JP4538113B2 - Article direction control device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an article direction control device for controlling and aligning the front direction of articles.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In general, for articles in which beverages such as soft drinks and various foodstuffs are filled in a packaging container such as a synthetic resin container, a paper container, a metal container or a glass container, on the outer peripheral surface of the container, It is requested to perform additional processing such as display of contents, printing processing that indicates the date of manufacture and expiration date, and attachment processing that attaches accessories such as straws. In the article transporting process, an ink jet method or the like is used.
[0003]
However, each article in the transport process has a front direction (for example, the direction of the surface that should be the front face when displaying the article) is not constant and is in a disjoint direction. When the additional processing is performed by the additional processing apparatus provided, the location where the additional processing is performed on the article is not constant, and as a result, for example, the location of the product name of the article or the important display location. Furthermore, as a result of the additional processing being performed again, there is a problem that their display is impaired or the appearance as a product becomes unsightly because accessories are attached in the front direction.
[0004]
In order to cope with such a problem, conventionally, the article is sandwiched by a rotating roller brought into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the article and floated from the conveyance path. In this state, the article is rotated by the rotating roller, and the article is previously stored. There has been proposed an apparatus for controlling the front direction of an article by detecting a mark provided on the outer peripheral surface of the article by a sensor provided at a fixed position and stopping the rotation of the article.
[0005]
However, in such an article direction control device, since the rotating roller is directly pressed against the outer peripheral surface of the article, when the article container is flexible such as synthetic resin or paper, it is May be deformed or damaged, and when condensation occurs on the outer peripheral surface of the article, the article may slip from the rotating roller and fall off. In addition, since the direction control process is performed in a state where the article is removed from the conveyance path, there is a problem that a complicated mechanism is required and the conveyance is interrupted, so that high efficiency cannot be obtained.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
  The present invention has been made on the basis of the circumstances as described above, and the object thereof is to control the direction with high efficiency so that the front direction of the article is aligned without fear of damaging the target article. CanThe direction of the front direction of the article can be further adjusted, and the area occupied by the entire apparatus is small.An object is to provide a direction control device for an article.
  Other of the present inventionMy goal is,It is an object of the present invention to provide an article direction control device in which an additional processing device can be disposed so that an additional processing can be reliably performed at a desired portion of the article.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
  The direction control device for an article of the present invention controls the front direction of the article, and is transported along an arc-shaped transport path by a rotary transport mechanism, and a plurality of transport platforms on which the article is placed,
  A transport table rotating mechanism for rotating the transport table when each transport table reaches the direction control region in the transport path;
  A sensor provided corresponding to each of the transfer tables, and transferred along with the transfer table;
  This sensor comprises a direction maintaining mechanism that stops rotation of the transport table when a detected location in a specific positional relationship with the front direction of the article on the corresponding transport table is detected,
  The transport table rotation mechanism has a rod that extends in the vertical direction and has a transport table fixed to the upper end, a rod bearing that rotatably supports the rod, and that is transported by the rotation transport mechanism, and an outer edge that extends along the transport path. A fixed gear fixed to the machine frame, a rotation gear provided around the rod and meshed with the fixed gear, and the rotation gear with respect to the rod in the rotation direction. A clutch that is switchable between a coupled connection state and a shut-off state in which the rotation gear is free in the rotation direction with respect to the rod;
  The direction maintaining mechanism includes a rotating base that is rotated integrally with the rotary transport mechanism, and a sliding body that is fixed to the rod and that frictionally slides with the rotating base by its rotation.
  An encoder for detecting the rotation angle state of the rotary conveyance mechanism provided in the rotary conveyance mechanism and a rotation angle signal from the encoder manage the transfer position of each conveyance table in the conveyance path and control the direction of the conveyance path. A control circuit for controlling the operation of the transport table rotation mechanism in the region for each transport table,
  In the conveyance path, a direction adjustment area is set downstream from the direction control area, and the conveyance stage rotation mechanism is driven again so that the conveyance stage rotates by a preset angle in the direction adjustment area. Thus, the direction adjustment control is performed.
