Patent Publication Number: US-6338371-B1

Title: Apparatus for conveying, supplying, and filling unshaped containers, and method for conveying and supplying the same

Description:
This application is the national phase under 35 U.S.C. §371 of prior PCT International Application No. PCT/JP98/01976 which has an International filing date of Apr. 30, 1998 which designated the United States of America. 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present invention relates to a transportation apparatus of irregular-formed vessels, at a connection part between irregular-formed bag making machines and a filling apparatus, for combining a plurality of irregular-formed bag making machines having a relatively small production capacity with filling apparatus having a relatively high processing capacity, while feeding the irregular-formed vessels, an apparatus and a method for feeding unfilled plate-formed irregular vessels to the filling apparatus, and to a filling apparatus of irregular vessels for filling in the unfilled irregular vessels with a liquid, followed by capping the irregular vessels. 
     2. Background Art 
     Since an irregular-formed vessel having a plug (that is, a bag-like vessel like a pouch) has an irregular form of the vessel itself, when handling the irregular vessel, the mouth opening is small in diameter, which is difficult to grip. 
     Then, to facilitate mechanical handling of irregular-formed vessel having such a mouth plug, a method is disclosed, for example, in Japanese Utility Model Publication 5-11183, in which a plurality of flange parts are provided at intervals at the mouth plug part of the vessel, the flange parts are engaged in an opening groove part of a C-sectioned elongate channel tool, so that the irregular-formed vessel is hang down on the channel tool through the flange part of the mouth plug part, thereby achieving storage and transportation of irregular-formed vessels. 
     Such an irregular-formed vessel (hereinafter called as “pouch”), after being produced by an irregular bag making machine, is fed to a filling apparatus where it is filled in with a predetermined content. The flange part can also be utilized when the pouch is carried from the bag making machine to the filling apparatus. 
     As described above, in transportation of the pouch from the bag making machine to the filling apparatus, for example, when the filling apparatus is low in capacity (30 to 50 bags/min), the bag making position and the filling position are separate from each other, and transportation between both positions is carried out using a transportation tool and a delivery box. 
     However, when a high-capacity filling apparatus is used, since the pouch transportation cost is increased and a large storage space becomes required, a requirement is increased for placing the bag making machine and the filling apparatus at the same position which are used in combination. 
     Further, when a transportation tool is used in pouch transportation, a cost is required for the tool, also when charging the vessels into the machine, a manual work or an automated machine for charging are required, resulting in an increased charging cost. 
     Still further, when the pouch is a food containing vessel, use of a transportation tool or a delivery box in the pouch transportation is not preferable in view of sanitation, since there is a danger of contamination of the tool or delivery box during transportation. 
     With a view to obviate the above prior art problems, an object of the present invention is to provide an irregular-formed vessel transportation apparatus and method which combines a plurality of low-capacity bag making machines with a high-capacity filling apparatus to achieve efficient transportation of pouch from the bag making machine to the filling apparatus. 
     In transporting the above pouch from the bag making machine to the filling apparatus which is a continuous rotary type, the vessel feeding method is generally of a type in which a conveyor, a timing screw having a feed groove conforming to the plane shape of the pouch, and a star wheel for taking the pouch over to the filling apparatus by coinciding the timing with the timing screw are combined. 
     However, for an irregular shape like a pouch which changes in shape by filling in with a liquid, the bags cannot be arranged and fed by a conventional conveyor, and since the head of the pouch is small for handling by the timing screw and the body shape is irregular that cannot be handled, it is impossible to utilize the vessel feeding method by the conveyor and the timing screw. 
     Yet further, since the bag-formed vessel like pouch is in the form of a flat plate before filling, it has an advantage that the vessels can be stored or transported by stacking, and utilizing the feature, an apparatus is developed which uniformly arranges directions of the vessels, feeds a stack of a plurality of vessels, and feeds the vessels one by one to the filling apparatus with correct timing by a vacuum sucking disk (for example, Japanese Patent Laid-open Publications 5-170252, 6-48401). 
     However, although the method of feeding the stacked pouches one by one to the filling apparatus by a vacuum sucking disk or the like is easily applied to a filling apparatus of an intermittent moving type, since it does not make continuous operation, the method is difficult to be applied to a continuously rotating rotary filling apparatus. 
     Even if a means for taking over the pouch following the movement of the filling apparatus can be used, there are problems of a low vessel feeding speed, requiring a plurality of feeding units for a high-capacity filling apparatus, and a complex layout, resulting in a high cost. 
     With the aim of eliminating the above prior art problems, another object of the present invention is to provide a feeding apparatus and feeding method of irregular vessels which can achieve continuous feeding of pouches suitable for continuously rotating rotary filling apparatus. 
     Further, as a filling apparatus for filling in fed unfilled pouches with a liquid and capping, an intermittent rotary filling apparatus in which a liquid filling part and a cap tightening part are mounted on the outer periphery of an intermittent rotation table, and a number of pouches held on the outer periphery of the table are filled up with the liquid and capped during one turn of the table does not use a rotary joint for liquid and air piping and electrical wiring and the like is possible to perform operations such as liquid filling, capping and the like with a simple apparatus as compared with a continuous rotating rotary filling apparatus which moves smoothly at a constant speed, however, since an intermittent operation must be performed matching the pitch time with the filling operation which requires the longest time in the operations of the filling part and the cap tightening part, the intermittent filling apparatus could be used only for applications of low filling capacity. 
     Therefore, a filling apparatus improved for the purpose of increasing the filling capacity while making use of the advantage of intermittent rotation is disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication 59-46874. This machine is provided with a member for supporting a plurality of filling nozzles which can perform liquid filling at a time in a plurality of pouches arranged on the periphery of a round table, the filling nozzle member can be moved along with the table during the time when the filling nozzle member moves from a specific start position on the table to an end point, after the filling nozzle is pulled out from the pouch at the end point on the table, the filling nozzle member is returned to the start position, where the filling nozzle is inserted into the pouch to begin liquid filling so that filling is completed until reaching the end point, and a sufficient filling time is ensured even when the pitch time of intermittent movement of the table is short, thereby improving the filling capacity. 
     As a filling apparatus for a pouch which changes in shape during liquid filling, there have been known a filling apparatus using an intermittent rotation table of a low speed (50 bags/min) as a transportation means as described above, or one which is disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication 59-46874 using a shortened pitch time of intermittent movement of the table as described above, however, although these are simple in structure and low-cost, since the transportation table makes an intermittent movement, high-speed intermittent movement cannot be performed to avoid liquid scattering during pouch transportation or falling down of pouch due to vibration, therefore improvement of filling capacity is limited. 
     With a view to eliminate the above prior art problems, is a primary object of the present invention to provide a filling apparatus for irregular-formed vessels which eliminates intermittent movement of the transportation table and is high in filling capacity with a simple structure. 
     DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION 
     The irregular-formed vessel transportation apparatus according to the present invention comprises a plurality of bag making machines for continuously producing irregular-formed vessels each having a flanged mouth plug, a plurality of transportation troughs connected respectively to the plurality of bag making machines, a single-row transportation trough for combinedly transporting the irregular-formed vessels discharged from the respective transportation troughs in a single row, a plurality of relay movable troughs disposed corresponding to the plurality of transportation troughs, inlets being connected with outlets of corresponding transportation troughs by a predetermined movement for containing a predetermined amount of irregular-formed vessels from the corresponding transportation trough, and outlets being connected with an inlet of the single-row transportation trough by another predetermined movement for discharging the contained irregular-formed vessels to the single-row transportation trough, wherein when an outlet of any one of the plurality of relay movable troughs is connected with an inlet of the single-row transportation trough, movement of the plurality of relay movable troughs is cooperatively performed so that inlets of other relay movable troughs of the plurality of the relay movable troughs are connected with outlets of the transportation troughs respectively corresponding to the relay movable troughs. 
     The irregular-formed vessel transportation apparatus according to the present invention comprises a first bag making machine and a second bag making machine for continuously producing irregular-formed vessels each having a flanged mouth plug, a first transportation trough connected with the first bag making machine, a second transportation trough connected with the second bag making machine, a single-row transportation trough for combinedly transporting the irregular-formed vessels discharged from the first transportation trough and irregular-formed vessels discharged from the second transportation trough in a single row, a first relay movable trough having an inlet capable of being connected with outlet of the first transportation trough by a predetermined movement for containing a predetermined amount of irregular-formed vessels from the first transportation trough and having an outlet capable of being connected with inlet of the single-row transportation trough by another predetermined movement for discharging the contained irregular-formed vessels to the single-row transportation trough, and a second relay movable trough having an outlet capable of being connected with inlet of the single-row transportation trough by another predetermined movement for discharging the contained irregular-formed vessels to the single-row transportation trough, wherein the first relay movable trough and the second relay movable trough are constructed to cooperate with each other so that the second relay movable trough and the single-row transportation trough are connected when the first transportation trough is connected with the first relay movable trough and the first relay movable trough and the single-row transportation trough are connected when the second transportation trough is connected with the second relay movable trough. 
     The irregular-formed vessel transportation method according to the present invention uses a plurality of bag making machines for continuously producing irregular-formed vessels each having a flanged mouth plug, a plurality of transportation troughs connected respectively to the plurality of bag making machines, a single-row transportation trough for combinedly transporting the irregular-formed vessels discharged from the respective transportation troughs in a single row, a plurality of relay movable troughs disposed corresponding to the plurality of transportation troughs capable of containing a predetermined amount of irregular-formed vessels from the corresponding transportation trough and discharging the contained irregular-formed vessels to the single-row transportation trough, wherein one of the plurality of relay movable troughs is selected, the relay movable trough is moved to connect the output of the relay movable trough to the inlet of the single-row transportation trough to discharge the irregular-formed vessels contained in the relay movable trough to the single-row transportation trough, other of the plurality of the relay movable troughs are appropriately moved to be connected with output of the corresponding transportation trough for containing a predetermined amount of irregular-formed vessels from the transportation trough in the relay movable trough, while switching a relay movable trough selected from the plurality of relay movable troughs to be connected to the single-row transportation trough, the operation is repeated to successively transport a predetermined amount of irregular-formed vessels from the respective transportation troughs through the single-row transportation trough. 
