Patent ID: 7437999
Filing Date: 2008-10-21
Classification: B65G

Abstract:
1. An overhead traveling vehicle system comprising: a traveling rail in an overhead space; an article storage unit provided on a side of the traveling rail; and an overhead traveling vehicle, the overhead traveling vehicle having: a hoisting frame for supporting an article; an elevation drive unit for elevating and lowering the hoisting frame; and lateral movement means for laterally moving the elevation drive unit between the article storage unit and a position under the traveling rail, wherein: the article storage unit includes at least two levels of racks for placing articles on the racks, the one rack arranged upper and the other rack arranged lower; the overhead traveling vehicle has elevating and lowering means for elevating and lowering the lateral movement means between the height suitable for transfer of the article to/from the lower rack and an original position of the lateral movement; and at the time of transferring the article to/from a load port under the traveling rail, the article is transferred by elevating and lowering the hoisting frame using the elevation drive unit without operating the elevating and lowering means.