JP7053027B2 - Container transfer device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a container transport device for transporting a container such as a PET bottle.

In this type of container transport device, as shown in Patent Document 1, a plurality of containers are continuously transported by a transport belt, and the chuck mechanism intermittently transports a plurality of containers from the stopper position provided on the transport belt to the label mounting position. Some are configured to be transferred to.

By intermittently transferring the plurality of containers to the label mounting position in this way, the label can be mounted while the containers are stationary, so that mounting errors can be reduced and work can be stabilized.

By the way, since there is a desire to attach a label in a state where a characteristic portion such as a characteristic three-dimensional shape portion of a container or a portion having a color different from other portions is oriented in a desired direction, the apparatus shown in Patent Document 1 is used. In the process of intermittently transferring the container, it is placed on a rotary table so that it can rotate.

However, when the container is rotated in the process of intermittent transfer as described above, if the transfer speed of the container is increased, it is necessary to increase the rotation speed of the container by that amount, and conversely, the rotation speed of the container. Will limit the transport speed of the container.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2018-52572

Therefore, the present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and its main object is to improve the transport speed in a container transport device that rotates while intermittently transporting a container.

By repeating the operation of continuously transporting a plurality of containers and the operation of grasping the containers and placing them at positions separated by a predetermined distance, the stopper position provided on the transport belt can be changed from the stopper position to the stopper position. The plurality of containers are intermittently placed through at least two rotation positions provided downstream (hereinafter referred to as first rotation position and second rotation position) to a label mounting position provided downstream of these rotation positions. It is characterized by a chuck mechanism for moving the container and rotating the container at the first rotation position and the second rotation position so that the characteristic portion of the container reaches a predetermined target position in the circumferential direction.

According to the container transport device configured as described above, the rotation mechanism rotates the container at the first rotation position and the second rotation position, so that the characteristic portion of the container reaches a predetermined target position in the circumferential direction. Therefore, the rotation angle at each rotation position can be reduced as compared with the configuration in which the container is rotated at one place. Specifically, in the case of rotating the container by 180 degrees in the conventional configuration, for example, in the above-mentioned configuration, the container may be rotated by 90 degrees at the first rotation position and the second rotation position, respectively. The time to rotate the container at the position can be shortened.
As a result, in the container transfer device described above, the container can be rotated while being intermittently transferred, and the transfer speed can be improved.

In order to further improve the transport speed, the chuck mechanism further passes through a third rotation position different from the first rotation position and the second rotation position, transfers the container to the label mounting position, and rotates. It is preferable that the mechanism rotates the container at the first rotation position, the second rotation position, and the third rotation position to bring the featured portion to the target position.

As a specific embodiment for improving the transport speed, there is a configuration in which at least a pair of the chuck mechanisms is provided, and the pair of chuck mechanisms alternately repeat gripping and placing of the container.

In order to ensure that the characteristic portion of the container reaches a predetermined target position while shortening the time for rotating the container at each rotation position, the rotation angle of the container at each rotation position is 360 degrees at the rotation position. It is preferable that the angle is divided by the number of points and is not more than 360 degrees.

The position detecting means for detecting that the characteristic portion of the container rotating at each rotation position has reached the target position, and the position detecting means have detected that the characteristic portion has reached the target position. In some cases, it is preferable to further include a control device for stopping the rotation of the container.
With such a configuration, the container can be transferred to the label mounting position in a state where the feature portion has reached the target position, so that, for example, the orientation of the feature portion and the orientation of the label can be matched.

Specific embodiments of the position detecting means include those that irradiate the target position with light and receive the light reflected at the target position.
Further, as another embodiment of the position detecting means, a convex portion fitted in a concave portion formed on the bottom surface of the container and a torque sensor for detecting a load applied to a motor for rotating the container are provided. The configuration is mentioned.
Such a position detecting means is relatively inexpensive, and can detect that the featured portion has reached the target position without making the device large.

According to the present invention configured as described above, the container can be rotated while being intermittently transferred, and the transfer speed can be improved.

