JPH08133251A - Apparatus for positioning container - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To simplify a structure of an apparatus for positioning containers which can be used for numerous kinds of containers. CONSTITUTION: A bottle table holder 52 is rotatably supported on a rotating table 24 and rotated by a disk cam 76. A bottle table 98 is coupled via a slide clutch 102 onto a center axis 84 which passes through the holder 52 relatively rotatably. The center axis 84 is rotated by a friction roller 90 attached to its lower end coming into contact with a friction board 93 or the like. A drive transmission pin 110 integrally rotating with the bottle table 98 is inserted into a positioning hole 52c in a circumferential direction of the holder 52 and applied with force in a direction by a spring. The bottle table 98 is rotated while the holder 52 is stopped at a reference position. When the bottle table 98 has rotated by an angle α of the positioning hole with respect to the holder 52, drive transmission is subsequently intercepted by the slide clutch 102.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a container positioning device, and more particularly to a container positioning device for aligning all containers in a specific direction when the containers are fed to a labeling section such as a labeler.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When labeling a deformable container such as a flat container, a rectangular container or an elliptic container, it is necessary to start labeling at a specific position of the container.
Therefore, in a labeler that labels a deformed container, it is necessary to position the container before sending it to the labeling unit so that all the containers face the same direction. If it is a dedicated machine for labeling a single type of container, it is easy to point all containers in the same direction by a simple mechanism such as a cam, but to use the labeler for containers of various shapes. Must rotate the containers carried in the labeler by different angles according to the shape of each container, and feed them into the labeling section in the most appropriate direction.

For example, as shown in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-376432, if a mounting table (bottle table) rotatably supported by a rotating body is rotated by a servomotor, the shape of the container can be changed. It is possible to position the container in a particular direction so that the label can be applied at a particular position on its outer peripheral surface.

[0004]

However, in the structure of the conventional container positioning device such as the device described in the above publication, a servomotor is provided for each mounting table, and a sensor for detecting the direction of the container is used. However, there is a drawback that the structure is complicated and the cost is high because a control device or the like for controlling each servo motor according to the signal from the sensor is required.

The present invention has been made to eliminate the above-mentioned drawbacks, and an object of the present invention is to provide a container positioning device which can be used for many kinds of containers and has a simple structure and a low cost. Is.

[0006]

A container positioning device according to the present invention comprises means for conveying a container such as a rotating body, a bottle holder rotatably supported by the conveying means, and rotation of the bottle holder. It comprises a holder rotating means for rotating, a bottle base rotatably supported in the bottle base holder, and a bottle base rotating means for rotating the bottle base, and further, a container having a specific shape is accommodated on the inner surface. A hook with a hole that can be held by the hook is fitted in the bottle holder so as to be relatively rotatable, and the bottle stand is fitted in the hole of the hook so that the bottle can be moved up and down. Are connected in the direction of rotation by a radial pin so that they can rotate integrally, and the radially outer end of this pin is inserted into a circumferential hole formed at a predetermined angle in the bottle holder. , The corner of this circumferential hole Only, in which the relatively rotatable bottle table and hakama against the outside of the bottle base holder.

[0007]

In the container positioning apparatus according to the above embodiment, the bottle holder rotatably supported by the means for conveying the container such as the rotating body is rotated by the holder rotating means and then stopped at the reference position. The hook and the bottle base holding the container are rotated from the reference position of the bottle base holder by the bottle base rotating means. Rotation of the bottle base and the shuttle with respect to the bottle base holder causes radial pins integrally rotationally connected thereto to rotate within the circumferential holes of the bottle base holder. When the radial pin reaches the end of the circumferential hole, it stops without further rotation. The rotation angle of the bottle base on which the container is placed is determined by the angle of the circumferential hole formed in the bottle base holder, so the bottle base that holds and rotates the container according to the shape of various containers. If you decide the angle of the hole in the holder's circumferential direction, you can prepare a bottle base holder for each shape of container and use the bottle base holder corresponding to a specific container to ensure a simple structure. The container can be positioned.

[0008]

The present invention will be described below with reference to the illustrated embodiments.
FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a container positioning device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.
FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a main part of a labeler equipped with the container positioning device (particularly, a portion of a top locator that holds the head of the container on the container positioning device), and FIG. 4 shows a simplified layout of the labeler. FIG. The labeler (generally indicated by reference numeral 2) is a container positioning device 8 for rotating and positioning the container 6 while carrying the container 6 on the outer periphery of the rotary member 4 at equal intervals in the circumferential direction and carrying the container 6. A plurality of sets of the top locator 10 and the top locator 10 that holds the head of the container 6 placed on the container positioning device 8 are aligned in the upper and lower positions. The container 6 that has been continuously conveyed by the container conveyer 12 is the inlet star wheel 1
4 is sequentially supplied into the rotator 4 and is rotated and conveyed by the rotator 4 to be positioned by rotation of the container positioning device 8, and then labeling is performed in the labeling unit, and labeling is completed. It is discharged onto the container carrying conveyor 12 via the rear exit star wheel 16 and sent to the next step.

