Inter-floor conveyance device and inter-floor conveyance system including the same

Abstract

Provided is an inter-floor conveyance device which can convey an article between a plurality of floors with a simple structure, and which can be installed with a small floor area. The present invention is an inter-floor conveyance device (2) for conveying an article (A) between a plurality of floors separated in a vertical direction. The inter-floor conveyance device (2) is characterized in comprising: a lifting base (16) for supporting an article to be conveyed; a plurality of suspension members (18) for suspending the lifting base from above; and a lifting device (20) which is installed above the lifting base, and passes through an opening (10a) formed in a floor surface (10) of the floors by winding up or unwinding the suspension member to lift the lifting base from a lower floor to an upper floor or lower the lifting base from an upper floor to a lower floor.

Description

Interfloor conveyance device and interfloor conveyance system equipped with same

[0001] The present invention relates to an interfloor conveying device, and more particularly to an interfloor conveying device that conveys articles between a plurality of floors separated in the vertical direction, and an interfloor conveying system including the same.

[0002] Japanese Patent No. 3593289 (Patent Document 1) describes an article transport facility. This article transport facility includes a guide rail extending vertically across multiple floors, a lifting body that moves up and down along the guide rail, and a transfer device that transfers containers transported by the lifting body to a support for a selective holding unit. This allows a container to be transferred from a support for a selective holding unit installed on a certain floor to the lifting body, and then the lifting body is moved to a different floor. Furthermore, at the destination floor, the container supported by the lifting body is transferred to a support for a selective holding unit installed on that floor. This allows the container, which is an article, to be transported to a different floor.

[0003] Patent No. 3593289

[0004] However, the article conveying equipment described in Patent Document 1 includes guide rails extending vertically across multiple floors, along which the elevator transports containers in an up-and-down direction. Therefore, even if the articles to be transported are small, the equipment for transporting the articles across multiple floors becomes large, and the floor area required to install the article conveying equipment also becomes large. Furthermore, because the vertical rails for running the elevators extend across floors, it is not possible to install fire doors on the floors to separate upper and lower floors in order to prevent the spread of fire in the event of a fire. As a result, separate fire prevention equipment is required to prevent the spread of fire, which creates a problem of the article conveying equipment becoming even larger in size.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an interfloor conveying device that can transport items between multiple floors with a simple structure and can be installed in a small floor area, and an interfloor conveying system equipped with the same.

[0006] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides an interfloor conveying device for transporting items between multiple floors separated in the vertical direction, characterized in that it comprises a lifting platform that supports the items to be transported, multiple hanging members for suspending the lifting platform from above, and a lifting device installed above the lifting platform that raises the lifting platform from a lower floor to an upper floor or lowers it from an upper floor to a lower floor by winding up or unwinding the hanging members through an opening formed in the floor surface of the floor.

[0007] According to the present invention configured in this manner, the platform is suspended by a suspension member, and the platform is raised or lowered by the lifting device through an opening formed in the floor surface of the floor, so there is no need to lay guide rails or other members through the opening formed in the floor surface, and articles can be transported between multiple floors with a simple structure. Furthermore, because there is no need for rails or the like extending through the opening formed in the floor surface, the size of the opening can be reduced, and the inter-floor transport device can be installed in a small floor area.

[0008] In the present invention, it is preferable that the lifting platform further has an abutment member arranged adjacent to the track along which the lifting platform rises and falls, and the lifting platform has a regulating member for regulating lateral movement of the lifting platform, and the regulating member is configured to be movable between an abutment position where it abuts against the abutment member to regulate the lateral movement of the lifting platform, and a non-abutment position where it is spaced apart from the abutment member.

[0009] According to the present invention configured in this manner, the regulating member is moved between an abutment position where it abuts against the abutment member to regulate the lateral movement of the lifting platform, and a non-abutment position, so that when it is desired to suppress the lateral movement of the lifting platform, such as when loading or unloading items onto the lifting platform, it is possible to suppress the shaking of the lifting platform.

[0010] In the present invention, it is preferable that the building further comprises a fire door provided to close the opening formed to connect the two floors.

[0011] According to the present invention configured in this way, since the fire door is provided to close the opening formed to connect the two floors, it is possible to prevent the spread of fire through the opening in the event of a fire. In other words, according to the present invention, the fire door does not interfere with the rails or other components that extend through the opening, so the opening can be easily closed with the fire door without providing any special mechanism.

[0012] The present invention also provides an interfloor conveying system for transporting items between multiple floors stacked vertically, comprising an interfloor conveying device of the present invention and a first conveying vehicle that moves items conveyed by the interfloor conveying device within a single floor, the first conveying vehicle being equipped with a transfer device that receives items from the lifting platform of the interfloor conveying device and a running device for moving within the floor on which the first conveying vehicle is installed.

[0013] According to the present invention configured in this manner, since it has a first transport vehicle that moves items transported by the interfloor transport device within one floor, the items transported by the interfloor transport device can be easily transported within the destination floor.

[0014] In the present invention, preferably, the transfer device of the first transport vehicle is equipped with a lifting table for placing items transported by the interfloor transport device, and when the first transport vehicle receives an item from the lifting platform of the interfloor transport device, it moves below the lifting platform and then raises the lifting table through a notch formed in the lifting platform, thereby supporting the item that was placed on the lifting platform on the lifting table.

[0015] According to the present invention configured in this manner, the transfer device of the first transport vehicle is equipped with a lifting table, and this lifting table can be raised through the notch in the lifting platform, allowing items to be supported on the lifting table.Therefore, items can be transferred to and from the lifting platform using the lifting table, which can only move simply up and down.

[0016] In the present invention, it is preferable to further include a second transport vehicle that moves above the first transport vehicle on the same floor as the first transport vehicle, and this second transport vehicle is configured to be able to move on a pair of rails laid above the first transport vehicle, and when the second transport vehicle receives an item from the interfloor transport device, the second transport vehicle moves along the pair of rails below the lifting platform of the interfloor transport device, while when the first transport vehicle receives an item from the interfloor transport device, the second transport vehicle retreats from the track of the lifting platform of the interfloor transport device, and the interfloor transport device passes between the pair of rails to lower the lifting platform and hand over the item to the first transport vehicle that has moved below the lifting platform.