     The irregular-formed vessel transportation method according to the present invention uses a first bag making machine and a second bag making machine for continuously producing irregular-formed vessels each having a flanged mouth plug, a first transportation trough connected with the first bag making machine, a second transportation trough connected with the second bag making machine, a single-row transportation trough for combinedly transporting the irregular-formed vessels discharged from the first transportation trough and irregular-formed vessels discharged from the second transportation trough in a single row, a first relay movable trough having an inlet capable of being connected with outlet of the first transportation trough by a predetermined movement for containing a predetermined amount of irregular-formed vessels from the first transportation trough and having an outlet capable of being connected with inlet of the single-row transportation trough by another predetermined movement for discharging the contained irregular-formed vessels to the single-row transportation trough, and a second relay movable trough having an outlet capable of being connected with inlet of the single-row transportation trough by another predetermined movement for discharging the contained irregular-formed vessels to the single-row transportation trough, wherein in a first operation, by a predetermined movement, an inlet of the first relay movable trough is connected to an output of the first transportation trough to contain a predetermined amount of irregular-formed vessels from the first transportation trough and, at the same time, an output of the second relay movable trough is connected to an inlet of the single-row transportation trough to discharge the irregular-formed vessels contained in the second relay movable trough to the single-row transportation trough, then, in a second operation, by another predetermined movement, the outlet of the first relay movable trough is connected to the inlet of the single-row transportation trough to discharge the irregular-formed vessels contained in the first relay movable trough to the single-row transportation trough and, at the same time, the inlet of the second relay movable trough is connected to the outlet of the second transportation trough to contain a predetermined amount of irregular-formed vessels from the second transportation trough into the second relay movable trough, and the first operation and the second operation are repeated to successively transport a predetermined amount of irregular-formed vessels from the first transportation trough and a predetermined amount of irregular-formed vessels from the second transportation trough in alternation through the single-row transportation trough. 
     Therefore, since transportation tools or delivery boxes as used in the prior art become needless, and a manual work or an automated charging machine for charging the vessels in the machine when using transportation tools or delivery boxes also becomes needless, and the bag making machine can be connected direct to the filling apparatus, the charging cost can be reduced and, by surrounding the entire apparatus by a clean booth, filling of the content can be performed under good sanitation. Therefore, when an irregular-formed vessel (pouch) with a wood plug is used for filling with a food, concern in sanitation can be eliminated. Further, when the vessel handling machine of the present invention is used midway in the transportation trough, a plurality of bag making machines can be connected directly to the filling apparatus, when a vibration transportation trough is used, since the vibration transportation trough has a vessel accumulation function, a small trouble in vessel transportation during operation can be eliminated. 
     The irregular-formed vessel feeding apparatus according to the present invention comprises a transportation trough for hanging down a mouth plug flange part of an irregular-formed vessel with a mouth plug and stacking the vessels arranged in a same direction of vessel bodies to transport it, a transportation disk continuously rotating in a horizontal direction for taking up the mouth plug flange part from the tip of the transportation trough and feeding the irregular-formed vessel with mouth plug to a continuously rotating rotary filling apparatus, the transportation disk having an asymptotic plane of a shape of cutting in towards the center side of the disk and smoothly changing to a spiral curve from the cut-in center-side bottom to the outer edge, a hanging step formed for taking up the mouth plug flange part, a vessel neck pressing lever movably disposed for pressing the mouth plug flange part to hold the mouth plug flange part in cooperation with the hanging step, and a holding spring disposed between the transportation disk and the vessel neck pressing lever for urging the vessel neck pressing lever towards a holding direction of the mouth plug flange part, wherein the hanging step and the set of the vessel neck pressing lever and the holding spring have a same pitch as that of a gripper of the continuously rotating rotary filling apparatus, and at the feeding position of irregular-formed vessels with mouth plug to the continuously rotating rotary filling apparatus, a holding release cam for moving the vessel neck pressing lever in a holding release direction of the mouth plug flange part is mounted on the continuously rotating rotary filling apparatus. 
     In the feeding method of a irregular-formed vessel with a mouth plug according to the present invention, the irregular-formed vessel with mouth plug taken up at a mouth plug flange part from a transportation trough for hanging the mouth plug flange part and stacking and transporting the vessels with vessel bodies arranged in a direction to a continuously rotating rotary filling apparatus using a transportation disk, the irregular-formed vessels with mouth plug fed to the continuously rotating rotary filling apparatus are taken up by a hanging step provided on the transportation disk having an asymptotic plane of a shape of smoothly changing to a spiral curve, then a vessel neck pressing lever movably mounted on the transportation disk for pressing the mouth plug flange part is pressed towards the mouth plug flange part by a holding spring disposed between the transportation disk and the vessel neck pressing lever to hold the mouth plug flange part inbetween, after that, when the irregular-formed vessel with mouth plug reaches a feeding position to the continuously rotating rotary filling apparatus, the vessel neck pressing lever is moved in a holding release direction by a holding release cam mounted on the continuously rotating rotary filling apparatus to feed the irregular-formed vessel with mouth plug to the continuously rotating rotary filling apparatus. 
     Therefore, with the feeding apparatus and method of irregular-formed vessels with mouth plug according to the present invention, since a vessel having a small head and an irregular-shaped body like the irregular-formed vessel with mouth plug cannot hang on a timing screw, although it has been difficult to feed the vessels with a correct feed timing to the continuously rotating rotary filling apparatus while maintaining the arranged direction of the vessels, after the vessel is fed in a pressed state while the mouth plug part being guided by the transportation trough, and the vessels are taken up at the mouth plug part from the transportation disk and fed one by one into the filling apparatus, a smooth vessel feed is possible as with the timing screw, and continuous feed of irregular-formed vessels with mouth plug to the continuously rotating rotary filling apparatus can be positively performed. 
     Further, since the mouth plug part of the vessel is held by the opening/closing vessel neck pressing lever, the direction of the irregular-formed vessel with mouth plug can be maintained, protecting the mouth plug part of the vessel from deviating to the asymptotic plane of the transportation disk, and the irregular-formed vessels be stably fed at a high speed. 
     The feeding apparatus of mouth-plugged irregular-formed vessels according to the present invention comprises a vessel sensor for detecting loaded state of the irregular-formed vessel in the transportation trough, and a vessel stopper for stopping forward movement of the vessel by pressing the vessel neck immediately before the head vessel in the transportation trough until the loaded state in the transportation trough by the detection signal of the vessel sensor is a predetermined state. 
     Therefore, with the feeding apparatus of mouth-plugged irregular-formed vessels according to the present invention, there is an advantage that by detecting the number of vessels on the transportation trough using the vessel sensor to control open/close timing of the vessel sensor, feeding pressure of the vessel row is regulated in an appropriate range for positive vessel feeding, thereby preventing generation of an excessive pressure towards the asymptotic plane of the transportation disk. 
     With the filling apparatus of irregular-formed vessels according to the present invention, the irregular-formed vessels continuously fed by the vessel feeding means are gripped at a constant pitch on the circumference of the continuous rotation table rotating on the horizontal plane, the irregular-formed vessels are filled up with a liquid, and filled vessels are discharged by vessel delivery means, comprising: 
     an intermittent swinging table disposed above the continuous rotation table and having a plurality of filling nozzles at a same pitch as the constant pitch, filling means for pushing out the liquid from the filling nozzles, vertical moving means for vertically moving the filling nozzles; 
     a continuously rotating outside hollow shaft to which the continuous rotation table is mounted; 
     a hollow shaft disposed concentrically with the outside hollow shaft for reciprocally rotating the intermittent swinging table; 
     forward movement of the intermittent swinging table by the hollow shaft synchronizes with rotation of the continuous rotation table, and return movement thereof is a quick return to the initial position of the gripped vessel of the continuous rotation table to coincide with the filling nozzle position; 
     the vertical moving means is operated by a vertical moving shaft penetrating in the hollow shaft, moves down in the forward movement of the intermittent swinging table, and moves up in the quick return, in the continuous rotation of the continuous rotation table, follow rotation of moving-down liquid filling nozzle and quick return to the initial position by upward movement are possible by the compact mechanism, thereby enabling high-speed continuous filling with a simple mechanism without vibration of liquid surface as seen in the intermittent operation. 
     With the filling apparatus of irregular-formed vessels according to the present invention, a capping device is disposed on the side of the continuous rotation table for supplying a vessel cap, a capping head is provided on the intermittent swinging table at a symmetrical position with the filling nozzle with respect to the concentric hollow shaft penetrating the outside hollow shaft, the capping head is provided in the same pitch as the gripped vessel of the continuous rotation table, the cap put on the vessel by the capping device mounted outside is chucked by the capping head moved down by the filling nozzle vertical moving means, after being tightened, moved up by quick return, repeating intermittent tightening, wherein the capping device is mounted on the intermittent swinging table opposite to the filling nozzle, which can also be used as the intermittent swinging table, enabling a simple structure, cables of the drive motor for rotating the capping head and the like can be disposed on the upper part and are not rotated, therefore complex structures such as rotary joint and slip joint are needless, resulting in simplified structure and reduced cost. 
     With the filling apparatus of irregular-formed vessels according to the present invention, the hollow shaft is connected to the outside hollow shaft drive means through an oscillating cam unit, the vertical moving shaft is linked to the outside hollow shaft drive means through the vertical moving cam, and the intermittent swinging table is connected to the vertical moving shaft, since the three operations of the rotation of the continuous rotation table, follow rotation/quick return and vertical movement of the intermittent swinging table are mechanically connected, they can be exactly synchronized, and drive of the swinging table can be optimized in terms of speed and acceleration. 
