Transfer apparatus

A transfer apparatus comprising:

• a first guide rail comprising a first side surface, a first front surface, and a first rear surface;
• a second guide rail comprising a second side surface, a second front surface, and a second rear surface;
• a driving module comprising a main rail and a moving block that moves along the main rail, wherein the main rail is provided between the first guide rail and the second guide rail in a first horizontal direction;
• and
• a carriage module coupled to the moving block and supporting an article,
• wherein the carriage module comprises:
• a carriage frame coupled to the moving block;
• a first wheel assembly comprising a first wheel bracket coupled to a first side of the carriage module and a first side guide wheel mounted to the first wheel bracket and configured to be in rolling contact with the first side surface of the first guide rail;
• and
• a second wheel assembly comprising a second wheel bracket coupled to a second side of the carriage module and a second side guide wheel mounted to the second wheel bracket and configured to be in rolling contact with the second side surface of the second guide rail,
• wherein the main rail has a groove extending in an extension direction of the main rail, and a portion of the moving block is accommodated in the groove, and wherein the driving module includes a core-type linear motor.

A transfer apparatus comprising:

• a first guide rail extending in a vertical direction and comprising a first side surface, a first front surface, and a first rear surface;
• a second guide rail extending in the vertical direction and comprising a second side surface, a second front surface, and a second rear surface;
• a driving module comprising a main rail that extends in the vertical direction and a moving block that moves along the main rail, wherein the main rail is provided between the first guide rail and the second guide rail in a first horizontal direction;
• and
• a carriage module coupled to the moving block and supporting an article,
• wherein the carriage module comprises:
• a carriage frame coupled to the moving block;
• a first wheel assembly coupled to the carriage frame, the first wheel assembly comprising a plurality of first side guide wheels configured to be in rolling contact with the first side surface of the first guide rail, a first front guide wheel configured to be in rolling contact with the first front surface of the first guide rail, a first rear guide wheel configured to be in rolling contact with the first rear surface of the first guide rail, and a first wheel bracket to which the plurality of first side guide wheels, the first front guide wheel, and the first rear guide wheel are mounted;
• and
• a second wheel assembly coupled to the carriage frame, the second wheel assembly comprising a plurality of second side guide wheels configured to be in rolling contact with the second side surface of the second guide rail, a second front guide wheel configured to be in rolling contact with the second front surface of the second guide rail, a second rear guide wheel configured to be in rolling contact with the second rear surface of the second guide rail, and a second wheel bracket to which the plurality of second side guide wheels, the second front guide wheel, and the second rear guide wheel are mounted,
• wherein the driving module comprises a linear motor configured to move the carriage module through an interaction between a linear motor coil provided in the main rail and a linear motor magnet provided in the moving block,
• each of the plurality of first side guide wheels is mounted to the first wheel bracket such that the each of the plurality of first side guide wheels is allowed to move relative to the first wheel bracket in the first horizontal direction,
• each of the plurality of second side guide wheels is mounted to the second wheel bracket such that the each of the plurality of second side guide wheels is not allowed to move relative to the second wheel bracket in the first horizontal direction,
• a number of the plurality of first side guide wheels is a same number as a number of the plurality of second side guide wheels, and
• wherein the main rail has a groove extending in an extension direction of the main rail, and a portion of the moving block is accommodated in the groove, and
• wherein the linear motor includes a core-type linear motor.