VESSEL SUPPLY AMOUNT CONTROL DEVICE

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To control the amount of vessels supplied to a vessel treating device such as a labeller. SOLUTION: Vessels 2 transported by a transport conveyor 4 are grouped at certain intervals by an in-feed screw 10 and supplied to a labeller 6 through an inlet star wheel 8. If many vessels 2 are transported in mutually contacting condition, there is risk that a vessel 2 receives the pressure of the following one(s) and bites into the screw 10 or is broken, and therefore, rotary wheels 16 and 18 are installed upstream of the screw 10 and are rotated by a motor. A first to third sensor 52, 54, 56 are installed between the rotary wheels 16 and 18 and the screw 10, and the rotating speeds of the rotary wheels 16 and 18 are changed in accordance with the number of vessels 2 stagnating on the screw side. A deceleration is made when stagnation attains the second sensor 54 positioned in the middle, while an acceleration is made when stagnation does not attain the second sensor 54, and temporary stop is made when stagnation attains the third sensor 56 positioned nearer the rotary wheels. Thereby a vessel treating device can be supplied with an optimum quantity of vessels.