JP2006143262A - Apparatus and method for regulating direction of container, and rotary capper equipped with apparatus for regulating direction of container - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To correctly position a container having a handle without mistake and to simplify the structure. <P>SOLUTION: This apparatus for regulating the direction of the container is equipped with container mounts 28 at equal intervals along the circumference of a rotary table 18, so as to mount the container 6 having a handle 6a for rotating. The container mount 28 has a roller 32 attached to the lower end of a supporting shaft 30, and it normally and reversely rotates in contact with an inner peripheral side frictional board 34 and an outer peripheral side frictional board 36. A first stopper member 42 to engage with the normally rotating container 6 to stop its rotation and a second stopper member 44 to engage with the reversely rotating container 6 to stop its rotation, are provided. The stopper members 42 and 44 can come closer to and farther away from the container 6 by cams 50 and 52. After the container 6 is normally rotated and stopped by the first stopper member 42, it is reversely rotated and stopped by the second stopper member 42. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a container direction restricting device, a container direction restricting method, and a rotary type capper provided with a container direction restricting device, and in particular, has a handle and inserts a hand between the handle and the main body. The present invention relates to a direction restricting device and a direction restricting method for aligning a container in which an opening capable of being formed is formed in a certain direction, and a rotary type capper including such a container direction restricting device.

  For example, a large-capacity resin bottle filled with a liquid such as edible oil is provided with a handle at a position away from the main body, and the hand is inserted into the opening between the main body and the handle. What has been used is widely used. In a container having such a handle, the container is lifted and tilted by grabbing the handle, and the liquid inside is poured from the opposite side of the mouth of the container to the handle. Therefore, when capping, it is necessary to match the position of the handle of the container with the position of the spout of the cap. Therefore, before capping, the position of the handle of the container is adjusted in a certain direction, and then a cap that has been supplied with its orientation aligned in a certain direction is attached.

  Various types of container direction regulating devices that align the containers with handles as described above in a certain direction have already been proposed (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 to 3).

  A container direction regulating device (referred to as a container attitude control device in this invention) according to the invention described in Patent Document 1 is rotationally driven (revolved) around a main shaft disposed in an axial center portion. There are provided a table, a plurality of container mounting rotary tables provided on the outer periphery of the rotary table, and a container receiver for receiving the containers mounted on each rotary table. A rotary shaft is fixed to the axial center of each rotary table, and the rotary table is rotationally driven (rotated) around the rotary shaft. In addition, a container presser that holds the head of the container placed on the rotary table is disposed above each rotary table.

  A stopper that is in contact with the handle of the container is provided in the vicinity of the rotary table. A tension spring is provided that urges the lever-type stopper main body of the stopper in a direction in which the lever-type stopper main body is brought into contact with a portion where the handle of the container with the handle is provided. In the container attitude control device according to the present invention, when the rotary table is rotated, the stopper main body is locked to the locking portion formed by one side portion of the handle portion, whereby the container with a handle on the rotary table is provided. The rotation of the container is stopped, and the direction of the handle of each container is aligned in a specific direction.

  The container positioning device according to the invention described in Patent Document 2 includes a large number of rotary tables at equal intervals on the outer peripheral portion of the transfer table, and the containers carried on each rotary table are provided on the rotary table. When the container is rotated by rotation and the handle of the container engages with a stopper member constituting the positioning device, the rotation is stopped, whereby the container is positioned in a predetermined direction.

  The invention described in Patent Document 3 is a capper provided with a container positioning device having the same configuration as that of Patent Document 2, and is cap-capped with a positioning portion at a predetermined position facing a predetermined direction. Therefore, a cap alignment mechanism that aligns the caps in a predetermined direction, and a capping head that plugs the cap supplied from the cap alignment mechanism into the container are provided.

Further, with the capping head plugged into the container, the capping head is rotated in a predetermined direction by a rotation drive mechanism, and a stopper means is provided on the positioning portion of the container that rotates together with the cap as the capping head rotates. Is engaged to stop the container at a predetermined position.
JP 2002-362734 A (page 5-8, FIG. 2) Japanese Patent Publication No. 5-30691 (page 2-3, FIG. 3) Japanese Patent Publication No. 7-55717 (page 2-3, FIG. 2)

  In the configuration of the invention described in Patent Document 1, a stopper may engage with an edge of an opening in which a handle is formed or a corner of a polygonal container to stop rotation of the container. Therefore, by providing a top locator (container presser that holds the container head) and rotating the container while pressing it against the mounting table, even if the stopper is engaged with a place other than the handle, the rotation is forced to continue. I try to let them. Thus, a top locator must be provided, and the structure is complicated and expensive. Moreover, it is impossible to apply to the capper in the configuration including the top locator.

