Picture of Traktech's ROTRAK AAF PET bottle unscrambler on a filling line of a company in the household cleaning products industry.

PET bottle unscramblers in a household cleaning product filling line

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Case of success! Incorporation of two Rotrak unscrambler model AAF 2300/18 divisions, in two filling lines for PET bottles.

Client in the home cleaning products sector, manufacturer of its own products, as well as producer for important brands and numerous retailers, supplying a market with a multitude of different formats.

They manufacture high-performance products with the aim of creating a powerful cleaning without the need for aggressive ingredients, taking into account the impact on the environment and well-being.

Traktech provides in this project two positioners for PET bottles made of stainless steel with automatic format change and a bottle orientator by machines with detection by means of photocells for the correct orientation of the bottles to the filler.

Handle 21 different types of PET bottles

The client needed to handle 13 different types of bottles in line A and 8 types of bottles in line D, both in measurements, as in geometry and in productions ranging from 4,500 to 7,200 bottles / hour.

The main goal for the client was to minimize the production downtime of the line, destined to the change of format for the number of bottles mentioned and the correct orientation of all these containers towards the filler.

Another important requirement for the customer was that the finish of the machine be in stainless steel.

Bottle unscrambler ROTRAK AAF

Photo of the rotary unscrambler ROTRAK AAF with automatic changeover

Traktech provides two ROTRAK AAF (Automatic Adjustable Funnel) unscramblers with automatic format change, model 2300/18 divisions, and a model OL-180 blade orientation machine using a photocell detection system to feed the filler.

The execution of the machines has been entirely made of stainless steel, except for certain internal mechanical parts such as the main shaft, sprockets, and chains, which are made of carbon steel, suitably treated against oxidation.

The Rotrak AAF unscrambler organizes and positions containers upright on the production line. The containers enter the interior of the unscrambler from the top by means of a bulk elevator/conveyor with 1500 l capacity.

In the upper disk, the containers are previously placed in a tangential position inside each funnel. Through the detection of the position of the bottles by vision camera, the position of each container in each drawer is analysed and a signal is sent to the funnel for a pneumatic cylinder to hold the bottle, allowing it to stand upright.

Regarding the change of format, by pressing a button on the screen of the machine, all the moving parts of the pre-orientator and funnels will move appropriately according to each pre-set format in the PLC memory, allowing to program up to 20 different formats between the maximum format and minimum of the existing project.

Detailed photo of the adjustable automatic funnel of the Rotary Positioner ROTRAK AAF, for automatic format change of empty bottles.

Changing the format also requires adjusting the pre-set parameters for the OL-180 Orientator.

Changing the format of the funnel or “funnel” takes between 1 ‘and 2’ minutes, the time it takes for the operator to change the program according to the format required on the machine’s touch screen.

Solution optimization:

  • Productivity: Minimum downtime of the production line for the change of container format, both in the positioner and in the OL-180 Orientator.
  • Energy saving: It does not use compressed air in the pre-positioning area of ​​the containers.
  • Reduction of occupied space: Minimum floor space occupied, thanks to the fact that it is a compact unit.
  • Flexibility: It allows programming new formats telematically, without the intervention of a technician.

At Traktech we are very proud of the work that the entire technical team and the R&D department, with their extensive experience and know-how in the sector, carry out to successfully complete this type of project.

For more information, doubts, or questions about this or any other project, you can contact us through our web form. We will be delighted to undertake new projects!

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