The key to the design of nozzles and machines is to consider the viscosity of liquids. Different types of fluids must be filled in different ways.
In the liquid filling industry, the choice of three filling measures is mainly considered, namely the weight, volume and level height (or called scale). Among them, the volumetric measurement is the most commonly used, in particular, the goods are sold in batches. However, on hot days and cold days, the performance of the machine and the viscosity of the liquid will change. It is difficult to measure with "level height" or "volume".
The volume of liquid can be measured with a piston or flow meter. If you use a flow meter you can choose "mass" or "electromagnetic".
"Quality" is a more expensive choice and is used more often in non-polar oil products such as lubricating oils. "Electromagnetic" is used in magnetic (or polar) liquid products such as shampoos and other water-soluble liquids.
The "level height" measurement method is mainly used in glass bottled products, customers can see the effect, such as perfume and wine, filling methods include the use of gravity, vacuum or pressure characteristics.
Of course, there are many other parameters to consider, but the most important is its filling speed requirements, as well as the remaining space and container shape.
Rapak, a subsidiary of DS Smith Plastics, recently installed an Autokap single-head automatic filling machine in Anglia Oil Company, Hull, which is the main fuel supplier for Burger King, and now uses Rapak's bag box system (bag- In-box system) Oil Supply Burger King's branch in Europe.
The “bag box†system is superior to the current packaging method. One of the most important change factors is that it is more in line with the requirements of Germany’s environmental protection legislation department. "Bag boxes" are lighter and easier to handle. Whether they are bags, lids or tubes, they can all be recycled and reused at 100%, which is environmentally friendly and economical.
Jon Wragg, sales and marketing director, commented: “The tendency of oils to be packaged in 'bag boxes' reduces user costs. We estimate that the new packaging method will continue to develop and maintain the profits of producers and retailers.â€
Rapak supplies a variety of fillers to consumers who can easily transition from the current packaging approach to the new one. Autokap has spare parts for filling heads for cleaning machines and can clean various materials such as chemicals, wine, milk, edible oils, etc.
The liquid filling machine uses a highly automated and touch-sensitive device, the servo drive system can meet the needs of rapid, bag size needs to be changed repeatedly and the cover height will change accordingly.
New "bag box" department established
Most of Rapak's bag box filling systems can be used to package 2 to 1000 liters of product into IBCs and can even be packed into 220 litre drums. The new design includes common motor control, steaming, and bag box installation systems, making it easier to maintain and upgrade equipment. Wragg said: "For traditional industries such as wine and syrup, bag boxes are ideal, and other industries are trying to adopt them."
Avery Weigh-Tronix used to handle syrups of different viscosities. Now at the Thames processing plant in London, the Tate & Lyle European Sucrose Corporation's Slurry Division installed weight-based filling systems to increase production.
The product is packaged in 7.2 kg, 25 kg barrels and 1250 kg composite bulk containers. It is then sold to operating food and pharmaceutical customers. The Avery Weigh-Tronix system is used for the filling of syrups with different viscosity and sugar water. All products are packaged at 550 degrees Celsius.
When Tate & Lyle moved the bottle entry department from Millwall to the Thames refinery, the company decided to update the equipment. They improved five heavy-duty filling stations and some mechanical equipment, but each station was only responsible for a different size container.
The purpose of this is to install the latest electronic filling system to increase efficiency. On the other hand, it is necessary to consider whether the new plant at Thames refinery can accommodate these equipment. The new plant has a large main room and a small total area.
The two Avery Weigh-Tronix scales are now responsible for the operation of the entire gravimetric filling. The new system arranges filling stations to fill 25 kg barrels or barrels, 210 liters barrels, and 1250 kg barrels. 7.26 kilograms of buckets are responsible for using a portable weighing device.
The new system means that as long as one operator can fill several 25 kg buckets on the pallet at the same time, it is not necessary to manually fill pallets one by one, improving the efficiency and safety.
The exquisite weight-filling station now has a larger main room and a smaller total area, and Tate & Lyle can now request a higher production capacity at the filling station. The new system requires only two containers to fill all small containers and IBC containers, without having one scale per container.
Program-controlled filling valve
UK-based Ocme introduced Libra weight filling equipment at the Total exhibition. Filling valves is automatic. Different materials can be filled into containers of different shapes and sizes without long-term adjustments.
This filling valve is a registered patented product designed to fit outside the large container. The valve is clean and can handle the most sensitive materials. Libra fillers/sealers come in different sizes and 8-64 filling heads. The maximum speed of free standing or integral form can fill up to 600 containers per minute. The capacity of the container can range from 50 ml to 5 liters.
Ocme's container handling accessories are color-coded and do not require tool removal and can be quickly replaced in minutes.
PKB considers the need to quickly and often switch products, develop semi-automatic filling machines, use screw caps, crimping and press fittings. French manufacturers specialize in filling and sealing machines for the cosmetics, bathroom and aroma industries. Their products are suitable for packaging contractors or cosmetic or perfume companies that need to constantly change their products.
Masterfil's range includes single-head semi-automated machines and fully automated flow meter systems for personal care items and even paint fills. The company's Multifil series of automatic filling and sealing machines have 3 adjustable filling rates. The nozzle mode is adjusted to the most suitable speed according to the shape of the container and the consistency of the product. The applicable range is from 5 ml to 10 liters.