Loader and unloader for cans

Application

For loading and unloading of metal cans to and from carrier baskets or other open containers. Typically for canned food sterilization in autoclaves/retorts.

Throughput

Up to 125 layers per hour.

Construction

The combined loader and unloader utilises a common frame, supporting a high level gantry system for two magnetic heads and one layer pad dispenser. Each head is equipped with a magnetic plate for transferring a complete layer of cans on each cycle. When loading into autoclave baskets, the basket base is lifted directly under the transfer head by means of a lifting platform integrated in the conveyor.

The can infeed system is equipped with a slat band conveyor and a layer forming table. At the unloader outfeed, there is a singulating table discharging to a single lane slat band conveyor. The common layer pad dispenser uses two layer pad magazines making it possible to recycle the layer pad from the unloader and transfer it to a can layer at the loader.

The whole system can be supplied with all related conveyors for cans and baskets and integrated to any existing systems.

Example of a complete loading and unloading system for cans and baskets

The shuttle car provides flexible transport of baskets

Functional description

Freshly filled cans are delivered on the infeed slat band conveyors and accumulate on a layer forming table of the loader. Here they are grouped and aligned to form the complete layer. The layer is then gripped by a special magnetic head and transfered to the carrier basket, whose base is lifted up. The magnetic head design ensures high performance and precise and careful handling of the cans. The individual can layers in the basket are separated by plastic layer pads. These are placed by a layer pad applicator which picks them from its magazine. Every time a new layer is loaded, the basket base goes one step down until it is full.

The full basket leaves the loader area on the conveyor and with help of the operator it is transported further to the autoclave. After sterilization the basket travels back to the loader/unloader on a parallel conveyor. This time it enters the unloading part of the machine which performs analogicly reverse operation, eg. it unloads cans from the basket and places them onto the singulating table. Layer pads are picked up by the common applicator and either stored in the magazine or directly used in the can loader. Unloaded cans are smoothly transfered onto the outfeed conveyor. The empty basket is ejected from the unloader and brought to the shuttle car, which transports it to the loader again or to the additional accumulating conveyor for temporary storage. The whole cycle is then repeated.

Advantages

• simple and reliable frame design
• very careful handling of cans due to the magnetic head
• capability to handle cans of different sizes
• efficient layer pad logistics due to the common dispenser
• combining a loader and unloader together means minimum footprint

Optional accessories

• additional conveyors for cans and transport containers