Container feeding device

Abstract

The containers can be reliably supplied to the downstream equipment. [Solution] In a container supply device that delivers containers 200 to a downstream device, the containers 200 are containers 200 with labels R attached, and the device comprises an alignment assist unit 160 that transports the contained containers 200 while aligning them, and a supply mechanism 700 located downstream of the alignment assist unit 160 that discharges the transported containers 200 to the downstream device. The supply mechanism 700 takes in the transported containers 200 between a pair of upper and lower rotating bodies 701 and 702 and supplies them to the downstream device, and has an openable and closable overhang 703b on the circumferential surface of the upper rotating body 701, and has a clogging prevention mechanism 703 that prevents containers 200 from accumulating in the rotating body 701 portion.

Description

Technical Field

[0005]

[0001] The present invention relates to a container supply device.

Background Art

[0002] In a specimen inspection system, a specimen such as blood to be inspected is injected into a container, mixed with a reagent or the like, and then conveyed to an analysis module for analysis of the specimen. For example, the container supply device is provided as a supply module in the specimen inspection system, and sequentially supplies a large number of stored containers one by one to the analysis module side.

[0003] As a conventional technique related to the supply of containers or the like, for example, there is a technique of making the discharge port of a container (cuvette) have a predetermined dimension and causing the container to stay near the discharge port and applying an external force such as vibration to the container to discharge it (see, for example, Patent Document 1 below).

[0004] In addition, there is a technique of making the cross-sectional shape of a plurality of rotating rollers that support and convey a package a non-circular cross-section and causing the package to vibrate vertically and be conveyed in alignment (see, for example, Utility Model Publication 1 below). Also, there is a technique of making the cross-sectional shape of a roller that supports and conveys a load substantially square to prevent the load from unintentionally moving due to its own weight on an inclined portion (see, for example, Patent Document 2 below). In addition, in a parts feeder, there is a technique of conveying a bolt while rotating it by a spiral parts conveyance path, forming a receiving recess in a supply member that advances and retreats at an outlet portion, and directly transferring the bolt to the receiving recess to simplify and improve reliability (see, for example, Patent Document 3 below). In a feeder system, there is a technique of accommodating a plurality of parts in a container, rocking the container with an actuator, and separating the parts one by one with a selector and flowing them into a chute to prevent clogging in the selector (see, for example, Patent Document 4 below).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

[0006] However, conventional technology could not reliably supply containers and other objects. When supplying containers one by one from a large number, the different orientations and conditions of each container caused blockages and entanglement of containers along the supply path. For example, simply applying vibration to the objects may not change their orientation or condition. In this case, clearing blockages and other issues was time-consuming and laborious. At the same time, it was not possible to maintain a predetermined supply cycle for containers, reducing the supply efficiency of the container supply device. Furthermore, it became impossible to improve the processing efficiency of the specimen testing system that has a container supply device. Details of these conventional problems will be described later.

[0007] In one aspect, the present invention aims to enable the stable supply of contained containers to downstream devices. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] According to one embodiment, in a container supply device for transporting containers to a downstream device, the containers are containers with labels attached, and the device comprises an alignment assist unit that transports the contained containers while aligning them, and a supply mechanism located downstream of the alignment assist unit that discharges the transported containers to a downstream device, wherein the supply mechanism takes in the transported containers between a pair of upper and lower rotating bodies and supplies them to the downstream device, and has an openable and closable overhang portion on the circumferential surface of the upper rotating body, and has a clogging prevention mechanism to prevent the containers from accumulating in the rotating body portion.

[0009] Furthermore, the anti-clogging mechanism has a predetermined shape of overhang that contacts the circumferential surface of the upper rotating body in accordance with the shape of the edge on the free end side, and is characterized in that the circumferential surface of the upper rotating body is biased in the closing direction by an elastic body having a restoring force, so that the label sticks to other containers and multiple containers move along with the circumferential surface of the upper rotating body, thereby peeling off other containers that have become lodged between the upper rotating body and the overhang.

[0010] Furthermore, the canopy portion is characterized by having a substantially triangular shape with inclined pieces at both ends of the rotating body that are inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to the axial direction of the upper rotating body.

[0011] Furthermore, the canopy portion is characterized by having a substantially trapezoidal shape, with inclined pieces that contact the upper rotating body at a predetermined angle with respect to the axial direction of the rotating body at both ends, and a straight piece that contacts the upper rotating body along the axial direction at its central part in the axial direction.

[0012] Furthermore, the anti-clogging mechanism has a solenoid that drives the eaves to open and close, and the solenoid drives the eaves to open and close, thereby eliminating the accumulation of the container near the pair of upper and lower rotating bodies.

[0013] Furthermore, the container is characterized by being a secondary container to which the label is affixed. [Effects of the Invention]

[0014] According to one embodiment, the contained container can be stably supplied to the downstream device. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0015] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a front view showing the entire system, including a dispenser with an automatic container supply function. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a front view of the container supply device. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a side cross-sectional view of the container supply device. [Figure 4]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the container supply device. [Figure 5A] FIG. 5A is a perspective view showing the upper unit of the embodiment. (Part 1) [Figure 5B] FIG. 5B is a perspective view showing the upper unit of the embodiment. (Part 2) [Figure 5C] FIG. 5C is a perspective view showing the upper unit of the embodiment. (Part 3) [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an existing supply mechanism. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the supply mechanism of the container supply device of the embodiment. [Figure 8A] FIG. 8A is a side view showing the auxiliary vibration mechanism. (Part 1) [Figure 8B] FIG. 8B is a side view showing the auxiliary vibration mechanism. (Part 2) [Figure 9A] FIG. 9A is a perspective view showing the drive mechanism of the lower unit of the container supply device of the embodiment. (Part 1) [Figure 9B] FIG. 9B is a perspective view showing the drive mechanism of the lower unit of the container supply device of the embodiment. (Part 2) [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the occurrence of intake failure (case 1) due to non-aligned containers. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the occurrence of intake failure (case 2) due to non-aligned containers. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a diagram showing the occurrence of intake failure (case 3) when other containers are carried along during the intake of one container. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the occurrence of intake failure (case 4) due to sticking of multiple containers to each other. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is a diagram showing the occurrence of intake failure (case 5) of the terminal container. (Part 1) [Figure 15] FIG. 15 is a diagram showing the occurrence of intake failure (case 5) of the terminal container. (Part 2) [Figure 16]Figure 16 shows an example of the operation of the clogging prevention feeding mechanism of the container supply device according to the embodiment. (Part 1) [Figure 17] Figure 17 shows an example of the operation of the clogging prevention feeding mechanism of the container supply device according to the embodiment. (Part 2) [Figure 18] Figure 18 shows an example of the operation of the clogging prevention feeding mechanism of the container supply device according to the embodiment. (Part 3) [Figure 19] Figure 19 is a plan view showing various shapes of the overhang portion of the clogging prevention mechanism. [Figure 20] Figure 20 shows an example of slots on the upper drum. [Figure 21A] Figure 21A shows examples of various shapes for the rotating rollers of the rotating alignment section. (Part 1) [Figure 21B] Figure 21B shows examples of various shapes for the rotating rollers of the rotational alignment section. (Part 2) [Figure 22] Figure 22 is a block diagram showing the control functions of the container supply device's control unit. [Figure 23] Figure 23 is a block diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of a container supply device. [Figure 24] Figure 24 is a sequence diagram showing the operation of the alignment assist unit and the supply mechanism. [Figure 25A] Figure 25A is a sequence diagram showing the operation of the supply mechanism for detecting when a container is empty. (Part 1) [Figure 25B] Figure 25B is a sequence diagram showing the operation of the supply mechanism for detecting when a container is empty. (Part 2) [Figure 26A] Figure 26A is a sequence diagram showing the operation of the container jamming detection by the supply mechanism. (Part 1) [Figure 26B] Figure 26B is a sequence diagram showing the operation of the container jamming detection by the supply mechanism. (Part 2) [Figure 26C] Figure 26C is a sequence diagram showing the operation of the container jamming detection by the supply mechanism. (Part 3) [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0016] Embodiments of the container supply device according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

[0017] Figure 1 is a front view of the entire system, including an automatic container supply dispenser (hereinafter abbreviated as "AQ"). The container supply device 100 in the example shown in Figure 1 is located inside the AQ at the dotted line position in the figure. The AQ can be integrated into a system as part of an automated clinical laboratory system.

[0018] Next, the general configuration of the existing container supply device 100 will be explained using Figures 2 to 4. The following will describe the configuration and problems of the existing container supply device in comparison with an example configuration that solves the problems of the container supply device of the embodiment.

[0019] Figure 2 is a front view of the container supply device, Figure 3 is a side cross-sectional view of the container supply device (cross-sectional view along line AA in Figure 2), and Figure 4 is a perspective view of the container supply device. The container supply device 100 will be described with the width direction as X, the depth direction as Y, and the height direction as Z.

