Material Handling Equipment - Fragile Container Loaders - Retort Room Machinery

Fragile Container Loaders

Fragile Container Loaders Overview

Allpax has developed the automated machinery to consolidate, stage, and move fragile containers received from the fillers into the racking systems for retorting. We've also developed the advanced racking designs that are necessary for storing the fragile containers and forwarding the batched product to the retorts for sterilization.

The Allpax FCTM Loader consolidates single-file containers from the high-speed fillers by distributing the containers into a layer-forming zone. When a full layer has been formed, the Allpax FCTM Loader uses a Pusher-Follower strategy to maintain the pattern while preventing container tipping and shingling.

Layer indexing is accomplished automatically by the machinery, using rapid-lift elevators. Servo drives and other state-of-the-art devices are used for critical-position accuracy of both the containers and the rack layers. As layers are loaded into the racks, the racks are automatically stacked to create a basket-sized-cube of product, ready to be loaded into the retort by the Allpax Shuttle, Air-Drone, or Ribbi Automated Retort Loader to the Allpax Retort.

Like all of our material handling equipment, the Allpax FCTM Loaders is fabricated using laser-cut 304 stainless steel. The machine instrumentation cabinet is NEMA-4 and is made of 304 stainless steel. Both the instrumentation and hydraulic lift are made from severe-duty components.

The high-speed Loaders (400X models) utilize servo motors for accurate positioning and precise sweep control. Software controls and container-specific-machine settings allow for changeover of most containers in less than 30 minutes.