[0011]
An area downstream of the direction control area in the conveyance path is provided with an additional processing device disposition area for disposing an additional processing device that performs additional processing on the outer peripheral surface of the article. be able to.
[0013]
In addition, the region downstream of the direction adjustment region in the conveyance path is provided with an additional processing device disposition region for disposing an additional processing device that performs additional processing on the outer peripheral surface of the article. It can be.
[0014]
Furthermore, an entry-side star wheel for sequentially supplying articles to each of the conveyance platforms at the start point of the conveyance path, and an exit-side star wheel for sequentially discharging articles placed on each of the conveyance platforms at the end point of the conveyance path; And a suction mechanism for sucking and holding articles can be provided in each article holding portion of the outlet star wheel.
[0015]
[Action]
According to the article direction control device having the above-described configuration, the conveyance table on which the article is placed is rotated while being transferred along the conveyance path, and thereby is rotated to a specific position with respect to the front direction of the article. The rotation of the article is stopped by detecting the formed part to be detected, thereby controlling the front direction of the article, so that the conveyance of the article is not interrupted, and therefore the control of the front direction of the article is highly efficient. Moreover, since the conveyance path is circular, the occupation area of the entire apparatus can be reduced.
In addition, since the article is rotated without contacting the outer peripheral surface of the article using the carrier, the article is not deformed or damaged even if the packaging container is flexible. Regardless of the surface state of the outer peripheral surface, it is possible to perform the control processing in the front direction of the desired article with high reliability.
[0016]
In addition, since the transport table rotation mechanism is configured to rotate the transport table by using meshing of the fixed gear and the rotation gear, it is not necessary to provide a dedicated drive source for the transport table rotation mechanism. Since the rotation angle state of the conveyance table is related to the rotation angle state of the rotation conveyance mechanism, the rotation angle state of each conveyance table is detected by using this to detect the rotation angle state of the rotation conveyance mechanism. The state can be managed or controlled.
[0017]
Further, the direction maintaining mechanism is constituted by a rotating base that rotates integrally with the rotary conveying mechanism and a sliding body that frictionally slides with the rotating base by the rotation of the rod, so that the direction maintaining mechanism is not forcedly rotated. Since the rotation angle state with respect to the conveyance path of the conveyance table is stably maintained, the direction of the article placed on the conveyance table can be stably maintained after all.
[0018]
In addition, by using the rotation angle signal of the rotation conveyance mechanism detected by the encoder, the control circuit manages the transfer position of each conveyance table in the conveyance path, and the conveyance table rotation mechanism in the direction control area of the conveyance path. It is possible to control the rotation angle state of the carriage by controlling the operation.
[0019]
  Furthermore, in the direction adjustment area set downstream from the direction control area of the conveyance path, the direction adjustment control for driving the conveyance table rotation mechanism is performed again so that the conveyance table rotates by a preset angle.ByOnce the direction of the article whose front direction has been controlled can be adjusted again, and the degree of adjustment can be arbitrarily set, the direction of the article is controlled independently of the position of the detected location. be able to. As a result, there is no restriction on the control direction depending on the detected part of the article, and the direction in which the front of the article should face can be freely selected and adjusted and controlled in that direction. The place to be treated can be freely selected.
[0020]
In addition, an additional processing device is provided for disposing an additional processing device for performing additional processing on the outer peripheral surface of the article in a region downstream of the direction control region or downstream of the direction adjustment region in the conveyance path. By providing the region, an appropriate additional processing apparatus can be easily arranged.
[0021]
Furthermore, in the above-mentioned direction control device, when the entrance side star wheel and the exit side star wheel are provided, and the suction mechanism is provided in the article holding part of the exit side star wheel, Therefore, the state in which the posture of the article in the controlled direction is maintained can be continuously maintained even after the discharge.
