Stocker

Abstract

In this stocker, a plurality of outer wall panels are attached to a plurality of support pillars. The stocker comprises: a panel-pressing member that, together with a surface of at least one first support pillar among a plurality of support pillars, holds one outer wall panel, that is capable engaging with an engagement part provided on the surface of the support pillar, and that is capable moving, in an insertion groove formed continuously to the engagement part in the surface of the support pillar, between a non-engagement position apart from the engagement part and an engagement position of being engaged with the engagement part; and a position regulation member that regulates the movement of the panel-pressing member located at the engagement position of the engagement part, and that can be fitted to a fitting part provided on the surface of the first support pillar.

Description

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[0001] This disclosure relates to a stock rack.

[0002] Conventionally, as described in Patent Document 1 for example, an attachment structure for attaching an outer wall to a support column in an automated warehouse (stock rack) is known. In this automated warehouse, shelf members are attached to support columns extending in the vertical direction. The shelf members are attached to attachment grooves formed on the side surfaces of the support columns. A flexible thin plate-shaped outer wall panel is fitted into an area partitioned by a plurality of support columns erected at predetermined intervals and a pair of connecting members extending horizontally above and below the support columns. The outer wall panel is attached using a pressing member and a groove engaging member. By using these members, the outer wall panel can be attached without using special tools.

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-171004

[0004] In the above-described conventional stock rack, an assembly method was adopted in which a plurality of support columns and a plurality of connecting members were carried into the site and connected at the site. In the conventional attachment structure of the outer wall panel, an elastically deformable groove engaging member is fitted between two pressing members that press two adjacent outer wall panels on the left and right. By urging the pressing members in the left-right direction by the elasticity of the groove engaging member, the pressing members are engaged with the support columns, and the outer wall panel is securely attached. In such an attachment structure, it is necessary to fit the groove engaging member while pressing two adjacent outer wall panels and the pressing members on the left and right, which requires labor for attaching the outer wall panel. The same labor is also required for removing the outer wall panel.

[0005] This disclosure describes a stock rack in which attaching and detaching an outer wall panel to and from a support column is easy.

[0006] [1] One aspect of the present disclosure is a stocker to which a plurality of exterior wall panels are attached to a plurality of support columns, comprising: a panel retaining member that clamps one of the exterior wall panels between itself and the surface of at least one first support column among the plurality of support columns, and is engageable with an engaging portion provided on the surface of the support column, and is movable between a non-engaged position away from the engaging portion and an engaged position with the engaging portion within an insertion groove formed continuously with the engaging portion on the surface of the support column; and a position restricting member that restricts the movement of the panel retaining member located at the engaged position of the engaging portion and is fittable to a fitting portion provided on the surface of the first support column.

[0007] According to the stocker in [1], the worker performing the installation places one exterior wall panel on the surface of the first support column and inserts the panel retaining member into the non-engaging position of the insertion groove on the surface of the first support column. The panel retaining member is moved within the insertion groove to the engaging position. Then, the position regulating member is fitted into the fitting portion on the surface of the first support column. Since the exterior wall panel can be installed by fitting the position regulating member, there is no need to hold down the exterior wall panel (or retaining member). When removing the exterior wall panel, it is only necessary to hold down the exterior wall panel and pull off the position regulating member. Therefore, the installation and removal of the exterior wall panel from the support column is easy.

[0008] [2] In the stocker described in [1] above, the engaging portion, insertion groove, and fitting portion may be provided on the outer surface of the first support column. With this configuration, the exterior wall panel can be attached to the outer surface of the support column, and the attachment and removal of the exterior wall panel to the support column is made even easier.

[0009] [3] In the stocker of [1] or [2] above, the plurality of support columns include a second support column different from the first support column, the second support column having a pair of left and right second engagement portions and a second insertion groove formed between the second engagement portions on its surface, a pair of left and right second panel retaining members that sandwich two outer wall panels between the second support column surface and the second engagement portions, and a second position regulating member that restricts the movement of the second panel retaining members may be fitted between the pair of second panel retaining members. With this configuration, the movement of two panel retaining members on the surface of the second support column can be restricted by a single position regulating member.

