US 11,964,851 B2
Overhead hoist transfer apparatus
Houng Sun, Hsinchu (TW); Cheng-Cheng Lo, Hsinchu (TW); and Chuan-Ming Chung, Hsinchu (TW)
Assigned to MIRLE AUTOMATION CORPORATION, Hsinchu (TW)
Filed by MIRLE AUTOMATION CORPORATION, Hsinchu (TW)
Filed on Nov. 6, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/091,058.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/006,903, filed on Apr. 8, 2020.
Claims priority of application No. 109124616 (TW), filed on Jul. 21, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2021/0316967 A1, Oct. 14, 2021
Int. Cl. B66C 19/00 (2006.01); B65G 43/08 (2006.01); B66C 7/08 (2006.01); B66C 7/12 (2006.01); B66C 9/04 (2006.01); B66C 11/00 (2006.01); G08C 17/02 (2006.01); H01L 21/67 (2006.01); H01L 21/677 (2006.01)
CPC B66C 19/00 (2013.01) [B65G 43/08 (2013.01); B66C 7/08 (2013.01); B66C 7/12 (2013.01); B66C 9/04 (2013.01); B66C 11/00 (2013.01); G08C 17/02 (2013.01); H01L 21/67259 (2013.01); H01L 21/67706 (2013.01); H01L 21/67724 (2013.01); H01L 21/67733 (2013.01); B65G 2203/0283 (2013.01); B66C 2700/018 (2013.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An overhead hoist transfer (OHT) apparatus, comprising:
a rail module including a main rail and a first rail, wherein the rail module defines a turning path that extends from the main rail to the first rail; and
a differential overhead trolley being movably disposed on the rail module and including:
a walking mechanism including two differential wheels arranged on two opposite sides thereof and a driving unit that is connected to the two differential wheels, wherein, when the differential overhead trolley is moved from the main rail to the first rail along the turning path, the driving unit drives the two differential wheels to forwardly roll on the first rail at different rolling velocities; and
a carrying body connected to the walking mechanism and hung on the rail module;
wherein the rail module includes a second rail and defines a straight path that extends from the main rail to the second rail, and wherein, when the differential overhead trolley is moved from the main rail to the second rail along the straight path, the driving unit drives the two differential wheels to forwardly roll on the second rail by the same rolling velocity;
wherein the rail module includes:
a first supplementary rail assembled to the first rail; and
a first switching mechanism connected to the first supplementary rail, wherein the first switching mechanism is configured to drive the first supplementary rail to move between a first initial position and a straight position;
wherein, when the first supplementary rail is at the first initial position, the first supplementary rail corresponds in position to the first rail, and wherein, when the first supplementary rail is at the straight position, a portion of the first supplementary rail is arranged at the straight path and is located between the main rail and the second rail;
wherein the first rail has a first separation slot arranged at the turning path, and wherein, when the first supplementary rail is at the first initial position, the first supplementary rail is disposed in the first separation slot to define a portion of the turning path.