JP7467367B2 - Panel storage container - Google Patents

Description

This disclosure relates to a panel storage container.

In manufacturing processes that handle panels such as glass substrates for liquid crystal panels, panel storage containers that store multiple panels are used when transferring rectangular panels from one manufacturing device to another manufacturing device for a different process, and when temporarily storing the panels. For example, Patent Document 1 describes a panel storage container that includes a container body that stores the panels and a lid that can be opened and closed to cover an opening provided in the container body.

International Publication No. 2019/138982

When the lid is opened or closed, the periphery of the lid may come into contact with the edge of the opening that defines the opening of the container body. When this happens, there is a risk that at least one of the lid and the container body may be damaged.

This disclosure describes a panel storage container that can reduce damage.

A panel storage container according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes a container body having a flange that defines an opening and for storing multiple panels, a lid for closing the opening, and a convex protective member provided between the outer peripheral surface of the lid and the inner peripheral surface of the flange that face each other when the lid closes the opening.

In this panel storage container, a convex protective member is provided between the outer peripheral surface of the lid body and the inner peripheral surface of the flange, which face each other when the lid body closes the opening. When the lid body is attached to the flange or removed from the flange, the outer peripheral surface of the lid body may approach the inner peripheral surface of the flange due to the inclination of the lid body, etc. In such a case, the outer peripheral surface of the lid body may come into contact with the protective member before coming into contact with the inner peripheral surface of the flange. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the possibility that the outer peripheral surface of the lid body will come into contact with the inner peripheral surface of the flange. Furthermore, since the protective member is convex, the contact area between the outer peripheral surface of the lid body and the protective member is smaller than the contact area when the outer peripheral surface of the lid body and the inner peripheral surface of the flange come into contact. As a result, it is possible to suppress damage to the panel storage container.

The protective member may be provided on the inner peripheral surface of the flange, or may protrude from the inner peripheral surface of the flange toward the outer peripheral surface of the lid when the lid is closing the opening. Because the protective member protrudes from the inner peripheral surface of the flange toward the outer peripheral surface of the lid, even if the outer peripheral surface of the lid approaches the inner peripheral surface of the flange, there is an increased possibility that the outer peripheral surface of the lid will come into contact with the protective member before coming into contact with the inner peripheral surface of the flange. This makes it possible to further reduce damage to the panel storage container.

The protective member may be detachably attached to the flange. In this case, the protective member can be replaced. For example, if the protective member is damaged, it can be replaced with a new protective member to prevent damage to the panel storage container.

The protective member may be provided on the outer peripheral surface of the lid body and protrude from the outer peripheral surface of the lid body toward the inner peripheral surface of the flange when the lid body is closing the opening. Because the protective member protrudes from the outer peripheral surface of the lid body toward the inner peripheral surface of the flange, even if the outer peripheral surface of the lid body approaches the inner peripheral surface of the flange, there is an increased possibility that the outer peripheral surface of the lid body will come into contact with the protective member before coming into contact with the inner peripheral surface of the flange. This makes it possible to further suppress damage to the panel storage container.

The protective member may be provided removably on the lid. In this case, the protective member can be replaced. For example, if the protective member is damaged, it can be replaced with a new protective member to prevent damage to the panel storage container.

The flange may be a rectangular frame. The protective member may include a first protective member and a second protective member. The first protective member and the second protective member may be provided between the inner peripheral surface at both ends of the frame portion that forms one side of the frame and the outer peripheral surface of the lid body. For example, when the lid body is tilted, there is a high possibility that the outer peripheral surface of the lid body approaches the inner peripheral surface at both ends of the frame portion. According to the above configuration, even if the outer peripheral surface of the lid body approaches the inner peripheral surface at either end, the outer peripheral surface of the lid body can contact the first protective member or the second protective member before contacting the inner peripheral surface of the flange. Therefore, it is possible to further suppress damage to the panel storage container.

The lid may include a lid body including an outer peripheral surface. The lid body may be made of a metal material. The flange may be made of a resin material. In this case, if the outer peripheral surface of the lid comes into contact with the inner peripheral surface of the flange, dust may be generated and may get mixed into the panel storage container. With the above panel storage container, the possibility of the outer peripheral surface of the lid coming into contact with the inner peripheral surface of the flange can be reduced, making it possible to suppress the generation of dust.

This disclosure makes it possible to reduce damage.

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a panel storage container according to one embodiment. FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the panel housing container of FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a portion of the container body of FIG. 1. FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the mounting of the flange. FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the cover member. FIG. 6 is a partial enlarged view of the panel housing container of FIG. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VII-VII in FIG. FIG. 8 is a bottom view of the panel housing container of FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of a portion of the container body of FIG. 1. FIG. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the air supply and exhaust mechanism and its periphery. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XI-XI of FIG. FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XII-XII in FIG.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the description of the drawings, the same elements are given the same reference numerals, and duplicated descriptions are omitted. Each figure shows an XYZ coordinate system. The Y-axis direction is a direction that intersects (here, perpendicular to) the X-axis direction and the Z-axis direction. The Z-axis direction is a direction that intersects (here, perpendicular to) the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction. As an example, the X-axis direction is the left-right direction (width direction), the Y-axis direction is the front-back direction (depth direction), and the Z-axis direction is the up-down direction (height direction). For convenience of description, the terms "front", "rear", "up", "down", "left", and "right" are used, but are not limited to these directions.

A panel storage container according to one embodiment will be described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a panel storage container according to one embodiment. Fig. 2 is a rear perspective view of the panel storage container of Fig. 1. The panel storage container 1 shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is a container for storing a plurality of panels. The panel storage container 1 is, for example, compliant with SEMI (Semiconductor Equipment and Materials International). Examples of panels include glass substrates for liquid crystal panels and panels equipped with electronic components. The panel has a rectangular shape. Examples of panel sizes include 510 mm x 515 mm and 600 mm x 600 mm. The number of panels that can be stored in the panel storage container 1 is determined arbitrarily, and may be, for example, 6 or 12.

The panel storage container 1 is used, for example, in a manufacturing device that manufactures electronic components. Electronic components are manufactured through a process that involves mounting a large number of electronic components on a large carrier panel, such as a glass plate or a stainless steel plate, sealing these electronic components with epoxy resin or the like, peeling the sealed electronic components from the carrier panel in panel form, and cutting out the panel-form electronic components individually. The panel storage container 1 is used to transport panels between these processes.

The panel storage container 1 comprises a container body 2 and a lid body 3.

The container body 2 is a rectangular parallelepiped container with an open front (front face). In other words, the container body 2 is a front-open box-type container with an opening 2a on the front face. The container body 2 stores multiple panels. The panels are inserted into and removed from the container body 2 via the opening 2a. Details of the container body 2 will be described later.

