Non-contact power supply equipment

Abstract

To provide a contactless power feeder that can avoid, when one of slave units connected in series fails, the state in which all power supplies connected to the failed slave unit and the slave units downstream from the failed slave unit are asynchronous with one another.SOLUTION: Multiple slave units 8 include a target unit including a switcher 800 that switches between a first mode in which a synchronization signal input into an input unit 80 is transmitted to a processor 81 and output from the processor 81 to an output unit 82 and a second mode in which the synchronization signal input into the input unit 80 is transmitted to the output unit 82 bypassing through the processor 81. The switcher 800 switches to the first mode when the processor 81 is in operation and to the second mode when the processor 81 is stopped.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a non-contact power supply facility that includes a plurality of power supply lines arranged side by side along a travel route of a moving body equipped with a power receiving device, and a power supply device connected to each of the plurality of power supply lines for supplying an alternating current to the power supply lines, and supplies power to the power receiving device in a non-contact manner.

Background Art

[0002] An example of such a non-contact power supply facility is disclosed in Patent Document 1 below. In the following description of the background art, the reference numerals in Patent Document 1 are cited in parentheses.

[0003] In the non-contact power supply facility of Patent Document 1, a master unit (51(A)) transmits a synchronization signal to a plurality of slave units (51). Then, a power supply device (M) connected to each of the plurality of slave units (51) supplies an alternating current to the corresponding power supply line (47) based on the synchronization signal received by the slave unit (51). In this way, synchronization of the phases of the alternating currents supplied to each of the plurality of power supply lines (47) is achieved.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] By the way, in the non-contact power supply equipment as described above, when a plurality of slave units are connected in series, if any one of the intermediate slave units fails, the synchronization signal will not be transmitted to the slave units downstream of the failed slave unit. As a result, all of the power supply devices connected to each of the failed slave unit and the slave units downstream of the failed slave unit will not be synchronized, and the power supply capacity will decrease.

[0006] Therefore, it is desired to realize a non-contact power supply equipment that can avoid the state where all of the power supply devices connected to the failed slave unit and the slave units downstream thereof are not synchronized even when any one of the plurality of slave units connected in series fails.

Means for Solving the Problem

[0007] In view of the above, the characteristic configuration of the non-contact power supply equipment is a plurality of power supply lines arranged side by side along the moving path of a moving body equipped with a power receiving device, a power supply device connected to each of the plurality of power supply lines and supplying an alternating current to the power supply line, a synchronization system for synchronizing the phases of the alternating currents of the plurality of power supply devices, and a non-contact power supply equipment that supplies power to the power receiving device in a non-contact manner, wherein the synchronization system includes a master unit that generates and outputs a synchronization signal, and a plurality of slave units that are directly connected to the master unit or indirectly connected to the master unit via other slave units on the downstream side of the master unit and receive the synchronization signal from the master unit, each of the plurality of power supply devices is configured to be connected to a connection destination unit that is either the master unit or one of the plurality of slave units and receive the synchronization signal from the connection destination unit, Taking each of the plurality of slave units as a reference, the master unit or the slave unit directly connected upstream to each slave unit is defined as the upstream unit, and the other slave units directly connected downstream to each slave unit are defined as the downstream units. Each of the plurality of slave units includes an input unit to which the synchronization signal from the upstream unit is input, a processing unit that processes the synchronization signal input to the input unit, and an output unit that outputs the synchronization signal to the downstream unit. At least a part of the plurality of slave units, which are target units, includes a switching device that switches between a first mode in which the synchronization signal input to the input unit is transmitted to the processing unit and the synchronization signal output from the processing unit is transmitted to the output unit, and a second mode in which the synchronization signal input to the input unit is transmitted to the output unit by bypassing the processing unit. The switching device performs a switching operation to set the first mode during the operation of the processing unit and the second mode during the stop of the processing unit.

