TWI895515B - Panel Storage Container - Google Patents

Abstract

The panel storage container includes: a container body having a flange defining an opening for storing multiple panels; a cover for blocking the opening; and a convex protective member arranged between the outer peripheral surface of the cover and the inner peripheral surface of the flange, the outer peripheral surface of the cover and the inner peripheral surface of the flange facing each other when the cover blocks the opening.

Description

Panel Storage Container

The present disclosure relates to a panel storage container.

During the manufacturing process of panels such as glass substrates for liquid crystal panels, a panel storage container for storing multiple panels can be used when transferring rectangular panels from manufacturing equipment to other manufacturing equipment or for temporary storage. For example, Patent Document 1 describes a panel storage container comprising: a container body for storing the panels; and a lid that can be opened and closed to cover an opening of the container body. [Prior Art Document] [Patent Document]

Patent Document 1: International Publication No. 2019/138982

[The problem that the invention aims to solve]

When opening and closing the lid, the edge of the lid may sometimes come into contact with the edge of the opening defining the opening of the container body, thereby potentially damaging at least one of the lid and the container body.

This disclosure describes a panel storage container that can suppress damage. [Solution]

The panel storage container disclosed on one side includes: a container body having a flange defining an opening for storing multiple panels; a cover for blocking the opening; and a convex protective member arranged between the outer peripheral surface of the cover and the inner peripheral surface of the flange, and the outer peripheral surface of the cover and the inner peripheral surface of the flange face each other when the cover blocks the opening.

In the panel storage container, the outer surface of the lid and the inner surface of the flange face each other when the lid is blocking the opening, and a convex protective member is provided between the outer surface of the lid and the inner surface of the flange. When the lid is attached to the flange or removed from the flange, the outer surface of the lid may sometimes approach the inner surface of the flange due to tilting of the lid. In this case, the outer surface of the lid can contact the protective member before contacting the inner surface of the flange. This reduces the possibility of the outer surface of the lid contacting the inner surface of the flange. Furthermore, the convex shape of the protective member reduces the contact area between the outer peripheral surface of the lid and the protective member compared to the contact area between the outer peripheral surface of the lid and the inner peripheral surface of the flange. As a result, damage to the panel storage container can be suppressed.

The protective member can be located on the inner circumference of the flange, or it can protrude from the inner circumference of the flange toward the outer circumference of the lid when the lid is closed. Because the protective member protrudes from the inner circumference of the flange toward the outer circumference of the lid, even if the outer circumference of the lid approaches the inner circumference of the flange, the likelihood of the outer circumference of the lid contacting the protective member before contacting the inner circumference of the flange is increased. This further reduces damage to the panel storage container.

The protective member may be detachably mounted on 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 one to prevent damage to the panel storage container.

The protective member can also be provided on the outer surface of the lid, projecting from the outer surface toward the inner surface of the flange when the lid is closed. Because the protective member projects from the outer surface of the lid toward the inner surface of the flange, even if the outer surface of the lid approaches the inner surface of the flange, the likelihood of the outer surface of the lid contacting the protective member before contacting the inner surface of the flange is increased. This further reduces damage to the panel storage container.

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

The flange may also be a rectangular frame. The protective member may also include a first protective member and a second protective member. The first protective member and the second protective member may also be arranged between the inner peripheral surfaces of the two ends of the frame portion forming one side of the frame and the outer peripheral surface of the cover. For example, when the cover is tilted, there is a high possibility that the outer peripheral surface of the cover will approach the inner peripheral surfaces of the two ends of the frame portion. According to the above structure, even if the outer peripheral surface of the cover approaches the inner peripheral surface of either end, the outer peripheral surface of the cover may contact the first protective member or the second protective member before contacting the inner peripheral surface of the flange. Therefore, damage to the panel storage container can be further suppressed.

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 contacts the inner peripheral surface of the flange, there is a risk of dust being generated and entering the panel storage container. According to the panel storage container, the likelihood of the outer peripheral surface of the lid contacting the inner peripheral surface of the flange is reduced, thereby suppressing the generation of dust. [Effects of the Invention]

According to the present disclosure, damage can be suppressed.

Hereinafter, the embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the description of the drawings, the same symbols are used for the same elements, and repeated descriptions are omitted. In each figure, an XYZ coordinate system is shown. The Y-axis direction is the direction that intersects (is orthogonal to) the X-axis direction and the Z-axis direction. The Z-axis direction is the direction that intersects (is orthogonal 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 the convenience of explanation, the terms "front", "back", "up", "down", "left", and "right" are used, but are not limited to these directions.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, a panel storage container according to an embodiment is described. Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a panel storage container according to an embodiment. Figure 2 is a perspective view of the back of the panel storage container in Figure 1. The panel storage container 1 shown in Figures 1 and 2 is a container for storing multiple panels. The panel storage container 1 is, for example, in accordance with the Semiconductor Equipment and Materials International (SEMI) standard. 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 × 515 mm and 600 mm × 600 mm. The number of panels that can be stored in the panel storage container 1 is arbitrarily specified, for example, it can be 6 panels or 12 panels.

Panel storage container 1 is used, for example, in manufacturing equipment for electronic components. Electronic components are manufactured through the following steps: placing multiple electronic components on a large carrier panel, such as a glass plate or stainless steel plate; sealing these electronic components with epoxy resin or other materials; peeling the sealed electronic components from the carrier panel in panel form; and finally, cutting the panel-shaped electronic components individually. Panel storage container 1 is used to transfer panels between these steps.

The panel storage container 1 includes a container body 2 and a cover 3 .

The container body 2 is a rectangular parallelepiped container with an open front surface. In other words, it is a front-open box type container with an opening 2a on the front surface. The container body 2 houses multiple panels. Panels are placed in and removed from the container body 2 through the opening 2a. The container body 2 will be described in detail later.

