Two distinct filling technologies are available for semi-automatic and fully automatic filling machines: volumetric and vacuum-level filling.
Manually operated filling machines tend only to fill volumetrically.
Volumetric filling machines
Manual liquid filling machines use a piston within a cylinder to force liquid into the container.
These normally have a pneumatically powered pump mechanism, set to fill containers with the required volume of liquid, fed from either a floor-standing container or a machine-mounted hopper.
Containers are positioned below the filling nozzles and a foot pedal switch to start the filling process.
Volumes between 5ml and 25-litres can be handled by volumetric filling machines and up to 150 containers per minute can be filled, depending on the fill volume, liquid viscosity and level of machine automation.
Vacuum level semi-automatic filling machines use the rim at the top of the container to form an airtight seal around the filling nozzle.
This airtight seal creates a vacuum within the bottle which draws free-flowing liquids from a supply tank into the bottle, via specially designed nozzles. These nozzles have a small hole on the side which is connected to a small internal tube.
The height of this hole in relation to the top of the container during filling determines the level of liquid dispensed. The small hole in the nozzle scavenges excess liquid from the filling process and collects it in a receiver for reuse.
Vacuum level filling machines fill containers to the same height each time, rather than dispensing the same volume. This is particularly useful for glass bottles which will be side-by-side on display shelves in shops. Glass bottles vary in capacity quite a lot, yet vacuum-level filling ensures the level each bottle is filled to is the same, giving a consistent appearance from one bottle to the next. Vacuum level filling requires rigid containers which won’t collapse under a vacuum.
Vacuum-level machines have virtually no moving parts, making them incredibly reliable, and can fill up to 120 bottles per minute depending on the container type, number of filling heads and level of automation.
Bottles are simply positioned with their top in contact with a sealing ring around the nozzle. The container will start to fill as soon as an airtight seal is made and stop when the pre-determined fill height is reached.
Two distinct filling technologies are available for semi-automatic and fully automatic filling machines: volumetric and vacuum-level filling.
Manually operated filling machines tend only to fill volumetrically.
Volumetric filling machines
Manual liquid filling machines use a piston within a cylinder to force liquid into the container.
These normally have a pneumatically powered pump mechanism, set to fill containers with the required volume of liquid, fed from either a floor-standing container or a machine-mounted hopper.
Containers are positioned below the filling nozzles and a foot pedal switch to start the filling process.
Volumes between 5ml and 25-litres can be handled by volumetric filling machines and up to 150 containers per minute can be filled, depending on the fill volume, liquid viscosity and level of machine automation.
Vacuum level semi-automatic filling machines use the rim at the top of the container to form an airtight seal around the filling nozzle.
This airtight seal creates a vacuum within the bottle which draws free-flowing liquids from a supply tank into the bottle, via specially designed nozzles. These nozzles have a small hole on the side which is connected to a small internal tube.
The height of this hole in relation to the top of the container during filling determines the level of liquid dispensed. The small hole in the nozzle scavenges excess liquid from the filling process and collects it in a receiver for reuse.
Vacuum level filling machines fill containers to the same height each time, rather than dispensing the same volume. This is particularly useful for glass bottles which will be side-by-side on display shelves in shops. Glass bottles vary in capacity quite a lot, yet vacuum-level filling ensures the level each bottle is filled to is the same, giving a consistent appearance from one bottle to the next. Vacuum level filling requires rigid containers which won’t collapse under a vacuum.
Vacuum-level machines have virtually no moving parts, making them incredibly reliable, and can fill up to 120 bottles per minute depending on the container type, number of filling heads and level of automation.
Bottles are simply positioned with their top in contact with a sealing ring around the nozzle. The container will start to fill as soon as an airtight seal is made and stop when the pre-determined fill height is reached.
A piston filler is a type of liquid filling machine that uses a piston and cylinder to fill containers with liquid products.
The piston is typically made of stainless steel or other durable material and is connected to a piston rod that is moved up and down by an air cylinder or motor.
During the filling process, the piston moves downwards, drawing liquid from a reservoir or hopper into the cylinder. As the piston reaches the bottom of the cylinder, a one-way valve opens, allowing the liquid to flow through the filling nozzle and into the container being filled. Once the container is filled to the desired level, the piston moves back up, and the valve closes, stopping the flow of liquid.
Piston fillers are ideal for filling high-viscosity products, such as creams, pastes, and gels, as well as liquids with particulates or solids. They are also versatile and can handle a wide range of container sizes and shapes, from small vials to large drums.
Piston fillers can be either manual or automatic, and can be designed to fill containers at various speeds and fill volumes. They are commonly used in industries such as food and beverage, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and chemical manufacturing, where accurate and consistent filling is important.
