Patent ID: 6510950
Filing Date: 2003-01-28
Classification: B65G

Abstract:
An apparatus for storing and transferring planar products, comprising:a plurality carriages for supporting the planar products; two transfer units; first and second base members, said first base member including a first set of rails and said second base member including a second set of rails, each of said rails extending in a first direction parallel to one another, said first set of rails extend from a first end of said first base member to a second end of said first base member and said second set of rails extend from a first end of said second base member to a second end of said second base member; two transverse tracks, one of said transverse tracks disposed at said first ends of said base members and the other one of said transverse tracks disposed at said second ends of said base members, each of said transverse tracks extending in a direction perpendicular to said first direction and including a respective one of said transfer units which transfers said carriages between said first set of rails and said second set of rails; and a first parking station and a second parking station, said first parking station disposed adjacent said one of said transverse tracks such that said one of said transverse tracks is disposed between said first parking station and said first end of said first base member, said second parking station disposed at an end of said one of said transverse tracks; wherein each of said parking stations holds one of said carriages for transferring the planar products to and from said one of said carriages while the other of said carriages are transferred by said transfer units between said first set of rails and said second set of rails.