JP2008247494A - Container aligning device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a container aligning device for aligning containers, which are fallen and not directed in a fixed direction in mouthpiece parts thereof and conveyed in a line by a conveyor, for conveyance in other conveyor in the state of standing in a fixed direction. <P>SOLUTION: This container aligning device aligns containers, which are fallen and not directed in a fixed direction in mouthpiece parts thereof and conveyed in a line by a first conveyor, by detecting direction of the mouthpiece part of the conveyed container and directing the mouthpiece part of the container in a fixed direction and aligning the containers in a line in a second conveyor in the state of standing the containers, directing the mouthpiece parts thereof upward. This container aligning device comprises an inlet stopper part, a suction rotary part, the second conveyor, a suction rotary elevating part, a suction rotary moving part, an overturning part and an overturn elevating part. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  In the present invention, in a state where the container is in a rollover state and the mouth portion of the container is not oriented in a certain direction, the containers conveyed in a row by a conveyor or the like are in an upright state in a certain direction. The present invention relates to an apparatus for aligning containers that are conveyed while being aligned with another conveyor.

  Solid products such as bad breath and vitamins and other solid products, granules and powder products such as cold medicines, and liquid products such as beverages and household detergents are packed in relatively small containers. It is commercialized.

  When filling solid containers, granules, or liquids into sub-containers, first use the alignment device to sequentially remove the containers from the bulk (deposition layer) of the empty containers and make sure that each container is open with the opening facing upward. Stand up, arrange on a conveyor and transport to a filling machine, fill with a predetermined amount of storage by the filling machine, then transport to a closure device and plug the opening of the container.

  As described above, normally, when filling a container with stored items, the container has to be erected so that the opening of the container faces upward. Many alignment devices have been devised and known.

  For example, an article alignment apparatus (for example, see Patent Document 1) that can increase the number of processing bottles per time for aligning containers, that is, processing efficiency, is known.

  This article alignment device is erected with a plurality of carry-in paths with respect to one carry-out path, an unaligned container discharge mechanism provided in each carry-in path, and a container opening provided in the arrival terminal portion facing upward. It consists of an erecting machine.

  In addition, an article sensor is provided in the arrival terminal unit so that each carry-in path is independently operated and controlled so that articles always exist in the arrival terminal parts of all the carry-in paths.

  There is also known a bottle aligning apparatus (see, for example, Patent Document 2) that supplies plastic bottles one by one at a certain interval.

  The bottle aligning device has a bottle receiving recess, and a rotor arranged so that the peripheral surface of the recess extends over a low part and a high part, and means for supplying a bottle to be aligned to the low part in the concave part Rotating means for rotating the rotor so that the supplied bottle is brought into contact with the peripheral surface of the recess by centrifugal force and moved from the low place to the high place, and the discharge for discharging the bottle from the high place in the recess Means.

  An object of the present invention is to place bottles horizontally on a conveyor by means of bottle discharging means and align the bottle mouths in a single line in the same direction to ensure the material identification of the bottles. If an upright mechanism is added, it becomes an apparatus for aligning bottles to be erected on the conveyor.

  Furthermore, the number of containers processed per unit time is increased and the processing efficiency is improved as compared with the above-described apparatus, and the apparatus is manufactured at a low cost without taking up equipment space without increasing the scale of the container alignment apparatus. A container alignment device that can be used (see, for example, Patent Document 3) is also known.

  This container aligning apparatus throws a container to be aligned from above the inclined rotating disk, and moves the container to the upper part along the outer periphery of the inclined rotating disk. Then, the containers are once mounted on the container pocket portion provided on the annular horizontal rotation guide on the outer periphery.

  Further, a plurality of N container pockets are mounted on a plurality of M rows of concentric circles on the horizontal rotation guide, and a plurality of the container pockets are erected at the same time and aligned.

  There is also known a container alignment device (for example, see Patent Document 3) that aligns containers using a robot.

