Conveyance facility

Abstract

To provide a conveyance facility in which a container can be properly transferred between a container supporting base and a conveying vehicle.SOLUTION: A conveyance facility includes: a container supporting base 3 for supporting a container 2; a holding device for performing holding and holding release of the container 2; and a lifting device for lifting the holding device; and a conveyance vehicle for conveying the container 2. The holding device includes: a first supporting part 41 and a second supporting part which are a pair of supporting parts 40; a holding drive part for changing the posture of the pair of supporting parts 40 between a holding posture T1 for holding the container 2 and a holding release posture T2 for releasing the holding of the container 2; a first engagement part 44 fixed to the first supporting part 41; and a second engagement part fixed to the second supporting part. The container supporting base 3 includes: a container positioning part for positioning the container 2; a first part 31 to be engaged; and a second part to be engaged. At least one of the holding device and the container supporting base 3 includes: a first guiding part 7 for guiding the first engagement part 44 toward the first part 31 to be engaged; and a second guiding part for guiding the second engagement part toward the second part to be engaged.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a transport equipment comprising a container support stand that supports containers, a holding device that holds and releases the containers, and a transport vehicle that transports the containers and is equipped with a lifting device that raises and lowers the holding device. [Background technology]

[0002] For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2016-94263 (Patent Document 1) discloses a technology related to a conveying facility. In the following description of the background art, the reference numerals in parentheses refer to those in Patent Document 1.

[0003] The transport equipment of Patent Document 1 includes a container support table (support table 4) that supports containers (transported items 6), and a transport vehicle (ceiling transport vehicle 1) that transports the containers. The transport vehicle includes a holding device (support mechanism 23) that holds the containers, and a lifting device (lifting operation mechanism 24) that raises and lowers the holding device. In this transport equipment, containers are transferred between the transport vehicle and the container support table by raising and lowering the holding device between a transfer position, where the transport vehicle transports the containers, and a transfer position that corresponds to a container placed on the container support table below the transfer position. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2016-94263 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In a conveying facility such as that described in Patent Document 1, a pair of support parts that support the supported part of the container is provided in the holding device. The pair of support parts move toward and away from each other to change their posture between a posture in which the supported part can be supported from below and a posture in which support for the supported part is released. Furthermore, the supported part of the container is supported by the pair of support parts, so that the container is held in the holding device. Here, the container support table may be provided with a positioning part that positions the container. Therefore, if the supported part is not properly supported by the pair of support parts, it may not be possible to properly transfer the container to the container support table.

[0006] Therefore, there is a need for a transport facility that can appropriately transfer containers between the container support table and the transport vehicle. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] A transport facility according to the present disclosure includes a container support table that supports a container, a holding device that holds and releases the container, and a transport vehicle that transports the container and includes a lifting device that lifts and lowers the holding device, The holding device includes a first support portion and a second support portion which are a pair of support portions that support a supported portion of the container, a holding drive portion that changes the position of the pair of support portions to a holding position that holds the container and a holding release position that releases the holding of the container by moving the pair of support portions toward and away from each other, a first engagement portion fixed to the first support portion, and a second engagement portion fixed to the second support portion, the container support base includes a container positioning portion that positions the container, a first engaged portion whose position is fixed relative to the container positioning portion and that engages with the first engaging portion to position the first engaging portion, and a second engaged portion whose position is fixed relative to the container positioning portion and that engages with the second engaging portion to position the second engaging portion, An operation in which the pair of support parts change their posture from the holding release posture to the holding posture is defined as a holding operation. At least one of the holding device and the container support stand is equipped with a first guide portion that guides the first engaging portion, which moves in conjunction with the holding operation of the first support portion, toward the first engaged portion, and a second guide portion that guides the second engaging portion, which moves in conjunction with the holding operation of the second support portion, toward the second engaged portion.

[0008] According to this configuration, by utilizing the movement of the first engaging portion and the second engaging portion accompanying the holding operation of the first supporting portion and the second supporting portion of the holding device, the first engaging portion can be guided toward the first engaged portion by the first guide portion to engage the first engaging portion with the first engaged portion, and the second engaging portion can be guided toward the second engaged portion by the second guide portion to engage the second engaging portion with the second engaged portion. This allows the first engaging portion and the second engaging portion to be positioned at appropriate positions, and by extension, the first supporting portion to which the first engaging portion is fixed and the second supporting portion to which the second engaging portion is fixed can be positioned at appropriate positions with respect to the container positioned in the container positioning portion. Therefore, it becomes easy to appropriately support the container by the pair of supporting portions. Therefore, the holding device can be raised and lowered by the lifting device while appropriately holding the container. Thus, according to this configuration, containers can be appropriately transferred between the container support stand and the transport vehicle.

[0009] Further characteristics and advantages of the transport installation will become apparent from the following description of exemplary and non-limiting embodiments which are given with reference to the drawings. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] Side view of the transport facility [Diagram 2] Side view of the transport vehicle [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a side view showing a schematic diagram of the holding device, the container support stand, and the container; [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a side view showing a schematic diagram of the holding device, the container support stand, and the container; [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a pair of supporting portions and a supported portion; [Figure 6]FIG. 11 is a side view showing a state in which the first engaging portion is engaged with the first engaged portion; [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the first engaged portion and the first guiding portion; [Figure 8] 5 is a plan view of the second engaged portion and the second guiding portion; [Figure 9] Front sectional view of the first engaged portion [Figure 10] Control Block Diagram [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a plan view showing a first engaged portion and a first guide portion according to another embodiment; [Figure 12] FIG. 11 is a plan view showing a first engaged portion and a first guide portion according to another embodiment; [Figure 13] Enlarged view of a main part of the conveying equipment according to another embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] An embodiment of the transport equipment will be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, the transport equipment 1 includes a container support stand 3 that supports the container 2, and a transport vehicle 6 that transports the container 2. In this embodiment, the container support stand 3 is provided in a processing device 9. The processing device 9 is a device that processes the contents contained in the container 2. The transport vehicle 6 travels along a travel path to transport the container 2 toward a target transfer location. Examples of the target transfer location include a storage shelf (not shown) that stores the container 2, and the container support stand 3 of the processing device 9.

[0012] As shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, the travel path of the transport vehicle 6 is arranged along the ceiling. Here, rails 11 are provided along the travel path. In this example, the transport vehicle 6 travels while being guided by rails 11 (here, a pair of rails 11) suspended and supported from the ceiling. In this way, the transport vehicle 6 is a so-called ceiling transport vehicle, but is not limited to this.