[0017] According to the present invention configured in this manner, there is a first transport vehicle and a second transport vehicle that moves on rails laid above the first transport vehicle, so that goods can be transferred between two locations on one floor from a lifting platform that can only move up and down, thereby improving the efficiency of transporting goods using the inter-floor transport system.

[0018] In the present invention, it is preferable that the system further includes an overhead traveling vehicle installed on the same floor as the first and second transport vehicles, and the overhead traveling vehicle is configured to move to a predetermined receiving position to receive items moved by the first and second transport vehicles, and when receiving items from the first transport vehicle, the overhead traveling vehicle moves to the receiving position and receives the items moved by the first transport vehicle from above, and when receiving items from the second transport vehicle, the overhead traveling vehicle moves to the receiving position and receives the items moved by the second transport vehicle from the side.

[0019] According to the present invention configured as described above, since there is an overhead traveling vehicle that receives articles moved by the first transport vehicle and the second transport vehicle, articles can be transported efficiently within the floor. Furthermore, since the overhead traveling vehicle can receive articles moved by the first transport vehicle and the second transport vehicle at the same receiving position, articles can be handed over from each transport vehicle to the overhead traveling vehicle in a small space.

[0020] The interfloor conveying device of the present invention and the interfloor conveying system equipped with the same can convey articles between multiple floors with a simple structure, and the device can be installed in a small floor area.

[0021] 1 is a side view showing the entire interfloor conveyance system according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a front view showing the entire interfloor conveyance system according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 3 is a side view showing an enlarged view of a lifting device provided in an interfloor conveyance device according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 4 is a top view showing an enlarged view of a lifting device provided in an interfloor conveyance device according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 5 is a side view showing a state in which a regulating member provided in a swing suppression mechanism of a lifting platform in an interfloor conveyance device according to an embodiment of the present invention is in a non-contact position; FIG. 6 is a top view showing a state in which a regulating member provided on a lifting platform in an interfloor conveyance device according to an embodiment of the present invention is in a non-contact position; FIG. 7 is a side view showing a state in which a regulating member provided on a lifting platform in an interfloor conveyance device according to an embodiment of the present invention is in an abutting position; FIG. 8 is a top view showing a state in which a regulating member provided on a lifting platform in an interfloor conveyance device according to an embodiment of the present invention is in an abutting position; and FIG. 9 is a side view showing an enlarged view of a portion in which a first transport vehicle, a second transport vehicle, and an overhead traveling vehicle are provided adjacent to an interfloor conveyance device in an interfloor conveyance system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a front view showing an enlarged view of a portion where a first transport vehicle and a second transport vehicle are provided adjacent to an interfloor transport device in an interfloor transport system according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a side view showing a state where an article is being unloaded from an overhead traveling vehicle to a second transport vehicle in an interfloor transport system according to an embodiment of the present invention; and FIG. 3 is a side view showing a state where an article is being unloaded from an overhead traveling vehicle to a first transport vehicle in an interfloor transport system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0022]

[0019] Next, an interfloor conveying device and an interfloor conveying system including the same according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Fig. 1 is a side view showing the entire interfloor conveying system according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a front view showing the entire interfloor conveying system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] 1 and 2 , an interfloor conveying system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an interfloor conveying device 2, first conveying vehicles 4a and 4b, second conveying vehicles 6a and 6b, and overhead traveling vehicles 8a and 8b, and is configured to convey an item A between a first floor F1 and a second floor F2. In this embodiment, the first floor F1 and the second floor F2 are the first and second floors of the same building, vertically separated from each other and positioned so as to overlap each other. In this embodiment, the item A conveyed by the interfloor conveying system 1 is a front-opening unified pod (FOUP) containing semiconductor substrates.

[0024] In this embodiment, openings 10a and 12a are formed in the floor surface 10 of the second floor F2 and the ceiling surface 12 of the first floor F1, respectively. Articles A transported between floors by the interfloor transport device 2 pass through these openings 10a and 12a to be raised from the first floor F1 to the second floor F2 or lowered from the second floor F2 to the first floor F1. In this embodiment, a metal grating 10b is provided above the floor surface 10 of the second floor F2, and workers on the second floor F2 walk on this grating 10b.

[0025] In addition, a fire door 13 is provided on the floor 10 to close the opening 10a in the event of a fire or the like. The fire door 13 closes the opening 10a, which is an opening formed to connect the first floor F1 and the second floor F2, thereby preventing fire from spreading between the floors through the opening 10a in the event of a fire or the like. That is, during normal operation of the interfloor conveying device 2, the fire door 13 is kept open, allowing the lifting platform 16 to move up and down through the opening 10a. If a fire is detected on the first floor F1 or the second floor F2 by a fire detector (not shown) or the like, the lifting platform 16 is moved above the fire door 13 and the fire door 13 is closed to prevent fire from spreading. In the interfloor conveying device 2 of this embodiment, no rails or columns extending through the opening 10a are provided, so the opening 10a can be easily closed by the fire door 13.

[0026] Furthermore, in the interfloor conveying system 1 of this embodiment, when an item A is conveyed from the first floor F1 to the second floor F2, the item A conveyed by the overhead traveling vehicle 8a provided on the first floor F1 is received by the first transport vehicle 4a, and this item A is conveyed to the second floor F2 by the interfloor conveying device 2. Furthermore, the item A conveyed to the second floor F2 by the interfloor conveying device 2 is received by the second transport vehicle 6b provided on the second floor F2. Next, this item A is received by the overhead traveling vehicle 8b provided on the second floor F2, and conveyed within the second floor F2.

[0027] On the other hand, when transporting an item A from the second floor F2 to the first floor F1, the item A transported by the overhead traveling vehicle 8b provided on the second floor F2 is received by the first transport vehicle 4b, and this item A is transported to the first floor F1 by the interfloor transport device 2. Furthermore, the item A transported to the first floor F1 by the interfloor transport device 2 is received by the second transport vehicle 6a provided on the first floor F1. Next, this item A is received by the overhead traveling vehicle 8a provided on the first floor F1 and transported within the first floor F1.

