A transportation system including a tubular rail assembly, a displacement device with at least one helical propulsion system located in a first position to be received in one rail and movable to a second position to be received in another rail, a switching mechanism engaged to each propulsion system for movement between the first and second positions, and a transportation device outside of the rail assembly and attached to the displacement device. Also, a displacement device with at least one pair of support members each supporting a helical propulsion system, and a biasing member circumferentially biasing the support member of each pair in opposite directions. Also, a displacement device with at least one tubular support member surrounding the body and circumferentially movable with respect thereto and supporting a set of angled wheels, and a switching mechanism engaged to each member for actuating the circumferential movement.

Device for coupling a vehicle to a traction cable, comprising a fastening configured to couple the vehicle to the traction cable, the fastening including at least two rotatable elements configured to occupy a coupling position in which said at least two rotatable elements are in contact with the traction cable and the vehicle is coupled to the traction cable, the device including a variable speed drive configured to modify a speed of rotation of said at least two rotatable elements when said at least two rotatable elements are in the coupling position, so that the vehicle moves relative to the traction cable.

A transfer apparatus includes a guide rails extending parallel with each other, a vehicle configured to be movable along the guide rails, and a contactless driving module mounted to the vehicle. The contactless driving module includes a pair of running rails extending parallel with the guide rails and comprising a plurality of first permanent magnets and a plurality of second permanent magnets arranged in a extending direction, respectively, a driving wheel disposed between the running rails to be spaced apart from the running rails and comprising a plurality of third permanent magnets arranged in a circumferential direction, and a driving unit for rotating the driving wheel. Particularly, at least one of the third permanent magnets is disposed between the first permanent magnets and the second permanent magnets.

A drive unit for driving a carriage which can be displaced along a transporting path comprises a barrel cam, which can be driven to rotate and has a drive groove for engagement of a driver arranged on the carriage, and also comprises a control device for controlling the drive of the carriage. The barrel cam has a first barrel portion and a second barrel portion, which is separate from the first, wherein the barrel portions can be driven independently of one another, and wherein the control device is designed so that, once the carriage has been received from a separate drive unit, it can accelerate the carriage with the first barrel portion and can supply the accelerated carriage to the second barrel portion.

A drive unit for driving a carriage which can be displaced along a transporting path comprises a barrel cam, which can be driven to rotate and has a drive groove for engagement of a driver arranged on the carriage, and also comprises a control device for controlling the drive of the carriage. The barrel cam has a first barrel portion and a second barrel portion, which is separate from the first, wherein the barrel portions can be driven independently of one another, and wherein the control device is designed so that, once the carriage has been received from a separate drive unit, it can accelerate the carriage by means of the first barrel portion and can supply the accelerated carriage to the second barrel portion.

A traveling route structure of a conveying traveling body has a traveling route with an area intersecting a crossing aisle, and has a movable rail horizontally openable and closable between a connection working position that connects guide rails in front and rear of the crossing aisle and a retracting position lateral to the crossing aisle. The movable rail has front and a rear movable rails arranged in a line when the movable rails are in the connection working position. Each of the movable rails is pivotally supported so as to be horizontally rotatable about a vertical spindle at each outer end portion positioned outside of the crossing aisle. A locking means couples inner end portions of both movable rails together, with the inner end portions being adjacent to each other when the movable rails are in the connection working position.