What is a good epithet for someone who follows the rules regardless of good sense

'Vogon' is a good one but not if you don't have the right cultural background. "Robot" and "drone" work. Can anyone think of any more?

This appears to be only british but it is good

jobsworth
NOUN
British informal
An official who upholds petty rules even at the expense of humanity or common sense.

‘parks abound with jobsworths who delight in yelling that you can't do that without special permission’

It originates from the phrase "sorry mate that is more than my jobs worth" when asking to be allowed to do something like walk 2 steps across the grass rather than 1/2 mile around the path.

person 1 : please can we come in I know you don't open for another 2 mins but my granny is about to collapse and needs somewhere to sit.
guy on door: sorry mate that is more than my jobs worth

person 1 to granny: that guy is such a jobsworth.

I don't think it is coincidental that both my answer and your suggestion are British in origin.

stickler

stickler noun [ C ] US ​ /ˈstɪk·lər/ ​ someone who believes in closely following rules or in maintaining a high standard of behavior: He was a stickler when it came to office manners.

Also, more limited in scope, martinet

mar·ti·net /ˌmärtnˈet/ noun a strict disciplinarian, especially in the armed forces. "the woman in charge was a martinet who treated all those beneath her like children" synonyms: disciplinarian, slave driver, stickler for discipline, taskmaster, taskmistress, authoritarian, tyrant; drill sergeant