Linear transport apparatus

A linear transport apparatus that holds a box member in a rectangular shape as seen in a plan view and that transports the box member along a previously set transport direction, the apparatus comprising:

• a guide portion formed in a shape of a loop as seen in a plan view;
• a first carriage and a second carriage disposed on the guide portion next to each other along the transport direction and movable along the transport direction;
• a linear driving unit that controls the first and second carriages independently;
• and
• a support portion that supports a bottom portion of the box member, wherein
• the second carriage is disposed frontward of the first carriage along the transport direction,
• the first carriage has a first claw portion protruding away from the guide portion,
• the second carriage has a second claw portion protruding away from the guide portion,
• the first claw portion has:
• an inner contact portion having a first contact face, the first contact face extending along the transport direction and making contact with an inner face of the box member along the transport direction;
• and
• a rear contact portion having a second contact face making contact with a rear face of the box member along the transport direction,
• the second claw portion has, in at least part of a rear face thereof along the transport direction, an inclined face that extends rearward along the transport direction as it goes away from the guide portion, the inclined face making contact with a coupling part between a front face of the box member along the transport direction and an outer face of the box member, and
• the support portion is disposed on at least one of the first and second carriages.