(12) United States Patent
`Shiwaku
`
`US006183184B1
`(10) Patent No.:
`US 6,183,184 B1
`(45) Date of Patent:
`*Feb. 6, 2001
`
`(54) WORK TRANSPORT SYSTEM
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`(75) Inventor: Tamotsu Shiwaku, Kani (JP)
`
`US‘ PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`_
`_
`(73) Ass1gnee: Murata Machinery, Ltd., Kyoto (JP)
`
`840,807 * 1/1907 Shem ................................. .. 414/673
`
`35937869 * 7/1971 Zurheide et a1, 4,049,132 * 9/1977 strémbiick .... ..
`
`(*) Notice:
`
`This patent issued on a continued pros-
`ecution application ?led under 37 CFR
`153((1), and is subject to the twenty year
`patent term pI‘OVlSlOIlS Of 35 U.S.C.
`154(a)(2).
`Under 35 U.S.C. 154(b), the term of this
`patent shall be extended for 0 days.
`
`(21) App1_ No; 08/890,302
`_
`Jul. 9, 1997
`(22) Filed:
`(30)
`Foreign Application Priority Data
`
`Sep. 30, 1996
`Mar. 13, 1997
`
`(JP) ................................................. .. 8-278633
`(JP) ................................................. .. 9-082140
`
`7
`(51) Int. Cl. ..................................................... .. B65G 1/04
`
`(52) US. Cl. ......................... .. 414/281; 414/626; 212/327
`
`(58) Field of Search ................................... .. 414/626, 627,
`414/331.01, 282, 277, 281; 254/4 R, 4 C,
`264; 212/312, 327
`
`4,474,523 * 10/1984 Murao ............... ..
`.
`4,735,539 * 4/1988 Hiikkinen et al. ..
`4,787,804 * 11/1988 Edeniis ............................... .. 414/281
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`3342849 * 6/1985 (DE) ................................... .. 414/626
`
`.
`
`*
`
`.
`
`cued by exammer
`Primary Examiner—Frank E. Werner
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Finnegan, Henderson,
`FaraboW, Garrett, & Dunner, LLP
`(57)
`ABSTRACT
`
`A Work transport system having an overhead travelling
`Carriage that runs along a rail arranged near the Ceiling,
`-
`-
`arranged With a storage rack member upon WhlCh Work may
`be loaded, betWeen the ?oor and the rail. As the storage rack
`member upon Which Work may be loaded is arranged
`betWeen the ?oor and the rail, the space of the processing
`Station and ?oor may be decreased and the transfer time of
`the Work by the overhead travelling carriage may be
`reduced
`
`7 Claims, 15 Drawing Sheets
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`ll’\—; 8
`.1 :EE/
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`Daifuku Exhibit 1001, Page 1 of 20
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`U.S. Patent
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`Feb. 6, 2001
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`Sheet 1 0f 15
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`US 6,183,184 B1
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`FIG.|
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`Daifuku Exhibit 1001, Page 2 of 20
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`U.S. Patent
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`Feb. 6, 2001
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`Sheet 2 0f 15
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`US 6,183,184 B1
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`2 K :N QNQNCN N :N @NQNGN IN
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`N .OE
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`Daifuku Exhibit 1001, Page 3 of 20
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`U.S. Patent
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`Feb. 6, 2001
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`Sheet 3 0f 15
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`US 6,183,184 B1
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`FIG. 3
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`Daifuku Exhibit 1001, Page 4 of 20
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`U.S. Patent
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`Feb. 6, 2001
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`Sheet 4 0f 15
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`US 6,183,184 B1
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`FIG. 4
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`Daifuku Exhibit 1001, Page 5 of 20
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`Daifuku Exhibit 1001, Page 6 of 20
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`Daifuku Exhibit 1001, Page 7 of 20
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`U.S. Patent
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`Feb. 6, 2001
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`Sheet 7 0f 15
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`US 6,183,184 B1
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`I66"
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`Daifuku Exhibit 1001, Page 8 of 20
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`U.S. Patent
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`Feb. 6, 2001
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`Sheet 8 0f 15
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`Daifuku Exhibit 1001, Page 9 of 20
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`U.S. Patent
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`Feb. 6, 2001
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`Sheet 9 0f 15
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`US 6,183,184 B1
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`m
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`?