[0020] As shown in Figure 3, the container supply device 100 has a roughly cubic upper unit 110 that is detachable from the housing and a lower unit 150 attached to the housing. When the upper unit 110 is detached, a large number of containers 200 (for example, 600) are filled into the storage section 111 and attached to the upper position of the lower unit 150.

[0021] The container 200 is made of resin and is formed in a roughly cylindrical shape similar to a test tube. As shown in Figure 4, it has an opening at one end, and a large-diameter flange is provided around the opening.

[0022] The containers 200 are stored in the storage section 111 with pre-printed labels attached to their sides (circumferential surfaces). A label printing section (not shown) is provided at the lower part of the container supply device 100, and the label printing section prints information about the sample to be dispensed in a subsequent process onto the labels of the containers 200 as they are sequentially discharged one by one from the container supply device 100. The storage section 111 of the container supply device 100 is designed to accommodate containers 200 with unprinted labels already attached to their sides. This makes it possible to efficiently attach labels to a large number of containers 200 compared to a structure in which labels are attached to each container 200 after sorting in a subsequent stage of the container supply device 100.

[0023] The width of the storage section 111 of the upper unit 110, which is its size in the X-axis direction, is approximately the length of the container 200, and the container 200 is stored in the storage section 111 with its length facing in the X-axis direction. The upper unit 110 supplies the container 200 stored in the storage section 111 to the lower unit 150 by dropping it down when the discharge door 501 (see Figure 5A) located at the bottom is opened.

[0024] As shown in Figures 2 to 4, the lower unit 150 is equipped with a mechanism for taking out the containers 200 supplied from the upper unit 110 one by one and transporting them to the next process. Using Figure 3, the upper part of the lower unit 150 is equipped with an alignment assist section 160 that receives the containers 200 supplied by dropping from the upper unit 110 and has an inclined surface at a predetermined angle. The alignment assist section 160 receives the containers 200 with an inclined plate 161 at the bottom of the device, which is lower in height on the front side in the Y-axis direction of the device, and the weight of the containers 200 supplies the entire container 200 to the front side in the Y-axis direction of the device. In addition, a pair of walls are provided on both sides of the alignment assist section 160 in the X-axis direction to restrict both ends of the container 200 in the longitudinal direction.

[0025] A supply mechanism 170 is provided on the front side of the alignment assist unit 160 in the Y-axis direction, i.e., on the back side of the device. The supply mechanism 170 has a pair of rotating bodies (cams / drums) that rotate synchronously in the direction of the arrows in Figure 3. The upper cam 171 has a circular sliding contact portion 171a in the rotational direction, and the sliding contact portion 171a has a gap between it and the lower drum 172 that corresponds to the width (diameter) of the container 200. The lower drum 172 is provided with a slot 172a in a part of the circumferential (rotational) direction for accommodating the container 200. As a result, the containers 200 aligned in the alignment assist unit 160 are accommodated one by one into the slots 172a of the drum 172 while in contact with the sliding contact portion 171a of the cam 171.

[0026] In existing technology, the upper cam 171 and the lower drum 172 are connected by a belt and rotated by a single motor M.

[0027] When the drum 172 rotates and the slot 172a of the drum 172 is positioned facing downwards, the container 200 is supplied to the next process, the barcode printing unit (not shown), by gravity. At this time, the flange of the opening of the container 200 engages with the vertical alignment mechanism (not shown), causing it to fall with the opening always facing upwards (Z-axis direction). In other words, even if the containers 200 are mixed in forward and reversed directions in the storage unit 111 of the upper unit 110, and remain mixed in their length directions in the alignment assistance unit 160, the drum 172 located at the discharge unit of the supply mechanism 170 supplies the containers 200 with the opening always facing upwards in the Z-axis direction, as shown in Figure 4. As a result, the printing unit can print on the labels in the correct orientation without the printing being upside down.

[0028] Figures 5A to 5C are perspective views showing the upper unit of the embodiment. The method of housing the container 200 in the upper unit 110 will be explained using Figure 5A. As shown in Figure 5A(a), the container 200 is filled into the container through the opening 111a located on the bottom side (upper side in the inverted state) with the housing section 111 inverted upside down. Then, as shown in Figure 5A(b), the upper unit 110 is attached from the top of the housing section 111. After this, as shown in Figure 5A(c), the upper unit 110 is inverted upside down and set in the upper position of the lower unit 150 (state as shown in Figure 3).

[0029] Furthermore, Figure 5B is a perspective view from below showing the discharge door 501 of the upper unit 110 of the embodiment, with Figure 5B(a) showing the discharge door 501 in a closed state and Figure 5B(b) showing the discharge door 501 in an open state.

[0030] At the lower part of the upper unit 110, there are two discharge doors 501 that are continuous in the Y-axis direction, with both ends in the width direction (X-axis direction) as axes. In the closed state shown in Figure 5B(a), they support both ends in the length direction of the (lowest) container 200 housed in the housing section 111. Then, as shown in Figure 5B(b), by opening the pair of discharge doors 501 around their axis, the container 200 housed in the housing section 111 is discharged by gravity onto the alignment assist section 160 of the lower unit 150. Since the pair of discharge doors 501 are spaced apart from each other in the X-axis direction, the discharge of the container 200 can be performed smoothly without any problems.

[0031] Figure 5C shows the ladder alignment mechanism 520 of the embodiment. As shown in Figure 5C(b), the ladder alignment mechanism 520 is provided on the lower unit 150 between the lower part of the upper unit 110 (the upper position of the discharge door 501). As shown in Figure 5C(a), the ladder alignment mechanism 520 has multiple substantially cylindrical alignment axes 521 provided at a predetermined pitch in the Y-axis direction, for example, equivalent to the width of two containers 200, and both ends of these axes are fixedly supported in a ladder-like manner by support parts 522.

[0032] When the discharge door 501 of the upper unit 110 is opened to discharge the container 200, the container 200 is discharged with its length aligned along the alignment axis 521 of the ladder alignment mechanism 520. For example, as shown in Figure 5C(a), even if a part of the container 200 tilts (tilt with respect to the X-axis direction in the length direction of the container 200) while being discharged at the lower part (the upper position of the discharge door 501), the alignment axis 521 corrects the tilt and discharges it downward. As a result, the length of the container 200 can be aligned along the X-axis direction on the alignment auxiliary section 160 of the lower unit 150, preventing some containers 200 from having different orientations on the alignment auxiliary section 160, and enabling smooth transport of the containers on the alignment auxiliary section 160.

[0033] Furthermore, although not shown, the ladder alignment mechanism 520 may have a vibration mechanism that vibrates the device in the front-to-back direction along the Y-axis direction of the device. This vibration mechanism provides, for example, a reciprocating vibration of about 10 to 20 mm in the Y-axis direction. This allows the container 200 to be discharged downwards without becoming clogged in the housing section 111 of the upper unit 110 (for example, near the discharge door 501).

[0034] (Regarding existing supply mechanisms) Figure 6 shows an existing supply mechanism. The existing supply mechanism 170 shown in Figure 6 stores the containers 200 one by one in the slots 172a of the drum 172 in an aligned state between the sliding contact portion 171a of the upper cam 171 of the alignment assist section 160 and the lower drum 172.

[0035] (Overview of the supply mechanism in the embodiment) Figure 7 shows the supply mechanism of the container supply device according to the embodiment. The supply mechanism 700 of the embodiment has an upper drum 701 and a lower drum 702 as a pair of upper and lower rotating bodies, and the upper drum 701 has a clogging prevention mechanism 703 on its upper part. The lower drum 702 has one slot 702a, similar to the existing drum 172.

[0036] In this embodiment, the upper drum 701 and the lower drum 702 are individually controlled by independent motors.

[0037] The upper drum 701 is located at the leading edge of the alignment assist section 160 and has slots 701a and 701b capable of accommodating one container 200. In the example shown in Figure 7, two slots 701a and 701b are provided at symmetrical positions (180°) on the circumference (rotational direction) of the upper drum 701. The upper drum 701 and the lower drum 702 are rotated such that, during their respective rotations, the two slots 701a and 701b of the upper drum 701 are positioned in one slot 702a of the lower drum 702. Each mechanism of the supply mechanism 700, including the control of the upper and lower drums, is controlled by a control unit (the control unit and control examples will be described later).

[0038] Figure 7 shows the state in which the container 200 is loaded into the slot 701a of the upper drum 701 and the slot 702a of the lower drum 702, respectively. The upper drum 701 can rotate in the direction of the solid line (forward rotation) and the direction of the dotted line (reverse rotation) under the control of the control unit, and the lower drum 702 rotates in the direction of the solid line (forward rotation).

[0039] The jam prevention mechanism 703, rotational alignment section 750, and auxiliary vibration mechanism 801 described below are not limited to being applied to the supply mechanism 700 (upper drum 701 and lower drum 702) shown in Figure 7, but can also be applied to the supply mechanism 170 (cam 171 and lower drum 702) shown in Figure 6.

