Abstract: A discharge control circuit includes discharge elements, logic circuits, and at least one delay circuit. Each of the logic circuits controls turning-on and turning-off the discharge elements based on a control signal inputted externally. The delay circuit delays an output signal of a first logic circuit among the logic circuits. The discharge control circuit pulls out charges from a corresponding terminal in response to turning-on of the discharge elements. A signal delayed by the delay circuit is inputted to a second logic circuit among the logic circuits so that the discharge elements are controlled in a predetermined order by one control signal.

Abstract: A sorting facility for sorting articles by a plurality of connected conveyance carriages. The sorting facility includes a supervisory controller managing a position of each of the conveyance carriages, a trigger sensor detecting each of the conveyance carriages, and a belt conveyor provided on each of the conveyance carriages. The supervisory controller identifies each of the conveyance carriages that should deliver the articles to the chute based on the managed position of each of the conveyance carriages. The supervisory controller instructs the belt conveyor provided in each of the conveyance carriages identified to start a delivery operation of each of the articles at timing when each of the conveyance carriages identified is detected by the trigger sensor.

Abstract: An article conveying facility in which an article is conveyed by a conveyance carriage travelling on a pair of left and right rails provided along a conveyance path. The article conveying facility includes a carriage driving apparatus that drives the conveyance carriage by utilizing a frictional force generated by contact with the conveyance carriage, and sensors that detect floating of the conveyance carriage with respect to the rails. The conveyance carriage includes a fin that contacts the carriage driving apparatus. The fin is provided so as to extend along the travelling direction of the conveyance carriage, at a lower position than the position of an upper surface of the rails. The sensors detect floating of the conveyance carriage with respect to the rails by detecting the fin.

Abstract: An article transport facility includes a main conveyor device and induction conveyors. The main conveyor device includes belt conveyors and carriage bodies. The induction conveyor includes a first conveyor device for loading article onto a second transport path and a second conveyor device that is provided for an article-loading position on a transport path and loads the article onto the belt conveyor. The first conveyor device adjusts the timing of loading the article to the article-loading position, by controlling the timing of loading the article onto the second conveyor device. The second conveyor device adjusts, on the belt conveyors, loading position of the article loaded onto the belt conveyor by controlling the timing of loading the article onto the belt conveyor.

Abstract: A supervisory controller determines the control status of a conveyor belt by a control unit. When it is determined that the control status of the conveyor belt is abnormal, the supervisory controller prohibits loading an article onto a traveling carriage and instructs the control unit to reset the control unit. When it is determined again that the control status of the conveyor belt by the control unit subjected to the reset instruction is abnormal, the supervisory controller prohibits loading an article onto the traveling carriage and acquires an abnormality record from the control unit. When it is determined that the control status of the conveyor belt by the control unit subjected to the reset instruction is normal, the supervisory controller acquires the abnormality record from the control unit.

Abstract: A discharge control circuit includes discharge elements, logic circuits, and at least one delay circuit. Each of the logic circuits controls turning-on and turning-off the discharge elements based on a control signal inputted externally. The delay circuit delays an output signal of a first logic circuit among the logic circuits. The discharge control circuit pulls out charges from a corresponding terminal in response to turning-on of the discharge elements. A signal delayed by the delay circuit is inputted to a second logic circuit among the logic circuits so that the discharge elements are controlled in a predetermined order by one control signal.

Abstract: Provided is an article transport apparatus which can transfer an article to a transfer target portion at a low height. A movable member having a support portion includes a transfer mechanism for moving an article between the support portion and a transfer target portion. The transfer mechanism includes an interlocking portion capable of being interlocked with an article along the front-and-back direction, a first guide portion for guiding the interlocking portion along the front-and-back direction, and a second actuator for moving the interlocking portion along the front-and-back direction. The transfer mechanism moves an article between the support portion and the transfer target portion by moving the interlocking portion along the front-and-back direction. The first guide portion and the second actuator are located higher than an article supported by the support portion.

Abstract: A supervisory controller determines the control status of a conveyor belt by a control unit. When it is determined that the control status of the conveyor belt is abnormal, the supervisory controller prohibits loading an article onto a traveling carriage and instructs the control unit to reset the control unit. When it is determined again that the control status of the conveyor belt by the control unit subjected to the reset instruction is abnormal, the supervisory controller prohibits loading an article onto the traveling carriage and acquires an abnormality record from the control unit. When it is determined that the control status of the conveyor belt by the control unit subjected to the reset instruction is normal, the supervisory controller acquires the abnormality record from the control unit.

Abstract: An article conveying facility in which an article is conveyed by a conveyance carriage travelling on a pair of left and right rails provided along a conveyance path. The article conveying facility includes a carriage driving apparatus that drives the conveyance carriage by utilizing a frictional force generated by contact with the conveyance carriage, and sensors that detect floating of the conveyance carriage with respect to the rails. The conveyance carriage includes a fin that contacts the carriage driving apparatus. The fin is provided so as to extend along the travelling direction of the conveyance carriage, at a lower position than the position of an upper surface of the rails. The sensors detect floating of the conveyance carriage with respect to the rails by detecting the fin.

