Container transport device

Abstract

To provide a container transport device capable of continuing rotation of a second rotating body even when rotation of a first rotating body is stopped.SOLUTION: A container transport device 1 includes: a first transport mechanism and a second transport mechanism configured to enable delivery of containers between a first holding device 40 and a second holding device 50 at a delivery position P3 where a plurality of first holding devices 40 and a plurality of second holding devices 50 sequentially reach when a first rotating body 23 and a second rotating body 31 rotate, in which when the first transport mechanism is stopped while the second transport mechanism is operating, by releasing a holding of a container 90 by the first holding device 40 at a release position located upstream of the delivery position P3, the container 90 is displaced from the first transport mechanism, and when the first rotating body 23 is completely stopped, the first holding device 40 at a position overlapping a rotation locus of the second holding device 40 is set in a state of not holding the container 90 when viewed from a rotation axis direction of the first rotating body 23.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a container transport device configured to be able to deliver containers between a first transport mechanism and a second transport mechanism. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, as an item transport device that can transfer items between an upstream gripper (first holding device) provided on an upstream rotating wheel (first rotating body) and a downstream gripper (second holding device) provided on a downstream rotating wheel (second rotating body), Patent Publication No. 5211517 (Patent Document 1) discloses a technology in which a retraction means is provided that switches one of the upstream gripper and the downstream gripper between an in-use state that allows the transfer of an item and a retracted state that does not interfere with the item held by the other of the upstream gripper and the downstream gripper, and when one of the upstream rotating wheel and the downstream rotating wheel abnormally stops, the retraction means switches from the in-use state to the retracted state, thereby allowing the other of the upstream rotating wheel and the downstream rotating wheel to continue rotating. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 5211517 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in the container conveying device disclosed in Patent Document 1, when one of the upstream rotating wheel and the downstream rotating wheel stops abnormally, one of the upstream gripper and the downstream gripper is retracted from the transfer position so as not to interfere with the article gripped by the other of the upstream gripper and the downstream gripper. Therefore, a mechanism is required to move one of the upstream gripper and the downstream gripper significantly in the event of an abnormal stop. Therefore, there is still room for improvement in the container conveying device.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a container transporting device capable of transferring containers between a first holding device and a second holding device that reach a transfer position as a result of the rotation of a first rotating body and a second rotating body arranged adjacent to each other, and which can avoid interference between the second holding device and the container with a simple configuration even when the rotation of the first rotating body is stopped. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A container conveying device according to the present disclosure includes a first conveying mechanism including a first rotating body and a plurality of first holding devices arranged in a line in the circumferential direction of the first rotating body, each of which is capable of holding a container, and a second conveying mechanism including a second rotating body and a plurality of second holding devices arranged in a line in the circumferential direction of the second rotating body, each of which is capable of holding a container. The first conveying mechanism and the second conveying mechanism are configured to enable containers to be transferred between the first holding device and the second holding device at a transfer position to which each of the plurality of first holding devices and each of the plurality of second holding devices sequentially reach as the first rotating body and the second rotating body rotate. When the first conveying mechanism is stopped while the second conveying mechanism is operating, the first holding device releases the container from being held at a release position located upstream of the transfer position in the rotation direction of the first rotating body, thereby ejecting the container from the first conveying mechanism. When the first rotating body comes to a complete stop, the first holding device, which is in a position overlapping with the rotational trajectory of the second holding device formed by the rotation of the second rotating body, is no longer holding a container.

[0007] In the container transport device according to the present disclosure, each of the first holding devices may have a pressed part that releases the container by being pressed. Also, the first transport mechanism may include a pressing part. In this case, it is preferable that the pressing part presses the pressed part when the first transport mechanism is stopped while the second transport mechanism is operating.

[0008] In the container transport device according to the present disclosure, the first holding device may be provided so as to be openable and closable and may include a gripping portion for gripping the container from a side, and the second holding device may be provided so as to be able to rise and fall and may include a pressing portion for pressing the container downward at a position above the gripping portion at the transfer position.

[0009] In the container conveying device based on the present disclosure, when the first conveying mechanism is stopped while the second conveying mechanism is operating, it is preferable that the first holding device, which is located downstream in the rotational direction of the first rotating body from the release position and upstream in the rotational direction of the first rotating body from the transfer position, reaches the transfer position while holding a container before the first rotating body completely stops, and transfers the container between it and the second holding device.

