Quick answer: A bottomless conveyor grips containers by their sides with two belts instead of carrying them on a belt underneath. Because nothing sits under the container, the bottom of every bottle is exposed as it moves, so you can print date codes and lot numbers on the bottom, inspect the base, or de-puck and space containers. Cleveland Equipment's CE-TRA-37 bottomless side belt transfer conveyor does this on its own height-adjustable stand, and the CE-TRA-12FM C-frame gap transfer conveyor does it over an existing conveyor.
If you've been asked to put a date code on the bottom of your bottles, or containers keep tipping over at the transition between two conveyors, this is the machine that solves it. Here's how it works and where it fits.
How a bottomless conveyor works
Instead of a single belt under the containers, a bottomless conveyor has two gripper belts facing each other. Containers enter between them, the belts close in on the sides, and the container is carried along suspended between the belts. Nothing touches the bottom.
On the CE-TRA-37, both belts are independently adjustable with an easy adjust hand wheel, and the motors are frequency controlled so the two belt speeds stay matched and synchronized. That matters more than it sounds: if one belt runs faster than the other, containers rotate as they travel, and a code printed on a spinning bottle won't be straight or legible.
What you can do with the open bottom
- Bottom date coding. The most common use. The conveyor is designed to access the bottom side of the container for coding expiration dates, lot numbers and similar information with an inkjet or laser coder mounted below.
- Bottom label or seal inspection. A camera or an operator can see the base of every container as it passes.
- Transferring between conveyors. The conveyor captures a container from one conveyor and carries it to the next, so containers don't tip or jam at the gap.
- De-pucking and spacing. On the C-frame model, the same side-gripping approach is used for de-pucking, spacing containers and inspection.
Why bottom coding at all?
Labels, caps and shoulders are often already busy with branding, and printing on a curved or printed surface can be hard to read. The bottom of the container is usually flat, clean and unbranded, which makes it a good place for a date or lot code. Bottom coding also keeps the code out of the way of the label artwork, so nothing has to be redesigned to make room.
Two ways to add one to your line
| CE-TRA-37 side belt transfer conveyor | CE-TRA-12FM C-frame gap transfer | |
|---|---|---|
| Form factor | Stand-alone unit on its own height-adjustable stand | C-frame that fits over existing conveyors without major modifications |
| Container size | Up to 7 3/4 in. diameter (37S) or 8 1/2 in. (37B) | Up to 8 in. diameter and 13 in. tall |
| Height, floor to belt | 37–43 in. (37S); 35 1/2–42 in. (37B) | 26–44 in. |
| Tapered bottles | Tilting capability on the 37B | Tilting head |
| Adjustment | Hand wheel and crank handle | Tool-less adjustable gripper belts with position indicators |
| Power | 115V; available in 110V or 220V | 115V, 1-phase, 60 Hz, 5 A |
Signs you need one
- A customer or regulation requires a date or lot code on the bottom of the container
- Bottles tip, jam or bunch up where two conveyors meet
- You need to inspect the base of containers without picking each one up
- You're adding a coder to a line and there's nowhere good to print
Frequently asked questions
What is a bottomless conveyor?
A bottomless conveyor carries containers by gripping their sides between two belts instead of supporting them from underneath. With no belt or table under the container, the bottom of every container is exposed as it passes, which is what makes bottom coding, bottom label inspection and similar tasks possible.
What is a side belt transfer conveyor used for?
It moves containers a short distance from one working or transport conveyor to another while holding them by the sides. That does two jobs at once: it bridges the gap between two conveyors without tipping containers, and it exposes the bottom of each container for coding expiration dates, lot numbers and batch codes.
Is a bottomless conveyor the same as a gap transfer conveyor?
They're closely related. Both grip containers on the sides so nothing supports the container from below. Cleveland Equipment offers the CE-TRA-37 bottomless side belt transfer conveyor, which is a stand-alone unit on its own stand, and the CE-TRA-12FM C-frame gap transfer conveyor, which fits over existing conveyors and creates a 12-inch gap.
Will a bottomless conveyor tip my bottles over?
That's exactly what it prevents. The gripper belts hold each container by its sides through the transition, so containers stay upright across a gap that would otherwise tip them. Setting the belts correctly matters: firm enough that the container is hard to pull out, but not so tight that the sides dent.
What containers work on a bottomless conveyor?
Round bottles are the most common, and Cleveland Equipment's units also handle other shapes. The CE-TRA-37S accommodates containers up to 7 3/4 inches in diameter, the CE-TRA-37B up to 8 1/2 inches with tilting for tapered bottles, and the CE-TRA-12FM up to 8 inches in diameter and 13 inches tall, including bottles, boxes and flexible pouches.
Do I need compressed air for a bottomless conveyor?
No. These are electric conveyors. The CE-TRA-37 manuals list 115V electrical, available in 110V or 220V power, and the CE-TRA-12FM lists 115V, 1-phase, 60 Hz at 5 amps.
Talk to us about your line
Tell us your container size and shape, your line speed and what you need to code or inspect, and we'll tell you which transfer conveyor fits. Call 866-888-6327 (Mon–Fri, 8am–5pm CST), email sales@clevelandequipment.com, or see the CE-TRA-37 bottomless side belt transfer conveyor.