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

The locking mechanism 32 locks and unlocks the lid 3 by operating a key inserted into the keyhole 33. The locking mechanism 32 includes a latch (not shown). With the lid 3 attached to the flange 25, the latch is engaged with the latch hole 25h provided on the flange 25 by operating the key, thereby locking the lid 3. Once the lid 3 is locked, the latch is removed from the latch hole 25h by operating the key, thereby unlocking the lid 3.

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

Conductive materials and various antistatic agents may also be added to these resins. Conductive materials include, for example, carbon fibers, carbon powder, carbon nanotubes, or conductive polymers. Antistatic agents can be anionic, cationic, or non-ionic. UV absorbers based on benzotriazole, salicylic acid, cyanoacrylate, oxalic acid anilide, and hindered amines may also be added. Glass fibers or carbon fibers may also be added to enhance rigidity.

Next, the container body 2 will be described in further detail with 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 illustrating the installation of the flange. Figure 5 is a diagram illustrating 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 back wall 24, a flange 25, a frame 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 back wall 24 are generally rectangular plates. The top plate 21 and bottom plate 22 face each other in the vertical direction and are arranged generally parallel to each other. The pair of side walls 23 face each other in the left-right direction and are arranged generally parallel to each other. The left side wall 23 connects the left end of the top plate 21 with the left end of the bottom plate 22. The right side wall 23 connects the right end of the top plate 21 with the right end of the bottom plate 22. The back wall 24 connects the rear end of the top plate 21 with the rear end of the bottom plate 22 and also connects the rear ends of the pair of side walls 23. The storage space 20 is defined by the top plate 21, the pair of side walls 23, the bottom plate 22, and the back wall 24.

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 back wall 24 is made of, for example, a transparent resin material that allows the storage space 20 to be viewed from outside the container body 2. A portion of the back wall 24 may also be made of a transparent resin material. Examples of transparent resin materials include acrylic resin, polycarbonate, vinyl 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 the portion along the front edge of the top plate 21. The rear end 21b is the portion along the rear edge of the top plate 21. The pair of side ends 21c are the 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 portion 22a, a rear end portion 22b, and a pair of side end portions 22c. The front end portion 22a is the portion along the front edge of the bottom plate 22. The rear end portion 22b is the portion along the rear edge of the bottom plate 22. The pair of side end portions 22c are the portions along the left and right side edges of the bottom plate 22. The rear end portion 22b and the pair of side end portions 22c are provided with a plurality of insertion holes for inserting screws. The bottom plate 22 is provided with a plurality of (four in this embodiment) through holes 22h that penetrate the bottom plate 22 in the vertical direction. The air supply and exhaust mechanism 55 described later is embedded in the through hole 22h.

Each side wall 23 has a shape in which the front end and upper and lower ends are folded back toward 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 edge of the main body portion 23a. The upper end portion 23b extends along the upper edge of the main body portion 23a and is vertically arranged in the left-right direction from the main body portion 23a toward the outside of the container body 2. The lower end portion 23c extends along the lower edge of the main body portion 23a and is vertically arranged in the left-right direction from the main body portion 23a toward the outside of the container body 2. The front end portion 23d extends along the front edge of the main body portion 23a and is disposed vertically in the left-right direction from the main body portion 23a toward the outside of the container body 2. Multiple insertion holes for screws are provided in the upper end portion 23b, lower end portion 23c, front end portion 23d, and rear end portion 23e. The main body portion 23a also has multiple insertion holes for screws. The insertion holes in the main body portion 23a are used to attach the support member 65, described below.

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

The flange 25 is a rectangular frame that spans 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 circumference of the flange 25 in the front-to-rear direction, with the inner circumference of the front end of the flange 25 being longer than the inner circumference of the rear end. The lid 3 is placed on the step via the sealing member 34, thereby blocking the opening 2a with the lid 3. At this time, the front portion of the flange 25 that is closer to the step surrounds the lid 3. In other words, the outer circumference 3a of the lid 3 is spaced apart from the inner circumference 25s of the front portion of the flange 25 over the entire circumference. The flange 25 is made of, for example, the resin material described above. The flange 25 includes an upper frame member 25a, a lower frame member 25b, and a pair of side frame members 25c. The upper frame member 25a, the lower frame member 25b, and the side frame members 25c each form a frame portion on one side of the frame body.

The upper frame member 25a and the lower frame member 25b are components extending in the horizontal direction. They are spaced apart from each other in the vertical direction and are arranged approximately parallel to each other. A pair of side frame members 25c are components extending in the vertical direction. They are spaced apart from each other in the horizontal direction and are arranged approximately parallel to each other. The left end of the upper frame member 25a is connected to the left end of the lower frame member 25b by the left side frame member 25c, and the right end of the upper frame member 25a is connected to the right end of the lower frame member 25b by the right side frame member 25c. Two upper lock holes 25h are provided in each of the upper frame member 25a and the lower frame member 25b, spaced apart in the horizontal direction. The upper locking hole 25h of the upper frame member 25a and the upper locking hole 25h of the lower frame member 25b are provided at positions facing each other in the up-down direction.

The frame 26 is used to secure the top plate 21, the bottom plate 22, the pair of side walls 23, and the back wall 24. The frame 26 is made of, for example, a metal material. Examples of metal materials include aluminum and stainless steel. The frame 26 is located on the front surface of the back wall 24. The frame 26 includes an upper frame member 26a, a lower frame member 26b, a pair of side frame members 26c, a support column 26d, and a pair of support columns 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 vertical direction and are arranged approximately parallel to each other.

