Direction change device

Abstract

A direction change device includes first and second transport passage 3, 4, in which one of the transport passages is disposed at the same vertical position as that of the first transport rail 16, the other is disposed below the one, a rotating unit 22 rotating the transport passages 3, 4 about their central points, a lift unit 23 lifting the transport passages 3, 4 in a vertical direction and a control unit 21. The control unit 21 controls such that when the FOUP 5 is carried out from the transport rail 16 to the transport passage disposed at the same vertical position as that of the transport rail 16, rotating the transport passages 3, 4 by about 90°, carrying out the FOUP 5 from one of the transport passages, and exchanging the respective vertical positions of the first and second transport passages 3, 4.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A and 1B are schematic top plan views of a direction change device according to the embodiment of the invention.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are schematic top plan views of the direction change device according to the embodiment.

FIGS. 3A to 3D are schematic side views of the direction change device according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a partly schematic view of a transport system according to the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of a transport rail used in the transport system shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of the direction change device.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a data table.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing process routines for a direction changing operation.

Claims

1. A direction change device which changes transporting direction of a work carried out from a transport rail, comprising: first and second transport passages that has a straight-line shape, and are disposed so that they intersect each other with a right angle and central points thereof are on the same vertical line;a rotating unit that rotates the first and second transport passages about the central point;a lift unit that lifts the first and second transport passages in a vertical direction; anda control unit,wherein a vertical position of one of the first and second transport passages is made the same as that of the transport rail, and other of the first and second transport passages is made lower than that of the one of the first and second transport passages, andthe control unit controls such that: carrying in the work from the transport rail to one of the first and second transport passages of which vertical position is the same as a vertical position of the transport rail,rotating the first and second transport passages about 90°;carrying out the work from the one of the first and second transport passages; andexchanging the vertical positions of the first and second transport passages each other.

2. The direction change device according to claim 1, wherein the transport rail and the first and the second transport passages have a plurality of rollers along with both sides thereof, and the work placed on the rollers is transported by rotation of the rollers.