IP Library Granted Patent US 12662177
Granted Patent B2
US 12662177 · App. 18/681,137 · Granted Jun 23, 2026

Overhead transport vehicle system

Inventor: Makoto Kobayashi (Ise, JP)
Assignee: MURATA MACHINERY, LTD.
B61L27/04B61B3/02B66C13/48H10P72/3216H10P72/3221B66C19/00
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12662177
App. No.
18/681,137
Filed
Feb 5, 2024
Granted
Jun 23, 2026
Kind
B2
Art Unit
3651
USPC
700/229
Abstract

An overhead transport vehicle system includes an overhead transport vehicle to travel on a track to transport an object and including a holder to transfer the object to a placement portion below the track, and a teaching unit. The system is configured or programmed to cause the overhead transport vehicle to hold the teaching unit and perform teaching of a transfer operation to the placement portion. The holder includes a power-feeding terminal to feed power from a power source and a first communication terminal to receive teaching information. The teaching unit includes a power-receiving terminal to which the power is fed and a second communication terminal to transmit teaching information. When the teaching unit is held by the holder, the power-receiving terminal and the power-feeding terminal become energizable and the first and second communication terminals become communicable.

Claims (68)

1 . An overhead transport vehicle system comprising:

an overhead transport vehicle to travel on a track to transport an object and including a holder to transfer the object to a placement portion below the track; and

a teaching unit; wherein

the system is configured or programmed to cause the overhead transport vehicle to hold the teaching unit and perform teaching of transfer operation to the placement portion; wherein

the holder includes:

a power-feeding terminal to feed power from a power source; and

a first communication terminal to receive information on the teaching;

the teaching unit includes:

a power-receiving terminal to which the power is fed; and

a second communication terminal to transmit the information on the teaching; and

when the teaching unit is held by the holder, the power-receiving terminal and the power-feeding terminal become energizable and the first communication terminal and the second communication terminal become communicable.

2 . The overhead transport vehicle system according to claim 1 , wherein when the teaching unit is held by the holder, the power-receiving terminal and the power-feeding terminal are in contact with each other, and the first communication terminal and the second communication terminal are within a predetermined distance to each other.

3 . The overhead transport vehicle system according to claim 1 , wherein

the power-feeding terminal is located at a back side of a recess in a lower surface of the holder; and

the power-receiving terminal protrudes from an upper surface of the teaching unit and is extendable and retractable.

4 . The overhead transport vehicle system according to claim 3 , wherein a tapered portion to guide the power-receiving terminal to a back side of the recess is on an opening side of the recess.

5 . The overhead transport vehicle system according to claim 1 , further comprising a controller configured or programmed to control traveling of the overhead transport vehicle; wherein

the controller is configured or programmed to perform:

holding control to cause the overhead transport vehicle to travel toward a predetermined position where the teaching unit is stored, stop at the predetermined position and lower the holder, and hold the teaching unit by the holder; and

teaching control to cause the overhead transport vehicle holding the teaching unit to travel toward a transfer position corresponding to the placement portion, stop at the transfer position, and perform a transfer operation on the placement portion to acquire teaching data.

6 . The overhead transport vehicle system according to claim 5 , wherein

the track includes a loop portion with a loop shape;

a plurality of the placement portions are located along the loop portion; and

when the teaching is completed for one of the plurality of placement portions, the controller is configured or programmed to cause the overhead transport vehicle to travel around the loop portion, and then to perform the teaching for another of the plurality of placement portions that is adjacent to the one of the plurality of placement portions.

7 . The overhead transport vehicle system according to claim 2 , wherein

the power-feeding terminal is located at a back side of a recess in a lower surface of the holder; and

the power-receiving terminal protrudes from an upper surface of the teaching unit and is extendable and retractable.

8 . The overhead transport vehicle system according to claim 7 , wherein a tapered portion to guide the power-receiving terminal to a back side of the recess is located on an opening side of the recess.

9 . The overhead transport vehicle system according to claim 2 , further comprising a controller configured or programmed to control traveling of the overhead transport vehicle; wherein

the controller is configured or programmed to perform:

holding control to cause the overhead transport vehicle to travel toward a predetermined position where the teaching unit is stored, stop at the predetermined position and lower the holder, and hold the teaching unit by the holder; and

teaching control to cause the overhead transport vehicle holding the teaching unit to travel toward a transfer position corresponding to the placement portion, stop at the transfer position, and perform a transfer operation on the placement portion to acquire teaching data.