  The container alignment device includes a first transport conveyor that transports containers in a rollover state, a second transport conveyor that is disposed adjacent to the first transport conveyor and transports containers, and a transport path of the first transport conveyor. A detecting means for detecting the loading state of the container conveyed by the first conveying conveyor, and a robot for delivering the container from the first conveying conveyor to the second conveying conveyor based on the detection result of the detecting means. I have.

Prior art documents are shown below.
JP 2000-159335 A JP 2002-37440 A JP 2006-143409 A JP-A-6-32935

By the way, in the configuration of the article alignment apparatus of Patent Document 1, when the number of processing bottles per unit time is improved, the number of carry-in paths is increased. There is a problem in that the number of carry-in facilities including mechanisms, article sensors, etc. is increased, and the equipment space and equipment costs are increased in proportion.

  Further, in the bottle aligning device of Patent Document 2, when the number of processing bottles per unit time is improved, it is necessary to increase the rotational speed of the rotor having this configuration. Since the rotation speed is limited to a certain limit, it is necessary to increase the diameter of the rotor to improve the processing capacity.

  However, the scale of the apparatus is not only proportional to the size of the rotor diameter, but also has to be increased from the viewpoint of securing the strength, and there is a problem that both the equipment space and the cost increase.

  Furthermore, there is a problem that the container alignment device of Patent Document 3 cannot be used unless the dimensions (container height, outer shape, etc.) of the container are always the same.

  For example, when the dimensions of the container are different, there is a problem that each part including the container pocket part or the container conducting pipe must be manufactured according to the container dimensions. Further, there are problems that it takes time to produce and adjust the member, and the cost increases.

Further, in the container aligning device of Patent Document 4 using a robot, when a container having a circular cross section is transported, the first transport conveyor is inclined in the width direction so that the container is transported in a vertically aligned rollover state. Yes.

  For this reason, the number of containers delivered by the robot per unit time is reduced. Therefore, there is a drawback that the processing capacity of the container alignment device is low. Furthermore, there is a problem that the cost of the apparatus increases due to the use of a robot.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described conventional problems. The object of the present invention is to increase the number of containers processed per unit time and improve the processing efficiency. To provide an apparatus for aligning containers that can be processed at a low cost without increasing the size and without increasing the capacity of the container and without having to make or adjust a member or the like even if the shape of the container changes. It is.

In order to solve the above problems, the invention according to claim 1 of the present invention provides:
In the state where the mouth of the container is in a rollover state, the mouth of the container is not oriented in a certain direction, it is transported by the first transport conveyor in a row, and the direction of the mouth of the transported container is detected, A container aligning device for conveying the mouth of the container in a fixed direction, aligning the mouth of the container in an upright state with the second transport conveyor aligned in a row,
An inlet stopper section that stops or conveys the containers that are continuously conveyed in a roll-over state on the first conveyor, according to a signal from a container tip detection sensor provided at the tip of the first conveyor,
A plurality of detection units for detecting the direction of the mouth of the container conveyed in a rollover state to the first conveyance conveyor on the outer side of the first conveyance conveyor in the tip direction of the inlet stopper unit;
The container detected by the detection unit is adsorbed to the upper direction of the first conveying conveyor of the detection unit by the adsorbing plate that has been lowered, and the container adsorbed by the detection signal is rotated while rising to make the direction of the mouth of the container constant A plurality of suction rotating parts directed in the direction;
A second transport conveyor that transports in parallel in the same direction as the first transport conveyor in the right direction of the tip direction of the first transport conveyor;
A suction rotation raising and lowering unit that raises and lowers a plurality of suction rotation units to an intermediate position of the first conveyance conveyor that conveys in parallel with the second conveyance conveyor;
An adsorption rotation moving unit that horizontally reciprocates the containers adsorbed by the plurality of adsorption rotation units in the upward direction of the adsorption rotation lifting unit, to an intermediate position between the second conveyance conveyor and the first conveyance conveyor;
The lower side surface of the container sucked by the suction disk of the plurality of suction rotation units is sucked upward in the second conveyor, and the plurality of containers are delivered, and the mouths of the delivered containers are directed upward. An inversion part that inverts into an upright state,
The mouths of the plurality of containers adsorbed by the reversing part in the outer direction on the right side of the transport direction of the second transport conveyor are aligned in an upright state and placed from above the second transport conveyor. An apparatus for aligning containers characterized by comprising:

