IP Library Granted Patent US 7,461,598
Granted Patent B2
US 7,461,598 · App. 11/401,886 · Granted Dec 9, 2008

Overhead traveling vehicle system

Assignee: Murata Kikai Kabushiki Kaisha
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,461,598
App. No.
11/401,886
Granted
Dec 9, 2008
Kind
B2
Abstract

A loop-shaped maintenance bay route 6 directly connected to an inter-bay route 4 is provided for the maintenance of an overhead traveling vehicle 8. An operation check traveling line 16 and an operation check station 18 are provided along the maintenance bay route 6 for fully carrying out tests for traveling operation and transfer operation of the overhead traveling vehicle 8. In an adjustment/repair area 14, adjustment, configuration, repair, reconfiguration, or the like of the overhead traveling vehicle 8 are performed.

Claims (32)

1. An overhead traveling vehicle system, comprising:

a fixed traveling rail comprising an inter-bay route, a plurality of intra-bay routes connected to said inter-bay route, and a maintenance bay route used for the maintenance of an overhead traveling vehicle,

a lifter having an elevatable/lowerable traveling rail connectable to said fixed traveling rail,

wherein when said elevatable/lowerable traveling rail of said lifter is moved to an upper position, said elevatable/lowerable traveling rail of said lifter is connected to said maintenance bay route of fixed traveling rail, and when said elevatable/lowerable traveling rail of said lifter is moved to a lower position, said elevatable/lowerable traveling rail of said lifter is connected to at least one of a ground-mounted traveling rail and a movable traveling rail, and

wherein an entrance and an exit of said maintenance bay route are directly connected to said inter-bay route without passing through said intra-bay routes.

2. The overhead traveling vehicle system of claim 1 , wherein said maintenance bay route further comprises an operation check area comprising a loop-shaped operation check traveling line for allowing the overhead traveling vehicle to travel around said loop-shaped operation cheek traveling line to check traveling operation of the overhead traveling vehicle, and an operation check station for allowing the overhead traveling vehicle to transfer an article to/from said operation check station to check operation of a transfer means in the overhead traveling vehicle.

3. The overhead traveling vehicle system of claim 1 , wherein said maintenance bay route further comprises a standby area for accommodating a redundant overhead traveling vehicle from said inter-bay route, and for placing the redundant overhead traveling vehicle on standby.

4. The overhead traveling vehicle system of claim 1 , further comprising a means for storing a history file which records maintenance history for each overhead traveling vehicle, and a means for instructing the overhead traveling vehicle to travel to said maintenance bay route based on the recorded maintenance history.

5. The overhead traveling vehicle system of claim 2 , wherein said maintenance bay route further comprises an adjustment and repair area comprising:

a standby line for accommodating a redundant overhead traveling vehicle from said inter-bay route and for placing the redundant overhead traveling vehicle on standby, and

an adjustment and repair line, disposed above a counter, for adjustment and repair of said overhead traveling vehicle.

6. The overhead traveling vehicle system of claim 5 , wherein said operation check area further comprises an operation check buffer disposed adjacent to said operation check station.

7. The overhead traveling vehicle system of claim 5 , wherein said operation check area of said maintenance bay route is disposed between said adjustment and repair area of said maintenance bay route and said inter-bay route.

8. The overhead traveling vehicle system of claim 5 , wherein said adjustment and repair area further comprises a base station for adjusting said overhead traveling carriage and a base buffer adjacent to said base station.

9. The overhead traveling vehicle system of claim 5 , further comprising a storage area and an adjustment and repair area disposed below said counter.

10. The overhead traveling system of claim 1 , wherein said movable traveling rail is disposed in a maintenance wagon.

11. An overhead traveling vehicle system, comprising:

a fixed traveling rail comprising an inter-bay route, a plurality of intra-bay routes connected to said inter-bay route, and a maintenance bay route used for the maintenance of an overhead traveling vehicle,

wherein said maintenance bay route comprises an operation check area comprising:

a loop-shaped operation check traveling line for allowing the overhead traveling vehicle to travel around said loop-shaped operation check traveling line to check traveling operation of the overhead traveling vehicle, and

an operation check station for allowing the overhead traveling vehicle to transfer an article to/from said operation check station to check operation of a transfer means in the overhead traveling vehicle, and

wherein said maintenance bay route further comprises an adjustment and repair area comprising:

a standby line for accommodating a redundant overhead traveling vehicle from said inter-bay route and for placing the redundant overhead traveling vehicle on standby, and

an adjustment and repair line disposed above a counter for adjustment and repair of said overhead traveling carriages, and

wherein an entrance and an exit of said maintenance bay route are directly connected to said inter-bay route without passing through said intra-bay routes.

12. The overhead traveling vehicle system of claim 11 , wherein said operation check area of said maintenance bay route is disposed between said adjustment and repair area of said maintenance bay route and said inter-bay route.

13. The overhead traveling vehicle system of claim 12 , wherein said adjustment and repair area further comprises a base station for adjusting said overhead traveling carriage and a base buffer adjacent to said base station.

14. The overhead traveling vehicle system of claim 13 , further comprising a lifter having an elevatable/lowerable traveling rail connectable to said fixed traveling rail,

wherein when said elevatable/lowerable traveling rail of said lifter is moved to an upper position, said elevatable/lowerable traveling rail of said lifter is connected to said maintenance bay route of fixed traveling rail, and when said elevatable/lowerable traveling rail of said lifter is moved to a lower position, said elevatable/lowerable traveling rail of said lifter is connected to at least one of a ground-mounted traveling rail and a movable traveling rail.

15. The overhead traveling system of claim 14 , wherein said movable traveling rail is disposed in a maintenance wagon.

16. The overhead traveling vehicle system of claim 11 , further comprising a means for storing a history file which records maintenance history for each overhead traveling vehicle, and a means for instructing said overhead traveling vehicle to travel to said maintenance bay route based on the recorded maintenance history.

17. The overhead traveling vehicle system of claim 11 , further comprising a storage area and an adjustment and repair area disposed below said counter.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 12, 2006
From: SHIWAKU, TAMOTSU
To: MURATA KIKAI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 017785/0508 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2005-116474 · Apr 14, 2005 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20060230975A1 · Oct 19, 2006