[0013] In this example, the transfer facility 1 is provided with a plurality of processing devices 9 (only one of them is shown in the example of FIG. 1). The transfer vehicle 6 transfers the container 2 between the plurality of processing devices 9. Each of the plurality of processing devices 9 is provided with a container support stand 3. The container support stand 3 supports the container 2 transferred from the transfer vehicle 6. It also supports the container 2 carried out from the processing device 9. The transfer vehicle 6 stops at a position corresponding to the container support stand 3 on the travel path (a position directly above the container support stand 3) and transfers the container 2 between the transfer vehicle 6 and the container support stand 3. In this example, a container (FOSB: Front Opening Shipping Box) that stores semiconductor substrates is used as the container 2 to be transferred, but is not limited thereto. For example, the container 2 may be a (FOUP: Front Opening Unified Pod) or a reticle storage container (so-called reticle pod) that stores reticles. In the processing device 9, the semiconductor substrate stored in the container 2 is processed. The container support stand 3 is also provided with a transport device for transporting the containers 2 in and out of the inside of the processing device 9, but a description of the transport device will be omitted. The container support stand 3 described below may be provided on a storage shelf that stores the containers 2. In that case, the storage shelf may be installed on the floor or may be supported by being suspended from the ceiling. The container support stand 3 does not necessarily need to be provided with a transport device as described above.

[0014] 1 and 2, the transport vehicle 6 is equipped with a holding device 4 that holds and releases the container 2, and a lifting device 5 that raises and lowers the holding device 4. In this embodiment, the transport vehicle 6 further includes a running section 16, a main body section 19 that is connected to the running section 16 and that houses the container 2, and a control section H. The holding device 4 and the lifting device 5 are provided in the main body section 19.

[0015] 2, the traveling unit 16 includes wheels 17 that roll on the rails 11, and a traveling motor M1. In this example, the traveling motor M1 drives at least one of the wheels 17 to provide a propulsive force for the transport vehicle 6 to move while being guided by the pair of rails 11. The main body 19 is supported by the traveling unit 16, and is disposed below the traveling unit 16 with the rails 11 in between.

[0016] As shown in FIG. 1, the lifting device 5 lifts and lowers the container 2 held by the holding device 4 between a storage position V1 and a lowered position V2 below the storage position V1. When the transport vehicle 6 travels, the lifting device 5 lifts the container 2 held by the holding device 4 from the lowered position V2 to the storage position V1. When the container 2 is transferred from the transport vehicle 6 to the container support stand 3, the lifting device 5 lowers the container 2 held by the holding device 4 from the storage position V1 to the lowered position V2. The storage position V1 is a position where the main body 19 stores the container 2. In the example of FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, a cover 20 is provided on the main body 19. The cover 20 is attached so as to cover both outer sides of the main body 19 in the traveling direction of the transport vehicle 6. The container 2 is stored in a storage space that is lower than the main body 19 and covered by the cover 20. The storage position V1 is a position where the container 2 is stored in the storage space covered by the cover 20. The lowered position V2 is a position where the container 2 is supported by the container support stand 3. In the example of Fig. 1, the lowered position V2 is a position where the container 2 is placed in a predetermined area of ​​the container support stand 3 provided in the processing device 9. The specific configuration of the container support stand 3 will be described later. Note that the cover 20 is not necessarily provided.

[0017] In this example, the holding device 4 is configured to rise and fall with the rise and fall of the container 2. In the example of Fig. 2, the lifting device 5 includes a wound body 51 supported by the main body 19, a belt 52 wound around the wound body 51 and connected to the holding device 4 at its tip, and a lifting motor (not shown) that rotates the wound body 51 to drive the belt 52. The lifting device 5 lifts and lowers the holding device 4 and the container 2 held by the holding device 4 relative to the main body 19 by rotating the wound body 51 by driving the lifting motor and winding and unwinding the belt 52.

[0018] As shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 4, the holding device 4 includes a pair of support parts 40, a first support part 41 and a second support part 42, which are a pair of support parts 40 supporting the supported part 21 of the container 2, a holding drive part 43 for changing the posture of the pair of support parts 40, a first engagement part 44 fixed to the first support part 41, and a second engagement part 45 fixed to the second support part 42. In the following description, the direction in which the pair of support parts 40 approach and move away from each other is defined as the first direction X, and the direction perpendicular to the first direction X as viewed in the vertical direction Z is defined as the second direction Y. In addition, the side where the support part 40 in the holding release posture T2 is located with respect to the support part 40 in the holding posture T1 for each of the pair of support parts 40 is defined as the first direction release side X2, and the opposite side is defined as the first direction holding side X1. In addition, one side of the second direction Y is defined as the second direction first side Y1, and the opposite side is defined as the second direction second side Y2. Here, the first direction X and the second direction Y are defined as directions along a horizontal plane. The first direction X is the same as the traveling direction of the transport vehicle 6. In this embodiment, the first support part 41 and the second support part 42 are arranged to be spaced apart in the first direction X with the container 2 in the storage position V1 therebetween.

[0019] As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the holding drive unit 43 changes the posture of the pair of support parts 40 between a holding posture T1 for holding the container 2 and a holding release posture T2 for releasing the holding of the container 2 by moving the pair of support parts 40 (the first support part 41 and the second support part 42) toward and away from each other. In this embodiment, the holding drive unit 43 changes the posture of the pair of support parts 40 from the holding release posture T2 to the holding posture T1 by moving the pair of support parts 40 toward each other. In addition, the holding drive unit 43 changes the posture of the pair of support parts 40 from the holding posture T1 to the holding release posture T2 by moving the pair of support parts 40 away from each other. In this example, the holding drive unit 43 includes a linear guide mechanism 54 that guides each of the pair of support parts 40 in the first direction X, and a driving motor (not shown). The pair of support parts 40 are supported by the linear guide mechanism 54 (here, a linear rail). The pair of support parts 40 are connected to a driving motor via a ball screw (not shown). The ball screw is rotated by driving the driving motor, and the pair of support parts 40 move in the first direction X while being guided by the linear guide mechanism 54. In this way, the pair of support parts 40 move in the first direction X and approach and move away from each other, changing their posture between the holding posture T1 and the holding release posture T2. When the container 2 being transported by the transport vehicle 6 is transferred to the container support stand 3, the container 2 is lowered from the accommodation position V1 to the lowered position V2 while maintaining the holding posture T1 of the pair of support parts 40. Thereafter, the posture of the pair of support parts 40 is changed from the holding posture T1 to the holding release posture T2. As a result, the container 2 is supported by the container support stand 3. When the container 2 supported by the container support stand 3 is transferred to the transport vehicle 6, the posture of the pair of support parts 40 is changed from the holding release posture T2 to the holding posture T1, and then the container 2 is raised from the lowered position V2. As a result, the container 2 is supported by the pair of support parts 40. Thereafter, the container 2 is continuously raised to the storage position V1, and the transport vehicle 6 transports the container 2 to its next destination. The configuration of such a control will be described in detail later.

[0020] 1 to 4, the first support part 41 includes a first arm part 61 and a first support plate part 62. The second support part 42, like the first support part 41, also includes a second arm part 63 and a second support plate part 64. In this example, the first support part 41 and the second support part 42 have the same structure. Therefore, hereinafter, the configuration of the first support part 41 will be specifically described, and a description of the configuration of the second support part 42 may be omitted.