     With the filling apparatus of irregular-formed vessels according to the present invention, vertical movement of the vertical moving shaft is transmitted to a reverse rotation lever rotatably supported on the supporting shaft equal-number mounted to the filling nozzle and the capping head in the horizontal circumferential direction on the lower part of the intermittent swinging table, inside end part being connected through a disk mounted to the upper end part of the vertical moving shaft and a pin joint bar in the vertical direction, and the outside end part being provided with a roller, and to the filling nozzle and capping head vertically slidable on a vertical guide engaged with the roller of the reverse rotation lever and mounted on the swinging table, since in the vertical movement, weight of the drive shaft part, weight of the filling nozzles beyond the load reversing lever and the capping head are canceled, thereby enabling operation of reduced load variation. 
     With the filling apparatus of irregular-formed vessels according to the present invention, when using an irregular-formed vessel having a hard stepped neck for holding, a gripper for holding the vessel neck is mounted on the continuous rotation table, the vessel feeding apparatus support the vessel neck by an inclined parallel guide bar, takes out the vessels one by one by a vibration trough having a vibrator and a star wheel driven in synchronization from the same drive shaft as the continuous rotation table, and transfers it to the continuous rotation table, a filled vessel discharging apparatus takes out one by one by a star wheel synchronizedly driven from the same drive means as the continuous rotation table to transfer to a discharge conveyor, therefore, handling at a high speed is possible, the vibration trough has the same role as the screw of the prior art, and even a small article that cannot be handled by the screw can be handled. 
     With the filling apparatus of irregular-formed vessels according to the present invention, a rinser for spraying clean water is disposed between the liquid filling section outside of the continuous rotation table and the capping section for cleaning the outside of continuously transported filled vessels, or an ink-jet printing apparatus is disposed at a position immediately after vessel feeding of the continuous rotation table. 
     With the filling apparatus of irregular-formed vessels according to the present invention, the filling means is provided with an air passage open to the internal liquid passage, air piping of each filling nozzle is connected to a manifold mounted on the intermittent rotation table, between the manifold and an outer mounting member is connected with a flexible air piping, a 3-way valve for switching a vacuum air piping and a compressed air piping is:connected to the outer mounting member, air in the vessel is evacuated to a negative pressure, after closing the air piping opening by compressed air, and a constant amount of liquid is charged into the vessel by measuring piston operation, filling is possible by a smaller number of filling nozzles and measuring units as compared with a continuous rotation filler, and, since the measuring part and the tank part are separately disposed, accessibility for cleaning and maintenance is good. Further, since a longer filling time is available compared with the prior art intermittent filler, high-capacity filling is possible. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a schematic plane diagram (layout diagram) showing the entire structure of the transportation apparatus of irregular-formed vessels according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a schematic plane diagram showing the structure of part of the transportation apparatus of irregular-formed vessels according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional diagram (A—A section of FIG. 2) showing the structure of part of the transportation apparatus of irregular-formed vessels according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 4 is a schematic sectional diagram (B-B section of FIG. 2) showing the structure of part of the transportation apparatus of irregular-formed vessels according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 5 is a schematic sectional diagram (C—C section of FIG. 2) showing the structure of part of the transportation apparatus of irregular-formed vessels according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective diagram showing the irregular-formed vessel according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which (a) shows an unfilled state, and (b) shows a filled state; 
     FIG. 7 is a time chart for explaining the transportation apparatus and method of irregular-formed vessels according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which (a) to (n) respectively show corresponding movements of respective subject matter of the apparatus; 
     FIG. 8 is a schematic plane diagram showing the entire structure of the feeding apparatus of irregular-formed vessels according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 9 is a schematic sectional diagram, taken along line A—A in FIG. 8, showing the structure of the apparatus shown in FIG. 8; 
     FIG. 10 is a schematic plane diagram showing the structure of part of feeding apparatus of irregular-formed vessels according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 11 is a plane diagram of the filling apparatus of irregular-formed vessels according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 12 is a sectional structural diagram as viewed from the side surface of FIG. 11; 
     FIG. 13 is a perspective diagram of drive system as a main part of FIG. 12; 
     FIG. 14 is a side surface sectional diagram of a modified example. 
    
    
     BEST MODE FOR PRACTICING THE INVENTION 
     An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail in the following. 
     FIGS. 1 to  7  explain the feeding apparatus and method of mouth-plugged irregular-formed vessels as an embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 1 a schematic plane diagram showing the entire structure, FIG. 2 is a schematic plane diagram showing the structure of part thereof, FIG. 3 is an A—A sectional diagram of FIG. 2, FIG. 4 is a B—B sectional diagram of FIG. 2, FIG. 5 is a C—C sectional diagram of FIG. 2, FIGS.  6 ( a ) and  6 ( b ) are schematic diagrams showing an irregular-formed vessel, and FIG. 7 is a time chart showing an example of the operation. 
     The present embodiment relates to an apparatus and method for feeding mouth-plugged irregular-formed vessels (pouches) supplied from two irregular-formed vessel (pouch) making machines of relatively small processing capacity to a pouch filling apparatus of relatively large processing capacity. 
     A pouch  1  as an irregular-formed vessel transported in the present embodiment is constructed as shown, for example, in FIGS.  6 ( a ) and ( b ), a mouth plug part (neck part)  1   a  thereof is provided with an upper flange  1   b , a middle flange  1   c , and a lower flange  1   d , and a body part  1   e  is formed at the lower side. FIG.  6 ( a ) shows the pouch  1  in an unfilled state in the body part  1   e , and FIG.  6 ( b ) shows the pouch  1  in a filled state with a predetermined content in the body part  1   e.    
     Between each other of these flanges  1   b ,  1   c , and  1   d , a plurality of opposing guide surfaces If are oppositely provided. When the pouch  1  is transported, these opposing side surfaces if are held to regulate the moving direction of the pouch  1  in a predetermined direction. 
     This transportation apparatus is constructed as shown in FIGS. 1 to  5 . In the following, the apparatus will be described with reference mainly to FIGS. 1 and 2, and appropriately to FIGS. 3 to  5 . 
     Specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, the transportation apparatus comprises a first bag making machine  2   a  and a second bag making machine  2   b  for continuously producing the pouch  1  as an irregular-formed vessel having a flanged mouth plug. As these first and second bag making machines  2   a  and  2   b , those which have the same production capacities are disposed in parallel to deliver the pouch  1  at the same speeds. 
     To combine the pouch  1  produced by the first bag making machine with the pouch  1  produced by the second bag making machine into a single row, a pouch combining transportation apparatus  3  is provided at the downstream side of the transportation passage of the bag making machines  2   a  and  2   b  and, further, a single-row trough  4  for feeding the pouch  1  combined into the single row to a filling apparatus C is provided at the downstream side of the pouch combining transportation apparatus  3 . 
     Of these, the pouch combining transportation apparatus  3  is provided with, sequentially from the upstream side of transportation passage, a first vibrating transportation trough  11   a  and a second vibrating transportation trough  11   b , a third vibrating transportation trough  12   a  and a fourth vibrating transportation trough  12   b , a first relay swinging trough (first relay movable trough)  15   a  and a second relay swinging trough (second relay movable trough)  15   b.    
     That is, the first bag making machine  2   a  is connected with the first vibrating transportation trough (pouch feeder)  11   a  for transporting the pouch  1  produced by the first bag making machine  1   a , and similarly, the second bag making machine  2   b  is connected with the second vibrating transportation trough (pouch feeder)  11   b  for transporting the pouch  1  produced by the second bag making machine  2   b.    
     These first and second vibrating transportation troughs  11   a  and  11   b  are symmetrically disposed while being curved in planar state (FIG. 1) to approach each other at the downstream side, each hangs the pouch  1  at the middle flange  1   c  of the mouth plug part  1   a  to be guided through a guide side surface  1   f  to arrange the direction of the body part of the pouch  1  and transported by vibration in the feeding direction. 
     At the downstream side of these first vibrating transportation trough  11   a  and second vibrating transportation trough  11   b , a first arrange measuring transportation trough  12   a  and a second arrange measuring transportation trough  12   b  formed linearly and in parallel to each other are provided as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. 
     These first and second arrange measuring transportation troughs  12   a  and  12   b  also hang the pouch at the middle flange  1   c  of the mouth plug part  1   a  to be guided through a guide side surface If to arrange the direction of the body part of the pouch I and transported by vibration in the feeding direction. 
     As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, an inlet part of the first arrange measuring transportation trough  12   a  and the second arrange measuring transportation trough  12   b  is provided with a first pouch sensor  21   a  and a second pouch sensor  21   b  for Confirming that the pouch  1  is fully loaded on the respective arrange measuring transportation troughs  12   a  and  12   b.    
     These pouch sensors  21   a  and  21   b  are fixed to an outer fixing member (not shown) which is not directly connected to the arrange measuring transportation troughs  12   a  and  12   b  so that they are not affected by vibration of the arrange measuring transportation troughs  12   a  and  12   b.    
     Such pouch sensors  21   a  and  21   b  are optical sensors capable of sensing light from a light source, at the inlet part of the first arrange measuring transportation trough  12   a  and the second arrange measuring transportation trough  12   b , these first and second pouch sensors  21   a  and  21   b , and light sources  21 L a  and  21 L b  disposed to oppose the pouch sensors  21   a  and  21   b  are provided. 
     It is constructed so that the mouth plug part  1   a  of the pouch  1  coming into the arrange measuring transportation troughs  12   a  and  12   b  passes between the pouch sensors  21   a  and  21   b  and the light sources  21 L a  and  21 L b , when light from the light sources  21 L a  and  21 L b  is blocked by the mouth plug part  1   a  and cannot be received by the pouch sensors  21   a  and  21   b , and the light blocked state continues for more than a predetermined period of time, a signal (full-load signal) indicating that the pouch  1  is fully loaded on the transportation troughs  12   a  and  12   b  is outputted from the pouch sensors  21   a  and  21   b.    
     When light from the light sources  21 L a  and  21 L b  is blocked by the pouch  1  for a short time (that is, light blocking is not continued for more than the predetermined time), it is set so that the pouch sensors  21   a  and  21   b  do not output the full-load signal. 
     Further, at the respective downstream side of the first arrange measuring transportation trough  12   a  and the second arrange measuring transportation trough  12   b , pouch stoppers  14   a  and  14   b  to hold the pouch  1  in the arranged state are provided. 
