Infeed Screws (Worms) for Bottling Plants

These worms are made with tracer lathes. Of course the first part of the worm must begin to separate the bottles and at the other end the last two pockets must be equal to the radial center distances of the pockets in the infeed star wheel. Increase in center distance of the worm pockets should be the total increase divided by the number of revolutions.

Depth of the groves in the worm can be as little as 3/4 of an inch.

One end must have a steel insert for the drive key and the other end must have either a metal bushing or a stub shaft depending on the filler configuration. These are the weak points! They will wear out long before the polymer of the worm does. I think a good design would make these easily replaceable. Maybe threaded and pinned.

One revolution of the worm must equal 1/6 of a revolution of a 6 pocket star wheel.

In case it helps, these worms are available from more than one source. Just Google "infeed worms".