[0021] As shown in FIG. 2, FIG. 3, and FIG. 4, the first arm portion 61 is a plate-like member along the vertical direction Z and the second direction Y. The upper end of the first arm portion 61 is connected to the linear guide mechanism 54. In the illustrated example, the first arm portion 61 is connected to the linear guide mechanism 54 via a first connecting member 65. In addition, the first support plate portion 62 is connected to the lower end of the first arm portion 61. As shown in FIG. 5, the first support plate portion 62 is a plate-like member along the first direction X and the second direction Y. In this example, the first arm portion 61 is arranged so as to overlap with the side surface (the surface facing the first direction X) of the container 2 at the storage position V1 when viewed from the first direction X. In addition, the lower end of the first arm portion 61 is arranged below the supported portion 21 of the container 2 at the storage position V1. The first support plate portion 62 is positioned so as to protrude inward in the first direction X (the side facing the container 2 in the storage position V1) relative to the lower end of the first arm portion 61, and is positioned so as to overlap with the supported portion 21 of the container 2 when viewed in the vertical direction Z.

[0022] In this example, the supported portion 21 of the container 2 is the bottom 25 of the container 2. More specifically, the supported portion 21 is both ends of the bottom 25 in the first direction X. The supported portion 21 is the entire area overlapping the first support plate portion 62 and the second support plate portion 64 as viewed in the vertical direction Z when the container 2 is supported by the pair of support portions 40. Here, the supported portion 21 overlapping the first support plate portion 62 as viewed in the vertical direction Z is the first supported portion 21a, and the supported portion 21 overlapping the second support plate portion 64 as viewed in the vertical direction Z is the second supported portion 21b. The shape of the supported portion 21 can be changed as appropriate. For example, the supported portion 21 may be formed so as to be recessed upward from the bottom surface of the bottom 25 other than the supported portion 21, or may be formed as a plate-like member protruding outward in the first direction X with respect to the main body portion of the container 2 that accommodates the contents. In the illustrated example, the supported portion 21 is simply flat, as is the bottom surface of the bottom portion 25 other than the supported portion 21. In this embodiment, as shown in Figs. 3 to 5, the third engaged portion 23 and the fourth engaged portion 24 are provided on the supported portion 21 of the container 2. The third engaged portion 23 is provided on the first supported portion 21a, and the fourth engaged portion 24 is provided on the second supported portion 21b. In the illustrated example, each of the third engaged portion 23 and the fourth engaged portion 24 is an insertion hole recessed above the supported portion 21. In the example of Fig. 5, these insertion holes are formed in the center portion in the second direction Y in each of the first supported portion 21a and the second supported portion 21b. In the illustrated example, the container 2 is not provided with a flange protruding upward from the main body of the container 2, but the conveying equipment 1 of this embodiment may use a container 2 provided with a flange.

[0023] As shown in FIG. 3 to FIG. 5, the first support part 41 has a third engagement part 48 that engages with the third engaged part 23 provided on the supported part 21 of the container 2. The second support part 42 has a fourth engagement part 49 that engages with the fourth engaged part 24 provided on the supported part 21 of the container 2. The third engagement part 48 is provided on the first support plate part 62 of the first support part 41. The fourth engagement part 49 is provided on the second support plate part 64 of the second support part 42. Here, the third engagement part 48 is a pin that protrudes upward from the first support plate part 62. Similarly, the fourth engagement part 49 is a pin that protrudes upward from the second support plate part 64. In the illustrated example, a pin serving as the third engaging portion 48 is inserted into an insertion hole serving as the third engaged portion 23, thereby engaging the third engaging portion 48 with the third engaged portion 23, and a pin serving as the fourth engaging portion 49 is inserted into an insertion hole serving as the fourth engaged portion 24, thereby engaging the fourth engaging portion 49 with the fourth engaged portion 24. In the example of Fig. 5, the third engaging portion 48 is disposed in the center of the first support plate portion 62 in the second direction Y, and the fourth engaging portion 49 is disposed in the center of the second support plate portion 64 in the second direction Y.

[0024] As shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 5, each of the first engagement portion 44 and the second engagement portion 45 is formed in a convex shape protruding downward. The first engagement portion 44 is supported by the first arm portion 61 of the first support portion 41 via the first holding member 46. The second engagement portion 45 is supported by the second arm portion 63 of the second support portion 42 via the second holding member 47. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the first engagement portion 44 and the second engagement portion 45 are arranged on the inside in the first direction X from both outer end edges in the first direction X of the pair of supports 40. Also, the first engagement portion 44 and the second engagement portion 45 are arranged on the outside in the second direction first side Y1 from the end edge of the second direction first side Y1 of the pair of supports 40. In this example, the first engagement portion 44 is arranged on the first direction holding side X1 and the second direction first side Y1 with respect to the first arm portion 61 and the first support plate portion 62. The second engagement portion 45 is disposed on the first direction holding side X1 and the second direction first side Y1 relative to the second arm portion 63 and the second support plate portion 64. Therefore, the first holding member 46 and the second holding member 47 are provided so as to protrude inward in the first direction X (the first direction holding side X1) and toward the second direction first side Y1 relative to the pair of supports 40 (FIG. 5).

[0025] As described above, the first engagement portion 44 is fixed to the first support portion 41. Therefore, the first engagement portion 44 moves in the first direction X together with the first support portion 41. The second engagement portion 45 is fixed to the second support portion 42. Therefore, the second engagement portion 45 moves in the first direction X together with the second support portion 42. In this embodiment, the first engagement portion 44 and the second engagement portion 45 have the same structure. The first engagement portion 44 is a rod-shaped body that is long in the vertical direction Z. As shown in Figs. 2 to 4 and 6, the first engagement portion 44 is disposed such that the lower end of the first engagement portion 44 is located lower than the first support plate portion 62 in a state where it is supported by the first arm portion 61. Similarly, the second engagement portion 45 is a rod-shaped body that is long in the vertical direction Z. The second engagement portion 45 is arranged such that the lower end of the second engagement portion 45 is located lower than the second support plate portion 64 in a state where it is supported by the second arm portion 63. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, the lower portion of the first engagement portion 44 is formed in a tapered shape in which the horizontal dimension decreases toward the lower side over the entire circumferential area. The first engagement portion 44 thus has a first engagement guide surface 71 formed in a tapered shape over the entire circumference in the circumferential direction. The lower portion of the second engagement portion 45 is formed in a tapered shape in which the horizontal dimension decreases toward the lower side over the entire circumferential area. The second engagement portion 45 thus has a second engagement guide surface 81 formed in a tapered shape over the entire circumference in the circumferential direction (FIGS. 3 and 4). In the example of FIG. 2 to FIG. 4, a pressing member 57 is provided in the holding device 4. The pressing member 57 is disposed below the holding drive portion 43 and between the pair of support portions 40. The pressing member 57 comes into contact with the upper surface of the container 2 when the container 2 is supported by the pair of support parts 40. The pressing member 57 can stably support the container 2 held by the holding device 4.

