Cap alignment device and method

Abstract

To provide a cap alignment device and method that have a simple configuration and can keep noise and power consumption low. [Solution] The cap alignment device 100 comprises a first storage hopper 10 that stores and sends out container caps C, an endless belt conveyor 20 that receives the caps sent out from the storage hopper at one end and transports them toward the other end, and a posture adjustment mechanism 30 that aligns the posture of the caps received from the other end of the endless belt conveyor. The posture adjustment mechanism has a first rotating roller 31 and a second rotating roller 32 that align the posture of the caps as they pass through, an alignment passage 40, and a reversing unit 50. The first rotating roller and the second rotating roller rotate in opposite directions opposite to the direction in which the caps pass through, and the reversing unit determines the front and back orientation of the caps aligned in the alignment passage and reverses them so that the orientation of the caps is the same.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a cap aligning device and method for aligning caps of containers.

Background Art

[0002] Generally, devices for aligning caps of medicine bottles, tablet bottles, glass bottles, resin bottles, etc. are known. For example, the following are some of the devices for aligning and feeding out caps. That is, the cap feeding device has a vibratory configuration, cuts a part of the cap conveyance path to form an attachment part, and detachably attaches a jig having a groove formed by a pair of standing walls connecting the front and rear ends of the cut conveyance path to the attachment part. The groove width of the groove is formed to gradually widen in the conveyance direction corresponding to the outer diameter shape of the caps to be conveyed, and further configured to be replaceable with a jig having a groove suitable for each type of cap having a different outer diameter of the caps to be conveyed (see Patent Document 1).

[0003] Furthermore, the following is an example of a parts feeder capable of aligning caps. Specifically, the parts feeder comprises a conveyor section for transporting workpieces, a vibrating feeder section connected to the tip of the conveyor section to control the orientation of the workpieces during feeding, and a return chute that receives workpieces in an improper orientation discharged from the vibrating feeder section and returns them to the storage hopper. In addition, the vibrating feeder section comprises a transport trough section capable of transporting workpieces in a substantially horizontal linear direction, a support bracket that supports the transport trough section, and a vibrating device that vibrates the support bracket. The transport trough section comprises an inlet section located at the base end to receive workpieces discharged from the conveyor section, an outlet section located at the tip end to discharge workpieces in the correct orientation, and a sorting section located between the inlet and outlet sections that aligns and transports the workpieces in a substantially horizontal linear direction, while dropping workpieces in an improper orientation and transporting workpieces in the correct orientation to the outlet section. Furthermore, the return chute is configured to include a workpiece receiving section located below the sorting section, and a return path section that guides the workpieces discharged from the workpiece receiving section to the storage hopper (see Patent Document 2). [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 10-338295 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2000-198525 [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0005] However, conventional devices are large overall and have a complex configuration, including guides for the transport path. Furthermore, because they are vibration-based, they generate significant noise and power consumption, leaving room for further improvement.

[0006] The present invention was devised to solve the aforementioned problems, and aims to provide a cap alignment device and method that has a simple structure and can keep noise and power consumption low. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] To solve the aforementioned problems, the cap alignment device according to the present invention comprises a first storage hopper for storing and distributing container caps, an endless belt conveyor that receives the caps discharged from the first storage hopper at one end and conveys them toward the other end, and an attitude adjustment mechanism for aligning the orientation of the caps received from the other end of the endless belt conveyor. Furthermore, the attitude adjustment mechanism comprises a first rotating roller and a second rotating roller arranged at a distance apart so that the caps pass through in an orientation where their sides are in the vertical direction, an alignment passage for aligning the caps that have passed between the first and second rotating rollers, and a reversing section provided at the end of the alignment passage. The first and second rotating rollers are rotated in opposite directions opposite to the direction in which the caps pass, and the reversing section is configured to determine the front and back orientation of the caps aligned in the alignment passage and reverse them so that the orientation of the caps is in the same direction.

