Operating an Automatic Liquid Filling Machine

In production, automatic liquid filling machines supply liquid to bottles without the need for operator interaction at each bottle or cycle. But to keep the process efficient, the operation, set up and changeover of the machine must remain as simple as possible. Below we present a brief overview of the operation of an automatic liquid filler.

Initial setup of the equipment will include placing and leveling the machine on the production floor, hooking up the air and electric connections, and connecting the bulk product supply. From here, the operation of the automatic filling machine consists of the specific set up for the product and container to be run on the machine. There are two types of adjustments to the machine, after which the filler runs with minimal operator assistance.

The first set of changes are mechanical in nature. The operator of an automatic filling machine will need to adjust guiderails on power conveyors to allow for the smooth movement of containers through the filling area. Vision systems will be adjusted to read bottles based on size and shape, allowing bottles to be seen as they pass by the sensor. Indexing gates may need to be re-positioned based on container diameters and machine heads or nozzles can be adjusted to the container openings for the bottle being filled. The mechanical adjustments necessary may change slightly from machine to machine, but will typically include the common adjustments noted above.

At Liquid Packaging Solutions, filling machines are designed and manufactured to make the mechanical adjustments as simple as possible by using tool-free adjustments. From loosening and tightening guiderails on conveyors to moving the position of the fill heads, hand knobs and levers make the process efficient and quick for the operator, increasing the actual production time of the machine.

The second set of adjustments necessary when operating a liquid filler are made at the centralized control panel. In addition to a power height switch to easily raise and lower fill heads, the control panel includes a touchscreen interface that allows an operator to set all parameters for a bottle and product combination. While the settings will differ based on the fill principle and packaging project, typical parameters include fill times or pump durations, indexing type and indexing time. While the centralized controls and ease of adjustments on the touchscreen are efficient, the Recipe Screen found on the interface allows the operator to further maximize production time.

Recipe screens allow an operator to save and recall all the parameters for a bottle and product combination. So instead of changing each setting when running a specific bottle and product, the operator can simply make mechanical adjustments, pull up the desired recipe, and begin production.

Once the mechanical adjustments are completed and the recipe is recalled, the operator of an automatic bottle filler will simply need to monitor the machine to ensure proper operation and re-supply bulk product and bottles, if and when necessary. LPS manufactures liquid filling machines to reduce the necessary amount of operator interaction both in setup and during production runs while increasing efficiency, consistency, and reliability. To learn more about filling equipment, or for questions on automatic fillers, contact a Packaging Specialist at LPS today.