Patent ID: 7648018

Claim:
An article transport device, comprising: an endless revolving body that is configured to move along a cyclic path in a substantially horizontal direction; a plurality of article supports each of which supports an article, wherein the article supports move together with the endless revolving body with the supports spaced apart from each other in a traveling direction; support means for supporting the article supports to the endless revolving body such that the article supports can move between a transport position adjacent the endless revolving body and an away position spaced apart from the transport position, said support means supporting the article supports at both said transport position and said away position such that the article supports can move together with said endless revolving body; and guide means for causing at least some of the article supports to move from the transport position to the away position and to move from the away position to the transport position, at an article delivering location or an article receiving location along the cyclic path of the endless revolving body, said guide means being provided independently of said endless revolving body.