Next, the invention according to claim 2 of the present invention is as follows:
2. The container alignment apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the detection unit detects the direction of the mouth of the container based on a difference in light transmission.

  Since the container alignment apparatus of the present invention has the above-described configuration, it can be easily and accurately aligned in an upright state even when the container conveyed in the rollover state from the previous process is not oriented in a certain direction. it can.

  Further, the container aligning device of the present invention is different from the conventional drum-type circular device, and the equipment space can be reduced. And an apparatus can be produced at low cost.

  Even when the processing capacity per unit time is increased, it is possible to easily increase the processing capacity in the current installation space without increasing the installation space of the apparatus.

  Furthermore, even if the shape or the like of the container is changed, there is no need to newly make a part of the device or attach or adjust the produced part. And the processing operation of a container can be performed efficiently.

  The container alignment apparatus of the present invention can be manufactured with a simple structure and mechanism without using an expensive and complicated apparatus such as a robot. In addition to being inexpensive, there are few failures and maintenance is easy.

  Further, as described above, the container alignment apparatus of the present invention is unlikely to be scratched because the container is not rotated into the agitated state in the drum unlike the conventional drum type circular apparatus. And a container is conveyed by a normal belt conveyor, and it conveys in a line, without a damage | wound etc. on a container.

  The container alignment apparatus of the present invention will be described below in detail according to embodiments with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a schematic plan view of an embodiment of the container alignment apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing the outline of the front of one embodiment of the container alignment apparatus of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 1 or FIG. 2, the container aligning apparatus of the present invention is a first conveyor that carries and places the container from the previous step 10 in a state where the container is turned over and the mouth of the container does not face a certain direction. 1 and an inlet stopper portion 3 and a detection portion 5 are provided in the front end direction of the first conveyor 1 in the conveying direction. A plurality of suction rotation units 6, a suction rotation moving unit (not shown) for horizontally moving the suction rotation unit 6, and a suction rotation elevating unit 7 are provided above the first conveyor 1.

  Furthermore, if it conveys to the next process in the upright state with the mouth part of the container facing up in the conveying direction of the first conveyor 1, the reversing unit 8 and the reversing lifting unit in the upward direction of the second conveyor 2 9 etc. And the 2nd conveyor 2 is provided in parallel by the front-end | tip direction of the conveyance direction of the 1st conveyor 1. FIG.

  The first conveyor 1 is conveyed by the belt conveyor 13 that travels in a state in which the container 11 is rolled over as described above from the previous step 10 and the mouth of the container 11 is not oriented in a certain direction. The belt conveyor is driven by a drive motor 12.

  In addition, the inlet stopper portion 3 provided at the front end of the transport direction of the first conveyor 1 is provided to stop the container 11 placed and transported on the belt conveyor 13 and to start transport again.

  The stop of the inlet stopper 3 and the resumption of conveyance are made by a detection signal from a container front end detection sensor 4 provided at the front end of the first conveyor 1 in the conveyance direction. The container front end detection sensor 4 is provided on the outer left and right sides of the front end of the first conveyor 1.

Further, the container 11 placed on the first conveyor 1 is detected by the detection unit 5, and the container is adsorbed by the adsorption rotation unit 5. Further, before the container adsorbed by the adsorption rotation elevating / lowering unit 7 is lifted, the inlet stopper portion 3 holds the outer surface (body portion) of the container. When the container is raised, the container 11 that has been stopped by pressing the outer surface (body portion) of the container is conveyed in the distal direction.