     These pouch stoppers  14   a  and  14   b  are mounted to an outer fixed member so as not to disturb vibration of the first and second arrange measuring transportation troughs  12   a  and  12   b , these pouch stoppers  14   a  and  14   b  are provided with stopper bars  14   a B and  14   b B which are forward and backward driven by an air actuator (not shown), when the stopper bars  14   a B and  14   b B are forward driven to protrude, the tip of the stopper bars  14   a B and  14   b B stops movement of the pouch  1  to maintain the predetermined arrangement state. 
     Therefore, in the state where the pouch stoppers  14   a  and  14   b  protrude the stopper bars  14   a B and  14   b B to stop movement of the pouch  1 , the pouches  1  successively fed from the vibrating transportation troughs  11   a  and  11   b  side are arranged in the arrange measuring transportation troughs  12   a  and  12   b  until full-load state. 
     When the full-load state is established, light from the light sources  221 L a  and  21 L b  to the pouch sensors  21   a  and  21   b  is blocked continuously for the predetermined time by the mouth plug part  1   a  of the last of the pouch row arranged with flange parts closely contacted. Therefore, in this case, the pouch sensors  21   a  and  21   b  confirms that the photoelectric signal is blocked continuously for the predetermined time and outputs a full-load control signal. 
     Even in the state when the pouch row is moving forward, light from the light sources  21 L a  and  21 L b  is blocked by the passage of the pouch  1 , since this blocking is for a short time (that is, light blocking does not continue for more than the predetermined time), the pouch sensors  21   a  and  21   b  do not output the full-load signal of the pouch  1 . Therefore, when the pouch  1  merely passes through during forward movement of the row, mis-detection of full-load state is prevented. 
     At the side of the first arrange measuring transportation trough  12   a  and the second arrange measuring transportation trough  12   b , a first pusher  13   a  and a second pusher  13   b  extending from the upstream side to the downstream side are provided. 
     These first and second pushers  13   a  and  13   b  are respectively provided with a rodless cylinder  13   a L, a finger cylinder  13   b F and a finger  13   c F. 
     The finger  13   c F is forward and backward driven by the finger cylinder  13   b F into the passage of the corresponding arrange measuring transportation troughs  12   a  and  12   b , so that when the finger  13   c F is protruded, the finger  13   c F is engaged with the back surface of the arranged pouch  1 . 
     Further, the finger  13   c F is driven by the rodless cylinder  13   a F from the upstream side to the downstream side of the arrange measuring transportation troughs  12   a  and  12   b , when the finger  13   c F is driven at a predetermined timing from the upstream side to the downstream side of the arrange measuring transportation troughs  12   a  and  12   b , the finger  13   c F pushes out the pouches  1  arranged in the first arrange measuring transportation trough  12   a  or the second arrange measuring transportation trough  12   b  at a stroke towards the first relay swinging trough  15   a  or the second relay swinging trough  15   b.    
     Still further, on the side wall of the arrange measuring transportation troughs  12   a  and  12   b , a slot  12   a L extending in the longitudinal direction thereof is formed, the finger  13   c F moves from the slot  12   a L into the arrange measuring transportation troughs  12   a  and  12   b , and forward and backward driven by the finger cylinder  13   b F between a retreat position where movement of the pouch  1  into the arrange measuring transportation troughs  12   a  and  12   b  is not disturbed and a forward position where the pouches  1  arranged in the transportation troughs  12   a  and  12   b  can be pushed out towards the relay swinging troughs  15   a  and  15   b.    
     That is, in the first and second relay swinging troughs  15   a  and  15   b , by predetermined swinging, inlets thereof are connected to outlets of the first and second vibrating transportation troughs  11   a  and  11   b , and a predetermined amount of pouches  1  can be contained from the first and second vibrating transportation troughs  11   a  and  11   b , by another predetermined swinging, outlets thereof are connected to the inlet of the single-row transportation trough  4 , thereby feeding the contained pouches  1  to the single-row transportation trough  4 . 
     The first relay swinging trough  15   a  and the second relay swinging trough  15   b  can perform respective predetermined swinging. In the present embodiment, the movement of the relay swinging troughs  15   a  and  15   b  is carried out by swinging, however, alternatively, a moving method other than swinging may be used. 
     That is, the first relay swinging trough  15   a , by its predetermined swinging (that is, swing to the right direction in FIG.  2 ), is matched on the same straight line as the first arrange measuring transportation trough  12   a  at the downstream side of the first arrange measuring transportation trough  12   a , and by the other predetermined swinging (that is, swing to the left direction in FIG.  2 ), matched on the same straight line as the single-row transportation trough  4  at the upstream side of the single-row transportation trough  4 . 
     Further, the second relay swinging trough  15   b , by its predetermined swinging (that is, swing to the left direction in FIG.  2 ), is matched on the same straight line as the second arrange measuring transportation trough  12   b  at the downstream side of the first arrange measuring transportation trough  12   b , and by the other predetermined swinging (that is, swing to the right direction in FIG.  2 ), matched on the same straight line as the single-row transportation trough  4  at the upstream side of the single-row transportation trough  4 . 
     In the present embodiment, these first relay swinging trough  15   a  and the second relay swinging trough  15   b  are fixed in a separate state with the following predetermined spacing by a connection member  24  and a connection member  25 . 
     That is, it is constructed that a shaft center line distance between the first relay swinging trough  15   a  and the second relay swinging trough  15   b  is ½ the shaft center line distance between the first arrange measuring transportation trough  12   a  and the second arrange measuring transportation trough  12   b.    
     Further, the single-row transportation trough  4  is disposed at a position of ½ the shaft center line distance between the first arrange measuring transportation trough  12   a  and the second arrange measuring transportation trough  12   b , that is, at a position of equal distance from both the first arrange measuring transportation trough  12   a  and the second arrange measuring transportation trough  12   b  in a direction parallel to the first and second arrange measuring transportation troughs  12   a  and  12   b  and the first and second relay swinging troughs  15   a  and  15   b.    
     With this construction, when the first relay swinging trough  15   a  and the first arrange measuring transportation trough  12   a  are on the same straight line, the second relay swinging trough  15   b  and the single-row transportation trough  4  are positioned on the same straight line, and when the second relay swinging trough  15   b  and the second arrange measuring transportation trough  12   b  are on the same straight line, the first relay swinging trough  15   a  and the single-row transportation trough  4  are positioned on the same straight line. 
     Therefore, as indicated by solid lines in FIG. 2, when the relay swinging troughs  15   a  and  15   b  swing to the right side, the first arrange measuring transportation trough  12   a  and the first relay swinging trough  15   a  are connected, and the second relay swinging trough  15   b  and the single-row transportation trough  4  are connected. 
     Further, as indicated by dotted lines in FIG. 2, when the relay swinging troughs  15   a  and  15   b  swing to the left side, the second arrange measuring transportation trough  12   b  and the second relay swinging trough  15   b  are connected, and the first relay swinging trough  15   a  and the single-row transportation trough  4  are connected. 
     To integrally swing the relay swinging troughs  15   a  and  15   b , a moving cylinder  16  is provided. In the moving cylinder  16 , a cylinder  16   a  thereof is fixed to an outer fixing member (not shown), and a piston rod  16   b  thereof is linked to the relay swinging trough  15 . 
     Still further, the connection member  24  and the connection member  25  are provided with a linear bearing  27 , and the linear bearing  27  engages with a linear guide  26  mounted to an outer fixing member, so that swing of the relay swinging troughs  15   a  and  15   b  by the moving cylinder  16  can be smoothly performed by these linear bearing  27  and linear guide  26 . 
     Yet further, these first and second relay swinging troughs  15   a  and  15   b  are detected for the right side swing position by a swing trough sensor  33   a , and the left side swing position by a swing trough sensor  33   b , so that the first and second relay swinging troughs  15   a  and  15   b  are stopped swinging at a predetermined position according to a detection signal of the swing trough sensors  33   a  and  33   b.    
     In the vicinity of the pouch inlets of the first relay swinging trough  15   a  and the second relay swinging trough  15   b , as shown in FIG.  2  and FIG. 5, a third pouch sensor  22   a  and a fourth pouch sensor  22   b  are fixed to an outer fixing member, so that completion of containing a predetermined amount of pouches  1  from the arrange measuring transportation troughs  12   a  and  12   b  is detected by the pouch sensors  22   a  and  22   b.    
     These pouch sensors  22   a  and  22   b  are optical sensors same as the first and second pouch sensors  21   a  and  21   b , the respective sensors  22   a  and  22   b  are provided with opposing light sources  22 La and  22 Lb, so that the mouth plug part  1   a  of the pouch  1  coming in the relay swinging troughs  15   a  and  15   b  passes over light of the light sources  22 L a  and  22 L b . Therefore, when the pouch  1  comes into the relay swinging troughs  15   a  and  15   b , passage of the mouth plug part  1   a  is detected by the pouch sensors  22   a  and  22   b.    
     Yet further, at a further upstream side position of the first swinging trough  15   a  and the second swinging trough  15   b  when being connected with the single-row transportation trough  4 , a single-row loading pusher  18  is provided. The single-row loading pusher  18  pushes out the pouches  1  contained in the first swinging trough  15   a  or the second swinging trough  15   b  positioned on the same straight line as the single-row transportation trough  4  to drive them towards the single-row transportation trough  4  to load them in the state of a single row on the single-row transportation trough  4 . 
     Yet further, as shown in FIG. 1, a fifth pouch sensor  23  is provided halfway in the single-row transportation trough  4 . The pouch sensor  23  detects a pouch  1  loading state on the single-row transportation trough  4 , which stops operation of the third pusher  18  when an excess amount of pouches  1  are loaded on the single-row transportation trough  4  to stop transportation in respective transportation trough. 
     Yet further, all of the above-described first vibrating transportation trough  11   a , the second vibrating transportation trough  11   b , the first arrange measuring transportation trough  12   a , and the second arrange measuring transportation trough  12   b  and the single-row transportation trough  4  carry out transportation by vibration by a vibrator  31  or the like. 