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`FIG 9
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`Daifuku Exhibit 1001, Page 10 of 20
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`U.S. Patent
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`Feb. 6, 2001
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`Sheet 10 0f 15
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`US 6,183,184 B1
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`Daifuku Exhibit 1001, Page 11 of 20
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`Daifuku Exhibit 1001, Page 12 of 20
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`U.S. Patent
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`Feb.6,2001
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`Sheet 12 0f15
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`US 6,183,184 B1
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`FIG. I2
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`L)
`(50
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`FIG. l3
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`/OUT __'____________' OUT\
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`Daifuku Exhibit 1001, Page 13 of 20
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`U.S. Patent
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`Feb. 6, 2001
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`Sheet 13 0f 15
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`Daifuku Exhibit 1001, Page 14 of 20
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`U.S. Patent
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`Feb. 6, 2001
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`Sheet 14 0f 15
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`US 6,183,184 B1
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`V
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`62 6| FLIHF
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`60c
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`Daifuku Exhibit 1001, Page 15 of 20
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`Daifuku Exhibit 1001, Page 16 of 20
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`US 6,183,184 B1
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`1
`WORK TRANSPORT SYSTEM
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention relates to Work transport system for
`not only transporting boxes (hereafter, a boX in Which
`?nished products and un?nished products are stored Will be
`knoWn simply as “Work”) in Which each type of intermediate
`product and ?nished product is stored, using a travelling
`carriage that runs along a rail arranged in the vicinity of the
`ceiling, but also stacks Work at processing stations that
`perform the various processing of the Work and retrieves
`Work from the processing station by vertically moving the
`Work.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`Conventionally, a Work transport system has been knoWn
`Where, after stopping above a predetermined processing
`station, a Winding drum arranged on the overhead travelling
`carriage is suitably rotated in both directions and by Winding
`the Wire onto the Winding drum or feeding out the Wire from
`the Winding drum, a chuck device that grips the Work moves
`vertically and stacks Work gripped in the chuck device at the
`processing station or retrieves Work from the processing
`station by gripping the Work in the chuck device.
`On conventional Work transport systems, When batch
`processing is performed by grouping a plurality of Works at
`a predetermined processing station, a predetermined quan
`tity of Work is stacked at the processing station or on the
`?oor near the processing station or a table placed on the ?oor
`or the like using the overhead travelling carriage, and
`thereafter, a predetermined quantity of Work is supplied to
`the processing station using the overhead travelling carriage
`once again. As conventional Work transport systems stack
`Work at the processing station or on the ?oor near the
`processing station or on a table placed on the ?oor or the like
`in this Way, the processing station and ?oor area must be
`enlarged.
`Furthermore, as the Work is stacked at the processing
`station or on the ?oor near the processing station or a table
`placed on the ?oor or the like, the distance for vertical
`movement of the chuck device that grips the Work increases
`and as a result, the stacking time of the Work increases and
`the operating ef?ciency of the overhead travelling carriage
`decreases.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`It is an object of the present invention to propose a Work
`transport system that solves those problems present on a
`conventional system.
`In order to achieve the aforementioned object, a ?rst
`aspect of the present invention being a Work transport
`system having an overhead travelling carriage that runs
`along a rail arranged near the ceiling and vertically moves a
`chuck device by Winding a Wire onto a Winding drum or
`feeding out the Wire from the Winding drum by forWard and
`backWard rotation of the Winding drum, is the positioning of
`a storage rack member on Which Work may be stacked above
`the ?oor and morever, beloW the rail.
`A second aspect of the present invention is the mounting
`of a platform assembly on the rail.
`A third aspect of the present invention is the presence of
`a groove formed along the longitudinal direction of the rail
`into Which a nut may be inserted and a frameWork arranged
`With a hole into Which a bolt may be inserted, the insertion
`of the bolt in the hole of the frameWork arranged on the rail,
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`moreover the mounting of the frameWork on the rail by the
`screWing of the bolt into the nut inserted in the groove
`formed in the rail, and the mounting of the rack on that
`frameWork.