  Further, in the configuration of the invention described in Patent Document 2, since the contact area of the stopper member is large, the rotation of the container may be stopped just by contacting the container. It is necessary to provide a top locator and force the rotation to continue.

  Furthermore, in the configuration of the invention described in Patent Document 3, after capping, the cap is further rotated by the capping head to regulate the direction, so that the resin cap and the container may be rubbed to generate dust. There was a problem that there was.

  The present invention includes a rotatable container mounting table, rotating means for rotating the container mounted on the container mounting table, and a stopper member that engages with a positioning portion provided on the container to stop the rotation of the container. In the container direction regulating device, the rotation means enables the container to rotate forward and backward, and as the stopper member, a first stopper member that engages with a positioning part of a normally rotating container, and a container positioning part that rotates in the reverse direction A second stopper member that engages with the container, and a moving means that moves the two stopper members closer to and away from the container. The first stopper member interferes with the normally rotating container to stop the rotation of the container. After that, the container is reversed, and the second stopper member is engaged with the positioning portion of the container to stop the rotation of the container.

  In the container direction regulating method according to the present invention, a handle is provided, a container having an opening formed between the handle and the main body is rotated, and the stopper member is engaged with the handle to stop the rotation. In the container direction regulating method for aligning the direction of the container in a predetermined direction, the handle is rotated at the height position where the container can be engaged with the handle after stopping the rotation of the container by causing the first stopper member to interfere while rotating the container in the forward direction. The container is reversed with the second stopper member in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the container excluding the opening, and the rotation of the container is stopped by engaging the second stopper member with the handle. Is.

  A rotary type capper provided with a container direction regulating device according to the present invention performs capping on a rotating body that rotates and conveys a container, a supporting means that supports a container conveyed by the rotating body, and a supported container. In a rotary type capper provided with a capping head, a container mounting table rotatably provided on the rotating body, a rotating means for rotating the container mounted on the container mounting table in the forward and reverse directions, and each container mounting table A pair of rotating shafts arranged on the rotation center side of the rotating body, and a first stopper provided on one of the rotating shafts and rotated in the opposite direction to the rotation when the container is rotated forward. A member, a second stopper member that is provided on the other rotation shaft and is rotated in the opposite direction to the rotation when the container is rotated in reverse, and a cap supply unit that supplies the cap in the same direction. container While transporting the container placed on the mounting table, the container is rotated forward, the first stopper member is interfered with the container to stop the rotation of the container, and then the container is reversed, and the second stopper member is moved to the container. The rotation of the container is stopped by engaging with the positioning portion provided, and the supplied cap is maintained and the supplied cap is capped on the container.

  In the present invention, there is no need to add another configuration such as a top locator for forcibly rotating the container, the structure is simple and low-cost, and accurate container direction regulation without errors is possible. is there.

  The mounting table on which the container is placed can be rotated in both forward and reverse directions, and once stopped by the first stopper member at the time of forward rotation of the container, the container is reversed, and the second stopper is engaged with the positioning portion of the container. The object of restricting the position of the container so as to face the same direction reliably is achieved by the configuration of stopping the rotation of the container.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described with reference to embodiments shown in the drawings. FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a rotary type capper provided with a container direction regulating device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a view showing the rotary type capper, a supply wheel for supplying a container to the rotary type capper, and a rotary type capper. FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a main part of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a simplified configuration of a discharge wheel for discharging a container from the container. In this embodiment, the container 6 supplied to the rotary capper 4 from the supply star wheel 2 is aligned in a certain direction by the container direction regulating device provided in the rotary capper 4, and is aligned in a certain direction. After the cap 8 to be supplied is capped in the container 6, the cap 8 is discharged through the discharge star wheel 10 and sent to the next step by a transport conveyor (not shown).

