JPH0157007B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an article feeding device, and more particularly, to a circular top surface, a cylindrical skirt that hangs down from the periphery of the top surface, and a cylindrical skirt that further hangs down from the free end of the skirt and then protrudes radially outward. The present invention relates to an article supplying device for supplying an easy-to-open container lid having a gripping piece in an appropriate posture and oriented in an appropriate direction based on the gripping piece.

As a container lid for containers such as beverage bottles,
The above-mentioned easy-to-open container lids tend to be widely put into practical use; In order to do this, as is well known to those skilled in the art, it is necessary to place the container lid in an appropriate position, orient it in an appropriate direction based on the gripping piece, and feed it to an appropriate type of capping machine. be. As a container lid supplying device to satisfy such a need, for example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 53-6425, Japanese Patent Publication No. 55-9377, or Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 135059/1982 are disclosed.
As disclosed in the above-mentioned publication, there is provided a rotary disk which is rotationally driven in a predetermined direction, a container lid loading means for randomly loading container lids onto the rotary disk, and a container lid dispensing means for randomly loading container lids onto the rotary disk; A container lid supply device of the type has been proposed and put into practical use, and includes an annular stationary restriction member disposed therebetween and defining a container lid discharge path between the container lid and the annular peripheral area. The annular stationary restriction member has a lower surface located at a distance corresponding to the height of the container lid skirt with respect to the annular peripheral area at a location other than the outlet defined at a specific location. Further, at the outlet portion, the lower surface of the annular stationary restriction member is interrupted to define a gap extending radially through the annular stationary restriction member with a circumferential width corresponding to the width of the gripping piece of the container lid.

In the container lid feeding device as described above, the container lids are loaded from the container lid loading means onto the rotary disk in various postures and are moved radially outward on the rotary disk toward the container lid discharge path. When the container lid is in an appropriate position where the top surface contacts the top surface of the rotary disk, the top surface and skirt can enter the container lid discharge path, but the gripping piece contacts the inner surface of the annular stationary restriction member. This prevents the product from entering the container lid discharge path, so that the container lid is carried into the container discharge path with its gripping piece protruding radially inward. On the other hand, a container lid in an inappropriate position is not carried into the container lid discharge path because its top surface and skirt abut against the inner surface of the annular stationary restriction member. The container lid, which has been carried into the container lid discharge path in the manner described above and is in an appropriate posture, is conveyed circumferentially through the container lid discharge path according to the rotation of the rotary disk, and is then transported to a specific position in the container lid discharge path. It is discharged from the outlet section defined by , with the gripping piece facing backward in the radial direction.

Therefore, in the known container lid supply device as described above, when operated particularly at high speed, a plurality of container lids become entangled with each other at and in the vicinity of the outlet defined in the region of the container lid discharge path. It has been found that there are important problems to be solved, such as the fact that the lids of the containers are often unacceptably deformed, and that the lids of the containers that have been discharged are often unacceptably deformed.

The present invention has been made in view of the above facts, and its main purpose is to make the easy-open container lid as described above in an appropriate posture, and to orient the lid in an appropriate direction based on the gripping piece and supply the lid. It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and excellent article supplying apparatus that solves the problems that exist in the above-mentioned known container lid supplying apparatus.

As a result of intensive studies on the known container lid supply devices as described above, the inventors of the present invention have found that in the known container lid supply devices, the selection of container lids in an appropriate posture in a single article ejection path is possible. It has been recognized that the above-mentioned problem arises due to both the orientation of the container lid. To explain this point in more detail, in the known container lid supply device, the container lid in an appropriate posture is carried into the article discharge path, is conveyed in the circumferential direction along the article discharge path, reaches the outlet, and then is transported to the outlet. The outlet portion is moved radially outward and discharged, but when the outlet portion is moved radially outward, a force is applied from the rotary disk to the container lid to move it circumferentially, This force prevents the container lid from rotating. However, if the container lid rotates freely when the outlet portion is moved radially outward, the direction of the container lid naturally changes arbitrarily from the desired direction. Therefore, at the outlet, it is necessary to prevent the container lid from rotating and to move the container lid radially outward, which tends to prevent the container lid from being ejected quickly enough. be. On the other hand, some of the container lids that are moved radially outward on the rotary disk toward the container lid discharge path have their gripping pieces in an inappropriate position in contact with the top surface of the rotary disk, and such defects may occur. When a suitable position is brought into the vicinity of the outlet of the container lid outlet, a portion of it tends to enter the outlet and become temporarily lodged there. Due to the synergistic effect of the above two tendencies, a plurality of container lids become intertwined and closed at the outlet, and as a result, undesirable force is exerted on each container lid. This results in unacceptable deformation of the container lid.

Based on the above recognition, the present inventors conducted further intensive research and experiments, and as a result, the following improvements were made to the conventional container lid supply device: (a) A unique configuration was added to the exit section of the article discharge path. In other words, only the posture selection function is maintained and the orientation function is eliminated. It has been found that the above-mentioned problems existing in known container lid feeding devices can be solved by an improvement in which an orienting device having an orienting function is provided separately.

That is, according to the present invention, there is provided an easy-to-open container lid that has a circular top surface, a cylindrical skirt that hangs down from the periphery of the top surface, and a gripping piece that further hangs down from the free end of the skirt and then projects radially outward. An article feeding device for feeding an article in an appropriate posture and oriented in an appropriate direction based on the gripping piece; a rotary disk driven to rotate in a predetermined direction; A posture comprising an article loading means for randomly loading lids, and an article discharge path defined between an annular peripheral area on the upper surface of the rotary plate and an annular stationary restriction member disposed above the annular peripheral area. a selection mechanism, wherein the restriction member includes, at least at a location other than the one outlet, a lower surface located at a distance from the annular peripheral area corresponding to the height of the skirt of the container lid; The top surface and the skirt portion of the container lid in an appropriate position where the top surface contacts the top surface of the rotary plate are allowed to enter the article ejection path; The top surface and the skirt portion of the container lid in the position are prevented from entering the article discharge path, while the bottom surface is interrupted at the at least one outlet so that the container lid, at least in part, is interrupted. one of the gripping pieces of the container lid extending radially therethrough with a minimum circumferential width corresponding to the width of the base depending from the free end of the skirt of the gripping piece of the lid and in the proper position; a first gap that allows the base to pass radially; and a first gap located next to and above the first gap and radially outward from the base of the gripping piece of the container lid. Extending radially through with a circumferential width that is at least twice the length of the protrusion of the extending protrusion, and allowing the protrusion of the gripping piece of the container lid in the appropriate position to pass in the radial direction. a second gap is formed that allows a container lid in an inappropriate orientation to pass radially through the article ejection path, but prevents a container lid in an inappropriate orientation from passing through the gripping piece; a posture selection mechanism that allows the container lid to pass in a radial direction through the article discharge path while facing in various directions; and a container lid in an appropriate posture discharged from the article discharge path of the posture selection mechanism. and an orientation mechanism that receives the container lid in the appropriate position and discharges the container lid with the gripping piece facing in a predetermined direction. .