[0010] The container transport device according to the present disclosure may further include a recovery section that recovers containers rejected by the first transport mechanism. Effect of the Invention

[0011] According to the present invention, in a container transporting device capable of transferring containers between a first holding device and a second holding device that reach a transfer position as a result of the rotation of a first rotating body and a second rotating body arranged adjacent to each other, a container transporting device can be provided that has a simple configuration and can avoid interference between the second holding device and the container even when the rotation of the first rotating body is stopped. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram of a container transport device according to an embodiment. [Diagram 2] 1 is a configuration diagram of a container transport device according to an embodiment; [Diagram 3] 4 is a schematic plan view showing a state in which a first holding device and a second holding device move during normal transportation by the container transport device according to the embodiment. FIG. [Figure 4] 10 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which a container is handed over between a first holding device and a second holding device at a transfer position during normal transport by the container transport device according to the embodiment. FIG. [Diagram 5] 10 is a schematic plan view showing the first holding device and the second holding device when a first transport mechanism starts to stop in the container transport device according to the embodiment. FIG. [Figure 6] 4 is a schematic plan view showing the first holding device and the second holding device in a state where a first transport mechanism is completely stopped in the container transport device according to the embodiment. FIG. [Figure 7] 1 is a schematic diagram showing a first holding device and a second holding device in a transfer position when a first transport mechanism is completely stopped in a container transport device according to an embodiment. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0013] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following preferred embodiments, the same or common parts are designated by the same reference characters in the drawings, and the description thereof will not be repeated.

[0014] 1 is a schematic diagram of a container transporting device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and the container transporting device 1 will be described with reference to FIG.

[0015] The container conveying device 1 includes a first conveying mechanism 2 and a second conveying mechanism 3, and conveys containers 90 (see FIG. 3) from the first conveying mechanism 2 side to the second conveying mechanism 3 side. The first conveying mechanism 2 and the second conveying mechanism 3 are configured to enable the transfer of containers 90 between a holding device provided on a rotating body 23 (described later) and a holding device provided on a rotating body 31. The containers 90 are, for example, bottles made of synthetic resin such as PET bottles, but are not limited thereto, and glass containers, blown containers, delaminated bottles, etc. may be used as appropriate.

[0016] The first conveying mechanism 2 is provided upstream of the second conveying mechanism 3 in the conveying direction of the containers 90. In FIG. 1, the boundary between the first conveying mechanism 2 and the second conveying mechanism 3 is indicated by BL. The first conveying mechanism 2 is, for example, a filling line. The first conveying mechanism 2 includes a plurality of rotating bodies 21, 22, 23 arranged in order from the upstream side in the conveying direction. The rotating body 23 corresponds to the first rotating body.

[0017] The multiple rotating bodies 21, 22, and 23 rotate in the directions indicated by arrows AR1, AR2, and AR3, respectively. The multiple rotating bodies 21, 22, and 23 rotate so that their rotation directions are the same at a transfer position for the container 90, which will be described later. The container 90 is transported from the rotating body 21 side to the rotating body 23 side.

[0018] Each of the plurality of rotating bodies 21, 22, 23 is provided with a plurality of holding devices for holding the containers 90. The plurality of holding devices provided on each rotating body are arranged side by side in the circumferential direction of each rotating body.

[0019] Each of the multiple holding devices provided on the rotors 21 and 23 has a configuration substantially similar to a first holding device 40 (see FIG. 3) described later. Each of the multiple holding devices provided on the rotor 22 has a configuration substantially similar to a second holding device 50 (see FIG. 4) described later.

[0020] The multiple holding devices provided on each of the adjacent rotating bodies sequentially reach a transfer position as the adjacent rotating bodies rotate, and at the transfer position, the container 90 is transferred from the holding device provided on the rotating body located on the upstream side of the adjacent rotating bodies to the holding device provided on the rotating body located on the downstream side of the adjacent rotating bodies.

[0021] That is, each of the multiple holding devices provided on the rotating body 21 and each of the multiple holding devices provided on the rotating body 22 sequentially arrive at the transfer position P1 along with the rotating bodies 21 and 22, and at the transfer position P1, the container 90 is transferred from the holding device provided on the rotating body 21 to the holding device provided on the rotating body 22.

[0022] Similarly, each of the multiple holding devices provided on the rotating body 22 and each of the multiple holding devices provided on the rotating body 23 sequentially reach the transfer position P2 as the rotating bodies 22 and 23 rotate, and at the transfer position P2, the container 90 is transferred from the holding device provided on the rotating body 22 to the holding device provided on the rotating body 23.