[0008] According to this characteristic configuration, even if any one of the plurality of serially connected slave units fails, the failed slave unit can be bypassed and the synchronization signal can be transmitted to the downstream slave unit. Therefore, even if any one of the slave units fails, for power supply devices other than the power supply device connected to the failed slave unit, the state synchronized by the synchronization signal can be maintained. That is, it is possible to avoid a state in which all of the power supply devices connected to the failed slave unit and the slave units downstream thereof are not synchronized when any one of the slave units fails.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0009]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

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Figure 5

Figure 6

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0010] 1. Embodiment Hereinafter, the non-contact power supply equipment 100 according to the embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, the non-contact power supply equipment 100 is provided in the article conveying equipment 200.

[0011] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the article conveying equipment 200 includes a traveling rail 2 and a moving body 3. The traveling rail 2 is arranged along the moving path 1 of the moving body 3. In this embodiment, a pair of traveling rails 2 are suspended and supported from the ceiling at a constant interval from each other in the path width direction H, which is a direction orthogonal to the moving path 1, in a vertical direction view along the vertical direction Z, which is the vertical direction (see FIG. 2). In this embodiment, the moving body 3 is an article carrier that is guided by the traveling rail 2 and travels along the moving path 1. Articles to be conveyed by the moving body 3 as an article carrier are, for example, FOUP (Front Opening Unified Pod) that houses a semiconductor substrate, a glass substrate that is a material for a display, and the like.

[0012] As shown in FIG. 1, in this embodiment, the moving path 1 includes one main path 1a formed in a ring shape, a plurality of sub-paths 1b formed in a ring shape each passing through a plurality of article processing units P, and a plurality of connection paths 1c connecting the main path 1a and the plurality of sub-paths 1b.

[0013] As shown in FIG. 2, the moving body 3 includes a power receiving device 4 that receives driving power in a non-contact manner from a power supply line 11 disposed along the movement path 1. In the present embodiment, the moving body 3 further includes a traveling unit 9 that is guided by a pair of traveling rails 2 and travels along the movement path 1, and a carrier body 10 that is located below the traveling rails 2 and is suspended and supported by the traveling unit 9.

[0014] The traveling unit 9 includes a driving motor 14 and a pair of traveling wheels 15. The driving motor 14 is a driving power source for the pair of traveling wheels 15. The pair of traveling wheels 15 are rotationally driven by the driving motor 14. The traveling wheels 15 roll on a traveling surface formed on the upper surface of the traveling rail 2. In the present embodiment, the traveling unit 9 further includes a pair of guide wheels 16. The pair of guide wheels 16 are rotatably supported around an axis along the vertical direction Z. The pair of guide wheels 16 are arranged so as to contact a pair of inner surfaces of the pair of traveling rails 2 that face each other in the path width direction H.

[0015] The carrier body 10 includes an article support portion that is supported by the traveling unit 9 so as to be movable up and down and suspends and supports an article, and an actuator that moves the article support portion up and down (not shown).

[0016] Power to the above-described driving motor 14, various actuators, etc. is supplied from the power supply line 11 to the power receiving device 4 in a non-contact manner. As described above, the power supply line 11 that supplies driving power of the moving body 3 to the power receiving device 4 is disposed along the movement path 1. In the present embodiment, the power supply line 11 is disposed on both sides of the power receiving device 4 in the path width direction H.

[0017] In the present embodiment, the power receiving device 4 includes a pickup coil 40. Alternating current power is induced in the pickup coil 40 by a magnetic field generated around the power supply line 11 to which an alternating current is supplied. This alternating current power is converted to direct current by a power receiving circuit including a rectifier circuit, a smoothing capacitor, etc., and is supplied to the above-described driving motor 14, various actuators, etc.

[0018] The non-contact power supply device 100 is configured to supply power to the power receiving device 4 in a non-contact manner. As shown in FIG. 3, the non-contact power supply device 100 includes a plurality of power supply lines 11 arranged side by side along the movement path 1 of the moving body 3 equipped with the power receiving device 4, and a power supply device 5 connected to each of the plurality of power supply lines 11 and supplying an alternating current to the power supply line 11. Thus, in the non-contact power supply device 100, a plurality of sets of the power supply line 11 and the power supply device 5 are provided. This is to suppress a decrease in the power transmission efficiency in the power supply line 11, the entire facility stopping in the event of a failure, etc. in a relatively large-scale article conveyance facility 200 (see FIG. 1) having one large annular main path 1a and a plurality of smaller annular sub-paths 1b than the main path 1a, as in the present embodiment.