A pair of side frame members 26c are columnar components extending in the vertical direction. The pair of side frame members 26c are spaced apart from each other in the horizontal direction and 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 support 26d and the pair of support 26e are columnar components extending in the vertical direction. One support 26e, support 26d, and the other support 26e are arranged sequentially in the horizontal direction and are arranged approximately parallel to each other. The upper ends of the support 26d and the pair of support 26e are fixed to the upper frame member 26a by screws. The lower ends of the support 26d and the pair of support 26e are fixed to the lower frame member 26b by screws. The support 26d is located at the center of the frame 26 in the horizontal direction, and the pair of support 26e is located near the two ends of the frame 26 in the horizontal direction. The support 26d has multiple recesses for mounting the main shaft 61a described later. These recesses are recessed from the front surface of the support 26d toward the rear. The support 26e has multiple recesses for mounting the main shaft 62a described later. These recesses are recessed from the front surface of the support 26e toward the rear.

The base portion 27 forms the base of the container body 2. The base portion 27 is made of, for example, a metal material. Examples of metal materials include aluminum and stainless steel. The base portion 27 is provided on the lower surface of the bottom plate 22. The base portion 27 includes a support member 27a, a support member 27b, a pair of support members 27c, and a plurality of support members 27d (three in this embodiment). The support members 27a and 27b are columnar members extending 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-to-back direction. The pair of support members 27c are spaced apart from each other in the left-to-right direction and arranged approximately parallel to each other. Each support member 27c comprises a first portion 27e and a second portion 27f. The first portion 27e is a plate-shaped portion extending along the bottom plate 22 (XY plane) in the front-to-back direction. The second portion 27f extends in the front-to-back direction along the inner edge of the first portion 27e in the left-to-right direction and is vertically arranged downward from this edge. The first and second portions 27e, 27f, are L-shaped.

The left ends of support members 27a and 27b are screwed to the second portion 27f of left support member 27c. The right ends of support members 27a and 27b are screwed to the second portion 27f of right support member 27c. That is, the left end of support member 27a and the left end of support member 27b are connected by left support member 27c, and the right end of support member 27a and the right end of support member 27b are connected by right support member 27c.

Multiple support members 27d are columnar members extending in the left-right direction. They are arranged in a front-to-back direction and are generally parallel to one another. The left end of each support member 27d is screwed to the left support member 27c. The right end of each support member 27d is screwed to the right support member 27c.

A pair of rail members 28 is used to carry the container body 2. The pair of rail members 28 are placed on the conveyor, for example, when the panel storage container 1 is transported by the conveyor. Each rail member 28 is a plate-shaped member extending in the front-to-back direction. The rail member 28 is made of, for example, the resin material described above. Each rail member 28 is arranged 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 an external thread at the lower end and an internal thread (screw hole) at the upper end. The support member 27c and the rail member 28 are connected to each other, thereby forming a U-shape with the outer sides opened in the left and right directions.

Connecting plates 41 through 47 are components used to connect the top plate 21, bottom plate 22, side walls 23, back wall 24, and flange 25. These components are long, plate-shaped components. They are made of, for example, metal. Examples of metal materials include aluminum and stainless steel. Connecting plates 41 through 44 and 47 have insertion holes for screws. Connecting plates 45 and 46 also have screw holes.

The side plate 48 is a member for mounting the support body 65 described later. The side plate 48 is a plate-shaped member extending in the up-down direction. The side plate 48 is made of, for example, a metal material. Aluminum and stainless steel can be cited as examples of metal materials. 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-to-back 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-to-back direction, and the other side plate 48 is provided near the front end of the side wall 23 in the front-to-back direction. The upper end of each side plate 48 is fixed to the upper end portion 23b by a screw. The lower end of each side plate 48 is fixed to the lower end portion 23c by a screw. Each side plate 48 is provided with an insertion hole for inserting the screw.

Cover members C1 through C3 are used to prevent particles from entering storage space 20. They are made, for example, of the resin material described above. A pair of cover members C1 is positioned at the corner formed by top plate 21, side walls 23, and flange 25. A pair of cover members C2 is positioned at the corner formed by top plate 21, side walls 23, and back wall 24. A pair of cover members C3 is positioned at the corner formed by bottom plate 22, side walls 23, and back wall 24.

Next, the method of connecting the components of the container body 2 will be described.

The back wall 24 is superimposed on the frame body 26 so that the rear surface of the lower frame member 26b contacts the inner surface of the lower end portion 24b of the back wall 24 in the front-to-back direction. Furthermore, the connecting plate 41 is superimposed on the outer surface of the lower end portion 24b. In other words, the lower end portion 24b is clamped between the connecting plate 41 and the lower frame member 26b. In this state, screws are inserted through the insertion holes of the connecting plate 41 and the insertion holes of the lower end portion 24b and screwed into the screw holes of the lower frame member 26b. In this manner, the lower end portion 24b is clamped by the connecting plate 41 and the lower frame member 26b, securing the back wall 24 to the frame body 26.

The rear end 21b of the top panel 21 is placed on the upper surface of the upper frame member 26a, and the upper end 24a of the back wall 24 is placed on the rear surface of the upper frame member 26a. 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 member 26a. Specifically, the connecting plate 42 has a portion covering the rear end 21b, a portion covering the upper end 24a, and a connecting portion that connects these portions. A screw is screwed into a screw hole provided in the upper frame member 26a through a through-hole provided in the connecting portion of the connecting plate 42. In this way, the rear end 21b and the upper end 24a are clamped by the connecting plate 42 and the upper frame member 26a, and the top panel 21 and the back wall 24 are fixed to the frame body 26. As a result, the top plate 21 is connected to the back wall 24.

