US Patent 10494188 Pallet transport device

A pallet transport device (10) includes: pallet rails (21, 31, 36); moving mechanisms (41, 51, 56) that move a pallet (11) along the pallet rails (21, 31, 36); a transfer mechanism (61) that transfers the pallet (11) guided by one of the pallet rails (21, 31, 36) to another pallet rail (21, 31, 36) using a pivoting member (62) and a retaining rail (63); a moving assistance mechanism (81) that moves the pallet (11) from the pallet rails (21, 31, 36) to the retaining rail (63), or from the retaining rail (63) to the pallet rails (21, 31, 36); and an elevator mechanism (95) configured to cause the moving assistance mechanism (81) to ascend and descend. When the elevator mechanism (95) has caused the moving assistance mechanism (81) to descend, the transfer mechanism (61) is in a state where it is capable of causing the pivoting member (62) to pivot.