[0019] Although not shown in the figure, each of the plurality of power supply devices 5 includes a power supply circuit that supplies an alternating current to the power supply line 11 connected to the power supply device 5, and a power supply control unit that controls the power supply circuit. The power supply circuit is configured mainly with a switching power supply circuit including, for example, an inverter circuit. The power supply control unit controls the duty of a switching control signal that switches the switching elements constituting the inverter circuit based on a command value. For example, the power supply control unit outputs an alternating current to the power supply circuit by pulse width modulation (PWM). Here, the command value is, for example, a current value (either an effective value or a peak-to-peak value) or a duty in PWM control.

[0020] As shown in FIG. 4, the non-contact power supply device 100 further includes a synchronization system 6 that synchronizes the phases of the alternating currents of the plurality of power supply devices 5. The synchronization system 6 includes a master unit 7 that transmits a synchronization signal with a specified period, and at least one slave unit 8 that is connected downstream of the master unit 7 and receives the synchronization signal from the master unit 7. Thus, the master unit 7 generates and outputs a synchronization signal.

[0021] The slave unit 8 is directly connected to the master unit 7 or indirectly connected to the master unit 7 via another slave unit 8. Further, the slave unit 8 is connected to at least one power supply device 5. The power supply device 5 connected to the slave unit 8 receives a synchronization signal from the slave unit 8 and supplies an alternating current to the power supply line 11 in response to the synchronization signal. In the example shown in FIG. 4, the power supply device 5 is not connected to the master unit 7, but the power supply device 5 may be connected to the master unit 7.

[0022] Each of the plurality of power supply devices 5 is configured to be connected to a connection destination unit that is either the master unit 7 or one of the plurality of slave units 8 and receive a synchronization signal from the connection destination unit.

[0023] In the synchronization system 6, not all the slave units 8 necessarily have to be connected in series. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the slave units 8 may branch out at the master unit 7, or further, may branch out at a predetermined slave unit 8.

[0024] As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, in the following description, with respect to each of the plurality of slave units 8, the master unit 7 or the slave unit 8 directly connected upstream to each slave unit 8 is defined as the upstream unit SU, and another slave unit 8 directly connected downstream to each slave unit 8 is defined as the downstream unit SD.

[0025] Each of the plurality of slave units 8 includes an input unit 80 to which a synchronization signal from the upstream unit SU is input, a processing unit 81 that processes the synchronization signal input to the input unit 80, and an output unit 82 that outputs a synchronization signal to the downstream unit SD. Both the input unit 80 and the output unit 82 are connected to the processing unit 81 via a first path R1.

[0026] A target unit, which is at least a part of the plurality of slave units 8, includes a switching device 800 that switches between a first mode of transmitting a synchronization signal input to the input unit 80 to the processing unit 81 and transmitting the synchronization signal output from the processing unit 81 to the output unit 82, and a second mode of bypassing the processing unit 81 and transmitting the synchronization signal input to the input unit 80 to the output unit 82. In the present embodiment, all the slave units 8 are provided with the switching device 800, that is, all are assumed to be target units.

[0027] The switching device 800 performs a switching operation to set the first mode during the operation of the processing unit 81 (specifically, during normal operation) and the second mode during the stop of the processing unit 81. The switching device 800 includes an input-side switching switch 810a that selectively connects the input unit 80 to either the processing unit 81 or the output unit 82, and an output-side switching switch 810b that selectively connects the output unit 82 to either the processing unit 81 or the input unit 80. In the present embodiment, the input-side switching switch 810a and the output-side switching switch 810b correspond to the "switching switch".

