JP6718321B2 - Container transport device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention is a container with a high design property used for enclosing cosmetics, health foods, high-grade foods, etc., and a plurality of polygonal or irregularly shaped containers having irregularities on the surface can be used to transport a plurality of containers. The present invention relates to a technique of an aligning/conveying device that changes from alignment to a single row.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is known a container aligning/conveying device that arranges a plurality of cylindrical containers that are randomly transported in a line during transportation and sequentially transports them downstream.
Such an aligning/conveying device is mainly configured to have a conveying path that gradually narrows in the conveying direction. By passing through the conveying path, a plurality of misaligned containers are arranged in a single row. To be done.
Here, in the transporting path of the aligning and transporting device, several containers are unexpectedly arranged in a direction substantially orthogonal to the transporting direction in plan view, and these containers are clogged in the transporting path (hereinafter , "Bridge state").
Therefore, a technique for preventing the occurrence of such a bridge state is disclosed in, for example, “Patent Document 1” or “Patent Document 2”.

Specifically, in "Patent Document 1", a traveling guide provided at one side edge of the transport path, a reverse feed conveyor provided at a part of the traveling guide and driven to the upstream side of the transport, At a position facing the reverse feed conveyor on the other side edge of the transport path, the width adjustment obliquely provided from the other side edge of the transport path toward the one side edge toward the transport downstream side. An aligning and conveying device, comprising: a guide, for single-rowing the conveyed objects conveyed in a plurality of rows along the conveying path, wherein the reverse feed conveyor moves from the conveying downstream side toward the conveying upstream side from the conveying path. Disclosed is a technique relating to an aligning/conveying device, which is provided obliquely in a separating direction.

Further, in "Patent Document 2," a conveying device including a plurality of parallel conveyors for conveying a container having a cylindrical outer shape, and a plurality of containers conveyed on the conveying device are arranged in a single row from a plurality of misaligned containers. And a pair of guides for rotating the plurality of rollers rotatably on the opposite surfaces, and one guide diagonally traverses the conveying device. The fixed roller guide is provided, the other guide is an oscillating roller guide provided with an oscillating device that reciprocates in the longitudinal direction, and in a container aligning device composed of these, the container to be conveyed between the pair of guides is Between the rollers of the rocking roller guide corresponding to the portions that are arranged in a direction perpendicular to the traveling direction of the transport device, there are provided projections that project from a number of rollers and come into contact with the side surface of the container. Disclosed is a technique relating to a swing guide type aligning device for containers, in which a reciprocating motion range is set so as to move in the container transport direction from the above-mentioned juxtaposed parts in accordance with the reciprocating motion.

JP, 2010-215303, A JP, 10-194440, A

According to the techniques of the above-mentioned "Patent Document 1" and "Patent Document 2", while avoiding falling into a bridge state as much as possible, a plurality of cylindrical containers that are randomly transported are aligned in a line during transportation. It can be conveyed to the downstream side in order.
However, when the shape of the container that is the conveyed product is a polygonal shape or an irregular shape having unevenness on the surface, it is more likely to fall into a bridge state during the conveyance than a cylindrical container, and even if the above-mentioned “Patent Document 1” is used. Even if the technique according to the above-mentioned "Patent Document 2" is used, it is difficult to suppress the bridge state for a plurality of containers having such a shape.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems of the present situation, and is an aligning/conveying device for containers in which a plurality of containers are arranged in a single row while being conveyed in one direction, which is a container to be conveyed. To provide a container aligning and conveying device capable of arranging in a single row without falling into a bridge state even when the shape of is a polygonal shape or an irregular shape having unevenness on the surface. Is an issue.

The problem to be solved by the present invention is as described above, and means for solving the problem will be described below.