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A more detailed description will be given below with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate specific examples of an article supplying apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, which illustrate a specific example of a posture selection mechanism in an article supplying apparatus constructed according to the present invention, the entire structure is designated by the number 2.
In the posture selection mechanism shown in , a cylindrical support 6 is fixed to the base 4, and a main shaft 8 extending substantially vertically is rotatably mounted on the support 6. A flange portion is formed at the upper end of the main shaft 8, and a rotary disk 10 having a flat upper surface is fixed substantially horizontally to the flange portion. On the other hand, the lower end of the main shaft 8 is connected to a suitable drive source 14 such as an electric motor via a winding transmission mechanism 12. The drive source 14 rotates the main shaft 8 and the rotary disk 10 at a required speed in the direction shown by an arrow 16 via the winding transmission mechanism 12.

A plurality of struts 18 are installed on the peripheral edge of the base 4 at intervals in the circumferential direction. A guide side wall 20 having an annular shape (however, it is not completely annular and has a part cut out as mentioned later) extending along the periphery of the rotary disk 10 is fixed to the upper ends of these pillars 18. ing. A plurality of (six in the illustrated case) support pieces 22 are fixed to the upper surface of the guide side wall 20, and are arranged at intervals in the circumferential direction and protrude radially inward. An annular stationary limit member 24 is provided on the lower surface of the inner end of the support piece 22.
is fixed. Further, on the lower surface of the support piece 22, an annular member 26 located outside the restriction member 24 is provided.
It is advantageous that the same is also fixed. Limiting member 2
4 cooperates with an annular peripheral area located below the restriction member 24 on the upper surface of the rotary disk 10 to define an article discharge path 28 between the two. Additionally, the annular member 26
is located below the annular member 26 on the upper surface of the rotary disk 10, and thus cooperates with an annular outermost peripheral region located further outside the annular peripheral region defining the article discharge path 28 to create a space between the two. An article collection path 30 is defined. The configuration of the restricting member 24 and the annular member 26 and their functions in the article discharge path 28 and article collection path 30 will be further discussed later.

In the illustrated posture selection mechanism 2, a cylindrical side wall 32 is further provided above the limiting member 24. And also, the discharge end is the rotary disk 1
0 center (more specifically, the flange of the main shaft 8)
Also provided are article loading means 34 formed from an inclined chute located above the chute.

In the posture selection mechanism 2 as described above, the circular top surface 36a, the cylindrical skirt 36b that hangs down from the periphery of the top surface 36a, and the gripping piece 36 that further hangs down from the free end of 36b and then projects radially outward.
A quick-open container lid 36 (see also FIGS. 4 to 6), which may be of a form known per se, having a cylindrical shape is processed. Container lids 36 to be processed are dropped from the article loading means 34 onto the flange portion of the main shaft 8 in various postures, and are then dropped onto the container lid 36 from the flange portion of the main shaft 8 rotating in the direction shown by the arrow 16. The articles are moved radially outward by the action of centrifugal force and transferred onto the rotary disk 10, or are directly dropped onto the rotary disk 10 from the article loading means 34 in various postures,
In this way, they are placed on the rotary disk 10 in various postures. Then, along with the rotation of the turntable 10, the arrow 1
6, and is moved in the direction shown by arrow 1.
Due to the centrifugal force exerted on the container lid 36 from the rotary disk 10 rotating in the direction indicated by 6, the container lid 36 is moved radially outward on the rotary disk 10 toward the article discharge path 28. In order to facilitate the radially outward movement of the container lid 36 on the rotary disk 10, if necessary, the upper surface of the flange portion of the main shaft 8 and/or the upper surface of the rotary disk 10 may be moved radially outwardly downward. The rotary disc 10 may be formed into a substantially conical shape with an inclination, or a suitable air injection means may be used to generate an air flow that flows radially outward over the rotary disc 10, or at least a portion of the rotary disc 10 may be It can also be made to vibrate.

The structure of the annular stationary limiting member 24 will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 to 6 as well as FIGS. 1 to 3. It is composed of two pieces: a first annular piece 38 fixed to the bottom surface of the first annular piece 38, and a second annular piece 40 fixed downwardly at a predetermined distance from the lower surface of the first annular piece 38. . The vertical distance l ₁ between the upper surface of the rotary disk 10 and the lower surface of the second annular piece 40 is determined by the skirt 3 of the container lid 36.
The dimension corresponding to the height h ₁ of 6b, more specifically, the dimension is set to be substantially the same as or slightly larger than the height h ₁ . In addition, the second annular piece 40
The thickness t is the height of the base of the gripping piece 36c of the container lid 36 that hangs down from the free end of the skirt 36b.
_h2 , and the upper surface of the second annular piece 40 and the first
The vertical distance l ₂ between the annular piece 38 and the lower surface of the container lid 36 is set larger than the height h ₃ of the protruding portion of the gripping piece 36c of the container lid 36 that extends radially outward from the base. The vertical distance l ₂ between the upper surface of the second annular piece 40 and the lower surface of the first annular piece 38 is determined by a space setting sleeve having a predetermined thickness between the first annular piece 38 and the second annular piece 40. 41 are arranged at intervals in the circumferential direction, and the second annular piece 40 is fixed to the first annular piece 38 by a set screw 42 that is screwed into the first annular piece 38 through the spacing sleeve 41. This allows easy and accurate setting.

Article discharge path 28 defined by the annular stationary restriction member 24 and the annular peripheral area of the upper surface of the rotary disk 10
has at least one, preferably a plurality (four in the case shown) of circumferentially spaced outlet portions 4.
4 are arranged. And, such an outlet section 44
In , the second annular piece 4 of the annular stationary member 24
A gap 46 is formed radially through the gap 0 . The gap 46 has, at least in part, a dimension corresponding to the width w of the base of the gripping piece 36c of the container lid 36 that hangs down from the free end of the skirt 36b, more specifically, a dimension that is substantially the same as or wider than the width w. It is important to have a minimum circumferential width x ₁ of slightly larger dimensions. In the illustrated example,
As clearly illustrated in FIG. 6, the gap 46 is
The minimum circumferential width x ₁ is defined at the radially inner end, and the circumferential width gradually increases from the minimum circumferential width x ₁ in the radially outward direction. As explained further below, the spacing 46 of the second annular piece 40 of the annular stationary member 24 allows the gripping piece 36c of the container lid 36 to move radially outwardly through the outlet portion 44. defining a first gap through which the base portion of the first gap passes. Also,
Next to and above the gap 46,
The space between the upper surface of the second annular piece 40 and the lower surface of the first annular piece 38 at the outlet section 44
4 defines a second gap through which the inscription protrusion of the gripping piece 36c of the container lid 36 passes as the container lid 36 moves radially outwardly. and,
This second gap continuously widens with a circumferential width x ₂ that is more than twice the radial protrusion length y of the protruding portion of the gripping piece 36c of the container lid 36. In other words, in the outlet section 44, the first annular piece 38
and the second annular piece 40, the circumferential distance between the gap setting sleeve 41 and the second annular piece 40 is x ₂
is more than twice the protrusion length y (the reason will be described later).