`A fourth aspect of the present invention is the arrange
`ment of a Work storage conveyor betWeen the rail and ?oor
`and the arrangement of a predetemined position above the
`conveyor as a Work transfer station and the transfer of Work
`betWeen this station conveyor and the overhead travelling
`carriage.
`A ?fth aspect of the present invention is the arrangement
`of a pair of stations on the conveyor Where Work received at
`one station is moved to the other station by the conveyor and
`transported by the overhead travelling carriage from the
`other station.
`A siXth aspect of the present invention is the arrangement
`of a Work processing device along the rail by the arrange
`ment of the Work transport system inside a clean room, the
`opposed positioning of the conveyors at the Work processing
`device and moreover, the suspension of that from the rail.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
`FIG. 1 is a perspective vieW of the overhead travelling
`carriage or the like that is used on the Work transport system
`of the present invention.
`FIG. 2 is a summarised front vieW of the overhead
`travelling carriage or the like that is used on the Work
`transport system of the present invention.
`FIG. 3 is a summarised side vieW including a partial
`vertical section of the rail and overhead travelling carriage
`or the like for describing the mounting means of the rail on
`the Work transport system of the present invention.
`FIG. 4 is a summarised perspective vieW of the rail and
`overhead travelling carriage or the like for describing the the
`mounting means of the rail on the Work transport system of
`the present invention.
`FIG. 5 is a summarised side vieW including a vertical
`section of the rail for describing the the mounting means of
`the platform assembly on the rail on the Work transport
`system of the present invention.
`FIG. 6 is a side vieW of a storage rack member and
`overhead travelling carriage for describing the the mounting
`means of the storage rack member on the rail on the Work
`transport system of the present invention.
`FIG. 7 is a complete side vieW of the storage rack member
`and overhead travelling carriage for describing the the
`mounting means of the storage rack member on the rail on
`the Work transport system of the present invention.
`FIG. 8 is a complete front vieW of the storage rack
`member and overhead travelling carriage for describing the
`the mounting means of the storage rack member on the rail
`on the Work transport system of the present invention.
`FIG. 9 is a partial plan vieW of the Work transport system
`of the present invention.
`FIG. 10 is a summarised side vieW shoWing another
`embodiment of the Work transport system of the present
`invention.
`FIG. 11 is a front vieW of the periphery of the platform
`assembly conveyor on the Work transport system of FIG. 10.
`FIG. 12 is a vieW shoWing the operation of the conveyor
`on the Work transport system of FIG. 10.
`FIG. 13 is a plan vieW shoWing a different embodiment of
`the conveyor on the Work transport system of FIG. 10.
`FIG. 14 is a front vieW shoWing the arrangement of the
`processing device and conveyor of the Work transport sys
`tem of FIG. 10.
`
`Daifuku Exhibit 1001, Page 17 of 20
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`US 6,183,184 B1
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`FIG. 15 is a plan vieW showing the arrangement of the
`Work transport system of FIG. 10.
`FIG. 16 is an operation ?oW chart of the Work transport
`system of FIG. 10.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
`Firstly, an overhead travelling carriage V that runs along
`a rail arranged near the ceiling that comprises the Work
`transport system of the present invention Will be described
`using FIG. 1.
`1 is a rail arranged near the ceiling by a mounting means
`to be described later, and the vertical cross sectional shape
`of the rail 1 in the longitudinal direction is formed as a C
`shape. 2 are tWo carriages and a travelling carriage main
`body 3 is linked by a pivot shaft (to be described later to) the
`carriages 2. Ahoist unit 7 having a Winding drum that is able
`to vertically move a chuck device 5 by Winding or feeding
`out a Wire 6 on Which is mounted the chuck device 5 that is
`able to grip a Work 4, is arranged on the loWer part of the
`travelling carriage main body 3.
`Next, the mounting means of a rail 1 on the ceiling and the
`carriage 2 Will be described using FIGS. 2 to 4.