That is, the container aligning and conveying apparatus according to the present invention is a container aligning and conveying apparatus that conveys a plurality of containers in a single row while conveying them in one direction, and a guide member extending along one side edge of a conveying path. And a belt guide means arranged to face the guide member at the other side edge of the conveyance path, wherein the belt guide means has an endless shape that rotates in a horizontal direction. And a pusher means for pushing a part of the rotary belt on the side of the conveyance path to the guide member side.

By having such a configuration, a plurality of container groups that fall into a bridge state are destroyed only by the rotational movement of the rotary belt in the reverse direction (the direction opposite to the transport direction) as in the conventional aligning and transporting device. Even if it is impossible, according to the aligning and conveying apparatus of the present invention, the pusher means pushes a part of the conveying path side of the rotary belt toward the guide member side, thereby causing a plurality of bridged states. The container group can be reliably pushed down.
Therefore, according to the container aligning and conveying apparatus of the present invention, not only the container having a cylindrical outer shape, but also the shape of the container, which is a conveyed object, is a polygonal shape, or an irregular shape having irregularities on the surface, etc. Even in the case of, it is possible to arrange in a single row without falling into the bridge state.

In the container aligning and conveying apparatus according to the present invention, it is preferable that the rotary belt is a toothed belt having a flat outer peripheral surface while having a tooth profile on the inner peripheral surface.

As described above, in the present invention, since the rotating belt is configured by the toothed belt having the toothed shape on the inner peripheral surface, for example, it is possible to move a plurality of containers while sliding the outer peripheral surface of the rotating belt. If the container is difficult to move, for example, in a bridge state, the container is jammed in the front and rear, or a state close to them, the frictional force between the rotating belt and the container is large, and the rotating belt When slippage does not easily occur between the container and the container, slippage tends to occur between the rotary belt and the drive/driven pulley, but the occurrence of the slip is ensured by the meshing state of the rotary belt and the drive/driven pulley. It is more preferable because it can be prevented.
Further, in the present invention, the outer peripheral surface of the rotating belt is formed into a flat flat surface, and the grip force when moving the container while sliding the outer peripheral surface of the rotating belt is ensured. Is more preferable because it can be obtained.
Further, when pushing out a part of the conveyor belt side of the rotary belt by the pusher means, pressing the toothed side of the toothed belt, which is the inner peripheral side, has more resistance than pressing the flat surface, which is the outer peripheral side. Since it is small and the frictional resistance at the time of reciprocating the rotary belt can be kept small, the generation of dust and the like can be effectively suppressed.

In the container aligning and conveying apparatus according to the present invention, it is preferable that the rotation direction of the rotary belt is switched to the forward rotation direction or the reverse rotation direction at a predetermined timing.

With such a configuration, even if a plurality of containers fall into a bridge state in the vicinity of the belt guide means, for example, they are slid with respect to these containers and rotate in the reverse direction (direction opposite to the transport direction). Due to the rotating belt that rotates in a direction, some containers are moved in the direction opposite to the transport direction, and as a result, the bridge state of these containers is easily destroyed.
The container once moved in the direction opposite to the transport direction by the rotating belt is moved again in the transport direction by the rotating belt switched to the forward direction (transport direction). In a plurality of containers transported above, a specific container group is not largely separated from other container groups.

Further, in the container aligning and conveying apparatus according to the present invention, the pusher means pushes the rotary belt toward the guide member while the rotary belt rotates in the reverse direction, while the rotary belt rotates normally. It is preferable to return the rotary belt to the original position by rotating in the direction.

By having such a configuration, for example, when the rotating belt is pushed toward the guide member side during normal rotation of the rotating belt, a bridge state is likely to occur. It is possible to prevent the occurrence of a bridge state, and it is possible to efficiently arrange a plurality of containers in a single row.

In the container aligning and conveying device according to the present invention, it is preferable that the belt guide means is arranged such that the rotary belt is inclined toward the guide member toward the downstream side in the conveying direction.

By having such a configuration, the belt guide means can be efficiently arranged outside the conveyance path and using an empty space on the conveyance equipment, so that the equipment layout of the entire alignment conveyance apparatus can be made compact. Can fit in.