[0008] Furthermore, in order to solve the above problems, the cap alignment method according to the present invention includes the steps of: placing the caps of a container into a storage hopper; transporting the caps discharged from the storage hopper on a conveyor belt of an endless belt conveyor; receiving the caps from the other end of the conveyor belt and passing them between a first rotating roller and a second rotating roller that rotate in the opposite direction to the direction in which the caps pass, leaving a gap that allows the caps to pass with their sides facing up and down; aligning the caps that have passed between the first rotating roller and the second rotating roller in a multi-stage alignment passage; receiving the caps aligned in the alignment passage with a reversing unit, determining the front and back of the caps, and aligning the orientation of the caps to be the same, wherein in the alignment step, the alignment roller rotates counterclockwise and contacts the leading cap of the multi-stage stack. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] The cap alignment device and cap alignment method according to the present invention provide the following excellent effects. The cap alignment device has a simple configuration and can reduce noise and power consumption compared to conventional devices. The cap alignment method also uses a simple configuration to align caps with reduced noise and power consumption compared to conventional devices. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0010] [Figure 1] This is a schematic plan view illustrating the cap alignment device according to the present invention. [Figure 2] This is a schematic front view illustrating the cap alignment device according to the present invention. [Figure 3] This is a schematic side view illustrating the cap alignment device according to the present invention. [Figure 4A] This is a schematic perspective view showing the reversal section of the cap alignment device according to the present invention. [Figure 4B] This is a schematic perspective view showing the reversal section of the cap alignment device according to the present invention. [Figure 5]This is a flowchart of the cap alignment method according to the present invention. [Figure 6A] This is a schematic perspective view showing the state in which the caps are aligned by the first and second rotating rollers of the cap alignment device according to the present invention. [Figure 6B] This is a schematic perspective view showing the state in which the caps have been aligned by the first and second rotating rollers of the cap alignment device according to the present invention. [Figure 6C] This is a schematic perspective view showing the state in which caps are aligned and passed through the first and second rotating rollers of the cap alignment device according to the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0011] The cap alignment device and cap alignment method according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In each drawing, the relationship between the components of the cap alignment device and the size of the caps to be aligned, or the position of the caps, may be shown in a simplified or schematic manner as appropriate. Also, in order to make it easier to explain the configuration of the device, directions such as up, down, left, right, front, and back are shown in the drawings, but these are not absolute.

[0012] As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the cap alignment device 100 aligns the caps C while transporting them, so that they are all facing the same direction. This cap alignment device 100 includes a first storage hopper 10 for storing the caps C, an endless belt conveyor 20 for transporting the caps C sent out from the first storage hopper 10 from one end to the other, and a posture adjustment mechanism 30 for receiving the caps C from the endless belt conveyor 20 and aligning them to a predetermined orientation. In this case, the posture adjustment mechanism 30 of the cap alignment device 100 further includes an alignment passage 40 and a reversing section 50.

[0013] The caps to be aligned by the cap alignment device 100 are described as being cylindrical with a closed bottom and made of resin or metal, but their size and material are not particularly limited. Caps C are used for containers such as medicine bottles, tablet bottles, glass bottles, and resin bolts, and are cylindrical with one end open and the other end forming a closed bottom. In the cap alignment device 100, as an example, the caps C are aligned so that the open side faces downwards, but the orientation of the caps C can be set arbitrarily. Also, as an example, the inside of the closed bottom is described as the back surface and the outside of the closed bottom is described as the front surface, and here, the caps are aligned so that the back surface faces the passage surface.

[0014] As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the cap alignment device 100 includes a first storage hopper 10 at one end for storing and distributing caps. In the first storage hopper 10, for example, the storage opening 11 for receiving caps C is wider than the discharge opening 13 for distributing caps C. In this case, the first storage hopper 10 is positioned so that the discharge opening 13 faces the endless belt conveyor 20 above. Also, the side surface 12 connecting the storage opening 11 and the discharge opening 13 of the first storage hopper 10 is a continuous inclined surface.