[0040] Furthermore, in this embodiment, a jam prevention mechanism 703 is provided at the upper part of the circumference of the upper drum 701. The jam prevention mechanism 703 has a canopy portion 703b that can swing around a shaft 703a at its base end. The canopy portion 703b slides against the circumference (circumferential surface) of the upper drum 701 due to the biasing force of an elastic member (703c), such as a spring.

[0041] As will be explained in more detail later, for example, a portion of the printed label on the circumferential surface of one container 200 may peel off and stick to the printed label or container 200 of the other container 200. Figure 7 shows a portion of the printed label R. As a result, the upper drum 701 rotates, and other containers 200 may be carried along on the circumferential surface of the upper drum 701 in addition to the one container 200 that is to be placed in slots 701a and 701b, preventing the containers from being taken into slots 701a and 701b (conveying jam). In this case, the overhang portion 703b of the jam prevention mechanism 703 peels off the extra containers 200 from the upper drum 701 and returns them to the alignment assist portion 160.

[0042] Furthermore, the opening and closing of the anti-clogging mechanism 703 is controlled by sensor detection and solenoid operation on slots 701a and 701b (details will be described later). For example, the solenoid operation retracts the eaves portion 703b upward from the circumferential surface of the upper drum 701, creating a gap, which allows the container 200 stuck between the upper drum 701 and the anti-clogging mechanism 703 (eaves portion 703b) to be removed.

[0043] The clogging prevention mechanism 703 is not limited to operating a solenoid to open and close the eaves portion 703b when a clogging occurs; it may also open and close the eaves portion 703b periodically while the device is in operation.

[0044] Furthermore, the alignment assist unit 160 of this embodiment is provided with a rotational alignment unit 750 and an auxiliary vibration mechanism 801 (omitted in Figure 7, explained in Figures 8A and 8B). As shown in Figure 7, the rotational alignment unit 750 has a plurality (for example, 4) of rotating rollers 751 provided in the portion close to the upper drum 701 of the supply mechanism 700 in the direction of transport of the containers 200 by the inclined plate 161 (Y-axis direction). Each rotating roller 751 has a diameter similar to that of the containers 200 and aligns the containers 200 on the inclined plate 161 by rotating in the same direction as the upper drum 701.

[0045] One container 200, taken in by slots 701a and 701b of the upper drum 701, moves to slot 702a of the lower drum 702 by its own weight when slots 701a and 701b are oriented downwards due to the rotation of the upper drum 701. Subsequently, when slot 702a of the lower drum 702 is oriented downwards, the container 200 is supplied (discharged) to the barcode printing unit (not shown) for the next process by gravity.

[0046] The alignment assist unit 160 of this embodiment has a rotating alignment unit 750. The rotating alignment unit 750 has a plurality of rotating rollers 751 provided in the portion of the inclined plate 161 that is close to the upper drum 701 of the supply mechanism 700, along the length of the inclined plate 161 in the direction of transport of the containers 200 (Y-axis direction). Each rotating roller 751 has a diameter about the same as that of the containers 200 and transports the containers 200 toward the supply mechanism 700 (upper drum 701) by rotation. The rotating rollers 751 have a predetermined cross-sectional shape, for example, a circular shape or various other shapes described later, which aligns the containers 200 that are in contact with the rotating rollers 751 on the inclined plate 161 toward the supply mechanism 700 (upper drum 701) for transport.

[0047] Figures 8A and 8B are side views showing the auxiliary vibration mechanism. As shown in Figure 8A, an auxiliary vibration mechanism 801 is provided on the lower surface of the inclined plate 161 of the alignment assist section 160. The auxiliary vibration mechanism 801 has a swinging plate 802 provided along the lower surface of the inclined plate 161, which is swingable by a base end shaft 802a on the upstream side in the conveying direction of the container 200. The swinging plate 802 is provided with a plurality of protrusions 803 on the downstream side in the conveying direction of the container 200. The protruding height of the protrusions 803 is longer than the thickness of the inclined plate 161 of the opening 161c.

[0048] The oscillating plate 802 has its downstream free end biased downward by an elastic member 804 such as a spring, and the lower surface of the projection 803 slides against the circumferential surface of the substantially circular cam 805. The shaft of the cam 805 is connected to the drive system of the upper drum 701 (wheel 902 in Figure 9), and a protruding extruded portion 805a is formed on a part of the circumferential surface of the cam 805.

[0049] As a result, as shown in Figure 8B, the cam 805 rotates along with the rotation of the upper drum 701. When the extrusion portion 805a of the cam 805 comes into contact with the oscillating plate 802, the oscillating plate 802 swings upward against the biasing force of the member 804 around its base shaft 802a, and the oscillating plate 802 comes into contact with the lower surface of the inclined plate 161 periodically. At this time, multiple protrusions 803 of the oscillating plate 802 protrude from the opening 161c of the inclined plate 161.

[0050] Multiple projections 803 on the oscillating plate 802 are provided along the direction (Y-axis direction) in which the containers 200 are transported by the inclined plate 161. The protrusion of the projections 803 causes vibration to be applied to the containers 200 on the inclined plate 161, thereby aligning the containers 200.

[0051] In this embodiment, the rotating alignment unit 750 and the auxiliary vibration mechanism 801 that constitute the alignment assist unit 160 allow for better alignment of the containers 200 on the inclined plate 161 compared to a system where the containers 200 are transported solely by the inclination of the inclined plate 161, and also allow for more active feeding of the containers 200 towards the upper drum 701.

[0052] (Drive mechanism of the lower unit in the embodiment) Figures 9A and 9B are perspective views showing the drive mechanism of the lower unit of the container supply device according to the embodiment. As shown in Figure 9A, the rotation axis of the upper drum 701 of the lower unit 150 is connected to the upper drum motor M1 via the drive system 901 (wheel 902 and belt 903), and is rotationally driven by the upper drum motor M1 (forward rotation direction shown by the solid line in Figure 7). In addition, when a problem with the storage of the container 200 is detected, the upper drum 701 can be rotated in the reverse direction shown by the dotted line in Figure 7 by the reverse rotation of the upper drum motor M1.

[0053] The wheel 902 is equipped with an upper drum position detection sensor 905 that detects the rotational position (home position) of two slots 701a and 701b provided on the upper drum 701. The upper drum position detection sensor 905 consists of a pair of choppers 905a and a chopper detection sensor 905b, which are positioned at locations corresponding to the rotational positions (180° intervals) of the two slots 701a and 701b. The upper drum position detection sensor 905 detects the home positions of the two slots 701a and 701b, respectively, using the choppers 905a and the chopper detection sensor 905b.

[0054] The rotating shaft of the lower drum 702 is connected to the lower drum motor M2 via the drive system 911 (wheel 912, belt 913), and is rotationally driven by the lower drum motor M2 (forward rotation direction shown by the solid line in Figure 7). The wheel 912 is equipped with a lower drum position detection sensor 915 that detects the rotational position (home position) of the slot 702a provided on the lower drum 702. The lower drum position detection sensor 915 consists of a chopper 915a and a chopper detection sensor 915b, which are provided corresponding to the position of the slot 702a in the rotational direction.

[0055] Furthermore, the aforementioned rotational alignment unit 750 (Figure 7) is connected to the lower drum motor M2. The multiple rotating rollers 751 of the rotational alignment unit 750 are connected to the wheel 912 via a belt 922 through a pulley 751a provided at one end, and are rotationally driven by the lower drum motor M2. Due to the rotational drive of the lower drum motor M2, each rotating roller 751 is rotated at the same timing as the lower drum 702. For example, the pulley ratio between the lower drum 702 and the rotating rollers 751 is set to 3:1, so that the rotating rollers 751 rotate 3 times while the lower drum 702 rotates 1 time.

[0056] Furthermore, the cam 805 of the auxiliary vibration mechanism 801 described above is connected to the upper drum motor M1. The upper drum 701 is rotated by the rotation of the upper drum 701, and as the upper drum 701 rotates, the rotation of the cam 805 causes the projection 803 to protrude from the inclined plate 161, thereby vibrating the containers 200 on the inclined plate 161 and aligning the containers 200. The pulley ratio of the upper drum 701 and the cam 805 can be set arbitrarily, and for example, if the pulley ratio of the cam 805 is set to be large, the projection 803 of the auxiliary vibration mechanism 801 can protrude multiple times during one rotation of the upper drum 701.

[0057] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 9B, a motor load detection encoder EN is attached to the rotation axis of the upper drum motor M1, and the motor load detection encoder EN detects the rotation state (phase according to the load) of the upper drum motor M1. The motor load detection encoder EN detects the load (phase shift) of the upper drum motor M1 when the upper drum motor M1 is rotated and there is a failure to take the container 200 into the slots 701a and 701b of the upper drum 701, and outputs it to the control unit.