The schematic diagram which shows the whole structure of the container transporting apparatus of this embodiment. The schematic diagram which looked at the container transporting apparatus of this embodiment from above. The schematic diagram which shows the structure of the stopper and the chuck mechanism of this embodiment. The schematic diagram which shows the structure of the rotation mechanism of this embodiment. The schematic diagram which shows the structure of the chuck mechanism in other embodiments. The schematic diagram which shows the structure of the rotation mechanism in other embodiments.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the container transport device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

<Device configuration>
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the container transport device 100 of the present embodiment transports various containers X, such as PET bottles and cosmetic containers, to the label mounting position P3, and specifically, the first. 1 Containing a transport mechanism 10, a chuck mechanism 20, a rotation mechanism 30, a label mounting mechanism 40, and a second transport mechanism 50.

As shown in FIG. 1, the first transport mechanism 10 includes a first transport belt 11 that continuously transports a plurality of containers X, and a drive motor (not shown) that drives the first transport belt 11. More specifically, the first transport belt 11 is an endless belt such as a flat belt or a caterpillar, and the endless belt is stretched on a rotary roller 12, and the rotary roller 12 is connected to a drive motor. There is.

Here, a plurality of containers X continuously transported by the first transport mechanism 10 are isolated by the isolation means 13 at predetermined intervals. The isolation means 13 is configured by using, for example, a so-called screw conveyor in which a spiral groove is formed, and is provided on both sides of the first transport belt 11 in the width direction as shown in FIG. The isolation means 13 may be configured by using a star foil.

Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the container X transported by the first transport mechanism 10 is configured to stop at the stopper position P1 provided on the first transport belt 11. Specifically, a stopper 14 for stopping the container X at the stopper position P1 is provided on the first transport belt 11.

As shown in FIG. 3, a pair of stoppers 14 are provided on both sides of the first transport belt 11 in the width direction, and the stoppers 14 are close to each other so that the distance between them is shorter than the diameter of the container X. And the separation position 14b in which the separation distance from each other is longer than the diameter of the container X, the container X is configured to reciprocate. As a result, the transfer of the container X is stopped when the pair of stoppers 14 are in the proximity position 14a, and the container X can be transported in the state where the pair of stoppers 14 are in the separation position 14b. It is not always necessary to use a pair of stoppers 14, and one or three or more stoppers 14 may be used to stop the transportation of the container X.

The chuck mechanism 20 intermittently moves the container X from the stopper position P1 shown in FIG. 2 through the label mounting position P3 downstream of the stopper position P1 to the delivery position P4 downstream of the label mounting position P3. Yes, it is configured to repeat a series of operations such as gripping, moving, and placing the container X.

Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the chuck mechanism 20 has a pair of gripping members 21 that sandwich the container X from a direction orthogonal to the transport direction, and the gripping members 21 are moved forward and backward along the transport direction. It has a drive motor (not shown) as a power source for causing the drive to be driven, and a power transmission member 22 such as a cam or a link that transmits the drive force of the drive motor to the grip member 21.

The pair of gripping members 21 are long, for example, resin flat plates provided along the transport direction, and have a plurality of gripping regions Z formed by cutting out surfaces facing each other. The gripping area Z is a space in which the container X gripped by the pair of gripping members 21 is accommodated, and here, a plurality of gripping areas Z are arranged at equal intervals along the longitudinal direction. The shape of the gripping region Z is a semicircular shape here, but it may be appropriately changed to a partial circular shape, a semicircular shape, a partial elliptical shape, a rectangular shape, a triangular shape, a polygonal shape, or the like.

The facing distance between the pair of gripping members 21 in a stationary state, that is, the distance between the facing surfaces of the pair of gripping members 21 can be changed. For example, the gripping regions Z facing each other are formed according to the size and shape of the container X. The size of the storage space can be adjusted.

Then, these gripping members 21 repeatedly grip and release the container X while repeatedly advancing and retreating at a predetermined distance along the transport direction by the driving force of the drive motor transmitted via the power transmission member 22. , The container X is transported downstream by a predetermined distance.

The gripping member 21 of the present embodiment has seven gripping regions Z, and is configured to intermittently transfer the seven containers X at once. With this configuration, the container X is intermittently transferred while being sequentially placed at eight positions (hereinafter referred to as stations), which is one more than the number of gripping regions Z.

Explaining the operation of the pair of gripping members 21 in more detail, as shown in FIG. 3, these gripping members 21 repeatedly move the standby position 21a, the gripping position 21b, the pull-in position 21c, and the release position 21d in this order. ..