[0028] Next, the configuration of the interfloor conveying device 2 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 3 to 8. First, a mechanism for raising and lowering the lifting platform of the interfloor conveying device 2 will be described with reference to Figures 3 and 4. Figure 3 is an enlarged side view of the lifting device provided in the interfloor conveying device 2 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 4 is an enlarged top view of the lifting device provided in the interfloor conveying device 2 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0029] 3, the interfloor conveying device 2 of this embodiment is attached to the ceiling surface 14 of the second floor F2 and includes a lifting platform 16 for supporting the articles to be conveyed, three belts 18 that are suspending members for suspending the lifting platform 16 from above, and a lifting device 20 that is installed above the lifting platform 16 and raises and lowers the lifting platform 16 by winding up or unwinding the belts 18. In this embodiment, the second floor F2 is the highest floor to which articles are conveyed by the interfloor conveying device 2.

[0030] The lifting platform 16 is a member that supports an article A to be transported by placing it thereon, and includes a bottom plate 16a on which the article A is placed, a top plate 16b to which a belt 18 is attached, and multiple connecting plates 16c that connect the bottom plate 16a and the top plate 16b. The bottom plate 16a is a flat plate oriented horizontally, on which the article A is placed. The top plate 16b is a flat plate oriented parallel to and above the bottom plate 16a, and the belt 18 is fixed to its upper surface. The connecting plates 16c are elongated plates extending vertically, and multiple connecting plates 16c are provided to connect the bottom plate 16a and the top plate 16b. As a result, the article A supported by the lifting platform 16 is accommodated in a space surrounded by the bottom plate 16a, the top plate 16b, and the multiple connecting plates 16c.

[0031] In this embodiment, item A is supported by placing it on the bottom plate 16a of the lifting platform 16, but the present invention can also be configured so that item A is supported by being suspended from the lifting platform 16, for example, by engaging an engaging portion provided on item A with the lifting platform 16.

[0032] As shown in Fig. 3, the lifting device 20 includes a disk-shaped drum 20a around which the belt 18 is wound, a motor 20c for driving the drum 20a, and a reducer 20b for rotating the drum 20a by reducing the rotation speed of the output shaft (not shown) of the motor 20c. The lifting device 20 is fixed to the ceiling surface 14 of the second floor F2, and the lifting platform 16 is suspended from the lifting device 20 via three belts 18. As shown in Fig. 4, in this embodiment, the lifting device 20 includes three sets of the drum 20a, reducer 20b, and motor 20c. By rotating and driving each drum 20a, the three belts 18 can be wound up and unwound.

[0033] In this embodiment, the central axes of the drums 20a extend horizontally and are arranged at 120-degree angles to each other in a top view. The three disk-shaped drums 20a are arranged to form a roughly equilateral triangle. As a result, the belts 18 that are unwound from each drum 20a extend vertically downward from the three vertices of the equilateral triangle, with their lower ends fixed to the upper surface of the top plate 16b of the lifting platform 16. This allows the posture of the lifting platform 16, which is suspended by the three belts 18, to be adjusted by the amount of unwounding of each belt 18. In this embodiment, the belts 18 are arranged at angles to each other (non-parallel), so that the belts 18 can resist any lateral movement of the lifting platform 16, thereby suppressing shaking of the lifting platform 16.

[0034] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the lifting device 20 is equipped with an angle sensor (not shown) that detects the inclination of the lifting platform 16. This angle sensor (not shown) detects the inclination of the lifting platform 16, and the amount of winding and unwinding of each belt 18 is adjusted by feedback control so that the lifting platform 16 is maintained horizontal. Alternatively, a rotary encoder (not shown) may be provided to detect the rotation of each drum 20a, and the amount of winding and unwinding of each belt 18 may be adjusted based on this to control the posture of the lifting platform 16. The lifting platform 16 can also be adjusted to be horizontal by teaching the position where the article A is to be transferred from the lifting platform 16.

[0035] In this embodiment, the lifting platform 16 is suspended by the belt 18, but any member capable of suspending the lifting platform 16, such as a wire rope or a chain, can be used as the suspension member. In this embodiment, the lifting platform 16 is suspended by three belts 18, but the lifting platform 16 can be suspended by any multiple suspension members.

[0036] In this way, the interfloor conveying device 2 of this embodiment can raise and lower the lifting platform 16 along a vertical track through the opening 10a formed in the floor surface 10 by operating each motor 20c of the lifting device 20.

[0037] 1 and 2, a cover 22 having a generally square cross section is provided to surround the vertical track along which the platform 16 passes. The cover 22 extends from the lower end of the lifting device 20 to near the grating 10b of the second floor F2, and from the underside of the floor surface 10 of the second floor F2 to near the middle of the first floor F1, surrounding the periphery of the area along which the platform 16 passes. Note that in this embodiment, the cover 22 is not provided from the underside of the grating 10b to the floor surface 10. Furthermore, openings 22c (FIG. 10) are provided in the cover 22 at the portions of the ports where the article A is loaded and unloaded between the platform 16 and the first and second transport vehicles, allowing the article A to be loaded and unloaded without interference between the article A and the transport vehicles and the cover 22.

[0038] The cover 22 is provided to prevent the platform 16 from colliding with obstacles (not shown) placed on each floor as it passes through each floor. The cover 22 can also be provided to prevent sudden airflow from a higher-pressure floor to a lower-pressure floor when the air pressures of the first floor F1 and the second floor F2 are different in a semiconductor manufacturing facility, for example. In this case, a shutter (not shown) can be provided to open and close the opening 22c (FIG. 10) in the cover 22. In this embodiment, the cover 22 does not support the weight of the platform 16, so the cover 22 only needs to have minimal strength. Therefore, the cover 22 can be small and lightweight and does not occupy a large floor space. The cover 22 may be omitted depending on the environment in which the interfloor conveying device 2 is installed.