     That is, the vibrator  31  is mounted on the upper part of the first arrange measuring transportation trough  12   a , the vibrator  31  vibrates the first arrange measuring transportation trough  12   a  to feed the pouch  1  in the right direction of FIG.  3 . 
     Yet further, at the pouch outlet side of the first relay swinging trough  15   a  and the second relay swinging trough  15   b , a stopper plate  17  fixed to an outer fixing member is provided, to regulate the pouches  1  loaded from the relay swinging trough  15   a  and the second relay swinging trough  15   b  not to go out, other than when the relay swinging troughs  15   a  and  15   b  are in the position to communicate with the single-row transportation trough  4 . 
     Yet further, a filling apparatus C disposed at the outlet side of the single-row transportation trough  4  is provided with a star wheel  8 , filling apparatus C receives the pouches  1  from the single-row transportation trough  4  through the star wheel. 
     Since the irregular-formed vessel transportation apparatus as an embodiment of the present invention is constructed as described above, transportation operation is carried out using the procedures (methods) as shown, for example, in the time chart of FIG.  7 . 
     In FIG. 7, characteristic ( a ) indicates operation of the first pouch sensor  21   a , characteristic ( b ) is operation of the first vibrating transportation trough  11   a , characteristic ( c ) is operation of the pouch stopper  14   a , characteristic ( d ) is operation of the first pusher  13   a , characteristic ( e ) is operation of the second pouch sensor  21   b , characteristic ( f ) is operation of the second vibrating transportation trough  11   b , characteristic ( g ) is operation of the pouch stopper  14   b , characteristic ( h ) is operation of the second pusher  13   b , characteristic ( i ) is operation of the pouch sensor  22   a , characteristic ( j ) is operation of the pouch sensor  22   b , characteristic ( k ) is operation of the swing trough sensors  33   a  and  33   b , characteristic ( m ) is operation of the single-row loading pusher  18 , and characteristic ( n ) is operation of the pouch sensor  23 . 
     Further, in FIG. 7, detection operation of sensor is shown by ∇, Δ, drive and stop operation of pouch  1  by a solid line or a curved line. 
     The graph in FIG. 7 is performed by driving the first pusher  13   a  as shown in characteristic ( d ). Driving begins from halfway in the containing operation of pouch  1  from the third arrange measuring transportation trough  12   a  to the first relay swinging trough  15   a.    
     As shown in FIG. 7, after completion of operation of the first pusher  13   a  at time t 1 , at time t 2 , at the tip of the first arrange measuring transportation trough  12   a , protrusion operation of the pouch stopper  14   a  to the pouch passage is started. By this operation, in the first arrange measuring transportation trough  12   a , the tip of the pouch  1  row becomes stoppable by the pouch stopper  14   a.    
     Then, as shown in characteristic ( b ), transportation of pouch  1  to the first arrange measuring transportation trough  12   a  is performed in the first vibrating transportation trough  11   a.    
     Next, when transportation of pouch  1  to the first arrange measuring transportation trough  12   a  is completed, as shown in characteristic ( c ) and characteristic ( d ), retreat (release of protrusion) of the pouch stopper  14   a  and drive of the first pusher  13   a  are performed at time t 9 . This drives the finger  13   c F of the first pusher  13   a  to contain pouch  1  from the first arrange measuring transportation trough  12   a  to the first relay swinging trough  15   a.    
     When the pouch sensor  22   a  detects completion of containing to the first relay swinging trough  15   a  [characteristic ( i )] at time t 4 , swing of the first relay swinging trough  15   a  to the left side in FIG. 2 by the moving cylinder  16  is performed to complete the swing at time t 5  [characteristic ( k )]. 
     Operation of the single-row loading pusher  18  is started [characteristic ( m )] at time t 6 , and loading of pouch  1  from the first relay swinging trough  15   a  to the single-row transportation trough  4  is performed at a high speed. 
     On the other hand, with an eye on the system of the second vibrating transportation trough (pouch feeder)  11   b , the second arrange measuring transportation trough  12   b , and the second relay swinging trough  15   b , at the start of the graph, as shown in characteristic ( m ), the single-row loading pusher  18  pushes out the pouch  1  from the second relay swinging trough  15   b  to the single-row transportation trough  4  for loading and, thereafter, retreat return operation is performed. 
     At this moment, in the second vibrating transportation trough  11   b , transportation of pouch  1  to the second arrange measuring transportation trough  12   b  is performed simultaneously. 
     After operation of the second pusher  13   b  is completed [characteristic ( h )] at time T 1 , at time T 8 , protrusion operation of the pouch stopper  14   b  to the pouch passage at the tip of the second arrange measuring transportation trough  12   b  is started [characteristic ( g )], in the second arrange measuring transportation trough  12   b , the tip of the pouch  1  row becomes stoppable by the pouch stopper  1   ba.    
     Then, as shown in characteristic ( f ), transportation of pouch  1  to the second arrange measuring transportation trough  12   b  is performed in the second vibrating transportation trough  11   b.    
     Next, when transportation of pouch  1  to the second arrange measuring transportation trough  12   b  is completed, as shown in characteristic ( g ) and characteristic ( h ), retreat (release of protrusion) of the pouch stopper  14   b  and drive of the second pusher  13   b  are performed at time tg, thereby containing pouch  1  from the second arrange measuring transportation trough  12   b  to the second relay swinging trough  15   b.    
     When the pouch sensor  22   b  detects completion of containing to the second relay swinging trough  15   b  [characteristic ( j )] at time T 4 , swing of the second relay swinging trough  15   b  to the right side in FIG. 2 by the moving cylinder  16  is performed to complete the swing at time T 5  [characteristic ( k )]. 
     Operation of the single-row loading pusher  18  is started [characteristic ( m )] from time T 5 , and loading of pouch  1  from the second relay swinging trough  15   b  to the single-row transportation trough  4  is performed at a high speed. 
     The above-described operation is repeatedly performed. 
     As described above, operation relating to the first arrange measuring transportation trough  12   a  and the first relay swinging trough  15   a , and operation relating to the second arrange measuring transportation trough  12   b  and the second relay swinging trough  15   b  are performed in alternation. 
     By the above operation, the row of pouch  1  fed from the first vibrating transportation trough  11   a  through the first relay swinging trough  15   a  and the row of pouch  1  fed from the second vibrating transportation trough  11   b  through the second relay swinging trough  15   b  are loaded in alternation, thereby smoothly combining the rows of pouch  1  fed from the two bag making machines. 
     Since feeding speed of pouch  1  by the pushers  13   a ,  13   b , and  18  is several times faster than feeding speed of pouch  1  in the respective transportation troughs, and drive speed of the moving cylinder  16  can be substantially increased, a sufficient stand-by time can be taken after feed of pouch by the pusher until returning to the original stand-by position where the transportation trough is fully loaded with pouches, thereby enabling continuous operation of the transportation trough and improving the operation rate. 
     Further, full-load of pouch to the first arrange measuring transportation trough  12   a  and the second arrange measuring transportation trough  12   b  is confirmed by the first pouch sensor  21   a  and the second pouch sensor  21   b , full-load of pouch to the first relay swinging trough  15   a  and the second relay swinging trough  15   b  is confirmed by the pouch sensor  22   a  and the pouch sensor  22   b , and the stop position of the swinging troughs  15   a  and  15   b  can be confirmed by the swing trough sensor  33   a  and the swing trough sensor  33   b , misoperation in the operation control of combination transportation can be prevented. 
     By making the above pouch handling, since feed of pouch  1  from the mouth-plugged pouch making machines  2   a  and  2   b  of small production capacity can be made to the filling apparatus C of large processing capacity in the double-increasing state, single-row feed of pouch  1  is possible at a high speed. 
     In the present embodiment, since when an excess of pouch  1  is loaded on the single-row transportation trough  4 , it is detected by the pouch sensor  23   a  which stops operation of the third pusher  18 , and stops transportation in the respective trough, there is an advantage that malfunction due to excess load on the single-row transportation trough  4  is prevented. 
     Further, in the present embodiment, since all of the first and second vibrating transportation troughs  11   a  and  11   b , the first and second arrange measuring transportation troughs  12   a  and  12   b , and the single-row transportation trough  4  are constructed to perform transportation of mouth-plugged irregular-formed vessel (pouch)  1 , there is an advantage that transportation of pouch  1  can be performed very smoothly even in a curved transportation passage, for example, as the vibrating transportation troughs  11   a  and  11   b , and, on the contrary, when using the vibrating transportation trough, there is an advantage that since one which has a curvature can be applied as the transportation trough, layout of components is flexible and easy. 
     Naturally, these transportation troughs are not limited to those using vibration, any transportation trough not using vibration can be sufficiently applied if it performs smooth slide between the transportation trough and the vessel (pouch). 
     Further, since, in the present embodiment, two relay swinging troughs (relay movable troughs)  15   a  and  15   b  are provided which are connected to cooperate, these relay movable troughs  15   a  and  15   b  can be cooperated by a single actuator (moving cylinder  16 ) to achieve efficient operation, however, these relay movable troughs  15   a  and  15   b  are sufficient if they cooperate, and are not always necessary to be connected. 
     Further, in the present embodiment, two sets of vibrating transportation trough, relay measuring transportation trough, and relay movable trough are provided, however, when more sets of these vibrating transportation trough, relay measuring transportation trough, and relay movable trough are provided, and any one of a plurality (three or more) of the relay movable troughs is moved onto the same straight line as the single-row transportation trough  4 , other relay movable troughs may be disposed on the same straight line as the corresponding arrange measuring transportation troughs, and an appropriate relay movable trough be moved, so that the relay movable trough moving on the same straight line as the single-row transportation trough  4  is switched in turn. 
     By making such handling of the mouth-plugged vessels, feed of pouch  1  from a small plurality (three or more) mouth-plugged pouch making machines can be made to the filling apparatus of a very large processing capacity with a multiple of production capacity by the number of bag making machines, thereby enabling single row feed of pouch  1  at a very high speed. 