The standby position 21a is a position where the container X to be gripped next waits until it stops at the stopper position P1. At this standby position 21a, the grip region Z on the most upstream side stops in the stopper position P1 in the width direction of the container X. Placed on both sides.
In the state where the gripping member 21 is in the standby position 21a, the stopper 14 described above is in the proximity position 14a.

The gripping position 21b is a position where the container X at the stopper position P1 is gripped, and is a position where the facing distance between the pair of gripping members 21 at the standby position 21a is shortened.
After the grip member 21 has moved from the standby position 21a to the grip position 21b, the stopper 14 moves from the proximity position 14a to the separation position 14b before starting to move to the next pull-in position 21c.

The retracting position 21c is a position where the container X gripped at the gripping position 21b is retracted to the downstream side by a predetermined distance, and at this retracting position 21c, the pair of gripping members 21 still grip the container X.
After the grip member 21 starts moving from the grip position 21b to the pull-in position 21c, the stopper 14 moves from the separation position 14b to the proximity position 14a again.

The release position 21d is a position where the container X pulled into the pull-in position 21c is released from the gripping state, and the container X is placed at this release position 21d.

Therefore, the container transport device 100 of the present embodiment includes a pair of the above-mentioned chuck mechanisms 20 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Hereinafter, for convenience of explanation, they are referred to as a first chuck mechanism 20A and a second chuck mechanism 20B.

As shown in FIG. 1, the first chuck mechanism 20A and the second chuck mechanism 20B are provided at different positions along the height direction. That is, the gripping member 21 constituting the first chuck mechanism 20A and the gripping member 21 constituting the second chuck mechanism 20B are provided at different positions along the height direction.

In the first chuck mechanism 20A, two sets of a pair of gripping members 21 for sandwiching the container X are provided at different positions along the height direction. For example, the first set grips the upper side of the half of the container X. However, the other set is arranged so as to grip the lower side of the container X than half.

Similar to the first chuck mechanism 20A, the second chuck mechanism 20B is provided with two sets of a pair of gripping members 21 for sandwiching the container X at different positions along the height direction. For example, the first set is a container. The second set is arranged so as to grip the upper side of the half of the container X and the lower side of the container X.

Then, as shown in FIG. 3, the first chuck mechanism 20A and the second chuck mechanism 20B alternate with each other so that one holds the container X and the other does not hold the container X. The container X is repeatedly gripped, moved, and placed. As a result, the container X moves sequentially through eight stations here.

Assuming that each station is the first to eighth stations (hereinafter referred to as S1 to S8) from the upstream side, as shown in FIG. 1, the first station S1 is the stopper position P1 described above, and the third to fifth stations. The stations S3 to S5 are rotation positions P2 for rotating the container X, the seventh station S7 is the label mounting position P3 described above, and the eighth station S8 is the delivery position P4.

Then, the first chuck mechanism 20A and the second chuck mechanism 20B of the present embodiment transfer the container X to the second station S2 which is the first intermediate position M1 provided between the stopper position P1 and the rotation position P2. It is configured to transfer the container X to the sixth station S6, which is the second intermediate position M2 provided between the rotation position P2 and the label mounting position P3.

As shown in FIG. 4, the rotation mechanism 30 rotates the container X transferred to the rotation position P2 so that the characteristic portion X1 of the container X reaches a predetermined target position Y in the circumferential direction. The feature portion X1 is a portion provided on the upper surface or the outer peripheral surface of the container X and visually distinguishable from other portions. Specifically, it is a characteristic three-dimensional shape portion (nozzle, cap collar, dent) of the container X itself and a color portion (transparent portion or joint generated at the time of container molding) different from other parts.

In the present embodiment, the chuck mechanism 20 described above sequentially transfers the container X to three rotation positions P2 (hereinafter referred to as first rotation position P2a, second rotation position P2b, and third rotation position P2c from the upstream side). The rotation mechanism 30 is configured to rotate the container X at the first to third rotation positions P2c so that the feature portion X1 faces the target position Y, that is, a predetermined angle in the circumferential direction. ing.