[0010] [4] In the stocker described in [3] above, the panel retaining member used for the first support column and the second panel retaining member used for the second support column may be shared. This configuration allows for cost reduction and improved assembly efficiency in a stocker using two types of support columns by sharing components.

[0011] [5] In the stocker described in [3] or [4] above, at least one second support column may be positioned between the first support column and another first support column, and an exterior wall assembly may be constructed in which the exterior wall panels are attached between the first support column, the second support column and another first support column, and is therefore pre-assembled and transportable. With this configuration, the exterior wall assembly can be pre-assembled in a factory or the like and then transported to the site, after which the stocker can be installed at the site. Such pre-unitization shortens the time required for installation at the site.

[0012] [6] In any one of the stockers described in [3] to [5] above, the width of the first support column in the left-right direction may be half the width of the second support column in the left-right direction. In this case, the width when two first support columns are connected can be made the same as the width when the second support column is used, and the pitch of the item placement sections (shelves) provided between the support columns can be kept constant. Such a configuration is advantageous from the standpoint of design standardization.

[0013] According to this disclosure, the exterior wall panels can be easily attached to and removed from the support columns.

[0014] Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of a stocker according to one embodiment, viewed from the X direction. Figure 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the article placement section of the stocker in Figure 1. Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the side wall of the stocker in Figure 1, cut horizontally. Figure 4 is a front view of the exterior wall assembly assembled prior to the installation of the stocker in Figure 1. Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view along the line V-V in Figure 4. Figure 6(a) is a cross-sectional view showing the panel mounting structure on the second support column, and Figure 6(b) is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the main part of Figure 6(a). Figure 7(a) is a cross-sectional view showing the panel mounting structure on the first support column, and Figure 7(b) is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the main part of Figure 7(a). Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of the portion where two adjacent first support columns are connected. Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the procedure for attaching the panel retaining member and the position regulating member to the first support column. Figure 10 is a diagram showing an example of a method for transporting the exterior wall assembly.

[0015] Embodiments of this disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the description of the drawings, the same elements will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant descriptions will be omitted.

[0016] First, with reference to Figures 1 and 2, a transport vehicle system 100 and a stocker 1 according to one embodiment will be described. The transport vehicle system 100 comprises a stocker 1 and at least one overhead transport vehicle 27. The stocker 1 is a storage device for storing storage containers (articles) 90 such as FOUPs (Front Opening Unified Pods) that contain items to be stored, such as semiconductor wafers and glass substrates. The stocker 1 is installed, for example, in a clean room. In some drawings, the X-Y-Z orthogonal axes are shown together for convenience. When simply referred to as "X direction," it should not be interpreted as being limited to the direction pointed to by the arrow on each axis, but rather means the direction parallel to each axis. The X and Y directions are horizontal directions that are orthogonal to each other, and the Z direction is the vertical direction.

[0017] As shown in Figure 1, the storage unit 1 comprises a rectangular parallelepiped rack body 2, a stacker crane (transfer device) 7 that can travel along the X direction within the rack body 2, an OHT (Overhead Hoist Transport) port 21 provided between the internal space A and the outside of the rack body 2, and a controller 9 provided inside the rack body 2. The storage containers 90 are loaded into and unloaded from the storage unit 1 through the OHT port 21. The OHT port 21 is the part that transfers the storage containers 90 between the overhead vehicle 27 that travels on a track 25 laid on the ceiling and the storage unit 1, and has a conveyor 21A for transporting the storage containers 90.

[0018] The rack body 2 defines the internal space A of the storage unit 1. The rack body 2 has a pair of side walls 3 facing each other at a predetermined distance in the Y direction, a pair of end walls (not shown) provided at both ends of the pair of side walls 3 in the X direction, and a top wall 6 connecting the upper ends of these side walls 3 and end walls. The X direction corresponds to the longitudinal direction of the storage unit 1. The side walls 3 are rectangular walls that extend long in the X direction. The length of the side walls 3 in the X direction is longer than the length (i.e., height) of the side walls 3 in the Z direction.