     Next, the irregular-formed vessel feeding apparatus according to an embodiment of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 8 to  10 . FIG. 8 is a schematic plane diagram showing the entire structure thereof, FIG. 9 is a schematic sectional diagram (taken along line A—A in FIG. 8) showing the structure of part thereof, and FIG. 10 is a schematic plane diagram showing the structure of part thereof. 
     As shown in FIG. 8, the present vessel feeding apparatus F is disposed between the transportation trough (vibrating trough)  4  and the continuous rotation table  5  so that pouch  1  fed from the vibrating trough (vessel feeder)  4  at the upstream side (lower part in FIG. 8) is fed to the continuous rotating rotary filling apparatus  5  at the downstream side (upper part in FIG.  8 ). The vessel feeding apparatus F comprises a star wheel  8  as a transportation disk disposed between the transportation trough  4  and the continuous rotation table  5 , an outlet part of the transportation trough  4 , and an inlet part of the continuous rotation table  5 . 
     The transportation trough  4  transports pouch  1  with arranged direction of body part  1   e  by hanging the flange part  1   c  (FIG. 6) of pouch  1  as the irregular-formed vessel with mouth plug and guiding on its opposing guide side surface  1   f  . 
     The transportation trough  4  of the present embodiment is supported through a vibrator  42  and a supporting member  41 , the middle flange  1   c  of pouch  1  is hung on its trough plate  43   a  and trough plate  43   b  to transport pouch  1  by vibration in the feeding direction by the vibrator  42 . 
     Further, as shown in FIG.  9  and FIG. 10, a tip  48   c  of trough plate  43   a  of one side extends to a position overlapping a hanging step  81   a  of an upper plate  81  of the star wheel  8 , for ensuring transfer of pouch  1 . 
     On the other hand, the continuous rotation table  5 , as shown in FIG.  8  and FIG. 9, is provided with grippers  7  at a constant pitch. The gripper  7  engages with a horizontal cylindrical cam fixed to an outer member (not shown), and is provided with a mechanical chuck  7   a  for opening and closing a finger  7   b  of the vessel gripper  7  in parallel in the opposite directions when the continuous rotation table rotates and the filling apparatus reaches a position to receive pouch  1  and a position to discharge pouch  1 . 
     The vessel feeding apparatus F is provided with a star wheel  8  as a transportation disk making continuous horizontal rotation to take up the flange part  1   b  from the chip of the transportation trough  4  and feed the pouch  1  as irregular-formed vessel with mouth plug to the continuous rotation table  5  of the continuously rotating rotary filling apparatus. 
     The star wheel  8 , as shown in FIG. 9, fixes a star wheel main body  82  to a rotary shaft  83  by a fixing ring  84 , and has an upper plate  81  fixed on the upper surface of the star wheel main body  82 . 
     The rotary shaft  83  is rotatably journaled through a bearing  83   a  to a fixed shaft  85  fixed to a base (fixing member) of the star wheel  8  to make a predetermined rotation by a drive source (not shown). 
     That is, the rotary shaft  83  cooperates with the drive mechanism of the continuous rotation table of the filling apparatus, when the continuous rotation table  5  and the star wheel  8  are both making continuous rotation, at the contact point between both, rotation is synchronized so that the position of pouch  1  gripped by the star wheel  8  always coincides with the vessel receiving position of the vessel gripper of the continuous rotation table  5 . 
     Further, the star wheel main body  82  is possible to make rotation for adjustment relative to the rotary shaft  83  by removing the fixing ring  84  to adjust relative position with respect to a holding release cam  86  by this rotation. That is, by providing the fixing ring  84 , simple adjustment of transfer position of pouch  1  is possible. 
     On the upper plate  81  of the star wheel  8 , as shown in FIG. 8, hanging steps  81   a  cut into the center side having an asymptotic plane smoothly changing from the bottom of the cut line to a spiral curve are formed at a predetermined plurality ( 8  positions in FIG. 8) of positions to take up the flange  1   b  and the guide side surface  1   f  of the mouth plug flange part. 
     Yet further, as shown in FIG.  8  and FIG. 9, on the upper surface of the upper plate  81  of the star wheel  8 , a vessel neck pressing lever  88  for holding the upper part than the upper flange  1   b  in the mouth plug flange part is swingably provided to hold the mouth plug flange part in cooperation with the hanging step  81   a.    
     That is, the vessel neck pressing lever  88  is fixed to a vertical rotary shaft  87  rotatably supported on the star wheel main body  82 . The vertical rotary shaft  87 , as shown in FIG. 9, is inserted in a hole  8   a  of the star wheel main body  82  and the upper plate  81 , and rotatably mounted on a housing  75  fixed on the lower surface of the star wheel main body  82  through a bearing. 
     A holding spring  77  for urging the vessel neck pressing lever  88  in the holding direction of the mouth plug flange part is disposed between the star wheel main body  82  as a transportation disk and the vessel neck pressing lever  88 . That is, a spring hanging rod  76  is provided on the bottom surface of the star wheel main body  82 , and an operation lever  89  is fixed to the bottom end part of the vertical rotary shaft  87  to which the vessel neck pressing lever  88  is mounted, and a tension spring  77  is provided between the tip of the operation lever  89  and the spring hanging rod  76 . 
     Here, the vessel neck pressing lever  88  and the operation lever  89  are mounted to have a predetermined relative angle (FIG.  8 ), so that the urging force of the tension spring  77  efficiently performs holding by the vessel neck pressing lever  88 . 
     At the tip of the vessel neck pressing lever  88 , as shown in FIG. 8, a claw  88   a  to facilitate holding the mouth plug flange part of pouch  1 . 
     A plurality of sets ( 6  sets here) of the hanging step  81   a , the vessel neck pressing lever  88  and the holding spring  77  are provided with the same pitch as the grippers  7  of the rotary filling apparatus. 
     Further, at the feeding position of pouch  1  to the rotary filling apparatus, a holding release cam  86  for swinging the vessel neck pressing lever  88  towards the holding release direction of the mouth plug flange part is fixed to the rotary filling apparatus. 
     That is, the holding release cam  86  is disposed beneath the star wheel main body  82  and fixed to the fixed shaft  85  to be fixed to the fixed part of the star wheel  8 . 
     Outer peripheral profile of the holding release cam  86  engages with a cam follower  78  mounted to an intermediate part of the operation lever  89 , through the cam follower  78 , the operation lever  89  and the vessel neck pressing lever  88  are swung by the holding release cam  86 . 
     The holding release cam  86  is formed of its cam profile, so that when the hanging step  81   a  approaches the gripper  7  of the filling apparatus, the vessel neck pressing lever  88  swings in the holding release direction, every time when the star wheel  8  rotates and each of the hanging step  81   a  approaches the gripper  7 , holding release is performed. 
     Further, a vessel guide  9  is mounted on the outer periphery at one side of the upper plate  81  of the star wheel  8  with a constant spacing, to guide the pouch  1  not to come out from the route when the mouth plug part  1   a  of the vessel  1  is separate from binding by the vessel neck pressing lever  88  at receiving of pouch  1  to the star wheel  8  or transferring to the vessel gripper  7 . 
     The transportation trough  4  is provided with pouch sensors  91  and  92  ( 23  in solid line FIG. 1) for detecting loading state of pouch  1 . 
     These pouch sensors  91  and  92  comprise photoelectric sensors  91 A and  92 A and light sources  91 B and  92 B so that detection line between the light sources  91 B and  92 B and the photoelectric sensors  91 A and  92 A crosses passing surface of the mouth plug part of pouch  1  in horizontal diagonal direction. 
     As shown in FIG. 10, the pouch sensor  91  is provided at the downstream side of the transportation trough  4 , and the pouch sensor  92  in the intermediate part of the transportation trough  4 . 
     These pouch sensors  91  and  92  are mounted to an outer fixing member (not shown) which is not linked directly to the transportation trough  4  so that they are not affected by vibration of the transportation trough  4 . 
     A pouch stopper  6  is provided for stopping forward movement of pouch by holding the vessel neck immediate before the head vessel in the transportation trough  4  until loading state in the transportation trough  4  is a predetermined state by the detection signal from the pouch sensors  91  and  92 . 
     The pouch stopper provided at the vessel outlet of the transportation trough  4  comprises an air actuator  63 , a mechanical chuck  61  driven by the air actuator  63  for opening and closing a pair of fingers in the opposite direction as is in parallel, a stopper plate  62   a  and a stopper plate  62   b  mounted to each of the pair of fingers of the mechanical chuck  61 , and is mounted to an outer fixing member (not shown). 
     State of the pouch stopper  6  shown in FIG. 8 is when the air actuator  63  operates, and the stopper plate  62   a  and the stopper plate  62   b  approach each other by the same distances to stop pouch  1  at its mouth plug part  1   a , state of the stopper  6  shown in FIG. 10 is when the air actuator  63  operates (or air of the air actuator  63  is removed, and the spring force of the incorporated return spring acts) the stopper plate  62   a  and the stopper plate  62   b  separate from each other by the same distances to separate from the vessel mouth plug part  1   a  of pouch  1  to free the pouch  1 . 
     Therefore, when the pouch row is pressed to closely contact on the transportation trough  4 , light is blocked and the pouch stopper  6  does not function, and the transportation trough continues pouch transportation. 
     On the other hand, when there is a space in the pouch row and the photoelectric sensor  91 A detects light of the light source  91 B in the pouch sensor  91 , it is determined that the number of pouch  1  transported to the feeding apparatus is insufficient for generating a pressure to push out the head pouch  1 , the pouch stopper  6  is operated so that the transportation operation trough  4  continues transportation, as is, but pouch feeding by the transportation trough  4  is stopped. 
     When the pouch row moves forward, light of the light source  91 B is blocked by pouch  1 , and the pouch sensor  91 A detects the presence of pouch, the pouch stopper  6  opens to restart feeding of pouch  1 . 