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 and FIG. 4 to be described later, the container 6 whose direction is regulated by the container direction regulating device provided in the rotary type capper 4 has a handle 6a formed on the upper part. . The upper portion of the container 6 has a main body portion 6c including a mouth portion 6b and a handle 6a formed at a position away from the main body portion 6c, and a hand is inserted between the main body portion 6c and the handle 6a. An opening 6d is provided. In the container 6 used in this embodiment, the outer surface of the handle 6a and the outer surface part 6e of the main body 6c are located at an equal distance from the center of the substantially circular container 6. The main body portion 6c has an outer surface portion 6e extending substantially half of the outer peripheral surface of the container 6 at a height position where the handle 6a is formed, and a second stopper member, which will be described later, comes into contact with the outer surface portion 6e. Engagement edge portions 6f that can be engaged with a first stopper member, which will be described later, are formed at both side ends of the surface that forms the opening 6d of the main body portion 6c, which is a boundary with the outer surface portion 6e. Yes. The container 6 is designed to pour out the liquid contained therein from the mouth 6b by tilting it with the handle 6a. Accordingly, the cap 8 (see FIGS. 1 and 3) must be mounted so that the spout is located on the opposite side of the handle 6a. Therefore, after the container 6 is aligned in a certain direction by the container direction regulating device according to the present invention, the cap 8 that is aligned and supplied in the certain direction is plugged.

  In the rotary capper 4, a cylindrical rotating shaft 16 is rotatably supported on the outer periphery of a cylindrical fixed shaft 14 that is arranged upright on a base 12. A rotary table 18 is fixed to the lower side of the rotary shaft 16 and rotates integrally with the rotary shaft 16. The rotary table 18 and upper rotary disks 22 and 24 that support a capping head 20 to be described later are all attached to a cylindrical rotary shaft 16 so as to rotate integrally. A rotary body 26 is constituted by the cylindrical rotary shaft 16, the rotary table 18, the upper rotary disks 22, 24, and the like.

  A container mounting table 28 on which the containers 6 are placed at equal intervals in the circumferential direction is provided on the outer periphery of the rotary table 18. Each of these container mounting tables 28 is mounted on a support shaft 30 that passes through the rotary table 18, and can rotate (rotate) with respect to the rotary table 18.

  A roller 32 is attached to a lower end portion of each support shaft 30 extending below the rotary table 18. The roller 32 includes friction plates 34 and 36 (rotating means for rotating the container mounting table 20) that are fixed to the inner peripheral side and the outer peripheral side of the rotational movement path of the roller 32 (rotational movement path accompanying the rotation of the rotary table 18). The container mounting table 28 attached on the support shaft 30 is rotated by rotating (revolving) by rotating (revolving) while being in contact with (). In this embodiment, the container mounting table 28 is rotated in the forward and reverse directions, and is used for the clockwise rotation R1 in FIG. 2 and FIG. 4 (hereinafter, the rotation in this direction is referred to as forward rotation). A circumferential friction plate 34 and an outer circumferential friction plate 36 for rotating counterclockwise rotation R2 (rotation in this direction is referred to as reverse rotation) are arranged. The inner peripheral friction plate 34 for normal rotation is disposed over a range of a predetermined angle from the container supply position A from the supply star wheel 2 to the rotary capper 4. Further, the outer circumferential friction plate 36 for reverse rotation starts slightly downstream from the downstream end of the inner circumferential friction plate 34 for forward rotation and is disposed over substantially the same angle as the forward friction plate 34.

  A pair of upright rotating shafts (first rotating shaft 38 and second rotating shaft 40) are arranged on the radially inner side of each container mounting table 28. Both the rotating shafts 38 and 40 are rotatably supported through the rotary table 18. A stopper member (a first stopper member for forward rotation) that engages with the handle 6a of the container 6 or the engaging edge 6f of the main body 6c and stops the rotation of the container 6 at the upper end of each pivot shaft 38, 40. 42 and a second stopper member 44 for reverse rotation are attached. Both the stopper members 42 and 44 are positioned at a height that can be engaged with the handle 6 a of the container 6. Further, a first lever 38a and a second lever 40a are attached to the lower ends of the rotating shafts 38 and 40, respectively, and one end is a rotary table at an end portion located on the radially outer side of each of the levers 38a and 40a. The other ends of the first spring 38b and the second spring 40b connected to the 18th side are connected, and the pair of stopper members 42 and 44 are always attracted in a direction approaching each other. The stopper members 42 and 44 attracted by the first and second springs 38b and 40b are restricted by a restricting member (not shown) to move inward (in the direction in which they approach each other). It does not move inward.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 6, the stopper members 42, 44 are provided with main body portions 42a, 44a attached to the rotating shafts 38, 40, and fulcrum shafts 42c, 44c at the tips of the main body portions 42a, 44a. It is comprised from the front-end | tip parts 42b and 44b connected via. In addition, the 1st stopper member 42 and the 2nd stopper member 44 have the same structure, and FIG. 6 demonstrates both the stopper members 42 and 44 by one stopper member. The tip portions 42b and 44b are formed in a rectangular parallelepiped, and are biased inwardly (in the direction facing the other stopper member 42 or 44) by the coil springs 42d and 44d, and stoppers 42e and 44e fixed to the rear ends. It is regulated not to touch inward more than a certain amount. Accordingly, when the tip portions 42b and 44b are pushed from the inner surfaces (surfaces that come into contact with the container 6) 42f and 44f, they can be rotated outward.