In the container aligning/conveying device according to the present invention, it is preferable that the container has a lid and/or a cylindrical main body having a polygonal shape in plan view.

Even with such a container having a shape that is more likely to fall into a bridge state during transport than a simple cylindrical container, according to the aligning and transporting device of the present invention, the containers are aligned in a single row without falling into a bridge state. be able to.

The effects of the present invention are as follows.
That is, according to the container aligning and conveying apparatus of the present invention, even if the shape of the container that is the conveyed object is a polygonal shape, or an irregular shape having unevenness on the surface, it may fall into a bridge state. Instead, they can be arranged in a single row.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the overall configuration of the container aligning and conveying device according to the present embodiment. FIG. 4 is a plan view showing the configuration of a belt guide mechanism provided in the alignment conveyance device. FIG. 3 is a view showing a belt guide mechanism and its vicinity, and is a cross-sectional front view seen from a direction of an arrow X in FIG. 2.

Next, an embodiment for embodying the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.
In the following description, for convenience, the front-rear direction, the left-right direction, and the up-down direction of the container aligning and conveying device 1 are defined by the directions of the arrows shown in FIGS. 1 to 3.
In addition, in FIGS. 1 and 2, the direction of the arrow A is defined as the transport direction of the container V for description.

[Alignment Conveyor 1]
First, the overall configuration of a container aligning and conveying device 1 (hereinafter, simply referred to as “aligning and conveying device 1”) in the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 3.
The aligning/conveying device 1 is a device for aligning a plurality of containers V, V,..., which are randomly transported in one direction, in a single row (one row) during transportation and sequentially transporting them to the downstream side.

Here, the container V transported by the alignment transport device 1 is, for example, a highly designed container used for enclosing cosmetics, health foods, high-grade foods, etc. Alternatively, a container having a cylindrical main body, or a container having a cover body having a circular shape in plan view and having irregularities on the outer peripheral surface and/or a cylindrical main body can be used.
Further, the outer dimensions of these containers V are set so that the height dimension is 10 mm or more and the width dimension is 20 mm or more.
That is, in the present embodiment, a container (which may be either a lid or a main body) in which sliding between the containers is bad and is hard to rotate, or a container having a small size (whether the lid or the main body is used) Good) or in a bridge state (a plurality of containers V, V... Are arranged in a direction substantially orthogonal to the conveying direction in a plan view) such as a container having an elastic body such as rubber on the surface of the conveying path 100. A container V having a shape that easily falls into a clogged state is an object to be conveyed.
However, according to the aligning and conveying apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, even in the case of a normal cylindrical container, the occurrence of the bridge state can be reduced as compared with the conventional device, so that the shape of the target container is not limited. Absent.

As shown in FIG. 1, the aligning and conveying apparatus 1 mainly includes a conveying mechanism 10, a fixed guide 20, a belt guide mechanism 30, and the like.
The transport mechanism 10 transports the plurality of containers V, V... In a horizontal direction and in one direction (direction of arrow A), and is configured by, for example, a known belt conveyor.

Next, the fixed guide 20 will be described.
The fixed guide 20 serves to regulate the transport direction of the plurality of containers V, V... Which are transported by the transport mechanism 10, and to align these containers V, V.
The fixed guide 20 is provided on the transport path 100 of the transport mechanism 10 so as to extend in a straight line along one side edge (right side in the present embodiment) of the first guide member 21, and other components. By the second guide member 22 and the like, which is arranged so as to extend in the extending direction of the first guide member 21 while facing the first guide member 21 at the side edge of one side (left side in the present embodiment), Composed.
The number of the first guide members 21 and the second guide members 22 is not limited to this embodiment, and the number may be arbitrarily increased according to the height and shape of the container V.