[0026] As shown in Figs. 3 to 6, the container support base 3 includes a container positioning portion 30 for positioning the container 2, a first engaged portion 31 whose position relative to the container positioning portion 30 is fixed and which engages with the first engaging portion 44 to position the first engaging portion 44, and a second engaged portion 32 whose position relative to the container positioning portion 30 is fixed and which engages with the second engaging portion 45 to position the second engaging portion 45. The first engaged portion 31 and the second engaged portion 32 are disposed on the container support base 3 so as to correspond to the first engaging portion 44 and the second engaging portion 45 of the pair of support portions 40 in the holding posture T1. To be more specific, the first engaged portion 31 and the second engaged portion 32 are disposed apart in the first direction X with the container positioning portion 30 therebetween. The first engaged portion 31 and the second engaged portion 32 are disposed on the first side Y1 in the second direction with respect to the container positioning portion 30. The container positioning portion 30, the first engaged portion 31, and the second engaged portion 32 are each provided on the upper surface of the container support stand 3. In this example, the container positioning portion 30 has a plurality of pins (e.g., kinematic pins) for positioning the container 2 placed on the container support stand 3. In the illustrated example, the container positioning portion 30 (i.e., the plurality of pins) is provided on a support body portion 29 provided on the upper surface of the container support stand 3. As shown in FIG. 5, a plurality of engagement holes 22 for engaging with each of the plurality of pins are formed in the bottom portion 25 of the container 2. Then, with the pins serving as the container positioning portion 30 engaged with the engagement holes 22, the container 2 is supported on the container support stand 3 (here, the support body portion 29).

[0027] As shown in FIG. 6 to FIG. 9, each of the first engaged portion 31 and the second engaged portion 32 is formed in a concave shape that opens toward the upper side. When the pair of support portions 40 is in the holding posture T1, the first engaged portion 31 can be engaged with the convex first engaging portion 44, and the second engaged portion 32 can be engaged with the convex second engaging portion 45. Specifically, the first engaging portion 44 can be inserted from above into the first engaged portion 31 and engaged therewith, and the second engaging portion 45 can be inserted from above into the second engaged portion 32 and engaged therewith. In the following, such an engaged state may be simply referred to as an "engaged state". Also, a state that is not an "engaged state" may be simply referred to as a "non-engaged state". In this embodiment, the first engaged portion 31 and the second engaged portion 32 are also open to the first direction release side X2. Therefore, the first engaged portion 31 and the second engaged portion 32 in the engaged state are not restricted from moving toward the first direction release side X2. Therefore, each of the first engaged portion 31 and the second engaged portion 32 in the engaged state can move toward the first direction release side X2 as the pair of support portions 40 change their posture from the holding posture T1 to the holding release posture T2. Also, each of the first engaged portion 31 and the second engaged portion 32 in the disengaged state can move toward the first direction holding side X1 as the pair of support portions 40 change their posture from the holding release posture T2 to the holding posture T1. Here, each of the first engaged portion 31 and the second engaged portion 32 does not open to the first direction holding side X1. Therefore, when the first engaging portion 44 engages with the first engaged portion 31, it is restricted from moving further toward the first direction holding side X1. Similarly, when the second engaging portion 45 engages with the second engaged portion 32, it is restricted from moving further toward the first direction holding side X1. In this manner, the first engaging portion 44 and the second engaging portion 45 in the engaged state are positioned. In this example, the first engaged portion 31 and the second engaged portion 32 also restrict the movement of the first engaging portion 44 and the second engaging portion 45 in the second direction Y, respectively.

[0028] As shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 3, FIG. 4, and FIG. 6, in this example, the container support table 3 includes a first guide member 12 and a second guide member 13. The first engaged portion 31 is formed in the first guide member 12. The second engaged portion 32 is formed in the second guide member 13. The first guide member 12 and the second guide member 13 each have a groove portion 14 that is open at the top. Here, the groove portion 14 is formed so as to be open only at the top. The first guide member 12 and the second guide member 13 are provided on the upper surface of the container support table 3, and are arranged separately in the first direction X with the support body portion 29 in between. In the illustrated example, such a groove portion 14 is formed so as to include the entire area of ​​the movement trajectory in the first direction X of the first engagement portion 44 or the second engagement portion 45, so that the first engagement portion 44 or the second engagement portion 45 inserted from above into the groove portion 14 can move in the first direction X. In the example of FIG. 7, a first engaged portion 31 is formed at an end of the groove portion 14 of the first guide member 12 on the first direction holding side X1. The shape of the first engaged portion 31 as viewed in the vertical direction Z is formed to have a shape (here, a circular arc shape) corresponding to the shape of the first engaging portion 44 as viewed in the vertical direction Z. Moreover, the size of the first engaged portion 31 as viewed in the vertical direction Z is set to correspond to the size of the first engaging portion 44 as viewed in the vertical direction Z. In the example of FIG. 8, a second engaged portion 32 is formed at an end of the groove portion 14 of the second guide member 13 on the first direction holding side X1. The shape of the second engaged portion 32 as viewed in the vertical direction Z is formed to have a shape (here, a circular arc shape) corresponding to the shape of the second engaging portion 45 as viewed in the vertical direction Z. Moreover, the size of the second engaged portion 32 as viewed in the vertical direction Z is set to correspond to the size of the second engaging portion 45 as viewed in the vertical direction Z. The first guide member 12 and the second guide member 13 have the same structure. Therefore, the configuration of the first guide member 12 will be specifically described, and the description of the configuration of the second guide member 13 may be omitted.

[0029] As shown in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, the action of changing the posture of the pair of support parts 40 from the holding release posture T2 to the holding posture T1 is defined as a holding action, and at least one of the holding device 4 and the container support base 3 is provided with a first guide part 7 that guides the first engaging part 44, which moves with the holding action of the first support part 41, toward the first engaged part 31, and a second guide part 8 that guides the second engaging part 45, which moves with the holding action of the second support part 42, toward the second engaged part 32. In this embodiment, the container support base 3 is provided with the first guide part 7 and the second guide part 8. Specifically, the first guide part 7 is formed in the first guide member 12, and the second guide part 8 is formed in the second guide member 13. The holding device 4 is also provided with the first guide part 7 and the second guide part 8. Specifically, the first guide part 7 is formed in the first engaging part 44, and the second guide part 8 is formed in the second engaging part 45. In this embodiment, the first guide section 7 guides the first engagement section 44 that moves with the holding operation of the first support section 41, and also guides the first engagement section 44 that moves with the lowering operation of the holding device 4. Here, the former guidance is performed by the first guide section 7 provided on the container support stand 3, and the latter guidance is performed by cooperation between the first guide section 7 provided on the container support stand 3 and the first guide section 7 provided on the holding device 4. Moreover, the second guide section 8 guides the second engagement section 45 that moves with the lowering operation of the holding device 4, in addition to guiding the second engagement section 45 that moves with the holding operation of the second support section 42. Here, the former guidance is performed by the second guide section 8 provided on the container support stand 3, and the latter guidance is performed by cooperation between the second guide section 8 provided on the container support stand 3 and the second guide section 8 provided on the holding device 4.