[0015] The first storage hopper 10 is formed to be larger than half the length of the endless belt conveyor 20, with a length from one end to the other. The distance between the discharge opening 13 of the first storage hopper 10 and the surface of the conveyor belt 24 of the endless belt conveyor 20 is not particularly limited, as long as it is a distance at which the cap C can be placed on the endless belt conveyor 20. The first storage hopper 10 is positioned opposite the endless belt conveyor 20 by support legs (not shown). The size of the discharge opening 13 of the first storage hopper 10 may be less than half the length of the conveyor belt 24. The discharge opening 13 may also have an opening / closing door that can adjust the amount of cap C discharged. If the discharge opening 13 has an opening / closing door, it is preferable that the opening / closing door be slidably positioned in the discharge opening 13 so that the opening area of ​​the discharge opening 13 can be adjusted.

[0016] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the endless belt conveyor 20 conveys the caps C sent out from the first storage hopper 10 and delivers them to the posture adjusting mechanism 30. The endless belt conveyor 20 is arranged below the first storage hopper 10 and above the posture adjusting mechanism 30. The endless belt conveyor 20 transmits the driving force from the driving motor 21 arranged directly below the belt to the pulley 23 via the driving belt 22 to drive the conveyor belt 24. The width of the conveyor belt 24 is set to a width that allows multiple caps C to be placed thereon. Below the other end of the conveyor belt 24 of the endless belt conveyor 20, the posture adjusting mechanism 30 is arranged. The posture adjusting mechanism 30 receives the caps C sent out by falling from the conveyor belt 24 by the first rotating roller 31 and the second rotating roller 32.

[0017] The posture adjusting mechanism 30 aligns the postures of the caps C. Here, the posture adjusting mechanism 30 includes the first rotating roller 31 and the second rotating roller 32, the alignment passage 40, and the inversion unit 50. Also, as an example, the inversion unit 50 has a front-back determination sensor (first sensor) 51 and an inversion table 52. The first rotating roller 31 and the second rotating roller 32 temporarily receive the caps C falling from the conveyor belt 24, align the postures of the caps C, and deliver them to the alignment passage 40. The first rotating roller 31 and the second rotating roller 32 rotate their respective rotating shafts 31d and 32d by transmitting the driving forces from the first driving motor 31a and the second driving motor 32a via the respective first driving belts 31b and second driving belts 32b. The rotating shafts 31d and 32d are rotatably supported by the first support 31c and the second support 32c, respectively. The rotating shaft 31d rotatably supported by the first support 31c has the first driving belt 31b engaged at its other end. Also, the rotating shaft 32d rotatably supported by the second support 32c has the second driving belt 32b engaged at its other end.

[0018] The rotation directions of the first rotating roller 31 and the second rotating roller 32 are opposite to the direction in which the cap C passes. For example, in Figure 2, the direction in which the cap C passes is clockwise for the first rotating roller 31 and counterclockwise for the second rotating roller. Since the first rotating roller 31 and the second rotating roller 32 rotate in the opposite direction to the direction of passage, in Figure 2, the first rotating roller 31 rotates counterclockwise, and the second rotating roller 32 rotates clockwise.

[0019] As shown in Figures 1 and 3, the first rotating roller 31 and the second rotating roller 32 each have a helical groove 35 formed on their surface, extending from one end to the other in the longitudinal direction of the roller. For example, the helical groove 35 is formed such that the spacing between the helices is wider than the diameter of the cap C. The helical groove 35 is formed such that, for example, it forms one turn from one end to the other in the longitudinal direction of the first rotating roller 31 and the second rotating roller 32.