  The detection unit 5 is provided with a plurality of direction detection sensors 14 on the outer left and right sides of the first conveyor 1 between the inlet stopper unit 3 and the container tip detection sensor 4. Then, when the container is transported to the detection unit 5 in which the plurality of direction detection sensors 14 are provided, the container transported in the direction of the detection unit 5 is stopped at the inlet stopper unit 3.

  By providing more direction detection sensors 14, the processing capacity per unit time can be increased without increasing the installation space. Of course, the suction rotation unit 5 and the reversing unit 8 are the same number of suction rotation units 5 and reversing units 8 as the direction detection sensor 14.

  Further, the suction rotation unit 6 is provided with the same number of suction rotation units 5 as the plurality of direction detection sensors 14 of the detection unit 5 in the upward direction of the first conveyor 1 of the detection unit 5 as described above. The plurality of suction rotation units 5 are joined to the suction rotation moving unit that reciprocates the suction rotation lifting unit 7 in the horizontal direction.

  Moreover, the raising / lowering drive of the adsorption | suction rotation raising / lowering part 7 is provided in the middle with the 2nd conveyor 2 of the conveyance direction right side direction of the 1st conveyor 1 in which the detection part 5 is provided. As described above, the suction rotation moving unit 15 that moves the plurality of suction rotation units 6 to approximately the center position between the first conveyor 1 and the second conveyor 2 is provided above the suction rotation lifting unit 7.

  Further, a plurality of suction rotating parts 5 moved to the approximate center positions of the first conveyor 1 and the second conveyor 2 by the suction rotation moving part are provided, and a plurality of reversing parts 8 are provided in the forward direction. And the inversion part is joined in the upper direction of the inversion raising / lowering part 9.

  The reversing lift 9 is provided on the outer side on the right side of the direction in which the second conveyor 2 transports. And the inversion raising / lowering part 9 descend | falls the container which is adsorb | sucking in the state which the inversion part 8 joined to the upper direction of the inversion raising / lowering part 9 in the upright state, and the opening | mouth part faced upwards, and the 2nd conveyor 2 Placed on the belt conveyor.

  In addition, the shape of the container in which the container alignment apparatus of the present invention is used may be a square, rectangular, or round cross-sectional shape.

  The material of the container may be glass, aluminum, resin, or the like, but is preferably a thermoplastic resin such as low density polyethylene resin (LDPE), medium density polyethylene resin (MDPE), high density polyethylene resin ( HDPE), linear low density polyethylene resin (L-LDPE), polypropylene resin (PP), ethylene-propylene copolymer (EP), ethylene-α olefin copolymer, ethylene-acrylic acid copolymer (EAA) Resins such as ethylene-methacrylic acid copolymer (EMAA), ethylene-methacrylic acid ester copolymer, ethylene-acrylic acid ester copolymer, ionomer resin, and ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA) are preferable.

  In addition, in the pre-process of the containers placed on the first conveyor 1 of the container alignment apparatus of the present invention, generally, a container feeder, a container hopper, a sorter, or the like that supplies the formed containers is used. It has been. The container hopper 60 is provided with a conveyor belt 62 in the bottom direction of the hopper 61 as shown in FIG. 13, and the container 11 is placed on the partition belt 64 provided in the lift part 63. The belt 65 travels in the direction of the partition belt 64.

  Further, the container 11 discharged from the shooter 66 at the upper end of the lift part rolls over from the outer disk 73 of the sorter 70 having the chute 71, the inner disk 72, the outer disk 73 and the like as shown in FIG. The container 11 is discharged. The containers 11 are placed on the first conveyor 1 in a rollover state and in a state where the direction of the mouth portion of the containers 11 is not oriented in a certain direction.