`8 is a rail support member and the rail support member 8
`is formed from a vertical part 8a, an upper horiZontal part 8b
`and a loWer horiZontal part 8c. 9 is a bolt arranged With a
`screW on the upper and loWer part and the upper parts of a
`pair of bolts 9 arranged at a predetermined spacing are
`embedded in the ceiling 10 so that the rail 1 is enclosed. 11
`is a cover that covers the bolt 9. The loWer screW part of the
`bolt 9 is inserted in a hole arranged in the upper horiZontal
`part 8b of the rail support member 8 and the rail support
`member 8 is mounted on the ceiling 10 via the bolt 9 by the
`upper horiZontal part 8b of the rail support member 8
`gripped by a pair of nuts 12a,12b. 13 is a cap that covers the
`screW part of the bolt 9 and nut 12b that project doWnWards
`from the upper horiZontal part 8b of the rail support member
`
`A pair of grooves 1a are formed along the longitudinal
`direction of the rail 1 in the upper surface of the rail 1 and
`holes 8d are arranged at predetermined spacing in the loWer
`horiZontal part 8c of the rail support member 8. A nut 14 is
`inserted in the grooves la formed in the rail 1, a bolt 15 is
`inserted in the the hole 8d arranged in the loWer horiZontal
`part 8c of the rail support member 8 and the rail 1 is mounted
`on the rail support member 8 due to the screW of the bolt 15
`being screWed into the nut 14 inserted in the groove 1a
`formed in the rail 1.
`The rail support member 8 is mounted on the ceiling 10
`at a predetermined spacing via the bolt 9 as described above
`and the rail 1 is arranged near the ceiling 10 due to the
`mounting of the rail 1 an the rail support member 8.
`A horiZontal shaft 2c is arranged in the main body 2a of
`the carriage 2 via a bearing 2b and a Wheel 2d that rotates
`along a loWer horiZontal surface 1b of the rail 1 is mounted
`on one end of the horiZontal shaft 2c. A bevel gear 26 is
`mounted on one end of the horiZontal shaft 2c and a bevel
`gear 2g mounted on the output shaft of a motor 2f engages
`With the bevel gear 26. Guide rollers 2h are arranged so as
`to be able to freely rotate on the main body 2a of the carriage
`2 such that an upper vertical edge 1c and loWer vertical edge
`1d are each gripped. Accordingly, due to the rotation of the
`horiZontal shaft 2c via the bevel gear 26 mounted on the
`horiZontal shaft 2c and the bevel gear 2g mounted on the
`output shaft of a motor 2f and due to the driving of the motor
`2f, the Wheel 2d rotates and the carriage 2 is made to run
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`along the rail 1. As the guide rollers 2h grip each of the upper
`vertical edge 1c and loWer vertical edge 1d of the rail 1, the
`carriage 2 is able to run along the rail 1 in a stable state. Also,
`a pivot shaft 2i is mounted on the main body 2a of the
`carriage 2 and the travelling carriage main body 3 is linked
`to that pivot shaft 2i.
`Next, using FIGS. 5 to 8, the means for mounting a
`platform assembly on the rail 1 Will be described. In this
`embodiment, the platform is a storage rack member 16.
`16a is a frameWork and a pair of holes 16b are arranged
`at a predetermined spacing in an upper horiZontal part 16a‘
`of the frameWork 16a. A nut 17 is inserted in the groove 1a
`formed in the rail 1, a bolt 18 is inserted in the the hole 16b
`arranged in the upper horiZontal part 16a‘ of the frameWork
`16a and the frameWork 16a is mounted on the upper surface
`of the rail 1 due to the screW of the bolt 18 being screWed
`into the nut 17 inserted in the groove 1a formed in the rail
`1.
`A plurality (in the present embodiment, tWo frameWork
`16a are mounted as shoWn in FIG. 8) of frameWork 16a are
`mounted at predetermined spacings along the longitudinal
`direction of the rail 1 and the rack 16c is mounted on the
`loWer horiZontal part 16a“ of the frameWork 16, all of the
`frameWorks combining to de?ne an opening having suffi
`cient clearance to alloW the entire hoist unit and chuck
`device to travel horiZontally therethrough. Thus, the storage
`rack member 16 is comprised of a plurality of frameWork
`16a mounted on the rail 1 and the rack 16c loaded on the
`loWer horiZontal part 16a“ of the rack frame 16a. A rack 16c
`loaded on the loWer horiZontal part 16a“ of the rack frame
`16a is positioned beloW the overhead travelling carriage V
`so that the Work 4 loaded on the rack 16c does not collide
`With the overhead travelling carriage V running along the
`rail 1. Furthermore, the upper horiZonal part 16a‘ and loWer
`horiZonal part 16a“ are of sufficient Width so that the vertical
`part of the frameWork 16a does not collide With the overhead
`travelling carriage V.