As shown in FIG. 3, for example, the first guide member 21 is composed of a single round bar member, and is in the left-right direction with respect to the rotary belt 33 of the belt guide mechanism 30 described later (direction orthogonal to the transport direction in plan view). Is arranged opposite to.
On the other hand, the second guide member 22 is composed of, for example, two round bar members arranged in parallel with each other in the vertical direction, and the second guide member 22 located on the upper side (hereinafter, appropriately referred to as “upper second guide”). Member 22A”) and the second guide member 22 located below (hereinafter appropriately referred to as “lower second guide member 22B”), the rotation belt 33 (more specifically, rotation). The region of the belt 33 extruded by the pusher mechanism 34) is arranged so as to be sandwiched between the upper and lower parts.

Then, as shown in FIG. 1, the second guide member 22 is arranged in parallel with the first guide member 21 from the upstream end in the transport direction to the midway portion, and at the same time from the midway portion to the downstream end in the transport direction. It is arranged so as to gradually incline toward the first guide member 21 side (right side in the present embodiment) over the part.
As a result, on the transport surface of the transport mechanism 10, the transport path 100 formed between the first guide member 21 and the second guide member 22 gradually increases in width from the midway portion in the transport direction toward the downstream end. The dimension is narrowed, and the plurality of containers V, V... Which pass through the transport path 100 are gradually arranged in a line toward the downstream end.

As shown in FIG. 3, in this embodiment, in the container V having the smallest outer size (hereinafter, appropriately referred to as “small container Va”), the first guide member 21 and the lower second guide member 22B are used. , Its outer peripheral surface is regulated.
Further, in the container V having the largest outer size (hereinafter, appropriately referred to as “large container Vb”), in addition to the first guide member 21 and the lower second guide member 22B, the upper second guide member 22A also The outer peripheral surface is set to be restricted.
The rotating belt 33 is set to contact the outer peripheral surfaces of both the small container Va and the large container Vb regardless of the outer size of the container V transported on the transport path 100.
However, the arrangement in the height direction is not limited to the present embodiment, and the first guide member 21, the first guide member 21, the first guide member 21, The two guide members 22 and the rotary belt 33 may be individually attached so as to be adjustable in the height direction.

Next, the belt guide mechanism 30 will be described.
The belt guide mechanism 30 is, as shown in FIG. 1, for preventing a plurality of containers V,...
The belt guide mechanism 30 is arranged to face the first guide member 21 at the other side edge (left side in the present embodiment) of the transport path 100.
Further, the belt guide mechanism 30, which will be described in detail later, is an endless rotary belt 33 that is provided in such a manner as to be normally/reversely rotated in the horizontal direction along the second guide member 22 and projectable toward the transport path 100 side. Is provided.

An external force that causes the plurality of containers V, V, which are conveyed in a close-packed state, to move in the conveying direction (direction of arrow A) or the reverse conveying direction (direction opposite to arrow A) by the rotating belt 33. Is added and is extruded to the first guide member 21 side (right side).
As a result, among the plurality of containers V·V... Transported by the transport mechanism 10, several container groups V·V... The occurrence of conditions is prevented.

[Belt guide mechanism 30]
Next, the configuration of the belt guide mechanism 30 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.
As shown in FIG. 2, the belt guide mechanism 30 mainly includes a drive pulley 31, a driven pulley 32, a rotary belt 33, a pusher mechanism 34, and the like.

The drive pulley 31 is composed of, for example, a toothed pulley or the like.
Further, the drive pulley 31 is rotatably supported with the axial direction as the vertical direction.

A drive motor (not shown) is connected to the drive pulley 31, and the drive motor causes the drive pulley 31 to rotate in the normal direction (direction of arrow B in the figure) at a predetermined timing. That is, it is rotationally driven while being alternately switched between the direction corresponding to the carrying direction) and the reverse direction (the direction indicated by arrow C in the drawing, which corresponds to the opposite direction to the carrying direction).