  Next, FIG. 3 is an explanatory view illustrating a state in which the containers are aligned by the container alignment apparatus of the present invention. 4 to 7 are other explanatory views for explaining a state in which the containers are aligned by the container alignment apparatus of the present invention.

  The container alignment device 50 of the present invention is placed on the belt conveyor 13 of the first conveyor 1 in a state of being rolled over from the previous step 10 and in a state where the direction of the mouth portion 18 of the container 11 is not directed to a certain direction, The side surface of the container 11 is guided by the conveyor guide 17 or the like and conveyed to the detection unit 5.

  Then, the container 11 transported to the detection unit 5 is vacuumed at the tip of the suction rotating unit 6 in the lower direction by lowering the suction rotating unit 6 and the suction rotating unit 15 provided in the upper direction of the container 11. The substantially central position of the side surface (body portion) of the container 11 is adsorbed to the pad 16. (Shown in FIG. 3).

  As shown in FIG. 4, the container 11 adsorbed by the adsorption rotating unit 6 rises in the upward direction of the belt conveyor 13. Then, the container 11 is raised, and is provided in the suction rotation unit 6 so that the direction of the mouth of the container 11 is directed in a certain direction by the detection signal detected by the direction detection sensor 14 of the detection unit 5 shown in FIG. The electric rotary actuator 26 is rotationally driven so that the mouth portion 18 of the container 11 is aligned in a certain direction as shown in FIG.

  Further, when the container 11 is raised, the container leading end detection sensor 4 provided at the leading end in the transport direction of the first conveyor 1 detects that the container 11 has been lost. Then, the detected stopper signal opens the inlet stopper 3 provided at the inlet of the detector 5, and the containers transported by the first conveyor 1 are transported to the detector 5 as shown in FIG. 5. . Furthermore, when the container tip detection sensor 4 detects the container conveyed to the detection unit 5, the inlet stopper 3 closes and stops the container.

  After the mouth portion 18 of the container 11 is aligned in a certain direction as shown in FIG. 6, the suction rotation moving portion 15 to which the suction rotation portion 6 is joined moves in the forward direction of the suction rotation elevating portion 9 and stops. To do. Then, the lower side of the side surface (body portion) of the container that has been adsorbed and stopped by the adsorption rotation unit 6 is adsorbed by a vacuum pad 20 provided at the tip of the cup bracket 19 of the reversing unit 8.

  Further, the container 11 adsorbed by the vacuum pad 20 of the reversing unit 8 is rotated 90 degrees by the reversing shaft 34 of the reversing unit 8 so that the mouth 18 of the container 11 is directed upward in the upward direction of the second conveyor 2. . And the inversion raising / lowering part 9 to which the inversion part 8 is joined falls, and the container 11 is mounted on the belt conveyor 13 of the second conveyor 2.

  When the reversing lift 9 is lowered, the placement guide 21 is formed above the second conveyor 2. The placement guide 21 is formed to prevent the container 11 from overturning when placed on the belt conveyor 13.

  Further, after the container 11 is completely placed on the belt conveyor 13, the placement guide 21 moves in the direction of the first conveyor 1. The containers 11 placed on the belt conveyor 13 are conveyed to the next process with the mouth portion 18 facing upward.

  The next step is appropriately selected depending on the filling material to be filled or the storage method, the distribution method, the distribution condition, etc., including the container washing step, the container sterilization step, the filling step, the opening sealing step, the filling sterilization step, the labeling step, etc. The

  Next, FIG. 8 is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the adsorption rotation raising / lowering part and inversion raising / lowering part of the container alignment apparatus 50 of this invention.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the suction rotation elevating unit 7 and the reversing elevating unit 9 are formed of a slide shaft 22, a slide shaft receiver 23, a drive cylinder 24, and the like for elevating. The slide shaft 22 can be driven up and down using a drive cylinder 24 such as an air cylinder or a hydraulic cylinder, but is not particularly limited. For example, the slide shaft may be raised and lowered by a mechanical structure such as a cam or an eccentric.