The lid body 3 is a member for closing the opening 2a of the container body 2. The lid body 3 airtightly closes the opening 2a of the container body 2 via a sealing member 34 such as a gasket (see FIG. 7). The lid body 3 is detachably attached to the flange 25 that defines the opening 2a. The lid body 3 includes a lid body 31 and a locking mechanism 32. The lid body 31 is the main body of the lid body 3. The lid body 31 is a rectangular plate material and includes the outer peripheral surface 3a of the lid body 3. The outer peripheral surface 3a is a surface along the periphery of the lid body 3 (lid body 31). The specific gravity of the material constituting the lid body 31 is greater than the specific gravity of the material constituting the flange 25, and is, for example, 1.5 or more. The lid body 31 is, for example, made of a metal material. Examples of metal materials include aluminum and magnesium alloys. A keyhole 33 is provided on the front surface of the lid body 31. A key (not shown) is inserted into the keyhole 33.

The locking mechanism 32 locks or unlocks the lid 3 by operating a key inserted in the keyhole 33. The locking mechanism 32 is equipped with a latch (not shown). With the lid 3 attached to the flange 25, the latch is inserted into the locking hole 25h provided in the flange 25 by operating the key, thereby locking the lid 3. With the lid 3 locked, the latch is pulled out of the locking hole 25h by operating the key, thereby unlocking the lid 3.

The container body 2 and the lid 3 are constructed by combining multiple parts molded from metal or resin materials. Examples of resins contained in the molding material of the resin material include thermoplastic resins. Examples of thermoplastic resins include polycarbonate, cycloolefin polymer, polyetherimide, polyetherketone, polyetheretherketone, polybutylene terephthalate, polyacetal, liquid crystal polymer, acrylic resins such as polymethyl methacrylate, and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene copolymer. Alloys of these may be used as the resins contained in the molding material of the resin material.

Conductive materials and various antistatic agents may be added to these resins. The conductive materials may be, for example, carbon fibers, carbon powder, carbon nanotubes, or conductive polymers. As the antistatic agent, anionic, cationic, and nonionic antistatic agents may be used. Benzotriazole, salicylate, cyanoacrylate, oxalic acid anilide, and hindered amine ultraviolet absorbers may be added. Glass fibers or carbon fibers that improve rigidity may also be selectively added.

Next, the container body 2 will be described in detail with further reference to Figures 3 to 5. Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of a portion of the container body of Figure 1. Figure 4 is a diagram for explaining the attachment of the flange. Figure 5 is a diagram for explaining the cover member. As shown in Figures 3 to 5, the container body 2 includes a top plate 21, a bottom plate 22, a pair of side walls 23, a rear wall 24, a flange 25, a frame body 26, a base portion 27, a pair of rail members 28, connecting plates 41 to 47, a side plate 48, a pair of cover members C1, a pair of cover members C2, and a pair of cover members C3.

The top plate 21, bottom plate 22, side walls 23, and rear wall 24 are substantially rectangular plate materials. The top plate 21 and bottom plate 22 face each other in the up-down direction and are disposed substantially parallel to each other. The pair of side walls 23 face each other in the left-right direction and are disposed substantially parallel to each other. The left side wall 23 connects the left end of the top plate 21 to the left end of the bottom plate 22. The right side wall 23 connects the right end of the top plate 21 to the right end of the bottom plate 22. The rear wall 24 connects the rear end of the top plate 21 to the rear end of the bottom plate 22, and also connects the rear ends of the pair of side walls 23. The top plate 21, the pair of side walls 23, the bottom plate 22, and the rear wall 24 define the storage space 20.

The top plate 21, bottom plate 22, and side walls 23 are made of, for example, a metal material. Examples of metal materials include aluminum and stainless steel. The rear wall 24 is made of, for example, a transparent resin material that allows the storage space 20 to be visually observed from outside the container body 2. A portion of the rear wall 24 may be made of a transparent resin material. Examples of transparent resin materials include acrylic resin, polycarbonate, polyvinyl chloride resin, and cycloolefin polymer.

The top plate 21 has a front end 21a, a rear end 21b, and a pair of side ends 21c. The front end 21a is a portion along the front edge of the top plate 21. The rear end 21b is a portion along the rear edge of the top plate 21. The pair of side ends 21c are portions along the left and right side edges of the top plate 21. The front end 21a and the pair of side ends 21c are provided with a plurality of insertion holes for inserting screws.

The bottom plate 22 has a front end 22a, a rear end 22b, and a pair of side ends 22c. The front end 22a is a portion along the front edge of the bottom plate 22. The rear end 22b is a portion along the rear edge of the bottom plate 22. The pair of side ends 22c are portions along the left and right side edges of the bottom plate 22. The rear end 22b and the pair of side ends 22c are provided with a plurality of insertion holes for inserting screws. The bottom plate 22 is provided with a plurality of through holes 22h (four in this embodiment) that penetrate the bottom plate 22 in the vertical direction. An air supply and exhaust mechanism 55, described below, is fitted into the through holes 22h.

Each side wall 23 has a shape in which the front end and the upper and lower ends are folded back to the outside of the container body 2. The side wall 23 has a main body portion 23a, an upper end portion 23b, a lower end portion 23c, and a front end portion 23d. The main body portion 23a has a rectangular shape. The main body portion 23a has a rear end portion 23e. The rear end portion 23e is a portion along the rear end edge of the main body portion 23a. The upper end portion 23b extends along the upper end edge of the main body portion 23a and stands upright from the main body portion 23a to the outside of the container body 2 in the left-right direction. The lower end portion 23c extends along the lower end edge of the main body portion 23a and stands upright from the main body portion 23a to the outside of the container body 2 in the left-right direction. The front end portion 23d extends along the front end edge of the main body portion 23a and stands upright from the main body portion 23a to the outside of the container body 2 in the left-right direction. The upper end 23b, the lower end 23c, the front end 23d, and the rear end 23e are provided with a plurality of insertion holes for inserting screws. The main body 23a is provided with a plurality of insertion holes for inserting screws. The insertion holes in the main body 23a are used to attach the support 65 described below.

The rear wall 24 has an upper end 24a, a lower end 24b, and a pair of side ends 24c. The upper end 24a is a portion along the upper edge of the rear wall 24. The lower end 24b is a portion along the lower edge of the rear wall 24. The pair of side ends 24c are portions along the left and right side edges of the rear wall 24. The lower end 24b has multiple insertion holes for inserting screws.

The flange 25 is a rectangular frame body, and is provided across the front end of the top plate 21, the front end of the bottom plate 22, and the front ends of the pair of side walls 23. The flange 25 defines the opening 2a. A step is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the flange 25 in the front-rear direction, and the inner diameter at the front end of the flange 25 is larger than the inner diameter at the rear end. The opening 2a is closed by the cover body 3 when the cover body 3 is placed on the step via the sealing member 34. At this time, the front part of the flange 25 in front of the step surrounds the cover body 3. In other words, the outer peripheral surface 3a of the cover body 3 faces the inner peripheral surface 25s of the front part of the flange 25 at a distance over the entire circumference. The flange 25 is made of, for example, the above-mentioned resin material. The flange 25 has an upper frame material 25a, a lower frame material 25b, and a pair of side frame materials 25c. Each of the upper frame member 25a, the lower frame member 25b, and the side frame member 25c is a frame portion that forms one side of the frame body.

