Abstract: A sorting machine, or unscrambler of bulk containers, including a first carousel and a second carousel on which a series of cradles are mounted which are adapted to receive the containers in a horizontal position, a series of straightening dischargers, a series of separation frames, more generally separators, having the function of receiving the container discharged by the overhead discharge channels; and wherein at least one of the series of cradles and/or dischargers and/or separators has at least one element or wall movable in width or in depth. The machine includes automatic actuation devices configured to move the movable element or wall, wherein the devices are arranged outside the first and second carousels.

Abstract: A sorting machine for orienting a container by fall, irrespective of how it is positioned on a housing, involves the activation of a pendulum which, leaning on the neck of the container, creates a rotation fulcrum for the container itself. The machine further comprises a control and/or reading system which detects the orientation of the container, said information generating a signal that is transmitted to handling means acting on the pendulum defining the suitable positioning thereof for the correct orientation of the container during the fall in an underlying cradle.

Abstract: A rotary conveyor apparatus, for collecting, transferring and releasing containers, includes: a platform (9) rotating according to a rotation axis (AA); trolleys (3), supported by the platform, and slidable in a corresponding slit extending from the periphery (9B) to the center of rotation through an internal conduit (6), within the trolleys a certain degree of suction is created for a determined rotation angle of the platform through a suction box (4), arranged at the lower part and in contact with the platform, including a suction opening (7) extending along an angular section thereof. The trolleys are movable relative to the rotation of the platform, and are moved from the periphery to the center of rotation and vice versa during a complete rotation of the platform. The movement action is directed by a first guide closed loop-like on the box and a second radial guide integral with the platform.

Abstract: A rotary conveyor apparatus, for collecting, transferring and releasing containers, includes: a platform (9) rotating according to a rotation axis (AA); trolleys (3), supported by the platform, and slidable in a corresponding slit extending from the periphery (9B) to the center of rotation through an internal conduit (6), within the trolleys a certain degree of suction is created for a determined rotation angle of the platform through a suction box (4), arranged at the lower part and in contact with the platform, including a suction opening (7) extending along an angular section thereof. The trolleys are movable relative to the rotation of the platform, and are moved from the periphery to the center of rotation and vice versa during a complete rotation of the platform. The movement action is directed by a first guide closed loop-like on the box and a second radial guide integral with the platform.

Abstract: The present invention refers to the field of devices for arranging containers enabling the correct positioning of containers or bottles made of plastic on the bottling feeding line. The device (1) for arranging plastic containers (100) with one or more devices for blowing down the containers (101) overlapped on the erecting elements, includes a cylindrical hopper (17) inwardly provided with a conical or flat base, conveying elements (19) and erecting-aligning elements, and includes one or more blowing elements (2), for example blowers, adapted to inwardly blow, adjacent to the upper edge of the hopper (17) aligning elements, an air flow for hitting possible containers (101) overlying other containers located on the erecting elements themselves.

Abstract: An apparatus (1) for unscrambling and aligning bulk plastic containers (2) includes a plurality of pick-up element (3) for picking up containers (2), which are mounted to one or more pull-out turrets (50) of rotary type (4), located at each aperture (5a) the pick-up element (3) being of the type adapted to pull out the container (2) from the pocket (7) at the corresponding aperture (5a) and rotate it neck up; the pull-out action being substantially radial to the position of the container (2) in the ring (7a) of pockets (7). Each pick-up unit (3) has element (14, 40) for adjusting its rotation in a first axis (AA) and its height in one more axis (BB), to change both the pick-up position and the release location according to the type of container (2).

Abstract: The present invention refers to the field of devices for arranging containers enabling the correct positioning of containers or bottles made of plastic on the bottling feeding line. The device (1) for arranging plastic containers (100) with one or more devices for blowing down the containers (101) overlapped on the erecting elements, includes a cylindrical hopper (17) inwardly provided with a conical or flat base, conveying elements (19) and erecting-aligning elements, and includes one or more blowing elements (2), for example blowers, adapted to inwardly blow, adjacent to the upper edge of the hopper (17) aligning elements, an air flow for hitting possible containers (101) overlying other containers located on the erecting elements themselves.

Abstract: An automatic system for orderly packaging of plastic preforms in carton boxes includes a manipulator unit (6) having a vacuum gripping head (23) and one or more units (10) for handling and inserting separators (12) in the carton box (13) to be filled. The head (23) includes a plurality of compartments (30) conforming to the shape of the preforms (2) whereas the separator (12) has a plurality of partitions (12a) parallel to one of its sides and equally spaced at a distance at least corresponding to the length of the preform (2).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for picking up and carrying preforms from bulk transport on a belt and carrying the preforms into a container, includes at least: shooting a series of images of the conveyor belt with the bulk preforms thereon, with one or more vision systems located adjacent to the belt and the pick-up area for a first handling element; the snapshot being taken prior to picking up by the element; communicating the actual position of the preforms on the belt to the first handling element, to allow definition of the pick-up spatial coordinates of one of the preforms that have been viewed; picking up the perform; intermediately stopping the preform on a rack that has a plurality of housings corresponding to the preform size; picking up the preforms from the rack with a second handling element having at least one suction gripping head; and depositing the preforms into an appropriate container.