Next, the operation of the article discharge path 28 defined by the annular static restriction member 24 and the annular peripheral area of the rotary disk 10 as described above will be summarized. Among the container lids 36 in various postures that have been moved radially outward toward the article discharge path 28, the container lid 36 in an appropriate posture, that is, the top surface 36a thereof
The container lid 36 in an inverted state is in contact with the top surface of the
The vertical interval of the article discharge path 28, that is, the rotary disk 10
Since the distance l ₁ between the upper surface and the lower surface of the second annular piece 40 corresponds to the height h ₁ of the skirt 36b of the container lid 36, for example, as shown on the left side of FIG. 2, the gripping piece 36c The top surface 36a and the skirt 36b are carried into the article discharge path 28 with the top surface 36a and the skirt 36b projecting radially inward. Then, according to the rotation of the rotary disk 10, the article is conveyed through the article discharge path 38 in the direction shown by the arrow 16. On the other hand, the container lid 36 is in an inappropriate posture opposite to the above-described proper posture, that is, with the top surface 36a facing upward, because the gripping piece 36c has a base that further hangs down from the free end of the skirt 36b. A portion of the top surface 36a is located above the lower surface of the second annular piece 40, and therefore, as shown on the right side of FIG.
0, the article is not sufficiently carried into the article discharge path 28, and is conveyed in the direction shown by the arrow 16 along the inner edge of the article discharge path 28 in accordance with the rotation of the rotary disk 10. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, in a region slightly inside the article discharge path 28, the rotary disk 10 has a large number of air jets extending upward and radially inward. A hole 48 is formed. Moreover, below the rotary disk 10,
For example, a plurality of stationary blower pipes each having an outlet aligned with the air injection hole 48 at a portion slightly upstream of each of the outlet portions 44 of the article discharge path 28 in the direction of rotation of the rotary disk 10 as shown by the arrow 16. 50 are arranged. And such a blower pipe 50
is connected to a blower (not shown) and
Air flow sent from the blower to the blow pipe 50 is injected upward and radially inward through the air injection holes 48 formed in the rotary disk 10. Therefore, due to the inappropriate posture, the articles are not sufficiently carried into the article discharge path 28, and are conveyed in the direction indicated by the arrow 16 along the inner edge of the article discharge path 28 as the rotary disk 10 rotates. The improperly positioned container lid 36 is subjected to the action of the air flow injected from the air injection hole 48 at the specific location where the blast pipe 50 is located, and is thereby returned radially inward. At the same time, it is reversed to an appropriate posture.

On the other hand, the article is carried into the article discharge path 28 as described above, and the article is transported to the article discharge path 28 according to the rotation of the rotary disk 10.
The container lid 36 conveyed through the article discharge path 2
8, through which it is discharged radially outwards.
When the container lid 36 is discharged radially outward through the outlet portion 44, the skirt 36b of the gripping piece 36c of the container lid 36 hangs down from the free end of the skirt 36b, as shown in FIGS. 4 to 6. The base has a gap 46 (i.e., a first gap) formed in the second annular piece 40.
, and a protrusion extending radially outward from the base of the gripping piece 36c of the container lid 36 connects the upper surface of the second annular piece 40, which is located next to and above the gap 46, with the first and the lower surface of the annular piece 38 (i.e., the second gap). Thus, the space (i.e., the second gap) between the upper surface of the second annular piece 40 and the lower surface of the first annular piece 38 at the outlet portion 44 is a portion of the gripping portion 36c of the container lid 36. The protrusion extends continuously with a circumferential width x ₂ that is larger than the radial protrusion length y of the protrusion, preferably more than twice the radial protrusion length y. Therefore, the container lid 36 can be used not only in a state in which the gripping piece 36c is directed radially inward as shown by the solid line in FIG. Even in the oriented position, it can be expelled radially outwardly through the outlet section 44. Therefore, the container lid 36 is not restricted to a specific direction when passing through the outlet portion 44, and can freely rotate by, for example, rotating the rotary disk 10 in the direction indicated by the arrow 16.
It is therefore discharged radially outwardly through the outlet section 44 sufficiently quickly. Furthermore, it is particularly noteworthy that the container lid 36 placed on the rotary disk 10 and moving radially outward on the rotary disk 10 toward the article discharge path 28 is spaced circumferentially away from the outlet portion 44. In addition to reaching the article discharge path 28 at the exit portion 44 or in the vicinity thereof, the article discharge path 28
It is not uncommon to reach . And the exit part 4
When the container lid 3 reaches the article discharge path 28 at or near the container lid 3, the container lid 3 is in an appropriate posture (i.e., an inverted state with the top surface 36a in contact with the surface of the rotary disk 10).
6 also has a direction regulating action by the annular stationary limiting member 24;
That is, in a state where the gripping piece 36c is not sufficiently directed inward in the radial direction, the gripping piece 36c
c is located at the exit portion 44 with the paper facing in various directions. However, the outlet portion 44 is attached to the container lid 36 with the gripping piece 36c facing various directions as described above.
Since the container lid 36 reaches the outlet section 44 with the gripping piece 36c facing various directions as described above, the container lid 36 can quickly pass through the outlet section 44 without becoming stagnant. is discharged through the outlet section 44. On the other hand, the container lid 36, which has moved radially outward on the rotary disk 10 toward the article discharge path 28 and directly reaches the outlet 44, reaches the top surface 36a.
If the top surface 36a is in an inappropriate posture facing upward, a portion of the top surface 36a will be located above the bottom surface of the second annular piece 40, and The width of this part is the same as the gap 4 formed in the second annular piece 40 when viewed in any direction.
6 (i.e. the first gap) width x ₁ , so
It cannot pass through the exit section 44. The container lid 36 in such an inappropriate position tends to temporarily stay at the inner edge of the outlet section 44, but as the rotary disk 10 rotates, the container lid 36 moves away from the inner edge of the outlet section 44 by the arrow 16. It is transported in the direction shown.

In the outlet section 44 configured as described above, the container lid 36 in an appropriate posture that has reached the outlet section 44 is quickly discharged through the outlet section 44 with its gripping piece 36c facing various directions, Therefore, even though the container lid 36 in an inappropriate posture that has directly reached the outlet portion 44 tends to temporarily stay on the inner edge of the outlet portion 44, the container lid 36 in an appropriate posture
A plurality of container lids 36 will not become entangled with each other at the outlet portion 44 and become obstructed there due to, for example, a container lid 36 in an inappropriate posture becoming entangled with each other.

If desired, a radially outwardly flowing air flow may be generated in the outlet section 44, for example, to facilitate radially outward movement of the properly oriented container lid 36 through the outlet section 44. In the illustrated embodiment, the outlet section 44 has an air injection hole 52 having a tip extending downwardly and radially outwardly, as clearly shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. The first block piece 54
The lower part of the annular piece 38 is defined. An air flow is supplied to the air injection hole 52 from a blower (not shown) through a connection 56, and the air flow is injected downwardly and radially outwardly at the outlet 44, and 44 to facilitate radially outward movement of the properly oriented container lid 36 through the portion 44.

