Patent ID: 7585143
Filing Date: 2009-09-08
Classification: B65G

Abstract:
1. A stocker apparatus comprising: a first tray stock section capable of stocking a plurality of empty trays; a second tray stock section capable of stocking a plurality of loaded trays, the loaded trays being the empty trays loaded with products; tray supporting means provided in said first tray stock section and said second tray stock section respectively for supporting the trays; lifting and lowering means for lifting and lowering said tray supporting means; and carrier means for carrying the loaded tray to said second tray stock section when the products are loaded on the empty tray existing in said first tray stock section, said apparatus further comprising: an outer wall constituting member covering at least side surfaces and upper surfaces of said first trays stock section and said second tray stock section to separate said first tray stock section and said second tray stock section from an external atmosphere; an opening provided at an upper portion of said first tray stock section, said opening allowing the products to be carried in therethrough; an ionizer provided near said opening and disposed between the first tray stock and the second tray stock, said ionizer jetting ionized air to the products carried in through said opening by jetting ionized air from the ionizer in a horizontal direction and in a diagonally downward direction towards said opening, said horizontal direction being opposite to a direction of transport of the products and said jetting being from a side of said opening near said ionizer to the other side of said opening so as to remove contaminants and dust from the transported products and said ionized air passing under a lid member, while forming a flow passage parallel to the lid member, and then mainly proceeds within a space disposed between an inner wall side surface and a plate being the outer wall by suction force of an exhaust fan, so that the air proceeding within the space reaches the exhaust fan and is exhausted to an outside of the stocker apparatus by the exhaust fan, the products then being loaded on the empty tray; and an air cleaning means provided at an upper portion of said second tray stock section, said air cleaning means cleaning outside air and then introducing the air into said second tray stock section, wherein the products that are loaded on the empty tray existing in said first tray stock section are carried within the loaded tray to said second tray stock section, and are stocked in said second tray stock section that has air cleaned by said air cleaning means.