[0020] When cap C is in a position that allows it to pass between the first rotating roller 31 and the second rotating roller 32, it falls under its own weight and passes between the two rollers. When cap C is in a position that prevents it from passing between the two rollers, it is in contact with the first rotating roller 31 and / or the second rotating roller 32. Therefore, as the first rotating roller 31 and the second rotating roller 32 rotate, cap C comes into contact with the helical groove 35, making it easier for cap C to change its position. When cap C comes into contact with the helical groove 35, its position changes, and here, cap C is positioned so that its bottomed surface or cylindrical opening surface faces the roller surface, making it easier for cap C to pass under its own weight between the first rotating roller 31 and the second rotating roller 32 (see Figures 6B and 6C). In particular, since the helical groove 35 has a helical spacing wider than the diameter of cap C, it comes into contact with cap C once during one rotation of the first rotating roller 31 and the second rotating roller 32. When the cap C comes into contact with the spiral groove 35, its orientation is changed, and if that orientation allows it to pass between the two rollers, it will pass between the rollers under its own weight. Since the spiral groove 35 is wider than the diameter of the cap C, the changed orientation of the cap C is maintained until the cap C comes into contact with the spiral groove 35 again, making it easier for the cap C to pass between the two rollers.

[0021] Furthermore, a second storage hopper 33 for temporarily storing the cap C is installed above the first rotating roller 31 and the second rotating roller 32. This second storage hopper 33 is for temporarily storing the cap C until it is in a position that allows it to pass through the first rotating roller 31 and the second rotating roller 32. The second storage hopper 33 is installed so that its lower opening is located above the first rotating roller 31 and the second rotating roller. Compared to the first storage hopper 10, the area for storing the cap C in the second storage hopper 33 is smaller.

[0022] When a cap C is stored in the second storage hopper 33, it can pass through the first rotating roller 31 and the second rotating roller 32 by its own weight once it is in a position that allows it to pass between the two rollers. If a cap C is in a position that prevents it from passing through, its position is changed as it moves upward due to the rotation of the first rotating roller 31 and the second rotating roller 32. This prevents the cap C from getting stuck between the two rollers due to the direction of rotation of the first rotating roller 31 and the second rotating roller 32. Until the cap C is in the correct position, it will be stored in the second storage hopper 33 while changing its position, in a state where it cannot pass between the first rotating roller 31 and the second rotating roller 32.

[0023] Furthermore, the second storage hopper 33 has a second sensor 34 installed on the upper opening side. Therefore, when the storage state of the caps C stored in the second storage hopper 33 exceeds a certain height inside the second storage hopper 33 and a predetermined time has elapsed, the second sensor 34 detects the caps C at that height and determines that the storage amount has been exceeded. When the second sensor 34 detects the caps C after the predetermined time has elapsed, it is configured to send a signal to the endless belt conveyor 20 and stop the conveying of the conveying belt 24. For example, a transmissive light sensor or a reflective light sensor is used for this second sensor 34. When the detection of the storage height of the caps C by the second sensor 34 is released, the transmission of the signal that was being sent from the second sensor 34 to the endless belt conveyor 20 ceases, or the endless belt conveyor 20 is configured to restart the operation of the conveying belt 24 by either sending a signal to restart the operation of the conveying belt 24 of the endless belt conveyor 20. The predetermined time for the second sensor 34 can be changed as appropriate and adjusted arbitrarily.

[0024] The distance between the first rotating roller 31 and the second rotating roller 32 is such that the cap C can pass under its own weight, for example, when its side is facing up and down. In addition, at least one of the first rotating roller 31 and the second rotating roller 32 is configured to be movable in order to adjust the roller spacing. Here, for example, by rotating the spacing adjustment knob 36 that adjusts the distance between the first rotating roller 31 and the second rotating roller 32, the feed screw 37 rotates, and the first rotating roller 31 and the second rotating roller 32 are configured to move closer together or further apart.