The maximum rotation angle of the container X at each rotation position P2a to c is set to be equal to or greater than the angle obtained by dividing 360 degrees by the number of rotation positions P2 and less than 360 degrees, and is set to 130 degrees here. That is, the container X does not make one rotation at each rotation position P2a to c, and the total maximum rotation angle at each rotation position P2a to c is set to 360 degrees or more. From the viewpoint of shortening the staying time of the container X at each rotation position P2a to c and improving the transport speed, the total maximum rotation angle at each rotation position P2a to c is preferably 390 degrees or less.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the rotation mechanism 30 of the present embodiment is provided between the rotation mounting table 31 provided at each rotation position P2a to C on which the container X is mounted and the rotation mounting table 31. It includes a holding member 32 that sandwiches the container X, a position detecting means 33 that detects a characteristic portion X1 of the container X at each rotation position P2a to c, and a control device (not shown) that controls the rotation of the container X. ..

The rotary mounting table 31 is connected to a motor, for example, via a gear, and rotates in a predetermined direction (clockwise or counterclockwise).

The pressing member 32 prevents the container X from being misaligned due to rotation, and is between a contact position in contact with the container X and a non-contact position located above the contact position and non-contact with the container X. It is configured to move up and down with. Further, the pressing member 32 of the present embodiment is configured to rotate freely with respect to the central axis in order to rotate the container X without damaging it.

The pressing member 32 is formed as a tapered surface 321 whose outer peripheral surface is inclined with respect to the rotation axis, and the tapered surface 321 comes into contact with the container X at the contact position. The upper end opening of the container X in FIG. 1 is not closed, and when such a container X is rotated, the tapered surface 321 gradually reduces in diameter toward the tip (lower end) as the holding member 32, for example, a cone. The shape and the truncated cone shape are preferable. On the other hand, when rotating the container X whose upper end opening is closed by the lid, the holding member 32 preferably has a shape in which the tapered surface 321 gradually expands in diameter toward the tip (lower end).

The position detecting means 33 is for detecting that the characteristic portion X1 of the rotating container X has reached a predetermined target position Y in the circumferential direction, and here, the positions are located at the respective rotation positions P2a to c. The detection means 33 is provided. The position detecting means 33 here uses, for example, a laser beam, irradiates the laser beam toward the target position Y described above, detects the intensity of the laser beam reflected at the target position Y, and detects the intensity of the laser beam. It is configured to output a strength signal to a control device described later.

The control device is configured to receive the light intensity signal output from the position detection means 33 and control the rotary mounting table 31 based on the light intensity signal.
In the present embodiment, it is utilized that the characteristic portion X1 of the container X is transparent, for example, and there is a difference in intensity between the laser light reflected by the characteristic portion X1 and the laser light reflected by the other portions. , When the control device changes the light intensity signal continuously output from the light detection means (specifically, when the light intensity signal decreases momentarily), the characteristic portion X1 of the container X is the target position. It is configured to stop the rotation of the rotary mounting table 31 by determining that the Y has been reached.

When the feature portion X1 reaches the target position Y at the first rotation position P2a, the control device does not rotate the rotation mounting table 31 at the second rotation position P2b or the third rotation position P2c, and these rotation positions P2b. At c, c, the container X is transferred without rotation. Further, when the feature portion X1 reaches the target position Y at the second rotation position P2b, the control device does not rotate the rotation mounting table 31 at the third rotation position P2c, and the container X rotates at this rotation position P2c. Will be transferred without.

With this configuration, the container X is in a state where the feature portion X1 faces a predetermined direction at any of the first rotation position P2a, the second rotation position P2b, and the third rotation position P2c, and the container X remains in this state. It is transferred to the label mounting position P3.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the label mounting mechanism 40 mounts the label on the container X transferred to the label mounting position P3. The label here is a film having heat shrinkage, for example, made of resin, and is called a shrink label.

Specifically, the label mounting mechanism 40 has a mounting table 41 provided at the label mounting position P3, an elevating mechanism (not shown) for moving the mounting table 41 up and down, and a tubular label having a predetermined length on the mounting table 41. It is provided with a label dropping device 42 for dropping the label into the container X.