[0019] On the inner surfaces of the pair of side walls 3, for example, two racks 4 are arranged opposite each other with a gap in the Y direction. As shown in Figure 2, each rack 4 has a plurality of article placement sections (shelves) 50 on which the storage container 90 is placed. In Figure 2, the side on which the stacker crane 7 is positioned relative to the article placement section 50 is called the front side in the transfer direction, and the opposite side is called the rear side in the transfer direction. The article placement section 50 is composed of a pair of left and right article placement members 50A and 50B. That is, one storage container 90 is supported by a pair of left and right article placement members 50A and 50B. The article placement section 50 has a placement section 51, a lateral upright section (upright section) 53, and a front upright section 61.

[0020] The mounting section 51 is the part on which the storage container 90 is placed. A container positioning section 67 is provided on the upper surface of the mounting section 51. The container positioning section 67 is a member that positions the storage container 90. The container positioning section 67 positions the storage container 90 by fitting into a recess formed on the bottom surface of the storage container 90. The lateral upright section 53 is a member that rises vertically from the mounting section 51 and extends in the transfer direction (Y direction) of the storage container 90, and restricts the movement of the storage container 90 placed on the mounting section 51 in the width direction (X direction) perpendicular to the transfer direction in the horizontal direction. The lateral upright section 53 is provided with a guide section 55 and an overhanging section 57.

[0021] The guide portion 55 is the part that guides the containment vessel 90 diagonally upward from the front to the rear in the Y direction when the containment vessel 90 being transferred by the stacker crane 7 comes into contact with it. The overhang portion 57 extends horizontally from the upper end of the lateral upright portion 53 and is the part that restricts the vertical movement of the lateral protrusion portion, which is part of the containment vessel 90 placed on the mounting portion 51. The front upright portion 61 is a member that rises from the mounting portion 51 in the Z direction and extends in the X direction. The front upright portion 61 restricts the horizontal movement of the containment vessel 90 placed on the mounting portion 51 forward in the Y direction.

[0022] The article mounting section 50, which has a mounting section 51, a lateral upright section 53, a guide section 55, an overhanging section 57, and a front upright section 61, is integrally formed from a plate-like member, for example, by press working.

[0023] As shown in Figure 1, the stacker crane 7 is a mechanism for moving the storage container 90 in and out of the article loading section 50, as well as moving it between the article loading sections 50. The stacker crane 7 is positioned in the area between the opposing racks 4, 4. The stacker crane 7 can move in the X direction along the front of the rack 4 (i.e., the inner surface of the side wall section 3) by traveling on rails (not shown) placed on the floor surface along the longitudinal direction (X direction) of the stocker 1.

[0024] The stacker crane 7 comprises a traveling section 71, a mast 72, a loading platform 73, an arm section 74, and a container support section 75. The traveling section 71 is provided to travel along rails in the X direction by a traveling drive unit 71A (see Figure 5), such as a motor. The mast 72 is provided on the upper part of the traveling section 71 and is a member that extends vertically. The loading platform 73 is provided to move up and down along the mast 72 by a lifting drive unit 73A (see Figure 5), such as a motor. The arm section 74 is provided on the loading platform 73. A container support section 75 is fixed to the upper part of the arm section 74. The arm section 74 can move the container support section 75 freely in the horizontal direction by a drive unit such as a motor. The stacker crane 7 is controlled by a controller 9 to transport storage containers 90 between the OHT port 21 and each rack 4.

[0025] Next, the various configurations of the side wall section 3 of the storage unit 1 will be described. Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the side wall section 3 of the storage unit 1 cut in the horizontal plane. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, in the storage unit 1, multiple outer wall panels 80 are attached to multiple standard support columns (second support columns) 41. Multiple standard support columns 41 are arranged at predetermined intervals in the X direction. Each standard support column 41 extends in the vertical direction (Z direction). The crossbeam 43 extends in the X direction and connects adjacent standard support columns 41, 41 to each other. The article placement sections 50 are arranged along the X and Z directions.

[0026] As shown in Figure 3, focusing on a portion of the side wall 3, multiple (for example, four) standard support columns 41 are lined up. Focusing on another portion of the side wall 3, multiple (for example, three) standard support columns 41 are included, along with two special support columns (first support columns) 42 positioned on both sides of the multiple standard support columns 41 in the X direction (see Figure 3). In other words, as shown in Figure 3, the side wall 3 includes an exterior wall assembly ASSY in which multiple standard support columns 41 are arranged between one special support column 42 and another special support column 42, and rectangular, thin exterior wall panels 80 are attached between adjacent support columns in the X direction. The structure relating to the standard support columns 41, special support columns 42, and the attachment of the exterior wall panels 80 to the surfaces of these support columns will be described below. Note that in the exterior wall assembly ASSY, only one standard support column 41 may be arranged between one special support column 42 and another special support column 42.