[0039] Next, a sway suppression mechanism for suppressing lateral shaking of the lifting platform 16 of the interfloor conveying device 2 will be described with reference to Figures 5 to 8. Figures 5 to 8 are diagrams for explaining the sway suppression mechanism provided on the lifting platform 16 of the interfloor conveying device 2 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Here, the regulating member provided in the sway suppression mechanism is configured to be movable between an abutting position and a non-abutting position.

[0040] Fig. 5 is a side view showing a state in which a restricting member provided in the sway suppression mechanism of the lifting platform 16 is in a non-contact position. Fig. 6 is a top view showing a state in which a restricting member provided in the lifting platform 16 is in a non-contact position. Fig. 7 is a side view showing a state in which a restricting member provided in the lifting platform 16 is in a contact position. Fig. 8 is a top view showing a state in which a restricting member provided in the lifting platform 16 is in a contact position. Note that Figs. 6 and 8 show the sway suppression mechanism with the top plate 16b of the lifting platform 16 removed.

[0041] As shown in Fig. 5, a sway suppression mechanism 24 for suppressing lateral shaking of the lifting platform 16 is provided below the top plate 16b of the lifting platform 16. As shown in Fig. 6, two sway suppression mechanisms 24 are provided on the lifting platform 16, and each sway suppression mechanism 24 is configured to extend each regulating member in the diagonal direction of the lifting platform 16 when suppressing lateral shaking of the lifting platform 16, as shown in Fig. 8. The two sway suppression mechanisms 24 provided on the lifting platform 16 have the same configuration.

[0042] 6, each vibration suppression mechanism 24 includes a motor 24a, a ball screw shaft 24b that is rotationally driven by the motor 24a, and a ball screw nut 24c that is threaded onto the ball screw shaft 24b. Furthermore, each vibration suppression mechanism 24 includes an arm 24d, a linear guide 24e that supports the arm 24d so that the arm 24d can slide in the diagonal direction of the lift platform 16, and a guide roller 24f attached to the tip of the arm 24d. In this embodiment, the restricting member for restricting lateral movement of the lift platform 16 is composed of the arm 24d and the guide roller 24f attached to the tip of the arm 24d.

[0043] The ball screw shaft 24b is a feed screw for feeding the ball screw nut 24c that is threaded onto it, and is oriented horizontally and rotatably supported below the top plate 16b of the lifting platform 16. The ball screw shaft 24b is oriented in a direction roughly diagonal to the lifting platform 16 when viewed from above. The ball screw shaft 24b is coupled to a motor 24a and is driven to rotate by the motor 24a. As a result, the ball screw nut 24c is fed on the ball screw shaft 24b.

[0044] The arm 24d is a long, thin plate-like member, and four guide rollers 24f are attached to its tip. The arm 24d is supported by a linear guide 24e so that it can slide longitudinally, allowing for smooth movement. The linear guide 24e is attached parallel to the ball screw shaft 24b and is configured to guide the arm 24d parallel to the ball screw shaft 24b. The base end of the arm 24d is connected to a ball screw nut 24c, and when the ball screw nut 24c is advanced by the ball screw shaft 24b, the arm 24d slides accordingly. As a result, the regulating member consisting of the arm 24d and the guide rollers 24f is moved in the diagonal direction of the lifting platform 16, and is configured to be movable between a non-contact position shown in FIG. 6 and an contact position shown in FIG. 8.

[0045] On the other hand, the cover 22 ( FIG. 1 ), which is configured to surround the track of the lifting platform 16, has four channel members 22a arranged at the four corners of the cover 22 and thin plate members 22b attached to connect them, as shown in FIG. 6 . The channel members 22a are elongated, rod-like members that extend vertically around the periphery of the lifting platform 16. The plate members 22b are thin, plate-like members attached to the channel members 22a to connect each of the channel members 22a. As a result, the four plate members 22b form a substantially square space around the periphery of the lifting platform 16 in a top view.

[0046] When the motor 24a of the rocking suppression mechanism 24 is operated, the arms 24d are extended in the diagonal direction of the lifting platform 16 from the non-contact position shown in Fig. 6 to the contact position shown in Fig. 8. In this state, the arms 24d extend toward two diagonally opposite corners of the cover 22, and the guide rollers 24f attached to the tip of each arm 24d come into contact with the cover 22.

[0047] Specifically, two sets of two guide rollers 24f (a total of four guide rollers 24f) are rotatably attached to the tip of each arm 24d, and the guide rollers 24f in each set are aligned vertically (Fig. 5). The central axes of the guide rollers 24f in each set are parallel to each other, and the central axis of the guide rollers 24f in one set is perpendicular to the central axis of the guide rollers 24f in the other set.

[0048] 8, when the arms 24d of the sway suppression mechanism 24 are extended, each set of guide rollers 24f abuts against two adjacent plate members 22b at the corners of the cover 22. As a result, each guide roller 24f provided at the tip of the arm 24d abuts against two adjacent plate members 22b at the corners of the cover 22 from which the arms 24d extend. Because the two arms 24d each extend toward the opposing corners of the cover 22, the guide rollers 24f abut against all four plate members 22b that form the cover 22.

[0049] Therefore, in this embodiment, each plate 22b functions as a contact member that contacts the regulating member (comprising the arm 24d and the guide roller 24f). Thus, the regulating member (the arm 24d and the guide roller 24f) is spaced apart from the contact member (the plate 22b) when in the non-contact position shown in Fig. 6. On the other hand, when the regulating member is moved to the contact position shown in Fig. 8, it contacts the contact member and restricts the lateral movement of the platform.

[0050] That is, when the guide rollers 24f attached to the arms 24d extending from the lifting platform 16 come into contact with the plate material 22b of the cover 22 fixed around the periphery of the lifting platform 16, the lateral movement of the lifting platform 16 suspended by the belt 18 is restricted, and the swinging of the lifting platform 16 is suppressed. Furthermore, because the guide rollers 24f attached to the arms 24d come into contact with the plate material 22b, vertical movement of the lifting platform 16 is permitted even when the guide rollers 24f and the plate material 22b are in contact. Note that in this embodiment, the plate material 22b of the cover 22 fixed around the periphery of the lifting platform 16 functions as the abutting member, but the abutting member may be provided only at locations where it is desired to restrict the lateral movement of the lifting platform 16, and any member fixed at a position where it abuts against the restricting member can be used as the abutting member.