When the container X is mounted on the mounting table 41, the label mounting mechanism 40 raises the mounting table 41 to drop the label, and after the label is mounted on the container X, lowers the mounting table 41. It is configured. The container X after the label is attached is transferred to the eighth station S8, which is the delivery position P4, by the chuck mechanism 20.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the second transport mechanism 50 transports the container X placed at the delivery position P4 to, for example, a label heating device provided downstream, and specifically, the delivery position. It includes a second transport belt 51 provided with P4 and a drive motor (not shown) for driving the second transport belt 51. More specifically, the second transport belt 51 is an endless belt such as a flat belt or a caterpillar, and the endless belt is stretched on a rotary roller 52, and the rotary roller 52 is connected to a drive motor. There is.

The second transport mechanism 50 of the present embodiment further includes a pair of guide belts 53 provided on both sides of the second transport belt 51.

These guide belts 53 sandwich the container X transferred to the second transfer belt 51 from both sides in the width direction of the second transfer belt 51, that is, from a direction orthogonal to the transfer direction of the second transfer belt 51, for example. It is an endless belt. Each guide belt 53 is provided along the transport direction of the second transport belt 51, and is arranged here so as to sandwich the upper side of the half of the container X. Further, these guide belts 53 are driven at the same speed as the transfer speed of the second transfer belt 51. A plurality of sets of these pair of guide belts 53 may be provided at different positions along the height direction of the container X.

Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the second transport mechanism 50 includes a suction mechanism 54 that sucks the container X transferred to the second transport belt 51 from below the second transport belt 51.
Specifically, the suction mechanism 54 is provided with a suction pump 541 and a pipe member 542 having an opening at one end connected to the suction pump 541 and an opening at the other end facing the lower surface of the delivery position P4 in the second transport belt 51. And have.

<Effect of this embodiment>
Since the container transfer device 100 configured in this way is provided with a pair of chuck mechanisms 20, the transfer speed can be improved while stabilizing the label attachment by intermittently transferring the container X. Can be done.

Further, since the second transfer mechanism 50 includes a pair of guide belts 53 that sandwich the container X transferred to the delivery position P4 on the second transfer belt 51 from both sides in the width direction of the second transfer belt 51, the second transfer mechanism 50 is provided with a pair of guide belts 53. From the transfer to the position P4 to the transfer by the second transfer mechanism 50, the posture of the container X can be stabilized, and the container X can be prevented from falling back and forth, for example.

Further, since the driving speed of the pair of guide belts 53 is equal to the transport speed of the second transport belt 51, the posture of the container X to be transported by the second transport mechanism 50 can be further stabilized.

Moreover, since the second transport mechanism 50 includes a suction mechanism 54 that sucks the container X transferred to the delivery position P4 on the second transport belt 51 from below the second transport belt 51, the second transport belt The posture of the container X placed on the 51 can be further stabilized.

In addition, since each of the pair of chuck mechanisms 20 includes two sets of a pair of gripping members 21 provided at different positions along the height direction of the container X, they are different along the height direction of the container X. Two places can be sandwiched, and the operation of the chuck mechanism 20 can be stabilized.

Moreover, the first chuck mechanism 20A and the second chuck mechanism 20B are provided between the first intermediate position M1 provided between the stopper position P1 and the rotation position P2, and between the rotation position P2 and the label mounting position P3. Since the container X is transferred to the intermediate position M2, a relatively large cam or link constituting the chuck mechanism 20 can be used, and the mechanical strength capable of withstanding the transfer speed can be ensured.

Further, since the rotation mechanism 30 causes the characteristic portion X1 of the container X to reach a predetermined target position Y, the label can be attached with the container X in a desired orientation, for example, the orientation of the container X and the label. It can be matched with the orientation.

Further, the rotation mechanism 30 rotates the container X at the first rotation position P2a, the second rotation position P2b, and the third rotation position P2c so that the feature portion X1 reaches the target position Y. The rotation angle at each rotation position P2a to c can be reduced as compared with the configuration in which the rotation is performed at a location.
As a result, the container X can be rotated while being intermittently transferred, and the transfer speed can be improved.

Moreover, since the rotation angle of the container X at each rotation position P2a to c is equal to or more than 360 degrees obtained by dividing 360 degrees by the number of rotation positions P2 and less than 360 degrees, the time for rotating the container X at each rotation position P2a to c. It is possible to surely reach the predetermined target position Y at the characteristic portion X1 of the container X while shortening.