[0030] As shown in FIG. 9, in this embodiment, the first guide portion 7 includes at least one of a tapered guide surface (first engaging guide surface 71) formed on the lower portion of the first engaging portion 44 and having a horizontal dimension that decreases toward the lower side, and a tapered guide surface (first engaged guide surface 72) formed on the upper portion of the first engaged portion 31 and having a horizontal dimension that increases toward the upper side. The second guide portion 8 includes at least one of a tapered guide surface (second engaging guide surface 81) formed on the lower portion of the second engaging portion 45 and having a horizontal dimension that decreases toward the lower side, and a tapered guide surface (second engaged guide surface 82) formed on the upper portion of the second engaged portion 32 and having a horizontal dimension that increases toward the upper side. In this example, the first guide portion 7 includes both the first engaging guide surface 71 and the first engaged guide surface 72. Similarly, the second guide portion 8 includes both the second engaging guide surface 81 and the second engaged guide surface 82. The first guide portion 7 and the second guide portion 8 have the same structure. Therefore, the specific configuration of the first guide portion 7 will be described, and the description of the configuration of the second guide portion 8 will be omitted. As described above, the first engaging guide surface 71 is formed in a tapered shape in which the horizontal dimension decreases toward the lower side over the entire circumferential area of ​​the lower portion of the first engaging portion 44. In the illustrated example, the portion of the first engaging portion 44 where the first engaging guide surface 71 is arranged is formed in a truncated cone shape when viewed in the horizontal direction. The first engaged guide surface 72 is formed in the groove portion 14 in the first guide member 12 where the first engaged portion 31 is formed. In the example of FIG. 9, the groove portion 14 in the first engaging portion 44 is formed so that the upper portion is wider in the horizontal direction than the lower portion when viewed in the first direction X, and more specifically, is formed in a Y-shape. The first engaged guide surface 72 is formed in an upper portion of the Y-shaped groove portion 14. In the example of Fig. 6 and Fig. 7, the first engaged guide surface 72 is formed in an arc shape corresponding to the shape of the first engaged portion 31. In the example of Fig. 7 and Fig. 8, the cross-sectional shape of each of the groove portions 14 of the first guide member 12 and the second guide member 13 is Y-shaped when viewed in the first direction X at any position in the first direction X.

[0031] In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, the first guide portion 7 is connected to the first engaged portion 31 and has a pair of first guide surfaces 74 formed in a tapered shape that widens in the second direction Y as it approaches the first direction release side X2. Also, as shown in FIG. 8, the second guide portion 8 is connected to the second engaged portion 32 and has a pair of second guide surfaces 84 formed in a tapered shape that widens in the second direction Y as it approaches the first direction X release side. As described above, the first guide portion 7 and the second guide portion 8 have the same structure. Therefore, a description of the specific configuration of the second guide surface 84 will be omitted. In this example, the pair of first guide surfaces 74 are arranged separately in the second direction Y with the groove portion 14 between them. Also, in this example, the pair of first guide surfaces 74 are formed continuously from the first engaged portion 31 and the first engaged guide surface 72. 7, the pair of first guide surfaces 74 are formed continuously from both ends in the second direction Y and the ends of the first direction releasing side X2 of the first engaged portion 31 and the first engaged guide surface 72 toward the first direction releasing side X2. In this example, the pair of first guide surfaces 74 are further formed in a tapered shape that widens in the second direction Y as it approaches the upper side. In this way, the first guide surface 74 is an inclined surface that widens in the second direction Y as it approaches the first direction releasing side X2 and the upper side.

[0032] In this example, as shown in FIG. 7, the first guide member 12 further includes a first release side positioning portion 33 and a first release side guide portion 35. Also, as shown in FIG. 8, the second guide member 13 further includes a second release side positioning portion 36 and a second release side guide portion 38. The first release side positioning portion 33, the first release side guide portion 35, the second release side positioning portion 36, and the second release side guide portion 38 are each formed in the groove portion 14. The configurations of the first release side positioning portion 33 and the first release side guide portion 35 are the same as those of the second release side positioning portion 36 and the second release side guide portion 38. Therefore, a description of the specific configurations of the second release side positioning portion 36 and the second release side guide portion 38 will be omitted. In the illustrated example, the first release side positioning portion 33 is formed at the end of the first direction release side X2 of the groove portion 14 of the first guide member 12. As described above, the groove portion 14 is open only on the upper side. Therefore, when the first engagement portion 44 is inserted into the end of the first direction release side X2 of the groove portion 14, the first engagement portion 44 is restricted by the first release side positioning portion 33 from moving further toward the first direction release side X2 than the first release side positioning portion 33. Similarly, the second engagement portion 45 is restricted by the second release side positioning portion 36 from moving further toward the first direction release side X2 than the second release side positioning portion 36. Note that, like the first engaged portion 31, the first release side positioning portion 33 is formed in an arc shape according to the shape and size of the first engagement portion 44. Also, the first release side guide portion 35 is formed in the groove portion 14 of the first guide member 12 so as to connect the pair of first guide surfaces 74 and the first release side positioning portion 33. That is, the groove portion 14 is formed with a pair of first release side guide portions 35. Ends of the pair of first release side guide portions 35 on the first direction releasing side X2 are formed in a tapered shape that widens in the second direction Y as it approaches the first direction holding side X1, and guide the first engagement portion 44 moving from the first direction holding side X1 to the first release side positioning portion 33. Furthermore, the portion of the pair of first release side guide portions 35 on the first direction holding side X1 beyond the ends of the first direction releasing side X2 is formed to extend along the first direction X. Furthermore, a tapered guide surface (first release side guide surface 34) whose horizontal dimension increases as it approaches the upper side is formed over the entire area above the first release side positioning portion 33 and the first release side guide portions 35.The first engaged guide surface 72 may be a surface including the first release side guide surface 34. As shown in Fig. 8, a tapered guide surface (second release side guide surface 37) whose horizontal dimension increases toward the upper side is also formed over the entire area above the second release side positioning portion 36 and the second release side guide portion 38. The second engaged guide surface 82 may be a surface including the second release side guide surface 37.