  The stopper members 42 and 44 are urged inward by first and second springs 38b and 40b, and the stopper members 42 and 44 are strongly pressed against the container 6 by the urging force of the springs 38b and 40b. The rotation of the container 6 may be stopped at the corner of the polygonal container that is not the positioning portion, or the rotation of the container 6 may be stopped only by the pressing force. The rotation cannot be stopped. Therefore, in this embodiment, both stopper members 42 and 44 are strongly biased toward the container 6 by the springs 38b and 40b, and the tip portions 42b and 44b are biased by the coil springs 42d and 44d with a weak force. I have to. Therefore, in a state where the stopper members 42 and 44 are brought close to the container 6, the tip portions 42 b and 44 b are rotated outward with respect to the main body portions 42 a and 44 a when contacting the container 6. Further, when the tip portions 42b and 44b are located in the opening 6d of the container 6, the tip portions 42b and 44b swing inward and are regulated by the stoppers 42e and 44e. Furthermore, when the handle 6a of the container 6 or the engaging edge 6f of the main body 6c is engaged with the front surfaces 42g, 44g of the tip portions 42b, 44b, and the rotation of the container 6 is stopped, the tip portions 42b, 44b The front end portions 42b and 44b are engaged with the portions near the inner surfaces 42f and 44f of the front surfaces 42g and 44g so that the tip end portions 42b and 44b do not swing outward. By adopting such a configuration, even when the stopper members 42 and 44 are in contact with each other, the stopper 6 and 44 can be engaged with the handle 6a and the main body 6c without obstructing the smooth rotation of the container 6. When engaged with the edge 6f, the rotation of the container 6 can be reliably stopped.

  A first cam follower 38c and a second cam follower 40c are respectively provided on the lower surface side of the other end of the levers 38a, 40a attached to the lower ends of the rotary shafts 38, 40 (the end opposite to the end where the springs 38b, 40b are connected). Is attached. A stopper member rotating cam (first stopper member rotating cam 50 and second stopper member) is fixed to an outer surface of a fixed cylinder 48 fixed to the base 46 and rotatably supporting the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical rotating shaft 16. The rotating cam 52) is fixed, and the cam followers 38c, 40c move along the rotating cams 50, 52, thereby swinging the stopper members 42, 44 and approaching the container 6. Can be separated. The pair of rotating shafts 38 and 40 provided corresponding to the container mounting tables 28 have different lengths, and the cam followers 38c and 40c attached to the lower ends of the rotating shafts 38 and 40, respectively. Are in contact with the rotating cams 50 and 52 arranged at different heights.

  Depending on the shape of the rotating cams 50, 52, the stopper members 42, 44 can rotate in the direction of the container 6 and abut or engage with the container 6. When the container 6 rotates (forward rotation) in a state in which the first stopper member 42 is rotated in the direction of the container 6, the handle 6 a of the container 6 or the engaging edge 6 f of the main body 6 c becomes the first stopper member 42. Engagement stops the rotation of the container 6. The inner peripheral friction plate 34 that rotates the container 6 in the forward direction is an engagement edge portion of the handle 6a or the main body 6c while the container 6 that has been supplied to the rotary capper is rotated in a random direction. 6f is long enough to engage with the first stopper member 42 and stop without fail. Although this length varies depending on the shape of the container 6, if the container 6 is rotated once as much as possible, the container 6 is always engaged with the first stopper member 42 and stopped.