[0022]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In this specification, the “front direction of an article” refers to a direction serving as a reference for direction control in an article to be direction-controlled for convenience of explanation. It is expressed and does not necessarily mean a direction that is uniquely determined in each actual article.
Therefore, a certain article has a direction that is naturally recognized as the front due to the nature of the article. For example, a product name that is displayed on the front when displayed as a product in a store or the like is displayed large. The direction of the location is usually the front direction. In this case, the direction of the product name display location can be the front direction. However, setting the direction as the front direction is not essential in the present invention, and even if a different direction is set as the front direction, no particular problem occurs.
In addition, in an article that does not have a direction recognized as the front or an unclear article, an arbitrarily selected direction can be set as the front direction.
[0023]
  FIG. 1 shows a direction control device for an article of the present invention.Basic configurationFIG. 2 is a front view for explaining the main part of the rotary transport mechanism, and a part thereof is shown in section for convenience.
[0024]
The articles W processed by the direction control device 10 of this example have the same outer shape of a truncated cone shape, so-called cup shape, the outer diameter of which gradually increases as it goes upward. In this case, a mark M, which is a detected portion detected by a sensor described later, is formed in advance at a specific angle with respect to the front direction. The mark M may be in the front direction.
[0025]
The apparatus 10 of this example adjusts the sequential articles W conveyed by the belt conveyor 80 moving to the right side so as to be arranged at equal pitch intervals on the belt conveyor 80 as indicated by an arrow X in FIG. A screw conveyor 20, a circular rotary table 40 constituting a rotary transport mechanism, an entry side star wheel 30 for sequentially supplying articles W on the screw conveyor 20 to a transport base 50 transported by the rotary table 40, and transport It is comprised by the exit side star wheel 70 which returns the articles | goods W from the stand 50 to the belt conveyor 80. FIG.
[0026]
The entry side star wheel 30 and the exit side star wheel 70 are rotated at a constant speed in the clockwise direction in FIG. 1 in the horizontal plane, and the rotary table 40 is rotated at a constant speed corresponding to the horizontal plane by the rotation drive shaft 44 at the center. The pitch of the article holding part 31 of the entry side star wheel 30 and the pitch of the article holding part 71 of the exit side star wheel 70 are rotated in the counterclockwise direction and coincide with the pitch of the conveying table 50 disposed on the rotary table 40. It is in a state.
[0027]
In the rotary table 40, as shown in FIG. 2, a plurality (12 in the illustrated example) of the transport tables 50 each mounting one article W are arranged on the outer peripheral edge portion, details of which will be described later. Sensor 42 which detects the mark M of the article W placed on the transport table 50 on the upper surface of the turntable 40 corresponding to each of the transport tables 50. Are arranged on a straight line connecting the center position of the transport table 50 and the center position of the rotation drive shaft 44 of the rotary table 40.
Reference numeral 41 denotes an overturning prevention member for the article W provided on the upper surface of the turntable 40 in association with the transport table 50.
[0028]
In the above, the sensor 42 may be anything as long as it can detect the mark M, while the mark M is not particularly limited as long as it can be detected by the sensor 42. . In general, the mark M is made of a figure having a specific shape different from the ground part of the display area, and a light reflection type sensor is used as the sensor 42. However, for example, the mark M may be formed of a magnetic material, and a magnetic sensor may be used as the sensor 42. When an optical sensor is used as the sensor 42, a display with a specific color may be used as the mark M. A specific deformed portion such as a protrusion formed on the outer peripheral surface of the article can be used as the mark M or in place of the mark M.
[0029]
As shown in FIG. 2, the rotary table 40 is fixed to a rotary drive shaft 44 that is supported by a machine frame or a base (not shown) and extends in the vertical direction. Further, a plurality of (in this example, 12) sleeve-like bearings 45 are provided at equiangular intervals, and each of the bearings 45 holds a rod 51 extending in the vertical direction so as to freely rotate. A transport table 50 is fixed to the upper end of 51.
