Patent ID: 11873165
Assignee: DAIFUKU CO., LTD.
Field: Handling (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC B | IPC B

Claim 9:
10. An article transport apparatus comprising a transfer apparatus that moves an article in a transfer direction, and a movement apparatus that moves the transfer apparatus along a transport path, wherein:
a direction orthogonal to the transfer direction when viewed in a vertical direction is defined as a width direction,
the transfer apparatus is provided with a first protruding/retracting unit capable of protruding/retracting in the transfer direction, and a second protruding/retracting unit capable of protruding/retracting in the transfer direction and installed in a state spaced apart from the first protruding/retracting unit in the width direction,
the transfer apparatus further comprises a first drive unit that moves the first protruding/retracting unit in the width direction, and a second drive unit that moves the second protruding/retracting unit in the width direction,
the first drive unit is provided with a first connection unit connected to the first protruding/retracting unit, a swing mechanism that swings the first connection unit around a prescribed axis, and a first drive mechanism that drives the swing mechanism, the first drive unit configured to move the first protruding/retracting unit in the width direction within a first setting range by swinging the first connection unit, and
the second drive unit is provided with a second connection unit connected to the second protruding/retracting unit, a reciprocating movement mechanism that moves the second connection unit in a reciprocating manner along a prescribed path in the width direction, and a second drive mechanism that drives the reciprocating movement mechanism, the second drive unit configured to move the second protruding/retracting unit in the width direction within a second setting range wider than the first setting range by moving the second connection unit back and forth in the prescribed path,
a direction in which the first protruding/retracting unit exists with respect to the second protruding/retracting unit in the width direction is defined as a width direction first side, and an opposite side thereto is defined as a width direction second side, and
the first drive unit is configured such that, in a state in which the first protruding/retracting unit is positioned at an end on the width direction second side in the first setting range, the first connection unit and the prescribed axis are lined up in the width direction.