[0058] The symbol SN shown in Figure 9B is a solenoid for opening and closing the canopy portion 703b, and the shaft of the canopy movable solenoid SN is connected to the movable piece 952. The movable piece 952 is movable up and down, and one end of the movable piece 952 is connected to the canopy portion 703b (see Figure 7). When the canopy movable solenoid SN is activated, the movable piece 952 moves downward and engages with the canopy portion 703b, opening the canopy portion 703b upward around the shaft 703a.

[0059] Furthermore, the reference numeral 961 shown in Figure 9B is a container detection sensor that detects whether or not a container 200 is placed in slots 701a and 701b of the upper drum 701 (also shown in Figure 10). The container detection sensor 961 is a light-emitting and receiving type sensor provided at both ends in the Y-axis direction at the position indicated by slot 701a of the upper drum 701 as shown in Figure 7.

[0060] The control unit performs control (for example, opening the overhang portion 703b of the jam prevention mechanism 703, reversing the upper drum motor M1, etc.) to resolve any problems with the intake of slots 701a and 701b of the upper drum 701, based on sensor outputs such as phase shift of the motor load detection encoder EN or failure to detect a container by the container detection sensor 961. Examples of control of each part by the control unit will be described later.

[0061] (Cases of container loading failures) Next, we will explain the cases of container feeding failures in the supply mechanism 700 using Figures 10 to 15. These figures show prototype examples in the process of arriving at the configuration of the supply mechanism 700 using the upper drum 701, which is the embodiment shown in Figure 7, and represent configuration examples before countermeasures were taken for the problems.

[0062] As shown in Figure 11, the prototype inclined plate 161 consists of an inclined plate 161a with a large inclination angle (30°) on the side facing the upper drum 701 when viewed in the Y-axis direction, and an inclined plate 161b with a small inclination angle (7°) on the side away from the upper drum 701, illustrating an example in which the container 200 is transported to the upper drum 701 solely by gravity. Also, for convenience, the opening and closing jam prevention mechanism 703 (overhang portion 703b) is omitted from the illustration. If a non-opening and closing overhang portion equivalent to 703b were simply fixed and provided on the upper drum 701, it would not be possible to prevent the intake failure described below.

[0063] Figure 10 shows a case (Case 1) where a container fails to load due to misalignment. In the example shown in Figure 10, a container 200A is tilted above the aligned containers 200 on the alignment assist unit 160. The alignment assist unit 160 aligns each container 200 with its length direction oriented in the X-axis direction. However, when dropping from the upper unit 110, for example, although the length directions of the multiple containers 200 in the bottom layer are oriented in the X-axis direction, some containers 200A located above them (e.g., the second layer) may have a length direction that is not oriented in the X-axis direction but is at an angle to the X-axis direction, and the open end of the container 200A may enter the slot 701a of the upper drum 701 at an angle. In this case, the slot 701a of the upper drum 701 cannot properly load the misaligned container 200A into it.

[0064] Figure 11 shows a case (Case 2) where a container loading failure occurs due to misaligned containers. In the example shown in Figure 11, the length direction of some containers 200B on the alignment assist unit 160 is tilted 90 degrees relative to the normal alignment direction (X-axis direction) (facing in the Y-axis direction). In this case, the slot 701a of the upper drum 701 cannot properly load the misaligned containers 200B into it. Furthermore, if the upper drum 701 rotates with only a part of the container 200a inserted into the slot 701a of the upper drum 701, the container 200B may get jammed in the slot 701a, which can lead to an increased motor load on the upper drum 701 or damage to the container 200a.

[0065] Figure 12 shows a case (Case 3) where a container fails to take in a container when another container is pulled along with it during the take-in process. In the example shown in Figure 12, for example, the printed label R (see Figures 7 and 11) attached to the circumferential surface of container 200A is stuck to the circumferential surface of another container 200B. In this case, even if the slot 701a of the upper drum 701 attempts to take in one container 200A, the other container 200B, to which the printed label R is attached, is located on the circumferential surface of the upper drum 701 and is pulled along in the rotational direction. In this case, the other container 200B is pulled along with the upper drum 701, which can lead to an increased load on the upper drum motor M1 of the upper drum 701. Furthermore, in this case, the upper drum 701 may be unable to take in either container 200A or 200B from slot 701a (empty take-in).

[0066] Figure 13 shows a case (Case 4) where a loading failure occurs due to multiple containers sticking together. Multiple containers 200 are stacked in layers near the upper drum 701, and if gravity acts on all containers 200 in the same direction as the arrow, the containers 200 may stick together, and one container 200 may be unable to move in the direction of the slot 701a of the upper drum 701.

[0067] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 13, containers 200 tend to accumulate at the top of the upper drum 701, and this accumulation makes it easy for bridging to occur between containers 200 near the slot 701a of the upper drum 701, resulting in feeding failures.

[0068] However, if the configuration includes the alignment assist unit 160 (rotating alignment unit 750 and auxiliary vibration mechanism 801) as part of the embodiment, and only rotation and vibration are applied by these, the effects are not easily transmitted to the container 200 located on the upper drum 701, and the feeding failure cannot be resolved.

[0069] Figures 14 and 15 illustrate the occurrence of a failure to load the end containers (Case 5). In the examples shown in Figures 14 and 15, one or more end containers 200N remain on the inclined plate 161 of the alignment assist unit 160, preventing them from being loaded into the upper drum 701.

[0070] Regarding the inclined plate 161, there is an inclined plate 161a with a large inclination angle and an inclined plate 161b with a small inclination angle on the side away from the upper drum 701. When the container 200 is transported to the upper drum 701 by gravity, as shown in Figure 14, even on the inclined plate 161b with a large inclination angle near the upper drum 701, there were cases where the container 200N at the end remained stationary without moving due to contact with the wall surface of the alignment assist section 160 or the like.

[0071] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 15, on the side away from the upper drum 701, due to the small inclination angle of the inclined plate 161a, the remaining end containers 200N did not fall naturally by their own weight alone and remained in the same position on the inclined plate 161a. Thus, simply setting the angle of the inclined plate 161 of the alignment assist unit 160 was insufficient to feed some of the numerous containers 200N, such as the end containers, into the upper drum 701.

[0072] The container 200's failure to take in containers as described above has the following problems 1 to 3. 1. When the container 200 is taken in by slots 701a and 701b of the upper drum 701, jamming occurs. 2. Just before the upper drum 701 takes in the container 200, the container 200 may tilt and fail to be taken into slot 701a (701b) (miss). 3. While the container 200 is reaching the upper drum 701, bridging may occur due to contact with the wall or other factors, preventing it from moving on the inclined plate 161.

[0073] (Example configuration of an embodiment addressing the problem) To address the above issues, the embodiment includes the following configurations a to f. Figure 7 shows the corresponding configurations labeled a to f. Issues 1 to 3 above may be related to each other, and a to f resolve the issues not only individually but also in cooperation with each other.

[0074] a. The lower drum 702 is configured to be solely dedicated to the function of keeping the bottom of the container 200 facing downwards at all times. In this regard, in the embodiment, the supply mechanism 700 is composed of an upper drum 701 and a lower drum 702, with the upper drum 701 taking in the container 200 and the lower drum 702 discharging the container 200 received from the upper drum 701 to the bottom.

[0075] b. Provide a mechanism to physically eliminate the space in which the container 200 tilts in the Y-axis direction. In this regard, the embodiment provides slots 701a and 701b on the upper drum 701 that accommodate (take in) one container 200 at a time, corresponding to the shape of the container 200. The slots 701a and 701b can take in one container 200 at a time, with its length facing the alignment direction (X), after it has been aligned by the alignment assist unit 160.

[0076] c. The entire container 200 is subjected to irregular vibrations. In this regard, in the embodiment, as shown in Figures 8A and 8B, an auxiliary vibration mechanism 801 is provided on the inclined plate 161 portion of the alignment assist unit 160 to vibrate the containers 200 on the inclined plate 161, aligning the containers 200 so that their length is aligned along the X-axis. As a result, the slots 701a and 701b of the upper drum 701 can take in the containers 200 aligned by the alignment assist unit 160 one by one, with their length facing the alignment direction (X). Furthermore, by rotating the rollers 751 of the rotating alignment unit 750, as shown in Figures 21A(b) and 21B(c) later, vibration can be applied to the containers 200 in the same manner as described above.

[0077] d. A mechanism is provided to feed the containers 200 into two slots 701a and 701b of the upper drum 701 while assisting in alignment. In this regard, in the embodiment, a rotating alignment unit 750 is provided near the upper drum 701 in the inclined plate 161 portion of the alignment assist unit 160, and the rotation of the rotating roller 751 actively feeds the containers 200 to the upper drum 701, preventing them from accumulating on the inclined plate 161.

[0078] By adopting the configurations described in c and d above, the inclined plate 161 is given a uniform inclination angle (for example, 15° with respect to the horizontal) across the entire plate, instead of the two-stage angle configuration described in Figure 10, etc., which consists of an inclined plate 161a with a large inclination angle near the upper drum 701 and an inclined plate 161b with a smaller inclination angle on the side further away from the upper drum 701.