[0023] In the above description, the number of rotating bodies included in the first transport mechanism 2 is three, but the present invention is not limited to this. As long as the rotating body 23 is provided on the most downstream side of the first transport mechanism 2, the number of rotating bodies included in the first transport mechanism 2 may be one, two, or four or more.

[0024] The second conveying mechanism 3 is provided downstream of the first conveying mechanism 2 in the conveying direction. The second conveying mechanism 3 is, for example, a downstream process of a filling line, and includes a conveying line that conveys filled containers 90. The second conveying mechanism 3 includes a plurality of rotating bodies 31, 32 arranged in order from the upstream side in the conveying direction. The rotating body 31 corresponds to the second rotating body.

[0025] The multiple rotating bodies 31, 32 rotate in the directions indicated by arrows AR4, AR5, respectively. The multiple rotating bodies 31, 32 rotate so that their rotation directions are the same at a transfer position of the container 90, which will be described later. The container 90 is transported from the rotating body 31 side to the rotating body 32 side.

[0026] Each of the multiple rotating bodies 31, 32 is provided with multiple holding devices for holding the containers 90. The multiple holding devices provided on each rotating body are arranged side by side in the circumferential direction of each rotating body. The rotating body 31 corresponds to the second rotating body.

[0027] The rotating body 31 is disposed adjacent to the rotating body 23 of the above-described first conveying mechanism 2. Each of the plurality of holding devices provided on the rotating body 31 and each of the plurality of holding devices provided on the above-described rotating body 23 sequentially arrives at the transfer position P3 along with the rotating body 31 and the rotating body of the rotating body 23, and at the transfer position P3, the container 90 is transferred from the holding device provided on the rotating body 23 to the holding device provided on the rotating body 31.

[0028] In addition, each of the multiple holding devices provided on the rotating body 31 and each of the multiple holding devices provided on the rotating body 32 sequentially reach the transfer position P4 along with the rotating bodies 31 and 32, and at the transfer position P4, the container 90 is transferred from the holding device provided on the rotating body 31 to the holding device provided on the rotating body 32.

[0029] Each of the multiple holding devices provided on the rotating body 31 has a configuration substantially similar to that of the second holding device 50. Each of the multiple holding devices provided on the rotating body 32 has a configuration substantially similar to that of the first holding device 40.

[0030] In this manner, the second holding devices 50 and the first holding devices 40 are alternately provided as holding devices on the rotating bodies 21 to 32.

[0031] 2 is a configuration diagram of a container transporting device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The configuration of the container transporting device 1 will be described with reference to FIG.

[0032] The container conveying device 1 further includes a first control unit 25, a stop detection unit 26, and a second control unit 35. The first control unit 25 controls the first conveying mechanism 2. The second control unit 35 controls the second conveying mechanism 3. In this manner, the first conveying mechanism 2 and the second conveying mechanism 3 are controlled independently. Therefore, for example, the second conveying mechanism 3 can be operated while the first conveying mechanism 2 is stopped. Also, the first conveying mechanism 2 can be operated while the second conveying mechanism 3 is stopped.

[0033] The first control unit 25 receives an input from the stop detection unit 26. For example, the stop detection unit 26 detects a stop signal when an operator presses a stop button when an abnormality occurs in the first transport mechanism 2. The stop detection unit 26 may also detect the stop signal when an operator presses the stop button when switching the type of container 90. Furthermore, the stop detection unit 26 may detect the stop signal by detecting, with a sensor, that an abnormality has occurred in a component constituting the first transport mechanism 2.

[0034] When the stop detection unit 26 detects the stop signal, the first control unit 25 stops the operation of the first transport mechanism 2. Note that it takes a certain amount of time (specifically, about 0.2 to 0.4 seconds) from when the first control unit 25 starts stopping the first transport mechanism 2 until the first transport mechanism 2 completely stops.

[0035] In the above, the case where the stop detector 26 is provided on the first transport mechanism 2 side is exemplified, but a stop detector may also be provided on the second transport mechanism 3 side in a similar manner.

[0036] Fig. 3 is a schematic plan view showing the first and second holding devices moving during normal transport by the container transport device according to the embodiment. Fig. 4 is a schematic view showing the transfer of a container between the first and second holding devices at the transfer position during normal transport by the container transport device according to the embodiment. The first holding device 40 and the second holding device 50, as well as their state during normal transport, will be described with reference to Figs. 3 and 4.

