vibration isolator. The vibration isolator includes a first biasing portion in contact with both of the support and the base to urge a first body and the base in a direction away from each other, and a second biasing portion at one of the first body and the base to come into contact with both of the first body and the base and urge the first body and the base in a direction away from each other when a load equal to or greater than a predetermined value is applied to the first biasing portion.

Abstract: An overhead transport vehicle temporarily places a FOUP at a ceiling suspended shelf while transporting the FOUP to a target position by traveling along a rail on a ceiling of a building from which the ceiling suspended is suspended. The ceiling suspended shelf includes an upper shelf including an upper support surface that supports the FOUP. A level of the upper support surface is the same or substantially the same as a level of the rail.

Abstract: A transport vehicle system includes a track, transport vehicles, placement units to deliver or receive articles, and area controllers that each receive a conveyance instruction from a host controller and control a transport vehicle in a jurisdiction area to execute various instructions. The area controller, in response to receiving from the host controller a conveyance instruction destined for one special placement unit belonging to a jurisdiction area, transmits to another area controller a movement instruction to control an empty transport vehicle to move toward the jurisdiction area, and also controls an empty transport vehicle that has become available in the jurisdiction area after transmission of the movement instruction to execute the conveyance instruction.

Abstract: A storage system includes an overhead stocker including an overhead crane track, shelving in which tiers of storages to accommodate articles therein are arranged vertically, and a crane to travel along the overhead crane track and transfer an article between the tiers of storages, an overhead transport vehicle system to perform receiving or delivering of an article from or to a predetermined transfer destination, and a transporter to vertically transport an article between the overhead stocker and the overhead transport vehicle system, the overhead transport vehicle system being provided below a lower end of the overhead stocker.

Abstract: A filament winding device includes a fiber bundle retainer that temporarily retains fiber bundles. The fiber bundle retainer includes: a reel member including an outer peripheral portion having pins movable in the axial direction relative to the fiber bundles supplied through fiber bundle guides and rotatable about the axis of the liner, the reel member capable of winding the fiber bundles onto the outer peripheral portion; a first cutting unit configured to cut a part of each of the fiber bundles in the circumferential direction, the part being between a part of the fiber bundle wound on the outer peripheral portion and a part of the fiber bundle wound on the liner; and a second cutting unit different from the first cutting unit and configured to cut a part of each of the fiber bundles in the axial direction, the part being wound on the outer peripheral portion.

Abstract: A filament winding apparatus includes a rail extending in a first direction, a core material support device that supports a core material, and a winding device that winds a fiber bundle onto an outer peripheral surface of the core material, the winding device including: a guide unit having an opening through which the core material passes, and guiding the fiber bundle; and a main frame on which the guide unit is mounted; wherein the main frame is movable relative to the core material in the first direction, the main frame is movable in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, and the main frame is rotatable around a first rotational axis extending in a third direction orthogonal to each of the first direction and the second direction.

Abstract: An overhead traveling vehicle system having an overhead traveling vehicle includes a main body, at least an upper surface of which is of a rectangular shape as viewed in a plan view, and a traveling wheel provided in each of four corners on the upper surface of the main body and rolls on a traveling surface of a track, the main body being arranged below the track by connectors each extending downwardly from the traveling wheel, wherein the overhead traveling vehicle includes charging electrodes on the upper surface of the main body, and a charger is arranged in a space above the traveling surface, at least a part of which overlaps with a movement space for the traveling wheels as viewed in a side view, and does not overlap with the movement space as viewed in a plan view.

Abstract: A travel system includes a travelling carriage that travels on a predetermined track, access points including first APs that wirelessly communicate with the travelling carriage and second APs that wirelessly communicate with the travelling carriage in a communication slot different from a communication slot of the first APs, and a controller that, via any one of the access points, receives from the travelling carriage position information indicating the current position of the travelling carriage, and transmits to the traveling carriage a travel instruction to control travel of the travelling carriage. The travelling carriage includes a wireless interface that wirelessly communicates with one of the first APs, and wirelessly communicates with one of the second APs when wireless communication with the one of the first APs is not possible.

