# US 2013/0156531 A1 · Plate-shaped member storage rack, plate-shaped member transfer facility, and plate-shaped member storing method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0156531 A1 - Document ID: US20130156531A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/811,785 - Filed: 2011-08-25 - Published: 2013-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2010-08-27 - Assignees: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: Yasuhiko Hashimoto; Shigeki Ono; Kenji Bando - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130156531A1 ## CPC - B65G 1/04: mechanical - H10P 72/13: {Horizontal boat type carrier whereby the substrates are vertically supported, e.g. comprising rod-shaped elements} - H10P 72/15: {Horizontal carrier comprising wall type elements whereby the substrates are vertically supported, e.g. comprising sidewalls} - H10P 72/17: {specially adapted for supporting large square shaped substrates} - B65G: TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS (packaging B65B; handling thin or filamentary materials, e.g. paper sheets or thread, B65H; cranes B66C; portable mobile or lifting or hauling appliances, e.g. hoists, B66D; devices for lifting or lowering goods for loading or unloading purposes, e.g. fork-lift trucks, B66F9/00; emptying bottles, jars, casks, barrels or similar containers, not otherwise provided for, B67C9/00; delivering or transferring liquids B67D; filling or discharging vessels for liquefied, solidified or compressed gases F17C; pipe-line systems for fluids F17D) - H10P: GENERIC PROCESSES OR APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OR TREATMENT OF DEVICES COVERED BY CLASS H10 ## Abstract A rack includes: a rack main body including a storage space configured to store a plurality of plate-shaped members and a carry-in opening; a plurality of upper supporting portions configured to respectively support upper edge portions of the plurality of plate-shaped members; lower supporting portions respectively provided under the plurality of upper supporting portions and configured to respectively support lower edge portions of the plurality of standing plate-shaped members; and lower edge portion storage portions provided to be each located at an outer side of an end of the upper supporting portion and an end of the lower supporting portion in the arrangement direction and configured to store the lower edge portions of the plate-shaped members, and at least one of the upper supporting portions is configured to be able to support the upper edge portion of the plate-shaped member. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A plate-shaped member storage rack comprising: a rack main body including a storage space and a carry-in opening, the storage space being configured to store a plurality of plate-shaped members such that the plurality of plate-shaped members stand and are arranged in an arrangement direction so as to be adjacent to one another in a thickness direction of the plate-shaped member, the carry-in opening being an opening through which the plate-shaped members are carried in the storage space in a horizontal carry-in direction intersecting with the arrangement direction; a plurality of upper supporting portions provided in the storage space in the arrangement direction when viewed from the carry-in direction and configured to respectively support upper edge portions of the plurality of plate-shaped members; lower supporting portions provided in the storage space to be respectively located under the plurality of upper supporting portions and configured to respectively support lower edge portions of the plurality of standing plate-shaped members; and lower edge portion storage portions provided in the storage space to be each located at an outer side of an end of the upper supporting portion and an end of the lower supporting portion in the arrangement direction and configured to respectively store the lower edge portions of the plate-shaped members carried in the storage space through the carry-in opening, wherein at least one of the upper supporting portions is configured to be able to support the upper edge portion of the plate-shaped member, which has been carried in the storage space and whose lower edge portion is stored in the lower edge portion storage portion, in a state where the plate-shaped member is inclined. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The plate-shaped member storage rack according to claim 1, further comprising restraining members respectively provided at the same positions as the upper supporting portions in the arrangement direction when viewed from the carry-in direction, wherein each of the restraining members is provided at the rack main body so as not to be engaged with the plate-shaped member when the lower edge portion of the plate-shaped member is being stored in the lower edge portion storage portion and so as to restrain the upper edge portion of the plate-shaped member when the lower edge portion of the plate-shaped member is being supported by the lower supporting portion. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The plate-shaped member storage rack according to claim 2, wherein: each of the restraining members includes a pair of restraining pieces spaced apart from each other in the arrangement direction; and the upper edge portion of the plate-shaped member supported by the lower supporting portion is fitted in a restraining groove formed between the pair of restraining pieces to be restrained by the pair of restraining pieces. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The plate-shaped member storage rack according to claim 3, wherein: the pair of restraining pieces respectively include opposed surfaces opposed to each other; and a tapered surface is formed on a lower end portion of at least one of the pair of opposed surfaces such that a size of the restraining groove in the arrangement direction increases toward a tower direction. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The plate-shaped member storage rack according to claim 1, wherein the lower edge portion storage portions are located lower than the lower supporting portions. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The plate-shaped member storage rack according to claim 1, wherein the lower supporting portions respectively include grooves with which the lower edge portions of the plate-shaped members are respectively engaged. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The plate-shaped member storage rack according to claim 1, wherein: the number of lower supporting portions corresponds to the number of plate-shaped members the storage space is able to store; the lower supporting portions, the number of which corresponds to the number of plate-shaped members the storage space is able to store, are divided into one or more groups each including two or more lower supporting portions sequentially arranged in the arrangement direction; and the groups are provided so as to correspond one-to-one to the lower edge portion storage portions. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The plate-shaped member storage rack according to claim 1, further comprising a posture changing mechanism including supporting bodies provided to be able to move up and down, wherein the posture changing mechanism causes the supporting bodies to be located in the lower edge portion storage portions, causes the supporting bodies to support the lower edge portion of the plate-shaped member which is to be carried in the storage space through the carry-in opening, lifts up the plate-shaped member, having been carried in the storage space, from below, and causes the supporting bodies to move such that a state where the lower edge portion of the plate-shaped member is supported by the supporting bodies is changed to a state where the lower edge portion of the plate-shaped member is supported by the lower supporting portion. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The plate-shaped member storage rack according to claim 8, wherein the posture changing mechanism is provided at a lower portion of the rack main body and is configured to be able to cause the plate-shaped member, supported by the upper supporting portion and the lower supporting portion, to move in the arrangement direction. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The plate-shaped member storage rack according to claim 8, wherein the posture changing mechanism includes a first driving portion configured to cause the supporting body to move in an upper-lower direction and a second driving portion configured to cause the supporting body to move in the arrangement direction. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The plate-shaped member storage rack according to claim 1, further comprising a base configured to slidably support a bottom portion of the rack main body. ### Claim 12 A plate-shaped member transfer facility comprising: a plate-shaped member storage rack; and a transfer device configured to carry plate-shaped members in the plate-shaped member storage rack and carry the plate-shaped members out from the plate-shaped member storage rack, wherein: the plate-shaped member storage rack includes a rack main body including a storage space and a carry-in opening, the storage space being configured to store a plurality of plate-shaped members such that the plurality of plate-shaped members stand and are arranged in an arrangement direction so as to be adjacent to one another in a thickness direction of the plate-shaped member, the carry-in opening being an opening through which the plate-shaped members are carried in the storage space in a horizontal carry-in direction intersecting with the arrangement direction, a plurality of upper supporting portions provided in the storage space in the arrangement direction when viewed from the carry-in direction and configured to respectively support upper edge portions of the plurality of plate-shaped members, lower supporting portions provided in the storage space to be respectively located under the plurality of upper supporting portions and configured to respectively support lower edge portions of the plurality of standing plate-shaped members, and lower edge portion storage portions provided in the storage space to be each located at an outer side of an end of the upper supporting portion and an end of the lower supporting portion in the arrangement direction and configured to respectively store the lower edge portions of the plate-shaped members carried in the storage space through the carry-in opening; and at least one of the upper supporting portions is configured to be able to support the upper edge portion of the plate-shaped member, which has been carried in the storage space and whose lower edge portion is stored in the lower edge portion storage portion, in a state where the plate-shaped member is inclined. ### Claim 13 A method of storing plate-shaped members in a plate-shaped member storage rack, the plate-shaped member storage rack including a rack main body including a storage space and a carry-in opening, the storage space being configured to store a plurality of plate-shaped members such that the plurality of plate-shaped members stand and are arranged in an arrangement direction so as to be adjacent to one another in a thickness direction of the plate-shaped member, the carry-in opening being an opening through which the plate-shaped members are carried in the storage space in a horizontal carry-in direction intersecting with the arrangement direction, a plurality of upper supporting portions provided in the storage space in the arrangement direction when viewed from the carry-in direction and configured to respectively support upper edge portions of the plurality of plate-shaped members, lower supporting portions provided in the storage space to be respectively located under the plurality of upper supporting portions and configured to respectively support lower edge portions of the plurality of standing plate-shaped members, and lower edge portion storage portions provided in the storage space to be each located at an outer side of an end of the upper supporting portion and an end of the lower supporting portion in the arrangement direction and configured to respectively store the lower edge portions of the plate-shaped members carried in the storage space through the carry-in opening, the method comprising the steps of: carrying the plate-shaped member in the storage space through the carry-in opening in the carry-in direction such that the upper edge portion of the standing plate-shaped member is supported by the upper supporting portion, and the lower edge portion of the plate-shaped member is stored in the lower edge portion storage portion; lifting up the plate-shaped member, having been stored in the storage space, from the lower edge portion storage portion; causing the lower edge portion of the plate-shaped member to move in the arrangement direction; and lowering the plate-shaped member to cause the lower supporting portion to support the lower edge portion of the plate-shaped member.