[0028] The input-side switching switch 810a includes a signal input unit 811a to which an operation signal indicating whether the processing unit 81 is operating normally is input, a movable contact 812a, a fixed contact 813a for the first path, and a fixed contact 814a for the second path. The output-side switching switch 810b also includes a signal input unit 811b to which an operation signal indicating whether the processing unit 81 is operating normally is input, a movable contact 812b, a fixed contact 813b for the first path, and a fixed contact 814b for the second path.

[0029] When the input unit side switching switch 810a is based on the operation signal input to the signal input unit 811a and the processing unit 81 is operating normally, it connects the movable contact 812a to the fixed contact 813a for the first path, and connects the input unit 80 and the processing unit 81 to enter the first mode. When the processing unit 81 is stopped and no operation signal is input, the input unit side switching switch 810a connects the movable contact 812a to the fixed contact 814a for the second path, disconnects the processing unit 81 and the input unit 80, and connects the input unit 80 and the output unit 82 to enter the second mode. As this input unit side switching switch 810a, various relays are preferably used. For example, when a voltage as an operation signal is input to the signal input unit 811a, the input unit side switching switch 810a connects the movable contact 812a and the fixed contact 813a for the first path, and automatically switches to the side connecting the movable contact 812a and the fixed contact 814a for the second path when the voltage as the operation signal is no longer input, which is preferably configured.

[0030] When the output unit side switching switch 810b is based on the operation signal input to the signal input unit 811b and the processing unit 81 is operating normally, it connects the movable contact 812b to the fixed contact 813b for the first path, and connects the output unit 82 and the processing unit 81 to enter the first mode. When the processing unit 81 is stopped and no operation signal is input, the output unit side switching switch 810b connects the movable contact 812b to the fixed contact 814b for the second path, disconnects the processing unit 81 and the output unit 82, and connects the input unit 80 and the output unit 82 to enter the second mode. As this output unit side switching switch 810b, various relays are preferably used. For example, when a voltage as an operation signal is input to the signal input unit 811b, the output unit side switching switch 810b connects the movable contact 812b and the fixed contact 813b for the first path, and automatically switches to the side connecting the movable contact 812b and the fixed contact 814b for the second path when the voltage as the operation signal is no longer input, which is preferably configured.

[0031] The synchronization signal with a specified period transmitted from the master unit 7 is sent to the slave unit 8 directly connected to the master unit 7. Then, the slave unit 8 that has received the synchronization signal transmits the synchronization signal to the slave unit 8 directly connected to the downstream side of the slave unit 8. That is, in a plurality of slave units 8 connected in series, the transmission and reception of the synchronization signal from the upstream slave unit 8 to the downstream slave unit 8 are sequentially repeated.

[0032] As shown in FIG. 5, when the processing unit 81 of the slave unit 8 is operating normally, the processing unit 81 transmits an operation signal (for example, a voltage signal of 5V) to the signal input parts 811a and 811b of the input part side changeover switch 810a and the output part side changeover switch 810b, respectively.

[0033] In a state where the operation signal is input to the signal input parts 811a and 811b, that is, in the first mode, the changeover device 800 connects the input part 80 and the processing unit 81 by connecting the movable contact 812a of the input part side changeover switch 810a to the fixed contact 813a for the first path, and further connects the output part 82 and the processing unit 81 by connecting the movable contact 812b of the output part side changeover switch 810b to the fixed contact 813b for the first path to form the first path R1.

[0034] In the first mode, the synchronization signal from the upstream unit SU is transmitted from the input part 80 to the processing unit 81 via the first path R1. The processing unit 81 that has received the synchronization signal performs a delay correction process, which is a process of correcting the delay caused according to the length of the transmission path of the synchronization signal, and a process of amplifying the signal strength, and transmits the processed synchronization signal after performing the process to the power supply device 5 and also transmits it to the output part 82 via the first path R1. Then, the output part 82 that has received the synchronization signal outputs the synchronization signal to the downstream unit SD.