With this configuration, the transport table 50 is transported along the arc-shaped transport path R (see FIG. 1) via the rod 51 by the movement of the bearing 45 by the rotation of the rotary table 40, and is supported rotatably. It is supposed to be in a state.
[0030]
On the other hand, the rotary drive shaft 44 is provided with a disk-shaped rotary substrate 43 fixed along a horizontal plane at a level below the rotary table 40, and frictionally slides on the upper surface of the rotary substrate 43. Thus, the sliding plate 52 fixed to each lower end of the rod 51 is elastically contacted by a spring (not shown). Specifically, a friction material 52 a made of a brake lining material such as leather having a large coefficient of friction with respect to the rotating substrate 43 is provided on the lower surface portion of the sliding plate 52. And thereby, the direction maintenance mechanism is comprised for every conveyance stand 50. FIG.
[0031]
Further, at an intermediate level between the rotary table 40 and the rotary substrate 43, a disk-shaped fixed gear 61 whose outer edge extends along the transport path R is provided fixed to the machine frame along the horizontal plane, A clutch 63 is supported at the lower part of each bearing 45. The clutch 63 is provided with a ring-shaped rotation gear 62 that rotates around the rod 51. The rotation gear 62 is a fixed gear. 61 is engaged. The clutch 63 has a connection state in which the rotation gear 62 and the rod 51 are coupled in the rotation direction by a control circuit which will be described later, and a disconnected state in which the connection state is released and the both are free. It is possible to switch between them.
[0032]
The screw conveyor 20, the entry side star wheel 30 and the exit side star wheel 70 are connected by a driving force transmission mechanism such as a flexible shaft or a gear so that the screw conveyor 20, the entry side star wheel 30 and the exit side star wheel 70 are commonly driven by the drive source of the rotation drive shaft 44 of the rotary table 40. Has been.
[0033]
The rotary drive shaft 44 is provided with an encoder (not shown) for detecting the rotational angle state of the rotary table 40. The rotational angle data of the rotary table 40 from this encoder is connected to the encoder. It is supplied to a control circuit (not shown).
[0034]
The control circuit has a function of recognizing the position in the conveyance path R of each conveyance table 50 arranged on the turntable 40 based on rotation angle data from the encoder.
Further, in the transport path R, the direction control area A is set in advance from a position on the downstream side by a slight angle from the start position over a predetermined angle range. When the direction control area A is reached, the clutch 63 related to the transport platform 50 has a function of connecting, and the sensor 42 related to the transport platform 50 is operated. It also has a function of disengaging the clutch 63 when the mark M of the article W placed on the transport table 50 is detected.
[0035]
The operation of the direction control device configured as described above will be described.
Each article W conveyed in the X direction by the belt conveyor 80 is adjusted by the screw conveyor 20 to an equal pitch that matches the pitch of the article holding portions 31 of the entry side star wheel 30.
The rotating entry side star wheel 30 rotates while holding the articles W in the article holding section 31, so that the sequential articles W are sequentially rotated at a constant speed at the starting point of the transport path R. Is supplied to the carrier 50.
[0036]
The conveyance table 50 on which the article W is placed is transferred along the arc-shaped conveyance path R through the rod 51 that supports the conveyance table 50 by the rotation of the rotary table 40. At this time, the clutch 63 is It is in a cut-off state. Accordingly, due to the movement of the rod 51 along the conveyance path R, the rotation gear 62 is rotated along its outer periphery while meshing with the fixed gear 61 as a planetary gear. The rotational force of the gear 62 is not transmitted to the rod 51, and on the other hand, due to the frictional engagement of the sliding plate 52 with the rotating substrate 43 at the lower end of the rod 51, the rod 51 and the carriage 50 do not rotate, and the rotation gear 62. Simply idles around the rod 51. At this time, the sensor 42 transferred together with the transport table 50 is in an inoperative state.
