Unscrambling Machines

The upper part of the machine consists of a feed hopper receiving the containers from an integrated elevator which measures out their quantity using photoelectric sensors. The hopper bottom is composed of a cone whereon the containers glide towards peripheral selectors which are mounted on a rotating carousel supported and driven by the main gearmotor unit. An inverter is employed for the unscrambler motorization, thus enabling an accurate speed regulation whilst ensuring soft starts and stops, for the benefit of transmission components lifetime and as a guarantee of a higher reliability. Once containers are inside selectors they fall upright into vertical channels which set them gently down onto an outfeed slat band conveyor made of acetalic resin; this is also driven by an inverter drive that, enabling an accurate synchronization of outfeed speeds, prevents problems during extraction phase. This operation can be further improved using a “vacuum” slat conveyor that enhances containers stability. In order to feed the line smoothly and continuously, the unscrambler can run at a basic speed (corresponding to the nominal output) and at a “slowdown” speed, that can be set by the operator panel: the change from one speed to the other takes place automatically and it is controlled by photocells checking the accumulation state on downstream conveyors.

The unscrambler functionality is highlighted by its changeover system, which is extremely fast, obtained by applying inserts on the selectors or on the vertical channels: these operations are easy and quick thanks to the fast-locking devices employed. When the containers to be handled are very different in size from one another it is possible to increase the number of channels (more channels for smaller sizes), considerably raising the hourly output to match filler requests. On the other hand, it will always be possible to handle a bigger container than the “maximum initial size” by using a dedicated equipment composed of less channels to match the consequent lower hourly output requested by the filler. Adjustment interventions are easily understood and simple to carry out thanks to visualisation instruments showing the set up values and to colour-coded changeparts specific for each bottle format.

The unscrambler can be assembled in monobloc with a linear or rotary orientator, according to the kind of container, type of rotation and speed requested, with advantages of price, amount of space and line efficiency.