[0027] The Stocker 1 can be assembled (i.e., installed) on-site using all standard support columns 41 and exterior wall panels 80. It is also designed so that an exterior wall assembly ASSY, as shown in Figure 4, can be assembled in advance at a factory or the like, and then transported to the site for subsequent installation of the Stocker 1. The method of assembling all standard support columns 41 and exterior wall panels 80 on-site without using an exterior wall assembly ASSY (referred to as the standard method), and the method of using one or more exterior wall assembly ASSYs for each side wall section 3 (referred to as the special method), can be appropriately selected according to the requirements of the Stocker 1 user. Regardless of which method is chosen, the function of the completed Stocker 1 will be the same. In this embodiment, regardless of which method is chosen, the size of each part of the completed Stocker 1 will be the same. The special method is superior in terms of on-site constructability and the amount of work time required for on-site installation.

[0028] Figure 6(a) is a cross-sectional view showing the panel mounting structure of the standard support column 41, and Figure 6(b) is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the main part of Figure 6(a). Figure 7(a) is a cross-sectional view showing the panel mounting structure of the special support column 42, and Figure 7(b) is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the main part of Figure 7(a). As shown in Figure 6(a), the exterior wall panel 80 is attached to the outer surface 41a of the standard support column 41. Also, as shown in Figure 7(a), the exterior wall panel 80 is attached to the outer surface 42a of the special support column 42. As shown in Figures 6(b) and 7(b), both of these types of support columns extend in the Z direction. The cross-sectional shape of the special support column 42 and the standard support column 41 is constant in the Z direction. The two types of support columns are the same size in both the Y direction and the Z direction, but have different sizes only in the X direction.

[0029] As shown in Figures 6(a) and 7(a), the size of the special support column 42 in the X direction, i.e., the width W2, is half the size of the standard support column 41 in the X direction, i.e., the width W1. The standard support column 41 is used as a support column that constitutes the side wall portion 3 when two exterior wall panels 80 are provided on both sides of the standard support column 41 in the X direction in the exterior wall assembly ASSY (when it is a support column located in the middle of the exterior wall assembly ASSY), and when the standard support column 41 constitutes an end support column in the X direction when it is incorporated into the stocker 1 (when it is the support column closest to one of the pair of end face wall portions).

[0030] In this embodiment, the special support column 42 is used as a support column constituting the side wall portion 3 only when it is a support column located at the end in the X direction of the exterior wall assembly ASSY. However, in exceptional cases, if either of the support columns at both ends in the X direction of the exterior wall assembly ASSY constitutes a support column at the end in the X direction when it is incorporated into the stocker 1, the standard support column 41 may be used as such a support column.

[0031] Therefore, the columns that make up both ends of the exterior wall assembly ASSY are either two special columns 42 (see Figure 4), or, in the case of the above exception, one standard column 41 and one special column 42 (in this case, the exterior wall assembly ASSY is not shown). The columns located in the middle of the exterior wall assembly ASSY are always one or more standard columns 41. In the stocker 1 (and of course in the exterior wall assembly ASSY as well), one exterior wall panel 80 is attached in the X direction between adjacent standard columns 41 and between a standard column 41 and a special column 42. When multiple (number: N) standard columns 41 are provided in the middle, the number of exterior wall panels 80 in that exterior wall assembly ASSY is (N+1). Even when one standard support column 41 (N=1) is provided in the middle, the number of exterior wall panels 80 in the exterior wall assembly ASSY is two (N+1). The number of standard support columns 41 located in the middle is appropriately determined according to the desired size of the exterior wall assembly ASSY.

[0032] As shown in Figure 4, a special support column 42 provided at either end of an exterior wall assembly ASSY in the X direction is joined to a special support column 42 provided at the end of an adjacent exterior wall assembly ASSY in the X direction. Therefore, the side surface 42s of the special support column 42 is a flat surface (see Figure 7(a)).

