Abstract: A machine for sorting and orienting containers including a main hopper (2) for receiving randomly a plurality of containers (1) or bottles to be sorted, having any convenient configuration and a bottom (4) with a peripheral edge portion at a predetermined distance from the side wall of the hopper (2) to provide a space through which the containers can drop, by gravity towards a lower section, a lateral aperture (32) in the side wall of the hopper in a curved lateral area (13) preceding the container unloading station (14), the aperture being adapted to remove mainly by centrifugal force malpositioned containers housed only partially in and protruding from holding and transporting units (6), or located external to them and conveyed by other containers, the aperture communicating with a recovering auxiliary hopper (15), external to the main hopper and a coupled belt type conveyor (16) associated with the external hopper for recycling containers into the loading area preceding the lateral aperture (32).

Abstract: An automatic machine for positioning and feeding containers or bottles having an irregular or oval shape and flat sides and a neck portion to continuously feed a work station, including a hopper, a bottom wall member in the hopper extending in a plane at an angle to the horizontal, a rotatable disc above and parallel to the bottom wall member, detachable container holding elements removably mounted at the periphery of the disc assembly and defining peripheral recesses for receiving individual containers or bottles from the hopper and moving the containers to a higher level for discharging them through a discharge opening in the bottom wall member, a chute for receiving the discharged containers or bottles and guiding and positioning them so that they are deposited on a belt conveyor assembly on their edge or narrower side, devices on the conveyor assembly for tilting the containers or bottles, a detector device on the conveyor assembly for detecting the position of the containers or bottles and emitting a sig

Abstract: Apparatus for an automatic bottle handling machine (2) operating in conjunction with a bottling line (25), with light material bottles (23) initially orderly arranged on trays or several packings (22) stacked on a pallet (21), comprises a device (1) having grippers (9, 17) for gripping the groups of bottles (23) in a packing (22), transporting (5) the bottles and dumping them out of their packing into a hopper (18) to recover them in bulk, and discharging the packing, an automatic machine (2) to re-erect and align the containers, fed with the bottles in bulk from the device (1), and a bottling line (25) coupled to the automatic machine.

Abstract: An unscrambler for unscrambling and orientating containers such as plastic bottles includes a hopper (1), having straight or slightly curved walls, a plurality of travelling carriages (20) having holding elements (5) with openings (6) for receiving individual containers and passageways (22) for receiving and positioning the containers, the travelling carriages (20) moving along an enclosed path and being interconnected and drawn by a flexible or hinged drive belt (33), and adjustable shelf (8) disposed between holders (5) and passageways (22) for supporting the containers (2) until they reach a discharge station where they drop through an opening in the shelf.

Abstract: A machine for positioning containers such as plastics bottles has an upper, larger disc (11) and a lower, smaller disc (12) which rotate together about an axis inclined to the vertical in order to transfer containers from a lower level to a higher level. During this transfer the containers are positioned in peripheral recesses in the disc (11). Below each peripheral recess, a chute or passageway (20) extends from the disc (11) to the disc (12), and a fixed annular plate (14) projects between the recesses and the passageways (20) to prevent containers falling into the passageways (20) except at the higher level where there is a discontinuity on the plate (14). The recesses for receiving the containers circling the periphery of the disc (11) are formed by detachable parts (16) which can be interchanged with replacement parts (16) to suit the particular shape of the containers being handled.