Article transport facility

An article transport facility comprising:

• an article transport vehicle having a travel wheel and to which driving electric power is supplied from an electricity supply line installed along travel paths to allow the article transport vehicle to travel;
• a first path and a second path provided as the travel paths;
• and
• switching means, provided in a crossing portion in which the first path and the second path cross each other, for switching between a first switched state in which the article transport vehicle is allowed to travel through the crossing portion along the first path and a second switched state in which the article transport vehicle is allowed to travel through the crossing portion along the second path,
• wherein a first travel rail that guides and supports the travel wheel is provided in the first path in each of an entrance portion that is in series with and extends toward the crossing portion and an exit portion that is in series with and extends away from the crossing portion,
• wherein a second travel rail that guides and supports the travel wheel is provided in the second path in each of an entrance portion that is in series with and extends toward the crossing portion and an exit portion that is in series with and extends away from the crossing portion,
• wherein a position change rail, whose position can be changed between a first position which is in series with the first travel rail and a second position which is in series with the second travel rail, is provided in the crossing portion,
• wherein the switching means is configured to switch to the first switched state by switching the position change rail to the first position, and is configured to switch to the second switched state by switching the position change rail to the second position,
• wherein the electricity supply line is supported by the first travel rail such that driving electric power can be supplied to the article transport vehicle when traveling along the first travel rail and when traveling along the position change rail in the first position, and is supported by the second travel rail such that driving electric power can be supplied to the article transport vehicle when traveling along the second travel rail and when traveling along the position change rail in the second position, and
• wherein the electricity supply line is supported by the first travel rail such that the electricity supply line extends from a first travel rail side and beyond an end of the position change rail in the first position and into the position change rail in plan view so that the electricity supply line can supply driving electric power to the article transport vehicle traveling along the position change rail in the first position, and is supported by the second travel rail such that the electricity supply line extends from a second travel rail side and beyond an end of the position change rail in the second position and into the position change rail in plan view so that the electricity supply line can supply driving electric power to the article transport vehicle traveling along the position change rail in the second position.