[0037]
On the other hand, the rotation angle state of the turntable 40 is monitored by an encoder provided on the rotation drive shaft 44, and when a certain conveyance table 50 reaches the direction control region A, a control circuit based on rotation angle data from the encoder. In response to the command signal, the clutch 63 associated with the transport table 50 is brought into a connected state.
As a result, the rod 51 is integrally coupled with the rotation gear 62 via the clutch 63, and the rotational force of the rotation gear 62 due to meshing with the fixed gear 61 is transmitted to the rod 51. However, since the rotational force by the rotating gear 62 is so-called forced, the rod 51 rotates while sliding the sliding plate 52 at the lower end with respect to the rotating substrate 43, and thereby the conveyance platform 50. Rotates while being transported along the transport path R.
Then, at the same time as the clutch 63 is brought into the connected state, the sensor 42 related to the transport table 50 is brought into the activated state by the control circuit.
[0038]
As described above, due to the rotation of the carrier 50 transferred in the direction control area A, the article W placed on the carriage 50 rotates. When the mark M of the article W reaches the position facing the sensor 42, the sensor W 42 detects the mark M, and the clutch 63 is disengaged by a signal generated from the control circuit in response to the mark detection signal.
As a result, the rod 51 becomes free from the rotation gear 62, and the rotation of the rod 51 is stopped by the frictional engagement between the sliding plate 52 and the rotating substrate 43, thereby stopping the rotation of the transport base 50.
[0039]
The article W on the transport table 50 at this time is in a state where the mark M faces the sensor 42, that is, in a state where the mark M faces the center direction of the turntable 40. In this state, the front direction of the article W is the transport path. This is a state in which the direction is controlled so as to be in a rotation state facing a specific direction with respect to R.
[0040]
Thereafter, the transport table 50 is further transported along the transport path R by the rotary table 40, but the rotation of the transport table 50 remains suppressed by the action of the direction maintaining mechanism formed by the sliding plate 52 and the rotating substrate 43. Therefore, the article W on the transport table 50 is maintained in a posture in which the front direction is controlled. Then, the article W is received by the article holding portion 71 of the outlet star wheel 70 at the end point of the conveying path R and discharged to the belt conveyor 80.
[0041]
As described above, in this direction control device, in the direction control region A, each of the transport bases 50 on which the individual articles W are placed is rotated while being transported, and the sensor 42 provided on the rotary table 40 performs the rotation. By detecting the mark M of the article W, the rotation is stopped, and the state is maintained by the action of the direction maintaining mechanism, so that the front direction of the sequential articles W is the center direction of the turntable 40, in other words, the conveyance. In relation to the path R, it can be aligned to face a specific direction.
[0042]
As a result, an additional processing device disposition region is set in the transport path R from the direction control region A to the end point on the downstream side, and the additional processing device disposition region is appropriately set for the article W to be transferred. By disposing an additional processing apparatus for performing additional processing, for the sequential items W whose front direction is aligned in a certain direction, with respect to a target portion having a certain angular relationship with the front direction of the item W. Thus, the desired additional processing can be performed reliably, and thus the article W subjected to the additional processing always has a certain appearance.
[0043]
The additional processing apparatus is not particularly limited, and specific examples thereof include, for example, a labeler that attaches a label to the outer peripheral surface of the article W, and an accessory such as a straw or spoon attached to the outer peripheral surface of the article W. Examples include an applicator to be attached, a print processing apparatus such as an ink jet printer or a laser marker that prints a predetermined display on the outer peripheral surface of the article.
[0044]
Thus, in the above-described direction control device, since the individual articles are sequentially controlled and aligned while transporting the sequential articles W, the transfer of the direction control processing of a large number of articles W is interrupted. Can be performed continuously, and therefore, very high time efficiency can be obtained, and the conveyance path R for conveying the article W has an arc shape, so that the area occupied by the entire apparatus is small. .
[0045]
Moreover, in this direction control apparatus, since the rotation of the article W is executed by the rotation of the transport base 50 on which the article W is placed, there is no possibility that the article W is deformed or damaged, and the surface state of the article W The required direction control of the article W can be achieved without any relation.