The rear end 23e of the side wall 23 is placed on the side surface of the side frame member 26c, and the side end 24c of the back wall 24 is placed on the rear surface of the side frame member 26c. 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 member 26c. Specifically, the connecting plate 43 has a portion covering the rear end 23e, a portion covering the side end 24c, and a connecting portion connecting these portions. Screws are screwed into screw holes in the side frame member 26c through insertion holes in the connecting portion of the connecting plate 43. Furthermore, screws are inserted through the insertion holes provided in the portion of the connecting plate 43 that covers the rear end portion 23e and the insertion holes provided in the rear end portion 23e, and then screwed into the screw holes provided on the side surfaces of the side frame member 26c. In this way, the rear end portion 23e and the side end portion 24c are clamped by the connecting plate 43 and the side frame member 26c, securing the side wall 23 and the back wall 24 to the frame body 26. As a result, the side wall 23 and the back 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, with a connecting plate 44 placed on top of the side end 21c. Two connecting plates 45 are installed on the lower surface of the upper end 23b, extending in the front-to-back direction and spaced apart from each other. In other words, the side end 21c and the upper end 23b are vertically overlapped, and the side end 21c and the upper end 23b are vertically clamped by the connecting plates 44 and 45. In this state, screws are inserted through the insertion holes of the connecting plate 44, the insertion holes of the side end 21c, and the insertion holes of the upper end 23b in that order, and then screwed into the screw holes of the connecting plate 45. Thus, the side end portion 21 c and the upper end portion 23 b are clamped by the connecting plates 44 and 45 , and the top plate 21 and the side wall 23 are connected.

The rear end of the upper frame member 25a of the flange 25 is placed on the upper surface of the front end 21a of the top plate 21, and the connecting plate 46 is placed on the lower surface of the front end 21a. In other words, the front end 21a is vertically clamped between the upper frame member 25a and the connecting plate 46. In this state, screws are inserted through the insertion holes of the upper frame member 25a and the front end 21a, and then screwed into the screw holes of the connecting plate 46. In this way, the top plate 21 and the flange 25 are connected by clamping the front end 21a between the upper frame member 25a and the connecting plate 46.

The rear surface of the side frame member 25c of the flange 25 is overlapped with the front surface of the front end 23d of the side wall 23, and the connecting plate 47 is overlapped with the rear surface of the front end 23d. In other words, the front end 23d is sandwiched between the side frame member 25c and the connecting plate 47 in the front-to-back direction. In this state, screws are inserted through 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 member 25c. In this way, the front end 23d is sandwiched between the side frame member 25c and the connecting plate 47, and the side wall 23 and the flange 25 are connected.

The rear end portion 22b is overlapped with the lower frame member 26b so that the lower surface of the lower frame member 26b of the frame body 26 and the upper surface of the rear end portion 22b of the base plate 22 are in contact in the vertical direction. Furthermore, the support member 27b of the pedestal 27 is overlapped with the lower surface of the rear end portion 22b. In other words, the rear end portion 22b is clamped by the lower frame member 26b and the support member 27b. In this state, screws are inserted through the insertion holes of the lower frame member 26b and the insertion holes of the rear end portion 22b, and the screws are screwed into the screw holes of the support member 27b. In this way, the rear end portion 22b is clamped by the lower frame member 26b and the support member 27b, and the base plate 22 is fixed to the frame body 26 and the pedestal 27.

The external threads of the connecting member 49 are screwed into the screw holes provided in the track member 28. The support member 27c is then positioned on the track member 28 so that the screw holes of the connecting member 49 overlap with the insertion holes provided in the first portion 27e of the support member 27c. The side end portion 22c of the base plate 22 is placed on the upper surface of the support member 27c. Furthermore, the side end portion 22c is aligned with the lower end portion 23c of the side wall 23 so that the upper surface of the side end portion 22c vertically contacts the lower surface of the lower end portion 23c. In this state, screws are inserted into the insertion holes of the lower end portion 23c, the insertion holes of the side end portion 22c, and the insertion holes of the first portion 27e, and are screwed into the screw holes of the connecting member 49. Thus, the side end portion 22c is clamped by the lower end portion 23c and the support member 27c, and the bottom plate 22 and the side wall 23 are fixed to the base portion 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.

Furthermore, the left-right length of the rear end of the upper frame member 25a is shorter than the left-right lengths of the front end 21a and the connecting plate 46. Therefore, the left-right ends of the front end 21a are not covered by the rear end of the upper frame member 25a. The cover member C1 is placed on the left-right ends of the front end 21a. In other words, the left-right ends of the front end 21a are held 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 then screwed into the screw holes of the connecting plate 46. This installs the cover member C1.

Connecting plates 44 and 45 do not extend to the rear ends of side end portion 21c and upper end portion 23b. Cover member C2 is installed so as to clamp the rear ends of side end portion 21c and upper end portion 23b. In this state, screws are inserted through the insertion holes provided in the upper portion of cover member C2, the insertion holes in side end portion 21c, and the insertion holes in upper end portion 23b, and then screwed into the screw holes provided in the lower portion of cover member C2. Cover member C2 is thus installed.

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

The base plate 22 and support member 27c extend further forward than the side wall 23. That is, the front end of the side end portion 22c is not covered by the lower end portion 23c. The front end of the side end portion 22c is clamped between the side frame member 25c of the flange 25 and the front end of the first portion 27e. In this state, screws are inserted through the insertion holes of the first portion 27e and the insertion holes of the side end portion 22c and screwed into the screw holes provided on the lower surface of the side frame member 25c. In this manner, the base plate 22 and flange 25 are fixed to the base portion 27, and the base plate 22 and flange 25 are connected. Furthermore, the front end 22a of the base plate 22 is inserted into the groove provided on the rear surface of the lower frame member 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 used to protect the flange 25. The protective member 29 is made of, for example, the resin material described above. 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 disposed between the outer peripheral surface 3a of the lid 3 and the inner peripheral surface 25s of the flange 25. The outer peripheral surface 3a of the lid 3 and the inner peripheral surface 25s of the flange 25 face each other when the lid 3 blocks the opening 2a. In this embodiment, the protective member 29 is disposed 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 3 blocks the opening 2a. More specifically, the protective members 29 are provided on the inner circumferential surface 25s of the side frame member 25c and protrude toward the outer circumferential surface 3a of the side end portion of the lid 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 circumferential surface 25s at the upper and lower ends of the side frame member 25c.