[0033] The size of the standard support column 41 in the Z direction is equal to the size of the special support column 42 in the Z direction. The size of the exterior wall panel 80 in the Z direction corresponds to the size of the standard support column 41 (or special support column 42) in the Z direction. For example, the size of one exterior wall panel 80 in the Z direction is smaller than the size of the standard support column 41 (or special support column 42) in the Z direction. Multiple exterior wall panels 80 are arranged continuously in the Z direction via the crossbeam 43, and their total size is equal to the size of the standard support column 41 (or special support column 42) in the Z direction. However, the configuration is not limited to this, and the size of one exterior wall panel 80 in the Z direction may be equal to the size of the standard support column 41 (or special support column 42) in the Z direction.

[0034] Next, the outer wall structure constituting the side wall portion 3 of the storage unit 1 will be described. The standard support column 41 is, for example, an extruded aluminum product. (As shown in Figure 6(a), a pair of left and right panel retaining members (second panel retaining members) 82 and a position regulating member (second position regulating member) 83 fitted between the panel retaining members 82 are attached to the outer surface 41a of the standard support column 41. The standard support column 41 has a pair of left and right engaging portions (second engaging portions) 41b and an insertion groove (second insertion groove) 41c formed between the engaging portions 41b. The insertion groove 41c includes a flat bottom surface (approximately parallel to the XZ plane). The pair of engaging portions 41b have a symmetrical shape with respect to a virtual YZ plane located midway between them in the X direction (and have the same size). The pair of panel retaining members 82 have a symmetrical shape with respect to the virtual YZ plane (and have the same size).)

[0035] Each panel retaining member 82 is an elongated member extending in the Z direction, and the cross-sectional shape shown in Figures 6(a) and 6(b) is constant in the Z direction. The panel retaining member 82 includes a main body portion 82a, an engaging projection 82b that protrudes from the main body portion 82a in the Y direction (the direction approaching the outer surface 41a) and has a bent tip, and a contact portion 82c that protrudes in the Y direction (the direction approaching the outer surface 41a) at a position different from the engaging projection 82b.

[0036] As shown in Figure 6(b), with the ends 80f of the outer wall panel 80 in contact with the left and right outer surfaces 41a of the standard support column 41, the engaging projections 82b of each panel retaining member 82 are inserted into the insertion grooves 41c, and the panel retaining members 82 are moved in the X direction. The pair of panel retaining members 82 are moved away from each other in the X direction, and a position regulating member 83 is fitted between the pair of main body portions 82a. The position regulating member 83 is also a long member extending in the Z direction, and the cross-sectional shape shown in Figures 6(a) and 6(b) is constant in the Z direction. The position regulating member 83 restricts the movement of the pair of panel retaining members 82. Both the panel retaining members 82 and the position regulating member 83 are made of metal.

[0037] Each of the pair of engaging protrusions 82b engages with the engaging portion 41b, and each of the pair of contact portions 82c clamps the exterior wall panel 80 between itself and the outer surface 41a. The tips of the contact portions 82c abut against the surface 80a, and the end portion 80f of the exterior wall panel 80 is sandwiched between the contact portions 82c and the outer surface 41a. The exterior wall panel 80 is a resin plate member with appropriate flexibility. The exterior wall panel 80 may be semi-transparent, opaque, or transparent.

[0038] The position regulating member 83 includes a plate-shaped portion 83a that is pressed in by the worker's fingers, and a pair of leg portions 83b that protrude from the plate-shaped portion 83a in the Y direction (the direction toward the outer surface 41a). Because the position regulating member 83 is elastic, the pair of panel retaining members 82 are biased outward in the X direction. This ensures that the engaging projection 82b engages securely with the engaging portion 41b. The shape, size, and elasticity of the various protruding portions described above may be appropriately adjusted according to the shape of the outer surface 41a and the depth of the insertion groove 41c. The full-width support structure 81 is formed with the above configuration. In the Z direction, the full-width support structure 81 is connected to another full-width support structure 81 using an appropriate connecting member (metal fitting) or the like.

[0039] In the full-width support structure 81, when removing the exterior wall panel 80, the worker places their fingers on the plate-shaped portion 83a at the upper end of the position-regulating member 83 and pulls the position-regulating member 83 to remove it, thereby releasing the above-mentioned fixing structure. This allows the exterior wall panel 80 and the panel retaining member 82 to be easily removed from the standard support column 41.

