| 摘要 |
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a star wheel device having a lightweight valve body of good workability and a vacuum passage of good sealability to increase the number of containers to be conveyed. SOLUTION: The star wheel device includes a star wheel 1 having a plurality of pockets 3 provided on the outer periphery thereof, in which pocket the subject 2 to be conveyed fits; a plurality of suction parts 4 installed at each pocket 3 for sucking and holding the subject 2; a rotating shaft 6 for rotating the star wheel 1; and the valve body 11 into which selector valves 13 are incorporated by the same number as the plurality of suction parts 4. The suction parts 4 are in communication with a source of vacuum via the valve body 11 and a hole 6a in the rotating shaft 6. The valve body 11 is made hollow and a radial clearance is provided between the interior wall surface of the valve body 11 and the rotating shaft 6. The valve body 11 is mounted to the star wheel 1 and an annular space part 12 is formed inside the valve body 11. The hole 6a in the rotating shaft 6 is connected to the suction parts 4 by a passage 1d which is in communication with the space part 12 from the hole 6a in the rotating shaft 6 and another passage extending from the space part 12 via the selector valves 13, with at least a portion of the former passage not passing through the valve body.
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