In the labeling section, as shown in FIG. 4, a roll label 17 wound in a continuous roll is pulled out through a plurality of rollers 18, cut into a predetermined size by a cutter, and then labeled by a labeling drum 20. And is attached to the outer surface of the container 6 on each container positioning device 8 by the labeling drum 20. The container positioning device 8 according to the present embodiment includes an inlet star wheel 1
The container 6 supplied from 4 is supplied to the labeling drum 20.
With respect to such labeling means as described above, they are positioned and supplied in a predetermined direction.

As shown in FIG. 3, the rotary body 4 is fixed to the outer circumference of the central rotary shaft 22 and is rotated below. The lower rotary table 24 and the rotary table 24 are fixed above the rotary table 24. A rotary plate 26 that rotates integrally, and the container positioning device 8 is provided near the outer periphery of the lower rotary table 24, and an upper rotary plate 26 is provided with the container positioning devices 8 above and below. The top locator 10 is provided so that the positions thereof match. Note that FIG.
Then, the structure of the container positioning device 8 is simplified and shown.

The top locator 10 arranged above the container positioning device 8 has a vertical cylindrical body 28 fixed to an upper rotary plate 26 and a rod 30 fitted in the cylindrical body 28 so as to be vertically movable. And a head 32 that is attached to the lower end of the rod 30 and that fits and holds the head of the container 6 when the rod descends. The lifting rod 30
Is constantly urged downward by a spring 36 mounted elastically between the lower surface of the lid 34 fixed to the upper end of the tubular body 28 and the step formed on the outer periphery of the elevating rod 30. Further, a cam follower 38 is attached to a portion of the elevating rod 30 that protrudes upward from the cylindrical body 28. On the other hand, above the rotary plate 26 around the rotary shaft 22, two fixed plates 40, 4 fixed to the outside are provided.
2 are fitted together, and these two fixing plates 40,
Between 42, a cam plate 44 having a cam surface 44a formed on the outer surface is attached. The cam follower 38 attached to the upper end of the elevating rod 30 engages with the cam surface 44a and moves up and down by moving on the cam surface 44a as the rotating body 4 rotates.

As shown in FIG. 1, a vertical hole 24a is formed near the outer periphery of the rotary table 24, and a cylindrical member 46 is rotatably mounted in the through hole 24a via bearings 48 and 50. It is supported. A cup-shaped bottle holder 52 is attached to the upper end of the cylindrical member 46. An annular bottom portion 52a protruding downward is provided near the outer periphery of the lower surface of the bottle base holder 52, and the annular bottom portion 52a is fitted to a flange portion 46a formed at the upper end of the cylindrical member 46, so that the bottle base holder 52a. Annular bottom 52a of 52
The bottle holder 52 and the cylindrical member 46 are connected and integrated by a pin 54 inserted from the outside toward the outer surface of the flange portion 46a of the cylindrical member 46.
Therefore, the bottle holder 52 and the cylindrical member 46 can be easily attached and detached.

The rotary table 24 at the lower end of the cylindrical member 46.
A pinion gear 58 is attached via a key 56 to the outer periphery of the portion projecting downward from. Below the rotary table 24, the central rotary shaft 4 and a support plate 60 which rotates integrally with the rotary table 24 are provided. The rotary table 24 has the cylindrical member 4
A recess 24b is formed on the lower surface side on the inner side in the radial direction (on the left side in FIG. 1) of the through hole 24a into which 6 is fitted, and also in the lower support plate 60 at a position corresponding to this recess 24b. A hole 60b is formed so as to vertically penetrate therethrough, and an intermediate shaft 66 is rotatably supported inside the recess 24b and the through hole 60b via bearings 62 and 64. A sector gear 70 is fixed to a portion of the outer periphery of the intermediate shaft 66 between the rotary table 24 and the support plate 60 via a key 68. The sector gear 70 is attached to the outer periphery of the lower end of the cylindrical member 46. It meshes with the fixed pinion gear 58.