The protective member 29 is detachably mounted on the flange 25. The protective member 29 includes 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 is, for example, in the shape of a circular plate. The receiving portion 29a includes a contact surface 29c that faces the outer peripheral surface 3a. The contact surface 29c is a surface that the cover 3 can contact. The area of the contact surface 29c is smaller than the area of the inner peripheral surface 25s of the side frame material 25c. The contact surface 29c is designed to be spaced apart from the outer peripheral surface 3a. The distance D between the contact surface 29c and the outer peripheral surface 3a is designed to be, for example, approximately 0.5 mm.

The shaft portion 29b is used to attach the protective member 29 to the flange 25. The shaft portion 29b is located on the surface of the receiving portion 29a opposite the abutment surface 29c and extends in the direction opposite to the abutment surface 29c. The shaft portion 29b engages with the mounting hole 25t provided on the inner circumferential surface 25s of the side frame member 25c. For example, the protective member 29 can be attached to the flange 25 (side frame member 25c) by press-fitting the shaft portion 29b into the mounting hole 25t. Alternatively, the protective member 29 can be attached to the flange 25 (side frame member 25c) by bonding the shaft portion 29b to the mounting hole 25t using adhesive. Alternatively, the shaft portion 29b may be externally threaded, and the mounting hole 25t may be internally threaded. In this case, the protective member 29 is attached to the flange 25 (side frame member 25c) by screwing the shaft 29b into the mounting hole 25t. Alternatively, the protective member 29 can be attached to the flange 25 (side frame member 25c) by fastening the shaft 29b to the mounting hole 25t using a snap-fit.

Next, referring to Figures 8 to 10, the components provided at the bottom of the container body 2 will be described. 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 periphery of the air supply and exhaust mechanism. Furthermore, in Figures 8 and 9, for the sake of convenience, the illustration of the screw used to mount the base substrate 51 and the like on the pedestal 27 is omitted. As shown in Figures 8 and 9, the container body 2 further includes a base substrate 51, a mounting plate 52, a mounting plate 53, a positioning component 54, an air supply and exhaust mechanism 55, and a block 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. The base substrate 51 is located below the base portion 27 and is fixed to the support member 27a and the support member 27d by screws. The base substrate 51 is arranged across the support member 27a and the three support members 27d and does not extend to the rear end portion 22b. That is, the base substrate 51 is arranged at the front end portion 22a near the bottom plate 22. The front end portion 51a of the base substrate 51 is located below the lower frame material 25b of the flange 25. An insertion hole for inserting a screw is provided at the front end portion 51a. The screw is inserted into the insertion hole of the front end portion 51a and screwed into the screw hole of the lower frame material 25b.

The base substrate 51 is provided with a through hole 51g for mounting a positioning member 54 and a through hole 51h for mounting an 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 are arranged radially from the center of the base substrate 51. Two through holes 51g are provided near the left and right ends of the front portion of the base substrate 51, and one through hole 51g is provided near the left and right center 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 mounting a radio frequency identification (RF-ID) tag is further provided at the rear end portion of the base substrate 51.

The mounting plates 52 and 53 are components for mounting the positioning member 54 on the base substrate 51. The mounting plates 52 and 53 are plate-shaped components. The mounting plates 52 and 53 are made of, for example, the resin material described above. The mounting plate 52 is provided on the lower surface of the front portion of the base substrate 51. Two through holes 52g are provided on the mounting plate 52 to expose the positioning member 54. A through hole is further provided between the two through holes 52g on the mounting plate 52 to fix the panel storage container 1. The mounting plate 53 is provided on the lower surface of the rear portion of the base substrate 51. A through hole 53g is provided on the mounting plate 53 to expose the positioning member 54.

The positioning member 54 is a member used to position the panel storage container 1 (container body 2) by an external device such as a conveying device or a processing device. 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. The positioning member 54 is fitted into the through hole 51g in a manner recessed toward the bottom plate 22 (upward). The V-shaped groove is defined by the V-shaped surface of the positioning member 54. The V-shaped surface is subjected to a wear-resistant surface treatment. In this embodiment, the container body 2 includes three positioning members 54.

Two positioning members 54 are fitted into two through-holes 51g provided in the front portion of the base substrate 51. The mounting plate 52 is mounted on the lower surface of the base substrate 51, with the V-shaped surfaces of the positioning members 54 protruding from the through-holes 52g. The ends of the positioning members 54 are held between the base substrate 51 and the mounting plate 52. Similarly, a single positioning member 54 is fitted into a through-hole 51g provided in the rear portion of the base substrate 51. The mounting plate 53 is mounted on the lower surface of the base substrate 51, with the V-shaped surfaces of the positioning member 54 protruding from the through-hole 53g. The ends of the positioning member 54 are held between the base substrate 51 and the mounting plate 53.

The panel storage container 1 is positioned by abutting the V-shaped surfaces of the positioning members 54 with pins on the external device. Specifically, the V-shaped surfaces guide the pins into the V-shaped grooves. The panel storage container 1 includes three positioning members 54, supporting it at three points. This allows the position of the panel storage container 1 to be determined with high precision. The number and arrangement of the positioning members 54 can be adjusted as appropriate.

Furthermore, the positioning member 54 is spaced away from the lower surface of the bottom plate 22. This prevents the force applied to the V-shaped surface of the positioning member 54 by the pin of the external device from being transmitted to the base substrate 51 and then to the bottom plate 22. Thus, deformation of the bottom plate 22 is suppressed.

