# US 8,465,072 B2 · Panel transferring apparatus and panel supporting mechanism thereof > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,465,072 B2 - Document ID: US8465072B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/375,465 - Filed: 2011-06-03 - Published: 2012-11-29 - Granted: 2013-06-18 - Earliest claimed: 2011-05-24 - Assignees: Shenzhen China Star Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Jo Shan Wu; Kuan-Cheng Lee - Inventors: Jo Shan Wu; Kuan-Cheng Lee - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8465072B2 ## CPC - B65G 49/061: {Lifting, gripping, or carrying means, for one or more sheets forming independent means of transport, e.g. suction cups, transport frames (suction means as load-engaging elements attached to the lifting or lowering gear of cranes B66C1/02; suction cups for attaching purposes F16B47/00; suction cups on gripping heads B25J15/0616; suction cups in general B65G47/91; suction cups combined with cutting means on vertical conveyors C03B33/00 - C03B33/10; devices for turning sheets B65G49/067; suspending devices B65G49/066)} - B65G 49/067: {Sheet handling, means, e.g. manipulators, devices for turning or tilting sheet glass (suction cups B65G49/061; combined with vertical conveyors C03B33/00 - C03B33/10; stacking and destacking B65G49/068)} - 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) ## Abstract The present invention discloses a panel transferring apparatus. The panel transferring apparatus includes a panel supporting mechanism for supporting a panel. The panel supporting mechanism includes a plurality of primary supports spaced apart from each other; and a plurality of secondary supports disposed on the primary supports and extending lateral to the primary supports. The primary supports and the secondary supports cooperate to support the panel. The present invention further discloses a panel supporting mechanism. A contact area between the panel supporting mechanism and the panel is increased by disposing the plurality of secondary supports on the plurality of primary supports. Thereby, flexure of the panel is lessened, the production cost is lowered and the production cycle is shortened. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A panel transferring apparatus, wherein the panel transferring apparatus comprises a panel supporting mechanism for supporting a panel, the panel supporting mechanism comprising: a plurality of primary supports extending in a first direction and spaced apart from each other in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; and a plurality pairs of secondary supports disposed on each of the primary supports and extending in the second direction, wherein each pair of secondary supports symmetrically extend from two opposite sides of the corresponding primary support, and the second supports disposed at a same side of the corresponding primary support are spaced apart from each other, the primary supports and the secondary supports cooperate to support the panel. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The panel transferring apparatus of claim 1, wherein a distance to which the secondary supports extend laterally is smaller than a spacing between every two adjacent primary supports. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The panel transferring apparatus of claim 1, wherein the panel supporting mechanism further comprises a fixing element, each of the primary supports comprises a free end and a fixed end opposite to each other, and the fixed end of the primary support is fixed to the fixing element. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The panel transferring apparatus of claim 3, wherein each of the primary supports is tapered from the fixed end to the free end. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The panel transferring apparatus of claim 3, wherein the panel transferring apparatus further comprises a drive mechanism which is pivotally connected to the fixing element, the drive mechanism comprises a first drive element, a second drive element, a third drive element, a fourth drive element, an L-shaped fifth drive element and a supporting platform, one end of the first drive element is pivotally connected to the fixing element, one end of the second drive element is pivotally connected to the other end of the first drive element, one end of the third drive element is pivotally connected to the other end of the second drive element, one end of the fourth drive element is pivotally connected to the other end of third drive element, one end of the fifth drive element is pivotally connected to the other end of the fourth drive element, and the other end of the fifth drive element is pivotally connected to the supporting platform. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The panel transferring apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of primary supports and the plurality of secondary supports are integrally formed or separately formed. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The panel transferring apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality pairs of the secondary supports extend co-linearly. ### Claim 8 A panel supporting mechanism for supporting a panel, comprising: a plurality of primary supports spaced apart from each other; and a plurality pairs of secondary supports disposed on each of the primary supports and perpendicularly extending to the primary supports, wherein the primary supports and the secondary supports cooperate to support the panel, each pair of secondary supports symmetrically extend from two opposite sides of the corresponding primary support, and the second supports disposed at a same side of the corresponding primary support are spaced apart from each other, the primary supports and the secondary supports cooperate to support the panel. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The panel supporting mechanism of claim 8, wherein a distance to which the secondary supports extend laterally is smaller than a spacing between every two adjacent primary supports. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The panel supporting mechanism of claim 8, wherein the panel supporting mechanism further comprises a fixing element, each of the primary supports comprises a free end and a fixed end opposite to each other, and the fixed end of the primary support is fixed to the fixing element. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The panel supporting mechanism of claim 10, wherein each of the primary supports is tapered from the fixed end to the free end. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The panel supporting mechanism of claim 8, wherein the plurality of primary supports and the plurality of secondary supports are integrally formed or separately formed. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The panel supporting mechanism of claim 8, wherein the plurality pairs of the secondary supports extend co-linearly.