An arm 72 is fixed to the lower end of the intermediate shaft 66 protruding downward from the through hole 60b of the support plate 60 so as to rotate integrally therewith, and a cam follower is attached to the rotating end of the arm 72. 74 is attached. A disk cam 76 is horizontally fixed below the support plate 60, and the cam follower 74 meshes with a cam groove 76a formed on the surface of the disk cam 76. Therefore, when the rotary table 24 and the lower support plate 60 rotate together with the central rotary shaft 22 (see FIG. 3), the cam follower 74 attached to the tip of the arm 72 fixed to the lower end of the intermediate shaft 66.
However, the arm 72 swings by moving along the cam groove 76a of the disc cam 76. The swing of the arm 72 rotates the intermediate shaft 66, and the sector gear 70 connected to the central portion of the intermediate shaft 66 rotates by a predetermined angle. The rotation of the sector gear 70 is transmitted to the cylindrical member 46 via the pinion gear 58 that meshes with the sector gear 70, and the cylindrical member 46 and the bottle holder 52 integrally fixed to the upper portion thereof rotate by a predetermined angle.

A through hole 24 of the rotary table 24 near the outer periphery of the support plate 60 into which the cylindrical member 46 is fitted.
hole 60a penetrating vertically at a position corresponding to the lower side of a
Is formed, and the support cylinder 78 is fixed to the lower surface side of the through hole 60a. Upper end flange portion 4 of the cylindrical member 46
Bearings 80 and 82 are arranged on the inner surface of 6a and the inner surface of the lower end portion of the support cylinder 78, and these upper and lower bearings 80 and 82 penetrate the inside of the upper cylindrical member 46 and the lower support cylinder 70. A central shaft 84 is rotatably supported. An upper end portion of the central shaft 84 extends into the bottle base holder 52, and an engagement cylinder 86 that engages with the bottle base side, which will be described later, is fixed to the upper end portion by a pin 88.

A friction roller 90 is attached to the lower end of the central shaft 84 which is rotatably fitted inside the cylindrical member 46 and the support cylinder 78. On the other hand, along the path along which the friction roller 90 moves as the rotating body 4 rotates,
Circular arc-shaped fixed friction plates 92 and 93 are arranged over a predetermined angle (see FIG. 5 described later). Therefore, when the rotating body 4 rotates, the central shaft 84 rotates together with the rotary table 24 and the bottle holder 52 supported by the rotary table 24 about the rotary shaft 22, and further,
During this rotation, when the friction roller 90 attached to the lower end of the center shaft 84 comes into contact with the fixed friction plates 92 and 93, the friction roller 90 rotates about its own axis in the bottle holder holder 52 which is rotating around the rotation shaft 22. It should be noted that the fixed friction plates 92 and 93 are the same as the first fixed friction plate 92 for angle correction provided for positioning the container 6 before performing the labeling, and after the labeling on the container 6 is finished, A second fixed friction plate 93 for restoring the angle correction by the first fixed friction plate 92 is provided. In this embodiment, as described later with reference to FIG. On the outer peripheral side of the rotating body 4, the second fixed friction plate 93 is arranged on the inner peripheral side of the rotating body 4 so as to rotate in the opposite direction to the first fixed friction plate 92.

Inside the cup-shaped bottle holder 52,
The inner peripheral surface conforms to a specific shape of the container 6 (in this embodiment, a container having a rectangular cross section as shown in FIG. 2) (accurately, the bottom of the container can be fitted). , Of a size slightly larger than the outer shape of this container)
The hook 94 having the container fitting hole 94a is housed therein. The hook 94 is rotatably supported by a thrust bearing 96 arranged on the bottom surface of the bottle holder 52. Furthermore, a protrusion 94b is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the hook 94 and engages with a recess 52b formed on the inner surface of the side wall of the bottle holder 52.
No. 4 is allowed to rotate relative to the bottle holder 52, and its relative elevation is restricted.

In the container fitting hole 94a of the hook 94, which is supported in the bottle holder 52 so as to be relatively rotatable,
A bottle base 98 having a shape that substantially matches the shape of the bottom surface of the container 6 is housed in a vertically movable manner. The bottle base 98 has a circular member 100 fixed to the lower surface side and having a dish laid face down.
A circular protrusion 100a is formed downward in the central portion of the circular member 100, and the connecting cylinder 104 is relatively rotatable from the lower side to the outer periphery of the protrusion 100a via an annular slip clutch 102. It is fitted. A flange-shaped flat surface is formed at the upper end of the connecting cylinder 104, and the spring 108 is provided between the lower side of the flat surface and the upper surface of the bearing 106 arranged at the bottom of the bottle holder 52.
Is mounted and the connecting cylinder 104 is slid onto the clutch 10
The circular member 100 fixed to the lower surface of the bottle base 98 is constantly brought into pressure contact with the circular member 100 via 2. The circular member 1 has the upper end portion
Connecting cylinder 104 fitted to the circular protrusion 100a of 00
The lower part of the engaging cylinder 8 is fixed to the upper end of the central shaft 84.
6 is engaged with the outer periphery of the shaft 6, is relatively movable in the axial direction (vertical direction) with respect to the engagement cylinder 86, and is integrally connected in the rotational direction.