In addition, since the position detecting means 33 uses a laser beam irradiating the target position Y and receiving the laser beam reflected at the target position Y, the position detecting means 33 is relatively inexpensive. It is possible to detect that the feature portion X1 has reached the target position Y without making the device large-scale.

<Second Embodiment>
In the second embodiment, the pair of gripping members 21 constituting the chuck mechanism 20 are different from those in the above embodiment, and this difference will be described.

Specifically, in the above embodiment, each of the pair of gripping members 21 is composed of one flat plate, but in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, each of the pair of gripping members 21 is in the longitudinal direction. It is composed of a plurality of divided elements 211 which are divided.

Each division element 211 is formed with one or a plurality of grip regions Z, and the division elements 211 constituting one of the pair of grip members 21 and the division elements 211 constituting the other are divided so as to face each other. The same number of gripping regions Z are formed in each of the elements 211. Specifically, in the configuration shown in FIG. 5, the gripping member 21 has three division elements 211 along the longitudinal direction (hereinafter, the first division element 211a, the second division element 211b, and the third division in order from the upstream side in the transport direction). It is divided into elements 211c), and the first division element 211a is divided into five, and the second division element 211b and the third division element 211c are each formed with one grip region Z.

By the way, when the mounting table 41 of the container X is moved up and down at the label mounting position P3 as in the above embodiment, if the timing of gripping the container X after mounting the label is too early, the mounting table 41 is gripped before the mounting table 41 is lowered. The member 21 reaches the gripping position 21b from the standby position 21a, causing a malfunction.

Therefore, it is conceivable to increase the facing distance of the gripping region Z that grips the container X after the label is attached so that the gripping member 21 reaches the gripping position 21b after the mounting table 41 is lowered.

However, when the gripping member 21 is composed of one flat plate as in the above embodiment, if the facing distance of one gripping area Z is changed, the facing distance of the other gripping areas Z is also changed at once. It ends up. Then, the force for sandwiching the container X in each gripping region Z is weakened, the posture becomes unstable especially when the container X is transferred to the delivery position P4, and the container X falls on the second transport belt 51.

Therefore, the gripping member 21 of the present embodiment is configured so that the facing distance of the dividing elements 211 facing each other can be changed independently of the facing distance of the other dividing elements 211 facing each other. Specifically, the gripping member 21 has a support portion 212 that integrally supports each division element 211, and a distance adjusting mechanism 213 interposed between the division element 211 and the support portion 212.
Thereby, the facing distances of the dividing elements 211 facing each other can be adjusted to the required distances.

More specifically, the facing distance of the gripping region Z formed in the second dividing element 211b is made longer than the facing distance of the gripping region Z formed in the first dividing element 211a, and the gripping region Z is formed in the third dividing element 211c. The facing distance of the gripped region Z is set to be shorter than the facing distance of the gripping region Z formed in the first dividing element 211a.

According to this configuration, the facing distance of the gripping region Z formed on the second dividing element 211b is longer than the facing distance of the gripping region Z formed on the first dividing element 211a, so that the label mounting position P3 In the configuration in which the mounting table 41 is moved up and down, the gripping member 21 can be reached at the gripping position 21b after the mounting table 41 is lowered, and malfunction can be prevented.

Moreover, since the facing distance of the gripping region Z formed in the third dividing element 211c is shorter than the facing distance of the gripping region Z formed in the first dividing element 211a, the container X is transferred to the delivery position P4. The force for sandwiching the container X can be increased, and the container X can be placed on the second transport belt 51 in a stable posture.

The facing distance of the gripping region Z formed in the second divided element 211b is longer than the facing distance of the gripping region Z formed in the first divided element 211a, and the gripping region Z formed in the third divided element 211c. The gripping member 21 may be formed by one flat plate as long as the facing distance is shorter than the facing distance of the gripping region Z formed in the first dividing element 211a.

<Other modified embodiments>
The present invention is not limited to each of the above embodiments.

For example, in the above-described embodiment, the configuration in which the pair of chuck mechanisms 20 is provided has been described, but three or more chuck mechanisms 20 may be provided, or a single chuck mechanism 20 may be provided. Is also good.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the first chuck mechanism 20A and the second chuck mechanism 20B are provided with two pairs of gripping members 21 in the upper and lower portions, but only one pair of gripping members 21 may be provided. Three or more sets of a pair of gripping members 21 may be provided.

