Importance

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Abstract

A pair of rail members have upward wheel supporting surfaces and inward roller guide surfaces, respectively. A fixed path includes linear path portions and a branching-and-joining path portion. Linear-side guide members extending along the linear path portions and a branching-and-joining-side guide member extending along the branching-and-joining path portion are provided in a branching-and-joining section. A moving body is provided with wheels and side guide rollers supported and guided on a wheel supporting surface and a roller guide surface, respectively. A direction restricting member guided by sideward guide sections of the guide members is driven by a lateral-movement unit to move freely in a lateral direction between a location corresponding to the linear-side guide member and a location corresponding to the branching-and-joining-side guide member. The linear path portions and the branching-and-joining path portion may be formed with the rail apparatuses in which dust or the like is unlikely to collect. With a simple structure added to the rail apparatus arranged in the branching-and-joining section, branching and juncture can be achieved without any limitations to the layout and effective and flexible conveyance enabled.

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First Claim