     When pouch  1  on the transportation trough  4  is excessive in amount, and pressure to the head pouch  1  is too large, the mouth plug part  1   a  of pouch  1  strongly contacts against the asymptotic plane  81   b  of the upper plate  81  of the star wheel  8  to be dragged in the rotation direction, and there is a possibility to be bit between the upper plate  81  and the vessel guide  9 , however, in this case, as shown in FIG. 10, the pouch sensor  92  provided in the intermediate part of the transportation trough  4  detects overload of pouch  1 , the pouch stopper  6  is operated according to the detection to reduce pressure of head pouch  1  of the transportation trough  4 . 
     By opening and closing the pouch stopper  6  in synchronization with passage of the hanging step  81   a  in the star wheel  8 , the mouth plug part  1   a  of pouch  1  is prevented from being dragged by the upper plate  81  of the star wheel As shown above, by detecting the amount of pouch on the transportation trough  4  and controlling the pressure of pouch row in an appropriate range, pouch feeding can be ensured. 
     Since the feeding apparatus of irregular-formed vessels as an embodiment of the present invention is constructed as described above, it makes the following operation. 
     First, pouch  1  as an irregular-formed vessel arranged in the direction and fed by the transportation trough  4  are taken up at the hanging step  81   a  of the star wheel  8  as a transportation disk. 
     When the star wheel rotates and the hanging step  81   a  of the upper plate  81  takes up pouch  1  at the tip of the transportation trough  4 , next pouch  1  on the transportation trough  4  is pressed in the feeding direction of the transportation trough  4 , slowly slides on the asymptotic plane  81   b  of the upper plate  81  until it is taken up by the next hanging step  81   a.    
     When the hanging step  81   a  of the upper plate  81  takes up pouch  1  at the tip of the transportation trough  4 , engagement position of the cam follower  78  to the holding release cam  86  is moved from the high profile to the low profile of the cam  86 , and the vessel neck pressing lever  88  holds the mouth plug part  1   a  by the urging force of the tension spring and rotates. 
     Next, when the star wheel  8  is rotated and pouch  1  reaches the feeding position to the rotary filling apparatus, by the holding release cam  86 , the vessel neck pressing lever  88  is swung in the holding release direction, and pouch  1  is fed to the rotary filling apparatus. 
     That is, when the hanging step  81  of the upper plate  81  reaches a position to contact with the gripper  7  of the rotary filling apparatus, engagement position of the cam follower  78  to the holding release cam  86  moves from the low profile to the high profile, and the vessel neck pressing lever  88  rotates in the direction to release the mouth plug part  1   a  against the urging force of the tension spring  77 . 
     The gripper  7  of the filling apparatus opens the finger  7   b  by the function of the horizontal annular cam fixed on an outer fixing member (not shown) to receive the mouth plug part  1   a , immediately closes to hold pouch  1  so that the body part  1   c  is arranged in the circumferential direction by the opposite guide side surface If between the middle flange  1   c  and the lower flange  1   d.    
     For feeding of pouch  1  in the transportation trough  4 , the following operation is performed. 
     First, when the pouch row is pressed and closed contacted on the transportation trough  4 , light from the light source  91 B to the photoelectric sensor  91 A is blocked in the pouch sensor  91 , the pouch stopper  6  does not operate, and the transportation trough  4  continues pouch feed. 
     On the other hand, when there is a space in the pouch row and the photoelectric sensor  91 A detects light from the light source  91 B, it is determined that the amount of pouch  1  transported to the feeding apparatus is insufficient for generating a pressure to push out the head pouch  1 , the pouch stopper  6  is operated so that the transportation operation trough  4  continues transportation, as is, but pouch feeding by the transportation trough  4  is stopped. 
     When the pouch row moves forward, light of the light source  91 B is blocked by pouch  1 , and the pouch sensor  91 A detects the presence of pouch, the pouch stopper  6  opens to restart feeding of pouch  1 . 
     When pouch  1  on the transportation trough  4  is excessive in amount, and pressure to the head pouch  1  is too large, the mouth plug part  1   a  of pouch  1  strongly contacts against the asymptotic plane  81   b  of the upper plate  81  of the star wheel  8  to be dragged in the rotation direction, and there is a possibility to be bit between the upper plate  81  and the vessel guide  9 , however, in this case, as shown in FIG. 10, the pouch sensor  92  in the middle of the transportation trough  4  detects overload of pouch  1  from blocking of light from the light source  92 B, and the pouch stopper  6  is operated to reduce pressure of head pouch  1  of the transportation trough  4 . 
     The pouch stopper  6  is opened and closed in synchronization with passage of the hanging step  81   a  in the star wheel  8 , the mouth plug part  1   a  of pouch  1  is prevented from being dragged by the upper plate  81  of the star wheel  8 . 
     As shown above, by detecting the amount of pouch on the transportation trough  4  and controlling the pressure of pouch row in an appropriate range, pouch feeding is ensured. 
     As described above, since the pouch of irregular-formed body part and having a small head like mouth plugged pouch  1  cannot hang the timing screw, it has been difficult that pouch transfer timing is synchronized with the continuously rotating rotary filling apparatus and making feed while maintaining the arranged direction of the pouch body part, however, the pouch  1  is fed by pushing while guiding the mouth plug part  1   a  in the transportation trough  4 , after pouch  1  is pulled in one by one by the plurality of equal pitch hanging steps through the spiral asymptotic plane connecting the body hanging step and the upper edge part of the adjacent hanging step of the star wheel  8 , by taking out the mouth plug part of pouch from the transportation disk And transferring it to the filling apparatus, smooth pouch feed as timing screw is possible. 
     Further, there is an advantage that since the mouth plug part of pouch  1  is held by the opening and closing pressing lever, feeding of pouch  1  can be performed stably and at a high speed while maintaining the direction of pouch  1  with mouth plug and while preventing the mouth plug part  1   a  of pouch  1  from deviating to the asymptotic plane of the of the star wheel. 
     Still further, by using the pouch sensors  91  and  92  to detect the pouch amount on the transportation trough  4  and controlling open/close timing of the pouch stopper  6 , pressure of the pouch row can be regulated in an appropriate range to ensure feeding of pouch  1 , preventing generation of an excessive pressure on the asymptotic plane of the star wheel  8 . 
     As described above, with the feeding apparatus and feeding method of irregular-formed vessels, continuous feed of mouth-plugged irregular-formed vessels suitable for the continuously rotating rotary filling apparatus is ensured. 
     Yet further, the feeding apparatus and feeding method of irregular-formed vessels according to the present invention is not limited to the above described embodiments such that the transportation trough  4  is not limited to a vibration trough, various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     Next, an embodiment of the filling apparatus of irregular-formed vessels according to the present invention is shown in FIGS. 11 to  14 . 
     In the present embodiment, mouth-plugged pouch fed from outside is received into the irregular-formed vessel filling apparatus, the vessel is supported at the flange provided at the neck part of the pouch by the gripper provided on the continuous rotation table, while being continuously rotated and being fed, filling with a liquid and capping are performed, and discharged to the discharge conveyor. Here, the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 11 to  14 . FIG. 11 is a plane diagram as viewed from the upper surface, showing various apparatus for vessel feeding, liquid filling, vessel washing, capping, and vessel discharge in addition to the table main body, FIG. 12 is a sectional structural diagram as viewed from the side surface, showing driving of the table and apparatus for liquid filling, FIG. 13 is a perspective diagram for easy understanding of table driving, and FIG. 14 shows star wheel driving. 
     In FIG. 11, numeral  1  indicates a pouch, F is a vessel feeding apparatus, and the vessel feeding apparatus  3  is a combination of the vibrating trough  4  with the star wheel  8 . Empty pouch  1  having a plate-like body part is carried in with the same state of body surfaces stacked on the transportation  4 , engaged as described above with the continuously rotating star wheel  8  while being direction regulated so that the plate-like body surface is the same as the feeding direction at the tip of the trough  4 , and transferred. The peripheral speed of the star wheel  8  is the same as the peripheral speed of the continuous rotation table  5 , the groove engaging with pouch  1  of the star wheel  8  is adapted to coincide with the gripper  7  of the continuous rotation table  5  at the contact point with the continuous rotation table, at this contact point empty pouch  1  is transferred from the star wheel  8  to the gripper  7  of the continuous rotation table  5 . The gripper  7 , when approaching the contact point (feed position), opens and closes by releasing the plate cam (FIG. 8) to receive and grip pouch  1 . In this operation, opening and closing by the plate cam is the same as receiving by a take-out star wheel  151  which will be described later. 
     The continuous rotation table  5 , relative to pouch  1  gripped by the gripper  7 , is rotated to make printing production date, and quality maintaining period and the like, liquid filling, vessel washing, and capping sequentially, and a returning (swinging) intermittent swinging table  111  is driven in synchronization with the continuous rotation table  5  to make liquid filling and capping of a plurality of vessels collectively. 
     Here, the drive system will be described with reference to FIG.  12  and FIG.  13 . The continuous rotation table  5  is driven by a drive unit  106 . The drive unit  106  is a hollow reducer, in which a shaft  106   c  transmitted with a driving force by a gear and toothed belt  155  from a rotary shaft  112  directly connected to a motor  113  is used as an input shaft, which is connected directly to an outer hollow shaft  119  through a worm  106   a  and a wheel  106   b . Therefore, by driving of the motor  113  shown in FIG. 13, rotation force is transmitted and reduced to rotate the outer hollow shaft  119 , thereby rotating the continuous rotation table  5 . Therefore, since a number of grippers  7  are provided at a constant pitch on the periphery of the continuous rotation table  5 , in association with rotation, the grippers  7  grip the neck of pouch  1  and make continuous rotation. 