The bottle base 98 and the circular member 100 fixed to the lower surface thereof, and the annular slip clutch 102 and the connecting cylinder 104 below the bottle base 98 are provided with the spring 10.
8 is always urged upward, and the circular member 100
The annular collar portion 100b formed on the outer periphery of the lower portion of the hook engages with the step portion (not shown in the cross section of FIG. 1) formed on the lower surface of the inner peripheral portion of the hook 94, and the upward movement is prevented. It is regulated. When the bottle base 98 is stopped, the bottle base 9 is
The heights of the upper surface of 8 and the upper surfaces of the hook 94 and the bottle holder 52 are substantially the same.

A circular member 1 fixed to the lower surface of the bottle base 98
The outer peripheral wall of 00 has a notch 100c extending vertically.
Is formed, and the inside end of the drive transmission pin 110 inserted into the radial insertion hole formed inside the hook 94 is engaged in the vertical cutout 100c. These bottle bases 98 are provided by the transmission pins 110.
The blade holder 98 and the circular member 100 are connected to the rotary hook 94 in the rotational direction and rotate integrally, and the bottle base 98 and the circular member 100 can be moved up and down with respect to the drive transmission pin 110 and the rotary hook 94. Further, a positioning hole 52c penetrating inside and outside and having a predetermined angle α (see FIG. 2) in the circumferential direction is formed in a part of the outer peripheral wall of the bottle holder 52. The outer end of the drive transmission pin 110 is inserted into the directional positioning hole 52c.
A recess 52d is formed on one side wall (a side wall on the lower side in FIG. 2) of the positioning hole 52c, and a positioning spring 112 is arranged in the recess 52d to constantly bias the drive transmission pin 110. There is. Therefore, the bottle base 98 and the pinwheel 94 can rotate relative to the bottle base holder 52 by the angle α in the rotational direction of the positioning hole 52c formed in the bottle base holder 52, and further rotation is restricted. It has become so.

With the rotation of the rotating body 4, the central shaft 84
When the friction roller 90 fixed to the lower end of the central axis 84 rotates (rotates with respect to the rotating body 4) by contacting the arc-shaped first fixed friction plate 92, the rotation is fixed to the upper end of the central axis 84. Is transmitted to the bottle base 98 via the engagement cylinder 86, the connection cylinder 104 engaged with the engagement cylinder 86, the annular slip clutch 102 and the circular member 100, and the bottle base 9 is transmitted.
Rotate 8. The rotation of the bottle base 98 is transmitted to the hooks 94 via the radial drive transmission pins 110, and the bottle bases 98 and the hooks 94 rotate integrally. The distal end of the drive transmission pin 110 on the outer side in the radial direction is inserted into the circumferential positioning hole 52c formed in the bottle holder 52, and as described above, by the positioning spring 112 when not operating, Although pressed against the upper side wall surface in FIG. 2, when it rotates together with the bottle base 98 and the hook 94, the positioning spring 112 bends and moves downward, and hits the lower side wall surface of the positioning hole 52c and stops. To do. When the drive transmission pin 110 rotates and hits the spring-side wall surface of the positioning hole 52c, further rotation is restricted. Therefore, even if the central shaft 84 further rotates, the sliding clutch 102 acts to cause the bottle base 98 to rotate.
Transmission of rotational torque to the side is cut off, and no further rotation occurs.

An annular standing portion 52e is formed near the center of the bottom surface of the bottle holder 52. The annular standing portion 52e vertically faces the annular collar portion 100b at the lower end of the circular member 100 fixed to the lower surface of the bottle base 98, and teeth which mesh with each other are formed on the facing surfaces. There is. The bottle base 98 is biased from below by the spring 108 as described above, and can be lowered with respect to the hook 94 and the bottle base holder 52. Then, when the bottle base 98 is lowered to the state of FIG. 1, the teeth of the annular upright portion 52e and the annular collar portion 1 are
Since it does not mesh with the teeth of 00b, the positioning hole 5
In the range of the angle α of 2c, the bottle base 98 is the bottle base holder 52.
It is rotatable with respect to. When the bottle base 98 is further lowered from this state, the annular flange portion 10 of the circular member 100 is formed.
The teeth formed on the lower surface of 0b and the teeth formed on the upper surface of the annular upright portion 52e of the bottle holder 52 mesh with each other to restrain the rotation of the bottle holder 98 with respect to the bottle holder 52. As a result, the bottle base 98 can be integrally rotated by rotating the bottle base holder 52. The transmission of the rotation between the bottle holder 52 and the bottle holder 98 is not limited to the above-described tooth engagement, but may be transmitted by a frictional force or the like.