[0033] In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 10, the control unit H controls the traveling unit 16, the lifting device 5, and the holding drive unit 43. The control unit H is connected to a host controller C that controls the entire transport facility 1 so as to be able to communicate with each other. The control unit H is configured to control the traveling unit 16, the lifting device 5, and the holding drive unit 43 according to the contents of the command acquired from the host controller C. The control unit H executes a transport control for transporting the container 2 between a plurality of processing devices 9, and a transfer control for transferring the container 2 between the container support table 3. In the transport control, the control unit H controls the traveling unit 16 (traveling motor M1) to move the transport vehicle 6 toward the processing device 9 to be transferred, in response to a transport command from the host controller C. Then, the control unit H stops the transport vehicle 6 at a stop position (a position directly above the support body part 29 of the container support table 3) corresponding to the container support table 3 of the processing device 9 to be transferred.

[0034] After that, the control unit H executes transfer control for the stopped transport vehicle 6. Here, the control for transferring the container 2 placed on the container support stand 3 to the transport vehicle 6 will be described. The control unit H controls the lifting device 5 to lower the holding device 4 toward the container support stand 3. At that time, the pair of support parts 40 are in the holding release posture T2. As shown in FIG. 6, the control unit H lowers the holding device 4 so that the first support plate part 62 and the second support plate part 64 are positioned below the bottom part 25 (supported part 21) of the container 2 supported by the support main body part 29. When the holding device 4 is lowered in this manner, the first engagement part 44 of the first support part 41 is inserted into the first release side positioning part 33 formed in the groove part 14 of the first guide member 12 (FIG. 6). Similarly, the second engagement part 45 of the second support part 42 is inserted into the second release side positioning part 36 formed in the groove part 14 of the second guide member 13. Thereafter, the control unit H controls the holding drive unit 43 to perform a holding operation. That is, the control unit H controls the holding drive unit 43 to change the posture of the pair of support parts 40 from the holding release posture T2 to the holding posture T1. Here, with the posture change of the pair of support parts 40, the first engagement part 44 and the second engagement part 45 move along the movement path in the groove part 14 from the first direction release side X2 to the first direction holding side X1. When the posture of the pair of support parts 40 changes to the holding posture T1, the first engagement part 44 engages with the first engaged part 31 of the first guide member 12. Specifically, the first engagement part 44 moves from the first release side positioning part 33 along the first direction X and abuts against the end part of the first direction holding side X1 of the groove part 14 of the first guide member 12, which is the first engaged part 31 (FIG. 6). Similarly, the second engaging portion 45 also moves from the second release side positioning portion 36 along the first direction X to come into contact with the end of the groove portion 14 of the second guide member 13, which is the second engaged portion 32, on the first direction holding side X1. Next, the control portion H controls the lifting device 5 to lift the holding device 4. As a result, the pair of support portions 40 are lifted, and the supported portion 21 of the container 2 is supported by the pair of support portions 40. As shown in FIG. 6, in this embodiment, the first supporting portion 41 and the second supporting portion 42, which have been brought into the holding posture T1 by the holding operation below the supported portion 21 of the container 2, are lifted by the lifting device 5, so that the third engaging portion 48 engages with the third engaged portion 23 and the fourth engaging portion 49 engages with the fourth engaged portion 24.Specifically, the third engagement portion 48 of the first support plate portion 62 engages with the third engaged portion 23 formed on the first supported portion 21a of the container 2. Similarly, the fourth engagement portion 49 of the second support plate portion 64 engages with the fourth engaged portion 24 formed on the second supported portion 21b of the container 2. As a result, the container 2 is supported by the pair of support portions 40. The control portion H controls the lifting device 5 to continue to lift the holding device 4. As a result, the container 2 is lifted relative to the container support base 3 (here, the support main body portion 29) and moves from the lowered position V2 (FIG. 1) to the storage position V1 (FIG. 2).

[0035] When the container 2 supported by the container support stand 3 rises to the storage position V1, the control unit H causes the transport vehicle 6 to travel in accordance with the next transport command.

[0036] Other embodiments (1) In the above embodiment, the first guide member 12 further includes the first release side positioning portion 33 and the first release side guide portion 35, and the first release side positioning portion 33 is formed in an arc shape corresponding to the shape and size of the first engagement portion 44 in the groove portion 14, and the second guide member 13 further includes the second release side positioning portion 36 and the second release side guide portion 38, and the second release side positioning portion 36 is formed in an arc shape corresponding to the shape and size of the second engagement portion 45 in the groove portion 14. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The shapes and sizes of the first release side positioning portion 33 and the second release side positioning portion 36 can be appropriately changed as necessary. One such example is shown in FIG. 11. In FIG. 11, the shape of the first release side positioning portion 33 is an arc shape corresponding to the shape of the first engagement portion 44, but the dimension of the first release side positioning portion 33 in the second direction Y is larger than the dimension of the first engagement portion 44 in the second direction Y. Therefore, the entire area of ​​the first release side guide portion 35 in the first direction X is formed in a tapered shape that narrows in the second direction Y toward the first direction holding side X1. Also, as shown in an example in FIG. 12, the groove portion 14 of the first guide member 12 may be formed so as to open to the first direction release side X2 in addition to the upper side. In this manner, a configuration in which the first release side guide portion 35 is not formed on the first guide member 12 may be used. The second guide member 13 may also be configured in a similar manner to the first guide member 12.

[0037] (2) In the above embodiment, the first engaging portion 44 and the second engaging portion 45 are each formed in a convex shape protruding downward, and the first engaged portion 31 and the second engaged portion 32 are each formed in a concave shape opening upward. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The first engaging portion 44 and the second engaging portion 45 may each be formed in a concave shape opening downward, and the first engaged portion 31 and the second engaged portion 32 may each be formed in a convex shape protruding upward. One such example is shown in FIG. 13. In FIG. 13, the first guide member 12 is attached to the first support portion 41. The groove portion 14 of the first guide member 12 opens downward. When the pair of support portions 40 is in the holding release posture T2, the convex first engaged portion 31 is engaged with the end of the groove portion 14 on the first direction holding side X1. As the pair of support parts 40 change their posture from the hold release posture T2 to the hold posture T1, the first guide member 12 moves from the first direction release side X2 to the first direction hold side X1. When the pair of support parts 40 reach the hold posture T1, the convex first engaged part 31 engages with the first engaged part 31 formed at the end of the first direction release side X2 of the groove part 14. In this manner, the engagement mechanism between the first engaging part 44 and the first engaged part 31 and the engagement mechanism between the second engaging part 45 and the second engaged part 32 can be changed as appropriate.

[0038] (3) In the above embodiment, the holding device 4 and the container support stand 3 are both provided with the first guide portion 7 and the second guide portion 8, the first guide portion 7 is formed on both the first engaging portion 44 and the first engaged portion 31, and the second guide portion 8 is formed on both the second engaging portion 45 and the second engaged portion 32. However, the present invention is not limited to this. In this case, the first guide portion 7 and the second guide portion 8 may be provided only on the container support stand 3. For example, the first engaged guide surface 72 as the first guide portion 7 may be formed on the first engaged portion 31, and the second engaged guide surface 82 as the second guide portion 8 may be formed on the second engaged portion 32, while the first engaging portion 44 may not have the first engaging guide surface 71, and the second engaging portion 45 may not have the second engaging guide surface 81. In this case, the lower portions of the first engaging portion 44 and the second engaging portion 45 may be shaped like a column (a circular column, a polygonal column, etc.).