     The intermittent swinging table  111  disposed above the continuous rotation table  5  provided with a filling nozzle for making liquid filling to pouch  1  gripped by the gripper  7  and a capping head  141  for making cap tightening is provided, the intermittent swinging table  111  can be rotated by a drive unit  112  through a hollow shaft  116  coaxially disposed inside the above-described outer hollow shaft  119 , a support plate  116   a  integrally connected with the hollow shaft  116 , and a hanging rod  137  mounted on the support plate  116   a . The drive unit  112  comprises an oscillating unit provided on a shaft  112   d  of the motor  113  shown in FIG. 13, rotation is transmitted by a cam  112   b  (FIG. 13) provided on the shaft  112   d , and a taper roller  112   c  on the hollow shaft  116  engaging with the cam  112   b . In this case, the forward moving step is formed by an equal speed cam, and the return step is formed by a modified sinusoidal cam. As a result, by the driving of the motor  113 , the hollow shaft  116  rotates by the movement of the taper roller  112   c  on the cam  112   b , and the intermittent swinging table  111  is reciprocally rotated, that is, swung. The intermittent swinging table  111  is provided with filling nozzles  121  and capping heads  141  of a number of about ⅕ the number of the gripper  7  of the continuous rotation table  5 , and these nozzles and the heads  141  are mounted at the same radial position and with the same pitch as pouch  1  gripped by the gripper  7  of the continuous rotation table  5 . 
     Since, as described above, the drive unit  106  of the continuous rotation table  5  and the drive unit  112  of the intermittent swinging table  111  are mechanically connected with the output shaft  112   d  of the same motor  113 , the continuous rotation table  5  and the intermittent swinging table  111  can be rotated in synchronization with each other in the forward direction in the state where positions of the filling nozzle  121  and the capping head  141  of the intermittent swinging table  111  are in line with the position of pouch  1  (gripper  7 ) of the continuous rotation table  5 , and the intermittent swinging table  111  is quickly returned, so that movement of next rotating pouch group can be positioned next to formerly following pouch group. (In FIG. 11, the solid line indicates the position at the beginning of equal speed rotation of the intermittent swinging table  111 , and the two-dot-bar line indicates the end position of equal speed rotation.) 
     Inside the hollow shaft  116 , a vertical moving shaft  115  penetrates, an upper support plate  136  is fixed to an upper part of the vertical moving shaft  115 , the plurality of hanging rods  137  are hung while penetrating holes provided in the upper support plate  136 , and the intermittent swinging table  111  is mounted on a lower part of the hanging rods  137 . A compression spring  138  urged about the hanging rod  117  is provided between the support plate  116  and the upper support plate  136 . The compression spring  138  is provided to support the weight of the vertical moving shaft  115 , the intermittent swinging table  111  and its accessory parts, for reducing the load applied to a vertical moving cam  132  as a means for vertically moving the vertical moving shaft  115  and the operation levers  133  and  134  for intermediating the movement of vertical moving cam  132 . 
     The vertical moving cam  132  mounted on the shaft  112   d  of the motor  113  vertically moves the vertical moving shaft  115  through the shaft  133  and the lever  134  and vertically moves the intermittent swinging table  111  through the upper support plate  136  and the hanging rod  138 . Since the vertical moving cam  132  is driven by rotation of the motor  113  to vertically move the vertical moving shaft  115 , consequently the intermittent swinging table  111  is moved up at a constant rotation angle and moved down at the remaining rotation angle. That is the rotation speed of the intermittent swinging table  111  coincides with the rotation speed of the continuous rotation table  5 , the profile of the vertical moving cam  132  can be formed so that when the position of the filling nozzle  121  and the capping head  141  is in line with the position of pouch  1  of the continuous rotation table  5 , the intermittent swinging table  111  is moved down to make liquid filling and tightening of cap  102  and moved up immediately before quick return of the intermittent swinging table  111 . 
     Further, a gear provided integrally with the shaft  112   d  of the motor  113  is engaged with a gear for rotating the respective rotation shafts  157  and  158  of the star wheel  8  and the take-out star wheel  151  by the toothed belt  156 . Therefore, rotation of the motor  113  can rotate the star wheels  8  and  151  so that the grooves of the star wheel  8  and  151  are coincided with the grippers  7  of the continuous rotation table  5 . 
     As shown above, rotation force of the motor  113  is transmitted to the shaft  112   d , and rotates the outer hollow shaft  119  and the continuous rotation table  5  through the shaft  106   c , the worm gears  106   a  and  106   b  in the drive unit  106 , reciprocally rotates (swings) the hollow shaft  116 , the support plate  116   a , and the intermittent swinging table  111  through the drive unit  112  as an oscillating unit, vertically moves the vertical moving shaft  115 , the upper support plate  136 , the hanging rod  137 , and the intermittent swinging table  111  by the rotation of the vertical moving cam  132 , and the levers  133  and  134 , and rotates the star wheels  8  and  151  through the gears. Relation between rotation and vertical movement of various drive systems is such that in the continuous rotation table  5  and the intermittent swinging table  111 , pouch  1 , filling nozzle  121  and the capping head  141  are set at the same position and rotated in synchronization, after quick return of the intermittent swinging table  111 , position of the pouch  1 , and position of the filling nozzle  121 , and the capping head  141  are coincided, in the intermittent swinging table  111  and the vertical moving shaft  115 , when the position of pouch  1  coincides with the position of the filling nozzle  121  and the capping head  141 , the intermittent swinging table  111  is moved down and moved up immediately before quick return of the intermittent swinging table  111 , and the continuous rotation table  5  and the star wheels  8  and  151  are rotated so that pouch grooves of the star wheels  8  and  151  coincide with the grippers  7 . 
     Next, liquid filling will be described with reference to FIG.  11  and FIG.  12 . Separately disposed liquid measuring vessels  124  are provided on a liquid tank table  126  in a same number as the plurality of filling nozzles  121 , a liquid tank  122  is provided on the liquid tank table  126 , a manifold tube  123  communicating with a liquid tank  122  is provided at the lower part of the liquid tank  122 , and liquid tubes branched from the manifold tube  123  are connected to the liquid measuring vessels  124 . The liquid measuring vessels  124  and the filling nozzles  121  are connected with flexible hoses for filling liquid. 
     At the same timing when the filling nozzle contacts the mouth of empty pouch  1 , liquid in a constant amount measured by the piston and cylinder of the measuring vessel  124  is conducted to the filling nozzle through the flexible hose  125  and filled in the pouch. 
     Each filling nozzle  121  is connected with an air pipe branched from the air manifold tube  129 , and the manifold tube  129  is connected by an air flexible hose  128  to a 3-way switching valve provided on the liquid tank table  126 . The 3-way switching valve  127  is connected with a compressed air supply tube and a vacuum suction tube, the 3-way switching valve  127  is operated for vacuum suction to evacuate air in pouch  1 , then the 3-way switching valve  127  is switched to compressed air to open the liquid passage by air cylinder operation and, at the same time, a check valve provided in the air passage incorporated in the nozzle  121  is operated to close the air passage. 
     As shown in FIG. 11, when the filled vessel on the continuous rotation table separates from the filling section and rotates, outside under the neck of pouch  1  is washed with washing water by a fixed pouch sensor  145 . 
     A capping device  140  is provided at the washing completion position, the capping device comprises a cap selector  142  for arrange the direction of cap  102 , a chute for sequentially feeding the arranged cap  102 , and a cap catcher  143 , 
     Next, the cap put on the mouth plug part of pouch  1  is tightened by the capping head  141  mounted at the symmetrical position with the filling nozzle on the intermittent swinging table  111 . That is, the cap  102  put on the mouth plug part of pouch  1  is chucked by downward movement of the capping head  141 , and tightened all at once by driving the electric motor or air motor provided on each capping head  141 . 
     The cap tightened pouch  1  is separated from the continuous rotation table  5  by opening the gripper by a fixed plate cam (not shown), taken out by the take-out star wheel  151  of the same peripheral speed, fallen to a discharge chute, and discharged on a discharge conveyor  153  to the next process. 
     FIG. 14 shows a modification example of vertical movement of the intermittent swinging table. FIG. 14 is a construction effective for a case where the amount of pouches processed on the respective table of the filling apparatus is large, the vertical moving shaft  115 , the intermittent swinging table  111  and its accessory parts shown in FIG. 12 are substantially large in weight, and the load applied to the vertical moving cam  132  and operation levers  133  and  134  driven by the cam cannot be reduced only by the above-described plurality of compression springs  138 . 
     Most of the vertical moving shaft  115  in FIG. 12 have vertical moving shafts  161  of a common shape, and at the upper part have a ball spline  163  for binding the rotational direction of the hollow shaft  116  and making it movable in the axial direction. An upper disk  162  is mounted on the upper part of the vertical moving shaft  161 . 
     A support shaft  166  is provided on a support table  116   c  mounted at the lower part of the support plate (intermittent swinging table)  116   b  which integral with the hollow shaft  116 , a reverse lever  165  is rotatably supported on the support shaft  166 , inside end of the reverse lever  165  is connected with the upper disk  162  mounted on the upper end of the vertical moving shaft  161  through a pin joint bar  164 , and the outside end part has a roller. Since a vertical guide  167  is mounted to the support plate  116   b , the filling nozzle  121  and the capping head  141  are mounted to be vertically slidable on the vertical guide  167 , and engage the roller of the reverse lever  165 , the filling nozzle  121  and the capping head  141  vertically move in the opposite direction to the movement of the vertical moving shaft  161  which is vertically moved by the vertical moving cam  132 . (In FIG. 14, the solid lines indicate the position when the filling nozzle  121  and the capping head  141  move up, and the two-dot-bar lines indicate the position whey they move down.) As shown above, the weight at the vertical moving shaft  161  side and the weight of the filling nozzle  121  and the capping head  141  are balanced, so that load applied to the vertical moving cam  132  is reduced, thereby enabling operation of reduced load variation. 
     In the above description, the pouch neck is passed and hung through the gripper of the continuous rotation table, however, alternatively, a self-standing bottle or the like may be supported at the bottom part and fed while being direction regulated by a side guide. 
     UTILIZABILITY IN INDUSTRY 
     As described above, with the present invention, in a series of operation of a filling apparatus in which irregular-formed vessels from irregular-formed vessel making machines are transported, fed to the rotation table, and filled, irregular-formed vessels from bag making machines of small production capacities are being combined to a filling apparatus of a large processing capacity to feed the irregular-formed vessels continuously to the filling apparatus, thereby making continuous processing by a simple structure.