[0035] On the one hand, as shown in FIG. 6, when the processing unit 81 of the slave unit 8 has failed and is stopped, since the transmission of the operation signal from the processing unit 81 is stopped (voltage signal of 0V), the operation signal is not input to the respective signal input units 811a and 811b of the input unit side switching switch 810a and the output unit side switching switch 810b. Note that during the stop of the processing unit 81, when the processing unit 81 itself has abnormally stopped due to a failure or the like, when the operation signal from the processing unit 81 is not output due to a failure of a signal line or other components in the slave unit 8, when the power supply line to the slave unit 8 is abnormal or the power supply to the slave unit 8 is stopped due to an artificial operation or the like, etc. are included.

[0036] In a state where the operation signal is not input to the signal input units 811a and 811b, that is, in the second mode, the switching device 800 disconnects the processing unit 81 from the input unit 80 by connecting the movable contact 812a of the input unit side switching switch 810a to the fixed contact 814a for the second path, and further disconnects the processing unit 81 from the output unit 82 by connecting the movable contact 812b of the output unit side switching switch 810b to the fixed contact 814b for the second path, thereby directly connecting the input unit 80 and the output unit 82 to form the second path R2.

[0037] In the second mode, the synchronization signal from the upstream unit SU is directly transmitted from the input unit 80 to the output unit 82 via the second path R2. Therefore, even when any one of a plurality of serially connected slave units 8 has failed, the synchronization signal can be transmitted to the downstream unit SD by bypassing the processing unit 81 of the failed slave unit 8.

[0038] Therefore, even if any one of the slave units 8 fails, the power supply units 5 other than the power supply unit 5 connected to the failed slave unit 8 can maintain the synchronized state by the synchronization signal. That is, when any one of the slave units 8 fails, it is possible to avoid a state in which all of the power supply units 5 connected to the failed slave unit 8 and the slave units 8 downstream thereof are not synchronized.

[0039] 2. Other Embodiments (1) In the above embodiment, the processing unit has been described by taking as an example a configuration in which the processing unit performs a delay correction process, which is a process of correcting a delay caused according to the length of the transmission path of the synchronization signal, and a process of amplifying the signal strength. However, the present invention is not limited to such a configuration, and the processing unit may perform either one of the delay correction process, which is a process of correcting a delay caused according to the length of the transmission path of the synchronization signal, and the process of amplifying the signal strength, and transmit the synchronization signal after the performed process to the power supply unit and the output unit.

[0040] (2) In the above embodiment, a configuration in which all the slave units are target units has been described by taking as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to such a configuration, and for example, the slave unit provided at the most downstream may be configured as a non-target unit not provided with a switching device.

[0041] (3) In the above embodiment, a configuration in which a relay circuit switch is used as the switching switch has been described by taking as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to such a configuration, and for example, other configurations such as a configuration using a semiconductor switch such as an IGBT or an FET, or a configuration in which an IC board is provided separately from the processing unit and the processing unit is monitored and switched may be used.

[0042] (4) In the above-described embodiment, an example has been described in which an operation signal is input during the operation of the processing unit, the first mode is set when the operation signal is being input, and the second mode is set when the operation signal is not being input. However, the present invention is not limited to such a configuration, and a monitoring processing unit that monitors the state of the processing unit may be provided, and the monitoring processing unit may be configured to switch between the first mode and the second mode (switch a switch).

[0043] (5) In the above-described embodiment, an example has been described in which the operation signal is an on-off signal having a voltage signal of 5V during normal operation and a voltage signal of 0V during stop. However, the present invention is not limited to such a configuration, and for example, a configuration in which a voltage signal of 5V is transmitted during normal operation and a voltage signal of -5V is transmitted during stop may also be used. Further, a configuration in which information indicating whether it is during normal operation or stop is transmitted may also be used. In that case, the switching device uses a switching unit (IC chip) that operates with software.

[0044] (6) Note that the configurations disclosed in the above-described embodiments can be applied in combination with the configurations disclosed in other embodiments as long as no contradiction occurs. Regarding other configurations as well, the embodiments disclosed in this specification are merely examples in all respects. Therefore, various modifications can be made as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure.

[0045] 3. Summary of the Above Embodiment Hereinafter, an overview of the non-contact power supply equipment described above will be described.