  Further, when the second stopper member 44 is rotated in the direction of the container 6, the inner surface 44 f of the tip end portion 44 b is always in contact with the outer surface portion 6 e of the main body portion 6 c, not the handle 6 a or the opening portion 6 d. ing. First, the second stopper member 44 is engaged with the handle 6a by reversing the container 6 by contacting the outer surface part 6e of the main body 6c, and all the containers 6 are stopped in a certain direction. be able to. In the container 6 of this embodiment, when the rotation is stopped by engaging the first stopper member 42, the container 6 is engaged with the handle 6a of the container 6 or the engaging edge 6f of the main body 6c. When the first stopper member 42 is engaged with the handle 6a, the second stopper member 44 faces the outer surface 6e of the main body 6c opposite to the handle 6a, so that the container 6 approaches the container 6 as it is. If it does, it will contact | abut to the outer surface part 6e of the container 6. However, when the first stopper member 42 is engaged with the engaging edge portion 6f of the main body portion 6c, the second stopper member 44 approaches the container 6 as it is and enters the opening 6d, and then the engaging edge portion. 6f will be engaged. Therefore, after the first stopper member 42 stops the container 6, the second stopper member 44 is rotated backward by a predetermined amount so that the second stopper member 44 approaches the outer surface portion 6 e of the main body portion 6 c and then approaches the second stopper member 44. The position of the outer peripheral friction plate 36 for 44 and the shape of the rotating cam 52 are set.

  Each set of rotating shafts 38 and 40 provided corresponding to each container mounting table 28 has a barrel 6g (the handle 6a, outer surface 6e and opening) of the container 6 riding on the container mounting table 28. 6d is attached to the inner guide 54 (see the right side of FIG. 2), and the container mounting table that rotates (revolves) as the rotary table 18 rotates. The container 6 on the container mounting table 28 is supported by rotating and moving integrally with the container 28. In addition, an outer peripheral guide 56 that guides the outer peripheral surface of the trunk portion 6g of the moving container 6 is fixed to the outer peripheral side of the path along which the container 6 mounted on the container mounting table 28 rotates. The inner guide 54 and the outer peripheral guide 56 are disposed at substantially the same height, and support the inner peripheral side and the outer peripheral side of the body 6g of the container 6 which is placed on the container mounting table 28 and rotated and conveyed. Misalignment is prevented.

  A neck guide 58 for supporting the neck portion 6h of the container 6 is provided above the stopper members 42 and 44 on the inner side of the container 6 mounted on each container mounting table 28. The neck guide 58 is attached to the outer periphery of the cylindrical rotating shaft 16 and rotates integrally with the rotary table 18 on which the container mounting table 28 is supported, so that the neck 6h of the container 6 on the container mounting table 28 is moved. To support. A neck outer periphery guide 60 for guiding the outer periphery of the neck portion 6 h of the container 6 that rotates and moves on the container mounting table 28 is provided on the outer peripheral side of the same height as the neck guide 58.

  A capping head 20 is provided above each container 6 that is rotated and conveyed on each container mounting table 28. These capping heads 20 are supported so as to be movable up and down by two rotating disks 22 and 24 provided on the upper part of a rotating body 26 that rotates integrally with the rotation of the cylindrical rotating shaft 16. Each capping head 20 vertically penetrates the two rotating disks 22 and 24, and a cam follower 62 is attached to the outer surface of the intermediate portion. A cylindrical cam 66 is attached to the outer periphery of the upper end of the cylindrical fixed shaft 14 via a horizontal plate 64. A cam groove 66 a is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical cam 66, and a cam follower 62 attached to the capping head 20 is engaged in the cam groove 66 a, and the capping head 20 is rotated as the rotating body 26 rotates. While rotating, the capping head 20 moves up and down according to the curve of the cam groove 66a. Each capping head 20 is provided with a chuck 68 at the lower end. The chuck 68 holds the cap 8 and descends, and is driven into the mouth portion 6 b of the container 6.

  Cap supply means for supplying the cap 8 between the mouth 6b at the upper end of the container 6 mounted on the container mounting table 28 and the chuck 68 provided at the lower end of the capping head 20 disposed above the container 6 70 is arranged. In this embodiment, after the container 6 is aligned in a certain direction by the container direction regulating device, the cap 8 that is supplied by being aligned in a certain direction by the cap supply means 70 is mounted. Are sent out from the chute 72 while being aligned in a certain direction. The cap 8 delivered from the chute 72 is placed on the cap disk 74, is rotated and conveyed to the lower side of the capping head 20, and is taken up by the chuck 68 of the capping head 20 that has descended.