`In order to reduce the transfer time of the Work 4 by the
`overhead travelling carriage V to the rack 16c and further
`more in order to increase the space beloW the rack 16c, it is
`preferable for the storage rack member 16 to be as close to
`the rail 1 as possible in the vertical direction Within a range
`so that the Work 4 loaded on the rack 16c does not collide
`With the overhead travelling carriage V.
`Next, using FIG. 9, the functions of the storage rack
`member 16 arranged on the rail 1 as above Will be described.
`The rail 1 is arranged in the vicinity of the ceiling in this
`example as an approximate U-shape and the overhead
`travelling carriage V runs along the rail 1. P1,P2 are pro
`cessing stations for performing the desired processing on the
`Work 4 and the storage rack member 16 is suspended from
`the rail 1 in the vicinity of the processing station P1. At
`processing station P1, When a plurality of Work 4 is to be
`processed together, the Work 4 transported by the overhead
`travelling carriage V to the processing station P1 and loaded
`on the storage rack member 16 suspended from the rail 1
`near the processing station P1 Without being loaded on the
`?oor or the like. After a predetermined amount of Work 4 has
`been stored on the storage rack member 16, the Work 4 is
`supplied to the processing station P1 by the overhead
`travelling carriage V.
`TWo storage rack members 16 are positioned in front of
`and behind the processing station P2. For example, a pre
`determined amount of Work 4 processed by the processing
`station P2 as described above is loaded on the storage rack
`member 16 positioned to the right of processing station P2
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`Daifuku Exhibit 1001, Page 18 of 20
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`US 6,183,184 B1
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`and processed Work 4 or empty boxes into Which Work 4
`may be stored are loaded in the storage rack member 16
`positioned to the left of processing station P2.
`It should be noted that in the above described
`embodiment, an example has been described Where the
`storage rack member 16 is suspended beloW the rail 1 but the
`upper part of the bolt may be embedded in the ceiling, a
`plurality of rack frames 16a may be mounted on the ceiling
`10 and the racks 16c may be mounted on the rack frame 16a
`via the bolt by mounting the rack frame 16a on the loWer
`part of the bolt. Further, it is also possible to arrange the
`storage rack member 16 along the entire length of the rail 1
`except the positions directly above the processing stations
`P1,P2 and not only in the vicinity of the processing stations
`P1,P2.
`Net, another embodiment of the present invention Will be
`described. FIG. 10 shoWs the arrangement of the platform
`assembly a belt conveyor 42 inside a clean room. As
`previously described, the belt conveyor 42 is suspended by
`frameWork 16a, from the rail support member 8 above the
`rail 1. 44 is a conveyor shaft and the belt conveyor 42 is able
`to store, for example, up to 5 pieces of Work 4.
`In the arrangement of the belt conveyor 42 as shoWn in
`FIG. 11, 46 is a controller Which is connected to a host
`computer 52 via a communication cable. 48 is a motor
`connected to a contact Wire. The controller 46 is operated by
`a command from the host computer 52 and the belt conveyor
`42 is moved in the direction of the arroW shoWn in the
`draWing via the motor 48 by that signal. The right edge of
`the draWing of the belt conveyor 42 is a loading station 49
`and the left edge is a delivery station 50. 52 is the afore
`mentioned host computer and controls the overhead travel
`ling carriage V and belt conveyor 42 by communication. As
`shoWn in the operations of the belt conveyor 42 in FIG. 12,
`the overhead travelling carriage V grips the Work 4 and
`loWers it to the loading station 49 and unloads the Work 4 on
`the belt conveyor 42 by implanting it on the belt conveyor
`42. The unloaded Work 4 is transported toWards the delivery
`station 50 by the belt conveyor 42 and transported from the
`delivery station 50 by the chuck device 5.