[0046] The non-contact power supply equipment includes a plurality of power supply lines arranged side by side along the movement path of a moving body provided with a power receiving device, a power supply device connected to each of the plurality of power supply lines and supplying an alternating current to the power supply lines, and a synchronization system that synchronizes the phases of the alternating currents of the plurality of power supply devices. The non-contact power supply equipment that supplies power to the power receiving device in a non-contact manner, wherein the synchronization system is A master unit that generates and outputs a synchronization signal, On the downstream side of the master unit, a plurality of slave units that are directly connected to the master unit or indirectly connected to the master unit via other slave units and receive the synchronization signal from the master unit, Each of the plurality of power supply devices is configured to be connected to a connection destination unit that is either the master unit or one of the plurality of slave units and receive the synchronization signal from the connection destination unit, Based on each of the plurality of slave units, the master unit or the slave unit directly connected upstream of each slave unit is defined as an upstream unit, and the other slave units directly connected downstream of each slave unit are defined as downstream units, Each of the plurality of slave units includes an input unit to which the synchronization signal from the upstream unit is input, a processing unit that processes the synchronization signal input to the input unit, and an output unit that outputs the synchronization signal to the downstream unit, At least a part of the plurality of slave units, which are target units, include a switching device that switches between a first mode in which the synchronization signal input to the input unit is transmitted to the processing unit and the synchronization signal output from the processing unit is transmitted to the output unit, and a second mode in which the synchronization signal input to the input unit is transmitted to the output unit by bypassing the processing unit, The switching device performs a switching operation to set the first mode during operation of the processing unit and the second mode during stoppage of the processing unit.

[0047] According to this configuration, even if any one of the plurality of slave units connected in series fails, the failed slave unit can be bypassed and the synchronization signal can be transmitted to the downstream slave unit. Therefore, even if any one of the slave units fails, the power supply units other than the power supply unit connected to the failed slave unit can maintain the synchronized state by the synchronization signal. That is, when any one of the slave units fails, it is possible to avoid the state in which all of the power supply units connected to the failed slave unit and the slave units downstream thereof are not synchronized.

[0048] Here, the switching device includes a changeover switch that selectively connects the input unit to either the processing unit or the output unit. The changeover switch includes a signal input unit to which an operation signal indicating whether the processing unit is operating normally is input. Based on the operation signal input to the signal input unit, when the processing unit is operating normally, the input unit and the processing unit are connected to set the first mode, and when the processing unit is stopped, the input unit and the output unit are connected to set the second mode, which is preferable.

[0049] According to this configuration, when the processing unit stops, the input unit and the output unit can be quickly connected to switch to the second mode.

[0050] Further, it is preferable that the changeover switch further connects the processing unit and the output unit when the processing unit is operating normally, and disconnects the processing unit and the output unit when the processing unit is stopped.

[0051] According to this configuration, when the processing unit stops, the connection between the processing unit and the output unit can be disconnected. Therefore, even when the processing unit is grounded due to a failure, the synchronization signal from the input unit can be transmitted to the output unit.

[0052] Also, it is preferable that all of the slave units are the target units.

[0053] According to this configuration, the configurations of all slave units can be made common. Therefore, there is no need to selectively use a slave unit equipped with a switching device and a slave unit not equipped with a switching device, the number of product types can be reduced, and the occurrence of mistakes in wiring work can also be reduced.

[0054] Further, it is preferable that the processing unit performs at least one of delay correction processing, which is processing for correcting a delay caused according to the length of the transmission path of the synchronization signal, and processing for amplifying the signal intensity, and transmits the synchronization signal after the processing to the power supply device and the output unit.

[0055] According to this configuration, when the processing unit performs delay correction processing, the synchronization signal corrected for the delay caused according to the length of the transmission path of the synchronization signal can be transmitted to the power supply device. Further, when the processing unit performs processing for amplifying the signal intensity, the signal intensity can be appropriately maintained even when the transmission path of the synchronization signal is long. Therefore, even when the transmission path of the synchronization signal from the master unit to the most downstream slave unit is long, all the power supply devices can be appropriately synchronized.