[0040] Next, as shown in Figure 7(a), the special support column 42 is, for example, an extruded aluminum product. The outer surface 42a of the special support column 42 is provided with one panel retaining member 84 and a position regulating member 86 fitted to the side of the panel retaining member 84 in the X direction. On its outer surface 42a, the special support column 42 has an engaging portion 42b and an insertion groove 42c formed continuously with the engaging portion 42b. The insertion groove 42c includes a flat bottom surface (approximately parallel to the XZ plane). The width of the insertion groove 42c in the X direction is less than or equal to half the width of the insertion groove 41c in the X direction.

[0041] The panel retaining member 84 is a long member extending in the Z direction, and the cross-sectional shape shown in Figures 7(a) and 7(b) is constant in the Z direction. The panel retaining member 84 includes a main body portion 84a, an engaging projection 84b that protrudes from the main body portion 84a in the Y direction (the direction approaching the outer surface 42a) and has a bent tip, and a contact portion 84c that protrudes in the Y direction (the direction approaching the outer surface 42a) at a position different from the engaging projection 84b.

[0042] As shown in Figure 7(b), with the end portion 80f of the exterior wall panel 80 in contact with the outer surface 42a of the special support column 42, the engaging projection 84b of the panel retaining member 84 is inserted into the insertion groove 42c, and the panel retaining member 84 is moved in the X direction. As the panel retaining member 84 is moved in the X direction, the position regulating member 86 is fitted directly lateral to the main body portion 84a in the X direction. The position regulating member 86 is also a long member extending in the Z direction, and the cross-sectional shape shown in Figures 7(a) and 7(b) is constant in the Z direction. Both the panel retaining member 84 and the position regulating member 86 are made of metal.

[0043] Here, the panel retaining member 84 used for the special support column 42 and the panel retaining member 82 used for the standard support column 41 are shared. In other words, the panel retaining member 84 and the panel retaining member 82 are the same component. Furthermore, the two panel retaining members 84 used for a single special support column 42, one on the left and one on the right, are also shared. These can be shared by using them upside down.

[0044] A more detailed description will be given of the fitting structure of the position regulating member 86. On the outer surface 42a, in the vicinity of the side opposite to the engaging portion 42b in the X direction of the insertion groove 42c, a fitting recess (fitting portion) 42e is formed. The position regulating member 86 includes a rectangular tubular portion 86a that is pushed in by the operator's finger, and a fitting projection 86b that projects from the rectangular tubular portion 86a in the Y direction (the direction approaching the outer surface 42a). As shown in FIG. 9, first, the engaging projection 84b of the panel pressing member 84 is located at a non-engaging position P2 that is separated from the engaging portion 42b in the X direction. The end portion 80f of the outer wall panel 80 is brought into contact with the outer surface 42a, and the panel pressing member 84 is slid (moved) in the X direction, and the engaging projection 84b moves to an engaging position P1 (see FIG. 7(b)) where it engages with the engaging portion 42b.

[0045] In the state shown in FIG. 7(b), the contact portion 84c sandwiches the outer wall panel 80 between it and the outer surface 42a. The tip of the contact portion 84c contacts the surface 80a, and the end portion 80f of the outer wall panel 80 is sandwiched between the contact portion 84c and the outer surface 42a. The panel pressing member 84 is capable of engaging with the engaging portion 42b provided on the outer surface 42a. Also, the panel pressing member 84 is movable within the insertion groove 42c formed on the outer surface 42a between the non-engaging position P2 and the engaging position P1. The position regulating member 86 is capable of fitting into the fitting recesses 42e provided on the outer surface 42a of the special support column 42. The position regulating member 86 restricts the movement of the panel pressing member 84 located at the engaging position P1 of the engaging portion 42b.

[0046] Since the rectangular tubular portion 86a of the position regulating member 86 is in pressure contact with the main body portion 84a, the panel pressing member 84 is biased in the X direction. As a result, the engaging projection 84b is securely engaged with the engaging portion 42b. The shapes, sizes, elasticity, etc. of the various protruding portions described above may be appropriately adjusted according to the shape of the outer surface 42a and the depth of the insertion groove 42c, etc. With the above configuration, a half-width support column structure 88 is formed. In the Z direction, the half-width support column structure 88 and another half-width support column structure 88 are connected using an appropriate connecting member (metal fitting), etc.