In the illustrated embodiment, the annular stationary limiting member 24, which cooperates with the annular peripheral area of the upper surface of the rotary disk 10 to define the article discharge path 28, is connected to the first annular piece 38 and the first annular piece 38. It is defined by two pieces, including a second annular piece 40 disposed at a predetermined distance _l2 below. However, as is clear from the above description, the first annular piece 38 and the second
The only necessary part of the space between the annular piece 40 and the annular piece 40 is a part having a circumferential width x ₂ at the outlet part 44.
Therefore, if desired, the annular stationary limiting member 24 may be formed from a single annular piece, with a predetermined portion of the lower surface of the annular piece having the first gap and the above-mentioned gap located above it. A second gap is formed in the outlet portion 4 by forming two radially penetrating grooves defining a second gap.
4 can also be specified.

Exit section 4 of article discharge path 28 as described above.
The container lid 36 in the proper position to be ejected radially outwardly through the annular member 26 and the annular outermost peripheral region of the upper surface of the rotary disk 10, as can be readily seen from FIGS. The goods collection path 30 is defined between the goods collection path 30 and the bottom surface of the goods collection path 30. The articles are then conveyed through the article collection path 30 in the direction shown by the arrow 16 in accordance with the rotation of the rotary disk 10.
from the outlet 58 to a directing mechanism generally designated 60 (only a portion of which is shown in FIGS. 1-3). At the exit portion 58 of the article collection path 30, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the guide side wall 20 extending along the outer periphery of the article collection path 30 is cut out over a required circumferential width. At the same time, at the downstream end of the outlet section 58, the article collection path 3
A stationary deflection plate 62 is provided which traverses 0.
The inlet end of the orientation mechanism 60 is connected to the guide side wall 2.
It is located in the notch formed at 0. Because of this, the container lid 36 is conveyed along the article collection path 30 in the direction shown by the arrow 16 according to the rotation of the rotary disk 10 and is in an appropriate posture when it reaches the outlet section 58 due to the deflection of the deflection plate 62. The orientation mechanism 6 is guided radially outwards by a guiding action and is guided through the recess formed in the guide side wall 20.
It will be clear that the inlet end of 0.
The lower surface of the annular member 26, which cooperates with the outermost peripheral area of the upper surface of the turntable 10 to define the article collection path 30, extends over the entire height of the container lid 36 relative to the upper surface of the turntable 10 (i.e.
h ₁ + h ₂ + h ₃ ), more specifically, it is located above by a dimension that is substantially the same as or somewhat larger than the total height of the container lid 36, for example, the outlet portion 44 of the article discharge path 28 or the article The container lid 36 carried into the collection path 30 collides with a container lid 36 that has already been conveyed in the direction indicated by the arrow 16 through the article discharge path 28, so that the container lid is in an appropriate posture in the article collection path 30. To surely prevent 36 from changing into an inappropriate posture.

The orientation mechanism, generally designated by the numeral 60, will now be described with reference to FIGS. 8-A, 8-B, 8-C, and 8-D. The orientation mechanism 60 in the illustrated embodiment includes an introduction section 64 that extends substantially horizontally from the outlet section 58 of the article collection path 30 of the attitude selection mechanism 2 described above and then curves downwardly.
, an orientation part 66 that extends downward and laterally (from left to right in FIG. 8-C) from this introduction part 64, and a lead-out part that further extends downward from this orientation part 66. 68. The chute constituting the orientation mechanism 60 has a width sufficiently larger than the diameter of the top surface 36a of the container lid 36, for example, about three times the diameter of the top surface 36a of the container lid 36, and has a width that is approximately three times the diameter of the top surface 36a of the container lid 36. It has a bottom wall 70 that extends continuously through the attaching part 66 and the leading-out part 68, and has a bottom wall 70 that continuously extends through the attaching part 66 and the leading-out part 68. When the container lid 36 is in an inverted state, its top surface 3
6a in contact with the bottom wall 70 through the chute. In the introduction part 64, the height h ₁ (the fourth height) of the skirt 36a of the container lid 36 is
A pair of guide side walls 72a and 72b are provided which extend along both side edges of the bottom wall 70 at a height approximately corresponding to that shown in FIG.
A pair of regulating side walls 74a and 74b are provided above b (therefore, corresponding to the position of the gripping piece 36c of the container lid 36 that moves through the introduction part 64). As clearly shown in Figure C, the distance between the pair of restricting side walls 74a and 74b is
In the substantially horizontally extending portion of the introduction part 64, the distance gradually decreases downstream from the interval corresponding to the width of the bottom wall 70 to the interval corresponding to the width of the gripping piece 36c of the container lid 36. In the downwardly curved extending portion, a reduced distance corresponding to the width of the gripping piece 36c of the container lid 36 is maintained. On the other hand, in the orientation section 66, as clearly shown in FIG. 8-D,
The guide side wall is omitted from the left side to the lower side in the figure, and the regulation side wall is omitted from the right side to the upper side in Figure 8-C.
Only the guide side wall 72a located on the right or above in FIG. 8-C and the regulation side wall 74b located on the left or below in FIG. 8-C are provided. In the lead-out portion 68, a pair of guide side walls 72a and 72b extend along both side edges of the bottom wall 70.
and a pair of regulating side walls 74a and 74b having an interval corresponding to the width of the gripping piece 36c of the container lid 36.

To summarize the operation and effect of the orientation mechanism 60 composed of the chute as described above, the exit section 5 of the article collection path 30 of the attitude selection mechanism 2
Container lid 36 in an appropriate position after being ejected from 8
is carried into the introduction section 64 of the orientation mechanism 60 with its gripping piece 36c facing various directions. Then, when being moved through the introduction section 64, the eighth-
As can be easily understood from Figure B, the restricting action of the pair of restricting side walls 74a and 74b acting on the gripping piece 36c causes the gripping piece 36c to be directed forward in the direction of travel or to be directed backward in the direction of travel. It is preliminarily oriented to one of the states toward , and then transferred to the orientation section 66 . In the orientation part 66, as shown in FIGS. 8-C and 8-
As can be easily understood from Fig. D, only the gripping piece 36c moves while being guided or latched to the regulating side wall 74b on one side. In this case, the gripping piece 36
The container lid 36 with c facing forward in the direction of travel is
Its own center of gravity is not the gripping piece 36c but the top surface 3
6a, it rotates around the part that is in contact with the regulating side wall 74b on one side (the base part of the gripping piece 36c that hangs down from the free end of the skirt 36b), and enters the lead-out part 68 from the orientation part 66. At times, the direction is corrected so that the gripping piece 36c faces backward in the traveling direction. On the other hand, the container lid 36 that has entered the orientation section 66 with the gripping piece 36c facing backward in the traveling direction is sent to the delivery section 68 in that state without substantially rotating. Thus, the container lid 36 sent through the directing section 66 to the outlet section 68
are all reliably oriented with their grip pieces 36c facing backward in the direction of travel, and the restriction side wall pair 7
4a and 74b, and is fed to a seaming machine (not shown) for attaching the container lid 36 to the mouth of a container, such as a bottle, as required. Ru. If desired, the eighth-
As shown in FIG. If a situation occurs in which a plurality of container lids 36 accumulate at the downstream end of the guide side wall 72b, the downstream end 7 of the guide side wall 72b on one side
6 is automatically rotated to the open position shown by the two-dot chain line, and the plurality of container lids 36 retained therein can be automatically discharged to the outside of the chute.