The upper frame member 25a and the lower frame member 25b are members extending in the left-right direction. The upper frame member 25a and the lower frame member 25b are spaced apart from each other in the up-down direction and are arranged approximately parallel to each other. The pair of side frame members 25c are members extending in the up-down direction. The pair of side frame members 25c are spaced apart from each other in the left-right direction and are arranged approximately parallel to each other. The left end of the upper frame member 25a and the left end of the lower frame member 25b are connected by the left side frame member 25c, and the right end of the upper frame member 25a and the right end of the lower frame member 25b are connected by the right side frame member 25c. Each of the upper frame member 25a and the lower frame member 25b has two locking holes 25h arranged at a distance from each other in the left-right direction. The locking holes 25h of the upper frame member 25a and the locking holes 25h of the lower frame member 25b are arranged in positions facing each other in the up-down direction.

The frame body 26 is used to fix the top plate 21, the bottom plate 22, the pair of side walls 23, and the rear wall 24. The frame body 26 is made of, for example, a metal material. Examples of metal materials include aluminum and stainless steel. The frame body 26 is provided on the front surface of the rear wall 24. The frame body 26 has an upper frame member 26a, a lower frame member 26b, a pair of side frame members 26c, a support pillar 26d, and a pair of support pillars 26e. The upper frame member 26a and the lower frame member 26b are columnar members extending in the left-right direction. The upper frame member 26a and the lower frame member 26b are spaced apart from each other in the up-down direction and are arranged approximately parallel to each other.

The pair of side frame members 26c are columnar members extending in the up-down direction. The pair of side frame members 26c are spaced apart from each other in the left-right direction and are arranged approximately parallel to each other. The left ends of the upper frame member 26a and the lower frame member 26b are fixed to the left side frame member 26c by screws. The right ends of the upper frame member 26a and the lower frame member 26b are fixed to the right side frame member 26c by screws. In other words, the left end of the upper frame member 26a and the left end of the lower frame member 26b are connected by the left side frame member 26c, and the right end of the upper frame member 26a and the right end of the lower frame member 26b are connected by the right side frame member 26c.

The pillar 26d and the pair of pillars 26e are columnar members extending in the vertical direction. The pillar 26e, the pillar 26d, and the other pillar 26e are arranged in that order in the left-right direction and are disposed approximately parallel to each other. The upper ends of the pillar 26d and the pair of pillars 26e are fixed to the upper frame material 26a by screws. The lower ends of the pillar 26d and the pair of pillars 26e are fixed to the lower frame material 26b by screws. The pillar 26d is provided at the center of the frame body 26 in the left-right direction, and the pair of pillars 26e are provided near both ends of the frame body 26 in the left-right direction. The pillar 26d has a plurality of recesses for mounting the shaft 61a described later. These recesses are recessed from the front surface of the pillar 26d toward the rear. The pillar 26e has a plurality of recesses for mounting the shaft 62a described later. These recesses are recessed from the front surface of the pillar 26e toward the rear.

The pedestal portion 27 is a portion that serves as the base of the container body 2. The pedestal portion 27 is made of, for example, a metal material. Examples of metal materials include aluminum and stainless steel. The pedestal portion 27 is provided on the underside of the bottom plate 22. The pedestal portion 27 has a support member 27a, a support member 27b, a pair of support members 27c, and multiple support members 27d (three in this embodiment). The support members 27a and 27b are columnar members that extend in the left-right direction. The support members 27a and 27b are spaced apart from each other in the front-rear direction and are arranged approximately parallel to each other.

The pair of support members 27c are L-shaped members extending in the front-rear direction. The pair of support members 27c are spaced apart from each other in the left-right direction and are arranged approximately parallel to each other. Each support member 27c has a first portion 27e and a second portion 27f. The first portion 27e is a plate-shaped portion along the bottom plate 22 (XY plane) and extends in the front-rear direction. The second portion 27f extends in the front-rear direction along the inner edge of the first portion 27e in the left-right direction and stands downward from that edge. The first portion 27e and the second portion 27f form an L shape.

The left ends of support members 27a and 27b are fixed to the second portion 27f of the left support member 27c by screws. The right ends of support members 27a and 27b are fixed to the second portion 27f of the right support member 27c by screws. In other words, the left end of support member 27a and the left end of support member 27b are connected by the left support member 27c, and the right end of support member 27a and the right end of support member 27b are connected by the right support member 27c.

The multiple support members 27d are columnar members extending in the left-right direction. The multiple support members 27d are arranged in the front-rear direction and are disposed approximately parallel to one another. The left end of each support member 27d is fixed to the left support member 27c by a screw. The right end of each support member 27d is fixed to the right support member 27c by a screw.

The pair of rail members 28 are portions on which the container body 2 is placed. For example, the pair of rail members 28 are placed on a conveyor when the panel storage container 1 is transported by the conveyor. Each rail member 28 is a plate-shaped member extending in the front-rear direction. The rail members 28 are made of, for example, the resin material described above. Each rail member 28 is provided below the support member 27c and is connected to the support member 27c by a connecting member 49. The connecting member 49 is a member having a male screw at the lower end and a female screw (screw hole) at the upper end. The support member 27c and the rail member 28 are connected to each other to form a U-shape with the outside open in the left-right direction.

The connecting plates 41 to 47 are members for connecting the top plate 21, bottom plate 22, side wall 23, back wall 24, and flange 25. The connecting plates 41 to 47 are long plate-like members. The connecting plates 41 to 47 are made of, for example, a metal material. Examples of metal materials include aluminum and stainless steel. The connecting plates 41 to 44 and 47 are provided with insertion holes for inserting screws. The connecting plates 45 and 46 are provided with screw holes.

The side plate 48 is a member for attaching the support 65 described later. The side plate 48 is a plate-shaped member extending in the vertical direction. The side plate 48 is made of, for example, a metal material. The side plate 48 is provided on the outer surface of the main body 23a of the side wall 23. In this embodiment, two side plates 48 are provided on each side wall 23. The two side plates 48 are arranged in the front-rear direction and are arranged approximately parallel to each other. One side plate 48 is provided near the center of the side wall 23 in the front-rear direction, and the other side plate 48 is provided near the front end of the side wall 23 in the front-rear direction. The upper end of each side plate 48 is fixed to the upper end 23b by a screw. The lower end of each side plate 48 is fixed to the lower end 23c by a screw. Each side plate 48 is provided with an insertion hole for inserting a screw.

The cover members C1 to C3 are members for preventing particles from entering the storage space 20. The cover members C1 to C3 are made of, for example, the resin material described above. The pair of cover members C1 is provided at the corner formed by the top plate 21, the side wall 23, and the flange 25. The pair of cover members C2 is provided at the corner formed by the top plate 21, the side wall 23, and the rear wall 24. The pair of cover members C3 is provided at the corner formed by the bottom plate 22, the side wall 23, and the rear wall 24.

Next, we will explain how to connect each component of the container body 2.