Next, the driven pulley 32 will be described.
The driven pulley 32 is, for example, a toothed pulley or the like, similarly to the drive pulley 31.
The driven pulley 32 has a shaft center parallel to the shaft center of the drive pulley 31 and is rotatably supported so as to face the drive pulley 31 in a substantially front-rear direction.

The driven pulley 32 is configured to be movable in the approaching/separating direction with respect to the drive pulley 31, for example. By adjusting the spacing between the drive pulley 31 and the driven pulley 32, a rotary belt described later will be described. A predetermined tension is applied to 33.

The configuration of the driven pulley 32 is not limited to this, and for example, the driven pulley 32 is rotatably supported at a predetermined position without having a moving mechanism in the approaching/separating direction, and is driven by the drive pulley 31. An idler may be separately provided between the driven pulley 32 and a predetermined tension may be applied to the rotary belt 33 via the idler.

Next, the rotary belt 33 will be described.
The rotary belt 33 is configured by, for example, an endless toothed belt having a tooth pattern on the inner peripheral surface and a flat outer peripheral surface.
The rotary belt 33 is wound around the drive pulley 31 and the driven pulley 32 described above and is rotatably provided in the horizontal direction.

The configurations of the drive pulley 31, the driven pulley 32, and the rotary belt 33 are not limited to those in the present embodiment, and may have a tooth shape such as a round belt or a flat belt. You may comprise.
However, in the case where the various pulleys 31 and 32 and the rotary belt 33 are meshed with each other as in the present embodiment, for example, as will be described later, while sliding the outer peripheral surface of the rotary belt 33, the plurality of containers V When V is moved, the rotary belt 33 is locked due to the frictional force between the rotary belt 33 and the container V, and slippage occurs between the various pulleys 31 and 32 and the rotary belt 33. However, it is more preferable because the slippage can be surely prevented by the meshed state of the various pulleys 31 and 32 and the rotary belt 33.
The configurations of the drive pulley 31 and the driven pulley 32 are not limited to those in the present embodiment, and the front-back direction may be switched as necessary.

Further, the outer peripheral surface of the rotary belt 33 is not limited to the planar shape as in the present embodiment, and may have a tooth shape like the inner peripheral surface, for example.
However, a flat outer peripheral surface as in the present embodiment is more preferable because the grip force when moving the container V while sliding the outer peripheral surface of the rotary belt 33 can be reliably ensured.

Next, the pusher mechanism 34 will be described.
The pusher mechanism 34 is for pushing a part of the rotary belt 33 on the side of the transport path 100 to the side of the first guide member 21 (right side in the present embodiment).
The pusher mechanism 34 includes, for example, a pusher plate 34A and an actuator 34B.

The pusher plate 34A is composed of a flat plate member in the form of a strip plate, and faces the inner peripheral surface of one side (the right side in the present embodiment) of the rotary belt 33 between the drive pulley 31 and the driven pulley 32. It is arranged so as to extend in the front-rear direction while facing the plane portion.

It should be noted that both ends of the pusher plate 34A in the extending direction (front-back direction) are bent and formed so as to be inclined in the direction of separation from the inner peripheral surface of the one side (right side) of the rotating belt 33, and the actuator 34B to be described later. With the pusher plate 34A pushed out to the one side (right side), the inner peripheral surface of the rotary belt 33 moving between the drive pulley 31 and the driven pulley 32 moves to the plane of the pusher plate 34A. It is structured so that you can transfer smoothly.

The actuator 34B is composed of, for example, a known air cylinder, etc., and the pusher plate 34A is provided by the actuator 34B so as to be able to move in and out toward the one side (right side) of the inner peripheral surface of the rotary belt 33.
The configuration of the actuator 34B is not limited to this embodiment, and the actuator 34B may be linked with the link mechanism and the cam mechanism from the drive of the transport mechanism 10, and the pusher plate 34A may be moved in a predetermined direction. Any configuration may be used as long as it can be moved.