[0047] When removing the outer wall panel 80 in the half-width support structure 88, an operator places a finger on the square tube portion 86a at the upper end of the position regulating member 86 or the like, and pulls the position regulating member 86 to remove it, thereby releasing the above-described fixing structure. As a result, the outer wall panel 80 can be easily removed.

[0048] When the outer wall assembly ASSY (see FIG. 4) having the half-width support structure 88 is joined in the X direction to the outer wall assembly ASSY having another half-width support structure 88, as shown in FIG. 8, for example, a fastening portion 89 is provided by screwing a bolt portion 89a and a nut portion 89b. The fastening portion 89 is provided so as to penetrate two special support columns 42 overlapped so that the side surfaces 42s face and contact each other, and these special support columns 42 are fastened and fixed. With this configuration, the joint support structure 88X is formed.

[0049] Next, a method for transporting the outer wall assembly ASSY will be described. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a plurality of article placement members 50A and 50B are fixed to each side surface (the inner surface side of the outer wall panel 80) of the two special support columns 42 and a plurality of (for example, three) standard support columns 41 between the special support columns 42. These special support columns 42 and standard support columns 41 are temporarily fixed by a transport frame F spanned in the X direction at both ends in the Z direction. Then, as shown in FIG. 10, the outer wall assembly ASSY is attached with two transport auxiliary tools W at both front and rear ends (near the two transport frames F) in a state where, for example, the posture is changed (rotated) by 90°. As a result, the outer wall assembly ASSY can be transported. In this state, the special support columns 42 and the standard support columns 41 are directed in the vertical direction. Each transport auxiliary tool W may have a plurality of wheels in the out-of-plane direction of the outer wall panel 80 (the direction perpendicular to the plane of FIG. 10). Also, some wheels may be additionally attached to the outer wall assembly ASSY.

[0050] According to the stocker 1 of this embodiment, the worker performing the installation work places one exterior wall panel 80 against the outer surface 42a of the special support column 42, and then inserts the panel retaining member 84 into the non-engaging position P2 of the insertion groove 42c of the outer surface 42a of the special support column 42. The panel retaining member 84 is moved within the insertion groove 42c to the engaging position P1. Then, the fitting projection 86b of the position regulating member 86 is fitted into the fitting recess 42e of the outer surface 42a of the special support column 42. Since the exterior wall panel 80 can be installed by fitting the position regulating member 86, there is no need to hold down the exterior wall panels 80 (or panel retaining members 82) on both the left and right sides. When removing the exterior wall panel 80, it is only necessary to hold down the exterior wall panel 80 and pull off the position regulating member 86. Therefore, the installation and removal of the exterior wall panel 80 from the support column is easy.

[0051] The exterior wall assembly shown in Figure 4 is advantageous in terms of size in the X direction. That is, if the exterior wall assembly were to be constructed using only multiple standard support columns 41, the total width in the X direction would be larger than that of the exterior wall assembly shown in Figure 4. Consequently, when connected to yet another exterior wall assembly, the size of the completed storage unit in the X direction would become excessively long. Furthermore, even when multiple exterior wall assemblies (exterior wall units) are connected in the X direction, the shelf pitch in the X direction remains constant.

[0052] The engaging portion 42b, insertion groove 42c, and fitting recess 42e are provided on the outer surface 42a of the special support column 42. This allows the exterior wall panel 80 to be attached to the outer side of the support column, making the attachment and removal of the exterior wall panel 80 to the support column even easier.

[0053] In the stocker 1, two different types of support columns are used: a standard support column 41 and a special support column 42. On the outer surface 41a of the standard support column 41, the movement of two panel retaining members 82 can be restricted by a single position regulating member 83.

[0054] The panel retaining member 84 used for the special support column 42 and the panel retaining member 82 used for the standard support column 41 are shared. This allows for cost reduction and improved assembly efficiency in the stocker 1, which uses two types of support columns, through the sharing of components.