Abstract: An apparatus (1) for unscrambling and orienting plastic preforms (5) or any object having neck lips or collars larger than the body, the preforms or objects being introduced in bulk in a hopper (2) of such apparatus, the hopper being formed of a base (2b) and vertical walls (2c) for holding the performs. Within such hopper, an annular ring (3), rotating about an axis of rotation, has two or more rows of pockets (V) along corresponding concentric circumferences (C1, C2, . . . , Cn), and an annular object supporting surface (8), extending along an angular section under the circular ring up to the predetermined object exit point. Near the end of the support surface, bars are provided for receiving and orienting the objects from the overlying pockets (V); such bars (15) defining at least as many paths as the rows of pockets, i.e. circumferences (C1, C2, . . . Cn) of the upper ring.

Abstract: A plastic bottle unscrambler, wherein the tables (8) for settling and supporting the containers (2) in the cradles (6) comprise a box-like chamber having a housing (9) under the surface supporting the container (2), in which vacuum is applied, and at least one row of holes (12) arranged over the surface supporting the container (2) in the direction of feed of the cradles (6); as vacuum is applied in the housing (9), a negative pressure is created around the container (2) contained in the overlying cradle (6) to draw it and keep it lying against the outer wall (6b) of the cradle (6).

Abstract: A process and a device for picking up, transferring and handling plastic container preforms molded by a special molding machine, wherein gripper pick up and transfers the preforms from the mold or from an ejector to a conveyor device. The preforms are deposited and carried on the conveyor in a standing position. The conveyor device (2) holds the preform in a stable position during handling.

Abstract: An apparatus (1) for unscrambling and aligning bulk plastic containers (2) includes a plurality of pick-up element (3) for picking up containers (2), which are mounted to one or more pull-out turrets (50) of rotary type (4), located at each aperture (5a) the pick-up element (3) being of the type adapted to pull out the container (2) from the pocket (7) at the corresponding aperture (5a) and rotate it neck up; the pull-out action being substantially radial to the position of the container (2) in the ring (7a) of pockets (7). Each pick-up unit (3) has element (14, 40) for adjusting its rotation in a first axis (AA) and its height in one more axis (BB), to change both the pick-up position and the release location according to the type of container (2).

Abstract: The invention finds application in the field of bottling and particularly relates to an apparatus (1) for unscrambling and aligning bulk plastic containers (2). It is comprised of a substantially circular collecting hopper (6), a plurality of container cradle pockets (7) arranged in a circular ring (7a) outside and concentric with the hopper (6) and delimited by an outer retaining wall (5). At least one aperture (5a) is formed in said wall (5), for a plurality of pick-up means (3) to extract the containers (2) in a substantially radial direction. One or more inspection devices (11) determine the orientation of the container (2) and communicate it to the pick-up means (3), which rotates the container and orients it with the neck up before releasing it.

Abstract: A plastic bottle unscrambler, wherein the tables (8) for settling and supporting the containers (2) in the cradles (6) comprise a box-like chamber having a housing (9) under the surface supporting the container (2), in which vacuum is applied, and at least one row of holes (12) arranged over the surface supporting the container (2) in the direction of feed of the cradles (6); as vacuum is applied in the housing (9), a negative pressure is created around the container (2) contained in the overlying cradle (6) to draw it and keep it lying against the outer wall (6b) of the cradle (6).

Abstract: The invention finds application in the field of machines for orienting and aligning empty plastic bottles or containers and particularly relates to a star wheel conveyor for unloading the bottles or containers from such a machine. The conveyor (1) is of the type having a plurality of box-like pockets which have a slit through which negative pressure is generated in the pocket to hold the container. Particularly, each pocket (7) is interchangeable and may be quick-connected to the star wheel structure to allow replacement thereof when changing the container format.

Abstract: The invention finds application in the field of systems for orderly packaging of plastic preforms in carton boxes. The system comprises a manipulator unit (6), having a vacuum gripping head (23) and one or more units (10) for handling and inserting separators (12) in the carton box (13) to be filled. The head (23) comprises a plurality of compartments (30) conforming to the shape of the performs (2) whereas the separator (12) has a plurality of partitions (12a) parallel to one of its sides and equally spaced at a distance at least corresponding to the length of the preform (2).

Abstract: The invention finds application in the field of machines for orienting and aligning empty plastic bottles or containers and particularly relates to a star wheel conveyor for unloading the bottles or containers from such a machine. The conveyor (1) is of the type having a plurality of box-like pockets which have a slit through which negative pressure is generated in the pocket to hold the container. Particularly, each pocket (7) is interchangeable and may be quick-connected to the star wheel structure to allow replacement thereof when changing the container format.

Abstract: The invention refers to the field of systems for conveying empty plastics bottles and more precisely to a star-shaped conveyor adapted to feed or discharge empty bottles to or from an operative machine. Preferably, but not exclusively, the machine which the star-shaped conveyor is connected to, is a machine for orienting and aligning empty plastics bottles or containers. The star-shaped conveyor is provided with a plurality of recesses (4), a negative pressure is established in each recess for an arc between 90° and 180°, the arc starts in correspondence of a machine and ends in correspondence of a conveyor (7) for transferring the bottles to a filling apparatus or to feed a bottle processing machine.

Abstract: The invention falls within the field of machines for orienting and aligning vessels or bottles made of plastics randomly inserted into a load vessel and in particular to a type of orienting and aligning machine that provides a plurality of elevators (6) that are vertically sliding along the internal wall of a rotating cylinder (1) containing randomly-placed bottles. More precisely, it refers to a device for automatically adjusting the size of the plurality of elevators placed inside the rotating cylinder depending on bottle size or format. The device provides a plurality of reduction elements (9), at least one for each elevator (6), each reduction element being inserted into the elevator without projecting and can go out of the elevator. Control means are provided for making the reduction elements go out simultaneously or sequentially.