A grooved rail switch device (10) having a switch rail (12), the switch device having a monobloc design and comprising at least one stock rail (14), a junction rail (18) and a switch rail support (23), and the switch rail (12) and the junction rail (18) being mechanically interconnected. The switch rail (12) and the junction rail (18) merge into each other by means of a joint (20) that is S-shaped in the horizontal section.

A grooved rail switch device (10) having a switch rail (12), the switch device having a monobloc design and comprising at least one stock rail (14), a junction rail (18) and a switch rail support (23), and the switch rail (12) and the junction rail (18) being mechanically interconnected. The switch rail (12) and the junction rail (18) merge into each other by means of a joint (20) that is S-shaped in the horizontal section.

An article transport facility includes an engaging member capable of being moved to an engaging position at which the engaging member is in engagement with a movable guide portion and with a fixed guide portion to hold the movable guide portion in the guiding position, and to a releasing position at which the engaging member is not in engagement with at least one of the movable guide portion and the fixed guide portion wherein the engaging member supports the movable guide portion from below when in the engaging position; an urging member for urging the engaging member; a holding device for generating an operating force with electric power supplied from an electric power supply to hold the engaging member in the engaging position against an urging force of the urging member; and a power-supply controller for controlling the operation of the electric power supply. The power-supply controller maintains electric power supply in an electric power supplying state while fire information is not outputted from a fire detector and switches the electric power supply to an electric power non-supplying state if fire information is outputted from the fire detector.

An article transport facility includes an engaging member capable of being moved to an engaging position at which the engaging member is in engagement with a movable guide portion and with a fixed guide portion to hold the movable guide portion in the guiding position, and to a releasing position at which the engaging member is not in engagement with at least one of the movable guide portion and the fixed guide portion wherein the engaging member supports the movable guide portion from below when in the engaging position; an urging member for urging the engaging member; a holding device for generating an operating force with electric power supplied from an electric power supply to hold the engaging member in the engaging position against an urging force of the urging member; and a power-supply controller for controlling the operation of the electric power supply. The power-supply controller maintains electric power supply in an electric power supplying state while fire information is not outputted from a fire detector and switches the electric power supply to an electric power non-supplying state if fire information is outputted from the fire detector.