Abstract: An article transport facility in which movable bodies can merge into a merging portion while preventing collisions between the movable bodies. A communication relay device is provided to each of the first merging path, the second merging path, and the post-merging path. Each communication relay device includes an antenna portion, a relay device main body that associates movable body information obtained by communicating with the movable body communication devices using the antenna portion with identification information which indicates which one of the paths the antenna portion that received the movable body information is provided to, and that is capable of communicating the information thus obtained to the managing means. The managing means determines in which path the movable body exists to manage operations of a plurality of movable bodies based on said body information and identification information which are received from said main body.

Abstract: An article transport facility in which movable bodies can merge into a merging portion while preventing collisions between the movable bodies. A communication relay device is provided to each of the first merging path, the second merging path, and the post-merging path. Each communication relay device includes an antenna portion, a relay device main body that associates movable body information obtained by communicating with the movable body communication devices using the antenna portion with identification information which indicates which one of the paths the antenna portion that received the movable body information is provided to, and that is capable of communicating the information thus obtained to the managing means. The managing means determines in which path the movable body exists to manage operations of a plurality of movable bodies based on said body information and identification information which are received from said main body.

Abstract: The present invention provides a transporting apparatus provided with a sensor for detecting information relating to a relative position in the vertical direction between an article to be transported and a holding portion for holding the article, and a controller that is linked to this sensor through signals, wherein the controller raises the holding portion by a set raising amount when the sensor detects that the holding portion is below a target lowering position. Thus, it is possible to provide a transporting apparatus with which the position of the holding portion can be automatically moved to a suitable position even if the holding portion is lowered too far with respect to the article.

Abstract: The present invention provides a transporting apparatus provided with a sensor for detecting information relating to a relative position in the vertical direction between an article to be transported and a holding portion for holding the article, and a controller that is linked to this sensor through signals, wherein the controller raises the holding portion by a set raising amount when the sensor detects that the holding portion is below a target lowering position. Thus, it is possible to provide a transporting apparatus with which the position of the holding portion can be automatically moved to a suitable position even if the holding portion is lowered too far with respect to the article.