[0025] Specifically, the first rotating roller 31 and the second rotating roller 32 are supported by rotating shafts 31d and 32d, respectively. The rotating shafts 31d and 32d are rotatably supported by the first support 31c and the second support 32c, respectively. Furthermore, the first support 31c and the second support 32c are slidably supported by slide rails 38, 38. The rotating shaft 31d, which is rotatably supported by the first support 31c, is connected to the first drive motor 31a via the first drive belt 31b. The rotating shaft 32d, which is rotatably supported by the second support 32c, is connected to the second drive motor 32a via the second drive belt 32b.

[0026] Furthermore, the first support 31c and the second support 32c are configured to move along the slide rails 38, 38 by the rotation of the feed screw 37. The feed screw 37 is configured to have reverse threads on the first support 31c side and the second support 32c side. The feed screw 37 is connected to a spacing adjustment knob 36. Therefore, by rotating the spacing adjustment knob 36, the first support 31c and the second support 32c can be moved simultaneously, freely moving closer together and further apart, via the feed screw 37. As the first support 31c and the second support 32c move closer together and further apart, the rotation axes 31d and 32d move closer together and further apart. Therefore, the spacing between the first rotating roller 31 and the second rotating roller 32 can be adjusted to match the size of the cap C by rotating the spacing adjustment knob 36. Cap C, having passed between the first rotating roller 31 and the second rotating roller 32 while maintaining its orientation, is sent out to the alignment passage 40.

[0027] The alignment passage 40 is a passage for receiving and aligning the caps C from the first rotating roller 31 and the second rotating roller 32. The alignment passage 40 has receiving openings 41 positioned opposite each other between the first rotating roller 31 and the second rotating roller 32, and is formed to a width that allows the caps C to be aligned so that their sides are in the vertical direction. Furthermore, the alignment passage 40 is installed with an incline such that the receiving openings 41 are higher and the other end is lower.

[0028] The alignment passage 40, as an example, as shown in Figure 3, includes a multi-stage side wall 43, which is a side wall in the range where caps C are aligned in stacks of at least two stages, and a reference side wall 42, which is a side wall that guides the caps C aligned in the first stage. The reference side wall 42 is positioned from the receiving opening 41 to just before the reversing table 52 of the reversing section 50, and has a height that guides the caps C aligned in a single row in one stage, and is formed integrally with the multi-stage side wall 43. Furthermore, the multi-stage side wall 43 aligns a number of caps C in multiple stages that is less than the number of caps C aligned on the reference side wall 42. Here, as an example, the multi-stage side wall 43 is formed continuously above the reference side wall 42 in the range in which less than half the number of caps C aligned on the reference side wall 42 can be aligned.

[0029] Furthermore, an adjustment roller 44 is installed at the position of the multi-stage side wall 43, which is the moving end of the cap C. This adjustment roller 44 is made of, for example, silicone rubber and rotates counterclockwise. Therefore, when the cap C is in a multi-stage configuration, rotating the cap C that is in contact with the adjustment roller 44 prevents the caps C from interlocking with each other in the passage and becoming unable to move. The height of the adjustment roller 44 is set to be freely adjustable by a position adjustment unit 45 installed adjacent to it. Therefore, even if the size of the cap C changes, the adjustment roller 44 can be positioned appropriately to ensure smooth movement of the cap C within the alignment passage 40.

[0030] As shown in Figure 3, the caps C aligned in the alignment passage 40 are handed over to the reversing unit 50, with the first cap C being the first moving end. A stopper 46 is installed at the position of the cap C following the first cap C that is the moving end of the alignment passage 40. This stopper 46 is installed to hand over only the first cap C to the reversing unit 50. For example, the stopper 46 is installed on the passage surface and is set to rise when activated. The stopper 46 stops the movement of the second cap C from the front when the first cap C is handed over to the reversing unit 50.