In the illustrated chute constituting the orientation mechanism 60, as described above, the container lid 36 is moved in the direction in which the gripping piece 36c thereof faces forward or backward in the direction of movement by the action of the pair of restricting side walls 74a and 74b in the introduction portion 64. All the container lids 3 are preliminarily oriented and then rotated in the orientation part 66 due to the guiding action of the regulating side wall 74b on one side and the center of gravity of the container lid 36 itself.
6 is oriented in a required direction, that is, in a direction in which the gripping piece 36 faces rearward in the direction of movement, preliminary orientation at the introduction portion 64 is not necessarily necessary and can be omitted if desired. Also,
The orientation action in the orientation section 66 is independent of the position of the center of gravity of the container lid 36 itself; for example, by blowing an air flow in an appropriate direction onto the container lid 36, the container lid 36 is rotated as necessary. This can also be achieved by forcing people to do something. Additionally, if necessary, an air flow flowing in the direction of travel may be applied to the container lid 36, for example to ensure that the container lid 36 moves at a desired speed through a substantially horizontal portion of the introduction section 64. At the very least, the movement of the container lid 36 can be facilitated.

9 and 10 illustrate a second embodiment of an article supplying apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention,
In this second specific example, the entire number 102
An orientation mechanism, generally designated by numeral 160, is disposed on the outer periphery of the posture selection mechanism shown by , and both mechanisms are integrally combined.

Referring to Figures 9 and 10, the entire number is 10.
To explain the configuration of the posture selection mechanism 2 shown in 2, as in the case of the posture selection mechanism 2 in the first specific example, a cylindrical support 106 is fixed to the base 104, and a substantially vertical support 106 is fixed to the base 104. A main shaft 108 extending from the main shaft 108 is rotatably mounted. A flange portion is formed at the upper end of the main shaft 108, and a rotary disk 110 having a flat upper surface is fixed substantially horizontally to the flange portion. on the other hand,
The lower end of the main shaft 110 is connected to a suitable drive source 114 such as an electric motor via a winding transmission mechanism 112. The drive source 114 is the winding transmission mechanism 11
2 through the main shaft 108 and the rotary disk 110 as shown by the arrow 1
Rotate it in the direction shown by 16 at the required speed.

A plurality of struts 118 are installed on the peripheral edge of the base 104 at intervals in the circumferential direction, and a support piece 122 that protrudes radially inward is fixed to the upper end of each of the struts 118. An annular stationary limit member 12 is provided on the lower surface of the inner end of the support piece 122.
4 is fixed. This restriction member 124 cooperates with an annular peripheral area located below the restriction member 124 on the upper surface of the rotary disk 110, that is, in the illustrated case, an annular outermost peripheral area, and creates an article discharge path 128 between the two. stipulates. The restriction member 124 itself may have substantially the same configuration as the restriction member 24 provided in the posture selection mechanism 2 in the first specific example, and may include a first annular piece fixed to the lower surface of the inner end of the support piece 122. 138 and a second annular piece 140 fixed downwardly at a predetermined distance from the lower surface of the first annular piece 138. A plurality of (four in the illustrated case) outlet portions 144 are formed at intervals in the circumferential direction. The first annular piece 138 and the second annular piece 140 that constitute the limiting member 124
The configuration, particularly the configuration at the outlet portion 144, is
Since the configurations of the first annular piece 38 and the second annular piece 40 of the limiting member 24 provided in the posture selection mechanism 2 in the specific example are substantially the same, details regarding these will be explained in order to avoid duplication of explanation. Further explanation will be omitted.

A cylindrical side wall 132 is disposed above the limiting member 124 . A plurality of supporting pieces 133 (four pieces in the illustrated case) extending radially inward at intervals in the circumferential direction are fixed to the upper end of this side wall 132, and at the inner end of the supporting pieces 133, An article loading means 134 constituted by a known cyclone type loading device is fixed.

Furthermore, as in the case of the posture selection mechanism 2 in the first specific example, in a region slightly inside the article conveyance path 128, the rotary disk 110 has a large number of inclinations extending upward and radially inward. Air injection holes 148 are formed at intervals in the circumferential direction,
A plurality of static blower pipes 150 having outlets aligned with the air injection holes 148 are arranged at appropriate positions below the rotary disk 110. The blower pipe 150 is connected to a blower (not shown), and the air flow sent from the blower to the blower pipe 150 is directed upward and radially inward through the air injection hole 148 formed in the rotary disk 110. It is forced to be sprayed towards.

Next, the orientation mechanism, which is generally indicated by the number 160, will be explained. An annular support 161 having an L-shaped cross section is fixed to the inner side of the vertically intermediate portion of the support 118, and the annular support 161 has an annular shape. A rotating body 163 is rotatably mounted. and,
An annular rotating disk 165 is fixed to the upper end of the rotating body 163. Annular rotary disk 1 in the illustrated example
65 is the rotary disk 1 of the attitude selection mechanism 102 described above.
It has a flat top surface that is substantially coplanar with the top surface of 10. On the other hand, teeth are carved on the inner surface of the lower end of the rotating body 163 over its entire circumference. Also,
A relatively large gear 167 is fixed to the lower surface of the flange portion formed at the upper end of the main shaft 108 mentioned above. A shaft 171 is rotatably mounted on a cylindrical support 169 fixed to the base 104.
The gear 167 is drivingly connected to the lower end of the rotating body 163 via a transmission gear 173 fixed to the upper end. As described above, when the rotating disk 110 of the main shaft 108 is rotated at a required speed in the direction shown by the arrow 116 by the driving source 114, the rotating body 1 is rotated through the gears 167 and 173.
63 and annular rotary disc 165 are driven to rotate in opposite directions, ie in the direction indicated by arrow 175.

Furthermore, an annular stationary restriction member 177 is fixed near the radially outer end of the lower surface of the support piece 122 described above. This limiting member 177 cooperates with an annular peripheral area located below the limiting member 177 on the upper surface of the annular rotary disc 165, that is, in the illustrated case, an annular outermost peripheral area, and provides orientation between the two. An article discharge path 179 in mechanism 160 is defined. The restriction member 177 is arranged at a predetermined distance l ₃ from the upper surface of the annular rotary disk 165 in a region other than one or more (one in the illustrated case) outlet portion 181 formed in the article discharge path 179. (Figure 11)
having a lower surface located above by a predetermined distance l ₃ above.
is the height h ₁ of the skirt 136a of the container lid 136
(FIG. 11), more specifically, it is important that the height _h1 of the skirt 136a of the container lid 136 is set to be substantially the same as, or only slightly larger than, the height h1. On the other hand, the article discharge path 179
At the outlet portion 181, a notch 183 is formed in the lower surface of the restricting member 177, extending radially through the restricting member 177, as clearly shown in FIG.
The height l ₄ of the notch 183 seen from the top surface of the annular rotary disk 165 is equal to the total height of the container lid 136 (i.e., h ₁ + h ₂ +
_h3 ) is substantially the same as or greater than
The circumferential width x ₃ of the notch 183 is equal to the width x 3 of the notch 183.
The dimension corresponding to the maximum width w ₂ of the gripping piece 136c of 36, more specifically, the gripping piece 136c of the container lid 136
It is important that the dimension is set to be substantially the same as or slightly larger than the maximum width w ₂ of . In addition to the limiting member 177, the supporting piece 1
Advantageously, a current member 184 located radially inside of the limiting member 177 is also fixed to the lower surface of the limiting member 177 . The lower surface of this annular member 184 has a dimension corresponding to the total height of the container lid 136 (i.e., h ₁ + h ₂ + h ₃ ), more specifically, a dimension that is substantially the same as or somewhat larger than the total height of the container lid 136. It has a lower surface located above the upper surface of.