[0037] As shown in Fig. 3, the first holding device 40 includes a gripping portion that is provided so as to be able to open and close. The gripping portion has a first gripping claw portion 41 and a second gripping claw portion 42, and holds the container 90 by pinching the container 90 from the lateral side of the container 90. More specifically, the first gripping claw portion 41 and the second gripping claw portion 42 pinch the neck portion of the container 90 directly below a flange portion 95 (see Fig. 4) of the container 90.

[0038] The first gripping claw portion 41 and the second gripping claw portion 42 are provided so as to be able to swing about their respective swing axes 43, 44. When the tip sides of the first gripping claw portion 41 and the second gripping claw portion 42 swing away from each other, the gripping portions are opened, and the gripping portions release their hold on the container 90. On the other hand, when the tip sides of the first gripping claw portion 41 and the second gripping claw portion 42 swing toward each other, the gripping portions are closed, and the container 90 is held.

[0039] The first gripping claw portion 41 and the second gripping claw portion 42 are biased in a direction toward a closed state by an elastic biasing member (not shown). The first holding device 40 has a cam follower 45 as a pressed portion. When pressed by the cam 27, the cam follower 45 swings the first gripping claw portion 41 and the second gripping claw portion 42 against the biasing force of the elastic biasing member. This causes the first gripping claw portion 41 and the second gripping claw portion 42 to open.

[0040] The cam 27 is disposed near the receiving position P3 on the root side of the first gripping claw portion 41 and the second gripping claw portion 42. The cam 27 is provided so as to be able to press the cam follower 45 of the first holding device 40 located slightly downstream of the delivery position P3.

[0041] As shown in Fig. 4, the second holding device 50 has a pressing portion 51, a support portion 54, and a cam follower 55 that are provided so as to be able to rise and fall. The pressing portion 51 includes an arm portion 52 that extends in a direction parallel to the up-down direction (the axial direction of the container 90), and an expanded diameter portion 53 that expands in diameter at the tip side of the arm portion 52. The expanded diameter portion 53 is provided in a generally bottomed cylindrical shape. The expanded diameter portion 53 is provided so as to be able to press the upper surface of the cap portion 98 of the container 90 while covering the cap portion 98.

[0042] The base side of the arm portion 52 is supported by the support portion 54. The support portion 54 is provided with a cam follower 55. The cam follower 55 is pressed by a cam 37 provided on the second conveying mechanism 3, so that the support portion 54 moves downward. At this time, the arm portion 52 also moves downward together with the support portion 54, and the enlarged diameter portion 53 provided at the tip of the arm portion 52 presses the container 90 (more specifically, the cap portion 98) downward. When the pressing portion 51 is lowered to the lowest position, the enlarged diameter portion 53 presses the cap portion 98 on the upper side of the first holding device 40 (more specifically, the first gripping claw portion 41 and the second gripping claw portion 42). Therefore, the pressing portion 51 and the first holding device 40 do not interfere with each other.

[0043] The cam 37 is formed so that the pressing portion 51 maintains the state of pressing the container 90 from the transfer position P3 located on the upstream side of the rotor 31 to the transfer position P4 located on the downstream side.

[0044] In the above, the pressing portion 51 is raised and lowered by a cam mechanism. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the pressing portion 51 may be raised and lowered by a device that uses electricity as a power source, such as a motor.

[0045] As shown in Figure 3 again, during normal transport, on the rotating body 23 side, the first holding device 40 holding the container 90 at the transfer position P2 located upstream reaches the transfer position P3 located downstream as the rotating body 23 rotates, while maintaining its holding state of the container 90.

[0046] When the first holding device 40 reaches the transfer position P3, the cam follower 45 comes into contact with the cam 27. As the first holding device 40 moves downstream from the transfer position P3, the cam follower 45 is pressed relatively against the cam 27, causing the gripping portion to open at a predetermined position, and the first holding device 40 releases the container 90 from its hold.

[0047] On the other hand, at the transfer position P3, the container 90 is held by the second holding device 50. Therefore, the container 90 released from the hold by the first holding device 40 is transported to the transfer position P4 located downstream while being held by the second holding device 50 as the second holding device 50 rotates in conjunction with the rotation of the rotating body 31.

[0048] 5 is a schematic plan view showing the first holding device 40 and the second holding device 50 when the first transport mechanism 2 starts to stop in a container transport device according to an embodiment. The first holding device 40 and the second holding device 50 when the first transport mechanism 2 starts to stop will be described with reference to FIG.