The operation of the labeler 2 provided with the container positioning device 8 having the above structure will be described with reference to FIG. The container 6 conveyed by the container conveyer 12 (see FIG. 4) is supplied by the inlet star wheel 14 onto the bottle base 98 of each container positioning device 8 provided on the rotating body 4 of the labeler 2 (A Zone start position). These containers 6 are conveyed in the same direction by the container conveyer 12, and are supplied at a certain angle inside the rotating body 4 via the inlet star wheel 14. In this example,
The cross section of the container 6 is substantially rectangular, and the container 6 that has been transported on the container transport conveyor 12 with its longitudinal direction forward and backward is transferred to the rotating body 4 via the inlet star wheel 12.
When it is supplied to, the longitudinal centerline of the container 6 faces the tangential direction of the rotating body 4 (see the container 6a in FIG. 5).

The top locator 10 arranged above each container positioning device 8 is designed to be moved up and down in accordance with the cam curve shown in FIG. 6, and is one step from the start position of the zone A to the intermediate position. Be lowered. That is, the cam surface 44a of the cam plate 44 disposed above the rotating shaft 22 is lowered one step at this portion as shown in FIG. 6, and the cam follower 38 engaged with the cam surface 44a is attached. The lifting rod 30 is lowered by the force of the spring 36. When the elevating rod 30 descends, the head 32 of the top locator 10 holds the head of the container 6 and pushes it downward. When the container 6 is pushed down by the top locator 10, the bottle base 98, the circular member 100 fixed to the lower surface thereof, and the annular slip clutch 1
02 and the connecting cylinder 104 bend the spring 108 and move down integrally. By lowering the bottle base 98, the container 6
Is fitted and held in the container fitting hole 94a of the hook 94 having a shape substantially corresponding to the outer shape thereof.
The rotation of the bottle base 98 is restricted (state shown in FIG. 1).

The container 6 held by being fitted in the container fitting hole 94a of the hook 94 is rotated in the latter half of the A zone. The cam follower 74 engaged with the cam groove 76a of the disc cam 76 fixed below the rotary table 24 and the support plate 60 moves along the curve of the cam groove 76a as the rotating body 4 rotates. By doing so, the arm 72 fixed to the intermediate shaft 66 is swung, and the sector gear 70 is rotated by a predetermined angle through the rotation of the intermediate shaft 66. The rotation of the sector gear 70 is transmitted to the pinion gear 58 fixed to the lower end of the cylindrical member 46 to rotate the pinion gear 58. The bottle holder 52 is fixed on the cylindrical member 46, and the rotation of the pinion gear 58 causes the cylindrical member 46 and the bottle holder 52 to rotate.

The friction roller 90 fixed to the lower end of the central shaft 84 passing through the cylindrical member 46 and the bottle holder 52 is not in contact with the fixed friction plates 92 and 93 in this section, and therefore is rotated. No torque is working. Therefore, the drive transmission pin 110, which is connected to the upper side of the central shaft 84 via the bottle base 98 or the like, is positioned by the positioning spring 112 in the bottle base holder 52.
2 is held in pressure contact with the upper side wall surface in FIG. Therefore, when the bottle base holder 52 rotates, this rotation is transmitted to the hook 94 and the bottle base 98 via the drive transmission pin 110 to rotate them integrally, and the container 6 housed and held in the hook 94. Is rotated. In this rotation, it is rotated 270 degrees in the clockwise direction in FIG. 6 to serve as a reference for later angle correction, and the center line of the container 6 in the longitudinal direction is aligned with the line passing through the center of the rotating body 4 (FIG. 6). Container 6
b)).

In the next B zone, depending on the shape of the container 6, the positioning is performed by correcting the angle so that the labeling start position of each container 6 faces the direction of the labeling drum 20. An arc-shaped first fixed friction plate 92 is disposed below the outer peripheral side of the rotating body 4 in the B zone.
Along with the rotational movement of the friction roller 90, the friction roller 90 fixed to the lower end of the central shaft 84 comes into contact with the first fixed friction plate 92 and is rotated. When the center shaft 84 is rotated by the rotation of the friction roller 90, the coupling cylinder 104, which is adapted to transmit the rotation by being engaged with the outer periphery of the engagement cylinder 86 fixed to the upper end of the center shaft 84, is rotated. It The connecting cylinder 104 is provided with a spring 108 to allow the annular slip clutch 102 to move.
A circular member 100 fixed to the lower surface of the bottle base 98 via
The bottle base 98 rotates with the rotation of the central shaft 84. The rotation of the bottle base 98 allows the container 6 to be housed and held via the drive transmission pin 110.
Also rotate.