[0079] e. A sensor monitors whether the upper drum 701 is not operating. In this regard, the embodiment provides a container detection sensor 961 that detects whether or not a container 200 is stored in the slots 701a and 701b of the upper drum 701. If the container detection sensor 961 detects that no container 200 is stored in the slots 701a and 701b of the upper drum 701, the control unit opens the overhang portion 703b of the jam prevention mechanism 703 to clear the jam and make it easier to load the container 200 into the slots 701a and 701b.

[0080] f. Provide a mechanism to remove the adhesion between printed labels R. In this regard, in the embodiment, the upper drum 701 is provided with a canopy portion 703b of the jam prevention mechanism 703, and the canopy portion 703b is provided so as to be able to open and close relative to the upper drum 701. For example, when the printed labels R of the containers 200 described in Figure 12 stick together, the canopy portion 703b removes the two containers 200 that are rotating with the rotation of the upper drum 701 (peeling off the sticking of the printed labels R), thereby making it easier for the upper drum 701 to take in the containers 200.

[0081] (Container clogging prevention operation by the clogging prevention mechanism of the embodiment) Figures 16 to 18 show examples of the operation of the clogging prevention feeding mechanism of the container supply device according to the embodiment. Figure 16 mainly shows the upper drum 701 portion of the supply mechanism 700 according to the embodiment. A clogging prevention mechanism 703 is provided on the upper drum 701 of the supply mechanism 700 according to the embodiment. The clogging prevention mechanism 703 has a canopy portion 703b that can swing around a base end shaft 703a located at an upper position slightly away from the upper drum 701. As shown in Figure 16, a biasing force (or tensile force) is applied to the opposite side of the canopy portion 703b from the shaft 703a by a member 703c such as a spring, and under normal conditions, the canopy portion 703b is biased by the member 703c in a direction that slides against the circumference (circumferential surface) of the upper drum 701, and is in a "closed" state.

[0082] Furthermore, a separator 1601 is provided between the canopy portion 703b and the upper drum 701. The separator 1601 is formed in a substantially triangular cross-section.

[0083] The canopy portion 703b shown in Figure 16 is in the "open" state, separated from the upper drum 701. The canopy portion 703b of the jam prevention mechanism 703 is connected to the movable piece 952 shown in Figure 9B, and the movable piece 952 moves downward due to the operation of the canopy movable solenoid SN, causing the canopy portion 703b to open around the axis 703a. For example, the canopy portion 703b has an angle of -15° in the "closed" state and a maximum of +21° in the "open" state.

[0084] Figure 17 shows a state in which the container 200 is not accommodated in the slot 701a of the upper drum 701, but is carried around the circumferential surface of the upper drum 701. This state occurs, for example, based on the state in which multiple containers 200 are stuck together as shown in Figure 13. As shown in Figure 17, a container 200B that has been carried around the circumferential surface of the upper drum 701 may become trapped between the upper drum 701 and the overhang portion 703b.

[0085] At this time, the container 200B pushes the canopy portion 703b upward (opening direction) against the biasing force of the canopy portion 703b, and fits between the upper drum 701 and the canopy portion 703b (in the state shown in Figure 17, the angle of the canopy portion 703b is 0°). However, due to the subsequent rotation of the upper drum 701 and the closing biasing force of the canopy portion 703b (member 703c), the container 200B is ejected in the direction shown by the dotted line. This allows the container 200B, which has been carried around the circumferential surface of the upper drum 701, to be returned to the alignment assist portion 160 side.

[0086] Figure 18 shows a state in which container 200B, along with container 200A housed in slot 701a of the upper drum 701, is carried around the circumferential surface of the upper drum 701. This state occurs, for example, based on the state in Figure 12 where containers 200A and 200B are stuck together by the printed label R. In this case, as shown in Figure 18, container 200B, which has been carried around the circumferential surface of the upper drum 701, becomes sandwiched between the upper drum 701 and the overhang portion 703b.

[0087] At this time, the container 200B pushes the canopy portion 703b upward (opening direction) against the biasing force of the canopy portion 703b and fits between the upper drum 701 and the canopy portion 703b (in the state shown in Figure 18, the angle of the canopy portion 703b is 15°). However, due to the rotation of the upper drum 701 and the closing biasing force of the canopy portion 703b (member 703c), the container 200B is ejected in the direction shown by the dotted line. This allows the container 200B, which has been carried around the circumferential surface of the upper drum 701, to be returned to the alignment assist portion 160 side.

[0088] Furthermore, since a separator 1601 is provided between the eaves portion 703b and the upper drum 701, containers 200B that have entered between the upper drum 701 and the eaves portion 703b are prevented from entering the inner part of the eaves portion 703b.

[0089] Figure 19 is a plan view showing various shapes of the eaves portion of the anti-clogging mechanism. The eaves portion 703b can have various shapes. For example, the eaves portion 703b shown in Figure 19(a) is formed by a straight piece 1901 along the Y-axis direction on the free end side opposite to the shaft 703a on the base end side. The entire straight piece 1901 is in contact with the circumferential surface of the upper drum 701 at the same position in the rotational direction.

[0090] The canopy portion 703b shown in Figure 19(b) is formed by an inclined piece 1902 that is inclined at a predetermined angle (for example, 20°) symmetrically from the center to the free end opposite the shaft 703a on the base end side. The inclined piece 1902 contacts the circumferential surface of the upper drum 701 at different positions in the rotational direction. In addition, the upper drum 701 is also provided with notches 701d at both ends (in the Y-axis direction) of the slots 701a and 701b, corresponding to the angles of the inclined pieces 1902.

[0091] The canopy portion 703b shown in Figure 19(c) is formed by a straight piece 1903 of a predetermined length along the Y-axis direction at the center of the free end opposite the axis 703a at the base end, and inclined pieces 1904 on both sides that are symmetrically inclined at a predetermined angle (for example, 30°). The upper drum 701 is also provided with inclined notches 701d at both ends (in the Y-axis direction) of the slots 701a and 701b, corresponding to the angle of the inclined piece 1902. The straight piece 1903 contacts the circumferential surface of the upper drum 701 at the same position in the rotational direction, while the inclined pieces 1904 contact at different positions in the rotational direction.

[0092] We investigated the effectiveness of preventing clogging of the container 200 using each of these shapes of eaves portion 703b. For example, as shown in Figure 11, the structure in Figure 19(a) was ineffective in releasing jamming (and normal intake) when the container 200B was oriented in the Y-axis direction, while the structures in Figures 19(b) and 19(c) provided the desired effect.

[0093] For example, in the structures shown in Figures 19(b) and 19(c), the notches 701d provided at both ends of the upper drum 701 in the Y-axis direction prevent the containers 200 themselves, located at both ends in the Y-axis direction, from becoming jammed. Also, in the structures shown in Figures 19(b) and 19(c), the inclined pieces 1902 and 1904 contact different positions on the upper drum 701 in the rotational direction. Therefore, as shown in Figures 10 and 11, when only the tip of the container 200B enters the slot 701a of the upper drum 701, the inclined pieces 1902 and 1904 contact the circumferential surface of the container 200B, generating a force that causes it to tilt in the Y-axis direction. Then, the closing biasing force of the eaves portion 703b applies a force that causes the container 200B jammed in the slot 701a to disengage at an angle, releasing the jam.

[0094] Incidentally, the presence or absence of containers 200 in slots 701a and 701b of the upper drum 701 is detected by the container detection sensor 961. When the container detection sensor 961 detects that the container 200 is empty (no container), the control unit operates the movable canopy solenoid SN to control the opening and closing of the canopy portion 703b (details will be described later). For example, when the container 200 is detected to be empty (no container), the operation of the movable canopy solenoid SN causes the canopy portion 703b to retract upward from the circumferential surface of the upper drum 701, creating a gap and making it easier to take in containers 200 that have been accumulating near the upper drum 701 into slot 701a.

[0095] (Example of slots on the upper drum) Figure 20 shows an example of slots in the upper drum. Figure 20(a) shows an example in which two slots are provided in the upper drum 701 as described above. Corresponding to the inclined pieces 1904 on both sides of the canopy portion 703 described in Figure 19, inclined notches 701d (see Figure 19) are formed at both ends of slots 701a and 701b.

[0096] Figure 20(b) shows an example in which the upper drum 701 has three slots. In this case, the three slots 701a to 701c should be formed at 120° intervals with respect to the rotational direction. When the upper drum 701 has three slots, in order to transfer the container 200 between the upper drum 701 and the lower drum 702, each time each of the slots 701a to 701c of the upper drum 701 is in the lower position, the slot 702a of the lower drum 702 should be controlled to be in the upper position.

[0097] (Examples of various shapes of the rotating rollers 751 of the rotating alignment section 750) Figures 21A and 21B show examples of various shapes for the rotating rollers of the rotating alignment section. In the above description, the cross-sectional shape of the rotating roller 751 of the rotating alignment section 750 was described as circular. However, the rotating roller 751 can have various shapes, and each shape has an effect on aligning the containers 200.

