Timing Screw Fundamentals
The most critical element that makes your production line more productive.
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Parts of a Timing Screw
Standard Infeed Timing Screws
Inverse Taper Design
Straight Root Design
This is a design used for maximum performance when random feeding unstable or non-round containers. An offset guide rail is required to feed the container parallel to the timing screw root. For best performance, the initial guide rail should be spring-loaded.
This infeed design has a constant root diameter. The thread height graduates from zero to the needed outside diameter, which is determined by container shape, size and machine limitations. A spring-loaded guide rail can be added to the infeed to aid random speeding. This screw design is used for round, oval and rectangular containers with sufficiently rounded edges to allow for effective separation.
Shingle Infeed Design
Non-round Choke Design
This design is characterized by a matched pair of timing screws that efficiently separates rectangular or flat-sided containers. This design easily handles large line backlog pressure and provides long timing screw life. Shingle infeed works effectively on all machines that are modified to accept it. It is most commonly used on labelers.
Used with the proper guide rail and fed at an angle, this type of infeed design will aid in separating rectangular or square containers while maximizing performance. A backlog of containers is required for effective operation.
Special Function Timing Screws
Turning Timing Screws
Dividing Timing Screws
Rotate containers 90°, 180°, or 360° to proper orientation for specific operations. Turning a container requires two timing screws.
A matched pair of timing screws can be used to divide a single lane of containers into two or three lanes. This operation is usually accomplished in as little as 24 inches.
Combining Timing Screws
Dwell Timing Screws
Dwelling timing screws combine the continuous feeding of containers with an intermittent operation, such as filling, capping or cottoning. The screw thread is machined to allow the container to stop its forward motion for up to one-half revolutions, although the screw continues to rotate.
Use proper phasing to combine containers with a wide variety of shapes.
Transfer Timing Screw
With a transfer timing screw, it will maintain control of containers as they move from one machine or operation to the next. Since transfer timing screws are never random fed, the same pocket configuration can handle a variety of containers.