In this B zone, the bottle holder 52
The cam groove 76a of the fixed disk cam 76 for rotating the is circular arc shape concentric with the rotating body 4, so that the bottle holder 52 does not rotate. When the drive transmission pin 110 is rotated together with the bottle base 98 and the hook 94 while the bottle base holder 52 is not rotated, the drive transmission pin 1 is rotated.
The tip of 10 rotates from the upper wall surface in FIG. 2 of the positioning hole 52c of the bottle holder 52 to the lower wall surface while bending the spring 112. If the drive transmission pin 110 hits this lower wall surface, it cannot rotate anymore,
The rotation torques of the friction roller 90 and the central shaft 84 are not transmitted to the bottle base 98 by the action of the slip clutch 102, and the central shaft 84 idles until it passes through the B zone. In this way, the bottle base 98 and the hooks 94 are
Regardless of the length of the fixed friction plate 92, it rotates with respect to the bottle holder 52 by the angle α of the positioning hole 52c of the bottle holder 52. Therefore, the angle of the positioning hole 52c is set to
By appropriately setting the shape depending on the shape, the labeling can be started with a predetermined position directed toward the labeling drum 20 according to the type of the container 6. In this embodiment, the longitudinal center line of the container 6 is located on the line passing through the center of the rotating body 4 (see the container 6b in FIG. 5).
The rectangular container 6 is rotated until the corner 6A is located on the outer side on the line passing through the center of the rotating body 4 (see the container 6c in FIG. 5).

In the latter half of the B zone, the top locator 10 is lowered again. As shown in FIG. 6, a cam surface 44a that lowers the head 32 of the top locator 10.
Is lowered one step further than the height lowered one step in the middle of the A zone, and the top locator 10 is lowered according to the cam curve 44a. By lowering the top locator 10, the container 6 and the bottle base 98 are further pushed into the hook 94 and the bottle base holder 52, and the circular member 10 fixed to the lower surface of the bottle base 98.
The teeth formed on the annular collar portion 100b of No. 0 mesh with the teeth of the annular standing portion 52e of the bottle holder 52, and
8 and the rotary hook 94 and the bottle holder 52 are completely restricted from rotating relative to each other, and they rotate integrally. The timing for locking the bottle base 98 and the bottle base holder 52 to regulate the relative rotation by lowering the top locator 10 is the drive transmission pin 11 described above.
It goes without saying that 0 has hit the wall surface on the spring 112 side and the angle correction has been completed.

The container 6 whose angle is corrected in the B zone and which is positioned in a predetermined direction is conveyed by the rotation of the rotator 4 while maintaining the angle in the next C zone, and C
At the label transfer point that moves from the zone to the D zone,
The labeling drum 20 attaches the end of the label to the outermost corner 6A (see the container 6d in FIG. 5).

The container 6 whose end portion of the label has been transferred to the outermost corner 6A by the labeling drum 20 is rotated 360 degrees in the subsequent D zone and the label is wrapped around the entire circumference. In this D zone, the rotating body 4
That the cam follower 74 of the intermediate shaft 66, which is engaged with the cam groove 76a of the fixed disc cam 76 disposed below the above, moves along the curve of this cam groove 76a as the rotating body 4 rotates. As a result, the cylindrical member 46 passes through the arm 72, the intermediate shaft 66, the sector gear 70, and the pinion gear 58.
And the bottle holder 52 is rotated. As mentioned above,
Since the bottle holder 52 and the circular member 100 fixed to the lower surface of the bottle holder 98 are locked, the bottle holder 98 is
The hooks and the hooks 94 also rotate integrally (each container 6 in FIG. 5).
e, 6f, 6g, 6h). D zone is over, 360
The container 6 that has been rotated once returns to the direction in which it is positioned (see container 6i in FIG. 5).

Next, in the F zone, a correction returning step for returning the angle correction performed in the B zone to the original is to be performed. Before that step, in the E zone,
The container 6 is rotated clockwise by 270 degrees (see containers 6j and 6k in FIG. 5) so that the longitudinal centerline of the container 6 is swung by the correction angle α with respect to the tangent line of the rotating body 4. . Just before the end of this E zone, Top Locator 1
0 is raised by one step to bring the bottle base 98 into the state shown in FIG. 1, and again enables relative rotation between the bottle base 98 and the hook 94 and the bottle base holder 52.