The rear wall 24 is superimposed on the frame body 26 so that the rear surface of the lower frame material 26b and the inner surface at the lower end 24b of the rear wall 24 are in contact in the front-to-rear direction. Furthermore, the connecting plate 41 is superimposed on the outer surface of the lower end 24b. In other words, the lower end 24b is sandwiched between the connecting plate 41 and the lower frame material 26b. In this state, screws are inserted into the insertion holes of the connecting plate 41 and the insertion holes of the lower end 24b, and the screws are screwed into the screw holes of the lower frame material 26b. As a result, the lower end 24b is sandwiched between the connecting plate 41 and the lower frame material 26b, and the rear wall 24 is fixed to the frame body 26.

The rear end 21b of the top plate 21 is placed on the upper surface of the upper frame material 26a, the upper end 24a of the back wall 24 is placed on the rear surface of the upper frame material 26a, and a connecting plate 42 is provided to cover the rear end 21b and the upper end 24a. The connecting plate 42 has a shape that follows the outer shape of the upper frame material 26a. Specifically, the connecting plate 42 has a portion that covers the rear end 21b, a portion that covers the upper end 24a, and a connecting portion that connects these portions. Through an insertion hole provided in the connecting portion of the connecting plate 42, a screw is screwed into a screw hole provided in the upper frame material 26a. As a result, the rear end 21b and the upper end 24a are clamped by the connecting plate 42 and the upper frame material 26a, and the top plate 21 and the back wall 24 are fixed to the frame body 26. As a result, the top plate 21 and the back wall 24 are connected.

The rear end 23e of the side wall 23 is placed on the side of the side frame material 26c, the side end 24c of the back wall 24 is placed on the rear surface of the side frame material 26c, and a connecting plate 43 is provided to cover the rear end 23e and the side end 24c. The connecting plate 43 has a shape that follows the outer shape of the side frame material 26c. Specifically, the connecting plate 43 has a portion that covers the rear end 23e, a portion that covers the side end 24c, and a connecting portion that connects these portions. Through the insertion hole provided in the connecting portion of the connecting plate 43, a screw is screwed into a screw hole provided in the side frame material 26c. Furthermore, a screw is inserted into the insertion hole provided in the portion covering the rear end 23e of the connecting plate 43 and the insertion hole provided in the rear end 23e, and the screw is screwed into a screw hole provided in the side of the side frame material 26c. As a result, the rear end 23e and the side end 24c are clamped between the connecting plate 43 and the side frame material 26c, and the side wall 23 and the rear wall 24 are fixed to the frame body 26. As a result, the side wall 23 and the rear wall 24 are connected.

The side end 21c of the top plate 21 is placed on the upper surface of the upper end 23b of the side wall 23, and the connecting plate 44 is overlapped on the upper surface of the side end 21c. Two connecting plates 45 extending in the front-rear direction are provided on the lower surface of the upper end 23b at a distance in the front-rear direction. In other words, the side end 21c and the upper end 23b are overlapped with each other in the vertical direction, and the side end 21c and the upper end 23b are sandwiched in the vertical direction by the connecting plate 44 and the connecting plate 45. In this state, screws are inserted in order through the insertion hole of the connecting plate 44, the insertion hole of the side end 21c, and the insertion hole of the upper end 23b, and the screws are screwed into the screw hole of the connecting plate 45. As a result, the side end 21c and the upper end 23b are sandwiched between the connecting plate 44 and the connecting plate 45, and the top plate 21 and the side wall 23 are connected.

The rear end of the upper frame material 25a of the flange 25 is placed on the upper surface of the front end 21a of the tabletop 21, and the connecting plate 46 is superimposed on the underside of the front end 21a. In other words, the front end 21a is sandwiched vertically between the upper frame material 25a and the connecting plate 46. In this state, screws are inserted through the insertion holes of the upper frame material 25a and the front end 21a, and screwed into the screw holes of the connecting plate 46. As a result, the front end 21a is sandwiched between the upper frame material 25a and the connecting plate 46, and the tabletop 21 and the flange 25 are connected.

The rear surface of the side frame material 25c of the flange 25 is overlapped on the front surface of the front end 23d of the side wall 23, and the connecting plate 47 is overlapped on the rear surface of the front end 23d. In other words, the front end 23d is sandwiched in the front-to-rear direction between the side frame material 25c and the connecting plate 47. In this state, screws are inserted into the insertion holes of the connecting plate 47 and the insertion holes of the front end 23d, and the screws are screwed into the screw holes of the side frame material 25c. As a result, the front end 23d is sandwiched between the side frame material 25c and the connecting plate 47, and the side wall 23 and the flange 25 are connected.

The rear end 22b is overlapped on the lower frame material 26b so that the lower surface of the lower frame material 26b of the frame body 26 and the upper surface of the rear end 22b of the bottom plate 22 are in contact in the vertical direction. Furthermore, the support member 27b of the base portion 27 is overlapped on the lower surface of the rear end 22b. In other words, the rear end 22b is sandwiched between the lower frame material 26b and the support member 27b. In this state, screws are inserted into the insertion holes of the lower frame material 26b and the insertion holes of the rear end 22b, and the screws are screwed into the screw holes of the support member 27b. As a result, the rear end 22b is sandwiched between the lower frame material 26b and the support member 27b, and the bottom plate 22 is fixed to the frame body 26 and the base portion 27.

The male screw of the connecting member 49 is screwed into the screw hole provided in the rail member 28, and the support member 27c is placed on the rail member 28 so that the screw hole of the connecting member 49 and the insertion hole provided in the first part 27e of the support member 27c overlap. The side end 22c of the bottom plate 22 is placed on the upper surface of the support member 27c, and the lower end 23c is overlapped on the side end 22c so that the upper surface of the side end 22c and the lower surface of the lower end 23c of the side wall 23 contact each other in the vertical direction. In this state, screws are inserted into the insertion holes of the lower end 23c, the insertion holes of the side end 22c, and the insertion holes of the first part 27e, and the screws are screwed into the screw holes of the connecting member 49. As a result, the side end 22c is clamped by the lower end 23c and the support member 27c, and the bottom plate 22 and the side wall 23 are fixed to the base part 27. As a result, the bottom plate 22 and the side wall 23 are connected, and the base portion 27 and the rail member 28 are connected.

The length of the rear end of the upper frame member 25a in the left-right direction is shorter than the length of the front end 21a and the connecting plate 46 in the left-right direction. Therefore, both ends of the front end 21a in the left-right direction are not covered by the rear end of the upper frame member 25a. The cover member C1 is placed on both ends of the front end 21a in the left-right direction. In other words, both ends of the front end 21a in the left-right direction are sandwiched between the cover member C1 and the connecting plate 46. In this state, screws are inserted through the insertion holes of the cover member C1 and the insertion holes of the front end 21a, and the screws are screwed into the screw holes of the connecting plate 46. This attaches the cover member C1.

The connecting plates 44 and 45 do not extend to the rear end of the side end 21c and the rear end of the upper end 23b. The cover member C2 is attached so as to sandwich the rear end of the side end 21c and the rear end of the upper end 23b. In this state, screws are inserted through the insertion holes provided in the upper part of the cover member C2, the insertion holes in the side end 21c, and the insertion holes in the upper end 23b, and the screws are screwed into the screw holes provided in the lower part of the cover member C2. This completes the installation of the cover member C2.