[0051] Next, the transport vehicles provided in the interfloor transport system 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 9 and 10. The interfloor transport system 1 of this embodiment includes a first transport vehicle and a second transport vehicle that move the article A transported by the interfloor transport device 2 within one floor.

[0052] Fig. 9 is an enlarged side view showing a portion of the interfloor conveying system 1 of this embodiment where the first conveying vehicle 4b, the second conveying vehicle 6b, and the overhead traveling vehicle 8b are arranged adjacent to the interfloor conveying device 2. Fig. 10 is an enlarged front view of the interfloor conveying system 1 of this embodiment where the first conveying vehicle 4b and the second conveying vehicle 6b are arranged adjacent to the interfloor conveying device 2. Note that Figs. 9 and 10 show the first conveying vehicle 4b, the second conveying vehicle 6b, and the overhead traveling vehicle 8b arranged on the second floor F2, but the first conveying vehicle 4a, the second conveying vehicle 6a, and the overhead traveling vehicle 8a arranged on the first floor F1 are configured in the same way.

[0053] As shown in Figure 9, the first transport vehicle 4b is configured to travel along a pair of first rails 26a extending horizontally, and the second transport vehicle 6b is configured to travel along a pair of second rails 26b extending horizontally. The first rails 26a extend from a first port P1, at which the article A is loaded and unloaded between the lifting platform 16 and the first transport vehicle 4b, to a second port P2, at which the article A is loaded and unloaded between the first transport vehicle 4b and the overhead traveling vehicle 8b, and the first transport vehicle 4b can move horizontally between the first port P1 and the second port P2. In this embodiment, the first port P1 is located on the track along which the lifting platform 16 moves, and the second port P2 is located directly below the track of the overhead traveling vehicle 8b.

[0054] The distance between the pair of first rails 26a and the pair of second rails 26b is wider than the width of the platform 16. Therefore, when no transport vehicle is in the port where the article A is being loaded or unloaded, the platform 16 can pass between the pair of first rails 26a and second rails 26b and freely pass through each port in the vertical direction.

[0055] Meanwhile, the second rail 26b on which the second transport vehicle 6b runs is positioned higher than the first rail 26a, allowing the first transport vehicle 4b, carrying the item A, to run below the second rail 26b. The second rail 26b is shorter than the first rail 26a and extends from a third port P3, where the item A is loaded and unloaded between the lifting platform 16 and the second transport vehicle 6b, to a fourth port P4, where the item A is loaded and unloaded between the second transport vehicle 6b and the overhead traveling vehicle 8b. The second transport vehicle 6b can move horizontally between the third port P3 and the fourth port P4. The third port P3 is located directly above the first port P1, on the track along which the lifting platform 16 moves. The fourth port P4 is adjacent to the third port P3 and is located between the first port P1 and the second port P2 in a plan view. This fourth port P4 is located adjacent to the track of the overhead traveling vehicle 8a in a plan view. That is, the second rail 26b does not extend directly below the track of the overhead traveling vehicle 8a, and the range in which the second transporting vehicle 6b can move is narrower than the range in which the first transporting vehicle 4b can move.

[0056] The first transport vehicle 4b has a transfer device 28a that receives the article A from the lifting platform 16, and a traveling device 28b for moving the first transport vehicle 4b on the first rail 26a on which the first transport vehicle 4b is installed. Note that, since the first rail 26a is provided on the second floor F2, the traveling device 28b of the first transport vehicle 4b moves the first transport vehicle 4b within the second floor F2 on which the first transport vehicle 4b is installed.

[0057] The travel device 28b of the first transport vehicle 4b has four wheels, and by driving these wheels, the first transport vehicle 4b can travel along the first rail 26a. Meanwhile, as shown in FIG. 10 , the pair of first rails 26a each have a substantially U-shaped cross section, and are arranged so that the openings of the U-shaped cross sections face each other. Furthermore, each wheel of the travel device 28b is received inside the U-shaped first rail 26a, preventing the wheels from coming off the first rail 26a. This allows the first transport vehicle 4b to move from the first port P1 to the second port P2.

[0058] Next, the transfer device 28a of the first transport vehicle 4b is provided above the traveling device 28b and includes a lifting table 28c that can be raised and lowered. The lifting table 28c is a table that can be raised and lowered for placing the item A on it, and the transfer device 28a can raise and lower the lifting table 28c with the item A placed on it. Then, by raising and lowering this lifting table 28c at each port where the item A is loaded and unloaded, the item A can be loaded onto the lifting platform 16 or received from the lifting platform 16.

[0059] 9, for example, when receiving an item A at the first port P1, the platform 16 carrying the item A stops within the first port P1, and then the lift table 28c is lowered and the first transport vehicle 4b travels into the first port P1. Note that with the lift table 28c lowered, the height of the first transport vehicle 4b is lower than the bottom surface of the platform 16. Therefore, even when the platform 16 is stopped within the first port P1, the first transport vehicle 4b can be moved below the platform 16 within the first port P1 without interfering with the platform 16.

[0060] Next, the lifting table 28c of the first transport vehicle 4b is raised. Here, as shown in FIG. 10 , a notch 16d is provided in the bottom plate 16a of the lifting platform 16, and this notch 16d extends below the article A placed on the bottom plate 16a of the lifting platform 16. When the lifting table 28c is raised while the first transport vehicle 4b is positioned below the lifting platform 16, the upper surface of the lifting table 28c passes through the notch 16d and rises above the bottom plate 16a of the lifting platform 16. As a result, as shown by the imaginary lines in FIG. 10 , the article A placed on the bottom plate 16a of the lifting platform 16 is lifted from the bottom plate 16a by the lifting table 28c and supported on the lifting table 28c. In this state, the first transport vehicle 4b can be retracted from the first port P1 to receive the article A from the lifting platform 16.