[0031] As shown in Figures 3, 4A, and 4B, the reversal unit 50 includes a front / back determination sensor (first sensor) 51 that holds the cap C and determines the front / back of the cap C, and a reversal table 52 that reverses the cap C whose front / back status has been determined by the front / back determination sensor 51 so that they are all facing the same direction. The front / back determination sensor 51 is installed on the inversion table 52, facing the front and back sides of the cap C. For example, a reflective light sensor is used for this front / back determination sensor 51. The front / back determination sensor 51 receives the light that is reflected when the emitted light strikes the front surface (outer surface of the cap's top) or back surface (inner surface of the cap's top) of the cap C, and detects the difference in distance to determine the front or back side. The front / back side of the cap C determined by the front / back determination sensor 51 is inverted by the inversion table 52 and aligned in the same direction.

[0032] The inversion table 52 uses a rotating part 54 that rotates while holding the caps C inside the table body 53 to invert and align the caps C to the same orientation. When the front / back determination sensor 51 determines that a cap C is the front surface, the inversion table 52 rotates the rotating part 54 90 degrees clockwise, for example, to make the opening side of the cap C face downwards. Conversely, when the front / back determination sensor 51 determines that a cap C is the back surface, the inversion table 52 rotates the rotating part 54 90 degrees counterclockwise, for example, to make the opening side of the cap C face downwards. The caps C, now in the position with their opening side facing downwards due to the inversion table 52, are fed out of the inversion table 52 and aligned in the transfer passage 60 that leads to the next process.

[0033] The transfer passage 60 is a passage used by the handler 70 to suction and transport the caps C, which are aligned in the same position, and to temporarily fasten the caps C to the beverage bottles. As described above, the cap alignment device 100 can align the caps C while transporting them, so it can align the caps C to the same orientation regardless of their orientation during transport. Furthermore, since the cap alignment device 100 can transport and align the caps C without using a vibration mechanism, it has a simple configuration and can reduce noise and power consumption.

[0034] Next, the method for aligning caps using the cap alignment device 100 will be explained with reference to Figure 5. The configuration of the cap alignment device 100 will be explained with reference to any of Figures 1 to 4B as appropriate. In the cap alignment method S10, the caps C are aligned and made to be in the same orientation by performing the storage process S11, the transport process S12, the passing process S13, the alignment process S14, and the aligning process S15. The storage process S11 is the process of placing beverage container caps into a storage hopper. In this storage process S11, multiple caps C are loaded into the first storage hopper 10 from the storage opening 11 side and stored. When caps C are loaded into the first storage hopper 10, they are transferred by gravity from the discharge opening 13 of the first storage hopper 10 to the conveyor belt 24 of the endless belt conveyor 20.

[0035] The conveying process S12 is the process of transporting the caps sent out from the first storage hopper onto the conveyor belt of the endless belt conveyor. In this conveying process S12, the caps C are transported from one end to the other via the conveyor belt 24 of the endless belt conveyor 20, and the caps C are handed over to the first rotating roller 31 and second rotating roller 32 of the posture adjustment mechanism 30. The posture adjustment mechanism 30 is equipped with a second storage hopper 33 above the first rotating roller 31 and second rotating roller 32, so the caps C are handed over into the second storage hopper 33. In addition, a second sensor 34 is installed in the second storage hopper 33, so when the storage height of the caps C stored in the second storage hopper 33 remains at a predetermined height for a certain period of time, the second sensor 34 sends a signal to the endless belt conveyor 20, and the conveying of the conveyor belt 24 is temporarily stopped. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the caps C, which are transported by the conveyor belt 24 and stored in the second storage hopper 33, from overflowing from the second storage hopper 33.