10 . The overhead transport vehicle system according to claim 3 , further comprising a controller configured or programmed to control traveling of the overhead transport vehicle; wherein

the controller is configured or programmed to perform:

holding control to cause the overhead transport vehicle to travel toward a predetermined position where the teaching unit is stored, stop at the predetermined position and lower the holder, and hold the teaching unit by the holder; and

teaching control to cause the overhead transport vehicle holding the teaching unit to travel toward a transfer position corresponding to the placement portion, stop at the transfer position, and perform a transfer operation on the placement portion to acquire teaching data.

11 . The overhead transport vehicle system according to claim 4 , further comprising a controller configured or programmed to control traveling of the overhead transport vehicle; wherein

the controller is configured or programmed to perform:

holding control to cause the overhead transport vehicle to travel toward a predetermined position where the teaching unit is stored, stop at the predetermined position and lower the holder, and hold the teaching unit by the holder; and

teaching control to cause the overhead transport vehicle holding the teaching unit to travel toward a transfer position corresponding to the placement portion, stop at the transfer position, and perform a transfer operation on the placement portion to acquire teaching data.

12 . The overhead transport vehicle system according to claim 7 , further comprising a controller configured or programmed to control traveling of the overhead transport vehicle; wherein

the controller is configured or programmed to perform:

holding control to cause the overhead transport vehicle to travel toward a predetermined position where the teaching unit is stored, stop at the predetermined position and lower the holder, and hold the teaching unit by the holder; and

teaching control to cause the overhead transport vehicle holding the teaching unit to travel toward a transfer position corresponding to the placement portion, stop at the transfer position, and perform a transfer operation on the placement portion to acquire teaching data.

13 . The overhead transport vehicle system according to claim 8 , further comprising a controller configured or programmed to control traveling of the overhead transport vehicle; wherein

the controller is configured or programmed to perform:

holding control to cause the overhead transport vehicle to travel toward a predetermined position where the teaching unit is stored, stop at the predetermined position and lower the holder, and hold the teaching unit by the holder; and

teaching control to cause the overhead transport vehicle holding the teaching unit to travel toward a transfer position corresponding to the placement portion, stop at the transfer position, and perform a transfer operation on the placement portion to acquire teaching data.

14 . The overhead transport vehicle system according to claim 9 , wherein

the track includes a loop portion with a loop shape;

a plurality of the placement portions are located along the loop portion; and

when the teaching is completed for one of the plurality of placement portions, the controller is configured or programmed to cause the overhead transport vehicle to travel around the loop portion, and then to perform the teaching for another of the plurality of placement portions that is adjacent to the one of the plurality of placement portions.

15 . The overhead transport vehicle system according to claim 10 , wherein

the track includes a loop portion with a loop shape;

a plurality of the placement portions are located along the loop portion; and

when the teaching is completed for one of the plurality of placement portions, the controller is configured or programmed to cause the overhead transport vehicle to travel around the loop portion, and then to perform the teaching for another of the plurality of placement portions that is adjacent to the one of the plurality of placement portions.

16 . The overhead transport vehicle system according to claim 11 , wherein

the track includes a loop portion with a loop shape;

a plurality of the placement portions are located along the loop portion; and

when the teaching is completed for one of the plurality of placement portions, the controller is configured or programmed to cause the overhead transport vehicle to travel around the loop portion, and then to perform the teaching for another of the plurality of placement portions that is adjacent to the one of the plurality of placement portions.

17 . The overhead transport vehicle system according to claim 12 , wherein

the track includes a loop portion with a loop shape;

a plurality of the placement portions are located along the loop portion; and

when the teaching is completed for one of the plurality of placement portions, the controller is configured or programmed to cause the overhead transport vehicle to travel around the loop portion, and then to perform the teaching for another of the plurality of placement portions that is adjacent to the one of the plurality of placement portions.

18 . The overhead transport vehicle system according to claim 13 , wherein

the track includes a loop portion with a loop shape;

a plurality of the placement portions are located along the loop portion; and

when the teaching is completed for one of the plurality of placement portions, the controller is configured or programmed to cause the overhead transport vehicle to travel around the loop portion, and then to perform the teaching for another of the plurality of placement portions that is adjacent to the one of the plurality of placement portions.