In the next F zone, the second fixed friction plate 93 is provided on the inner peripheral side of the moving path of the friction roller 90 fixed to the lower end of the central shaft 84, and the rotation of the rotating body 4 is increased. Accordingly, the friction roller 90 causes the second fixed friction plate 9 to move.
It contacts 3 and rotates in the opposite direction to the angle correction (B zone). The rotations of the friction roller 90 and the central shaft 84 are transmitted to the circular member 100 and the bottle base 98 via the upper engagement cylinder 86, the connection cylinder 104, and the annular slide clutch 102, and further, the rotary transmission is carried out via the drive transmission pin 110. 94
Are transmitted to them and they rotate integrally. In this rotation, the drive transmission pin 110 rotates from the wall surface on the spring 112 side in the positioning hole 52c (the lower wall surface in FIG. 2) toward the opposite wall surface. Even in this correction return zone F, the bottle holder 52 is not rotated, so the drive transmission pin 1
After 10 hits the upper wall surface of FIG. 2, the transmission of the rotational torque from the friction roller 90 is blocked by the action of the slip clutch 102. In the state of being reversely rotated and returned by the angle α thus corrected, the longitudinal center line of the container 6 is oriented in the tangential direction of the rotating body 4 (the container 6 in FIG. 5).
m)). The container 6 in this state faces in the opposite direction to the posture in which it is carried into the rotating body 4 from the inlet star wheel 14.

Therefore, in the latter half of the G zone, the bottle holder 52 is rotated 180 degrees by the fixed disc cam 76. In this G zone, since no friction plate that comes into contact with the friction roller 90 is provided, the bottle base 98 and the hammer 9 are provided.
4 is in a free state, rotates integrally with the bottle holder 52, and the container 6 is in the same orientation as when it is carried in. Container 6
Is set in the same direction as when carrying in, the top locator 10 is raised to the highest position immediately before the end of the G zone, the head 32 is separated from the container 6, and the container 6 is pulled out from the hook 94 by raising the bottle base 98. And then discharged from this labeler 2 by the exit star wheel 16.

In the container positioning device 8, first, the bottle holder 52 and the entire interior thereof are integrally rotated so as to be directed to the reference position (position of the container 6b in FIG. 5) for positioning the container 6 in advance. After that, the inner bottle base 98 and the hook 9
4 is rotated so that a predetermined angle is corrected to orient the container 6 in a specific direction. The angle α to be corrected is determined by a circumferential positioning hole 52 formed in the bottle holder 52.
It is determined by the angle of c. Therefore,
In order to rotate containers of various shapes by different angles for each container and perform positioning, the angle of the positioning hole may be changed according to the type of the container. Therefore, in the device according to the present invention, a hook provided with a container fitting hole that matches a container of a specific shape, and a bottle base inside the hook are provided, and an angle required to be rotated according to the shape of the container. Only a bottle holder with a positioning hole that is cut out in the circumferential direction, and various types of assemblies that integrate the drive transmission pin and slip clutch, connecting cylinder, spring, bearing, etc. are prepared in advance, depending on the shape of the container. By simply replacing the lever assembly, the positioning according to the shape of the container can be performed very easily.

As described above, in the above embodiment, the disk cam 76 is used.
The bottle base holder 52 is rotated by to set the container 6 on the bottle base 98 to the reference position, and then the bottle base holder 52
Is stopped and the hook 98 for holding the bottle base 98 and the container 6 is rotated by the contact between the friction roller 90 and the fixed friction plate 92, and the rotation of the hook and the positioning hole 52c of the bottle holder 52 is stopped. , The bottle base 98 and the drive transmission pin 110 which rotates together with the bottle base 98 are used to regulate the rotation, and the further rotation is blocked by the slip clutch 102, so that the container 6 is oriented in the optimum direction for labeling according to its shape. Therefore, the container 6 can be positioned with an extremely simple structure, and even when it is applied to a large number of types of containers having different shapes, the bottle base holder 52, the bottle base 98, the hook 94 and the drive transmission pin 110. Since it is only necessary to replace the portion holding the container 6 as a unit, the structure is simple and the cost is low.