[0046]
In the directional control device of the above example, it is possible to dispose a transport table with a simple configuration by using a rotary table as a rotary transport mechanism, and use a rotation gear that meshes with a fixed gear. As a result, a dedicated drive source is not required for the rotation of the transfer table, and the transfer and rotation of the transfer table can be reliably performed.
[0047]
Further, by using the screw conveyor 20, the articles W that are sequentially conveyed are supplied to the entry star wheel 30 at an equal pitch, thereby smoothly supplying the articles W to the conveyance table 50 of the rotary table 40 with high efficiency. It can be carried out.
[0048]
Further, in the exit side star wheel 70, it is preferable that each article holding portion 71 is provided with a suction mechanism for sucking and holding the article W received from the transport table 50 of the rotary table 40 in the posture as it is. According to such a configuration, the aligned state of the articles W whose front direction is aligned in the direction control area A of the conveyance path R is prevented from being broken in the exit side star wheel 70, and the articles W are kept in the posture. Can be discharged to the belt conveyor 80.
[0049]
In an actual direction control device, the specific configuration of each part, for example, the size of the rotary table 40, the rotation speed thereof, the number of transfer tables 50, the rotation speed of each transfer table 50, etc. are not particularly limited. However, it can be appropriately selected according to the type and size of the article to be subjected to the direction control process, other conditions, or according to the purpose. However, in the direction control area A of the transport path R, the transport base 50 needs to be able to rotate over an angle range of 360 degrees or more.
[0050]
  Thus,Basic configuration of the direction control device for the articleSince the conveyance path for transferring the conveyance table has an arc shape, the conveyance path R having a length corresponding to the size and number of conveyance tables to be arranged can be selected by appropriately selecting the diameter. Can be set, and at the same time, a necessary additional processing device arrangement area can be secured. Here, two or more additional processing device arrangement regions can be set.
[0051]
  FIG. 3 illustrates the present invention.In the article direction control device according to the embodimentIt is an explanatory top view which shows a structure roughly.
  The article direction control device 10 in this example is configured as described above.Basic configurationAdditional direction adjustment function is added toHas been.
[0052]
In the direction control device of this example, a direction adjustment region B is set downstream of the direction control region A in the transport path R by a slight angle, and is added downstream of the direction adjustment region B by a slight angle. An automatic processing device arrangement area is set. In this additional processing device arrangement area, an additional processing device 90 for performing appropriate additional processing can be provided.
[0053]
When the transport platform 50 on which the article W for which direction control has been achieved in the direction control area A reaches the direction adjustment area B, the clutch is generated by a signal from the control circuit based on the rotation angle data from the encoder. 63 is connected, and this state is continued while the transport table 50 is transported in the direction adjustment region B, but when the transport table 50 leaves the direction adjustment region B, a signal from the control circuit Thus, the clutch 63 is disengaged.
[0054]
  As a result, while the transport table 50 is transported in the direction adjustment region B,Basic configurationIn the direction control region A, the direction of the article W whose front direction is once controlled can be further adjusted. Here, the rotation angle due to the rotation of the carriage 50, that is, the rotation angle due to the rotation of the rod 51 depends on the angle range of the direction adjustment region B. The angle range of the direction adjustment region B is freely set in the control circuit. Therefore, it is possible to adjust the direction in which the front direction of the article W is changed by a certain angle after all.
[0055]
  As described above, the direction adjustment control for rotating (spinning) the article W by an arbitrary angle is performed on the article W once the front direction is controlled, so that the front direction of the article W is actually changed. A desired direction can be set freely in the entire range of 360 degrees.