[0039] (4) In the above embodiment, the first engagement portion 44 and the second engagement portion 45 are disposed on the inside in the first direction X of both outer edges in the first direction X of the pair of support portions 40. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the first engagement portion 44 and the second engagement portion 45 may be disposed on the outside in the first direction X of both outer edges in the first direction X of the pair of support portions 40. Also, only one of the first engagement portion 44 and the second engagement portion 45 may be disposed on the inside in the first direction X of both outer edges in the first direction X of the pair of support portions 40. In this way, the respective arrangements of the first engagement portion 44 and the second engagement portion 45 can be changed as appropriate.

[0040] (5) In the above embodiment, the first guide portion 7 includes a pair of first guide surfaces 74 connected to the first engaged portion 31 and tapered in the second direction Y toward the first direction release side X2, and the second guide portion 8 includes a pair of second guide surfaces 84 connected to the second engaged portion 32 and tapered in the second direction Y toward the first direction X release side. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The first guide portion 7 may not include a pair of first guide surfaces 74, and the second guide portion 8 may not include a pair of second guide surfaces 84. Alternatively, the pair of first guide surfaces 74 may be arranged parallel to each other along the first direction X, and the pair of second guide surfaces 84 may be arranged parallel to each other along the first direction X. In this way, each of the first guide surfaces 74 and the second guide surfaces 84 may not necessarily be tapered.

[0041] (6) In the above embodiment, the first support portion 41 includes the third engaging portion 48 that engages with the third engaged portion 23 provided on the supported portion 21 of the container 2, and the second support portion 42 includes the fourth engaging portion 49 that engages with the fourth engaged portion 24 provided on the supported portion 21 of the container 2. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The first support portion 41 may not include the third engaging portion 48, and the second support portion 42 may not include the fourth engaging portion 49. Meanwhile, in this example, the first support portion 41 includes one third engaging portion 48, and the second support portion 42 includes one fourth engaging portion 49. However, the first support portion 41 may include a plurality of third engaging portions 48, and the second support portion 42 may include a plurality of fourth engaging portions 49. Furthermore, in this example, the third engaging portion 48 is provided on the first support plate portion 62, and the fourth engaging portion 49 is provided on the second support plate portion 64, but the third engaging portion 48 may be provided on the first arm portion 61, and the fourth engaging portion 49 may be provided on the second arm portion 63. In this case, the positions at which the third engaged portion 23 and the fourth engaged portion 24 are formed on the container 2 can be appropriately changed depending on the locations at which the third engaging portion 48 and the fourth engaging portion 49 are provided.

[0042] (7) Note that the configurations disclosed in the above-described embodiments can be applied in combination with configurations disclosed in other embodiments (including combinations of the embodiments described as other embodiments) as long as no contradiction occurs. Regarding other configurations, the embodiments disclosed in this specification are merely examples in all respects. Therefore, various modifications can be made as appropriate within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0043] Summary of the above embodiment The above-described transport equipment will now be summarized.

[0044] A transport facility according to the present disclosure includes a container support table that supports a container, a holding device that holds and releases the container, and a transport vehicle that transports the container and includes a lifting device that lifts and lowers the holding device, The holding device includes a first support portion and a second support portion which are a pair of support portions that support a supported portion of the container, a holding drive portion that changes the position of the pair of support portions to a holding position that holds the container and a holding release position that releases the holding of the container by moving the pair of support portions toward and away from each other, a first engagement portion fixed to the first support portion, and a second engagement portion fixed to the second support portion, the container support base includes a container positioning portion that positions the container, a first engaged portion whose position is fixed relative to the container positioning portion and that engages with the first engaging portion to position the first engaging portion, and a second engaged portion whose position is fixed relative to the container positioning portion and that engages with the second engaging portion to position the second engaging portion, An operation in which the pair of support parts change their posture from the holding release posture to the holding posture is defined as a holding operation. At least one of the holding device and the container support stand is equipped with a first guide portion that guides the first engaging portion, which moves in conjunction with the holding operation of the first support portion, toward the first engaged portion, and a second guide portion that guides the second engaging portion, which moves in conjunction with the holding operation of the second support portion, toward the second engaged portion.

[0045] According to this configuration, by utilizing the movement of the first engaging portion and the second engaging portion accompanying the holding operation of the first supporting portion and the second supporting portion of the holding device, the first engaging portion can be guided toward the first engaged portion by the first guide portion to engage the first engaging portion with the first engaged portion, and the second engaging portion can be guided toward the second engaged portion by the second guide portion to engage the second engaging portion with the second engaged portion. This allows the first engaging portion and the second engaging portion to be positioned at appropriate positions, and by extension, the first supporting portion to which the first engaging portion is fixed and the second supporting portion to which the second engaging portion is fixed can be positioned at appropriate positions with respect to the container positioned in the container positioning portion. Therefore, it becomes easy to appropriately support the container by the pair of supporting portions. Therefore, the holding device can be raised and lowered by the lifting device while appropriately holding the container. Thus, according to this configuration, containers can be appropriately transferred between the container support stand and the transport vehicle.

[0046] Here, each of the first engagement portion and the second engagement portion is formed in a convex shape protruding downward, It is preferable that each of the first engaged portion and the second engaged portion is formed in a concave shape that opens upward.

[0047] According to this configuration, the first engaging portion fixed to the first support portion engages with the first engaged portion of the container support stand from above. Also, the second engaging portion fixed to the second support portion engages with the second engaged portion of the container support stand from above. Therefore, the first engaging portion and the second engaging portion can be positioned at appropriate positions with a relatively simple configuration. And, because the first engaging portion and the second engaging portion are each formed in a convex shape, it is easier to reduce the size and weight of the holding device compared to when they are formed in a concave shape, for example.

[0048] The first guide portion includes at least one of a tapered guide surface formed on a lower portion of the first engaging portion and having a horizontal dimension that decreases toward the lower side, and a tapered guide surface formed on an upper portion of the first engaged portion and having a horizontal dimension that increases toward the upper side, It is preferable that the second guide portion has at least one of a tapered guide surface formed on the lower part of the second engaging portion and having a horizontal dimension that decreases toward the lower side, and a tapered guide surface formed on the upper part of the second engaged portion and having a horizontal dimension that increases toward the upper side.