FIG. 7 shows a bottle holder 1 according to the second embodiment.
52 is a perspective view showing a configuration of 52 and a hook 194.
A rotary hook 194 and a bottle base 198 are fitted in the bottle base holder 152 so as to be relatively rotatable. Hama 194
The bottle base 198 is connected in the rotational direction by a drive transmission pin 1110 and can be moved up and down relatively. On the other hand, the tip of the drive transmission pin 1110 on the outer side is inserted into a circumferential positioning hole 152c formed in the bottle holder 152, and the spring 110 (not shown) is inserted.
It is urged in one direction (rightward in FIG. 7) by 8. The lever 200 is swingably attached to the end (the end opposite to the side where the drive transmission pin 1110 is located) of the positioning hole 152c of the bottle base holder 152 with the pin 202 as a fulcrum. The action portion 200a of the lever 200 (the portion on the right side of the pin 202) has a V-shape, and the middle bent portion of the action portion 200a has a recess 200b that can be engaged with the drive transmission pin 1110. Are formed.
Further, the lever 200 is provided with operating portions 200c and 200d on the upper side and the lower side of the fulcrum pin 202, respectively. The upper operating portion 200c is engaged with a cam or the like (not shown) and the right side of FIG. When pressed in one direction, the operating portion 200a
Is pushed down to pull the drive transmission pin 1110 to the left in the figure against the spring, and then the recess 200b engages with the drive transmission pin 1110 and locks (see FIG. 9).

On the contrary, from the state shown in FIG.
When 0d is engaged with a cam or the like and rotated in the counterclockwise direction, the engagement of the recess 200b with the drive transmission pin 1110 is released, and the drive transmission pin 1110 is pushed to the right by the spring to the state of FIG. Return. Also in this example,
In addition to the effects similar to those of the above-described embodiment, the relative rotation between the outer bottle holder 152 and the inner hook 194 and the bottle holder 198, in particular, is different from that of the above-described embodiment. Rather than providing the means (the friction roller 90 and the friction plates 92, 93), the drive transmission pin 1110, which is constantly urged by the spring, is drawn to the recess 200b by the lever 200 reciprocally rocked by a cam (not shown). Since it is performed by engaging, the structure is further simplified as compared with the above embodiment,
The effect of downsizing is obtained.

[0039]

As described above, according to the present invention, the means for conveying the container, the bottle holder rotatably supported by the conveying means, and the holder rotating means for rotating the bottle holder. In a container positioning device including a bottle base rotatably supported in a bottle base holder and a bottle base rotating means for rotating the bottle base, a container having a specific shape can be accommodated and held on the inner surface. A hook with a hole formed therein is fitted in the bottle base holder so as to be relatively rotatable, and the bottle stand is fitted in the hole of the hook so that the bottle stand can be moved up and down. In addition to connecting in the rotational direction with a pin, insert the outer end of the pin in the radial direction into the circumferential hole formed at the specified angle on the bottle holder, and adjust the angle of the circumferential hole to the bottle holder. To the bottle holder By the rotatable, it is possible to position the container with a simple structure, yet can be also used in a container having various shapes.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a container positioning device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a transverse cross-sectional view of a main part of the container positioning device.

FIG. 3 is a main part of a labeler equipped with the container positioning device (particularly, a part of a top locator that holds the head of the container).
FIG.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a simplified layout of the entire labeler.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view sequentially showing a process of positioning a container by applying the container positioning device according to the above embodiment to a labeler.

6 is a diagram showing a cam curve for moving up and down the top locator shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a main part (a part for holding a container) of a container positioning device according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the second embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a view for explaining the operation of the second embodiment, and FIG.
Indicates a state different from.

[Explanation of symbols]

 4 means for conveying container (rotating body) 6 container 52 bottle holder 52c circumferential hole (positioning hole) 74 holder rotating means (cam follower) 76 holder rotating means (disk cam) 90 bottle rotating means (friction roller) 92 Bottle Stand Rotating Means (First Fixed Friction Plate) 93 Bottle Stand Rotating Means (Second Fixed Friction Plate) 94 Hammer 94a Hammer Hole (Container Fitting Hole) 98 Bottle Stand 110 Radial Pin (Drive Transmission Pin)

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A means for transporting a container, a bottle base holder rotatably supported by the transport means, a holder rotating means for rotating the bottle base holder, and a relatively rotatable support in the bottle base holder. In a container positioning device having a bottle base and a bottle base rotating means for rotating the bottle base, a hook having a hole capable of accommodating and holding a container having a specific shape is formed on the inner surface of the bottle base holder. The bottle base is fitted in the hole of the hook so as to be able to move up and down, and these connect the hook and the bottle base in the rotational direction by a radial pin, and The outer end in the radial direction was inserted into a circumferential hole formed in the bottle holder at a predetermined angle, and the bottle holder was made rotatable relative to the bottle holder by the angle of the circumferential hole. Container characterized by Positioning device.