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 filling machines
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 filling machines
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 Filling Machine is a device for accurately and repeatably dispensing liquids to a predetermined volume or level within a container.
Often pneumatically powered, they provide a productive method of filling containers, bottles, jars and similar vessels with a variety of liquids as part of the commercial packaging process.
A wide variety of liquids can be filled with Universal’s range of liquid filling machines, from free-flowing liquids such as water and drinks, through to thicker sauces, gels, lotions and syrups.
Universal’s liquid filling machines are built using he highest quality food and pharmaceutical grade 316 stainless steel contact parts, so are ideal for many consumable products and are built to withstand the rigours of time and extensive use with minimal maintenance.
Specialised machines with glass and PVC contact parts are also available for filling substances such as acids, alkalis and bleaches which can corrode and degrade stainless steel.
Filling machines are widely used in industries which depend upon containers being filled with liquids, such as the cosmetics industry, food and drinks, cleaning products, pharmaceuticals, petrochemicals, paints and coatings, automotive products and home and gardening products.
Filling machines draw liquid from a bulk supply vessel via a feed pipe, or from a hopper and allow the operator to determine and dispense specific quantities of the liquid into containers as required.
Once filled, these containers can pass to the next stage of the process; often cap placement and tightening.