  Next, FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the suction rotation unit 6, the suction rotation moving unit 15, and the suction rotation elevating unit 7 of the container alignment apparatus 50 of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the suction rotating unit 6 has a vacuum pad 16, a vacuum cup 25, a vacuum pipe 27, an electric rotary actuator 26, and an actuator that suction the upper side of the side surface (body portion) of the container 11 placed on the conveyor. It is formed from a base 28 or the like. The actuator base 28 is joined to the cylinder base 29 of the suction rotation moving unit 15.

  Further, the suction rotation moving unit 15 is formed by a cylinder base 29, a slide cylinder 30, a slide base 31, and the like. Then, the slide base 31 moves on the slide shaft 22 of the suction rotation elevating unit 7.

  Further, the suction rotation elevating / lowering unit 7 is formed by a horizontal slide shaft 47, a base frame 32, a shaft block (not shown), a slide shaft 22, a slide shaft receiver 23, a drive cylinder 24, and the like shown in FIG. The horizontal slide shaft 47 is engaged at both ends of the base frame 32 (not shown).

  Next, FIG. 10 is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the inversion part 8 of the container alignment apparatus 50 of this invention.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the reversing unit 8 of the container aligning device 50 of the present invention includes a reversing shaft 34, a cup bracket 19, a vacuum pad 20, a pad adapter 33, a vacuum cup 35, a placement guide guide 21, and a placement guide guide drive. It is formed from a cylinder 36 for use.

  The placement guide guide drive cylinder 36 may be a drive cylinder such as an air cylinder or a hydraulic cylinder, but is not particularly limited. For example, the placement guide may be driven back and forth by a mechanical structure such as a cam or eccentric.

  Next, FIG. 11 is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the inlet stopper part 3 of the aligning apparatus 50 of the container of this invention.

As shown in FIG. 11, the inlet stopper portion 3 of the container alignment apparatus 50 according to the present invention includes a stopper mounting plate lateral plate 38 and a stopper transfer plate 39 which are joined to both sides of the outer surface of the frame 37 of the first conveyor. Cylinder 40 with guide, cylinder bracket 41, wide-type air-hand 42, holder liner 43, stopper holder plate 45, holder rubber 46, and the like. A container rubber made of elastic resin such as rubber or sponge is pressed on the outer surface of the plate, and the container conveyed by the conveyor belt stops. The holder rubber for holding the container is made of an elastic resin such as rubber or sponge as described above, so that the container is not damaged.

  The container aligning device 50 of the present invention can quickly move the container even if it is transported in a state where the mouth of the container is not oriented in a certain direction, without damaging the container, and without taking up equipment space. It is an excellent invention that can be used not only as an alignment device that can be directed in a certain direction, but also in production lines such as the pharmaceutical field, food field, and precision machine field.