Industrial Applicability

[0056] The technology according to the present disclosure can be used in a non-contact power supply facility that includes a plurality of power supply lines arranged along a movement path of a moving body equipped with a power receiving device, and a power supply device connected to each of the plurality of power supply lines and supplying an alternating current to the power supply line, and supplies power to the power receiving device in a non-contact manner.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0057] 100: Non-contact power supply facility 200: Article conveyance facility 1: Movement path 1a: Main path 1b: Sub path 1c: Connection path 2: Travel rail 3: Moving body 4: Power receiving device 40: Pickup Coil 5: Power Supply Device 6: Synchronization System 7: Master Unit 8: Slave Unit 80: Input Section 81: Processing Section 82: Output Section 800: Switching Device 810a: Input Section Side Switching Switch 811a: Signal Input Section 812a: Movable Contact 813a: Fixed Contact for the First Path 814a: Fixed Contact for the Second Path 810b: Output Section Side Switching Switch 811b: Signal Input Section 812b: Movable Contact 813b: Fixed Contact for the First Path 814b: Fixed Contact for the Second Path 9: Traveling Section 10: Carrier Body 11: Feeding Line 14: Driving Motor 15: Pair of Traveling Wheels 16: Pair of Guide Wheels H: Path Width Direction Z: Vertical Direction SU: Upstream Unit SD: Downstream Unit R1: First Path R2: Second Path P: Article Processing Section

Claims

【Claim 1】 A plurality of power supply lines arranged side by side along a movement path of a moving body provided with a power receiving device; A power supply device connected to each of the plurality of power supply lines and supplying an alternating current to the power supply lines; A synchronization system for synchronizing the phases of the alternating currents of the plurality of power supply devices, A non-contact power supply facility for supplying power to the power receiving device in a non-contact manner, The synchronization system includes: A master unit that generates and outputs a synchronization signal; A plurality of slave units that are directly connected to the master unit or indirectly connected to the master unit via other slave units on the downstream side with respect to the master unit and receive the synchronization signal from the master unit; Each of the plurality of power supply devices is configured to be connected to a connection destination unit that is either the master unit or one of the plurality of slave units and receive the synchronization signal from the connection destination unit; With each of the plurality of slave units as a reference, the master unit or the slave unit directly connected upstream of each slave unit is defined as an upstream unit, and the other slave units directly connected downstream of each slave unit are defined as downstream units. Each of the plurality of slave units includes an input unit to which the synchronization signal from the upstream unit is input, a processing unit that processes the synchronization signal input to the input unit, and an output unit that outputs the synchronization signal to the downstream unit. At least a part of the plurality of slave units, which are target units, includes a switching device that switches between a first mode in which the synchronization signal input to the input unit is transmitted to the processing unit and the synchronization signal output from the processing unit is transmitted to the output unit, and a second mode in which the processing unit is bypassed and the synchronization signal input to the input unit is transmitted to the output unit. The switching device is a contactless power supply facility that performs a switching operation to set the first mode during the operation of the processing unit and the second mode during the stop of the processing unit. **Claim 2** The switching device includes a changeover switch that selectively connects the input unit to either the processing unit or the output unit. The changeover switch includes a signal input unit to which an operation signal indicating whether the processing unit is operating normally is input. Based on the operation signal input to the signal input unit, when the processing unit is operating normally, the input unit and the processing unit are connected to set the first mode, and when the processing unit is stopped, the input unit and the output unit are connected to set the second mode. The contactless power supply facility according to claim 1. **Claim 3** The changeover switch further connects the processing unit and the output unit when the processing unit is operating normally, and disconnects the processing unit and the output unit when the processing unit is stopped. The contactless power supply facility according to claim 2. **Claim 4** The contactless power supply facility according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein all of the slave units are the target unit. **Claim 5** The processing unit performs at least one of a delay correction process, which is a process of correcting a delay caused according to the length of the transmission path of the synchronization signal, and a process of amplifying the signal strength, and transmits the synchronization signal after the process to the power supply device and the output unit. The contactless power supply facility according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

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