[0061] On the other hand, when loading an item A into the first port P1, after the empty lifting platform 16 stops in the first port P1, the first transport vehicle 4b is run into the first port P1 with the item A placed on the raised lifting table 28c. At this time, the raised lifting table 28c is received in the notch 16d provided in the bottom plate 16a of the lifting platform 16, and the item A placed on the lifting table 28c is received between the bottom plate 16a and the top plate 16b of the lifting platform 16. Therefore, even when the lifting platform 16 is stopped in the first port P1, the first transport vehicle 4b with the item A placed thereon can proceed into the first port P1 without interfering with the lifting platform 16. Next, when the lifting table 28c is lowered, the bottom surface of the item A on the lifting table 28c abuts against the bottom plate 16a of the lifting platform 16, and the item A is placed on the bottom plate 16a. In this state, the first transport vehicle 4b is caused to exit the first port P1, thereby completing the loading of the article A from the first transport vehicle 4b onto the lifting platform 16.

[0062] Next, the second transport vehicle 6b is configured to be able to move on a pair of second rails 26b laid above the first transport vehicle 4b. This second transport vehicle 6b also has a transfer device 30a that receives the item A from the lifting platform 16 and a traveling device 30b for moving on the second rails 26b on which the second transport vehicle 6b is installed. These transfer devices 30a and traveling devices 30b are configured in the same manner as the transfer device 28a and traveling device 28b of the first transport vehicle 4b, respectively. Furthermore, at the third port P3, the operation when loading and unloading the item A between the second transport vehicle 6b and the lifting platform 16 is also the same as the loading and unloading operation between the first transport vehicle 4b and the lifting platform 16 described above.

[0063] That is, when the second transport vehicle 6b receives the item A from the interfloor conveying device 2, the second transport vehicle 6b moves along the second rail 26b below the lifting platform 16 of the interfloor conveying device 2 to receive the item A. On the other hand, when the first transport vehicle 4b receives the item A from the interfloor conveying device 2, the second transport vehicle 6b retreats from the track of the lifting platform 16 of the interfloor conveying device 2 (retreats from the third port P3), and the interfloor conveying device 2 passes between the pair of second rails 26b to lower the lifting platform 16, so that the item A can be handed over to the first transport vehicle 4b that has moved below the lifting platform 16.

[0064] 11 and 12, we will explain the configuration of the overhead traveling vehicle provided in the interfloor conveying system 1. The overhead traveling vehicle is installed on the same floor as the first conveying vehicle 4b and the second conveying vehicle 6b, and is configured to move the article A moved by the first conveying vehicle 4b and the second conveying vehicle 6b to a predetermined receiving position and receive the article A.

[0065] Fig. 11 is a side view showing an article being unloaded from the overhead traveling vehicle onto the second transport vehicle. Fig. 12 is a side view showing an article being unloaded from the overhead traveling vehicle onto the first transport vehicle. Note that, although the following describes the configuration and operation of the overhead traveling vehicle 8b installed on the second floor F2, the configuration and operation of the overhead traveling vehicle 8a installed on the first floor F1 are exactly the same.

[0066] 11, the overhead traveling vehicle 8b has a traveling mechanism 34a, a slide mechanism 34b, a gripping mechanism 34c, a suspension belt 34d, and a gripper 34e, and is configured to travel while suspended from rails 32 laid on the ceiling surface 14. The overhead traveling vehicle 8b travels on wheels provided on the traveling mechanism 34a, and is configured to be able to move to a target position along the rails 32. In this embodiment, the overhead traveling vehicle 8b is configured to travel in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the paper in FIGS. 11 and 12.

[0067] The slide mechanism 34b is configured to be able to expand and contract horizontally by a ball screw drive mechanism (not shown), and is extended to above the fourth port P4 when loading and unloading the article A at the fourth port P4, and is retracted to below the traveling mechanism 34a when the overhead traveling vehicle 8b is traveling. The gripping mechanism 34c is attached to the tip of the slide mechanism 34b, and is configured to grip the flange A1 provided on the article A. Specifically, a gripper 34e is provided on the underside of the gripping mechanism 34c, and the gripper 34e opens and closes to clamp the flange A1 of the article A.

[0068] The suspension belts 34d are configured to suspend the gripping mechanism 34c from the slide mechanism 34b, and four of them are provided on one overhead traveling vehicle 8b. The suspension belts 34d are wound around reels (not shown) provided at the tip of the slide mechanism 34b, and by rotating the reels, the gripping mechanism 34c can be moved up and down via the suspension belts 34d.

[0069] When article A is to be lowered from overhead travelling carriage 8b onto second transport carriage 6b, first, overhead travelling carriage 8b is stopped at a position adjacent to fourth port P4 (directly above second port P2 in FIG. 11 ). Next, slide mechanism 34b is extended, and gripping mechanism 34c holding article A is moved to a position directly above second transport carriage 6b, which is stopped at fourth port P4. Furthermore, suspending belt 34d is unwound from slide mechanism 34b, lowering gripping mechanism 34c, and article A held by gripping mechanism 34c is placed on second transport carriage 6b. Then, with article A placed on second transport carriage 6b, gripper 34e is opened to release grip on flange A1 of article A.

[0070] On the other hand, when the overhead traveling vehicle 8b receives and transports the item A transported by the second transport vehicle 6b, the gripping mechanism 34c, which is not gripping the item A, is lowered from above the item A placed on the second transport vehicle 6b, and the gripper 34e grips the flange A1 of the item A. Next, the suspension belt 34d is wound up to raise the gripping mechanism 34c and lift the item A. Furthermore, the slide mechanism 34b is retracted, and the item A gripped by the gripping mechanism 34c is moved to below the traveling mechanism 34a of the overhead traveling vehicle 8b. Thereafter, the overhead traveling vehicle 8b travels along the rail 32, and the item A is transported within the second floor F2. In this way, when receiving the item A from the second transport vehicle 6b, the overhead traveling vehicle 8b moves to the receiving position (directly above the second port P2 in FIG. 11 ) and receives the item A transported by the second transport vehicle 6b from the side.