The length of the connecting plate 41 in the left-right direction is shorter than the length of the lower end 24b in the left-right direction. Therefore, both ends of the lower end 24b in the left-right direction are not covered by the connecting plate 41. A cover member C3 is attached to sandwich the rear end of the lower end 23c and the rear end of the first portion 27e and to cover both ends of the lower end 24b in the left-right direction. The cover member C3 is then attached by screws.

The bottom plate 22 and the support member 27c extend forward beyond the side wall 23. In other words, the front end of the side end 22c is not covered by the lower end 23c. The front end of the side end 22c is sandwiched between the side frame material 25c of the flange 25 and the front end of the first portion 27e. In this state, a screw is inserted through the insertion hole of the first portion 27e and the insertion hole of the side end 22c, and the screw is screwed into the screw hole provided on the lower surface of the side frame material 25c. As a result, the bottom plate 22 and the flange 25 are fixed to the base portion 27, and the bottom plate 22 and the flange 25 are connected. The front end 22a of the bottom plate 22 is inserted into a groove provided on the rear surface of the lower frame material 25b of the flange 25.

Next, the relationship between the flange 25 and the lid 3 will be described with reference to Figures 6 and 7. Figure 6 is a partially enlarged view of the panel storage container of Figure 1. Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VII-VII of Figure 6. As shown in Figures 6 and 7, the container body 2 further includes a plurality of protective members 29.

The protective member 29 is a convex member for protecting the flange 25. The protective member 29 is made of, for example, the above-mentioned resin material. The material of the protective member 29 may be the same as or different from the material of the flange 25. The protective member 29 is provided between the outer peripheral surface 3a of the lid body 3 and the inner peripheral surface 25s of the flange 25, which face each other, when the lid body 3 is closing the opening 2a. In this embodiment, the protective member 29 is provided on the inner peripheral surface 25s of the flange 25, and protrudes from the inner peripheral surface 25s toward the outer peripheral surface 3a when the lid body 3 is closing the opening 2a. More specifically, the protective member 29 is provided on the inner peripheral surface 25s of the side frame material 25c, and protrudes toward the outer peripheral surface 3a at the side end of the lid body 3. Two protective members 29 (a first protective member and a second protective member) are provided on each side frame member 25c, and the two protective members 29 are provided on the inner peripheral surface 25s at the upper and lower ends of the side frame member 25c.

The protective member 29 is detachably attached to the flange 25. The protective member 29 has a receiving portion 29a and a shaft portion 29b. The receiving portion 29a is a portion that protrudes from the inner peripheral surface 25s of the flange 25 toward the outer peripheral surface 3a. The receiving portion 29a has, for example, a disk shape. The receiving portion 29a has an abutment surface 29c that faces the outer peripheral surface 3a. The abutment surface 29c is a surface that the lid body 3 can abut. The area of the abutment surface 29c is smaller than the area of the inner peripheral surface 25s of the side frame material 25c. The abutment surface 29c and the outer peripheral surface 3a are separated by design. The distance D between the abutment surface 29c and the outer peripheral surface 3a is designed to be, for example, about 0.5 mm.

The shaft portion 29b is a portion for attaching the protective member 29 to the flange 25. The shaft portion 29b is provided on the surface opposite to the abutment surface 29c of the receiving portion 29a, and extends in the opposite direction to the abutment surface 29c. The shaft portion 29b is fitted into the mounting hole 25t provided in the inner peripheral surface 25s of the side frame material 25c. For example, the shaft portion 29b is pressed into the mounting hole 25t, thereby attaching the protective member 29 to the flange 25 (side frame material 25c). The shaft portion 29b may be joined to the mounting hole 25t by an adhesive, thereby attaching the protective member 29 to the flange 25 (side frame material 25c). The shaft portion 29b may be a male screw, and the mounting hole 25t may be a female screw. In this case, the shaft portion 29b is screwed into the mounting hole 25t, thereby attaching the protective member 29 to the flange 25 (side frame material 25c). The protective member 29 may be attached to the flange 25 (side frame material 25c) by fastening the shaft portion 29b to the mounting hole 25t using a snap fit.

Next, the members provided at the bottom of the container body 2 will be described with reference to Figures 8 to 10. Figure 8 is a bottom view of the panel storage container of Figure 1. Figure 9 is an exploded perspective view of a portion of the container body of Figure 1. Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view of the air supply and exhaust mechanism and its surroundings. For ease of explanation, screws for attaching the base substrate 51 and the like to the pedestal portion 27 are omitted from Figures 8 and 9. As shown in Figures 8 and 9, the container body 2 further includes a base substrate 51, an attachment plate 52, an attachment plate 53, a positioning member 54, an air supply and exhaust mechanism 55, and a block material 56.

The base substrate 51 is a substrate for mounting the positioning member 54, the air supply and exhaust mechanism 55, and the block material 56. The base substrate 51 is a rectangular plate material. The base substrate 51 is provided below the pedestal portion 27, and is fixed to the support member 27a and the support member 27d with screws. The base substrate 51 is provided across the support member 27a and the three support members 27d, and does not extend to the rear end 22b. In other words, the base substrate 51 is disposed near the front end 22a of the bottom plate 22. The front end 51a of the base substrate 51 is located below the lower frame material 25b of the flange 25. The front end 51a is provided with an insertion hole for inserting a screw. The screw is inserted into the insertion hole of the front end 51a, and the screw is screwed into the screw hole of the lower frame material 25b.

The base substrate 51 is provided with a through hole 51g for attaching the positioning member 54 and a through hole 51h for attaching the air supply and exhaust mechanism 55. In this embodiment, three through holes 51g and four through holes 51h are provided. The three through holes 51g extend radially from the center of the base substrate 51. Two through holes 51g are provided near both ends of the front portion of the base substrate 51, and one through hole 51g is provided near the center in the left-right direction of the rear portion of the base substrate 51. The four through holes 51h are provided near the four corners of the base substrate 51. A through hole for attaching an RF-ID (Radio Frequency Identification) tag is further provided at the rear end of the base substrate 51.

The mounting plates 52 and 53 are members for attaching the positioning member 54 to the base substrate 51. The mounting plates 52 and 53 are plate-shaped members. The mounting plates 52 and 53 are made of, for example, the above-mentioned resin material. The mounting plate 52 is provided on the underside of the front portion of the base substrate 51. The mounting plate 52 is provided with two through holes 52g for exposing the positioning member 54. The mounting plate 52 is further provided with a through hole between the two through holes 52g, which is used to fix the panel storage container 1. The mounting plate 53 is provided on the underside of the rear portion of the base substrate 51. The mounting plate 53 is provided with a through hole 53g for exposing the positioning member 54.

The positioning member 54 is a member used by an external device such as a transport device or a processing device to position the panel storage container 1 (container body 2). The positioning member 54 is made of, for example, a metal material. Examples of metal materials include aluminum and stainless steel. The positioning member 54 is a V-shaped plate material. The positioning member 54 is fitted into the through hole 51g so as to be recessed (upward) toward the bottom plate 22. A V-shaped groove is defined by the V-shaped surface of the positioning member 54. The V-shaped surface is subjected to an abrasion-resistant surface treatment. In this embodiment, the container body 2 is provided with three positioning members 54.