[0098] Figure 21A(a) shows the rotating roller 751 formed as a barrel-shaped roller 751A. The barrel-shaped roller 751A has a roughly barrel-shaped inclined piece 2101 formed on the circumferential surface of the rotating roller 751, with the diameter gradually decreasing from the center in the Y-axis direction to both ends.

[0099] For example, as shown in Figure 10, suppose some of the containers 200 on the inclined plate 161 have an angle in the Y-axis direction with respect to the alignment direction in the X-axis direction. In this case, the inclined piece 2101 of the barrel-shaped roller 751A changes the orientation of the containers 200A that are tilted in the Y-axis direction on the inclined plate 161 to the X-axis direction. By using this barrel-shaped roller 751A, the length direction of each container 200 on the inclined plate 161 can be aligned in the X-axis direction.

[0100] Figure 21A(b) shows the rotating roller 751 formed as an elliptical roller 751B. The elliptical roller 751B has a pair of flat sections 2111 formed by symmetrical positions in the rotational direction of the rotating roller 751, sliced ​​horizontally with respect to the Z-axis direction.

[0101] For example, as shown in Figure 7, suppose that among the containers 200 on the inclined plate 161, some containers 200 are spaced apart in the Y-axis direction, and some containers 200 have an angle in the Y-axis direction with respect to the alignment direction in the X-axis direction. In this case, the rotation of the elliptical roller 751B causes the flat portion 2011 (more precisely, the projection that changes the angle at the boundary between the circumferential surface and the flat portion 2111) to vibrate the containers 200. By using this elliptical roller 751B, the length direction of each container 200 on the inclined plate 161 can be aligned in the X-axis direction.

[0102] Figure 21B(c) shows the rotating roller 751 formed as a baton slice type roller 751C. The baton slice type roller 751C has a roughly baton-shaped inclined piece 2121 formed on the circumferential surface of the rotating roller 751, with the diameter gradually increasing from the center in the Y-axis direction to both ends. In addition, a pair of flat recesses 2122 are formed at symmetrical positions in the rotational direction of the baton slice type roller 751C, each sliced ​​horizontally in the Z-axis direction from the center to both ends. The recesses 2122 formed on the inclined piece 2121 have a flat portion that gradually widens from the center to the ends when viewed in plan.

[0103] For example, as shown in Figure 10, suppose that among the containers 200 on the inclined plate 161, some containers 200A have an angle in the Y-axis direction with respect to the alignment direction in the X-axis direction. In this case, the rotation of the baton slice type roller 751C causes the recesses 2122 (more precisely, the projections that change the angle at the boundary between the circumferential surface and the recess 2122) to vibrate the containers 200A located towards both ends in the Y-axis direction on the inclined plate 161. Along with this vibration, the inclined piece 2121 has an angle toward the center of the baton slice type roller 751C (dotted line in the figure), causing the inclination in the Y-axis direction of the containers 200A to change their orientation in the X-axis direction. By using this baton slice type roller 751C, the length direction of each container 200 on the inclined plate 161 can be aligned in the X-axis direction.

[0104] (Control function of container supply device) Figure 22 is a block diagram showing the control functions of the control unit of the container supply device. The control unit 2200 receives detection signals from the upper drum position detection sensor 905, the lower drum position detection sensor 915, the container detection sensor 961, and the motor load detection encoder EN.

[0105] The control unit 2200 includes a motor forward / reverse drive unit 2201, an empty slot determination unit 2202, and a container jamming determination unit 2203. The motor forward / reverse drive unit 2201 rotates the upper drum motor M1 of the upper drum 701 and the lower drum motor M2 of the lower drum 702 in the forward direction based on the home positions of the upper drum 701 and the lower drum 702 detected by the upper drum position detection sensor 905 and the lower drum position detection sensor 915.

[0106] Based on the detection signal from the container detection sensor 961, the empty slot determination unit 2202 controls the operation of the awning movable solenoid SN to forcibly open the awning portion 703b if the slots 701a and 701b of the upper drum 701 are in an "empty" state where no containers 200 are contained, for example, if the "empty" state is detected for two consecutive times. This eliminates any jamming of containers 200 near the upper drum 701 and makes it easier to load containers 200 into slots 701a and 701b.

[0107] When a container jamming occurs in slot 701a (or slot 701b) of the upper drum 701 (see, for example, Figures 10 and 11), the container jamming detection unit 2203 drives the upper drum motor M1 in the reverse direction based on the phase shift output by the motor load detection encoder EN, and controls the jammed slot 701a (or slot 701b) to its position at the time of capture (the home position of the upper drum position detection sensor 905). This resolves the jamming of the container 200 in slot 701a (or slot 701b) of the upper drum 701.

[0108] (Example of hardware configuration for container supply device) Figure 23 is a block diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of a container supply device. The control unit 2200 shown in Figure 22 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 2301, memory 2302, recording medium 2303, and an external I / F (Interface) 2304 such as a network, as shown in Figure 23. Each component is connected by a bus 2300. A sensor 2306, a motor 2307, and an encoder 2308 are connected to the bus 2300. In addition, user interface (UI) devices such as a display 2310 and a keyboard / mouse can be connected to the bus 2300.

[0109] Sensor 2306 includes, for example, the upper drum position detection sensor 905, the lower drum position detection sensor 915, and the container detection sensor 961 described above. Motor 2307 includes, for example, the upper drum motor M1 and the lower drum motor M2 described above. Encoder 2308 includes, for example, the motor load detection encoder EN described above.

[0110] Here, the CPU 2301 functions as a control unit (see Figure 22) that oversees the overall control of the container supply device 100. The memory 2302 includes, for example, ROM (Read Only Memory), RAM (Random Access Memory), and flash ROM. Specifically, for example, flash ROM and ROM store various programs, and RAM is used as the work area for the CPU 2301. Programs stored in memory 2302 are loaded into the CPU 2301, causing the CPU 2301 to execute the coded processes.

[0111] The External I / F2304 includes various interfaces. For example, the communication interface connects to the network NW via a communication line, and then connects to other computers (e.g., other modules of the sample testing system) via the network NW. The External I / F2304 manages the internal interface with the network NW and controls the input and output of data from other computers. Examples of the External I / F2304 include modems and LAN adapters.

[0112] The recording medium 2303 reads and writes data according to the control of the CPU 201. The recording medium 2303 sends and receives data via, for example, a disk drive, an SSD (Solid State Drive), or a USB (Universal Serial Bus) port. The recording medium 2303 is, for example, a non-volatile memory such as a disk, semiconductor memory, or USB memory. The recording medium 2303 may be detachable from the dispensing module AQ equipped with a container supply device 100.

[0113] Each function of the control unit 2200 shown in Figure 22 can be realized by the CPU 2301 executing programs stored in the memory 2302 and recording medium 2304 shown in Figure 23.

[0114] (Example of container supply device operation) Next, an example of the operation of the container supply device 100 will be described using Figures 24 to 26C. These operations are centrally controlled by the control unit 2200 described above.

[0115] Figure 24 is a sequence diagram showing the operation of the alignment assist unit and the supply mechanism. Using Figure 24, the operation of the alignment assist unit 160 (rotating roller 751 of the rotary alignment unit 750) and the upper drum 701 and lower drum 702 of the supply mechanism 170 will be explained.

[0116] Figures 24(a) to 24(e) show the rotation angle of the lower drum 702 (rotation angle from the home position) and the number of rotations of the rotating roller 751 of the rotation alignment unit 750 for each time interval. The pulley ratio of the lower drum 702 to the rotating roller 751 is 3:1, meaning that the rotating roller 751 rotates 3 times for every 1 rotation of the lower drum 702.

[0117] As shown in Figure 24(a), at Time 0.0s (reference position), the lower drum 702 is at the reference position "0°", the rotation speed of the rotating roller 751 is "0 revolutions (stopped)", and the rotating roller 751 is also stopped. Next, as shown in Figure 24(b), between Time 0.1 and 0.9s, the lower drum 702 stops at "0°", and the slot 702a of the lower drum 702 takes in the container 200 that falls from the slot 701a due to the rotation of the upper drum 701.

[0118] During the time interval of 1.0 to 1.6 seconds shown in Figure 24(c), the lower drum 702 rotates 60° in the forward direction. During the time interval of 1.7 to 2.3 seconds shown in Figure 24(d), the lower drum 702 rotates 120° in the forward direction. During this time, the rotating roller 751 completes one rotation. During the time interval of 2.4 to 3.2 seconds shown in Figure 24(e), the lower drum 702 stops at "120°" and discharges the container 200 from the slot 702a downwards. After this, the lower drum 702 waits at the 120° position for 0.9 seconds before returning to the reference position.

