Liquid Filling Nozzles for Different Filling Machines

Filling machines may use a number of different principles to move product to a bottle. From simple gravity fed fillers to fill to a level overflow fillers and piston or pump fillers for thicker, less free-flowing products, each type of machine will be matched to the product, or products being prepared. However, the fill heads, or nozzles, can also differ from machine to machine to add efficiency and consistency to the filling process.

With the overflow filler, mentioned above as the fill to level principle, the liquid filling nozzles somewhat define the machine. All overflow nozzles will include seals that cover the bottle opening as the heads descend into the containers. It is this seal that allows liquid to reach a specific level and then "overflow" back to the holding vessel. While all overflow nozzles will be similar in that regard, they may differ in size or may include custom features depending on the specific needs of the filling project.   Still, there is much less variation in the nozzles for an overflow filling machine than can be seen for other types of liquid fillers.

A popular nozzle on non-overflow type liquid fillers includes a combination of an actuator, ball valve and nozzle tip. These assemblies are used to open and close the product flow based on pre-set filling times, usually used in combination with a PLC on an automatic filling machine. Semi-automatic machines may control the flow or activate the fill using a foot or finger switch or a simple timer. Nozzle tips on these filling machines can take on many different sizes and shapes, as well as materials, including plastic and steel. The tip size and type will depend on the container, product and other factors considered on a case-by-case basis to create the most efficient and reliable process possible.

Different liquid filling nozzles can provide a solution for unique filling issues with custom features, from simple short or long nozzles to more complex components. Nozzles may protect against dripping or stringing of thicker products, or as mentioned above, may dive to the lower portion of a container and perform a bottom up fill to protect against splashing or the formation of a cavity in the container.

While most packaging processes will require only a single nozzle or fill head type for all products, there are those rare cases where nozzles may need to be changed for different products or packages.  The design of the filling machines works to make this process as simple as possible when this situation occurs. Choosing the right nozzle for any project will have a positive impact on the consistency and reliability as well as the overall efficiency of the machine.

For more information about nozzles for filling machines, or about liquid fillers in general, contact the offices of Liquid Packaging Solutions, Inc. today.