`FIG. 13 shoWs an example of a circulation type conveyor
`54. On this conveyor 54, the loading and delivery stations
`are arranged at positions 55,56 directly beloW the rail 1 and
`the Work 4 unloaded at the station 55 is sent to the station 56
`by the conveyor 54 and the Work 4 unloaded at the station
`56 is sent to the station 55. It should be noted that conveyors
`42,54 are belt conveyors but may be chain conveyors, slat
`conveyors or roller conveyors or the like.
`In FIGS. 14 and 15 shoWing the layout of the Work
`transport system, 60 is a Work processing device such as a
`?lm production device, impurity injection device or cleaning
`device. 61,62 are those stations With, for example, the Work
`4 being received from the overhead travelling carriage V at
`the station 61 and processing being performed Where after
`being transported to the processing device 60 and removing
`the case, the board or the like inside is taken out. Then, it is
`stored once again in the case inside the processing device 60
`and transported from the station 62. In this Way, the stations
`61,62 also double as buffers betWeen the processes. The belt
`conveyor 42 is positioned along the rail 1 betWeen the
`processing devices 60,60 as shoWn in the draWing for
`example, the belt conveyor 42 is used as a buffer betWeen the
`left and right processing devices and after processing at the
`right processing device has ?nished, is used as a buffer
`before being moved to the left side processing device. If so
`arranged, the storage capacity of the stations 61,62 of the
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`processing devices 60 may be reduced and the space of the
`clean room may be more effectively utilised.
`The conveyor 42 is positioned corresponding to the
`processing devices 60 as shoWn in FIG. 15 for example. The
`conveyor 42a of FIG. 9 is used as a buffer for before the
`processing device 60a and the conveyor 42b is used as an
`exit side buffer of the processing device 60a. Similarly, a
`conveyor 42c is used as a buffer for before the processing
`device 60b and a conveyor 42a' is used as a buffer for
`betWeen the processing devices 60b,60c. These kinds of
`conveyors 42 are arranged as tWo types; as a ratio of 1:1 With
`the processing device (conveyors 42a,42b,42c) and a ratio of
`1:2 With the processing device 60 (conveyor 42a)
`As shoWn by the operations of conveyor 42 in FIG. 16,
`When storage of the Work 4 is commanded by the host
`computer 52, the controller 46 checks the amount of stored
`Work 6 on the conveyor 42 and checks Whether it Will
`become full or not With the addition of a single unit. In either
`case, the Work 4 is unloaded by the chuck device 5 to the
`loading station 49 Which has been prevacated, a signal that
`con?rms that the unloading of the Work 4 has been com
`pleted is aWaited and the counter of the existing amount in
`the controller 46 is increased by 1. When the conveyor 42
`becomes full due to the implantation of Work 4, a full signal
`is reported to the host computer 52. In all other cases, the
`conveyor 42 is advanced by 1 unit of Work 4 and the Work
`4 is moved 1 step at a time toWards the delivery station 50.
`When a delivery command from the host computer 52
`arrives, a check is carried out of Whether the Work 4 exists
`in the delivery station 50 or not and When it does not exist,
`the leading Work 4 is advanced as far as the delivery station
`50. Next, a signal shoWing that the chucking of the Work 4
`by the chuck device 5 has ?nished is aWaited via the the host
`computer 52. Thereafter, the conveyor 42 is advanced by
`one unit’s Worth of Work and 1 is subtracted from the
`counter of the controller 46 shoWing the number of existing
`Work.
`The present embodiment is able to effectively utilise the
`available space of a clean room and in particular, is able to
`effectively utilise the available space beloW the rail 1.
`Furthermore, as the belt conveyor 42 may be used as a buffer
`betWeen the processing devices 60,60, the time lag of the
`processes betWeen processing devices 60,60 may be
`absorbed even if the scale of the stations 61,62 of the
`processing devices is small. The belt conveyor 42 is sus
`pended by the frameWork 16a on the rail 1 and the attach
`ment and positioning of the belt conveyor 42 is simple. Also,
`as the belt conveyor 42 may stop the overhead travelling
`carriage V at the tWo points of the loading station 49 and
`delivery station 50, the stoppage points are reduced. Due to
`this, the number of stoppage marks arranged on the rail 1
`may be reduced and the stoppage control is simpli?ed.