[0119] (Example of container empty detection operation by the supply mechanism) Figures 25A and 25B are sequence diagrams showing the operation of the supply mechanism for detecting empty containers. Figure 25A describes the operation when the container 200 is not contained in the slot 701a of the upper drum 701 of the supply mechanism 170 at a rotation angle of 0°, the container detection sensor 961 is OFF, and the container detection sensor 961 is ON in the first cycle.

[0120] Figures 25A and 25B show the rotation angle of the upper drum 701 (rotation angle from the home position), the ON / OFF state of the container detection sensor 961, and the ON / OFF state of the awning movable solenoid SN for each time interval. The container detection sensor 961 outputs ON when the detection position on the upper drum 701 is blocked. Although the container detection sensor 961 turns ON when blocked by the upper drum 701, it does not acquire sensor output except at the position of the chopper 905a on the upper drum 701 (0° / 180°).

[0121] As shown in Figure 25A(a), at the reference position with a rotation angle of 0°, the container 200 cannot be loaded into slot 701b of the upper drum 701 and is not stored, so the container detection sensor 961 turns OFF. At this time, it is assumed that the container 200 is stored in slot 701a.

[0122] Incidentally, the movable solenoid SN of the supply mechanism 170 can lower its solenoid shaft, as shown by the operating time line, and open the closed canopy portion 703b.

[0123] Subsequently, the upper drum 701 rotates in the forward direction to a 45° position in a time of 0.1 to 0.4 seconds, as shown in Figure 25A(b).

[0124] As shown in Figure 25A(c), during the time interval of 0.5 to 0.9 seconds, the upper drum 701 stops and discharges the container 200 from slot 701b. However, in this case, slot 701b is empty and the container 200 is not discharged.

[0125] During the interval between Time 1.0 and 1.3 as shown in Figure 25A(d), the upper drum 701 rotates to a 90° position.

[0126] As shown in Figure 25A(e), the upper drum rotates to a 180° position between Time 1.4 and 2.0 seconds. During this time, the container detection sensor 961 detects the container 200 in the slot 701a portion of the upper drum 701 and outputs ON.

[0127] After this (from Time 3.1s onward), if the container detection sensor 961 is ON, the control unit 2200 waits until the lower drum 702 returns to its 360-degree (reference position) rotation (Time 6.0s), and in the second cycle, it performs the same operation as shown in Figure 25A(a) and later.

[0128] As shown in Figures 25A(a) to (e), when the rotation angle of the upper drum 701 is 0°, the container 200 is not placed in the slot 701a and the container detection sensor 961 is OFF. If the container detection sensor 961 turns ON in the first cycle, the control unit 2200 continues to keep the canopy movable solenoid SN OFF and maintains the canopy portion 703b in the closed state.

[0129] Next, Figure 25B describes the operation when the container detection sensor 961 is ON at a rotation angle of 0°, and OFF for both the first and second cycles.

[0130] As shown in Figure 25B(a), at the reference position with a rotation angle of 0°, the container detection sensor 961 is turned ON by the container 200 housed in slot 701b of the upper drum 701. At this time, the container 200 is not taken into or housed in slot 701a.

[0131] Subsequently, the upper drum 701 rotates in the forward direction to a 45° position in a time of 0.1 to 0.4 seconds as shown in Figure 25B(b). The control unit 2200 keeps the canopy movable solenoid SN OFF and maintains the canopy portion 703b in the closed state.

[0132] During the time interval of 0.5 to 0.9 seconds shown in Figure 25B(c), the upper drum 701 stops and the container 200 is discharged from slot 701b. The control unit 2200 keeps the canopy movable solenoid SN OFF and maintains the canopy portion 703b in the closed state.

[0133] Subsequently, the upper drum 701 rotates to the 90° position in a time of 1.0 to 1.3 seconds as shown in Figure 25B(d). The control unit 2200 keeps the canopy movable solenoid SN OFF and maintains the canopy portion 703b in the closed position.

[0134] As shown in Figure 25B(e), during the period from Time 1.4 to 2.0 s until the reference position with a rotation angle of 180° is reached, the container detection sensor 961 is turned OFF because the container 200 is not contained in slot 701a of the upper drum 701. At this time, the container 200 is also not contained in slot 701b. The control unit 2200 keeps the canopy movable solenoid SN OFF and maintains the canopy portion 703b in the closed state.

[0135] After this point (from Time 3.1s onwards), in the second cycle, container 200 is not placed in slot 701b, just as in the first cycle, and it operates in the same way as in the first cycle.

[0136] After this, assume that the lower drum 702 has rotated 360 degrees (to the reference position) (Time 6.0s). As described above, if slots 701a and 701b are empty in both the first and second cycles, the control unit 2200 performs control based on conditions (1) and (2), as shown in Figure 25B(f).

[0137] For example, as shown in Figure 25B(f), under condition (1), if the container detection sensor 961 does not turn ON for two consecutive times (two cycles), the control unit 2200 turns ON the canopy movable solenoid SN for 3.0s. This causes the canopy portion 703b to open. This applies an external force to the container 200 near the slot 701a of the upper drum 701, as shown in Figure 25B(g), making it easier to take the container 200 into the slot 701a. For example, the external force applied to a container 200A that is stuck together near the slot 701a of the upper drum 701 releases any sticking between this container 200A and the surrounding containers 200A, moving it to the position of the slot 701a and making it easier to take into the slot 701a.

[0138] Condition (2) is a limitation on the control under condition (1), and after the package is set (i.e., after the upper unit 110 (storage section 111) is set on the lower unit 150), if the number of containers 200 supplied is a predetermined number (for example, if the storage section 111 can hold 600 containers, then 570 or more, which is close to this number), the movable solenoid SN will not be operated.

[0139] (Example of container jamming detection operation by the supply mechanism) Figures 26A to 26C are sequence diagrams showing the operation of the container jamming detection by the supply mechanism. These figures 26A to 26C explain the operation when the motor load detection encoder EN detects a phase shift in the first cycle.

[0140] As shown in Figure 26A(a), when the rotation angle is 0° at Time 0.0s, assume that the container 200 is located near slot 701a of the upper drum 701 of the supply mechanism 170. At this time, the container 200 is located in slot 701b, the container detection sensor 961 is ON, and the motor load detection encoder EN has not detected an increase in load (phase shift) on the upper drum motor M1 (OFF).

[0141] Subsequently, as shown in Figure 26A(b), the upper drum 701 rotates in the forward direction to a 45° position in a time of 0.1 to 0.4 seconds. At this time, suppose that several containers 200 near the slot 701a are not taken into the slot 701a due to sticking or the like, and are carried along with the upper drum 701, causing a force to act that expands the eaves portion 703b in the opening direction. In this case, a load is applied to the upper drum motor M1, and the motor load detection encoder EN detects a phase shift (turns ON).

[0142] In Figure 26A, the rotation angle of the upper drum 701 is 45°, and as shown in Figure 26A(c), the container 200 in slot 701b is discharged to the lower drum 702 during a waiting period of Time 0.5 to 0.9 s.

[0143] In this case, during the time interval of 1.0 to 2.0 seconds as shown in Figure 26A(d), the control unit 2200 reverses the rotation of the upper drum motor M1 to 0° based on the ON state of the motor load detection encoder EN. The control unit 2200 monitors whether the upper drum position detection sensor 905, which controls the rotation angle, can return to the home position in an initialization operation within the timeout period of 1.0 to 2.0 seconds. Due to the reverse rotation of the upper drum motor M1, the container 200 that was stuck in the slot 701a is released from engagement with the eaves portion 703b, the eaves portion 703 returns to the closed state due to the biasing force, and the slot 701a becomes able to take in the container 200.

[0144] After this, the container 200 is taken in by slot 701a of the upper drum 701 during a waiting time of 1 second, shown in Figure 26A(e) Time 2.1 to 3.0s.

[0145] Subsequently, the control unit 2200 drives the upper drum 701 in the forward direction (Time 3.1~4.3s), and rotates the upper drum 701 by 180° during Time 4.4~5.0s as shown in Figure 26A(f). At this time, the container detection sensor 961 is turned ON.

[0146] With the upper drum 701 at 180°, the container 200 is loaded into the slot 701b of the upper drum 701 during a 1-second waiting period of Time 5.1 to 6.0 seconds as shown in Figure 26A(g).

[0147] Next, an example of operation shown in Figure 26B will be described. Figures 26B(a) to 26B(b) are the same as Figures 26A(a) to 26A(b). In Figure 26B, with the rotation angle of the upper drum 701 at 45°, it is assumed that the container 200 in slot 701b was not discharged to the lower drum 702 during the waiting period of Time 0.5 to 0.9 s, as shown in Figure 26B(c).

[0148] That is, as shown in Figure 26B(d), between Time 1.0 and 2.0s, the control unit 2200 reverses the upper drum motor M1 based on the ON state of the motor load detection encoder EN, causing the upper drum 701 to reverse to 0°. Within the timeout period of Time 1.0 to 2.0s, the control unit 2200 monitors whether the upper drum position detection sensor 905, which controls the rotation angle, can return to the home position through initialization. However, in this case, the container 200 has not been ejected from slot 701b, and the container detection sensor 961 remains ON.