[0036] The passing process S13 involves receiving the cap from the other end of the conveyor belt and passing it between the first and second rotating rollers, which rotate in the opposite direction to the direction of passage of the cap, with an interval allowing the cap's side to be in the vertical direction. In this passing process S13, the orientation of the cap C is aligned. The first rotating roller 31 and the second rotating roller 32 rotate in the opposite direction to the direction in which the cap C is passing. Therefore, as shown in Figure 6A, the orientation of the cap C, which is not aligned, will be changed as it moves along the rotation of both rollers. As shown in Figure 6B, the orientation of the cap C is changed as the first rotating roller 31 and the second rotating roller 32 rotate and come into contact with the spiral groove 35. Here, the cap C is positioned so that its bottomed surface or cylindrical opening surface is aligned with the roller surface. As shown in Figure 6C, the cap C, with its orientation changed, passes between the two rollers by its own weight. The cap C that has passed through the first rotating roller 31 and the second rotating roller 32 is sent out to the alignment passage 40. Cap C can pass through if it falls from the conveyor belt 24 with its sides facing up and down, and with its sides perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the rollers. However, if cap C is in a position where it cannot pass between the two rollers, it will pass between the two rollers by its own weight if its bottomed surface or cylindrical opening surface is aligned with the roller surface of the first rotating roller 31 or the second rotating roller 32, as shown in Figure 6B.

[0037] The alignment process S14 is a process in which the caps that have passed between the first and second rotating rollers are aligned in multiple stages via the alignment passage so that their sides are in the vertical direction. In this alignment process S14, the alignment passage 40 is installed at an angle. Therefore, the caps C aligned in the alignment passage 40 are aligned along the incline toward the reversing section 50 so that the caps C are aligned in multiple stages with their sides in the vertical direction. The adjustment roller 44 comes into contact with the leading cap C of the upper row where the caps C overlap and rotates counterclockwise. This prevents the caps C aligned in the alignment passage 40 from becoming jammed and unable to move due to overlapping. Furthermore, for the cap C located after the leading cap C that is to be handed over to the reversing section 50 of the alignment passage 40, a stopper 46 provided in the alignment passage 40 operates, and only the leading cap C moves due to the incline and is handed over to the reversing section 50.

[0038] The alignment process S15 is a process in which the caps aligned in the alignment passage are received by the reversing unit, the front and back of the caps are determined, and the orientation of the caps is aligned to the same direction. In this alignment process S15, the front and back determination sensor (first sensor) determines the front and back of the caps C that have been received onto the reversing table 52 by the reversing unit 50. If it is determined that the cap C is the front side, for example, the rotating part 54 of the reversing table 52 rotates 90 degrees clockwise. If it is determined that the cap C is the back side, for example, the rotating part 54 of the reversing table 52 rotates 90 degrees counterclockwise. In the alignment process S15, after aligning the orientation of the caps C so that the cap opening side faces the passage surface, the caps C are sent to the transfer passage 60 which leads to the next process. Thus, the cap alignment method S10 makes it possible to align and set up the caps C in the same orientation regardless of their orientation during transport. Furthermore, since the cap alignment method S10 can transport and align the caps C without using a vibration mechanism, the configuration is simple and noise and power consumption can be reduced.

[0039] As explained above, the cap alignment device 100 is described as having two rows for alignment, but it may also have one row or three or more rows. In addition, the cap alignment device 100 may be configured to intermittently operate the conveyor belt 24 and supply the caps C to the second storage hopper 33 in accordance with the processing speed of the caps C passing between the first rotating roller 31 and the second rotating roller 32.