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

As shown in Figure 10, the air supply and exhaust mechanism 55 includes a filter 55a, a spacer 55b, and a sealing member 55c. Filter 55a is a member that allows gas to pass through. Spacer 55b is a member that holds filter 55a. Spacer 55b is a cylindrical member with open ends. Filter 55a is housed within its interior. The inner circumference of spacer 55b is stepped, with the inner diameter of the upper end of spacer 55b being smaller than that of the lower end. Spacer 55b is positioned between bottom plate 22 and base substrate 51, with through-hole 22h and through-hole 51h communicating with the interior of spacer 55b.

Filter 55a includes a filter body 55d and a cover 55e. Filter body 55d has an annular claw 55f at its upper end, and a screw groove is provided on the outer circumference of its lower end. Cover 55e covers the lower end and outer circumference of filter body 55d. Cover 55e has an annular claw 55g on its outer circumference, and a screw groove is provided on its inner circumference.

The following describes how to install the air supply and exhaust mechanism 55. The lower end of the spacer 55b is fixed to the base substrate 51 with a screw, while 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 through the through-hole 22h and into the interior space of the spacer 55b. At this point, the claws 55f are locked by the periphery defining the through-hole 22h. Next, the cover 55e is inserted through the through-hole 51h and into the interior space of the spacer 55b. The outer circumference of the filter body 55d is screwed into the inner circumference of the cover 55e, integrating the filter body 55d and the cover 55e. At this point, claws 55g engage the step on the inner circumference of spacer 55b. That is, claws 55f and 55g clamp the base plate 22 and spacer 55b. Furthermore, by screwing the outer circumference of filter body 55d and the inner circumference of lid 55e together, base plate 22 and spacer 55b are in close contact and airtightly secured.

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

Next, the structure within 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 used to support the panel. The panel support portion 60 includes multiple support portions 61, multiple support portions 62, multiple stoppers 63, and multiple stoppers 64.

The number of supports 61, 62, stoppers 63, and 64 varies depending on the number of panels that can be stored in the panel storage container 1. In this embodiment, the panel support 60 includes one support 61, two support 62, two stoppers 63, and two stoppers 64 for each panel. In other words, one support 61, two support 62, two stoppers 63, and two stoppers 64 form a storage section that accommodates one panel.

The support portion 61 is used to support the center portion of the panel in the left-right direction. It includes a main shaft 61a and multiple elastic members 61b. The main shaft 61a is a columnar (e.g., cylindrical) member extending in the front-to-back direction. The rear end of the main shaft 61a is inserted into the recess of the support column 26d and secured to the support column 26d by a screw. The main shaft 61a is made of a material with high bending rigidity. Examples of materials for the main shaft 61a include metals such as stainless steel and aluminum, as well as carbon fiber-reinforced plastic.

The elastic body 61b is an annular (e.g., circular) component provided on the outer peripheral surface of the main shaft 61a. The elastic body 61b is provided to suppress the sliding of the panel and improve the positioning accuracy of the panel. From the perspective of preventing the sliding of the panel, the elastic body 61b may also have a higher friction force than the main shaft 61a. From the perspective of preventing damage to the panel, the elastic body 61b may also have a higher elasticity (cushioning) than the main shaft 61a. The elastic body 61b is, for example, made of a rubber material. Examples of rubber materials include ethylene propylene diene rubber (EPDM), silicone rubber, and fluororubber. The elastic body 61b is, for example, an O-ring. The plurality of elastic bodies 61b are arranged at regular intervals in the extending direction of the main shaft 61a. From the perspective of improving positioning accuracy, the interval between two adjacent elastic bodies 61b can also be in the range of 50 mm to 100 mm.

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

The elastic member 62b is an annular (e.g., circular) member attached to the outer circumference of the main shaft 62a. It is provided to prevent panel slippage and improve panel positioning accuracy. The materials and arrangement of the elastic member 62b are identical to those of the elastic member 61b, so a detailed description is omitted.

The support body 65 is a component used to support the main shaft 62a. As shown in Figure 12, the support body 65 has a receiving portion 65a and a mounting portion 65b. The receiving portion 65a is the portion on which the left-right ends of the panel are placed. The receiving portion 65a has a roughly rectangular shape extending in the left-right direction. The left-right ends of the panel are placed on the upper surface of the receiving portion 65a. The top portion of the receiving portion 65a is provided with an insertion hole 65c for inserting the main shaft 62a. The insertion hole 65c extends through the receiving portion 65a in the front-to-back direction.

The mounting portion 65b is used to attach the support body 65 to the side plate 48. The mounting portion 65b is located at the base end of the mounting portion 65a. The mounting portion 65b protrudes upward from the upper surface of the mounting portion 65a and has an inclined surface 65d that slopes downward from the base end toward the top end of the support body 65. The mounting portion 65b is provided with screw holes extending horizontally 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 23a), screws are inserted through the insertion holes in the side plate 48 and the main body 23a, and then screwed into the screw holes in the mounting portion 65b. Thereby, the support body 65 is fixed to the side plate 48 in a state where the side wall 23 (main body portion 23 a ) is sandwiched between the support body 65 and the side plate 48 .

The stopper 63 is a component used to prevent the panel from flying out and to determine 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 located at the front end of the main shaft 62a. For example, the stopper 63 is attached to the main shaft 62a by inserting the front end of the main shaft 62a into the mounting hole provided in the stopper 63. The stopper 63 has a circular plate-shaped retaining piece 63a having an outer diameter larger than that of the elastic body 62b. The retaining piece 63a has an inclined surface that tilts rearward as it moves from the outer peripheral surface toward the center.