In the pusher mechanism 34 having such a configuration, for example, as shown in FIG. 3, the position of the pusher plate 34A is separated from the rotary belt 33 (the position indicated by the pusher plate 34A1 in FIG. 3. In this case, the outer peripheral surface on one side (right side) of the rotary belt 33 is located at the right end of the second guide member 22 (the upper second guide member 22A and the lower second guide member 22B). On the other hand, it is in a state of being buried on the left side, that is, on the side opposite to the transport path 100 side. , About 1 mm.

On the other hand, when the pusher plate 34A is located at the rightmost protruding position (the position indicated by the pusher plate 34A2 in FIG. 3, hereinafter referred to as the "limit position" as appropriate), one side of the rotary belt 33 ( The outer peripheral surface (on the right side) is in a state of protruding to the right side with respect to the right end portion of the second guide member 22, that is, the conveyance path 100 side, and, for example, from the right end portion of the second guide member 22 at this time to one of the rotation belts 33. The dimension Y2 up to the outer peripheral surface on the side (right side) is also set to about 1 mm, like the dimension Y1 described above.
The numerical values of the dimension Y1 and the dimension Y2 are not limited to those in this embodiment, and may be set appropriately as needed.

The belt guide mechanism 30 configured as described above is arranged so that the rotary belt 33 is inclined toward the first guide member 21 side (right side) toward the downstream side in the transport direction.
Specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, the belt guide mechanism 30 includes a second guide member 22 that inclines toward the first guide member 21 side (right side) from a midway portion in the transport direction of the transport path 100 to a downstream end portion. Are arranged along.
As a result, the belt guide mechanism 30 can be efficiently arranged outside the conveyance path 100 by utilizing the vacant space on the conveyance mechanism 10, so that the equipment layout of the entire alignment conveyance device 1 can be compactly accommodated. be able to.

Thus, on the downstream side in the transport direction where the width dimension of the transport path 100 is gradually narrowed, in the belt guide mechanism 30, one side (right side) of the rotary belt 33 is the upper second guide member 22A and the lower second guide. It is arranged so as to be located between the members 22B (see FIG. 3).

Then, as described above, the belt guide mechanism 30 switches the rotation direction of the rotary belt 33 to the forward rotation direction and the reverse rotation direction at a predetermined timing, and the outer peripheral surface on one side (right side) of the rotation belt 33 is the first. The second guide member 22 is configured to repeatedly project toward the transport path 100 side at a predetermined timing.
As a result, according to the belt guide mechanism 30 of the present embodiment, a plurality of conveyed containers V. It is possible to more effectively suppress the occurrence of the V... Bridge state.

Specifically, for example, in the vicinity of the belt guide mechanism 30, several containers V, V... Which are transported on the transport path 100 are abruptly arranged in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction in a plan view, and a bridge is formed. Even if it falls into the state, some of the containers V are moved in the transport direction by the rotating belt 33 that rotates in the reverse direction (direction opposite to the transport direction) while sliding with respect to these containers V. , And the bridge state of these containers V, V... Is easily destroyed.
Since the container V once moved in the direction opposite to the transport direction by the rotary belt 33 is moved again in the transport direction by the rotary belt 33 switched to the normal rotation direction (transport direction) thereafter. , In a plurality of containers V·V, which are transported on the transport path 100, a certain specific container group V·V... is largely separated from another container group V·V. There is no such thing.

Further, even if the bridge state of these containers V, V... Can not be broken down by the rotational movement of the rotating belt 33 in the reverse direction, in the present embodiment, one side of the rotating belt 33 is set at a predetermined timing. The outer peripheral surface on the side (right side) is configured to repeatedly project toward the transport path 100 side at a predetermined timing, whereby the bridge state of these containers V, V... Is reliably collapsed. Become.