[0149] Thus, if the container detection sensor 961 remains ON, the control unit 2200 takes in the container 200 in the slot 701a of the upper drum 701 with a waiting time of 1 second, as shown in Figure 26B(e) Time 2.1 to 3.0 seconds.

[0150] After this, if the container detection sensor 961 is ON, the control unit 2200 waits until the slot 702a of the lower drum 702 is in the 360° position (between Time 3.1 and 6.0 seconds).

[0151] This allows the container 200 in slot 701b of the upper drum 701 to be passed to slot 702a of the lower drum 702, as shown in Figure 26B(f) (same as Figure 26B(b)).

[0152] Next, we will explain an example of operation shown in Figure 26C. Figures 26C(a) to 26C(b) are the same as Figures 26A(a) to 26A(b). In Figure 26C, with the rotation angle of the upper drum 701 at 45°, we assume that, as shown in Figure 26C(c), the container 200 in slot 701b becomes jammed during discharge to the lower drum 702 during a waiting period of Time 0.5 to 0.9 s.

[0153] In this case, as shown in Figure 26C(d), between Time 1.0 and 2.0s, the control unit 2200 reverses the upper drum motor M1 based on the ON state of the motor load detection encoder EN, causing the upper drum 701 to reverse to 0°. However, suppose that the upper drum 701 could not be reversed to the home position because the container 200 is jammed in the slot 701b.

[0154] The control unit 2200 detects an error because the container detection sensor 961 was not ejected from slot 701b within the timeout period of Time 1.0 to 2.0s, and the upper drum position detection sensor 905, which controls the rotation angle when the upper drum motor M1 rotates in reverse, could not return to the home position during the initialization operation. In this case, the container 200 has not been ejected from slot 701b, and the container detection sensor 961 remains ON.

[0155] In this case, the control unit 2200 determines that there is an Error in Figure 26C(e) and stops the device.

[0156] Figures 26A to 26C illustrate the control when the encoder detects a phase shift in the first cycle. Even if the encoder detects a phase shift in the second cycle or later, the control unit 2200 performs the same control for the second cycle as shown in Figures 26A to 26C.

[0157] The control functions performed by the control unit described in this embodiment can be implemented by executing a pre-prepared program on a computer such as a PC or workstation. The program corresponding to the operations performed by the control unit described in this embodiment is recorded on a computer-readable recording medium and executed by being read from the recording medium by the computer. The recording medium can be a hard disk, flexible disk, CD (Compact Disc)-ROM, MO (Magneto Optical Disc), DVD (Digital Versatile Disc), etc. The program may also be distributed via a network such as the Internet.

[0158] According to the embodiment described above, in a container supply device that delivers containers to a downstream device, the containers are containers with labels attached, and the device comprises an alignment assist unit that transports the contained containers while aligning them, and a supply mechanism located downstream of the alignment assist unit that discharges the transported containers to the downstream device. The supply mechanism takes the transported containers between a pair of upper and lower rotating bodies and supplies them to the downstream device, and has an overhang that can be opened and closed relative to the circumferential surface of the upper rotating body, and has a clogging prevention mechanism that prevents containers from accumulating in the rotating body portion. This makes it possible to stably supply containers to the downstream device in an aligned state, preventing clogging of containers in the rotating body portion.

[0159] Furthermore, the anti-clogging mechanism has a predetermined shaped overhang that contacts the circumferential surface of the upper rotating body in accordance with the shape of the edge on the free end side, and is biased in the closing direction by an elastic body with restoring force on the circumferential surface of the upper rotating body, and is characterized by peeling off containers that have become stuck between the upper rotating body and the overhang when labels stick to other containers and multiple containers are carried along the circumferential surface of the upper rotating body. For example, even if containers that are in contact with each other by labels are carried along the circumferential surface of the upper rotating body, they can be removed by peeling off other containers and returned to the alignment assist side, thereby enabling a stable supply of containers to the supply mechanism.

[0160] Furthermore, the eaves portion may be in a substantially triangular shape, having inclined pieces at both ends of the rotating body that contact each other at a predetermined angle with respect to the axial direction of the upper rotating body. Alternatively, the eaves portion may be in a substantially trapezoidal shape, having inclined pieces at both ends of the rotating body that contact each other at a predetermined angle with respect to the axial direction of the upper rotating body, and a straight piece that contacts the rotating body along the axial direction at the center of the upper rotating body in the axial direction. By making the eaves portion that contacts the rotating body into various shapes including inclined pieces, containers that are at an angle with respect to the alignment direction relative to the upper rotating body can be removed by changing the angle in the direction of alignment with the inclined pieces, and the containers can be stably taken in by the rotating body.

[0161] Furthermore, the anti-clogging mechanism has a solenoid that drives the eaves to open and close, and is characterized by opening and closing the eaves by driving the solenoid. This allows containers that have accumulated near the pair of upper and lower rotating bodies to be loosened by opening and closing the eaves, and enables a stable supply of containers to the supply mechanism.

[0162] Alternatively, the upper rotating body of the pair of upper and lower rotating bodies may have a drum with a cam or a slot for taking in one container, and the lower rotating body may have a slot for taking in a container from the upper rotating body and discharging it downwards. This allows the containers to be supplied one by one to the downstream device by the rotation of the pair of upper and lower rotating bodies.

[0163] Furthermore, the container is characterized by being a secondary container with a label attached. The container supply device supplies the secondary container to a subsequent device, such as a label printing unit or a testing unit. When secondary containers with labels attached are housed in this manner, the labels of the containers may stick together, which can cause supply problems to the subsequent device. However, with the container supply device of this embodiment, this sticking between containers can be eliminated, and the containers can be supplied to the subsequent device stably.

[0164] The containers described in the embodiment are not limited to secondary containers used for dispensing specimens for testing, but can be similarly applied to various types of containers. They can also be applied to various container supply devices that transport a large number of containers in an aligned manner and supply them from a supply mechanism to a downstream device. [Explanation of symbols]

[0165] 100 Container feeding device 110 Upper Unit 111 Detention Unit 150 Lower Unit 160 Alignment support unit 161 Inclined plate 170 Supply mechanism 200 containers 501 Discharge Door 520 Ladder Alignment Mechanism 700 Supply mechanism 701 Upper drum 701a~701c (Upper Drum) Slots 701d Notch 702 Lower drum 702a (lower drum) slot 703 Clogging prevention mechanism 703b Eaves 750 Rotating Alignment Section 751 Rotating Roller 801 Auxiliary vibration mechanism 901 Drivetrain 905 Upper drum position detection sensor 915 Lower drum position detection sensor 961 Container detection sensor 2200 Control Unit 2201 Motor forward / reverse drive unit 2202 Empty slot determination unit 2203 Container jamming detection unit 2301 CPU 2302 memory 2303 Recording media 2304 External I / F 2306 Sensor 2307 Motor 2308 encoder 2310 Display AQ Dispensing Module SN Movable Solenoid M1 Upper Drum Motor M2 Lower Drum Motor R Printed Label

Claims

1. In a container supply device that delivers containers to a downstream device, The container is a container with a label attached, The system comprises an alignment assist unit that transports the contained containers while aligning them, and a supply mechanism located downstream of the alignment assist unit that discharges the transported containers to a downstream device. The supply mechanism takes the transported container between a pair of upper and lower rotating bodies and supplies it to a downstream device. The upper rotating body has an openable and closable overhang portion on its circumferential surface, and a clogging prevention mechanism to prevent the container from accumulating in the rotating body portion. A container supply device characterized by the following features.

2. The jam prevention mechanism has a predetermined shaped overhang that contacts the circumferential surface of the upper rotating body in a manner corresponding to the shape of the edge on the free end side, and biases the circumferential surface of the upper rotating body in a closing direction with an elastic body that has a restoring force, The container supply device according to claim 1, characterized in that the label adheres to other containers, causing multiple containers to move along with the circumferential surface of the upper rotating body, and peeling off other containers that have become trapped between the upper rotating body and the overhang portion.

3. The container supply device according to claim 2, characterized in that the canopy portion has a substantially triangular shape, with inclined pieces at both ends of the rotating body that contact the upper rotating body at a predetermined angle inclined with respect to the axial direction.

4. The container supply device according to claim 2, characterized in that the canopy portion has a substantially trapezoidal shape, having inclined pieces that contact both ends of the rotating body at a predetermined angle inclined with respect to the axial direction of the upper rotating body, and a straight piece that contacts the center of the upper rotating body in the axial direction along the axial direction of the rotating body.

5. The aforementioned blockage prevention mechanism has a solenoid that drives the eaves portion to open and close, The container supply device according to claim 1, characterized in that the solenoid is driven to open and close the eaves to eliminate the accumulation of the containers near the pair of upper and lower rotating bodies.

6. The container supply device according to claim 1, characterized in that the container is a secondary container to which the label is affixed.

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