In the second embodiment as described above, container lids 136 to be treated are fed to the article loading means 134, which consists of a cyclone type loading device, accompanied by an air flow flowing through a tubular duct 187; While rotating in the article loading means 134, the article is gradually decelerated and dropped onto the flange of the main shaft 108 in various postures, and then from the flange of the main shaft 108, which is rotating in the direction shown by the arrow 116, onto the container lid 136. The rotary disk 110 is moved radially outward by the action of centrifugal force exerted on it.
The articles are transferred upward, or directly dropped onto the rotary disk 110 from the article loading means 134 in various postures, and are thus placed on the rotary disk 110 in various postures. As the rotary disk 110 rotates, it is moved in the direction shown by the arrow 116, and due to the action of centrifugal force exerted on the container lid 136 from the rotary disk 110 rotating in the direction shown by the arrow 116, The article is moved radially outward on the rotary disk 110 toward the article discharge path 128 .
Thus, the posture selection mechanism 2 in the first specific example
In exactly the same way as in the above case, the container lid 136 in an appropriate posture, that is, in an inverted state with its top surface 136a in contact with the top surface of the rotary disk 110, selectively moves to the article discharge path 12.
8 and then through the outlet 144 formed in the article discharge path 128, the gripping piece 13
6c is discharged radially outward with the parts facing in various directions.

Thus, in the second specific example illustrated in FIGS. 9 to 11, the container lid 136 discharged through the outlet portion 144 of the article discharge path 128 of the posture selection mechanism 102 is As can be easily understood from the figure, it is carried directly onto the annular rotary disk 165 of the orientation mechanism 160. The container lid 136 carried onto the annular rotary disk 165 is moved in the direction shown by an arrow 175 as the annular rotary disk 165 rotates, and the annular rotary disk is rotated in the direction shown by the arrow 175. Directing mechanism 160 radially outwardly on annular rotary disk 165 by centrifugal force exerted on container lid 136 from 165
The article is moved toward the article discharge path 179.
At this time, the annular member 185 disposed above the annular rotary disk 110 is connected to the attitude selection mechanism 102, for example.
The container lid 136 newly carried onto the annular rotary disk 165 from the exit portion 144 of the article discharge path 128 collides with the container lid 136 that has already been moved on the annular rotary disk 165, so that the container lid 136 is not placed in an appropriate posture. To reliably prevent a container lid 136 located in a container from changing into an inappropriate posture.

The container lid 136 carried onto the annular rotary disk 165 of the orientation mechanism 160 and moved toward the article discharge path 179 is aligned with the vertical distance of the article discharge path 179, that is, the upper surface of the annular rotary disk 165 and the limiting member 17.
7 and the lower surface of the container lid 136 corresponds to the height _{h 1 (} FIG. 11) of the skirt 136b of the container lid 136, the gripping piece 136c is The top surface 136a and the skirt 136b are carried into the article discharge path 179 in a state in which they are projected inward in the radial direction. And the annular rotary disk 16
5, the article is conveyed through the article discharge path 179 in the direction shown by the arrow 175 and reaches the outlet section 181. At the exit portion 181 of the article discharge path 179, a notch 183 is formed in the restriction member 177 with dimensions as described above and extends through the radial direction.
c is moved radially outwardly by passing through the notch 183 and is thus discharged radially outwardly through the outlet portion 181. The circumferential width x ₃ of the notch 183 formed in the outlet portion 181 is larger than the gripping piece 13 of the container lid 136, as clearly shown in FIG.
6c, the container lid 136 cannot rotate freely, and when the gripping piece 136c is oriented radially inward, that is, the gripping piece 136c is viewed in the discharge direction. It is restricted in the rearward direction and is discharged from the outlet section 181.
In this way, the container lid 136 discharged in the desired direction, that is, in the direction with the gripping piece 136c facing backward in the traveling direction, is transferred to an appropriate chute 1 for conveying the container lid 136 while maintaining this direction.
85 to a seaming machine (not shown) for fitting, for example, a container lid 136 to the mouth of a container, such as a bottle, as required.

Thus, the article discharge path 17 of the orientation mechanism 160
As described above, at the outlet portion 181 formed at 9, the container lid 136 cannot freely rotate and is discharged with its gripping piece 136c facing rearward in the discharge direction. Therefore,
As will be readily understood, the container lid 136 may not necessarily be ejected quickly enough through the outlet 181 and may temporarily remain there as it is ejected through the outlet 181. Of course, if necessary, to facilitate the movement of the container lid 136 through the outlet section 181, the container lid 1
36 or outlet section 181.
It is also possible to form the container lid 136 in a tangential direction instead of radially with respect to the article discharge path 179, but in this way, the container lid 1 can pass through the outlet portion 181 sufficiently quickly while preventing the container lid 136 from rotating.
It is quite difficult, if not impossible, to eject 36. However, it should be noted that the orientation mechanism 160 from the posture selection mechanism 102
All container lids 136 delivered to
is not moved toward the article discharge path 179 of the orientation mechanism 160, and thus the improperly oriented container lid 136 is not moved toward the article discharge path 179 at the outlet portion 181 of the article discharge path 179.
Or, it does not temporarily stay in the vicinity.
Therefore, the article discharge path 17 of the orientation mechanism 160
Even if the ejection of the container lid 136 through the outlet 181 formed at 9 is not fast enough, the container lid may be improperly oriented at or near the outlet 181 of the article ejection path 179, as in conventional feeding devices. A plurality of container lids 136 including 136 become entangled with each other and become closed, and as a result, an undesirable force is applied to each container lid 136, resulting in unacceptable deformation of the container lid 136, etc. The occurrence of this situation is completely avoided.

In addition, in the second specific example as described above,
The rotary disk 110 of the attitude selection mechanism 102 is indicated by the arrow 116
The annular rotary disk 165 of the orientation mechanism 160 is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow 175 in the opposite direction, but if desired, the rotary disk 110 of the attitude selection mechanism 102 It is also possible to rotate the annular rotary disk 165 of the orientation mechanism 160 in the same direction. Further, the rotary disk 110 of the attitude selection mechanism 102 and the orientation mechanism 16
0 annular rotary disk 165 are formed integrally with each other,
It is also possible to simplify the structure of the entire device.

12 and 13 illustrate a third embodiment of an article feeding apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention. In the second specific example shown in FIGS. 9 to 11, the orientation mechanism 160 is disposed on the outer periphery of the posture selection mechanism 102, and both mechanisms are integrally combined. In a third specific example shown in FIG. 13, an orientation mechanism 260, generally designated by the number 260, is disposed below the posture selection mechanism, generally designated by the number 202, so that both mechanisms are integrally combined. .