Two positioning members 54 are fitted into two through holes 51g provided in the front part of the base substrate 51, and a mounting plate 52 is attached to the underside of the base substrate 51 so that the V-shaped surface of the positioning member 54 is exposed from the through hole 52g. Both ends of the positioning member 54 are sandwiched between the base substrate 51 and the mounting plate 52. Similarly, one positioning member 54 is fitted into one through hole 51g provided in the rear part of the base substrate 51, and a mounting plate 53 is attached to the underside of the base substrate 51 so that the V-shaped surface of the positioning member 54 is exposed from the through hole 53g. Both ends of the positioning member 54 are sandwiched between the base substrate 51 and the mounting plate 53.

The panel storage container 1 is positioned by a pin of the external device abutting against the V-shaped surface of each positioning member 54. Specifically, the pin is guided into a V-shaped groove by the V-shaped surface. Since the panel storage container 1 is equipped with three positioning members 54, the panel storage container 1 is supported at three points. Therefore, the position of the panel storage container 1 is determined with high precision. The number and arrangement of the positioning members 54 may be changed as appropriate.

The positioning member 54 is spaced apart from the underside of the bottom plate 22. This allows the force applied to the V-shaped surface of the positioning member 54 from the pin of the external device to be transmitted to the base substrate 51, and is prevented from being applied to the bottom plate 22. Therefore, deformation of the bottom plate 22 is suppressed.

The supply and exhaust mechanism 55 is a mechanism for supplying gas into the storage space 20 and exhausting gas from the storage space 20 in order to maintain the cleanliness and low humidity of the inside (storage space 20) of the panel storage container 1. An example of the gas supplied into the storage space 20 is an inert gas. In this embodiment, the container body 2 is provided with four supply and exhaust mechanisms 55. Each supply and exhaust mechanism 55 is provided between the bottom plate 22 and the base substrate 51. Each supply and exhaust mechanism 55 supplies gas to the storage space 20 or exhausts gas from the storage space 20 through a through hole 22h provided in the bottom plate 22 and a through hole 51h provided in the base substrate 51. In this embodiment, the two supply and exhaust mechanisms 55 provided in the front exhaust gas from the storage space 20, and the two supply and exhaust mechanisms 55 provided in the rear supply gas to the storage space 20. The number, arrangement, and function of the supply and exhaust mechanisms 55 can be changed arbitrarily.

As shown in FIG. 10, the air supply/exhaust mechanism 55 has a filter 55a, a spacer 55b, and a sealing member 55c. The filter 55a is a member that allows gas to pass through. The spacer 55b is a member for holding the filter 55a. The spacer 55b is a tubular (cylindrical) member that is open at both the top and bottom ends, and the filter 55a is housed in the internal space of the spacer 55b. A step is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the spacer 55b, and the inner diameter at the upper end of the spacer 55b is smaller than the inner diameter at the lower end. The spacer 55b is provided between the bottom plate 22 and the base substrate 51 so that the through holes 22h and 51h communicate with the internal space of the spacer 55b.

The filter 55a has a filter body 55d and a cover 55e. The filter body 55d has an annular claw portion 55f at the upper end, and a screw groove is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the lower end of the filter body 55d. The cover 55e covers the lower end of the filter body 55d and the outer peripheral surface of the lower end. The cover 55e has an annular claw portion 55g on the outer peripheral surface, and a screw groove is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the cover 55e.

The method of mounting the air supply and exhaust mechanism 55 will be described. The lower end of the spacer 55b is fixed to the base substrate 51 by a screw, and the upper end of the spacer 55b is pressed against the lower surface of the bottom plate 22 via a sealing member 55c such as an O-ring. In this state, the filter body 55d is inserted into the internal space of the spacer 55b through the through hole 22h. At this time, the claw portion 55f is engaged by the peripheral portion that defines the through hole 22h. Then, the cover 55e is inserted into the internal space of the spacer 55b through the through hole 51h, and the outer peripheral surface of the filter body 55d and the inner peripheral surface of the cover 55e are screwed together, and the filter body 55d and the cover 55e are integrated. At this time, the claw portion 55g is engaged with the step on the inner peripheral surface of the spacer 55b. In other words, the bottom plate 22 and the spacer 55b are sandwiched between the claw portion 55f and the claw portion 55g. The outer peripheral surface of the filter body 55d and the inner peripheral surface of the cover 55e are further screwed together, so that the bottom plate 22 and the spacer 55b are tightly attached and fixed in an airtight manner.

The block material 56 is a member for suppressing deformation of the panel storage container 1 (container body 2). The block material 56 is made of, for example, the resin material described above. The block material 56 is provided on the lower surface of the base substrate 51. The block material 56 is provided rearward of the center in the front-to-rear direction of the base substrate 51. More specifically, the block material 56 is provided rearward of the center in the front-to-rear direction between the two positioning members 54 provided in the front and the one positioning member 54 provided in the rear. In this embodiment, the container body 2 includes two block materials 56. The two block materials 56 are provided at the corners formed by the rear edge and the side edge of the base substrate 51, respectively.

Next, the configuration inside the storage space 20 will be described with reference to Figures 11 and 12. Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XI-XI in Figure 2. Figure 12 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XII-XII in Figure 11. As shown in Figure 11, the container body 2 further includes a panel support portion 60. The panel support portion 60 is a portion for supporting a panel. The panel support portion 60 includes a plurality of support portions 61, a plurality of support portions 62, a plurality of stoppers 63, and a plurality of stoppers 64.

The number of support parts 61, support parts 62, stoppers 63, and stoppers 64 varies depending on the number of panels that can be stored in the panel storage container 1. In this embodiment, the panel support part 60 includes one support part 61, two support parts 62, two stoppers 63, and two stoppers 64 per panel. In other words, one support part 61, two support parts 62, two stoppers 63, and two stoppers 64 form a storage tier that stores one panel.

The support portion 61 is a portion for supporting the center portion of the panel in the left-right direction. The support portion 61 has a shaft 61a and multiple elastic bodies 61b. The shaft 61a is a columnar (e.g., cylindrical) member extending in the front-rear direction. The rear end of the shaft 61a is fitted into a recess in the support 26d and fixed to the support 26d by a screw. The shaft 61a is made of, for example, a material with high bending rigidity. Examples of materials that the shaft 61a is made of include metals such as stainless steel and aluminum, and carbon fiber reinforced plastic.

The elastic body 61b is an annular (for example, circular) member provided on the outer circumferential surface of the shaft 61a. The elastic body 61b is provided to suppress slippage of the panel and improve the positioning accuracy of the panel. From the viewpoint of preventing slippage of the panel, the elastic body 61b may have a higher frictional force than the shaft 61a. From the viewpoint of preventing damage to the panel, the elastic body 61b may have a higher elasticity (cushioning property) than the shaft 61a. The elastic body 61b is, for example, made of a rubber material. Examples of rubber materials include EPDM (ethylene propylene diene rubber), silicone rubber, and fluororubber. The elastic body 61b is, for example, an O-ring. The multiple elastic bodies 61b are arranged at regular intervals in the extension direction of the shaft 61a. From the viewpoint of improving the positioning accuracy, the interval between two adjacent elastic bodies 61b may be in the range of 50 mm to 100 mm.

