Patent ID: 8701865

Claim:
A machine for handling and unscrambling empty containers provided with a bottom and with an opening, the machine comprising: a carousel rotating about an axis of rotation, provided with a plurality of peripheral pockets, each of said pockets being provided with a respective channel for descent of the containers through gravity towards a handling or pick-up area below; a device for feeding containers, randomly oriented, towards said carousel; an exit conveyor arranged at a lower height with respect to said pockets and onto which the containers, unscrambled in an unscrambling step so as to be arranged with the respective openings oriented upwards, are unloaded; a detecting system to detect the opening-bottom orientation of said containers before the unscrambling step, wherein a respective unscrambling station for the containers is provided for each of said pockets, controlled based on information supplied by said detecting system and designed to arrange said containers correctly unscrambled with said opening facing upwards, said detecting system being associated with said feeding device to determine opening-bottom orientation of each container while each container advances in said feeding device.