The stopper 64 is a member used to determine 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 main shaft 62a. The stopper 64 has a block-like shape. The stopper 64 is provided with an insertion hole for inserting the main shaft 62a in the front-rear direction. When the main shaft 62a is 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 tilts forward as it moves downward from the upper surface.

The placement position of the panel is determined by the stopper 63, the stopper 64, and the support 65. Specifically, the placement position of the panel in the front-to-back direction is determined by the stopper 63 and the stopper 64, and the placement position of the panel in the left-to-right direction is determined by the four support bodies 65 provided on the left and right. For example, a panel is moved into the storage space 20 by a robot and placed in any storage section. At this time, the position of the panel may be slightly offset due to errors or the like. For example, even if the front end of the panel is placed 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 due to its own weight. Similarly, even if the rear end of the panel rests on the inclined surface 64a of the stopper 64, the panel is guided to the loading position along the inclined surface 64a due to its own weight. Similarly, even if the side end of the panel rests on the inclined surface 65d of the support 65, the panel is guided to the loading position along the inclined surface 65d due to its own weight.

In the panel storage container 1 described above, the outer circumferential surface 3a of the lid 3 and the flange 25 face each other when the lid 3 blocks the opening 2a. A protruding protective member 29 is provided between the outer circumferential surface 3a of the lid 3 and the inner circumferential surface 25s of the flange 25. Specifically, the protective member 29 is provided on the inner circumferential surface 25s of the flange 25 and protrudes from the inner circumferential surface 25s toward the outer circumferential surface 3a when the lid 3 blocks the opening 2a. When the lid 3 is attached to or removed from the flange 25, the outer circumferential surface 3a of the lid 3 may come into contact with the inner circumferential surface 25s of the flange 25 due to, for example, tilting of the lid 3. In this case, the outer surface 3a of the lid 3 can contact the protective member 29 before contacting the inner surface 25s of the flange 25. This reduces the likelihood of the outer surface 3a of the lid 3 contacting the inner surface 25s of the flange 25. Furthermore, because the protective member 29 is convex, the contact area between the outer surface 3a of the lid 3 and the protective member 29 is smaller than when the outer surface 3a of the lid 3 contacts the inner surface 25s of the flange 25. Consequently, damage to the panel storage container 1 can be minimized.

The protective member 29 is detachably mounted on the flange 25, so 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 it with a new one. Therefore, damage to the panel storage container 1 can be suppressed.

For example, when the lid 3 is tilted, the outer surface 3a of the lid 3 is likely to approach the inner surface 25s at both ends of the side frame 25c. To address this, protective members 29 are provided on the inner surface 25s at both ends (the upper and lower ends) of the side frame 25c. This configuration ensures that even if the outer surface 3a of the lid 3 approaches the inner surface 25s at the upper or lower ends of the side frame 25c, the outer surface 3a of the lid 3 will contact the protective member 29 before contacting the inner surface 25s of the flange 25. This further reduces damage to the panel storage container 1.

The lid body 31 is made of metal, and the flange 25 is made of resin. Therefore, if the outer surface 3a of the lid body 3 contacts the inner surface 25s of the flange 25, there is a risk of dust being generated and entering the panel storage container 1. With the panel storage container 1, the likelihood of the outer surface 3a of the lid body 3 contacting the inner surface 25s of the flange 25 is reduced, thereby suppressing dust generation.

For example, if the side end portion 21c and the upper end portion 23b are connected via screws without the use of the connecting plates 44 and 45, there is a risk that the side end portion 21c and the upper end portion 23b may not be sufficiently tightly attached in the area where the screws are not provided. In contrast, in the panel storage container 1, the side end portion 21c and the upper end portion 23b are clamped by the connecting plates 44 and 45, thereby connecting the top plate 21 and the side wall 23. In this configuration, by clamping the side end portion 21c and the upper end portion 23b by the connecting plates 44 and 45, the tightness of the side end portion 21c and the upper end portion 23b can be improved. As a result, the airtightness of the storage space 20 can be improved.

The side panel 48 is held between the upper end 23b and the lower end 23c. This allows for highly precise vertical alignment of the side panel 48, thereby improving the vertical positional accuracy of the support 65. Furthermore, the lower end 23c is secured to the support member 27c of the pedestal 27, which is in turn connected to the support members 27a, 27b, and 27d. Therefore, when a panel is placed on the support 65, the entire pedestal 27 supports the panel's weight. As a result, the panel can be stably supported.

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

The positioning member 54 is made of a metal material, and the V-shaped surface is subjected to a wear-resistant surface treatment. Therefore, compared with the case where the positioning member 54 is made of a resin material, the strength can be improved. Therefore, even when 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 and 53g of the mounting plates 52 and 53. The mounting plates 52 and 53 are made of a resin material, so even if the pin is placed on the periphery defining the through-holes 52g and 53g, the pin can slide easily. Therefore, the pin can be guided by the V-shaped surface and guided to the V-shaped groove.

The panel storage container 1 is supported by abutting the top end of a pin on an external device, such as a conveyor or processing device, against the V-shaped surface of the positioning member 54. The panel storage container 1 has two positioning members 54 at the front and one at the rear. Therefore, when the panel storage container 1 is supported, the rear portion of the panel storage container 1 tends to descend further than the front portion. At this time, the block 56 abuts against the external device, thereby suppressing the tilt of the panel storage container 1. Consequently, deformation of the panel storage container 1 is suppressed.

Furthermore, the panel storage container disclosed herein is not limited to the aforementioned embodiments.

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

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

In the above embodiment, the protective members 29 are provided on the pair of side frame members 25c. However, they may be 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 members 29 may be provided on both the upper frame member 25a and the lower frame member 25b instead of the pair of side frame members 25c. Alternatively, the protective members 29 may be provided on each of the upper frame member 25a, the lower frame member 25b, and the pair of side frame members 25c. The number and placement of the protective members 29 on each frame member can be arbitrarily determined.

