Crane device, driving method thereof, and stocker including same

A stocker, comprising:

• a first stocking unit including a plurality of first shelves and extending in a first direction;
• a second stocking unit spaced apart from the first stocking unit, including a plurality of second shelves and extending in the first direction;
• and
• a first crane robot and a second crane robot both disposed within a same space existing directly between the first stocking unit and the second stocking unit,
• wherein the first crane robot comprises:
• a first column configured to be movable in the first direction and extend in a second direction;
• a first arm unit configured to be movable along the first column;
• a first support block installed on an upper part of the first column and protruding in a third direction perpendicular to the first direction and the second direction;
• a first drive unit installed in the first support block and configured to move the first column in the first direction, the first drive unit at the upper part of the first column being a sole drive unit of the first column;
• and
• a first lower guide unit installed in a lower part of the first column and configured to guide a movement direction of the first column, and
• the second crane robot comprises:
• a second column configured to be movable in the first direction and extend in the second direction and spaced apart from the first column;
• a second arm unit configured to be movable along the second column;
• a second support block installed in a lower part of the second column and protruding in the third direction;
• a second drive unit installed in the second support block and configured to move the second column in the first direction, the second drive unit at the lower part of the second column being the sole drive unit of the second column;
• and
• a second upper guide unit installed in an upper part of the second column and configured to guide a movement direction of the second column.

A driving method of a crane device, the method comprising:

• providing a stocker comprising:
• a first stocking unit including a plurality of first shelves and extending in a first direction;
• a second stocking unit spaced apart from the first stocking unit and including a plurality of second shelves and extending in the first direction;
• and a first crane robot and a second crane robot both disposed within a same space existing directly between the first stocking unit and the second stocking unit, wherein the first crane robot comprises:
• a first column configured to be movable in the first direction;
• a first arm unit configured to be movable along the first column;
• and a first drive unit installed in an upper of the first column and configured to move the first column in the first direction, and the second crane robot comprises:
• a second column configured to be movable in the first direction;
• a second arm unit configured to be movable along the second column;
• and a second drive unit installed in a lower part of the second column and configured to move the second column in the first direction;
• picking up a container in a first position of the second stocking unit by the first arm unit of the first crane robot;
• allowing the first crane robot to intersect the second crane robot and move to a second position, wherein, at the time of intersecting the first crane robot and the second crane robot, the first arm unit and the second arm unit are disposed at different heights, but at least partially overlap with each other;
• and
• putting down the container in the second position of the second stocking unit by the first arm unit of the first crane robot,
• wherein the first drive unit at the upper part of the first column is a sole drive unit of the first column, and
• wherein the second drive unit at the lower part of the second column is the sole drive unit of the second column.