[0049] 5, the first transport mechanism 2 includes a cam 28 as a pressing unit. When the stop signal is detected by the stop detection unit 26 and the first control unit 25 stops the first transport mechanism 2 (more specifically, when the first transport mechanism 2 is stopped while the second transport mechanism 3 is operating), the first control unit 25 releases the container 90 by the first holding device 40 at a release position located upstream of the transfer position P3 in the rotation direction of the rotor 23 while stopping the rotation of the rotor 23.

[0050] At this time, the first control unit 25 moves the cam 28 so that the cam follower 45 of the first holding device 40 located at the release position is pressed against the cam 28. When the cam follower 45 is pressed against the cam 28 at the release position, the first gripping claw portion 41 and the second gripping claw portion 42 open as described above, and the holding of the container 90 by the first holding device 40 is released.

[0051] In this case, the container 90 falls downward when the hold is released, and is ejected to the outside from the first transport mechanism 2. A recovery unit (not shown) is provided below the release position, and the fallen container 90 is recovered by the recovery unit.

[0052] As described above, a certain amount of time is required from when the rotating body 23 starts to stop rotating until it completely stops, so the first holding devices 40 that sequentially reach the release position during that time release their hold on the container 90.

[0053] On the other hand, each of the first holding devices 40 located between the release position and the transfer position P3 holds the container 90 and sequentially reaches the transfer position P3 as the rotor 23 rotates, between the time when the rotor 23 starts to stop rotating and the time when the rotor 23 stops completely, and transfers the container 90 between the first holding devices 40 and the second holding devices 50 which sequentially reach the transfer position P3 as the rotor 31 rotates.

[0054] Fig. 6 is a schematic plan view showing the first holding device 40 and the second holding device 50 in a state where the first transport mechanism 2 is completely stopped in a container transport device according to an embodiment. The state of the first holding device 40 and the second holding device 50 in a state where the first transport mechanism 2 is completely stopped will be described with reference to Fig. 6.

[0055] 6, when the first transport mechanism 2 is completely stopped, the first holding device 40, which was in the release position when the rotation of the rotating body 23 started to stop as described above, stops at the transfer position P3. Note that the first holding device 40, which was in the release position when the rotation of the rotating body 23 started to stop, may be stopped at a position shifted upstream or downstream in the rotation direction from the transfer position P3. In other words, the first holding device 40, which was in the release position when the rotation of the rotating body 23 started to stop, is located near the transfer position P3 when the first transport mechanism 2 is completely stopped.

[0056] On the other hand, the first holding device 40 located downstream in the rotational direction of the rotor 23 than the first holding device 40 stopped near the transfer position P3 is stopped in a state where it is not holding the container 90 because, as explained above, the first holding device 40 transferred the container 90 to the second holding device 50 at the transfer position P3 between the time when the rotation of the rotor 23 started to stop and when it completely stopped.

[0057] Similarly, the first holding device 40 that passes through the above-mentioned release position between when the rotor 23 starts to stop rotating and when it completely stops (i.e., the first holding device that is located downstream in the rotational direction of the rotor 23 from the release position at the time of complete stop and upstream in the rotational direction of the rotor 23 from the transfer position P3) is stopped in a state where it is not holding the container 90, since its hold on the container 90 is released at the release position.

[0058] When the first transport mechanism 2 is stopped, the first holding device 40 at the transfer position P3 as described above is stopped at a position overlapping the rotation trajectory of the second holding device 50 that is formed by the rotation of the second holding device 50 accompanying the rotation of the rotating body 31, when viewed from above. Moreover, the first holding device 40 located at the transfer position P3 is stopped in a state where it is not holding a container 90.

[0059] Similarly, downstream of the transfer position P3, the first holding device 40, which has stopped at a position overlapping the above-mentioned rotation trajectory of the second holding device 50 when viewed from above, is also stopped in a state where it is not holding a container 90.

[0060] On the other hand, the transfer position P3 and the second holding device 50 (more specifically, the pressing portion 51) located downstream of the transfer position P3 are rotating in the rotation direction of the rotating body 31 in a lowered state.

[0061] Furthermore, when the first holding device 40 is stopped at a position that overlaps with the above-mentioned rotation trajectory of the second holding device 50 upstream of the transfer position P3, the first holding device 40 is also not holding a container 90.

[0062] FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing the first holding device and the second holding device in the transfer position when the first transport mechanism is completely stopped in the container transport device according to the embodiment.