[0049] According to this configuration, while the holding device is descending to hold or release the container, the first and second engagement parts can be guided toward appropriate positions by the first and second guide parts. This allows the first support part to which the first engagement part is fixed and the second support part to which the second engagement part is fixed to be positioned at appropriate positions relative to the container positioning part. This makes it easier for the holding device to properly perform operations to hold and release the container.

[0050] In addition, a direction in which the pair of support parts approach and move away from each other is defined as a first direction, It is preferable that the first engagement portion and the second engagement portion are disposed on the inside in the first direction relative to both outer end edges in the first direction of the pair of support portions.

[0051] According to this configuration, the holding device can be easily made smaller in size in the first direction, and therefore the container supported by the container support stand can be easily held and released without being hindered by obstacles around the container support stand.

[0052] Further, the container support table includes the first guide portion and the second guide portion, A direction in which the pair of support parts approach and move away from each other is defined as a first direction, a direction perpendicular to the first direction when viewed in the up-down direction is defined as a second direction, and a side on which the support part in the holding release position is located relative to the support part in the holding position for each of the pair of support parts is defined as a first direction release side, The first engaged portion and the second engaged portion are also open to the first direction release side, the first guide portion includes a pair of first guide surfaces that are connected to the first engaged portion and are tapered to widen in the second direction toward the first direction release side, It is preferable that the second guide portion includes a pair of second guide surfaces that are connected to the second engaged portion and are tapered so as to widen in the second direction toward the first direction release side.

[0053] According to this configuration, a configuration can be simply realized in which, by utilizing the movement of the first engaging portion and the second engaging portion in the first direction accompanying the holding action of the first support portion and the second support portion, the first guiding portion can guide the first engaging portion toward the first engaged portion to engage the first engaging portion with the first engaged portion, and the second guiding portion can guide the second engaging portion toward the second engaged portion to engage the second engaging portion with the second engaged portion.

[0054] The first support portion includes a third engaging portion that engages with a third engaged portion provided on the supported portion of the container, the second support portion includes a fourth engaging portion that engages with a fourth engaged portion provided on the supported portion of the container, It is preferable that the first supporting portion and the second supporting portion, which are placed in the holding posture by the holding operation below the supported portion of the container, are raised by the lifting device, so that the third engaging portion engages with the third engaged portion and the fourth engaging portion engages with the fourth engaged portion.

[0055] According to this configuration, the pair of support parts are appropriately supported with respect to the container positioned by the container positioning part, so that the third engaging part can be easily engaged with the third engaged part, and the fourth engaging part can be easily engaged with the fourth engaged part. Then, by the third engaging part engaging with the third engaged part and the fourth engaging part engaging with the fourth engaged part, the held container can be raised relative to the container support stand while being maintained in an appropriate posture.

[0056] It is sufficient for the transport facility according to the present disclosure to achieve at least one of the above-mentioned effects. [Explanation of symbols]

[0057] 1:Transportation equipment 2: Container 3: Container support stand 4: Holding device 5: Lifting device 6: Transport vehicle 7:1st information section 8:Second information section 21: Supported part 23: Third engaged part 24: 4th engaged part 30: Container positioning section 31: First engaged part 32: Second engaged part 40: Support part 41: 1st support part 42:Second support part 43: Holding drive unit 44: First engagement portion 45: Second engagement portion 48: Third engagement part 49: Fourth engagement part 71: First engagement guide surface 72: First engaged guide surface 74: First guide surface 81: Second engagement guide surface 82: Second engaged guide surface 84: Second guide surface T1: Holding posture T2: Hold release posture X: 1st direction X2: 1st direction release side Y: Second direction Z: Vertical direction

Claims

1. A transport facility including a container support table that supports a container, a holding device that holds and releases the container, and a transport vehicle that transports the container and is equipped with a lifting device that raises and lowers the holding device, The holding device includes a first support portion and a second support portion which are a pair of support portions that support a supported portion of the container, a holding drive portion which changes the position of the pair of support portions to a holding position in which the container is held and a holding release position in which the holding of the container is released by moving the pair of support portions toward and away from each other, a first engagement portion fixed to the first support portion, and a second engagement portion fixed to the second support portion, the container support base includes a container positioning portion that positions the container, a first engaged portion whose position is fixed relative to the container positioning portion and that engages with the first engaging portion to position the first engaging portion, and a second engaged portion whose position is fixed relative to the container positioning portion and that engages with the second engaging portion to position the second engaging portion, An operation in which the pair of support parts change their posture from the holding release posture to the holding posture is defined as a holding operation. A conveying equipment, wherein at least one of the holding device and the container support stand is equipped with a first guide portion that guides the first engaging portion, which moves in conjunction with the holding operation of the first support portion, toward the first engaged portion, and a second guide portion that guides the second engaging portion, which moves in conjunction with the holding operation of the second support portion, toward the second engaged portion.

2. Each of the first engagement portion and the second engagement portion is formed in a convex shape protruding downward, The conveying facility according to claim 1 , wherein each of the first engaged portion and the second engaged portion is formed in a concave shape that opens upward.

3. the first guide portion includes at least one of a tapered guide surface formed on a lower portion of the first engaging portion and having a horizontal dimension that decreases toward the lower side, and a tapered guide surface formed on an upper portion of the first engaged portion and having a horizontal dimension that increases toward the upper side, 3. The conveying equipment according to claim 2, wherein the second guide portion has at least one of a tapered guide surface formed on the lower part of the second engaging portion and having a horizontal dimension that decreases toward the lower side, and a tapered guide surface formed on the upper part of the second engaged portion and having a horizontal dimension that increases toward the upper side.

4. A direction in which the pair of support portions approach and move away from each other is defined as a first direction, The conveying facility according to claim 3 , wherein the first engagement portion and the second engagement portion are disposed on the inside in the first direction relative to both outer end edges in the first direction of the pair of support portions.

5. The container support table includes the first guide portion and the second guide portion, A direction in which the pair of support parts approach and move away from each other is defined as a first direction, a direction perpendicular to the first direction as viewed in the up-down direction is defined as a second direction, and a side on which the support part in the holding release posture is located relative to the support part in the holding posture for each of the pair of support parts is defined as a first direction release side, the first engaged portion and the second engaged portion are also open to the first direction release side, the first guide portion includes a pair of first guide surfaces that are connected to the first engaged portion and are tapered to widen in the second direction toward the first direction release side, The conveying equipment according to claim 2 , wherein the second guide portion has a pair of second guide surfaces that are connected to the second engaged portion and are tapered so as to widen in the second direction as they approach the first direction release side.

6. the first support portion includes a third engaging portion that engages with a third engaged portion provided on the supported portion of the container, the second support portion includes a fourth engaging portion that engages with a fourth engaged portion provided on the supported portion of the container, The conveying equipment of claim 1, wherein the first support portion and the second support portion, which are placed in the holding posture by the holding operation below the supported portion of the container, are raised by the lifting device, so that the third engagement portion engages with the third engaged portion and the fourth engagement portion engages with the fourth engaged portion.

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