Abstract: In a local cart traveling system, a frame track includes first and second metal rails each with an L-shaped cross section and facing each other. A local cart is within the frame track, and includes a first electricity receiving tire and a second electricity receiving tire to travel on horizontal travel surfaces of the rails. A voltage supplier supplies an AC voltage to the travel surfaces, so that the first metal rail and a first electricity receiving tire define a first capacitor and the second metal rail and the second electricity receiving tire define a second capacitor. The local cart includes a power receiver to receive AC power, and a travel motor that receives power after the AC power is rectified. The frame track includes a connecting plate as an electrical insulator covering portions of the surfaces of vertical walls of the first metal rail and the second metal rail.

Abstract: A traveling vehicle travels along a traveling path and includes a main body, a traveler to allow a main body to travel along the traveling path, an LED array provided at the main body to switch a display manner according to a state of the traveling vehicle, an imager to capture an image of the LED array at a traveling vehicle located ahead of the traveling vehicle, and a controller configured or programmed to acquire a state of the traveling vehicle ahead based on the display manner captured by the imager, and to control the traveler of the traveling vehicle based on the acquired state.

Abstract: The efficiency of transporting articles is improved by smoothly delivering and receiving the articles between overhead transport vehicles traveling on different tracks. A transport system includes a first overhead transport vehicle that travels on a first overhead track; a second overhead transport vehicle that travels on a second overhead track and a third overhead track; and a first placement portion and a second placement portion that allow articles to be delivered and received between the first overhead transport vehicle and the second overhead transport vehicle. At least one of the first overhead transport vehicle, the second overhead transport vehicle, the first placement portion, and the second placement portion is provided with a rotator that rotates an article around a vertical axis.

Abstract: A method of recognizing a specific image includes detecting image features from the specific image and storing in a memory each of detected relevant image features, detecting relevant image features from an input image and selecting from the memory a portion corresponding to each of the detected relevant image features, generating a restoration image using portions selected in the selecting, and determining whether the generated restoration image matches with the input image by a matching process and recognizing that, when it is determined that the restoration image matches with the input image, the input image is the specific image.

Abstract: A safety signal system includes portable remote controllers and a second receiver to control a stacker crane in accordance with an instruction received wirelessly from the portable remote controllers. For example, one of the portable remote controllers and the second receiver are able to establish a wireless connection by being in a pairing state in which the single second receiver is fixed as a connection partner of the one portable remote controller. After the wireless connection is established, the pairing state is continued in a state where the wireless connection is not able to be maintained before an operation to disconnect the wireless connection is performed. After the wireless connection is not able to be maintained, the wireless connection is re-established on a condition that power of both the one portable remote controller and the second receiver which are in the pairing state is turned on.

Abstract: A lifting and lowering transportation device is capable of transporting articles between different delivery positions using transportation units, each including a lifting and lowering platform, a linear motor, and a chain. The lifting and lowering platform can pass through the delivery positions by moving along the circumferential track that is common to the transportation units. The linear motor generates the driving force to move the lifting and lowering platform along the circumferential track. The chain is loop-shaped and can circulate along the circulation track corresponding to the circumference path, and the linear motor moves the lifting and lowering platform by circulating the chain by the driving force generated by the linear motor. The circulation of the chain in each transportation unit is controlled independently of the other transportation units.

Abstract: An overhead transport vehicle travels along a rail on a ceiling of a building to transport a FOUP. The overhead transport vehicle includes a holding base and an upper shelf transfer device. The holding base holds at least one of a side surface and a bottom surface of the FOUP. The upper shelf transfer device moves the holding base at least upwardly while holding the FOUP. The upper shelf transfer device moves the holding base from the holding position in which the holding base holds and transfers the FOUP to the upper transfer position to transfer the FOUP, which is a different position from the holding position in a plan view and higher than the holding position.

Abstract: In a clamping device, the number of components for an article detection means is reduced. In a stacker, a tire is placed on the carry surface. The first gripping member and the second gripping member grip a side of tire placed on the carry surface and include an abutment surface having a bent portion and are capable of abutting with the side of tire. The first sensor and the second sensor include a light axis in a direction along the article. The controller moves the first gripping member and the second gripping member close to each other to the first position where the tire is not gripped. When the tire is detected with the first sensor and second sensor, the controller moves the first gripping member and the second gripping member close to each other to the second position where the tire is gripped.