[0040] Furthermore, the cap alignment device 100 can align caps that are polygonal in shape or have multiple grooves formed on their outer surface. It can also align lids of bottles other than those for pharmaceuticals or medicines. Moreover, the spiral groove 35 may have two or more turns in the longitudinal direction of the first rotating roller 31 and the second rotating roller 32, as long as the spiral spacing is wider than the diameter of the cap C, and it is preferable that the spiral spacing is wider than the diameter of the cap C. In other words, the spiral groove 35 should have a spiral spacing greater than the diameter of the cap C so that the changed orientation of the cap C can be maintained until it rotates and contacts the spiral groove 35 at the next timing, making it easier for the cap C with the changed orientation to pass between the two rollers. Although the cap alignment device and cap alignment method according to embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, the embodiments described above or illustrated are merely examples of embodiments that have been materialized in carrying out the present invention, and the technical scope of the present invention should not be interpreted as being limited by these embodiments. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0041] 10. First storage hopper 11 Storage opening 12 Side view 13 Delivery opening 20 Endless Belt Conveyor 21 Drive motor 22 Drive belt 23 Pulley 24 Conveyor belt 30 Posture adjustment mechanism 31. First Rotation Roller 31a First drive motor 31b First drive belt 31c 1st support 31d, 32d rotation axis 32. Second Rotation Roller 32a Second drive motor 32b Second drive belt 32c 2nd support 33. Second storage hopper 34. Second Sensor 35 Spiral groove 38 Slide rails 37 Lead screw 40 Queueing aisle 41 Receiving slot 42 Reference side wall 43 Multi-stage side wall 44 Adjustment roller 45 Position adjustment section 46 Stopper 50 Reversal section 51 Front / Back Detection Sensor (First Sensor) 52 Reversal Table 53 Table body 54 Rotating part 60 Delivery Passage 70 Handler 100 Cap Alignment Device C Cap S10 Cap Alignment Method S11 Storage Process S12 Conveying process S13 Passing process S14 Alignment Process S15 Preparation process

Claims

1. The system comprises a first storage hopper for storing and distributing container caps, an endless belt conveyor that receives the caps discharged from the first storage hopper at one end and transports them toward the other end, and a posture adjustment mechanism for aligning the posture of the caps received from the other end of the endless belt conveyor. The posture adjustment mechanism includes a first rotating roller and a second rotating roller arranged at a distance apart so that the cap passes through in a posture where its side surface is in the vertical direction, an alignment passage for aligning the cap after it has passed between the first and second rotating rollers, and a reversing section provided at the end of the alignment passage. The first rotating roller and the second rotating roller are rotated in opposite directions, opposite to the direction in which the cap passes. The reversing unit is a cap alignment device that determines the front and back orientation of the caps aligned in the alignment passage and reverses them so that the orientation of the caps is the same.

2. The cap alignment device according to claim 1, further comprising: a first sensor for determining the front and back orientation of the caps; and a reversing table for holding the caps whose front and back orientation has been determined by the first sensor and reversing them so that the caps are all facing the same direction.

3. The cap alignment device according to claim 1, wherein the first rotating roller and the second rotating roller are provided with spiral grooves on their roller surfaces, and the spacing between the spirals in the grooves is wider than the diameter of the cap.

4. The cap alignment device according to claim 1, wherein the alignment passage is provided with a multi-stage side wall in which the side wall in the area where the caps are stacked and aligned in at least two stages is higher than the other side walls.

5. The cap alignment device according to claim 4, wherein the alignment passage is provided with an alignment roller that contacts the leading caps that are aligned and overlap the multi-stage side wall, and the alignment roller rotates counterclockwise.

6. A second storage hopper is provided above the first and second rotating rollers, having a receiving opening for receiving caps sent from the endless belt conveyor and a transfer opening for transferring the caps to the first and second rotating rollers, and a second sensor is provided on the receiving opening side of the second storage hopper for detecting the storage height of the caps. The cap alignment device according to claim 1, wherein the driving of the endless belt conveyor is suppressed by detection by the second sensor.

7. The process of placing the container cap into the storage hopper, The process of placing the caps discharged from the storage hopper onto the conveyor belt of an endless belt conveyor and transporting them, The process of receiving the cap from the other end of the conveyor belt, passing the cap between a first rotating roller and a second rotating roller that rotate in the opposite direction to the direction in which the cap passes, with a gap that allows the cap's side surface to pass in an up-and-down orientation, A step of aligning the caps that have passed between the first rotating roller and the second rotating roller in a multi-stage arrangement via an alignment passage, The process includes receiving the caps aligned in the alignment passage at the reversing unit, determining the front and back of the caps, and aligning the orientation of the caps to the same direction, A cap alignment method in which, in the alignment step, an alignment roller rotates counterclockwise and contacts the leading cap of the multiple stacked caps.

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