[0071] Next, the operation of loading and unloading an item A between the overhead traveling vehicle 8b on the second floor F2 and the first transport vehicle 4b will be described. When loading and unloading an item A to and from the first transport vehicle 4b, the overhead traveling vehicle 8b is stopped at a receiving position vertically above the second port P2. As shown in FIG. 12 , the second port P2 where the first transport vehicle 4b stops is located directly below the rail 32 of the overhead traveling vehicle 8b. Therefore, the gripping mechanism 34c can be raised and lowered to load and unload an item A between the overhead traveling vehicle 8b and the first transport vehicle 4b without extending the slide mechanism 34b. In this way, when receiving an item A from the first transport vehicle 4b, the overhead traveling vehicle 8b moves to the receiving position and receives the item A moved by the first transport vehicle 4b from above. In other words, the overhead traveling vehicle 8b can transfer item A between the first transport vehicle 4b and the second transport vehicle 6b while stopped at the same receiving position (vertically above the second port P2 in Figures 11 and 12).

[0072] Next, we will explain the operation of the interfloor conveying system 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention. First, when conveying an article A from the first floor F1 to the second floor F2, the article A conveyed by the overhead traveling vehicle 8a on the first floor F1 is placed on the first conveying vehicle 4a stopped at the second port P2 on the first floor F1.

[0073] Meanwhile, the lifting platform 16 of the interfloor conveying device 2 is stopped at the first port P1 on the first floor F1 without any article A loaded thereon. After the lifting platform 16 is stopped at the first port P1, each arm 24d of the sway suppression mechanism 24 is extended in the diagonal direction of the lifting platform 16, and the guide rollers 24f attached to the tip of the arms 24d are brought into contact with the plate material 22b of the cover 22. In this way, the regulating member is moved to the contact position where it contacts the plate material 22b, which is the contact member, thereby suppressing lateral shaking of the lifting platform 16 when transferring the article A.

[0074] Next, the first transport vehicle 4a carrying the item A is caused to travel to the first port P1. When the first transport vehicle 4a enters the first port P1, the item A placed on the first transport vehicle 4a is received into the lifting platform 16. In this state, the lifting table 28c of the first transport vehicle 4a is lowered, thereby transferring the item A from the first transport vehicle 4a to the lifting platform 16. Once the item A has been transferred to the lifting platform 16, the swing suppression mechanism 24 of the lifting platform 16 retracts each arm 24d, and moves the regulating member to a non-contact position.

[0075] Furthermore, the lifting device 20 of the interfloor conveying device 2 lifts the lifting platform 16 by winding up the belt 18, and moves the lifting platform 16 to the third port P3 on the second floor F2. When the lifting platform 16 moves to the third port P3, the sway suppression mechanism 24 again extends each arm 24d, moving the regulating member to the abutting position and suppressing lateral shaking of the lifting platform 16. Next, the second transport vehicle 6b on the second floor F2 travels and moves to below the lifting platform 16 stopped at the third port P3. In this state, the lifting table 28c of the second transport vehicle 6b is raised, so that the article A placed on the lifting platform 16 is supported by the lifting table 28c of the second transport vehicle 6b, and the article A is transferred from the lifting platform 16 to the second transport vehicle 6b.

[0076] Next, the second transport vehicle 6b travels to the fourth port P4 on the second floor F2. Furthermore, the overhead travel vehicle 8b on the second floor F2 travels to a position adjacent to the fourth port P4, and from that position extends the slide mechanism 34b to lift up the article A placed on the second transport vehicle 6b. After retracting the slide mechanism 34b, the overhead travel vehicle 8b transports the article A within the second floor F2.

[0077] On the other hand, when transporting an article A from the second floor F2 to the first floor F1, the article A transported by the overhead traveling vehicle 8b is placed on the first transport vehicle 4b stopped at the second port P2 on the second floor F2. The first transport vehicle 4b with the article A loaded thereon travels to the first port P1 on the second floor F2, where the article A is transferred to the lifting platform 16 of the interfloor transport device 2.

[0078] Furthermore, the lifting device 20 of the interfloor conveying device 2 lowers the lifting platform 16 by reeling out the belt 18, and moves the lifting platform 16 to the third port P3 on the first floor F1. Next, at the third port P3, the item A that was placed on the lifting platform 16 is transferred to the second transport vehicle 6a. Next, the second transport vehicle 6a travels to the fourth port P4 on the first floor F1. Furthermore, the overhead traveling vehicle 8b on the first floor F1 travels to a position adjacent to the fourth port P4, from which it picks up the item A placed on the second transport vehicle 6a and transports the item A within the first floor F1.

[0079] In this embodiment, on both the first and second floors, the article A is transferred from the first transport vehicle to the lifting platform 16 at the first port P1, and from the lifting platform 16 to the second transport vehicle at the third port P3, but the port for loading and unloading the article A can be set arbitrarily. Also, both loading of the article A onto the lifting platform 16 and receiving of the article A from the lifting platform 16 may be performed at the same port.

[0080] According to the interfloor conveying device 2 of the embodiment of the present invention, the lifting platform 16 is suspended by the belt 18, which is a suspension member, and the lifting platform 16 is raised or lowered by the lifting device 20 through the opening 10a formed in the floor surface 10 of the floor, so there is no need to lay members such as guide rails through the opening 10a formed in the floor surface 10, and the article A can be conveyed between multiple floors with a simple structure. Furthermore, because there is no need for rails or the like extending through the opening 10a formed in the floor surface 10, the size of the opening 10a can be reduced, and the interfloor conveying device 2 can be installed in a small floor area.

[0081] Furthermore, according to the interfloor conveying device 2 of this embodiment, the regulating member (arm 24d and guide roller 24f) moves between an abutment position (Figure 8) where it abuts against the plate material 22b, which is the abutment member, to regulate the lateral movement of the lifting platform 16, and a non-abutment position (Figure 6).Therefore, when it is desired to suppress the lateral movement of the lifting platform 16, such as when loading or unloading an item A onto or from the lifting platform 16, the shaking of the lifting platform 16 can be suppressed.

