Traveling vehicle system

Abstract

The traveling vehicle system includes a track having a portion that is a non-self-propelling section where the traveling vehicle is unable to be self-propellable, a traveling vehicle configured to travel along the track, and a moving unit configured to move the traveling vehicle in one direction in the non-self-propelling section. The moving unit includes a moving mechanism configured to move the movable block in the one direction. The traveling vehicle includes an engagement part capable of being engaged with the movable block, and a switching mechanism configured to switch the position of the engagement part between a first position at which the engagement part is engaged with the movable block and a second position at which the engagement part is separated from the movable block. The moving mechanism moves the traveling vehicle by moving the movable block in the one direction with the engagement part engaged.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A traveling vehicle system comprising:
 a traveling track forming a self-propelling section where a traveling vehicle is self-propellable;   a working track forming a non-self-propelling section where the traveling vehicle is not self-propellable;   a traveling vehicle configured to travel along the traveling track; and   a moving unit configured to move the traveling vehicle in one direction in the non-self-propelling section, wherein   the moving unit includes a moving mechanism configured to move a movable block in the one direction,   the traveling vehicle includes
 one or more engagement parts capable of being engaged with the movable block, and 
 a switching mechanism configured to switch a position of the engagement part between a first position at which the engagement parts are engaged with the movable block and a second position at which the engagement parts are separated from the movable block, wherein 
   the moving mechanism moves the traveling vehicle by moving the movable block in the one direction with the engagement parts engaged.   
     
     
         2 . The traveling vehicle system according to  claim 1 , wherein the moving mechanism is a linear motion mechanism including a screw shaft and a driver. 
     
     
         3 . The traveling vehicle system according to  claim 2 , wherein
 the engagement parts are arranged in two or more rows in the one direction at an interval equal to or shorter than a maximum movement distance of the movable block in the linear motion mechanism, and   the moving mechanism engages one of the engagement parts with the movable block to move the traveling vehicle in the one direction and then engages another of the engagement parts disposed downstream of the one of the engagement parts in the one direction with the movable block to move the traveling vehicle in the one direction.   
     
     
         4 . The traveling vehicle system according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the traveling track includes:
 a branching section; and 
 a plurality of guides configured to guide the traveling vehicle in respective directions branching at the branching section, and 
   the engagement parts are branching rollers configured to switch the traveling direction of the traveling vehicle at the branching section by selectively coming into contact with each of the guides at the branching section.   
     
     
         5 . The traveling vehicle system according to  claim 1 , wherein the moving mechanism is supported by a support member attached to the working track. 
     
     
         6 . The traveling vehicle system according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the working track is suspended from a trestle installed on a ceiling or a floor of a building, and   the traveling vehicle is an overhead traveling vehicle configured to transport an article by traveling along the traveling track.   
     
     
         7 . The traveling vehicle system according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the traveling vehicle includes a linear motor configured to travel by magnetic force generated between the linear motor and a magnetic plate provided in the traveling track, and   the magnetic plate is not provided in the working track.   
     
     
         8 . The traveling vehicle system according to  claim 1 , wherein
 a power feeder configured to supply electricity to the traveling vehicle is disposed in the traveling track, and   the power feeder is not provided in the working track.   
     
     
         9 . The traveling vehicle system according to  claim 2 , wherein
 the traveling track includes:
 a branching section; and 
 a plurality of guides configured to guide the traveling vehicle in respective directions branching at the branching section, and 
   the engagement parts are branching rollers configured to switch the traveling direction of the traveling vehicle at the branching section by selectively coming into contact with each of the guides at the branching section.   
     
     
         10 . The traveling vehicle system according to  claim 2 , wherein the moving mechanism is supported by a support member attached to the working track. 
     
     
         11 . The traveling vehicle system according to  claim 2 , wherein
 the working track is suspended from a trestle installed on a ceiling or a floor of a building, and   the traveling vehicle is an overhead traveling vehicle configured to transport an article by traveling along the traveling track.   
     
     
         12 . The traveling vehicle system according to  claim 2 , wherein
 the traveling vehicle includes a linear motor configured to travel by magnetic force generated between the linear motor and a magnetic plate provided in the traveling track, and   the magnetic plate is not provided in the working track.   
     
     
         13 . The traveling vehicle system according to  claim 2 , wherein
 a power feeder configured to supply electricity to the traveling vehicle is disposed in the traveling track, and   the power feeder is not provided in the working track.