In the above embodiment, the protection member 29 is configured to be detachable from the flange 25, but it may also be fixed to the flange 25. In the above embodiment, the protection member 29 and the flange 25 are separate components, but it may also be configured integrally with the protection member 29.

The protective member 29 can also be provided on the outer peripheral surface 3a of the lid 3 as a separate member from the lid 3. Alternatively, the protective member 29 can be integrally formed with the lid 3. In such cases, when the lid 3 blocks the opening 2a, the protective member 29 protrudes from the outer peripheral surface 3a toward the inner peripheral surface 25s. Therefore, even when the outer peripheral surface 3a of the lid 3 approaches the inner peripheral surface 25s of the flange 25, the outer peripheral surface 3a of the lid 3 is more likely to contact the protective member 29 before contacting the inner peripheral surface 25s of the flange 25. This further reduces damage to the panel storage container 1.

Furthermore, the protective member 29 may be detachably mounted on the cover 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 one. Therefore, damage to the panel storage container 1 can be suppressed.

The connection method of each component of the container body 2 may also be different from the above embodiment. In the above embodiment, the container body 2 is constructed by assembling multiple parts, but it can also be a one-piece molded product. The panel support portion 60 may also have a different structure from the above embodiment.

1: Panel Storage Container 2: Container Body 2a: Opening 3: Lid 3a: Outer Surface 20: Storage Space 21: Top Plate 21a, 22a, 23d, 51a: Front End 21b, 22b, 23e: Rear End 21c, 22c, 24c: Side Ends 22: Bottom Plate 22h, 51h, 51g, 51h, 52g, 53g: Through Holes 23: Side Walls 23a: Body 23b, 24a: Upper Ends 23c, 24b: Lower Ends 24: Back Wall 25: Flange 25a: Upper Frame (Frame) 25b: Lower Frame (Frame) 25c: Side Frame (Frame) 25h: Upper lock hole 25s: Inner surface 26: Frame 26a: Upper frame member 26b: Lower frame member 26c: Side frame member 26d, 26e: Pillars 27: Base 27a, 27b, 27c, 27d: Support member 27e: First section 27f: Second section 28: Track member 29: Protective members (first and second protective members) 29a: Socket 29b: Shaft 29c: Abutment surface 31: Cover body 32: Upper lock mechanism 33: Keyhole 34, 55c: Sealing member 41-47: Connecting plates 48: Side plate 49: Connecting member 51: Base substrate 52, 53: Mounting plate 54: Positioning member 55: Air supply and exhaust mechanism 55a: Filter 55b: Spacer 55d: Filter body 55e: Cover 55f, 55g: Claws 56: Block 60: Panel support 61, 62, 65: Support 61a, 62a: Spindle 61b, 62b: Elastic member 63, 64: Stopper 63a: Locking plate 64a, 65d: Inclined surface 65a: Loading portion 65b: Mounting portion 65c: Insertion hole C1, C2, C3: Cover members D: Distance

Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a panel storage container according to one embodiment. Figure 2 is a perspective view of the rear side of the panel storage container in Figure 1. Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of a portion of the container body in Figure 1. Figure 4 is a view illustrating the installation of the flange. Figure 5 is a view illustrating the lid member. Figure 6 is an enlarged view of a portion of the panel storage container in Figure 1. Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VII-VII in Figure 6. Figure 8 is a bottom view of the panel storage container in Figure 1. Figure 9 is an exploded perspective view of a portion of the container body in Figure 1. Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view of the periphery of the air supply and exhaust mechanism. 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.

3: Cover

3a: Outer Surface

25: Flange

25a: Upper frame material (frame)

25c: Side frame material (frame)

25s: Inner Surface

29: Protective member (first protective member, second protective member)

Claims (8)

A panel storage container comprises: a container body having a flange defining an opening for storing multiple panels; a lid for closing the opening; and a convex protective member provided on the inner circumferential surface of the flange, comprising: a receiving portion having a circular plate shape along the inner circumferential surface of the flange and having an abutment surface facing the outer circumferential surface of the lid when the lid closes the opening; and 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 engaging with a mounting hole provided on the inner circumferential surface of the flange. When the lid closes the opening, the receiving portion protrudes from the inner circumferential surface of the flange toward the outer circumferential surface of the lid. The panel storage container according to claim 1, wherein the protective member is detachably mounted on the flange. The panel storage container according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the flange is a rectangular frame, and the protective member includes a first protective member and a second protective member, wherein the first protective member and the second protective member are provided between the inner circumferential surface and the outer circumferential surface at both ends of a frame portion forming one side of the frame. The panel storage container according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the lid includes a lid body including the outer peripheral surface, the lid body is formed of a metal material, and the flange is formed of a resin material. A panel storage container comprises: a container body having a flange defining an opening for storing multiple panels; a lid for closing the opening; and a convex protective member provided on the outer circumferential surface of the lid, comprising: a receiving portion having a circular plate shape along the outer circumferential surface of the lid and having an abutment surface facing the inner circumferential surface of the flange when the lid closes the opening; and 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 engaging with a mounting hole provided on the outer circumferential surface of the lid. When the lid closes the opening, the receiving portion protrudes from the outer circumferential surface of the lid toward the inner circumferential surface of the flange. The panel storage container according to claim 5, wherein the protective member is detachably mounted on the lid. The panel storage container according to claim 5 or claim 6, wherein the flange is a rectangular frame, and the protective member includes a first protective member and a second protective member, wherein the first protective member and the second protective member are provided between the inner circumferential surface and the outer circumferential surface at both ends of a frame portion forming one side of the frame. The panel storage container according to claim 5 or claim 6, wherein: the lid includes a lid body including the outer peripheral surface, the lid body is formed of a metal material, and the flange is formed of a resin material.