Thomas Alpha Plus User manual

USER’S
GUIDE
Alpha Plus
Uncapping machine
Ref. C1001/C1001C
THOMAS APICULTURE
French designer and manufacturer
Of beekeeping equipment
ZA de l’Évangile
321, rue Bernard de la Rochefoucauld
45450 Fay-aux-Loges –France
Tél: [phone]
Fax : [phone]
E-mail : [e-mail]
www.thomas-apiculture.com
Non contractual
picture

Alpha Plus uncapping machine : User’s Guide 2/10
- Version du 10/06/2020 -
Technical Definition
Stainless-steel
Height : 700 mm
Width : 860 mm
Depth : 600 mm
Weight : 75 kg
Single phase 220 V –1570 W
Motor : 370 W –1500 Tr/mn
The Alpha Plus Uncapping machine uses 2
vibrating and heating blades for optimal
uncapping.
Durable and easy to use, the machine uncaps
both sides of the frame at once.
SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
CAUTION : Before connecting the appliance to a power supply, make sure that your electric
installations comply with current standards (differential circuit breaker protection, earth wire, etc.).
Check the supply voltage.
Before using the unit for the first time, clean it to remove any residual metal shavings or filings.
Keep out of children’s reach - Unplug after each use.
Operating direction
inverter
(7)
POWER switch
(5)
Heat light
(8)
Energy doser
(2)
Operating light
(15)
ON switch
(1)
Emergency stop
(9)

- Version du 10/06/2020 -
USAGE GUIDE
The Alpha Plus's uncapping process is largely based on its two notched inox knives (1). Sharp,
vibrating and heated, they simultaneously treat both sides of each frame for optimum
performance in a minimal amount of time. The temperature of the knives can be adjusted via an
energy regulator (2) or a digital thermostat (18) (see the digital thermostat manual in the
appendix). The Alpha Plus can be used to uncap various frame models such as the Dadant and
Langstroth frames. It is also possible to process hollow frames simply by adjusting the knife
spacing (3).
Once uncapped, the frames are automatically guided onto a storage conveyor and then can be fed
to the extractor.
Alpha Plus uncapping machine : User’s Guide 3/10
flap (10)
Knife (1)
Heating Bloc
Depth adjustment
lever (3)

- Version du 10/06/2020 -
SECURITY
The Alpha Plus is equipped with a transparent cover to monitor the progress of the
uncapping process and a protective grid to prevent any risk of injury, especially from
knife contact. It is essential to keep them in place.
The machine is equipped with a safety device (clutch) (4) to automatically stop
mechanism if frames are broken or jammed. This adjustable system prevents damage
to the machine and to the operator.
Alpha Plus uncapping machine : User’s Guide 4/10
Eccentric
(14)
Clutch
(4)

- Version du 10/06/2020 -
Plug the machine to the power supply.
Press the power switch and set to "On" (5).
Before unlocking, manually adjust the knife gap using the lever on the left side of the
machine (3).
•Machines with an energy dosing unit:
Turn the dozer to 1 or 2 (2).
Wait about 10 minutes for the knives to warm up before putting your first frame.
•Machines with a digital screen thermostat.
Press for 2 seconds the SET switch
Choose the knife temperature with the arrows (around 70 °C).
The frame driving crossbars (6) must come in front of you, from top to bottom.
Place the frame horizontally in the slots provided for this purpose (on each side) and
then release it onto the driving bar: the next bar pushes the frame through the knives. If
necessary, adjust the distance between the knives to make it easier for the frame to
pass through.
The frame is then raised and stored on the conveyor.
Continue this operation until the conveyor is fully loaded.
In case of jammed or broken frames, press the emergency stop button and then the
reversing button (7).
The indicator lamp (8) lights up to indicate the heating periods.
To stop the machine, press the STOP button (9). To restart the machine, unlock the STOP
button (9) and press ON (1).
The machine is equipped with a flap (10) to prevent the wax from resting on the frame
after uncapping
Alpha Plus uncapping machine : User’s Guide 5/10
USAGE GUIDE
CAUTION : In the standard version, this unit is equipped with an energy dosing unit (2). It
is not a thermostat; the values serve as a reference and do not indicate the temperature
in any way (the operating temperature must be between 1 and 2).
It is recommended to turn off or adjust the heating to the minimum setting each time the
machine is switched off.