[0082] Furthermore, according to the interfloor conveying device 2 of this embodiment, since it has a fire door 13 (Figure 1) that closes the opening 10a formed to connect the first floor F1 and the second floor F2, it is possible to prevent fire from spreading through the opening 10a in the event of a fire.

[0083] Furthermore, according to the interfloor conveying system 1 of an embodiment of the present invention, since it has first conveying vehicles 4a, 4b that move item A conveyed by the interfloor conveying device 2 within one floor, item A conveyed by the interfloor conveying device 2 can be easily transported within the destination floor.

[0084] Furthermore, according to the interfloor conveying system 1 of this embodiment, the transfer device 28a of the first conveying vehicle 4a, 4b is equipped with a lifting table 28c, and this lifting table 28c can be raised through the notch 16d (Figure 10) of the lifting platform 16, thereby supporting the item A on the lifting table 28c.Therefore, the item A can be transferred between the lifting platform 16 and the lifting table 28c, which can only move up and down.

[0085] In addition, according to the interfloor conveying system 1 of this embodiment, there are first conveying vehicles 4a, 4b and second conveying vehicles 6a, 6b that move on second rails 26b laid above the first conveying vehicles 4a, 4b, so that it is possible to transfer goods A at two locations (first port P1 and third port P3) on one floor from the lifting platform 16, which can only move up and down, thereby improving the efficiency of conveying goods A by the interfloor conveying system 1.

[0086] Furthermore, the interfloor transport system 1 of this embodiment has overhead traveling vehicles 8a, 8b that receive the articles A moved by the first transport vehicles 4a, 4b and the second transport vehicles 6a, 6b, so that the articles can be transported efficiently within the floor. Also, the overhead traveling vehicles 8a, 8b can receive the articles A moved by the first transport vehicles 4a, 4b and the second transport vehicles 6a, 6b at the same receiving position (vertically above the second port P2), so that the articles A can be handed over from each transport vehicle to the overhead traveling vehicles 8a, 8b in a small space.

[0087] Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, various modifications can be made to the above-described embodiment.

[0088] 1 Interfloor conveying system 2 Interfloor conveying device 4a, 4b First conveying vehicle 6a, 6b Second conveying vehicle 8a, 8b Ceiling traveling vehicle 10 Floor surface 10a Opening 10b Grating 12 Ceiling surface 12a Opening 13 Fire door 14 Ceiling surface 16 Lifting platform 16a Bottom plate 16b Top plate 16c Connecting plate 16d Notch 18 Belt (hanging member) 20 Lifting device 20a Drum 20b Reducer 20c Motor 22 Cover 22a Channel member 22b Plate member (contact member) 22c Opening 24 Swing suppression mechanism 24a Motor 24b Ball screw shaft 24c Ball screw nut 24d Arm (regulating member) 24e Linear guide 24f Guide roller (regulating member) 26a First rail 26b Second rail 28a Transfer device 28b Travel device 28c Lift table 30a Transfer device 30b Travel device 30c Lift table 32 Rail 34a Travel mechanism 34b Slide mechanism 34c Grip mechanism 34d Suspension belt 34e Gripper

Claims

1. An interfloor conveying device for conveying articles between multiple floors separated in the vertical direction, comprising: a lifting platform for supporting the articles to be conveyed; multiple hanging members for suspending the lifting platform from above; and a lifting device installed above the lifting platform for lifting or unwinding the hanging members to raise the lifting platform from a lower floor to an upper floor or lower it from the upper floor to the lower floor through an opening formed in the floor surface.

2. An interfloor conveying device as described in claim 1, further comprising an abutment member provided adjacent to the track along which the lifting platform rises and falls, the lifting platform having a regulating member for regulating lateral movement of the lifting platform, the regulating member being configured to be movable between an abutment position where it abuts against the abutment member to regulate the lateral movement of the lifting platform, and a non-abutment position away from the abutment member.

3. An inter-floor conveying device according to claim 1, further comprising a fire door for closing an opening formed to connect two floors.

4. An interfloor conveying system for transporting goods between a plurality of floors stacked vertically, comprising: an interfloor conveying device as described in any one of claims 1 to 3; and a first conveying vehicle for moving goods conveyed by the interfloor conveying device within one floor, wherein the first conveying vehicle is equipped with a transfer device for receiving goods from the lifting platform of the interfloor conveying device, and a running device for moving within the floor on which the first conveying vehicle is installed.

5. An interfloor conveying system as described in claim 4, wherein the transfer device of the first conveying vehicle is equipped with a lifting table for placing items conveyed by the interfloor conveying device, and when the first conveying vehicle receives an item from the lifting platform of the interfloor conveying device, it moves below the lifting platform and then lifts the lifting table through a notch formed in the lifting platform, thereby supporting the item placed on the lifting platform on the lifting table.

6. The interfloor transport system of claim 4 further comprises a second transport vehicle which moves above the first transport vehicle on the same floor as the first transport vehicle, the second transport vehicle being configured to be movable on a pair of rails laid above the first transport vehicle, and when the second transport vehicle receives an article from the interfloor transport device, the second transport vehicle moves below the lifting platform of the interfloor transport device along the pair of rails, while when the first transport vehicle receives an article from the interfloor transport device, the second transport vehicle retreats from the track of the lifting platform of the interfloor transport device, and the interfloor transport device passes between the pair of rails to lower the lifting platform and hand over the article to the first transport vehicle which has moved below the lifting platform.

7. An interfloor transport system as described in claim 6, further comprising an overhead traveling vehicle installed on the same floor as the first transport vehicle and the second transport vehicle, the overhead traveling vehicle being configured to move to a predetermined receiving position to receive the items moved by the first transport vehicle and the second transport vehicle, wherein when receiving an item from the first transport vehicle, the overhead traveling vehicle moves to the receiving position and receives the item moved by the first transport vehicle from above, and when receiving an item from the second transport vehicle, the overhead traveling vehicle moves to the receiving position and receives the item moved by the second transport vehicle from the side.