[0055] In the exterior wall assembly, two special support columns 42 and at least one standard support column 41 are positioned between them. The exterior wall assembly is pre-assembled and transported with the exterior wall panel 80 attached between two adjacent support columns. The exterior wall assembly can be pre-assembled at a factory or other facility before being transported to the site, and then the storage unit 1 can be installed on-site. This pre-unitization reduces the time required for on-site installation.

[0056] The width of the special support column 42 in the left-right direction is half the width of the standard support column 41 in the left-right direction. In this case, the width when two special support columns 42 are connected together can be made the same as the width when using the standard support column 41, and the pitch of the item placement sections (shelves) 50 provided between the support columns can be kept constant. Such a configuration is advantageous from the standpoint of design standardization.

[0057] Although embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. For example, the second position regulating member used for the second support column may be fitted to the surface of the second support column. In that case, a stocker having a full-width support column structure 81 consisting only of the second support column, the second retaining member, and the second position regulating member (without the special support column 42) is included in claim 1 of the claims.

[0058] The panel retaining member used for the first support column and the second panel retaining member used for the second support column do not have to be shared, and each may have its own unique shape.

[0059] The width of the first support column in the left-right direction does not have to be half the width of the second support column in the left-right direction. For example, the width of the first support column in the left-right direction may be less than half the width of the second support column, and another spacer member may be interposed between the sides of adjacent first support columns. In that case, the sum of twice the width of the second support column and the width of the spacer member may be equal to the width of the first support column in the left-right direction.

[0060] The engaging portion, the insertion groove, and the fitting portion may be provided on the inner surface (the surface facing the internal space A) of each of the support columns. In this case, the outer wall panel can be easily attached to and removed from the support columns from the inside of the storage container.

[0061] In the above embodiment, a storage container such as a FOUP was given as an example of an article stored in the stocker 1, but it may also be a reticle pod for storing reticles. Alternatively, it may be an article such as a cardboard box or container.

[0062] 1... Stocker, 3... Side wall section, 41... Standard support (second support), 41b... Engaging section (second engaging section), 41c... Insertion groove (second insertion groove), 42... Special support (first support), 42a... Outer surface (surface), 42b... Engaging section, 42c... Insertion groove, 42e... Fitting recess (fitting section), 42s... Side, 80... Outer wall panel, 81... Full-width support structure, 82... Panel retaining member (second panel retaining member), 82b... Engaging projection, 83... Position regulating member (second position regulating member), 84... Panel retaining member, 84b... Engaging projection, 86... Position regulating member, 86a... Square tube section, 86b... Fitting projection, 88... Half-width support structure, 88X... Joint support structure, 100... Transport vehicle system, ASSY... Outer wall assembly, P1... Engaged position, P2... Unengaged position.

Claims

1. A stocker to which multiple exterior wall panels are attached to multiple support columns, comprising: a panel retaining member that clamps one of the exterior wall panels between itself and the surface of at least one of the multiple support columns, and is freely engageable with an engaging portion provided on the surface of the support column, and is movable between a non-engaged position away from the engaging portion and an engaged position with the engaging portion within an insertion groove formed continuously with the engaging portion on the surface of the support column; and a position regulating member that restricts the movement of the panel retaining member located at the engaged position of the engaging portion and is freely engageable with a fitting portion provided on the surface of the first support column.

2. The stocker according to claim 1, wherein the engaging portion, the insertion groove, and the fitting portion are provided on the outer surface of the first support column.

3. The stocker according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the plurality of support columns include a second support column different from the first support column, the second support column having a pair of left and right second engagement portions and a second insertion groove formed between the second engagement portions on its surface, a pair of left and right second panel retaining members that sandwich two of the outer wall panels between the second engagement portions and the surface of the second support column, and a second position regulating member that restricts the movement of the second panel retaining members is fitted between the pair of second panel retaining members.

4. The stocker according to claim 3, wherein the panel retaining member used for the first support column and the second panel retaining member used for the second support column are shared.

5. The storage unit according to claim 3, wherein at least one second support column is positioned between the first support column and another first support column, and the exterior wall panels are attached between the first support column, the second support column, and another first support column, thereby forming a pre-assembled and transportable exterior wall assembly.

6. The storage device according to claim 3, wherein the width of the first support column in the left-right direction is half the width of the second support column in the left-right direction.

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