- Version du 10/06/2020 -
MAINTENANCE
CAUTION : Unplug the machine before any maintenance operation. Protect the electric
parts when washing.
•Chain tension
The chain (11) may slacken after several hours of use. To tighten the chain, loosen the
bolts (12) holding the gears on both sides of the machine and then tighten the two nuts
(13) at the rear on both sides until the chain is sufficiently taut. Make sure to keep the
same tension on each chain by tightening the bolts by making the same number of turns
on each bolt.
Alpha Plus uncapping machine : User’s Guide 6/10
•Greasing
Clean with hot water: made entirely of stainless steel (including chains and sprockets),
the Alpha Plus is easy to clean. It is also made up of self-lubricating rings (replacing
ordinary bearings) that cannot rust. Store in a dry room. Grease the eccentric (14)
regularly (mechanism driving the knives). Grease chains and sprockets with food grade
grease. Wash them very regularly with hot water.
Chain tightening
screw
(13)
Gear locking bolt
(12)

- Version du 10/06/2020 -
•Adjusting the clutch
It may also be necessary to adjust the torque that the motor exerts on the chain: if the
uncapping machine pushes the frames onto a complete chain, the force to be applied to
the frames will be higher.
Caution: The higher the torque, the less effective the safety will be: the motor will
disengage with less speed when jamming.
To adjust the motor clutch, turn the clutch screw (4), to the right to increase the torque
and to the left to decrease it. In both cases, tighten very gradually, testing to ensure
proper operation.
Alpha Plus uncapping machine : User’s Guide 7/10
Ecentric
(14)
Clutch (4)
•Adjusting the depth
It is also possible to adjust the uncapping depth of the vibrating knives (their cutting
angle).
Remove the right-hand housing and remove the left-hand housing cover.

- Version du 10/06/2020 -
Alpha Plus uncapping machine : User’s Guide 8/10
4 screws to
loosen
Knife
spreader
Move the knife gauge adjustment bar to the minimum (to the left).
- Bring a bar in front of the guides on the knives by turning the high pulley.
- Position the teeth of the two knives opposite each other. The ends of the left-handed
outgoing pins must be at the same level. Turn the knives so that the guides touch the
bar.
- Align the knife spacers on the sides of the plate (see photo above).
- Tighten the screws of the knife spacers.

- Version du 10/06/2020 -
Alpha Plus uncapping machine : User’s Guide 9/10
•Knife springs
To check that the return springs are in good condition, remove the left crankcase cover.
The springs are located behind the eccentric axis. If the axes of the knives are not
permanently in contact with the bearings, then the springs are damaged and they must
be changed.
Ressorts de rappel
•Anti-return springs
If this spring breaks, unscrew the bolt circled in red, remove the screw and replace it.
Pay attention to the orientation of the spring (the springs are not identical).

- Version du 10/06/2020 -
Frequent questions
CAUTION : Unplug the machine before any maintenance operation.
Problem Possible solution
The machine will not start
-Check that the device is plugged onto a suitable power
source.
- Check that the STOP (9) switch is not blocked.
- Check that the circuit-breaker, inside the electrical box
(15), is ON.
- Check the state of the motor protection circuit breaker,
inside the electric box (15).
The knives vibrate but the chain
won’t turn
-
Check that there is no stuck frame. If not, adapt the motor
clutch (see Maintenance Part).
The cappings are not cut cleanly
or are ripped off
- Check that the thermostat or energy regulator is not set
on 0, and that the knives are hot enough.
- Check the depth of uncapping.
- Check that the knives have enough travel when vibrating.
The knives vibrate with just a
small travel
- Check the state of the knife springs. If needed, change
them. (see Maintenance Part)
The frames are not correctly
pushed by the machine
- Check the springs in the lower part of the device. (see
Maintenance part)
Alpha Plus uncapping machine : User’s Guide 10/10