By the way, the operation timing of the belt guide mechanism 30 is set as follows, for example.
That is, regarding the switching of the rotation direction of the drive pulley 31 (that is, the rotation direction of the rotation belt 33), rotation in the reverse rotation direction for 1 second, rotation stop for 0.3 seconds, and rotation in the forward rotation direction for 1 second are performed. , Is set to repeat in order.
Regarding the push-out operation of the pusher mechanism 34, while the rotary belt 33 is pushed out when the rotary belt 33 is rotated in the reverse direction, the pusher mechanism 34 is kept in the pushed state for about 0.5 seconds and then rotated when it is rotated in the forward direction. It is set to move in the direction away from the belt 33 and return to the original position.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the pusher mechanism 34 pushes the rotary belt 33 toward the transport path 100 side (first guide member 21 side) while the rotary belt 33 rotates in the reverse direction, while rotating. When the belt 33 rotates in the normal direction, the rotary belt 33 is returned to its original position.
Note that the state of the pusher mechanism 34 is returned to the original position when the rotating belt 33 rotates in the normal rotation direction because the rotating belt 33 is pushed toward the transport path 100 side during such normal rotation of the rotating belt 33. This is because the bridge state is likely to occur when it is set.

Here, the rotation time of the rotation belt 33 in the reverse rotation direction and the rotation time in the normal rotation direction do not have to be the same time interval, and for example, the rotation time of the reverse rotation direction is 2 seconds, and the forward rotation direction is 1 second. Depending on the type of the container, the transport conditions, etc., an arbitrary time interval is appropriately selected, such as rotating, rotating in the reverse direction for 3 seconds and rotating in the forward direction for 2 seconds.

Further, the rotation speed of the rotating belt 33 may be set equal in both the reverse rotation direction and the forward rotation direction, or one of them may be set to be faster (slower) than the other. Good.

Further, regarding the relationship with the transport speed of the transport mechanism 10, regardless of whether the rotation direction of the rotary belt 33 is the forward rotation direction or the reverse rotation direction, the transport speed becomes faster or slower than the transport speed. The rotation speed may be set as described above, and may be arbitrarily selected based on the type of container, the transportation conditions, and the like.

The specific numerical values at the operation timings of the belt guide mechanism 30 described above are not limited to those in this embodiment, and it goes without saying that they can be set arbitrarily.

1 Aligning and Conveying Device 21 First Guide Member (Guide Member)
30 Belt guide mechanism (belt guide means)
33 rotating belt 34 pusher mechanism (pusher means)
100 Transport route V container

Claims (6)

In a container aligning and transporting device for aligning a plurality of containers in a single row while transporting them in one direction,
A guide member extending along one side edge of the transport path,
Belt guide means arranged to face the guide member at the other side edge of the transport path;
A container aligning and conveying device comprising:
The belt guide means,
An endless rotary belt that rotates so as to have a portion that moves in the horizontal direction along the other side edge of the transport path ,
Pusher means for pushing a part of the transport path side of the rotary belt to the guide member side,
Have a,
The pusher means is
While the rotating belt is rotating,
An operation of pushing the rotary belt toward the guide member, and
The operation of returning the rotary belt to the original position is alternately repeated ,
An apparatus for aligning and transporting containers, which is characterized in that The rotating belt is configured by a toothed belt having a flat outer peripheral surface while having a tooth profile on the inner peripheral surface,
The apparatus for aligning and transporting containers according to claim 1, wherein: The rotation direction of the rotating belt is
Switching to forward or reverse rotation at a predetermined timing,
The apparatus for aligning and transporting containers according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The pusher means is
While the rotating belt is rotating in the reverse direction, while pushing the rotating belt to the guide member side,
When the rotary belt rotates in the forward direction, the rotary belt is returned to the original position,
The aligning/conveying device according to claim 3, wherein The belt guide means is arranged such that the rotary belt is inclined toward the guide member toward the downstream side in the transport direction.
The container aligning/conveying device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein: The container has a lid and/or a tubular body having a polygonal shape in plan view,
6. The container aligning/conveying device according to claim 1, wherein:

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