`Furthermore, as the conveyor 42 transports ?rst the previ
`ously received Work 4, the older the Work, the more quickly
`it is sent to the next process. Furthermore, the controller 64
`counts the existing amount of the Work 4 at the conveyor 42,
`alWays makes the loading station 49 vacant and thus if
`control so that each Work 4 is continuously lined up, there
`is no need for control of each position of the Work 4 on the
`conveyor 42. Accordingly, the control of the conveyor 42 is
`also simpli?ed.
`As a result of the construction as described above, the
`present invention demonstrates the folloWing advantages.
`As the storage rack member on Which Work may be
`loaded is positioned beloW the rail and above the ?oor, a
`reduction in space of the processing station and ?oor may be
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`Daifuku Exhibit 1001, Page 19 of 20
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`

`
`US 6,183,184 B1
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`7
`realised and the transfer time of the Work by the overhead
`travelling carriage may be shortened.
`As the storage rack member is mounted on the rail, the
`mounting operation of the storage rack member is simpli?ed
`Without the arrangement of a special mounting member on
`the ceiling.
`As the framework is mounted on the rail by the screWing
`of a bolt into a nut Which is inserted in a groove formed in
`the rail, the framework may be easily mounted and removed
`and the mounting position of the storage rack member may
`be easily changed along the rail.
`As a Work storage conveyor is suspended by a rail or the
`like betWeen the rail and ?oor, the vacant space under the
`rail may be used for the storage of Work. Also, as a
`predetermined position of the conveyor directly beloW the
`rail is assigned as a Work transfer station, the received Work
`may be moved to a position other than the transfer station of
`the conveyor. As a result, as the overhead travelling carriage
`need only be stopped directly above the transfer station, the
`stoppage positions of the overhead travelling carriage may
`be reduced and the stoppage control is simpli?ed.
`A pair of transfer stations are arranged on the conveyor
`and the Work received at one station is moved toWards the
`other station by the conveyor. If this is arranged, the Work
`?rst received is ?rst transported and Work is transported in
`the production order of the plant or storage order of the
`Warehouse.
`If the overhead travelling carriage system is arranged in a
`clean room, the valuable space inside the clean room may be
`effectively utilised. Furthermore, by arranging the conveyor
`corresponding to the Work processing devices, the operation
`timing betWeen processing devices may be absorbed by the
`conveyor. Yet further, if the conveyor is suspended by a rail,
`the arrangement of the conveyor is simpli?ed.
`I claim:
`1. A building located Work transport system, including:
`a substantially horiZontal rail system suspended from a
`ceiling of the building;
`
`10
`
`25
`
`35
`
`8
`a traveling carriage connected to the rail system and
`movable along the rail system;
`a hoist unit connected to the traveling carriage;
`a chuck device connected to the hoist unit and vertically
`movable thereby; and
`a non-movable platform assembly suspended from one of
`the ceiling and a rail of the rail system, the platform
`assembly being located in a path of the traveling
`carriage, for temporarily depositing the Work betWeen
`the ceiling and a ?oor of the building;
`the platform assembly including a frameWork de?ning an
`opening having sufficient clearance to alloW the entire
`hoist unit and chuck device to travel horiZontally
`therethrough.
`2. A building located Work transport system according to
`claim 1, Wherein the suspended platform assembly is a
`storage rack member for storing Work betWeen the ceiling
`and ?oor of the building.
`3. A building located Work transport system according to
`claim 1, Wherein the hoist unit includes a Winding drum, and
`rotation of the Winding drum feeds out or feeds in Wire
`connected betWeen the Winding drum and the chuck device.
`4. A building located Work transport system according to
`claim 1, Wherein the platform assembly suspends from the
`rail and is connected to the rail by a nut and bolt assembly,
`the nut and bolt assembly extending through a hole in the
`frameWork and into a longitudinal groove located in the rail.
`5. A building located Work transport system according to
`claim 1, Wherein the platform assembly includes a belt
`conveyor.
`6. A building located Work transport system according to
`claim 5, Wherein the platform assembly suspends from the
`rail.
`7. A building located Work transport system according to
`claim 1, Wherein the platform assembly includes a circula
`tion belt conveyor system.
`
`*
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`*
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`*
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`*
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`*
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`Daifuku Exhibit 1001, Page 20 of 20