The support portion 62 is a portion for supporting both ends of the panel in the left-right direction. The support portion 62 has a shaft 62a, multiple elastic bodies 62b, and multiple supports 65. The shaft 62a is a columnar (e.g., cylindrical) member extending in the front-rear direction. The rear end of the shaft 62a is fitted into a recess in the support 26e and fixed to the support 26e by a screw. The shaft 62a is made of, for example, a material with high bending rigidity. Examples of materials for the shaft 62a include metals such as stainless steel and aluminum, and carbon fiber reinforced plastic. The length of the shaft 62a in the front-rear direction is slightly longer than the length of the panel in the front-rear direction and longer than the length of the shaft 61a in the front-rear direction.

The elastic body 62b is an annular (e.g., circular) member provided on the outer circumferential surface of the shaft 62a. The elastic body 62b is provided to suppress panel slippage and improve the positioning accuracy of the panel. The constituent material and arrangement of the elastic body 62b are similar to those of the elastic body 61b, so a detailed description is omitted.

The support 65 is a member for supporting the shaft 62a. As shown in FIG. 12, the support 65 has a mounting portion 65a and an attachment portion 65b. The mounting portion 65a is a portion on which the left-right end of the panel is placed. The mounting portion 65a has a generally rectangular parallelepiped shape extending in the left-right direction. The left-right end of the panel is placed on the upper surface of the mounting portion 65a. An insertion hole 65c for inserting the shaft 62a is provided at the tip of the mounting portion 65a. The insertion hole 65c penetrates the mounting portion 65a in the front-rear direction.

The mounting portion 65b is a portion for mounting the support 65 to the side plate 48. The mounting portion 65b is provided at the base end of the mounting portion 65a. The mounting portion 65b protrudes above the upper surface of the mounting portion 65a and has an inclined surface 65d that inclines downward from the base end to the tip of the support 65. The mounting portion 65b is provided with a screw hole extending in the left-right direction from the end surface of the mounting portion 65b. With the mounting portion 65b pressed against the inner surface of the side wall 23 (main body portion 23a), a screw is inserted into the insertion hole of the side plate 48 and the insertion hole of the main body portion 23a, and the screw is screwed into the screw hole of the mounting portion 65b. As a result, the support 65 is fixed to the side plate 48 with the side wall 23 (main body portion 23a) sandwiched between the support 65 and the side plate 48.

The stopper 63 is a member that prevents the panel from popping out and determines the position of the front end of the panel. The stopper 63 is made of, for example, the resin material described above. The stopper 63 is provided at the front end of the shaft 62a. For example, the stopper 63 is attached to the shaft 62a by fitting the front end of the shaft 62a into a mounting hole provided in the stopper 63. The stopper 63 has a disk-shaped locking piece 63a that has an outer diameter larger than the outer diameter of the elastic body 62b. The locking piece 63a has an inclined surface that slopes backward from the outer periphery toward the center.

The stopper 64 is a member for determining the position of the rear end of the panel. The stopper 64 is made of, for example, the resin material described above. The stopper 64 is provided at the rear end of the shaft 62a. The stopper 64 has a block shape. The stopper 64 has an insertion hole for inserting the shaft 62a in the front-rear direction. With the shaft 62a inserted into the insertion hole of the stopper 64, the rear surface of the stopper 64 abuts against the front surface of the support 26e, and the stopper 64 is fixed to the support 26e by a screw. The stopper 64 has an inclined surface 64a that inclines forward as it extends downward from the top surface.

The stopper 63, the stopper 64, and the support 65 define the placement position where the panel is placed. Specifically, the stoppers 63 and 64 define the placement position of the panel in the front-rear direction, and the four supports 65 provided on the left and right define the placement position of the panel in the left-right direction. For example, the robot carries the panel into the storage space 20 and places the panel on one of the storage stages. At this time, the position of the panel may be slightly shifted due to an error or the like. For example, even if the front end of the panel rides up on the inclined surface of the locking piece 63a of the stopper 63, the panel is guided to the placement position along the inclined surface by the panel's own weight. Similarly, even if the rear end of the panel rides up on the inclined surface 64a of the stopper 64, the panel is guided to the placement position along the inclined surface 64a by the panel's own weight. Similarly, even if the side end of the panel rides up on the inclined surface 65d of the support 65, the panel is guided to the placement position along the inclined surface 65d by the panel's own weight.

In the panel storage container 1 described above, a convex protective member 29 is provided between the outer peripheral surface 3a of the lid body 3 and the inner peripheral surface 25s of the flange 25, which face each other when the lid body 3 closes the opening 2a. Specifically, the protective member 29 is provided on the inner peripheral surface 25s of the flange 25, and protrudes from the inner peripheral surface 25s toward the outer peripheral surface 3a when the lid body 3 closes the opening 2a. When the lid body 3 is attached to the flange 25 or when the lid body 3 is removed from the flange 25, the outer peripheral surface 3a of the lid body 3 may approach the inner peripheral surface 25s of the flange 25 due to the inclination of the lid body 3, etc. In such a case, the outer peripheral surface 3a of the lid body 3 may come into contact with the protective member 29 before coming into contact with the inner peripheral surface 25s of the flange 25. Therefore, the possibility that the outer peripheral surface 3a of the lid body 3 will come into contact with the inner peripheral surface 25s of the flange 25 can be reduced. Furthermore, because the protective member 29 is convex, the contact area between the outer peripheral surface 3a of the lid 3 and the protective member 29 is smaller than the contact area between the outer peripheral surface 3a of the lid 3 and the inner peripheral surface 25s of the flange 25. As a result, it is possible to suppress damage to the panel storage container 1.

The protective member 29 is detachably attached to the flange 25, so that the protective member 29 can be replaced. For example, if the protective member 29 is damaged, the damage to the protective member 29 can be repaired by replacing the protective member 29 with a new protective member 29. Therefore, it is possible to suppress damage to the panel storage container 1.

For example, if the lid body 3 tilts, there is a high possibility that the outer peripheral surface 3a of the lid body 3 will approach the inner peripheral surface 25s at both ends of the side frame material 25c. In response to this, a protective member 29 is provided on the inner peripheral surface 25s at both ends (upper and lower ends) of the side frame material 25c. With this configuration, even if the outer peripheral surface 3a of the lid body 3 approaches the inner peripheral surface 25s at the upper end of the side frame material 25c or the inner peripheral surface 25s at the lower end of the side frame material 25c, the outer peripheral surface 3a of the lid body 3 can come into contact with the protective member 29 before coming into contact with the inner peripheral surface 25s of the flange 25. Therefore, it is possible to further suppress damage to the panel storage container 1.

The lid body 31 is made of a metal material, and the flange 25 is made of a resin material. Therefore, when the outer peripheral surface 3a of the lid body 3 comes into contact with the inner peripheral surface 25s of the flange 25, dust may be generated and may get mixed into the panel storage container 1. With the above panel storage container 1, the possibility that the outer peripheral surface 3a of the lid body 3 comes into contact with the inner peripheral surface 25s of the flange 25 can be reduced, making it possible to suppress the generation of dust.