[0063] As shown in Fig. 7, the first holding device 40 that has stopped at a position overlapping the rotation trajectory of the second holding device 50 does not hold a container 90, and therefore even when the second holding device 50 descends, the second holding device 50 can be prevented from interfering with the container 90. In addition, as described above, even when the pressing portion 51 descends to the lowest position, the pressing portion 51 is located above the first holding device 40 (more specifically, the first gripping claw portion 41 and the second gripping claw portion 42), and therefore interference between the second holding device 50 and the first holding device 40 can be prevented. As a result, the rotation of the second rotating body 31 can be maintained, and thus the second mechanism 3 can be maintained in an activated state.

[0064] As described above, in the container conveying device 1 of this embodiment, which is configured to allow containers to be transferred between the first holding device and the second holding device that reach the transfer position as the first and second rotating bodies arranged adjacent to each other rotate, interference between the second holding device 50 and the container 90 can be avoided by a simple configuration that has a release mechanism that releases the hold of the container 90 by the first holding device 40 at the release position, even when the rotation of the rotating body 23 is stopped.

[0065] (Other variations) In the above-described embodiment, the case has been described as an example in which the holding device provided on the rotor 23 as the first rotor in the first transport mechanism 2 is the first holding device 40, and the holding device provided on the rotor 31 as the second rotor arranged adjacent to the rotor 23 is the second holding device 50, but this is not limiting. As described above, when the second transport mechanism 3 is operated and the first transport mechanism 2 is stopped, the holding device provided on the rotor 23 may be the second holding device 50, and the holding device provided on the rotor 31 may be the first holding device 40, as long as the holding of the container 90 can be released at the release position and the container 90 can be removed from the first transport mechanism 2.

[0066] The above-described embodiments of the present invention are illustrative and not restrictive in all respects. The scope of the present invention is defined by the claims, and includes all modifications within the meaning and scope of the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0067] 1 container conveying device, 2 first conveying mechanism, 3 second conveying mechanism, 21, 22, 23 rotating body, 25 first control unit, 26 stop detection unit, 27, 28 cam, 31, 32 rotating body, 35 second control unit, 37 cam, 40 first holding device, 41 first gripping claw portion, 42 second gripping claw portion, 43 oscillating shaft, 45 cam follower, 50 second holding device, 51 pressing portion, 52 arm portion, 53 expansion portion, 54 support portion, 55 cam follower, 90 container, 95 flange portion, 98 cap portion.

Claims

1. A first conveying mechanism including a first rotating body and a plurality of first holding devices arranged in a circumferential direction of the first rotating body, each of which is capable of holding a container; a second rotating body; and a second conveying mechanism including a plurality of second holding devices arranged in a circumferential direction of the second rotating body, each of the second holding devices being capable of holding a container; the first conveying mechanism and the second conveying mechanism are configured to enable the transfer of containers between the first holding device and the second holding device at a transfer position to which each of the plurality of first holding devices and each of the plurality of second holding devices sequentially arrives as the first rotating body and the second rotating body rotate, when the first conveying mechanism is stopped while the second conveying mechanism is operating, the container is released from the first holding device at a release position located upstream of the transfer position in the rotation direction of the first rotating body, thereby ejecting the container from the first conveying mechanism; A container conveying device in which, when the first rotating body has completely stopped, the first holding device, which is located at a position overlapping the rotational trajectory of the second holding device formed by the rotation of the second rotating body, is not holding a container when viewed from the direction of the rotational axis of the first rotating body.

2. Each of the plurality of first holding devices has a pressed portion that releases the holding of the container when pressed, the first transport mechanism includes a pressing unit, The container transport device according to claim 1 , wherein the pressing portion presses the pressed portion when the first transport mechanism is stopped while the second transport mechanism is operating.

3. the first holding device is provided to be openable and closable and includes a gripping portion that grips the container from a lateral side, 3 . The container transport device according to claim 1 , wherein the second holding device is provided so as to be able to rise and fall, and includes a pressing portion that presses the container downward at a position above the gripping portion at the transfer position.

4. A container transport device as described in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein when the first transport mechanism is stopped while the second transport mechanism is operating, the first holding device, which is located downstream in the rotational direction of the first rotating body from the release position and upstream in the rotational direction of the first rotating body from the transfer position, reaches the transfer position while holding a container before the first rotating body completely stops, and transfers the container between the first holding device and the first rotating body.

5. The container transport device according to claim 1 , further comprising a recovery unit that recovers the container rejected by the first transport mechanism.

Images