Article transfer method using self-propelled carriage, and self-propelled carriage
AssigneeDaifuku Co., Ltd.
InventorHaruhiro Watanabe
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An article transfer method using a self-propelled carriage capable of supporting an article and travelling along a fixed path is provided in which an article supporting body forming a final operating section is turned without performing lateral movement and with making little protrusion toward the article handling section, by combining longitudinal movement of a movable body with respect to a vehicle body and turning movement of a turnable body with respect to the movable body. As a result, means for performing lateral movement of the article supporting body can be omitted, and hence the overall device can be constituted in a simple and inexpensive manner.
Claims5
A method of transferring articles to/from an article handling section, using a self-propelled carriage capable of travelling along a fixed path, the carriage comprising a movable body capable of moving in a longitudinal direction with respect to a carriage body, a turnable body capable of turning about a vertical axis with respect to the movable body, and an article supporting body disposed over the turnable body, said method comprising the steps of:
- halting the self-propelled carriage alongside the article handling section;
- performing initial turning of the turnable body about the vertical axis so as to cause a front end of the article supporting body to face the article handling section;
- moving the movable body whilst turning the turnable body about the vertical axis, so that the front end of the article supporting body is positioned substantially right at a lateral side of the carriage body so as to face the article handling section;
- performing a transfer of an article between the article supporting body and the article handling section;
- and
- causing the article supporting body to perform a reverse operation so as to be accommodated on the carriage body.
A method of transferring articles to/from an article handling section, using a self-propelled carriage capable of travelling along a fixed path, the carriage comprising a movable body capable of moving in a longitudinal direction with respect to a carriage body, a turnable body capable of turning about a vertical axis with respect to the movable body, and an article supporting body capable of extending and retracting with respect to the turnable body, said method comprising the steps of:
- halting the self-propelled carriage alongside the article handling section;
- causing the article supporting body to make an extending movement;
- performing initial turning of the turnable body about the vertical axis so as to cause a front end of the article supporting body to face the article handling section;
- moving the movable body whilst performing intermediate turning of the turnable body about the vertical axis, and causing the article supporting body to make a retracting movement;
- performing final turning of the turnable body about the vertical axis, so that the front end of the article supporting body is positioned substantially right at a lateral side of the carriage body so as to face the article handling section;
- performing a transfer of an article between the article supporting body and the article handling section;
- and
- causing the article supporting body to perform a reverse operation so as to be accommodated on the carriage body.
A self-propelled carriage comprising a movable body capable of moving in a longitudinal direction with respect to a carriage body, and moving means, said movable body comprising a turnable body capable of turning about a vertical axis, and turning means, said turnable body being mounted thereover with an article supporting body, wherein
- the movable body performs a longitudinal movement whilst the turning body performs a turning movement at least partially in a synchronised manner.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.