To explain with reference to FIGS. 12 and 13,
In a third embodiment, an orientation mechanism 260 is disposed on the base 203 and the orientation mechanism 26
An attitude selection mechanism 202 is disposed above 0.

For convenience of explanation, the structure of the orientation mechanism 260 will be explained. A support body 261 is fixed to the base 203, and the orientation mechanism 26 is attached to the support body 261.
A main shaft 263 extending substantially vertically is rotatably mounted. A flange portion is formed at the upper end of the main shaft 263, and a rotary disk 265 having a flat upper surface is fixed substantially horizontally to the flange portion. Further, a connecting piece 267 is fixed to the upper surface of the flange portion of the main shaft 263. As mentioned later, this connecting piece 267 has an attitude selection mechanism 202.
The lower ends of the main shaft 208 of the orientation mechanism 260 and the rotary disk 265 are connected to each other.
It is rotated in conjunction with the rotation of the main shaft 208 of the attitude selection mechanism 202 which is rotationally driven by the drive source 214 .

A plurality of pillars 217 are planted on the peripheral edge of the base 203 at intervals in the circumferential direction, and a support piece 271 is fixed to the inner surface of the intermediate portion of each pillar 217 in the vertical direction. An annular stationary restriction member 277 is fixed to the lower surface of the support piece 271. The limiting member 277 cooperates with an annular peripheral area located below the limiting member 277 on the upper surface of the rotary plate 265, that is, in the illustrated case, an annular outermost peripheral area, and has an orientation mechanism therebetween. An article discharge path 279 at 265 is defined.
The article discharge path 279 is formed with one or more outlet portions 281 (in the illustrated case, one outlet portion 281), and a chute 285 extending radially outward from the outlet portion 281 is connected. ing. The shape of the restriction member 277 itself, which cooperates with the outermost peripheral area of the upper surface of the rotary disk 265 to define the article discharge path 279 having the outlet portion 281, is the same as that provided in the orientation mechanism 160 of the second specific example. The configuration may be substantially the same as that of the restriction member 177, and therefore a detailed description of the configuration of the restriction member 277 itself will be omitted. A cylindrical side wall 287 is further provided above the limiting member 277.

Next, to explain the configuration of the posture selection mechanism 202, the posture selection mechanism 202 is attached to the upper end of the pillar 217.
A substrate 204 forming the base of 2 is fixed. A cylindrical support body 206 is fixed to this substrate 204, and an attitude selection mechanism 202 is attached to this support body 206.
A main shaft 208 extending substantially vertically is rotatably mounted. A flange portion is formed at the upper end of the main shaft 208, and a rotary disk 210 having a flat upper surface is fixed substantially horizontally to the flange portion. On the other hand, the lower end of the main shaft 208 projects downward through an opening formed in the substrate 204 and is connected to the connecting piece 267 fixed to the upper surface of the main shaft 263 of the orientation mechanism 260. In addition, a winding transmission mechanism 212 is attached to the main shaft 208.
It is connected to a suitable drive source 214, such as an electric motor, via a motor. The drive source 214 connects the main shaft 20 of the attitude selection mechanism 202 via the winding transmission mechanism 212.
8 and rotary disk 210 are rotated in the direction shown by arrow 216 at a required speed. Since the main shaft 208 of the attitude selection mechanism 202 is connected to the main shaft 263 of the orientation mechanism 260 as described above, the drive source 214
When the main shaft 208 and rotary disk 210 of the attitude selection mechanism 202 are rotated in the direction shown by the arrow 216, the main shaft 263 and the rotary disk 265 of the orientation mechanism 260 are also rotated in the same direction and at the same speed. Of course, if required, the orientation mechanism 2
A separate and independent drive source is disposed at 60 to rotate the main shaft 263 and rotary disc 265 of the orientation mechanism 260 in any direction at any speed, separately from the main shaft 208 and the rotary disc 210 of the attitude selection mechanism 202. You can also do that.

A plurality of support columns 2 are arranged at intervals in the circumferential direction on the peripheral edge of the substrate 204 that forms the base of the posture selection mechanism 202.
18 are implanted, and a support piece 222 that protrudes radially inward is fixed to the upper end of each of the support columns 218. An annular stationary restriction member 224 is fixed to the lower surface of the inner end of the support piece 222. This limiting member 224 cooperates with an annular peripheral area located below the limiting member 224 on the upper surface of the rotary disk 210, that is, in the illustrated case, an annular outermost peripheral area, and between the two, the posture selection mechanism 202 defines an article discharge path 228 at. Limiting member 224
itself may be substantially the same as the configuration of the restriction member 24 provided in the posture selection mechanism 2 in the first specific example and the configuration of the restriction member 124 provided in the posture selection mechanism 102 in the second specific example, and A first annular piece 238 fixed to the lower surface of the inner end of the support piece 222 and a second annular piece 240 fixed downwardly at a predetermined distance from the lower surface of the first annular piece 238. The article discharge path 22
8 and preferably a plurality (four as shown) of circumferentially spaced outlets 244.
is formed. The first member constituting the limiting member 224
The form of the annular piece 238 and the second annular piece 240,
In particular, the configuration of the exit portion 244 is the first annular piece 38 and the second annular piece 40 of the restriction member 24 provided in the posture selection mechanism 2 in the first specific example.
Since the configuration is substantially the same as that of , a detailed explanation thereof will be omitted.

A transfer chute 230 is attached to each outlet portion 244 of the article discharge path 228 of the posture selection mechanism 202. Each such transfer chute 230 connects the orientation mechanism 2 from each of the outlet sections 244.
60 above the rotary disk 265, and more specifically, extends above the central region of the rotary disk 265.

In the posture selection mechanism 202, a cylindrical side wall 232 is further provided above the limiting member 224. In addition, the discharge end is connected to the rotary disk 21.
Article loading means 234 formed from an inclined chute located above the center of the main shaft 208 (more specifically, the flange of the main shaft 208) is also provided.

Furthermore, the posture selection mechanism 2 in the first specific example and the posture selection mechanism 102 in the second specific example
Similarly to the above case, a large number of air injection holes 248 extending upward and radially inward are formed at intervals in the circumferential direction in the rotary disk 210 in a region slightly inside the article conveyance path 228. A plurality of static blower pipes 250 having outlets aligned with the air injection holes 248 are disposed at appropriate positions below the rotary disk 210. The blower pipe 250 is connected to a blower (not shown), and the airflow sent from the blower to the blower pipe 250 is directed upward and radially inward through the air injection hole 248 formed in the rotary disk 210. It is forced to be sprayed towards.