For example, if the side end 21c and the upper end 23b are connected by screws without using the connecting plates 44, 45, there is a risk that the side end 21c and the upper end 23b will not be sufficiently tightly attached in places where no screws are provided. In contrast, in the panel storage container 1, the side end 21c and the upper end 23b are clamped by the connecting plates 44 and 45, and the top plate 21 and the side wall 23 are connected. In this configuration, the side end 21c and the upper end 23b are clamped by the connecting plates 44 and 45, thereby improving the tightness between the side end 21c and the upper end 23b. As a result, it is possible to improve the airtightness of the storage space 20.

The side plate 48 is sandwiched between the upper end 23b and the lower end 23c. Therefore, the vertical position of the side plate 48 can be adjusted with high precision, thereby improving the vertical positional precision of the support 65. Furthermore, the lower end 23c is fixed to the support member 27c of the base 27, and the support member 27c is connected to the support members 27a, 27b, and 27d. Therefore, when the panel is placed on the support 65, the weight of the panel can be supported by the entire base 27. As a result, the panel can be stably supported.

By providing the cover members C1 to C3 at the corners of the container body 2, the gaps between the members can be blocked, reducing the possibility of particles entering the storage space 20 through these gaps.

The positioning member 54 is made of a metal material, and the V-shaped surface is subjected to an abrasion-resistant surface treatment. Therefore, the strength can be improved compared to when the positioning member 54 is made of a resin material. Therefore, even if the weight of the panel storage container 1 is large, the deformation of the positioning member 54 can be suppressed. As a result, the position of the panel storage container 1 can be stabilized, and the positioning accuracy of the panel storage container 1 can be improved. Furthermore, the V-shaped surface of the positioning member 54 is exposed from the through holes 52g, 53g of the mounting plates 52, 53. Since the mounting plates 52, 53 are made of a resin material, the pin is easy to slide even if it rides on the periphery that defines the through holes 52g, 53g. Therefore, the pin can be guided to the V-shaped surface and guided into the V-shaped groove.

The panel storage container 1 is supported by abutting the tips of pins held by an external device such as a conveying device or processing device against the V-shaped surface of the positioning member 54. Since the panel storage container 1 has two positioning members 54 at the front and one at the rear, the rear part of the panel storage container 1 tends to lower further than the front part when it is supported. At this time, the block material 56 abuts against the external device, preventing the panel storage container 1 from tilting. As a result, it is possible to prevent deformation of the panel storage container 1.

Note that the panel storage container according to this disclosure is not limited to the above embodiment.

In the above embodiment, screws are used as an example of a fixing member, but other fixing members may be used instead of screws.

In the above embodiment, the flange 25 is formed by connecting the upper frame member 25a, the lower frame member 25b, and a pair of side frame members 25c, but the flange 25 may be a one-piece molded product.

In the above embodiment, the protective member 29 is provided on the pair of side frame members 25c, but it is sufficient that the protective member 29 is provided on at least one of the upper frame member 25a, the lower frame member 25b, and the pair of side frame members 25c that constitute the flange 25. For example, the protective member 29 may not be provided on the pair of side frame members 25c, but may be provided on the upper frame member 25a and the lower frame member 25b. The protective member 29 may be provided on the upper frame member 25a, the lower frame member 25b, and the pair of side frame members 25c. The number and installation positions of the protective members 29 on each frame member can be set arbitrarily.

In the above embodiment, the protective member 29 is configured to be detachable from the flange 25, but may be fixed to the flange 25. In the above embodiment, the protective member 29 is a separate member from the flange 25, but may be configured integrally with the protective member 29.

The protective member 29 may be provided on the outer peripheral surface 3a of the lid body 3 as a separate member from the lid body 3. The protective member 29 may be configured as one piece with the lid body 3. In these cases, when the lid body 3 is closing the opening 2a, the protective member 29 protrudes from the outer peripheral surface 3a toward the inner peripheral surface 25s. Therefore, even if the outer peripheral surface 3a of the lid body 3 approaches the inner peripheral surface 25s of the flange 25, there is an increased possibility that the outer peripheral surface 3a of the lid body 3 will come into contact with the protective member 29 before coming into contact with the inner peripheral surface 25s of the flange 25. This makes it possible to further suppress damage to the panel storage container 1.

Furthermore, the protective member 29 may be provided removably on the lid 3. For example, if the protective member 29 is damaged, the damage to the protective member 29 can be repaired by replacing the protective member 29 with a new protective member 29. Therefore, it is possible to suppress damage to the panel storage container 1.

The method of connecting each member of the container body 2 may be different from that of the above embodiment. In the above embodiment, the container body 2 is constructed by combining multiple parts, but it may also be a one-piece molded product. The panel support portion 60 may have a different configuration from that of the above embodiment.

1...panel storage container, 2...container body, 2a...opening, 3...lid body, 3a...outer peripheral surface, 25...flange, 25a...upper frame material (frame portion), 25b...lower frame material (frame portion), 25c...side frame material (frame portion), 25s...inner peripheral surface, 29...protective member (first protective member, second protective member), 31...lid body.

Claims (6)

a container body having a flange defining an opening for receiving a plurality of panels;
A cover for closing the opening;
A protective member provided on an inner peripheral surface of the flange ;
Equipped with
The protective member is
a disk-shaped receiving portion having an abutment surface facing an outer circumferential surface of the lid body when the lid body closes the opening and aligned along the inner circumferential surface of the flange;
a shaft portion provided on a surface of the receiving portion opposite to the abutment surface, extending in a direction opposite to the abutment surface and fitted into a mounting hole provided on the inner peripheral surface of the flange;
Equipped with
The receiving portion protrudes from the inner peripheral surface of the flange toward the outer peripheral surface of the lid body when the lid body is closing the opening. The panel storage container according to claim 1 , wherein the protection member is detachably provided on the flange. a container body having a flange defining an opening for receiving a plurality of panels;
A cover for closing the opening;
A protective member provided on an outer peripheral surface of the lid body ;
Equipped with
The protective member is
a receiving portion having a disk shape along the outer circumferential surface of the cover body, the receiving portion having a contact surface facing an inner circumferential surface of the flange when the cover body is closing the opening;
a shaft portion provided on a surface of the receiving portion opposite to the abutment surface, extending in a direction opposite to the abutment surface and fitted into a mounting hole provided on the outer circumferential surface of the lid body;
Equipped with
The receiving portion protrudes from the outer peripheral surface of the lid body toward the inner peripheral surface of the flange when the lid body is closing the opening. The panel storage container according to claim 3 , wherein the protection member is detachably provided on the lid. The flange is a rectangular frame,
The protective member includes a first protective member and a second protective member,
The panel storage container according to any one of claims 1 to 4 , wherein the first protective member and the second protective member are provided between the inner surface and the outer surface at both ends of a frame portion that forms one side of the frame body. The lid body includes a lid main body including the outer circumferential surface,
The lid body is made of a metal material,
The panel storage container according to any one of claims 1 to 5 , wherein the flange is made of a resin material.

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