  An upright center shaft 76 is disposed at the axial center of the cylindrical fixed shaft 14. The center shaft 76 is rotatably supported by the base 12, and a worm wheel 78 is fixed to the lower end portion of the center shaft 76 and meshes with a worm (not shown). A vertical hole 76a is provided at the upper end of the center shaft 76, and an internal thread is formed on the inner surface thereof. A screw shaft 80 is screwed into the female screw of the center shaft 76. The worm wheel 78 is rotated by a worm (not shown), and the center shaft 76 is rotated, whereby the screw shaft 80 is moved up and down to adjust the height of the capping head 20 supported on the upper portion of the rotating body 26. ing. By adjusting the height of the capping head 20 in this manner, it is possible to deal with containers 6 of different sizes.

  The operation of the rotary-type capper 4 according to the above configuration will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3 and FIG. 4 sequentially showing the operation. The container 6 that has been transported by a transport conveyor (not shown) is supplied into the rotary capper 4 via the supply star wheel 2. The container 6 supplied into the rotary capper 4 is placed on the container mounting table 28, and the inner peripheral side of the trunk portion 6g is supported by the inner guide 54 and the inner peripheral side of the neck portion 6h is supported by the neck guide 58, respectively. The outer peripheral side of the trunk portion 6g is supported by the outer peripheral guide 56, and the outer peripheral side of the neck portion 6h is supported by the neck outer peripheral guide 60, respectively.

  When the container 6 is placed on the container mounting table 28 and supported by the guides 54, 56, 58, 60 and passes through the container supply position A, the container 6 is provided at the lower end of the support shaft 30 to which the container mounting table 28 is attached. The roller 32 is rotated in contact with the inner peripheral friction plate 34 for normal rotation, and the container 6 is rotated by rotating the container mounting table 28. When the container mounting table 28 is rotated by the friction plate 34 disposed on the inner peripheral side, the container mounting table 28 is rotated (normally rotated) in the direction indicated by the arrow R1 in FIG. 2 and FIG. While the container 6 is rotating forward, the position of the second follower member 44 is restricted by the cam follower 40c provided at the lower end of the turning shaft 40 by the second stopper member turning cam 52. It is rotated in a direction away from the container 6. On the other hand, the first stopper member 42 is attracted in the direction approaching the container 6 by the first spring 38b (the state shown in FIG. 4A).

  While the container 6 is rotating forward, the second stopper member 44 is separated from the container 6 and the first stopper member 42 contacts the container 6. The container 6 is supplied in a random state from the supply star wheel 2, and its direction is not constant. For example, when the first stopper member 42 is in contact with the handle 6a of the container 6 as shown in FIG. 4A, the first stopper member 42 is detached from the handle 6a as the container 6 rotates, and the container 6 (see FIG. 4B), it engages with the engaging edge 6f of the surface of the main body 6c of the container 6 on the handle 6a side (see FIG. 4C). In this state, the container mounting table 28 continues to rotate within the range where the forward rotation inner peripheral friction plate 34 is provided, but the container 6 is stopped from rotating by the first stopper member 42.

  When the roller 32 provided at the lower end of the container mounting table 28 passes the position of the inner peripheral friction plate 34 for normal rotation, the rotation of the container mounting table 28 also stops (see FIG. 4D). Thereafter, when the roller 32 at the lower end of the container mounting table 28 reaches the region where the outer peripheral friction plate 36 for reverse rotation is provided as the rotary table 18 rotates (revolves), the container mounting table 28 rotates in reverse (see FIG. 4 (e) in the direction indicated by the arrow R2). When the container mounting base 28 starts to reversely rotate, the first stopper member 42 for normal rotation is rotated away from the container 6 by the first stopper member rotating cam 50 and separated from the container 6. On the other hand, the second stopper member 44 for reverse rotation is then attracted by the spring 40b and approaches the container 6 because the second stopper member rotating cam 52 is retracted radially inward. Since the second stopper member 44 approaches the container 6 after the container 6 rotates by a predetermined angle, the second stopper member 44 does not contact the engaging edge 6f on the handle 6a side of the main body 6c, and the outer surface 6e of the main body 6c. (Refer to FIG. 4F). Therefore, the rotation of the container 6 is not stopped at this point.