  For example,Basic configurationIn the direction control by the article direction control device, since the mark M is directed so as to face the center direction of the rotary table 40, that is, inward, there is a restriction on the control in the front direction in relation to the mark M. For example, The area where the mark M is attached in the article W cannot be in a state of facing outward in the radial direction of the turntable 40. However, since the additional processing device 90 normally needs to be disposed at a location on the outer peripheral side of the transport path R, the additional processing device 90 is eventually applied to the circumferential position where the mark M is attached. It is extremely difficult to perform the additional processing by.
[0056]
However, as described above, according to the configuration in which the direction adjustment control is further performed on the article W for which the direction control has been achieved, an arbitrary circumferential position on the entire circumference of the article W is set on the radially outer side of the rotary table 40. Since it can be in a facing state, a desired additional process is applied to any circumferential location in the article W by the additional processing device 90 disposed at a location on the outer peripheral side of the transport path R. Is possible.
[0057]
The direction adjustment area B as described above is not necessarily set subsequent to the direction control area A, and an additional processing device arrangement area is provided between the direction control area A and the direction adjustment area B. May be set and an additional processing device may be arranged.
Further, not only one direction adjustment area but also two or more direction adjustment areas can be set along the conveyance path R. In this case, it is possible to set an additional processing device disposition region downstream of each direction adjustment region and dispose the additional processing device. A plurality of additional processes can be performed on each of the regions.
[0058]
However, when the direction adjustment region is set, it is not essential that the additional processing device disposition region is set in the region along the transport path R on the downstream side. For example, an additional processing device may be disposed further downstream than the direction control device of the article. For additional processing by such an additional processing device, the article W is disposed in the transport path R. It may be useful to perform a direction adjustment.
[0059]
As mentioned above, although the Example of the direction control apparatus of the articles | goods of this invention was described, a various change can be added in this invention.
Further, the article targeted by the apparatus of the present invention is not particularly limited, and may have any shape.
[0060]
【The invention's effect】
  As explained above,According to the present inventionAccording to the article direction control device, the detected place formed at a specific position with respect to the front direction of the article to be rotated while rotating the conveyance table on which the article is placed along the conveyance path. By detecting the rotation of the article, the front direction of the article is controlled, so that the conveyance of the article is not interrupted, and the front direction of the article can be controlled with high efficiency. Since the conveyance path is arcuate, the area occupied by the entire apparatus can be reduced.
  In addition, since the article is rotated without contacting the outer peripheral surface of the article by using the carrier, the article is not deformed or damaged even if the container is flexible. Regardless of the surface state of the surface, it is possible to perform the control processing in the front direction of the desired article with high reliability.
  Then, the direction adjustment control is performed by the angle further set for the above-mentioned direction-controlled article, so that the direction of the article can be controlled regardless of the position of the detected part. There is no restriction on the control direction, and the direction in which the front of the article should be directed can be freely selected and controlled in that direction. be able to.
[0061]
  Also,Since the transport table rotation mechanism is configured to rotate the transport table by using meshing of the fixed gear and the rotation gear, it is not necessary to provide a dedicated drive source for the transport table rotation mechanism, and the rotation transport By detecting the rotation angle state of the mechanism, it becomes possible to manage or control the rotation angle state of each carrier.
[0062]
  Furthermore,Since the direction maintaining mechanism by friction sliding engagement is provided, the rotation angle state with respect to the conveyance path of the conveyance table is stably maintained except when the rotation is forcibly rotated. It is possible to stably maintain the direction of the formed article.
[0063]
  Also,By using the rotation angle signal of the rotation conveyance mechanism detected by the encoder, the control circuit manages the transfer position of each conveyance table in the conveyance path, and controls the operation of the conveyance table rotation mechanism in the direction control area of the conveyance path. It can control and can control the rotation angle state of a conveyance stand.
[0064]
  The present inventionDirection control device for goodsInAn additional processing device disposition region for disposing an additional processing device for performing additional processing on the outer peripheral surface of the article is provided in a region downstream of the direction control region in the conveyance path.According to the configurationTherefore, an appropriate additional processing apparatus can be easily provided.
