Unloader

The Unloader is a Serpulo-region transport block that removes a selected item from adjacent non-transportation blocks and deposits it onto nearby conveyors. It functions as an omnidirectional, bidirectional interface between item-bearing blocks: when placed between two blocks with no conveyors, an Unloader equalizes their shared item type by moving the selected item both ways. Unloaders appear in the same grouping as effect, storage and core blocks, and are distinct from Erekir's Duct Unloader in behavior and placement rules.

An Unloader's throughput matches exactly that of Titanium Conveyors and is divided across its four output sides. Because throughput is split, adding more Titanium or Plastanium Conveyors to a single side does not increase the Unloader's maximum per-side output; the block distributes its fixed total throughput among all sides. The block no longer has an internal item capacity (previously held 10 items) and its build time is short. The selected item type can be changed by tapping the Unloader to set which resource it removes from adjacent blocks.

Unloaders can pull items out of production blocks and link the inventories of nearby factories, effectively sharing a resource without requiring every block to be directly connected to input conveyors. This is useful for simplifying factory layouts and keeping power/production centers tidy while still allowing outputs to be transported. Storage blocks and blocks that are already full are treated differently: the Unloader prioritizes unloading from blocks rather than pushing items into full or storage blocks, and it will unload items from storage or full blocks instead of into them when applicable. Unloaders do not transfer liquids and cannot unload from turrets and certain other block types.

Practical notes and strategies:

• Place Unloaders directly between factories to equalize a selected item across both inventories, or insert a conveyor to force a unidirectional transfer.
• Expect the Unloader to split its fixed throughput among all four sides; concentrate outputs by minimizing the number of active sides or use multiple Unloaders for higher aggregate throughput.
• Unloaders can extract from Plastanium Conveyors (added in a later build) as well as standard conveyors.
• Unconfigured Unloaders now select items evenly rather than randomly; set the desired item when precise control is required.
• On low framerates the Unloader is less likely to skip blocks due to optimizations introduced in Build 134.
• Because it does not handle liquids and cannot pull from some blocks (notably turrets), combine Unloaders with conventional conveyors and dedicated output handling where necessary for full factory operation.

The Unloader is a versatile transport utility for centralizing and redistributing items in compact factory designs, especially where maintaining neat production hubs and reducing conveyor clutter is a priority.