Abstract: A sorting facility for sorting an article by a belt conveyor provided on a traveling carriage traveling along a conveyance path. A plurality of traveling carriages travel on the conveyance path. Each of the plurality of traveling carriages is provided with a power generation motor generating electric power by traveling of the traveling carriage. The belt conveyor provided on each of the plurality of traveling carriages is driven in a predetermined position on the conveyance path by the electric power generated by the power generation motor. The power generation motor provided in each of the plurality of traveling carriages starts generation of the electric power necessary to drive the belt conveyor in order from the power generation motor provided in the traveling carriage scheduled to pass the predetermined position on the conveyance path first, after the traveling carriages are actuated and traveling speeds become a constant speed.

Abstract: A sorting facility for sorting articles by a plurality of connected conveyance carriages. The sorting facility includes a supervisory controller managing a position of each of the conveyance carriages, a trigger sensor detecting each of the conveyance carriages, and a belt conveyor provided on each of the conveyance carriages. The supervisory controller identifies each of the conveyance carriages that should deliver the articles to the chute based on the managed position of each of the conveyance carriages. The supervisory controller instructs the belt conveyor provided in each of the conveyance carriages identified to start a delivery operation of each of the articles at timing when each of the conveyance carriages identified is detected by the trigger sensor.

Abstract: A picking system includes: a multi-column sorting device that sorts articles based on an order, and discharges each of the articles into one of a plurality of columns of compartments; a plurality of storage devices that receive the articles discharged from the respective corresponding compartments until article groups that are each a set of the articles for each order have been collected, and temporarily store the articles; and a transport device that receives and unloads the article discharged from each of the storage devices with an accommodating container located at a standby position, and loads an empty accommodating container to the standby position.

Abstract: A picking system is realized that can efficiently perform operations from collection to delivery of articles in a limited space. A picking system (1) includes: a multi-row sorting device (2) configured to sort the article into one of the plurality of rows of exits (21) and discharge the sorted article; a container supporting device (3) capable of supporting an accommodating container (B) on a plurality of rows of container supporting portions (32) until an article group that is a set of articles for the order is collected; and a transport device (4) configured to unload the accommodating container (B) in which the article is accommodated from the container supporting portion (32), and load an empty accommodating container (B) to the container supporting portion (32).

Abstract: A transport vehicle (2) is provided with: a support region (22) where a container (W) is supported; a container transfer apparatus (24) that inserts/takes a container (W) into/out of a container shelf; a recognition apparatus (27) that recognizes at least one of an article stored in a container (W) in a first state in which the container (W) is supported in the support region (22) and an article stored in a container (W) in a second state in which the container (W) is supported by the container transfer apparatus (24); and an article transfer apparatus (26) that transfers an article recognized by the recognition apparatus (27) between a container (W) in the first state and a container (W) in the second state.

Abstract: A bag capable of storing an article, the bag being conveyed while being suspended from a rail. The bag includes: a body that stores the article; a suspending member that suspends the body from the rail; and a reorienting member that reorients the body with respect to the suspending member. The body includes a bag having an internal storage space for the article, and the reorienting member is provided independently of the body, is supported pivotally with respect to the suspending member, has a free end in the body so as to pivot with respect to the suspending member, and pivots with respect to the suspending member so as to reorient the body.

Abstract: Provided is an article transport apparatus which can transfer an article to a transfer target portion at a low height. A movable member having a support portion includes a transfer mechanism for moving an article between the support portion and a transfer target portion. The transfer mechanism includes an interlocking portion capable of being interlocked with an article along the front-and-back direction, a first guide portion for guiding the interlocking portion along the front-and-back direction, and a second actuator for moving the interlocking portion along the front-and-back direction. The transfer mechanism moves an article between the support portion and the transfer target portion by moving the interlocking portion along the front-and-back direction. The first guide portion and the second actuator are located higher than an article supported by the support portion.

Abstract: A transport vehicle (2) that travels along a container shelf (1) is provided with a plurality of levels of shelf portions (11) arranged in a vertical direction (Z) and configured to support containers (W), thereby transporting the containers (W). The transport vehicle (2) is provided with a support region (22) where the containers (W) are supported in a stacked state, a transfer apparatus (24) that transfers the containers (W) supported by the shelf portions (11) to the support region (22) and transfers the containers (W) supported in the support region (22) to the shelf portions (11), and a lifting mechanism (25) that lifts a container (W) at any height among a container group (WG) stacked in the support region (22) with respect to a container (W) lower than the container (W) at that any height.

Abstract: Provided is an article transport apparatus which can transfer an article to a transfer target portion at a low height. A movable member having a support portion includes a transfer mechanism for moving an article between the support portion and a transfer target portion. The transfer mechanism includes an interlocking portion capable of being interlocked with an article along the front-and-back direction, a first guide portion for guiding the interlocking portion along the front-and-back direction, and a second actuator for moving the interlocking portion along the front-and-back direction. The transfer mechanism moves an article between the support portion and the transfer target portion by moving the interlocking portion along the front-and-back direction. The first guide portion and the second actuator are located higher than an article supported by the support portion.