It is the schematic which shows the outline of the plane of one Example of the alignment apparatus of the container of this invention. It is the schematic which shows the outline of the front of one Example of the alignment apparatus of the container of this invention. It is explanatory drawing explaining the state which aligns a container with the container alignment apparatus of this invention. It is another explanatory drawing explaining the state which aligns a container with the aligning apparatus of the container of this invention. It is another explanatory drawing explaining the state which aligns a container with the aligning apparatus of the container of this invention. It is further explanatory drawing explaining the state which aligns a container with the container alignment apparatus of this invention. It is a further explanatory view explaining the state which aligns a container with the alignment apparatus of the container of this invention. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the adsorption | suction rotation raising / lowering part and inversion raising / lowering part of the container alignment apparatus 50 of this invention. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the adsorption | suction rotation part 6, the adsorption | suction rotation moving part 15, and the adsorption rotation raising / lowering part 7 of the container alignment apparatus 50 of this invention. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the inversion part 8 of the container alignment apparatus 50 of this invention. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the inlet stopper part 3 of the container alignment apparatus 50 of this invention. It is the schematic explaining the outline of the apparatus used for the pre-process of the container alignment apparatus 50 of this invention. It is another schematic diagram explaining the outline of the apparatus used for the pre-process of the container alignment apparatus 50 of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... 1st conveyor 2 ... 2nd conveyor 3 ... Entrance stopper part 4 ... Container tip detection sensor 5 ... Detection part 6 ... Adsorption rotation part 7 ... Adsorption rotation raising / lowering part 8 ... Inversion part 9 ... Inversion raising / lowering part 10 ... Pre-process 11 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS ... Container 12 ... Belt conveyor drive motor 13 ... Belt conveyor 14 ... Direction detection sensor 15 ... Adsorption rotation movement part 16 ... Vacuum pad 17 ... Conveyor guide 18 ... Mouth part 19 ... Cup bracket 20 ... Vacuum pad 21 ... Placement guide guide 22 ... Slide shaft 23 ... Slide shaft receiver 24 ... Drive cylinder 25 ... Vacuum cup 26 ... Electric rotary actuator 27 ... Vacuum pipe 28 ... Actuator base 29 ... Cylinder base 30 ... Slide cylinder 31 ... Slide base 32 ... Base frame 33 ... Pat adder 34 ... Reverse shaft 35 ... Vacuum cup 36 ... Cylinder for driving guide guide 37 ... Frame of first conveyor 38 ... Stopper mounting base 39 ... Stopper transfer plate 40 ... Cylinder with guide 41 ... Cylinder bracket 42 ... Wide air band DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 43 ... Holder liner 44 ... Holder bracket 45 ... Stopper holder plate 46 ... Holder rubber 47 ... Horizontal slide shaft 50 ... Container alignment apparatus 60 ... Container hopper 70 ... Sorter of this invention

Claims (2)

In the state where the mouth of the container is in a rollover state, the mouth of the container is not oriented in a certain direction, it is transported by the first transport conveyor in a row, and the direction of the mouth of the transported container is detected, A container aligning device for conveying the mouth of the container in a fixed direction, aligning the mouth of the container in an upright state with the second transport conveyor aligned in a row,
An inlet stopper section that stops or conveys the containers that are continuously conveyed in a roll-over state on the first conveyor, according to a signal from a container tip detection sensor provided at the tip of the first conveyor,
A plurality of detection units for detecting the direction of the mouth of the container conveyed in a rollover state to the first conveyance conveyor on the outer side of the first conveyance conveyor in the tip direction of the inlet stopper unit;
The container detected by the detection unit is adsorbed to the upper direction of the first conveying conveyor of the detection unit by the adsorbing plate that has been lowered, and the container adsorbed by the detection signal is rotated while rising to make the direction of the mouth of the container constant A plurality of suction rotating parts directed in the direction;
A second transport conveyor that transports in parallel in the same direction as the first transport conveyor in the right direction of the tip direction of the first transport conveyor;
A suction rotation raising and lowering unit that raises and lowers a plurality of suction rotation units to an intermediate position of the first conveyance conveyor that conveys in parallel with the second conveyance conveyor;
An adsorption rotation moving unit that horizontally reciprocates the containers adsorbed by the plurality of adsorption rotation units in the upward direction of the adsorption rotation lifting unit, to an intermediate position between the second conveyance conveyor and the first conveyance conveyor;
The lower side surface of the container sucked by the suction disk of the plurality of suction rotation units is sucked upward in the second conveyor, and the plurality of containers are delivered, and the mouths of the delivered containers are directed upward. An inversion part that inverts into an upright state,
The mouths of the plurality of containers adsorbed by the reversing part in the outer direction on the right side of the transport direction of the second transport conveyor are aligned in an upright state and placed from above the second transport conveyor. An apparatus for aligning containers, comprising: a reversing lift for performing the operation.   2. The container alignment apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the detection unit detects the direction of the mouth of the container based on a difference in light transmission.

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