  In a state where the first stopper member 42 is separated from the container 6 and the second stopper member 44 is in contact with the outer surface portion 6e of the main body portion 6c of the container 6, the container mounting table 28 and the container 6 continue to rotate as a unit (FIG. 4). (See (g)). When the second stopper member 44 passes through the outer surface 6e of the main body 6c of the container 6 and reaches the inside of the opening 6d between the main body 6c and the handle 6a as the container 6 rotates, the second stopper member 44 is further pulled inward by the spring 40b (see FIG. 4H). When the container 6 continues to rotate and the handle 6a reaches the position of the second stopper member 44, the handle 6a engages with the second stopper member 44 and the rotation of the container 6 stops (see FIG. 4 (i)). In this way, the position of the handle 6a of the container 6 can always be directed in a certain direction, and the rotation of the container 6 can be stopped, and all the containers 6 can be aligned in the same direction.

  While the container 6 is aligned in a certain direction by the container direction regulating device as described above, the cap 8 aligned in the certain direction is supplied from the cap supply device 70. The caps 8 arranged in a certain direction and fed from the chute 72 are placed on the rotating cap disk 74 and, when reaching the lower side of the capping head 20, are held by the chuck 68 of the lowering capping head 20. Thereafter, the capping head 20 is greatly lowered toward the mouth portion 6 b of the container 6, and the cap 8 is plugged into the mouth portion 6 b of the container 6. The container 6 that has been capped is then discharged onto a transport conveyor (not shown) via the discharge star wheel 10 and sent to the next step.

  FIG. 5 shows that the container 6 is brought into contact with the outer surface portion 6e of the main body portion 6c of the container 6 when the first stopper member 42 is rotated toward the container 6 side after the container 6 is supplied to the rotary capper 4. It is a figure which shows the process in which the container 6 is aligned in a fixed direction in the case. In the case of this example, the container 6 starts normal rotation (rotation in the direction of arrow R1), and the first stopper member 42 abuts on the outer surface portion 6e of the main body portion 6c of the container 6 by the force of the spring 38b ( (See FIG. 5 (a)).

  When the container 6 placed on the container mounting table 28 rotates and the first stopper member 42 passes through the outer surface portion 6e of the main body portion 6c of the container 6, the first stopper member 42 moves between the main body portion 6c and the handle 6a. It enters into the opening 6d (see FIG. 5B). Subsequently, the handle 6a is engaged with the first stopper member 42, and the rotation of the container 6 is stopped (see FIG. 5C). Thereafter, when the roller 32 provided at the lower end of the container mounting table 28 passes through the inner circumferential friction plate 34 for normal rotation, the rotation of the container mounting table 28 is stopped (see FIG. 5D).

  When the roller 32 at the lower end of the container mounting table 28 is engaged with the outer friction plate 36 after passing through a section where neither the inner peripheral friction plate 34 for forward rotation nor the outer peripheral friction plate 36 for reverse rotation is present, the container mounting table 28 Starts reverse rotation (rotation in the direction of arrow R2 in FIG. 5E). At this time, the first stopper member 42 engaged with the handle 6a of the container 6 is rotated in the direction away from the container 6 by the first stopper member rotating cam 50 (see FIG. 5E). Subsequently, the second stopper member 44 is rotated in the direction approaching the container 6 by the cam curve of the second stopper member rotating cam 52 (see FIG. 5F). The second stopper member 44 abuts on the outer surface portion 6 e of the main body portion 6 c of the container 6.

  Further, when the container 6 placed on the container mounting table 28 is rotated, the second stopper member 44 is detached from the outer surface part 6e of the main body part 6c of the container 6, and enters the opening 6d between the main body part 6c and the handle 6a. Enter (see FIG. 5G). Thereafter, the second stopper member 44 engages with the handle 6a to stop the rotation of the container 6 (see FIG. 5 (h)). Thus, when the container 6 supplied into the rotary type capper 4 starts to rotate, the position where the first stopper member 42 contacts the container 6 is not constant, but the container 6 is rotated forward so that the first stopper After being stopped once by the member 42 and then reversely rotated by a certain interval, the container 6 is always kept in the same direction (in this embodiment, the container 6 in contact with the outer surface portion 6e of the container 6). The handle 6a can be stopped with the handle 6a facing the left side of FIGS.

