Inverting containers manually is a labor-intensive process in a time when labor is difficult to come by. When looking for areas to reduce workforce needs on your packaging line, adding equipment that automatically inverts containers is useful.
Inverting is most often used for:
- Code Dating
- Sanitization of caps
- Rinsing
- Laying product down on conveyor or standing it up
- Multi-packing / stacking operations
There are multiple different ways container handling companies can approach inverting, and which solution is best for you is dependent on a few critical factors:
- The shape of your container.
- The rigidity of your container.
- Backlog present or random fed conditions.
- Container environment: temperature and application.
These factors will determine the best approach to take for inverting, but the most common solutions or either power twists or inverting blocks.
1. Twist Block
Twist Blocks are great for areas of high backlog pressure that may have tight line constraints where a longer screw-based system is not applicable or unnecessary.
When some lines don’t have the space for a larger inverting solutions, twist blocks can be the perfect answer. Utilizing backlog, twist blocks are a great way to keep your flow running correctly to your line. Most twist blocks are compatible with rigid containers such as cans and ice cream pints.
Morrison’s design differs from others on the market, instead of standard sandwich production method involving dozens of pieces of plastic placed together to create the product. Morrison’s design is made up from only a few pieces of plastic, reducing the space where particles can build up. This makes it easier to clean and quicker to assemble / disassemble for maintenance. and brings the footprint to about 12-18 inches.
Twist Blocks are also known as inverting blocks, beer can invertors, container invertors, twist assemblies, and can invertors. Learn more here.
2. Stainless Steel Power Twists
Another great solution in cases of challenging containers or specific applications would be the Stainless-Steel Twist. These twists are most commonly used for food contact applications in which the containers must be held rigidly in position. This option is preferred when food or consumables are in direct contact with the equipment. They are also used when you need access to the container during inversion, such as code dating the container.
For example, these are often used in multi-packing operations such as stacking single serve applesauce cups lid‐on‐lid in a cardboard sleeve.
Utilizing a power twist on your line would allow two lanes of containers to be inverted over the timing screw. Since both lanes are being controlled by the same screw, they can be stacked directly on top of each other. Once stacked, the containers would transfer to the grouping screw. The grouping timing screw would then group the containers to create the 6 pack (3‐over‐3) container figuration. If these timing screws were changed out, this could also be a 4 pack, making your timing screw act as change parts for your line.
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3. UHMW Power Twists
UHMW Plastic Power Twists are best for applications where the product is sealed. This solution can be changed over quickly and is great for repeatability, helping cut down on wait times for your products. They are also utilized in air rinsing in some cases.
For example, you need a solution to help invert your containers from a backlog then index and invert them for the next process in the packaging line.
In this scenario UHMW Plastic Power Twists would provide the solution by first inverting the containers and then discharging groups of 12 to be presented to the packaging application downstream. This system allows for proper spacing and a consistent flow as this system required 1 second of dwell time to allow for proper timing and space for the downstream application.
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All of these solutions are great for changeover, as multiple twists can be supplied for the same conveyor system when you need to run multiple containers on the same line.
Regardless of the solution you need, you should make sure your twist manufacturers account for multiple transition points throughout the twist to ensure proper control of the container is maintained during the entire inversion.
This will help the entire solution blend together and have proper container placement on your conveyor.
To learn more, visit https://morrison-chs.com/solutions/invertors.