The chuck mechanism 20 of the above embodiment is configured to transfer the container X to the first intermediate position M1 and the second intermediate position M2, but transfers the container X to only one intermediate position and transfers the container X to the other intermediate position. It may be a configuration in which the above is not provided, or a configuration in which an intermediate position between the two is not provided may be provided.

The position detecting means 33 is not limited to the one using the laser beam as in the above embodiment, but the one using the convex portion 34 fitted in the concave portion X2 formed on the bottom surface of the container X, for example, as shown in FIG. It may be. In this case, the recess X2 is the feature portion X1.

Specifically, the convex portion 34 is urged by a urging member 35 such as a spring toward the bottom surface of the container X mounted on the rotary mounting table 31. Then, when the container X rotates and the concave portion X2 on the bottom surface of the container X reaches above the convex portion 34, the convex portion 34 fits into the concave portion X2. By providing such a convex portion 34 at each rotation position P2a to C and using a torque sensor or the like that detects the load of the motor that rotates the rotary mounting table 31, the feature portion X1 is predetermined as in the above embodiment. When the target position Y is reached, the rotation of the rotary mounting table 31 can be stopped.
Specifically, as a control device (not shown), when the output from the torque sensor is received and the detected load changes (specifically, when the load increases momentarily), the feature portion X1 Is determined to have reached a predetermined target position Y, and may be configured to stop the rotation of the rotary mounting table 31.

Further, the position detecting means 33 may use an image pickup device that captures an image of the container X from a specific direction.
In this case, the control device calculates the position of the feature portion X1 in the circumferential direction by performing image processing or the like on the image captured by the image pickup device, and rotates the mounting table so that the calculated position coincides with the target position Y. 31 may be controlled.

The rotation mechanism 30 may be configured to rotate the container X at the first rotation position P2a and the second rotation position P2b without providing the third rotation position P2c, or may be configured to rotate the container X at four or more rotation positions P2. It may be configured to rotate the container X with.

In addition, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and it goes without saying that various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

100 ... Container transport device X ... Container 10 ... 1st transport mechanism 20A ... 1st chuck mechanism 20B ... 2nd chuck mechanism 30 ... Rotation mechanism X1 ... Characteristic part Y ...・ ・ Target position 40 ・ ・ ・ Label mounting mechanism 50 ・ ・ ・ Second transport mechanism 53 ・ ・ ・ Guide belt 54 ・ ・ ・ Suction mechanism

Claims (7)

A transport belt that continuously transports multiple containers,
By repeating the operations of gripping , moving, and placing the container, at least two rotation positions provided downstream from the stopper position from the stopper position provided on the transport belt (hereinafter referred to as the first rotation position). And a chuck mechanism that intermittently moves the plurality of containers to the label mounting position provided downstream from these rotation positions via the second rotation position).
A container transport device comprising a rotation mechanism that rotates a container at the first rotation position and the second rotation position to reach a target position in which a characteristic portion of the container is oriented in a desired direction . The chuck mechanism further passes through a third rotation position different from the first rotation position and the second rotation position, and transfers the container to the label mounting position.
The container according to claim 1, wherein the rotation mechanism rotates the container at the first rotation position, the second rotation position, and the third rotation position to bring the feature portion to the target position. Transport device. The container transport device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein at least a pair of chuck mechanisms is provided, and the pair of chuck mechanisms are configured to alternately repeat gripping and placing of the container. The container according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the rotation angle of the container at each rotation position is equal to or more than 360 degrees divided by the number of rotation positions and less than 360 degrees. Transport device. A position detecting means for detecting that the characteristic portion of the container rotating at each rotation position has reached the target position, and
Any of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a control device for stopping the rotation of the container when the position detecting means detects that the featured portion has reached the target position. The container transport device according to item 1. The container transport device according to claim 5, wherein the position detecting means irradiates the target position with light and receives the light reflected at the target position. 5. The position detecting means is characterized by having a convex portion fitted in a concave portion formed on the bottom surface of the container and a torque sensor for detecting a load applied to a motor for rotating the container. Or the container transport device according to 6.

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