  In the above-described embodiment, the rotating means (inner peripheral friction plate 34) for rotating the container 6 in the rotary capper 4, the first stopper member 42 for normal rotation, and the rotating means for rotating the container 6 in the reverse direction (outer peripheral side). Although the friction plate 36) and the second stopper member 44 for reverse rotation are provided, it is not always necessary to provide the same rotating body 26. For example, a rotary wheel (in this embodiment, disposed on the upstream side of the rotary capper 4). The supply star wheel 2) may be provided with a rotating means and a stopper member for normal rotation, and only the rotating means and the stopper member for reverse rotation may be provided in the rotary type capper 4. Further, it is possible to provide two rotary wheels on the upstream side of the rotary type capper 4, one side with a rotating means and a stopper member for normal rotation, and the other with a rotating means and a stopper member for reverse rotation. Further, the shape of the container 6 whose direction is regulated by the container direction regulating device is not limited to that shown in each of the above drawings, and the first stopper member 42 and the second stopper member 44 can be engaged with each other. What is necessary is just to have a positioning part. Moreover, in the said Example, although the container mounting base 28 is rotated by the inner peripheral side friction board 34 and the outer peripheral side friction board 36, it is set as the structure which rotates the container 6 itself on the container mounting base 28 directly with a belt. You can also.

It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the rotary type capper provided with the direction control apparatus of the container. (Example 1) It is a top view which shows the cross section which is different in right and left of the rotary type capper provided with the direction control apparatus of the container. It is an enlarged view of the principal part of FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the process in which the direction of a container is controlled in order. It is a figure which shows sequentially the process in which the direction of a container is controlled from a state different from FIG. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the structure of a stopper member.

Explanation of symbols

6 Container 6a Container positioning part (handle)
6c Container body 6d Container opening 8 Cap 26 Rotating body 28 Container mounting table 32 Rotating means (roller)
34 Rotating means (inner friction plate)
36 Rotating means (outer friction plate)
38c Moving means (cam follower)
40c Moving means (cam follower)
42 Stopper member (first stopper member)
44 Stopper member (second stopper member)
50 Moving means (cam)
52 Moving means (cam)

Claims (3)

Direction control of the container comprising a rotatable container mounting table, a rotating means for rotating the container mounted on the container mounting table, and a stopper member that engages with a positioning portion provided on the container and stops the rotation of the container In the device
The rotating means enables the container to rotate forward and backward, and as the stopper member, a first stopper member that engages with a positioning part of a container that rotates in the forward direction and a second stopper that engages with a positioning part of the container that rotates in a reverse direction In addition, a moving means is provided for moving both the stopper members close to and away from the container. The first stopper member interferes with the forward rotating container to stop the rotation of the container, and then the container is reversed. An apparatus for regulating the direction of a container, wherein the second stopper member is engaged with the positioning part of the container to stop the rotation of the container. By providing a handle, rotating the container in which the opening is formed between the handle and the main body, and engaging the stopper member with the handle to stop the rotation, the container is aligned in a predetermined direction. In the direction control method,
After stopping the rotation of the container by causing the first stopper member to interfere while rotating the container forward, a second stopper member is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the container excluding the handle and the opening at a height position engageable with the handle. A container direction regulating method, wherein the container is reversely rotated in a state in which the container is in contact, and the second stopper member is engaged with the handle to stop the rotation of the container. In a rotary type capper comprising a rotating body that rotates and conveys a container, a supporting means that supports a container conveyed by the rotating body, and a capping head that performs capping on the supported container.
A container mounting table rotatably provided on the rotating body, a rotating means for rotating the container mounted on the container mounting table forward and backward, and a rotation center side of the rotating body corresponding to each container mounting table. A pair of pivot shafts, a first stopper member that is provided on one pivot shaft and is rotated in the opposite direction to the rotation when the container is rotated forward, and the other pivot shaft. A second stopper member that is rotated in the opposite direction to the rotation when the container is reversed and approaches the container, and a cap supply means that supplies the cap in the same direction.
While conveying the container placed on the container mounting table, the container is rotated forward, the first stopper member is interfered with the container to stop the rotation of the container, and then the container is reversed, and the second stopper member is A rotary-type capper which is engaged with a positioning portion provided on a container to stop the rotation of the container, and maintains the state where the container is stopped, and the supplied cap is capped on the container.

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