In the third specific example as described above, the container lid 236 to be processed is loaded into the attitude selection mechanism 202 from the article loading means 234. More specifically, the container lid 2 is dropped onto the flange of the main shaft 208 in various postures, and then the container lid 2 is rotated from the flange of the main shaft 208 in the direction shown by the arrow 216.
36 is moved radially outward and transferred onto the rotary disk 210, or directly dropped from the article loading means 234 onto the rotary disk 210 in various postures. ,
In this way, they are placed on the rotary disk 210 in various postures. As the rotary disk 210 rotates, the rotary disk 210 is moved in the direction shown by the arrow 216, and the rotary disk 210 is rotated in the direction shown by the arrow 216.
The centrifugal force exerted on the container lid 236 causes the container lid 236 to move radially outward on the rotary disk 210 toward the article discharge path 228 . Thus,
Just as in the case of the posture selection mechanism 2 in the first specific example and the posture selection mechanism 102 in the second specific example, the appropriate posture, that is, the inverted state where the top surface 236a is in contact with the top surface of the rotary disk 210 The container lid 236 is selectively carried into the article discharge path 228, and is then discharged in the radial direction through an outlet portion 244 formed in the article discharge path 228 with its gripping pieces 236c facing various directions. .

Article discharge path 228 in posture selection mechanism 202
The container lid 236 discharged from the outlet section 244 of
The containers are transferred through the transfer chute 230 onto the rotary disk 265 of the orientation mechanism 260, and are thus placed on the rotary disk 265 of the orientation mechanism 260 in the appropriate orientation but with the gripping pieces 236c oriented in various directions. A lid 236 is placed. The container lid 236 placed on the rotary disk 265 of the orientation mechanism 260 moves in the direction of arrow 2 as the rotary disk 265 rotates.
Direction mechanism 26 is moved radially outward on rotary disc 265 by centrifugal force exerted on container lid 236 from rotary disc 265 rotating in the direction shown by arrow 216.
0 toward the article discharge path 279. Thus, as in the case of the orientation mechanism 160 in the second embodiment, the container lid 236 is carried into the article ejection path 279 with the gripping pieces 236c protruding radially inward, and the container lid 236 is carried into the article ejection path 279 is discharged from the exit portion 281 with the gripping piece 236c directed in a desired direction with the gripping piece 236c facing backward in the traveling direction. Next, a seaming machine is used to attach the container lid 236 to the mouth of a container such as a bottle as required, for example, through an appropriate chute 285 while maintaining the direction in which the gripping piece 236c faces backward in the traveling direction. (not shown).

Furthermore, although some specific examples of the article supply device configured according to the present invention have been described above in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, the present invention is not limited to such specific examples. Of course, various modifications and variations can be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing a posture selection mechanism in a first specific example of an article supply device constructed according to the present invention. 2 is a partially cutaway plan view of the posture selection mechanism shown in FIG. 1; FIG. Third
The figure is a sectional view of the posture selection mechanism shown in FIG. 1. Fourth
7 to 7 are enlarged partial sectional views of the posture selection mechanism shown in FIG. 1. Figure 8-A, Figure 8-B and Figure 8
-C is a cross-sectional view, a top view, and a side view, respectively, showing the orientation mechanism combined with the posture selection mechanism shown in FIG. 1; FIG. 8-D is a sectional view taken along line D-D in FIG. 8-C. FIG. 9 is a sectional view showing a second specific example of the article supply device constructed according to the present invention. FIG. 10 is a partially cutaway plan view of the article supply device shown in FIG. 9. FIG. 11 is an enlarged partial sectional view of the article supply device shown in FIG. 9. 1st
FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing a third specific example of the article supply device constructed according to the present invention. Figure 13 shows the first
FIG. 3 is a partially cutaway plan view of the article supply device shown in FIG. 2; 2,102,202... Posture selection mechanism, 10,1
10,210...Rotary disk of posture selection mechanism, 28,1
28, 228...article discharge path of posture selection mechanism, 3
4,134,234...Goods input means, 60,16
0 and 260...orientation mechanism.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. An easy-to-open container lid having a circular top surface, a cylindrical skirt that hangs down from the periphery of the top surface, and a gripping piece that further hangs down from the free end of the skirt and then projects radially outward. An article feeding device for feeding an article in an appropriate posture and in an appropriate direction based on the gripping piece; A rotary disk that is driven to rotate in a predetermined direction, and a container lid placed on the rotary disk. A posture selection comprising an article loading means for randomly inputting articles, and an article discharge path defined between an annular peripheral area on the upper surface of the rotary table and an annular stationary restriction member disposed above the annular peripheral area. the restriction member, other than the at least one outlet, has a lower surface spaced apart from the annular peripheral area corresponding to the height of the skirt of the container lid; If the top surface and the skirt portion of the container lid are in an appropriate position where the top surface is in contact with the top surface of the rotary plate, it is allowed to enter the article ejection path, but if the container lid is in an inappropriate position, it is allowed to enter the article discharge path. The top surface and the skirt portion of the container lid are prevented from entering the article discharge path, while the bottom surface is interrupted at the at least one outlet so that the bottom surface of the container lid is interrupted at least in part. said base of said gripping piece of said gripping piece of said gripping piece extending radially therethrough with a minimum circumferential width corresponding to the width of said base depending from said free end of said skirt of said gripping piece and in said suitable position; a first gap that allows the first gap to pass in the radial direction;
radially penetrating through the gap with a circumferential width that is at least twice the length of the protrusion of a protrusion that is located next to and above the gap and extends radially outward from the base of the gripping piece of the container lid; a second gap extending from the top of the container lid and allowing the protrusion of the gripping piece of the container lid in the proper orientation to pass in the radial direction; is prevented from passing radially through the article ejection path, but the container lid in the appropriate position is prevented from passing radially through the article ejection path with the gripping pieces oriented in various directions. a posture selection mechanism that accepts a container lid in an appropriate posture discharged from the article discharge path of the posture selection mechanism, and directs the gripping piece in a predetermined direction to hold the container lid in the appropriate posture; 1. An article feeding device comprising: an orientation mechanism that orients and discharges articles in a fixed state; 2. The orientation mechanism includes a chute into which the container lid discharged from the article discharge path of the attitude selection mechanism is carried in, and the chute includes an orientation section that is inclined laterally and extends downward. including;
In the orientation section, rotation of the container lid that may occur due to the guiding action of the horizontally inclined and downwardly extending side wall on the gripping piece of the container lid and the position of the center of gravity of the container lid itself. 2. The article feeding device according to claim 1, wherein the container lid is oriented with the gripping piece facing rearward in the traveling direction. 3. The orientation mechanism includes a rotary disk that is rotationally driven in a predetermined direction and an article discharge path defined in at least a part of the peripheral area of the rotary disk, and the article discharge path of the attitude selection mechanism A container lid in an appropriate position is loaded onto the rotating disk of the directing mechanism and moved on the disk towards the article discharge path of the directing mechanism to radially move the gripping pieces. Claim 1, wherein the article is allowed to enter the article ejection path of the orientation mechanism in a state facing inward, and then is ejected from the article ejection path with the gripping piece facing backward in the traveling direction. The article feeding device described. 4. the rotary disk of the attitude selection mechanism is disposed substantially horizontally, and the rotary disk of the orientation mechanism is disposed concentrically and substantially horizontally on the outside of the rotary disk of the attitude selection mechanism; It is an arranged ring shape,
An article supply device according to claim 3. 5 the turntable of the attitude selection mechanism is disposed substantially horizontally, and the turntable of the orientation mechanism is arranged below and concentrically and substantially horizontally with the turntable of the attitude selection mechanism; An article supply device according to claim 3, wherein the article supply device is arranged as follows.