[0066]
  The present inventionDirection control device for goodsInAn additional processing device disposition region for disposing an additional processing device for performing additional processing on the outer peripheral surface of the article is provided in a region downstream of the direction adjustment region in the conveyance path.According to the configurationTherefore, an appropriate additional processing apparatus can be easily provided.
[0067]
  The present inventionDirection control device for goodsInThe suction mechanism provided in the article holding part of the exit side star wheel prevents the article from being collapsed when it is discharged from the arcuate conveyance path. The state in which the posture of the article is maintained can be continuously maintained even after discharging.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 of the present inventionArticleIn the direction control deviceBasic configurationFIG.
FIG. 2 is an explanatory front view showing a main part of a rotary conveyance mechanism of the article direction control apparatus of FIG. 1, and a part thereof is shown in cross section.
FIG. 3 of the present inventionExampleIt is an explanatory top view which shows roughly the structure in the direction control apparatus of the article | item which concerns on.
[Explanation of symbols]
10. Direction control device of article
20 Screw conveyor
30 Entry Starfoil
31 Goods holding part
40 turntable
41 Fall prevention member
42 sensors
43 Rotating substrate
44 Rotary drive shaft
45 Bearing
50 Transfer platform
51 rod
52 Sliding plate
52a Friction material
61 Fixed gear
62 Gear for rotation
63 Clutch
70 Outgoing Starfoil
71 Article holding part
80 belt conveyor
90 Additional processing equipment
A Direction control area
B direction adjustment area
W goods
M mark

Claims (4)

An article direction control device for controlling the front direction of an article,
A plurality of transport platforms on which articles are placed, which are transported along a circular transport path by a rotary transport mechanism;
A transport table rotating mechanism for rotating the transport table when each transport table reaches the direction control region in the transport path;
A sensor provided corresponding to each of the transfer tables, and transferred along with the transfer table;
This sensor comprises a direction maintaining mechanism that stops rotation of the transport table when a detected location in a specific positional relationship with the front direction of the article on the corresponding transport table is detected,
The transport table rotation mechanism has a rod that extends in the vertical direction and has a transport table fixed to the upper end, a rod bearing that rotatably supports the rod, and that is transported by the rotation transport mechanism, and an outer edge that extends along the transport path. A fixed gear fixed to the machine frame, a rotation gear provided around the rod and meshed with the fixed gear, and the rotation gear with respect to the rod in the rotation direction. A clutch that is switchable between a coupled connection state and a shut-off state in which the rotation gear is free in the rotation direction with respect to the rod;
The direction maintaining mechanism includes a rotating base that is rotated integrally with the rotary transport mechanism, and a sliding body that is fixed to the rod and that frictionally slides with the rotating base by its rotation.
An encoder for detecting the rotation angle state of the rotary conveyance mechanism provided in the rotary conveyance mechanism and a rotation angle signal from the encoder manage the transfer position of each conveyance table in the conveyance path and control the direction of the conveyance path. A control circuit for controlling the operation of the transport table rotation mechanism in the region for each transport table,
In the conveyance path, a direction adjustment area is set downstream from the direction control area, and the conveyance stage rotation mechanism is driven again so that the conveyance stage rotates by a preset angle in the direction adjustment area. The direction control of the article is performed by the above. An additional processing device disposition region for disposing an additional processing device for performing additional processing on the outer peripheral surface of the article is provided in a region downstream of the direction control region in the conveyance path. The direction control device for an article according to claim 1. An additional processing device disposition region for disposing an additional processing device for performing additional processing on the outer peripheral surface of the article is provided in a region downstream of the direction adjustment region in the conveyance path. The direction control device for an article according to claim 1 or 2 . An entry-side star wheel that sequentially supplies articles to each of the conveyance platforms at the start point of the conveyance path and an exit-side star wheel that sequentially discharges articles placed on each of the conveyance platforms at the end point of the conveyance path are provided. The article direction control according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein each article holding part of the exit star wheel is provided with a suction mechanism for sucking and holding the article. apparatus.

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